Dennis Zaki Blog - AlaskaReport

“Goodbye from the world’s biggest polluter”

George Bush surprised world leaders with a joke about his poor record on the environment as he left the G8 summit in Japan.

From The Guardian (UK)

The American leader, who has been condemned throughout his presidency for failing to tackle climate change, ended a private meeting with the words: “Goodbye from the world’s biggest polluter.”

He then punched the air while grinning widely, as the rest of those present including Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy looked on in shock.

Mr Bush, whose second and final term as President ends at the end of the year, then left the meeting at the Windsor Hotel in Hokkaido where the leaders of the world’s richest nations had been discussing new targets to cut carbon emissions.

One official who witnessed the extraordinary scene said afterwards: “Everyone was very surprised that he was making a joke about America’s record on pollution.”

I can’t believe it. I expected to be blown off. Yesterday I got a notice from the Committee on Arrangements for the 2008 Republican National Convention.

Dear Media Credential Applicant:

Thank you for your interest in covering the 2008 Republican National Convention and applying for Special Press Credentials.

This letter is to inform you that Alaska Report has been approved to receive one (1) Special Press Credential for the purpose of covering the convention.

On June 19th the Democrats credentialed me to their Convention.

PS I’m the only news guy from Alaska going to either convention. How bout them apples. I’ll get to see George and Dick up close and personal. If I go missing, send help to Guantanamo!

The governors office sent this release out before the presser:

Governor Sarah Palin today joined Senator Ted Stevens in publicly discussing energy initiatives currently under way on the state and federal levels to alleviate the financial burden on Alaskans and provide for immediate and long-term relief.

“The Senator and I are working closely together in addressing the needs of our current energy crisis,” said Governor Sarah Palin. “We wholeheartedly support the Senator’s four-pronged approach that relies on domestic energy development coupled with alternative energy development, conservation, and legislation that protects Alaskans from anti-development litigation and protects all Americans from the impact of unchecked market speculation.”

Over the course of the last few months, the Governor has unveiled a multi-phase statewide energy plan that puts Alaskans first and mirrors the Senator’s efforts on the national level. The Governor’s plan includes a statewide energy coordinator and contains three major components: immediate short-term relief through energy rebates and state gas tax suspension; intermediate steps, which include the development of reliable energy alternatives as well as a possible bullet line for transporting North Slope natural gas to Southcentral; and then the long-term plan, which includes the overland gas pipeline to the Lower 48 that maximizes jobs for Alaskans, gas for Alaskans, and revenue for Alaskans.

“This synergistic relationship with the state and federal governments working hand-in-hand during this delicate time is welcomed and necessary, and the Senator and I look forward to combining our efforts to help Alaskans work through this energy crisis,” the Governor said. “Additionally, Alaska has always played an important role in providing reliable domestic energy to the Lower 48, and we will continue to be a part of the nation’s energy solution as they look to us for assistance.”

After Ted laid out his energy plan, I pitched a question that I have been dying to get an answer to from both of them. I asked Ted and Sarah about a federal study that showed that even if Alaska’s ANWR is opened, gas prices would only drop 2 cents - and it would take 15 years for that to happen. Ted snapped and said NY Senator Chuck Schumer was to blame for the “stupid” study and that it wasn’t true.

And so the Vic Kohring saga ends

I went out to the side of the road near the Eklutna exit along the Glenn Highway early this morning to see Vic Kohring off in a bizzare fashion. Kohring spent three hours waving goodbye to Alaskans from alongside the highway that he used to campaign from. As Vic waved to the morning commuters on a cool and blustery day, a lot of people honked, quite a few gave him the one finger salute, and one taunted him for over an hour via bullhorn with “Go to jail!” and “F*** you Vic!”

After surrendering himself to federal marshals around 10 am, Vic is now a federal prisoner locked up in a dingy cell in Anchorage. He’s now awaiting a trip down south for three and half long years at Taft prison in California.

Kohring was convicted in November of bribery, conspiracy and attempted extortion for his involvement with Bill Allen, the former owner of an oil services company that bribed several Alaska lawmakers including Senator Ted Stevens and his son. Kohring will have to serve at least three years of his sentence with good behaviour before he could be considered for early release.

Vic has delusions that he’ll be exonerated by an appeals court. No chance on that. They got him, it’s over. “I’m feeling confident,” Kohring claimed, “My legal prospects are very good.” No he wasn’t, and no they are not.

Vic was talking confident, but you could hear the doubt in his voice. I’ve interviewed Vic around 6 times in the past year, this was the first time he seemed beaten. I think he finally gets it.

Tidbit: Vic’s “Thanks Alaska” sign was made with an old campaign sign from Lyda Green. Oh, how the mighty have fallen!

Cover Blown…

I followed Don Young around today like stink on a monkey at the Labor/Union picnic in Anchorage. He was not too happy about it. Don eventually came up to me and said “Who are you working for?” I told I’m just a guy shooting pictures. A couple of chumps with him asked around to try to find out who I was. They didn’t.

Just before Don left, a friend of mine asked Don about the passing of the FISA bill that gives immunity to telecom companies so they won’t testify against President Bush.

In the video Donald says that trial lawyers are responsible for the FISA legislation.

Convicted “Corrupt Bastard Club” member Vic Kohring sent this statement Friday afternoon in an email to AlaskaReport. “Kohring plans to say “goodbye” to his friends, supporters and former constituents by doing his trademark highway sign waving along the Glenn Highway early Monday morning”

“The disclosure seemed designed to inflict a psychological blow on Republicans”

Here’s one of my favorite stories of the year that I just posted on AlaskaReport.

It’s a tough time to be a Republican. Dick Cheney resorts to lying about the Chinese drilling for oil off the Florida coast. Hate and fear-mongering isn’t working, race-bating has failed, and the crappiest president to rule a country in the history of the world is your leader. What’s a brownshirt gotta do to get a vote these days?

This picture was taken at a bill-signing in Anchorage on Tuesday.

Alaska senator Lesil McGuire has stopped wearing the wedding ring given to her by convicted criminal Tom “Tommy Boy” Anderson. That was quick. Jay “Ramrod” Ramras is on the scene now. At least that’s the scuttlebutt around the capitol.

Former Alaska state Rep. Tommy received a stiff sentence of five years in prison for his conviction July 9th on seven federal counts of conspiracy and bribery.

McGuire had her own troubles with the FBI. From AlaskaReport: Lesil McGuire made “veiled threats” against government witness: FBI

AlaskaReport’s ongoing Alaska corruption coverage:

AlaskaReport.com’s Corrupt Bastard Club Stories

Tom Anderson sentenced to five years in federal prison

Corrupt Republican Anderson begs for mercy

Legislator Tom Anderson Convicted Of Corruption

State Rep. Anderson arrested for corruption

My friend David Shurtleff is leaving his 10 dollar a day cozy APRN reporter position for a wads of dough press secretary job with the Ethan Berkowitz campaign.

David just sent this to me “I’ll be leaving APRN as of June 29th, and will no longer be covering politics/political matters up until I leave.”

Dave, we hardly got to know you. Once the next round of Republican indictments come down, what are you going to do with yourself?

Once Ethan gets trounced in the primary by Diane Benson, are you going to come groveling to me for a job or what?

Another Corrupt Bastard Club Charter Member Bites The Dust

One week after the FBI’s corruption grand jury met, VECO crony Lyda Green is suddenly dropping out of her re-election race. After a talk with FBI target John Cowdery, I’m sure she’s getting indicted it’s just a coincidence that she’s bailing out right now.

VECO home repair recipient Green says she “takes polls with a grain of salt.” Uh huh. But in an ADN article Saturday, Green now claims that is the reason she’s dropping out. Friday she claimed she was leaving because it was all Sarah Palin’s fault with no mention of humiliating polls showing a massive defeat looming.

As Philip Munger speculates, there’s more to the story.