GET OVER YOURSELF ...Who knew House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was more important than, say, a president? The lady was in Anchorage Friday, one of those Asia-bound stopover things. She went from Elmendorf to the Alaska Native Heritage Center a little after 3 p.m. to meet and greet those deemed worthy, which is fine. George and Laura Bush did the same thing once.
The difference is, the Bushes were straightforward about it. No interviews, by invitation only, but take all the photos you want.
By contrast, everyone denied any knowledge of a Pelosi visit, even when security flanked the center and asked each other if "the speaker" had arrived yet, according to one earwig who was there.
Ear completely understands Pelosi not wanting to talk to any nosy reporters. Really, darlings, how many times should she be forced to tie herself in knots about the "nuances" of her knowledge/approval of torture?
But to pretend she wasn't here? And no news photos?
Wonder if her official itinerary listed her as being at "an undisclosed location."
Ph.D. IN PALIN ... Roberta Graham, former ad exec and current member of Dan Sullivan's transition team, is presenting a paper at a big convention in Chicago -- something called the International Communications Association. Thousands of people from all over the world, according to their Web site. Lots of scholarly presentations on how people talk to each other, or something like that.
Imagine Robbie's surprise when she checked in and discovered that no fewer than 14 research papers and a whole workshop were devoted to the study of our Sarah.
Some of the titles almost moved Ear to buy a plane ticket to the Windy City:
• "Pit Bulls, Politics and Gender Performance. A Feminist Analysis of Sarah Palin on Major News Web Sites."
• "Your Mama Wears Combat Boots. Palin and Cultural/Ethnic Contradictions in the Framing of Motherhood."
• "Dudes for Sarah: Sportin' and Courtin' Election Affections."
• "When a Hockey Mom Met the RNC Platinum Card."
The workshop is "Gender, Race, Sexuality and the Palin Factor."
The Omniscient Orifice is longing to read them all, but you need a password and goear doesn't work.
DOWNSIZED ... Hoity-toity earwigs, accustomed to the posh (Alaska definition) setting of Don Young's annual pig roast fundraisers over the years, are complaining about the cheesy-looking invitations they got to what they claim is an early edition of the event, which is usually held later in the summer. This one is called a birthday fundraiser -- much more P.C.
However, the part that really amazed was the "suggested donation" of $20. Twenty dollars? When has anyone been able to get with Don for only $20?
OUTSHOT ... Those of you who attend the event, whatever it is, should be extra nice to Darling Don, Congressman for All Alaskans Who Voted for Him. Roll Call, the Capitol Hill newspaper, reports his team just lost the Top Gun contest at the 2009 Congressional Shoot Out. The contest pits members of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus against each other, Democrats vs. Republicans, at the Prince George's County Trap and Skeet Center in Maryland. The Democrats won. And a couple of guys who are not Don won individual competitions.
Alas, he's been too long away from Fort Yukon.
THE HONORABLE ... No, darlings, it wasn't Bring Your Teenager to Work Day in Congress. That was our Boy Senator up there on the giant podium Wednesday night, presiding over the U.S. Senate. Ear was almost impressed, until ADN Washington reporter Erika Bolstad said they make all the newbies do it to better learn how everything works.
IF IT PLEASE THE COURT ... Talk about getting lucky. Soon-to-be ex-Mayor Matt Claman went into court Tuesday and played prosecutor for a day, trying a drunk driving case to a misdemeanor jury. He's a real lawyer -- civil law now but a public defender once upon a time.
Anyhow, prosecutors will tell you that non-victim witnesses to crimes are often sketchy people, the kind of folks likely to be hanging around where crimes happen.
The key witness in Matt's case? A special ed teacher, formerly in law enforcement in the Air Force.
Yes, he got a conviction.
No, he won't be applying for a job in Dan Sullivan's Department of Law.
DO SEND A FONDU ... Former Anchorage police chief and retired legislator Brian Porter got married in January in Cathedral City, Calif., at the home of former Anchorage attorney Bill Jermain, who performed the ceremony. The official wedding announcement says Brian and the bride, Karla Shepherd, met when they were both students at the old Anchorage High School.
Why is Ear just hearing about it? Brian retired to Palm Springs a while ago and doesn't write, doesn't call.
MEA CULPA ... Rep. Paul Seaton has not moved, as far as Ear knows. He has filed to run again in District 35, not District 32 as wrongly reported here last week.
WELCOME TO THE WORLD ... as we know it, Anneka Rose Wilmot, born May 14 to Daily News Valley reporter Zaz Hollander and hubby Ron Wilmot.
And, Miriam Buckwalter DeGeorge, born last Sunday to Anchorage Press editor Krestia DeGeorge and wife Rachel Buckwalter.
Compiled by Sheila Toomey. E-mail ear@adn.com. Find Ear online at adn.com/ear.
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