Lessons of this election:

[Ken Burch]

1) The state party NEEDS to back the whole ticket. If Diane had received full and equal backing with Tony by the state party from the start, she probably would have won. If the legislative races had received equal priority with Tony, we'd friggin' have the State Senate and maybe even the State House.

2) Diane has earned a second shot, without primary challenge, in 2008. We need to encourage her to stay in.

3) It's the end of the road for Tony. If he couldn't beat Wasilla Barbie OR Senator Princess, he's no use to us. Don't anybody let him run for anything again. We shoulda nominated Eric.

4) Grass-roots low-budget campaigning works. That's how we won District 4 for Andrea Doll.

5) For the next election, we need a 60 Seat strategy for the legislature(including a serious primary challenger for Foster if he keeps organizing with the R's.) We gained a lot of ground in the Legislative races and would have gained more if we'd had more candidates. Also, we should make Mike Doogan minority leader.

That's the conclusions I draw so far.

[Blue_In_AK]

1. That's a good take on it, Ken...

I know I'm probably going to piss Larissa off, but I think we would have done much better with either Eric or Ethan. People wanted a new face, I think, more than anything, and Tony looked tired from the beginning. He just wasn't hungry enough, IMO.

I, too, hope that Diane will run again, although as her friend was saying to me last night, a lot will depend on where her heart is in two years. This run was largely for her son -- in two years, she may not still have the motivation, although I'm praying that she does, and that she starts working on it RIGHT NOW. She gained so much ground in such a short time. I feel certain that if she had had a little more time and a lot more money she would have taken it. I was talking to Sarah Palin yesterday when we were all out campaigning, and it seemed to me from the way she was beaming about Diane's performance against Don in the "debate," that even she favored Diane over Don. I saw lots of people with both Benson and Palin buttons on. Diane is a truth-teller, and that's very positive stuff. A couple more years of do-nothing idiot Don and maybe people will finally be tired of him, particularly if Diane stays visible and active.

I am happy about the legislative races. I think they will be a good check on Sarah if she gets too far out of hand, especially on the social issues. And hopefully she won't give away the farm to the oil companies.

I'm sorry we lost, but I had such a good time working on Diane's campaign with so many other like-minded people. I think she's really remarkable and I love her tenacity.

[Ken Burch]

2. The Benson campaign was probably the most worthwhile thing I've been involved in here

(well, politically, I mean...)

[snowbear]

3. You could never piss me off Blue...

You --> <-- Me

I guess I wasn't looking at Tony -vs- Ethan or Eric in this General Election. I was considering the possibility of winding up with "Wasilla Barbie".

I'm so stoked about the national elections that it's hard to pout about Alaska though! With Democrats in control, some of the main concerns about Palin I had will actually be quashed.

I know Eric personally from the hockey rinks and I guess I'll be seeing a LOT more of him soon.. and I got to know Ethan at the "Clark Meet-Ups" (he was a Clarkie ) and wow.. I sure hope we haven't seen the last of them!

I'm thinking one of them will be running for Mayor of Anchorage and keeping Sullivan out of the mayor's office when Begich's term is up.

I don't follow Fairbanks politics so I was stunned to see that they ditched Senator Ralph Seekins by such a huge margin! =WOW= http://eliteleague.co.uk/forum/images/smilies/duh!.gif

I still remember him from his days of running the Yukon Quest a few years back .. and then taking a puck just above his eye a year or so ago at a Fairbanks Nanooks hockey game (big time shiner and cuts).. and then showing up the next night to watch the next game. I had no idea he had problems in up in Bearflanks, but it just goes to show... we have a big state!

I agree with all of you that Diane did so much better than anyone has EVER done against that slug Don Young and she definitely has a future in Alaska politics!!

What I'm wondering is if Don Young and Dinosaur Stevens will decide to retire than to lose their power and prestige? I sure hope so!!!!!!

[Blue_In_AK]

4. Thanks, Larissa. :-)