The Alaska Republican Party is quite probably the most corrupt state party around today, though I will say that it has competition from the Missouri, Kentucky and Ohio Republican parties. From the VECO scandal to Troopergate, almost the entire Alaska Republican Party is under investigation, indicted or, for some State level Republicans, in jail. One of the Republican Senators and Alaska's House Rep are part of this culture of corruption.

Now it seems to be Sarah Palin's turn.

When I was first told that John McCain picked Sarah Palin as his VP, my response was "is he crazy?" To pick someone who is ACTIVELY under investigation and who is a member of the most corrupt state party in the country seemed insane given the fact that Republican corruption was the number one issue in 2006...and one that led to a major Democratic victory. For McCain, himself linked to the old Savings and Loan scandal, to pick someone actively under investigation seemed to be among the dumbest things he could have done.

Just when you thought the Republicans were ready to shed one of their sleazier, more corrupt members, it seems he is hoping for a comeback. Disgraced Republican Vito "Two-family values" Fossella wants back on the ballot after pledging he wouldn't seek re-election after his drunk driving arrest and the revalation that he was, essentially, a bigamist with two families.

From the Daily News:

Don't count out disgraced Rep. Vito Fossella just yet.

Four months after a DWI arrest and revelations about an out-of-wedlock child forced him to forgo a run for reelection this fall, the shamefaced Staten Island Republican is looking for a way back on the ballot...

There's only one problem: The election lineup is already set.

Ex-Republican Assemblyman Robert Straniere and Democratic Councilman Michael McMahon won primaries last week. Paul Atanasio is the Conservative Party's nominee; Carmine Morano is the Independence Party candidate.

A candidate can only be bumped off the ballot now if they die, move out of state or are nominated to run for a judgeship.

I have volunteered to be on the Host Committee for a fundraiser for one of the most amazing women I have ever met: Diane Benson running for Congress in Alaska. And she has been outraising her Republican opponent! Yes, folks, we have a real shot at getting rid of yet another corrupt Bush/Abramoff Republican and replacing him with a true working class American patriot.

Diane Benson has made opposition to the Iraq Quagmire the central focus of her campaign, largely because her son lost his legs serving in Iraq, fighting for Bush's war based on lies. But she also is someone that appeals to Alaska voters because, unlike her primary opponents and the Republican incumbent, she has actually worked as a truck driver and as a commercial fisherman, so can speak for working class Alaskans.