Moore Up North for January 30, 2010.

In the first segment we have Anchorage Assemblyman, Mike Gutierrez, who discusses fellow assemblyman, and Mayor Sullivan's lap dog, Bill Starr's incredibly partisan attacks on Senator Mark Begich.

Part One



In this next segment Shannyn welcomes Tom Brennan, author / columnist at the Anchorage Daily Planet, Bob Poe, a candidate for Governor of Alaska, and Steve Heimel, veteran Alaskan broadcaster.

Part Two



Part Three



Part Four



Part Five



I am becoming more and more (or is that Moore and Moore) impressed with this show each week.

We have NOTHING else like this in Alaska, and it clearly fills a need. Shannyn is becoming ever more comfortable in her role as the "hostess with the mostess", and the panel she picks are always very well informed and interesting.

My only bitch with the show is the production value, but everybody knows that it is not the best and they are hoping to improve it.

Bob Poe supports equal rights in Anchorage. Believe it or not that actually sets him apart from other politicians in the state. I know right?

I support equal rights for all people. And I support banning discrimination in Anchorage due solely to someone's sexual orientation. I support a comprehensive equal rights ordinance because it's the right thing to do, period.

Wow! A gubernatorial candidate who supports equal rights and does not go to a fundamentalist church? Gee is it too early to cast my vote?

After the prejudice and oppression that defined the Palin administration it is like a breath of fresh air to finally have somebody running for the office who understands that basic human rights are for ALL humans, not just the ones that look like you, think like you, and go to your church.

And look! Bob even explains his point of view using a thing called "logic":

Anchorage is becoming a real city, perhaps even destined to be the next great West Coast city, but it needs to guard against the attitudes that would hold us back. Anchorage would not be what it is today without the Performing Arts Center, the First Friday art gallery walk, a variety of music venues, Saturday Market, the Dena'ina Center, City Market, or even a downtown disc golf course. All of these are examples of things that make a city better, one that is growing. Being open to new ideas, different lifestyles, new and different ways to embrace life is important to a bright future here. But to get there we need the right attitude first.

I support equal rights for every person because it is the right thing to do. I also support this ordinance because it can help Anchorage attract the talented people it will need to build its future as a great place to live and work for all of us.

I could not have said it better myself, and believe me I tried.

I am not sure who all of the possible candidates for Governor will be as we get closer to election Tuesday, but I have to say that Bob Poe has certainly not been shy to take on the tough issues and expose himself to criticism from those who do not agree with him. And I am sure it will surprise no one to learn that is something I find very admirable.

The last thing I want is some wishy washy, double talking Democrat, who is trying to be all things to all people, to get the nomination this time. I want somebody with chutzpah.

And by the way. I really do know Bob Poe. And I like him.

I think that if you got to know him, you would too.

Alaskan Democrats starting to mobilize in anticipation of gubernatorial run in 2010.

Ethan Berkowitz sounds like he’s getting ready to run for governor.

“We’re taking an extremely close look at it, it’s something I’m very interested in doing,” Berkowitz told me earlier today.

Berkowitz is starting to attract national attention as a potential Democratic challenger to Republican Gov. Sarah Palin, telling CQ politics (which rates the race as “Republican favored”) that “my sights are now on the governor’s race.”

No, no, no, no!

I absolutely do not want Ethan running for Governor. If he was unable to defeat Don Young (the most reviled politician in Alaska) for the House seat, what makes him think he has a snowballs chance in hell of getting the nomination away from Bob Poe?

This is simply his bruised ego forcing him to jump into this race, but he faces yet another defeat, and if he were smart he would simply move on from politics and find another line of work. I have not forgotten how let down I felt after the 2008 election.

It also sounds like Hollis French is considering a run for Governor as well. I really like and respect Hollis, but I am also not enamored of his chances this time around.

This is not about Sarah Palin, who I don't even believe is even going to run this time, it is about getting the very best person into this job. Just like needing a Barack Obama to repair the damage done to our country by eight years of George Bush, we are going to need a very capable, intelligent leader to get our state back on track after the Palinator has laid waste to it during her one disastrous term.

The really irritating thing about this is that it splits the progressives (just like during the disastrous mayoral race) into different camps and waters down our fundraising efforts and ability to organize. The thing that may have helped Dan Sullivan the most during the mayoral run was that he faced no competition to take the conservative slot.

If the progressives do not quickly get their act together this time it is conceivable that we could suffer yet another defeat by some as yet unnamed conservative opponent.

As of today I am a Bob Poe supporter and will help his campaign as much as I can.

However I am a good liberal and will throw my support behind whoever the people choose as their Democratic candidate. Especially if it is Bob Poe. I am just saying.

My pal Dennis Zaki asks the question "Who is Bob Poe"?

Who is Bob Poe? from Dennis Zaki on Vimeo.

For those of you not in the know, Bob Poe is the anti-Sarah Palin.

A supremely intelligent and competent man who is very forthright and accessible. Mr. Poe speaks his mind, regardless if it is the politically smart choice to make, and has been very gracious with his time when it comes to speaking to bloggers and other citizens of Alaska.

Personally I am a huge fan, and believe that he is the main reason that Sarah Palin will not even attempt to run for re-election. She would be slaughtered.

I just received this e-mail last night from Bob Poe.

Hi Gryphen, sorry for the slow reply. I'm embarrassed to say that I am just now mastering our g-mail accounts. I read your piece the evening it came out. It really was quite a surprise and you were quite kind. I also enjoyed meeting you and found our conversation fun and stimulating. (Do you hear that? The possible future Governor of our state described our conversation as "fun and stimulating". Well I guess that proves Mr. Poe is a WONDERFUL judge of character and easily entertained.)

Keep up the good work, I think bloggers really are changing the face, and the pace, of the media in the world today. ("changing the face, and pace, of media in the world today". Wow! Mr. Poe is clearly a visionary who realizes just how vitally important pajama clad anonymous bloggers are to the future of politics in Alaska and the rest of the world.)

Best regards,

Bob Poe

(Here is the link to the post that Mr. Poe is referring to in the above e-mail.)

I had a little fun with Mr. Poe's e-mail, but to be honest I was very honored that he took the time to respond. I am also very pleased that he found our conversation stimulating. This idea of interviewing candidates and politicians is kind of a new one for me, as I usually just sit back and let loose with the snark. However I hope that I am improving in that area and can bring a different perspective then the usual news outlets do to the character and personalities of these individuals who may some day be the most powerful people in our state.

I met Bob Poe tonight.

Bob Poe, an erstwhile state commissioner and former president of the Anchorage Economic Development Corp., has announced his run for the Alaska Democratic gubernatorial ticket in 2010. Whether Sarah Palin will seek re-election is yet to be determined. But if she does, The Hillsays that Poe could prove to be a formidable challenger:

Poe is viewed as a serious, viable candidate by state Democrats, though there are some other candidates that could derail Poe's bid to unseat Palin. Poe lacks statewide name recognition unlike a candidate such as Ethan Berkowitz, the Democrat who came close to defeating Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) this past November.

I went to this Democratic "meet and greet" held at Cafe Del Mundo in midtown. The idea was to show support for and to congratulate the Democrats who just won their races and are headed off to Juneau. It was also to meet the Democrats who are throwing their hats into the ring for future races. Such as the Mayor's race and the Governors race in 2010.

Essentially I showed up just to hang out with fellow bloggers, give a hug to my gal CC, and get an idea if there any up and coming Democrats who are "blog worthy".

I saw many of the same familiar faces, and a few new ones. But there was one guy that was causing quite a buzz among the Democratic base, and it was some guy named Bob Poe. A man who it seems shares my dissatisfaction with our current Governor and is convinced that he could do a better job. (I know what you are thinking. Who couldn't?)

Now I had absolutely no idea who Bob Poe was, and really neither did any of my friends. None of the progressive bloggers seemed to know anything about him, none of my political rally friends seemed to know of him, hell even the always very informed CC could only shrug her shoulders.

Hmm intriguing.

So I decided, well hell I need to meet this guy.

I worked my way through the crowd, and then waited patiently with the line of people who were also waiting to shake hands with the man who may some day be our future Governor. I listened as each person talked about the issues near and dear to their hearts and then posed to him the questions that they hoped would reveal that he both understood and shared their concerns.

I saw smiling face after smiling face walk away after talking to wannabe Governor Bob Poe.

Oh this guy is good.

In my mind I formulated the proper questions to ask him that would reveal, in my few moments with him, that he was somebody that I could support in a future race. I soon realized that there was only one way to start this conversation.

After the nice lady with the special needs child finally released her steely grip from Poe's hand and walked away with a broad smile and damp eyes I stepped up.

He extended his hand. "Hi am Bob Poe, and you are?"

"I am one of those anonymous bloggers that you have been hearing so much about."

Mr. Poe's eyebrow lifted slightly and a smile slowly crept across his face.

"Go ahead ask me anything" he said, without any hint of trepidation. "Anything" I thought. Okay now we're talking.

I asked a few questions about the most pressing topics of the day. I politely listened to his answers, which were well informed and articulate, but I also paid very close attention to how he answered the questions and looked for anything in his body language that would indicate that he was bothered by my questions or that he was simply telling me what he believed I wanted to hear. He seemed genuinely to enjoy the conversation and answered each question far more effusively then was necessary. He had both passion and an impressive depth of knowledge. I was becoming a little impressed.

So then I decided to tell Mr. Bob Poe what I was looking for in a candidate.

"I want somebody that will help restore the reputation of my state" I said. "I want a smart, ethical person who will make decisions in an open and transparent fashion. I want a Governor who will make decisions that are in Alaska's best interests while keeping his ears open to the needs of the citizens at all times."

And then I decided to take my gloves off. "I also want a Governor with some balls! I want a man, or woman, who can stand toe to toe with any politician in the Republican stable. I want a Democrat who will not whine that things are not fair or fade from the fight when the battle is not yet won. Are you that Democrat?"

"I believe I am" he said. And he said it very convincingly. I briefly imagined him debating Sarah Palin and knew it would be over before it began, she is simply not in this guys league.

I walked away from meeting Bob Poe with a renewed confidence in the future of Alaska.

Will Bob Poe be the man who the Democrats choose to do battle with Sarah Palin in 2010? My crystal ball is just not that clear on the subject.

Is he likely to lose the nomination to Ethan Berkowitz? Absolutely not. Ethan is not the kind of Democrat we need in 2010. But Bob Poe? Well Bob Poe might very well be exactly what we are looking for.

(For more information on Bob Poe please visit his website at BobPoe.Com)