I don?t know when it was that I promised to no longer say ?you can?t make this stuff up,? but I want to say right up front that I?m going back on my word. I don?t often do that, but when I tell you this little story, you?ll forgive me, I know. ?Toddler-think? has once again become the coping mechanism of choice in our state?s capital.
When we last left the scene, our governor had the ball in her court regarding the filling of the vacant senate seat in Juneau. Juneau Democrats, as procedure dictates, had submitted a name to the governor for approval. The name was Beth Kerttula, who as we know, had been critical of Palin in the past. So the governor got out her red ink pad, and did the big REJECTED stamp on that very short list.
Then the governor decided not to wait for a new list of names, but to go all mavericky and pick her own name - Tim Grussendorf. Tim was kind enough to become a Democrat (required when wanting to replace a Democrat) two weeks before he was appointed by the governor. He ?didn?t realize? he was a Republican. Nice try. The Senate Democrats kind of looked at each other, thinking ?What the?.? and got out their own red ink pad, and returned the REJECTED name to Palin.
So, the governor decided that instead of just Democrats voting on Grussendorf, EVERYone should do it and it should be a public vote. Next time a Republican goes to jail and needs to get replaced, they don?t want Dems mucking it up, so this time EVERYone got out their red ink pads and REJECTED the governor?s rewritten rules because who wants the other party voting on your senator?
Then, the Democratic Senators submitted another list. This time there were three names on it. And the governor chose a name that was not on that list - Joe Nelson. Now, the Dems were really starting to get irked. Had the governor completely lost her mind? This was a matter of principle. She was supposed to choose from a list of names they submitted, not make up the rules as she went along just because she didn?t get her way.
So, the Dems stood tall and broke out that ink pad. REJECTED again. This time, they stamped it extra hard, so the governor would get the idea that she wasn?t going to get her way. Things would happen as they had always happened. And then, an olive branch. A beautiful, diplomatic olive branch from Juneau Mayor Bruce Botehlo.
Yesterday Botehlo attempted to break the six week old stalemate to fill Juneau?s vacant State Senate seat by proposing a candidate that was highly qualified and embraced by both Democrats and Republicans.
Dennis Egan, who is a former Juneau Mayor and the son of a former Alaska governor, was forwarded to Palin for consideration to replace Democrat Kim Elton who resigned his seat to take a job with the Obama administration.
Surely that would meet with the governor?s approval. Everyone would save face, the ship would be turned back on course, the tantrum would end, and we could all get back to business.
Right?
Ahhhh?. surely you didn?t think that would be the end of the story did you? I didn?t think you did. Because you?re still waiting for that part in the beginning where I said ?you can?t make this stuff up.? Here goes.
Palin has now submitted ?.a list of three names. Yes, folks, it?s backwards day in Juneau! She didn?t like the fact that it was the other side that was supposed to submit a list of names, so she just went ahead and did it herself. And who?s on the list? The first name is Tim Grussendorf. ?Hold on a minute,? you may be thinking. ?Hasn?t he already been rejected?? Why, yes he has. Soundly. And so has the second nominee, Joe Nelson. And the third name? No, of course it?s not Dennis Egan. That would make sense, and be a brilliant diplomatic move, showing?.wisdom and maturity. No, Dennis, like Kerttula fell victim to the big red REJECTED stamp.
Enter Alan Wilson, name #3. Nobody knows much about Alan Wilson. The Division of Elections tells us that Alan Wilson is not a registered Democrat, although Palin?s spokeswoman Sharon Leighow tells us he is too. He converted on March 4. And this means that the third and final candidate has not only been chosen from outside the Democrats? list, but According to the Division of Elections at the time of his nomination, he is ineligible to hold the seat. And just for a little added enjoyment, public records tell us that he?s married to one Sydney Mitchell, who owns a little shop in Juneau called Shoefly. Those of you who are Sarah Palin trivia junkies will remember that Shoefly is where Sarah Palin purchased her infamous pair of red Naughty Monkey pumps, that were sold on Ebay for $2025.
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