Welcome to this edition of the Alaska Stalker, a lighthearted round up of the best and worst of Alaska’s social media landscape.
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If you enjoy the Alaska Stalker, please consider supporting working moms like me by sending in hot tips, overheards, and spotted ins. You can reach me at akstalker@alaskalandmine.com. As always, thanks for reading.
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A sad update from one of the greats. Hobo Jim is Alaska. Thank you for the music, the stories, and for loving our state.
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And now on to politics… It was bound to happen. After three special sessions someone finally lost it. It’s with a heavy heart I report Sen. Mia Costello has lost her marbles. literally.
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Thankfully the dads of the legislature came through with some big dad joke energy to lighten the mood. I have to give Sen. Micciche credit for posting something that didn’t make me feel uncomfortable the way his Calvin Coolidge sex chickens bit did. However, someone should warn him this joke could be taken as slightly “anti-mask.” 🙃
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Is Rep. Kevin McCabe capable of making anything non-political? It’s exhausting. Naturally Sen. Robb the King of Dad Jokes Myers showed Kevin’s post some appreciation with a “like.”
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Never forget, Robb is the 👑. 🤣🤣🤣
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Sen. David Wilson took a sweeter approach to self-care after a hard week at work. David, do you have a recipe book yet?
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Sen. Bill Wielechowski had a few and went hard at the Alaska State Fair. Four first prize ribbons and Division Champion? Congrats, Bill!
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Yes, this is a screen cap of Rep. Steve Thompson admitting that, while he can’t do basic math, he’s pretty normal when it comes to life experiences. Rep. Grier Hopkins on the other hand is a certified delinquent. This post made my week!
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Time for another addition of guess the legislator! Can you tell who this young whippersnapper is?
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Giving blood is awesome! Even though he tried to make it weirdly political, we should all thank Rep. McCarty and think about making our own appointment. Seriously, give blood. It saves lives! 🩸
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Did you see Rep. Sara Hannan’s apology for her positive comments about Nazi medical experiments? I guess after four comments she was done with the self-reflection and limited the comments section. I didn’t even know you could do that!
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Just keep moving? Try moving from side to side? Looks like Rep. Rasmussen’s been studying those redistricting maps. 🧐🏠
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I have a feeling someone else might be peeking at those same maps…
What do you look for in a leader? I want s/o who keeps their focus forward and on solutions, values integrity, shares a vision w/ others, and has emotional intelligence. The collective lack of these skills in #akleg is depressing and worrisome. We can (?) and must expect more.
— jason (@jgrenn) September 13, 2021
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Candidates have been filing for office, press releases are starting to fly, and campaign signs are popping up. But… It’s felt a little slow. That all changed this week. You want to know how I know we’re in full-on election season again? They’re turning against Alaska’s sweetheart, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Zink, to bash Dunleavy and promote his opponents. If I were Anne Zink I’d say screw those dudes and run for governor. You all know she’d probably win. That name ID tho… 📈
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I only follow Sen. Lisa Murkowski on Instagram. Highly recommend. Her posts are lighthearted, mostly scenery (and Verne!), and she even squeezes in some local fashion. Check out Lisa’s new campaign boots. Local. Waterproof. Yellow. Hey, Lisa, I know a certain blazer that would go great with those. 💛
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Kelly Tshibaka also has some new campaign boots. While I hear it’s now acceptable to wear white after Labor Day, I’m not sure these are vibing with Chewie’s whole born and raised Alaska tough image.
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Speaking of Kelly, a loyal Stalker reader wrote to me with bated breath about Kelly’s latest campaign fundraiser. “Holy cow! For the price of this year’s PFD, you can get your own “Team Kelly” membership card! Which apparently… Lets you listen in to Zooms with campaign staff.” 🤭
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Did you hear the news?🗞️📺
So how does #AlaskaTwitter feel about a journalism show set in Anchorage? ????????https://t.co/VgoIoPF8JH
— Shayne Nuesca (@shaynenuesca) September 13, 2021
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I’m not sure if they are accepting auditions for the show via Twitter, but that didn’t stop Anchorage Assemblymember Forrest Dunbar from submitting the performance of a lifetime. Check out his rant against the ADN. He ends it with FULL CAPS, natch.
Bravo! What a performance. I can envision Forrest and Hillary Swank’s first scene clearly:
4th Avenue, by the “Balto” statue.
Swank: My editor told me I needed to meet with you to try to understand this place.
Dunbar: Takes a long swig from a Kaladi Brother’s coffee.
Dunbar: I may not have been born here, but I’ve lived here my whole life. I’m still trying to figure it out. If I knew what the people wanted, I’d be mayor right now.
Swank: They say you’re going to be a congressman some day.
Forrest throws his head back to laugh, trying to hide the tears in his eyes. Alaska boys don’t cry.
Forrest: We’ll see. We’ll see. In Alaska politics anything is possible. We’ve survived earthquakes, Exxon Valdez, Sarah Palin, and even VECO. Now we just need to survive the darkest chapter in our history: me not winning mayor.
Swank: What’s VECO?
Dunbar removes his weathered Carhartt jacket and hands it to Swank.
Dunbar “You going to need this.”
Scene.
God’s speed Hobo.