Alaska

[Donyo]

Are there any boarders located up there? I'm trying to figure out how in the hell the people of a state could re-elect a convicted felon to office, regardless of how much pork he's brought home in his forty years there. If he holds on for the victory and then gets thrown out of of the Senate by his colleagues, could Palin really appoint herself to fill the spot? From the news articles I've read today, there seems to be some confusion as to whether this could actually happen or if a special election will be necessary.

Here are the supposed numbers so far:

Ted Stevens (R) - 106,351
Mark Begich (D) - 102,998

That's a difference of 3353 votes with a reported 61,338 absentee, early, and provisional ballots still left to count, according to one source. It seems to me that simple math would tell you Begich needs only 53 or 54% of the remaining ballots to make up the difference. Considering that the last statewide poll before the election had him LEADING by 22 points, that doesn't seem too far out of the realm of imagination, does it?

Ugh, drama. I just can't believe it's even gotten to this point. Nice message you're sending to your children, citizens of Alaska.

[markalot]

It's a vote to give the seat to the governor for a replacement and keep it republican. A loss would have given the seat to the dems.

[UbiquitousBaby]

It's a vote to give the seat to the governor for a replacement and keep it republican. A loss would have given the seat to the dems.

mostly this. also:

- I think there is some backlash about the trial/conviction taking place in Washington and not in Alaska. Alaskans are fiercely independent (often with good reasons) and don't like to see Washington trying to tell them what to do.

- Stevens has done a lot to help out the far flung rural communities, and I think they will always be supportive of that.

- With the presidential election called early (AK time) and Stevens projected to lose big time, it's possible that many democrats didn't turn up to the polls. Although I think there was a race for the House that should have made them turn up, so this might not be very likely.

- Corruption isn't really all that unusual in Alaska and there might be a feeling of 'everybody is doing it, he just got caught'

- If this election season has taught us anything it is this: Alaska is crazy.


It'll be interesting to see the early votes get counted, although a lot of those could easily be from far flung rural voters (or possibly votes from before Stevens was convicted?...not sure if the timeline works out on that), so I don't know that it's a given that they will support Begich.

[Marlowe]

sarah is going to nominate herself to be senator after stevens resigns

[Docta]

sarah is going to nominate herself to be senator after stevens resigns

well not quite, she'll have to resign as gov. then her lieutenant gov. would appoint her

[Marlowe]

Ugh, drama. I just can't believe it's even gotten to this point. Nice message you're sending to your children, citizens of Alaska.

should i even bother doing a search for a thread of you asking the same question of DC residents for re-electing marion berry, or louisiana residents for re-electing william jefferson after the feds found bribe money in a brown paper bag in the freezer?

no, i won't bother searching, because i already know the answer.

[Duemellon]

should i even bother doing a search for a thread of you asking the same question of DC residents for re-electing marion berry, or louisiana residents for re-electing william jefferson after the feds found bribe money in a brown paper bag in the freezer?

no, i won't bother searching, because i already know the answer.You always see things partisan don't you?

Does anyone here think that DC was thinking smartly for re-electing Berry? I mean, honestly. Really? You think that?

The world must be so scary but easy to categorize for you.

[cockney rebel]

How about new laws that state if any elected official is found guilty of something illegal, his/her seat goes to the opposing party by default?

May even keep shitbags like Stevens in line.

[dannyboy]

How about new laws that state if any elected official is found guilty of something illegal, his/her seat goes to the opposing party by default?



Because that just reinforces the two party system. There's other political parties and independents out there besides just the Republicans and Democrats.

[Duemellon]

Because that just reinforces the two party system. There's other political parties and independents out there besides just the Republicans and Democrats.Then just make it the "runner up" party. If there was none, then an emergency vote.

[Donyo]

should i even bother doing a search for a thread of you asking the same question of DC residents for re-electing marion berry, or louisiana residents for re-electing william jefferson after the feds found bribe money in a brown paper bag in the freezer?

no, i won't bother searching, because i already know the answer.

I think you have me confused with someone else. I've heard of Berry but don't even know who the other guy is.

[Duemellon]

I think you have me confused with someone else. I've heard of Berry but don't even know who the other guy is.He has you confused with the monolithic beast he calls "Liberals".

It's a very general category & anyone who doesn't conform to his world view is worthy of being slandered into that revolting identity.

[Predot listener]

Palin doesn't simply get to the appoint the next senator.

She will appoint someone, who will then run in a special election after 30 days. In this light, a vote for Stevens can be seen as a chance to get to vote for a non-felonious Republican one month from now.

I'm sure there's still a bit of crazy factor in there, however.

[Marlowe]

I think you have me confused with someone else.

no, i definitely don't. thanks.

[the happy prole]

Marion BArry. I thought it was a fine idea to re-elect him as mayor... in 1982.

[The Big Crunch]

should i even bother doing a search for a thread of you asking the same question of DC residents for re-electing marion berry, or louisiana residents for re-electing william jefferson after the feds found bribe money in a brown paper bag in the freezer?
I think the frank and honest short answer with Barry is that black people in the District love him. The black vote in DC is a very, very, very powerful thing, and Barry's just always connected with that community...hell, he still does as a councilman for Ward 8.

Jefferson? I dunno...I'm not familar with Louisiana, but it seems like politics there has a long history of corruption, meaning the bar is fairly low. Furthermore, Jefferson is VERY popular and has yet to be convicted, so it's a little diferent than Stevens in that regard.

[drougan]

Marion BArry. I thought it was a fine idea to re-elect him as mayor... in 1982.

Was that before or after the Crack conviction?

Didn't cincinnati re-elect Springer after the prostitute thing or no?

[Predot listener]

Marion BArry. I thought it was a fine idea to re-elect him as mayor... in 1982.

And along those lines, I'm going to say a thread on the woxy boards questioning how D.C. residents could re-elect the convicted felon Barry wouldn't have been the most timely in ce/p history.

[akip]

stevens brought home tons of bacon to alaska when it was struggling.

[cockney rebel]

Then just make it the "runner up" party. If there was none, then an emergency vote.

Check the current freezing status in hell, I agree with Duemellon ;)

[the happy prole]

Was that before or after the Crack conviction?

Pre-crack. He actually did a pretty good job his first term.

And the answer for Jefferson, Barry, and Stevens is the same. 1) They bring home the bacon for the constituents, 2) Who else are you going to elect when everyone else running for that office is equally corrupt?

Murkowski's chief of staff was convicted of taking bribes. When Murkowski stepped down from his Senate seat office and ran for governor, he appointed his own daughter his successor. Then he became governor where he went so far over the line even by Alaska standards that he came in third... to Sarah Palin who vowed to clean up government and now appears to be somewhat less-than-sincere-herself.

[upwithpeople]

And along those "lines," I'm going to say a thread on the woxy boards questioning how D.C. residents could re-elect the convicted felon Barry wouldn't have been the most timely in ce/p history.Get it ?

[classicgrrl]

Alaska is a goofy little state.

they have their own little world up there....

[Predot listener]

Get it ?

Good crack.

[the happy prole]

Get it?

Good crack.

Bitch set you up.

[weezer6]

Alaska is a goofy little state.

they have their own little world up there....


if i could spend every summer up there, i would.

[Artpunchehorse]

'cause their brains are frozen

[stakeraiser]

Who's up for letting Todd Palin and his Alaskan Independence Party buddies separate Alaska from the union?

I call dibs on Peurto Rico as a replacement

[Donyo]

no, i definitely don't. thanks.

I'm still lost. Are you suggesting that I'm holding Stevens to a different standard than those other guys simply because he's a Republican? If so, I insist, you have me confused with someone else. I rarely post in CE/P to begin with, and when I do it's usually to derail a topic or make a smartass remark. But assuming you do decide to search for some of my previous posts, you might note that I lean more conservative than anything. In fact, the only political stand I can even remember taking in this forum was a defense of Ron Paul as a legit candidate.

So it's wonderful that democrat criminals have also been reelected to public office in the past, but all that says is that the people who elected them are just as ignorant/idiotic/insane as those who voted for Stevens in Alaska this week. Doesn't make this thread any less valid.

In other news, apparently Stevens' lead has shrunk a bit more to 3257 votes:

http://www.elections.alaska.gov/08general/data/results.htm

According to this page (http://www.elections.alaska.gov/files/08GENR/remaining_absentee_early_question_numbers.pdf), there are still 58,475 absentee and early voter ballots to be counted, plus 16,052 "questioned" ballots. I'm guessing many of those will be thrown out, but that should still push the total number of outstanding votes to somewhere between 60-70,000. Both campaigns are speaking optimistically about the political lean of the absentee and early votes.

[Predot listener]

I'm still lost. Are you suggesting that I'm holding Stevens to a different standard than those other guys simply because he's a Republican? If so, I insist, you have me confused with someone else. I rarely post in CE/P to begin with, and when I do it's usually to derail a topic or make a smartass remark. But assuming you do decide to search for some of my previous posts, you might note that I lean more conservative than anything. In fact, the only political stand I can even remember taking in this forum was a defense of Ron Paul as a legit candidate.

Maybe Marlowe is operating under the Foxworthian credo: If you post on the woxy message boards, you must be a liberal.

[markalot]

But then ......

[patio]

Does anyone here think that DC was thinking smartly for re-electing Berry? I mean, honestly. Really? You think that?


Sure they were, I mean, the people want someone they can relate to, and he's a fuckin pimp, baby.

[dry-gulcher]

Alaska is a goofy little state.

they have their own little world up there....

Yeah, goofy like an Artic fox! You fools in the lower 48 have no idea. After a hard day of classes at UAF we spark up a splif right out in the open. Try that in Symmes Twp! Last I checked it would cost your lilly-white-ass more than the 50cent fine.
Dispite the hatred of Sarah on these boards , she did go after Stevens and the prev AK gov in her own party, like a rabid marmet she did, but the state constitution only allows so much.
***If anyone is wondering why AK is not on my list of residencies its because Green Monster Mtn on Prince of Whales Is is already under claim.:p

[Buzzstein]

Maybe Marlowe is operating under the Foxworthian credo: If you post on the woxy message boards, you must be a liberal.

But then ......

Whoa....markalot is a liberal!!!

[Lonestar]

Alaska is a goofy little state.

they have their own little world up there....


Something defiantly smells fishy up there..

[Predot listener]

Whoa....markalot is a liberal!!!

Well, there are obvious exceptions, but it does seem to be the default assumption for a lot of posters (conservatives and libs alike).

[Donyo]

http://www.adn.com/elections/senate/story/587414.html

Mark Begich made a dramatic comeback Wednesday to overtake 40-year incumbent Ted Stevens for the lead in Alaska's U.S. Senate race.

Begich, who was losing after election night, now leads Stevens by 814 votes -- 132,196 to 131,382 -- with the state still to count roughly 40,000 more ballots over the next week.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/Face-surprise.svg/120px-Face-surprise.svg.png http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/Face-surprise.svg/120px-Face-surprise.svg.png http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/Face-surprise.svg/120px-Face-surprise.svg.png

[Lonestar]

http://www.adn.com/elections/senate/story/587414.html

Mark Begich made a dramatic comeback Wednesday to overtake 40-year incumbent Ted Stevens for the lead in Alaska's U.S. Senate race.

Begich, who was losing after election night, now leads Stevens by 814 votes -- 132,196 to 131,382 -- with the state still to count roughly 40,000 more ballots over the next week.

What the hell is going on up there.. They are counting ballots at glacial pace..

[Duemellon]

What the hell is going on up there.. They are counting ballots at glacial place..I don't know what's happening, they're leaving the rest of us out in the cold.

[frizgolf]

I don't know what's happening, they're leaving the rest of us out in the cold.

I wonder if Stevens will be able to bridge that gap.
Maybe there's snow way of knowing for a while.

[dry-gulcher]

What the hell is going on up there.. They are counting ballots at glacial pace..
That glacier-ice is not all it's cracked up to be, it stops being blue when I chip it off the glacier and it makes for a shitty margarita cuz it has sediment in it.