A former Don Young staffer, in response to my Alaska column

As a former staffer for Don Young and a reader of yours, I must say that your latest piece is…right on the money. Personally, Don treated me like gold and I will always be grateful. But from a policy perspective, what you described is exactly the environment that pervaded the office. It’s a reason one of my former peers, Mark Zachares is in federal prison. Don and Ted Stevens may join him. I was having lunch with another former staffer the other day and he remarked that it was too bad Don hadn’t retired before the last cycle. Had he, Don would have rode off into the sunset with an unblemished record as a great champion for Alaska. Ditto for Uncle Ted, only at a higher level. How many members have escaped due scrutiny in the same way? It is a shame for Don Young and Ted Stevens that they stayed too long. For the country and the party, it is best they did not.