Judging from the Web site, Club for Growth seems to be a big Red Sea client -- and no, it's not about growing hair. Club for Growth is an anti-tax, anti-government group that runs nasty ads against Democrats, and even some Republicans it doesn't like. The Club did ads against Don Young and ran a Wall Street Journal commentary endorsing Parnell in the 2008 congressional race.
In addition to its clout, Red Sea also has some amusing (to Ear) associations. One of its founders was a chief spokesman for former Rep. Tom DeLay, and its Web site brags about helping Mark Sanford get elected governor of South Carolina. To be fair, that predated his famous mistake of thinking the Appalachian Trail was in Argentina.
Brandon Maitlen, Parnell campaign communications director, wasn't interested in that stuff. Red Sea is a "top notch company," he said. "This is just about having a great team together."
PRAY FOR RELIEF ... It never ends. Our Sarah was all over TV this past week. On Tuesday she made her heralded appearance on the Jay Leno show (NBC), where she cracked jokes and promised to keep writing on her hand. Earlier that night, she was sort of featured in an episode of "The Good Wife" (CBS). A dishy ballistics expert had a picture of her in his gun-filled workroom and sent a copy of her book as a jokey gift to one of the lefty stars of the series.
Just when you hoped it was over, David Letterman did a bit Thursday on her efforts, along with the creator of "The Apprentice," to peddle an Alaska-based reality show featuring the Palin family. And "Entertainment Tonight" speculated about whether she's going to the Oscars tonight. Enough, already.
KUDOS ... The news photographers at KTUU-Channel 2 earned the station the title of small market station of the year in the National Press Photographers Association competition. It's an impressive coup, and not their first time.
ONE OF US ... It looks like the bearded, white-haired guy interviewing Tony Knowles at Side Street Espresso last week was lawyer/blogger Cliff Groh. A born Alaskan, Cliff was miffed at being described by the reporting earwig as looking like someone from the East Coast, and who can blame him. Cliff says the interview was for his upcoming book on the great Alaska corruption scandals. If the subject interests you, he's giving a lecture at UAA at 7:30 p.m. on March 18, in Room 120 in the new Sciences Building. Check his blog for details: Alaskacorruption.blogspot.com.
A QUESTION ... Everyone who thinks Al Kookesh is going to get recalled for "threatening" Sitka and Craig, raise your hand.
No one?
Sure seems like the smart bet. You can find a story by Sean Cockerham about the flap on the politics blog at adn.com.
And speaking of Sean, did Rep. Nancy Dahlstrom drop her ADN subscription because she was miffed that Sean revealed her support for the effort to increase how much lobbyists can secretly spend on legislators' meals from $15 to $50? Or was it her exchange with the editorial page over her "facts" in a commentary piece that she eventually decided not to submit?
FLYING HIGH ... Travelers to Anchorage from Seattle Tuesday learned from the pilot they had a celebrity on board -- our own Kerry Weiland, winner of an Olympic silver medal with the U.S. hockey team. "There was cheering and applause," reports an earwig who was on the flight. When it died down, Kerry passed the medal around the plane so everyone could feel its weight.
ON THE MOVE ... Tim Barry, press secretary for the Senate majority, resigned suddenly Friday, citing "pressing personal issues" that required his return to Anchorage.
VERBATIM ... Don't you just love inadvertently funny memos? Ear does. Here's one from a Department of Corrections probation officer to his colleagues:
"Good afternoon ... Today, I reviewed all the key rings for our vehicles for handcuff keys and several are missing. I expect the hand cuff keys to return to the key rings ASAP. You can request handcuff keys from PO III, if you do not have a key. Please do not incontinence others by removing the handcuff keys from the vehicle key rings. Thank you."
Hmmm -- "not incontinence." A tricky double negative. And one wonders exactly who has the keys to the handcuffs.
TIME FIX ... The celebration of Archbishop Hurley's 40th anniversary is Sunday, March 21, after Mass at Holy Family Cathedral, which will be said by the bishop.
HAVE A NICE TRIP, HONEY ... A Juneau earwig ran across this garage sale ad on Craigslist Friday:
"Sunday March 7th from 8am to 2pm. 1642 2nd St. Douglas Wife tired of all husband's 'stuff' and selling it while he is away Don't try to come early or you'll blow my plan and nothing will be for sale."
BURGER, BEER AND POLITICS ... In a frightening break with tradition, Ear actually went to an earish event this week -- the taping of the Shannyn Moore talk show Thursday at Bernie's Bungalow.
Way to hang with the big names and get some hot news, right? Plus it's got to be the only TV studio in the world with floor-to-ceiling windows on two walls and a bar on the third. And it's free (unless you're ordering) and open to anyone.
As for getting some hot gossip: Well, Sen. Bill Wielechowski, who didn't go on the energy conference junket to D.C., is really jazzed because his 3-year-old daughter is learning to ski and his wife is going to have an exhibit of her quilts in a local gallery.
And that's why Ear doesn't go out, darlings. Only nice things get said when Ear is in the room.
Compiled by Sheila Toomey. Find Ear online at www.adn.com/ear Message Sheila at ear@adn.com or 257-4341.
Important warning about e-mails purporting to be from the adn.com staff.