HITCH IN THE LINE . . . Officially Senator Lisa is considering her options, which seem pretty straightforward: Accept defeat and start planning how to take Begich's seat in four years; run a write-in campaign (a non-starter, especially if you have to spell her name right); or run on the Libertarian ticket, if they'll let her. The Libertarian Party executive committee has already said no, but that certainly didn't stop the conversation.
According to earwigs who probably don't know anything, the obstacle on the party side is former Libertarian/Republican legislator Dick Randolph, who is asking an embarrassing question: "She doesn't believe in our philosophy; wouldn't it be wrong to run her on our ticket?" Or words to that effect.
On the other hand, don't all political parties have to attract a certain number of votes to keep their place on the next ballot? Maybe Lisa on the Libertarian ticket can serve the cause that way.
Then there's always the "for the good of Alaska" argument. But wait, everybody uses that.
The deadline for adding or subtracting from the ballot is Sept. 15.
THE WINNER . . . The actual Republican candidate is on the move, as one would expect of the primary winner, his eye on November. If earwigs think Joe Miller is going to run some down-home, cornball "real-Alaskan" campaign, think again. Roll Call, the Capitol Hill newspaper, reports he's hired Mike Gula, a professional Beltway fundraiser who taps K Street lobbyists for Republican candidates. The story says Lisa never got along that well with big D.C. lobbyists, so they'll probably be happy to pony up big bucks for Joe.
THE OTHER WINNER . . . Word is a rep from the Democratic National Committee is due in state this week to discuss whether Sitka Mayor Scott McAdams should step down in favor of a better known candidate.
This is an amusing idea for several reasons. First, earwigs remember how desperately the Dems tried to get one of their stars to run in the primary. Willie Hensley is one of the many who turned down the honor of being crushed by presumably unbeatable Lisa Murkowski.
Now, with her defeat, the seat's in play and a lot more attractive. Several polls hit the field last week, exploring possibilities for the new and improved contest, including Tony Knowles and Fran Ulmer. (Do we really think either one of them would run?)
As usual, Ear knows nothing. But McAdams doesn't look like he's considering backing out. Instant fundraisers are popping up all over town, and the national website actblue.com, a clearinghouse for Democrats, has already raised more than $126,000 for him.
As interesting as all this what-if is, reality will be made manifest by Sept. 15.
ON THE MOVE . . . Longtime Assistant U.S. Attorney Crandon Randell, who specialized in federal criminal prosecutions, retired last week. His colleagues -- Karen Loeffler, Dan Cooper and Stephan Collins among them -- sent him on his way with a pig roast. Hmmm.
OUT AND ABOUT . . . Spotted having coffee at the Brayton Kaladi Brothers, former Palin aide Frank Bailey, who is reportedly still working on that insider book about Sarah's time as governor. He's the aide Sarah kicked to the curb during the Troopergate fallout.
Bailey hasn't been giving interviews, but earwigs say he and two co-writers are about 70 percent done with a manuscript based heavily on thousands of e-mails sent and received by people in the gov's office during that period.
PAGE ONE . . . "Going to Extremes" author Joe McGinniss has ended his summer of love in Wasilla and headed Outside to write his book about Sarah. Or so he said during an interview Tuesday on APRN.
He also has to find a new title for the tome -- the working title, "Sarah Palin's Year of Living Dangerously," doesn't work anymore. It's been more than a year, he said, and we're more in danger now than she is.
A caller got a laugh with the suggestion he call it "Going to Extremists."
SHE WHO WAS . . . Some days it feels like everyone is writing about Sarah, or about the people who write about her. Right now, it's a flap over that "profile" in the October issue of Vanity Fair. Reporters and critics are shocked, just shocked to discover the author relied on anonymous sources and apparently didn't check all his facts. Oh please.
TOURISTS . . . This from a Homer earwig: A tourist standing on a dock with a local fisherman, said, "We're so far north. How far above sea level are we?"
"Hmmm," said the fisherman, looking down at the water. "About 10 feet."
MORE TOURISTS . . . From the Skagway News column, "Heard on the Wind."
A woman came into the visitor center and asked if she was near her hotel.
"Which hotel?" the staff member behind the counter responded.
"The place I left my luggage at."
Compiled by Sheila Toomey. Message Sheila at ear@adn.com or 257-4341. Find Ear online at www.adn.com/ear.
Important warning about e-mails purporting to be from the adn.com staff.