A QUESTION . . . The rumor persists that applicants for Richard Foster's seat had to promise not to follow in his footsteps and organize with the House majority Republicans.
Richard organized with the Republicans so often many people thought he was one. He was actually a Democrat.
Anyhow, the threat allegedly was that the Dems would field a well-financed, popular candidate in the primary to take out any turncoat. With Richard's son being appointed, is that still the plan?
PLEASE TAKE A SEAT . . . Word out of the Legislature is that Mike Doogan may take Harry Crawford's seat on the House Finance Committee. Harry expects to be busy campaigning against Don Young.
NOTED . . . Former Sen. Ted Stevens turns 86 on Wednesday. Earwigs wish him Happy Birthday, and note that this one has to be better than 84 and 85.
FLYING FACTOID . . . Darlings, you can imagine anti-social Ear's disdain for social networking. The Divine Appendage is almost as dumb about it as Levi claims to be. That's why the following item comes with all sorts of warnings. Ear has a copy of the Facebook page, so it exists, but there are no guarantees anyone involved is actually who they say they are. With that caveat, here goes:
David O'Connell, a 20-something political consultant from Connecticut, who ran Gabrielle LaDoux's congressional campaign and is Gov. Sean Parnell's campaign manager, is Facebook friends with Monica Lewinsky.
What does it mean? Absolutely nothing. It's just a sign of the times that this tidbit is making the rounds.
The "friends" shown on David's page Friday no longer included Monica's picture, but you can see a screen grab above.
SAY IT AIN'T SO . . . Ear hears that Sarah's book, due out this week, has no index, which means all those people who only want to know what she says about them will actually have to read the whole thing.
BTW, Sarah clearly has established herself in the popular culture. On the last episode of the successful new cop show, "NCIS Los Angeles," a woman fires a double-barreled shotgun at cops through a closed door. "Who do you think you are," one of the cops shoots back, "Sarah Palin?"
To be fair to Sarah, the woman didn't know they were cops. She thought it was a guy she didn't like.
TOO CLEVER . . . Speaking of Palins and anti-Palins, an earwig asked The Divine Appendage to pass along this brilliant marketing idea to Rex Butler:
Rex should arrange for his favorite client, Levi Johnston, to do an advertising campaign for Levi jeans. Something like "Levi wears Levis." It's a natural.
However, Ear suggests an even cleverer idea: have Levi (the guy) do a deal with the competition instead: "Lee Riders. Levi's favorite jeans."
Think Levi Strauss would pay him not to do it?
SOUND & PICTURES . . . Shannyn Moore, a local blogger and talk radio host who has made a name for herself Outside, has a new weekly television gig, an hour-long political talk show called "Moore Up North." It was set to debut yesterday at 4 p.m. on KYES Channel 5.
That's nice for Shannyn, who has to be one of the hardest working media people around. But here's the best part, the part Ear likes: The show is taped before a live, booze-inspired audience at Bernie's Bungalow.
Free tickets can be had by e-mailing mooreupnorth@gmail.com.
CHILLING OUT . . . An eavesdropping earwig caught KTVA Channel 11 anchor Matt Felling chatting up barristas at the Muldoon Target on Wednesday, asking for directions to the "really warm socks and underwear" department. He explained he was going to have to stand on the tarmac at Elmendorf for five hours Thursday, covering the Obama visit.
The ladies oohed and aahhhed as Matt walked off. Or so the earwig reports.
POTUS PASSING THROUGH . . . As long as we're on the president's visit, Ear has to give props to the only two Alaska Republican politicians to show some class by not snubbing the President, Mayor Dan Sullivan and Congressman Don Young. Young was out of state, so he gave a couple of his tickets to Ethan Berkowitz, his Democratic opponent in the last election, according to ADN reporter Rich Mauer.
Sen. Lisa was elsewhere in Alaska, while Gov. Parnell was actually in town. Disappointing just when we dared to hope we had a uniter, not a divider, in the governor's job. Does anyone believe the contractors he talked to wouldn't have rescheduled if asked nicely?
OUT AND ABOUT . . . A bunch of folks gathered last Sunday at the Food Bank of Alaska warehouse to raise money for the cause. It's an annual thing called Secrets of the Chefs. People like Mara Kimmel and husband Ethan Berkowitz climbed into Carhartts reflecting the "Classic Alaska" theme. Peter and Jo Michalski skipped the overalls and won the auction for a private dinner at Orso's with chef Rob Kinneen. Martin Buser was there, as were Rosey Fletcher and hubby Peter Grunwaldt, who are expecting soon. Mr. Whitekeys emceed.
CHASING CHECKS . . . Nobody is raising funds more energetically than Rep. Jay Ramas, who's running for Lite Guv like it's a job worth getting. He had fundraisers in Soldotna, Juneau and Anchorage last week. A fan reports more than 100 people showed up at the Anchorage event.
Compiled by Sheila Toomey. Contact Sheila at ear@adn.com. Find Ear online at adn.com/ear.