Have Democrats missed the boat?

[Why Knot]

Or should we respect our electorial system to the point that it doesn't matter what our highest state official does after gaining election, regardless of the tactic used to get elected?

Here's a letter that was sent twice, followed up with a phone call and recieved NO RESPONSE, by the Democratic Party officials... I invite you to visit the website: www.RecallMurkowski.com and help us do what no one from the national Democractic Party dares to even speak about!

October 12, 2004

Dear Ms. Marisol,

Attached below is a letter I did not receive a response to. I have been advised to resend this to you. See attached:

August 30, 2004

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
120 Maryland Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20002
[phone]
Fax [phone]

Dear Committee Members,

I am on the steering committee of Alaskans to Recall Murkowski. I believe that our nonpartisan effort to recall the current Governor of Alaska should be examined by your committee. I write to ask for your help in order to accomplish our mutual goals.

To date, the contributions received have not been enough to insure success. To get through “Phase One” and to force our Lt. Governor to issue “official” recall booklets will require about 35,000 signatures. These signatures could be easily obtained by paying people to collect for us at $1 per signature. However, we lack the funding to make this happen. This is very unfortunate, as our success would cause quite a chain of events, including a court challenge and front page news coverage. This action would surely derail the Lisa Murkowski for U.S. Senate campaign.

Recently, a Republican State Senator resigned to avoid facing a successful Alaskan recall effort. Our work need not be futile.

We have a top-notch public interest attorney, who has volunteered his services. We have had a website, which is currently down for the second time, attacked by a hacker. We are working to restore the site, which is testimony to the fact that someone recognizes that our effort is effective. $30,000 to $40,000 should not be an unobtainable amount of funding, particularly considering the effect that our effort would have on our future.

Our group of volunteers have a successful track record for these types of efforts. However, without funds we are impotent.

Attached below is a letter sent requesting funds from potential supporters several months ago. If you’d like to explore the possibility of working together, I encourage you to contact me as soon as possible. With your help, the outcome of our effort will have a very predictable and favorable effect on Alaskan and national politics.

Most Sincerely,


xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Alaskans to Recall Murkowski

Attachment:

I sincerely appreciate your support and enthusiasm for our effort to recall Governor Frank Murkowski. Our effort has great potential to stop the arrogant disregard that the current Alaskan administration and Legislature has demonstrated against the will of the people of Alaska. The influence of our recall effort could have wide reaching ramifications. A focused, directed effort with this recall could help topple the extremist Republican stranglehold that currently exists, both on the federal and the state level. Regardless of the partisan issue, enforcing accountability on an unaccountable and unresponsive Governor will force our elected officials to recognize their connection with and duty to, the citizens they are elected to serve.

Our effort has the potential to upset the Republican control of the US Senate, as our ex-Governor Tony Knowles is running against Governor Frank Murkowski's appointed successor, his daughter US Senator Lisa Murkowski. Over 50,000 Alaskans signed a petition to change the law (which was changed during the Legislative session just prior to the Governor's election) to restore Alaskan citizen's right to elect successors to fill a US Senator's unexpired term, rather than to allow appointment by the Governor. However, legislation will be passed before the upcoming election that restores Alaskan citizen's right to elect successors to federal office. This will be done by the Republican controlled Alaskan Legislature to nullify the initiative, thus insuring Alaskans' voting in the US Senate race are not also reminded of the nepotism that allowed Lisa Murkowski's appointment to the office she is campaigning to keep.

If we can get our recall action on track, this recall issue will influence the Senate election just as the anti-nepotism initiative would have. Every signature gathered to recall Frank Murkowski, as Governor of Alaska would discourage that person from voting for Lisa Murkowski for US Senate. Every ad for the recall and every news story related to the progress of our effort would take votes away from Frank's daughter Lisa. Our recall effort could have wide reaching effects on Alaska and America’s future.

There is no question in my mind that Governor Frank Murkowski's negative approval rating is much higher than 65%. The only question I have difficulty answering is why has there not been any group or person, with the financial ability to help our recall effort, come forward to help us promote this issue and seed this fertile ground. I hope that we have simply failed to reach the right people, with the right message. This opportunity is unique. Time wasted damages the effectiveness of our effort.

Governor Murkowski clearly lied to get elected. He claimed he would develop our resources without taxing Alaskans and without touching the Permanent Fund dividend, Alaskans' political sacred cow. Headlines in the Anchorage Daily News clearly state that the Governor proposes to tap the earning of the Permanent Fund. The Governor vetoed the Alaskan senior citizens' Longevity Bonus program, while supporting legislation giving millions of dollars in tax breaks to oil producers, who will soon be making more profits on Alaskan oil than the state will collect in revenue. In Alaska, the citizens collectively own this resource, not the Governor, the Legislature, or the oil producers.

Governor Murkowski continues to tax Alaskans, while giving away the state's wealth through tax breaks and incentives to the people who helped get him elected. He seeks to exploit Alaska for short-term benefits, without regard for our future. Many Alaskans know this. However, to capitalize on these political realities our group needs the resources to get this message to the people. Alaskan citizens can restore accountability to the Governor's office and to our Legislature. If given the opportunity, Alaskan citizens will strike back.

Our group, "Alaskan to Recall Murkowski" can provide the vehicle to change the political climate in Alaska. We represent a solid majority of Alaskans, which include conservatives and liberals, environmentalists, senior citizens, working Alaskans, and the vast majority of people who call Alaska their home and have long term plans to stay in Alaska. We simply lack the resources to accomplish our task. Our population is small, which makes this opportunity very possible.

Please have your friends and supporters visit our website. I can provide more details and information, if needed, to help move our effort ahead. Our group is solid. Our members are respected citizens and proven activists. We share common goals. Help us make this happen.

[snowbear]

1. Hmm..

Hi WN :) ~

Just wondering if you also sent a copy of the letter to the headquarters in Anchorage?

I signed that petition at the booth at the Alaska State Fair! :) There were quite a few people at the booth when I went there also signing it.

I have a feeling that right now.. with oil prices at such record highs, that Frank M. is getting a bit of a (temporary) free ride from critics. His approval ratings, from what I hear, are still worse than any governor in the state's history..

I was really upbeat about Tony Knowles chances for the U.S. Senate, but I'm really worried about it now. Lisa M. is really trying to cash in on the pipeline incentives issues. That, and having Ted Stevens on the air 24/7 pleading to Alaskans not to allow Tony to make him lose all his chairmanships, etc.. it just doesn't look like it did a month ago.

I'm still holding out hope.. But the "Ted attacks" may be effective if Alaskans buy it. Tony and Lisa debate on KTUU, Channel 2 at 7:00 p.m. btw.. Hopefully the World Series game will be wrapping up so Alaskans actually tune in :shrug:

[Why Knot]

2. Been there, done that....

Hi Larissa,

I spoke with several local Democrats, including more than one state candidate and a District Chair. I was well received, much like a pet owner does following Fido's fetching of the paper. However, calls have not been returned and I am not going to asking for assistance more than once. I do happen to run in political circles, in more ways than one, unfortunately. I'll only carry a prospective ally around the track on my back once, then I'm off for the next lap.

There were several thousand signatures collected at the fair in Palmer (by Green Party and Republican Moderate Party members - No Democrats, not that they weren't welcome). However, we're still less than halfway there and time is running out. Murkowski is a one-term governor and if Alaskans wish to allow him to rule without regard to their rights or future, who am I to stand in the way. With a free pass, 2006 could bring Leman and then the games would go on through 2010 and perhaps even through 2014. The state of the state then would be quite interesting and there may not be anything meaningful left to fight over.

Initiatives and recalls are difficult at best, although I am convinced that Murkowski would be toast with a minimal amount help. Less than 1/20th of the effort that went to fuel Knowles' campaign would put the big question on the ballot. Putting the transgressor on the hot seat to answer the tough questions makes it all worthwhile to me, not to mention the truths that would be exposed and the empowering effect for the citizens of Alaska. But it's likely just not meant to be and the Republicans will remain the unchallenged holders of power in Alaska, until something happens to change that.

Waiting for a miracle is not a constructive option for Alaska, in my opinion.

Why Knot....