Our view: Who's up Who's down for 2010

DOWN -- Joe Miller: Talk about reversal of fortune. He goes from Tea Party Express road warrior to sour-grapes vendor in less than three months. And less in command than ever.

UP -- Sarah Palin: Fox gig, Alaska reality show, book tour, speaking engagements and continued chatter of a presidential run in 2012. Her "negative ratings" in Alaska may be up but her feet haven't touched the ground since 2008.

UP -- Gov. Sean Parnell: Remember "Captain Zero" and "Palin lite"? Forget 'em. Parnell runs low-profile campaign and cruises to a term in his own right. Your move, Gov.

DOWN -- Love caucus: Reps. Kyle Johansen and Charisse Millett bolt GOP caucus in burst of romantic solidarity -- then find out that in political wilderness, two is a lonely number.

UP -- Kikkan Randall: Alaska's finest excels in Winter Games, gets off to fast start on World Cup circuit. Word to Alaska's kids: Be like Kikkan.

DOWN -- Ethan Berkowitz: He can't seem to win statewide office (0 for 3) but keeps running and never runs out of ideas. Still got your sample lifetime hunting and fishing license?

UP -- David Vann: Alaska-born author couldn't find an agent for his "Legend of a Suicide," set in Southeast, for 12 years. Now "Legend" is a best-seller in Europe, where Vann wins French equivalent of Pulitzer Prize. Movie in the works; book featured on BBC.

EVEN -- Gas line prospects: Here's a long-range bar bet for you -- which of these will happen first: Susitna dam, Alaska gas line, Knik Arm bridge, Chicago Cubs win World Series?

DOWN -- Anchorage smokers: Assembly slaps another 75 cents of sin tax on their cigarette habit. No wonder nobody can bum a smoke anymore. Can't buy a carton without a credit check.

EVEN -- Alaska tourism: Numbers flat, but cruise ships call at Anchorage and independent travelers are returning north. Salmon, bears and glaciers will always be a draw.

UP -- Cruise ship industry: Full-press lobbying and specter of lost commerce win cut in head tax voters passed in 2006 -- plus cruisers get critic bounced from science panel. Who rules the waves?

UP -- Anchorage Museum: The award-winning expansion cost $110 million but we now have a showcase for Alaska Native treasures from the Smithsonian and a planetarium selling out shows of Pink Floyd videos. And you "Habitat" haters will bristle to learn it's already being copied in Europe. Yep, this statue has legs.

DOWN -- Oil production: Ominous talk of pipeline volume running too low to flow. Uh, what was that old talk of economic diversification? What's that you say? Too late? How fast can you burn through a $10 billion surplus?