Looks like Ethan choked in the clutch

[Ken Burch]

I voted for him, but I think this result proves we should've nominated Diane. Every state and national Dem that shafted her and imposed this "sure winner" owes Diane and all her supporters apology.

This proves that it doesn't work for the national party to try and impose a candidate on a state.

Rahm Emmanuel lost us the seat, and he knows it.

[Bandit]

1. I agree completely with you

I thought Ethan ran a horrible campaign. When Young said Elect me and I will be Peloisi's worst nightmare, Ethan should have hammered that home. How in the Hell could that possibly in any way help Alaska? To be a thorn in the side of the Majority. People voted Party over the best interest of the State and the Country and noone bothered to explain how that would hurt the State and not help it.. I am absolutely disgusted and Stevens.....Wow is all I can say. How fucking stupid are Alaskans anyway. The leader of the Senate said in no uncertain terms that Stevens would be expelled immediately if re-elected. That means Alaskans will have to fund a Special Election within ninty days at great expense. Alaska just leaves me shaking my head and feeling deep shame.

[Witchy_Dem]

3. Would it be safe to say...?

DH works in the construction field. All the guys he works with are repug and all are PISSED today. I'm chalking up the senate race to an Obama effect where they are all so freakin worried about their guns and shit that they came out in droves to vote against Obama and just happened to keep in Stevens and Young.

They are all scared and fearful and huggin tightly to their weaponry today. Sorry to say. DH feels so outnumbered but he's holding his own... hahahahahahahaha! Pun intended.

[Lucky 13]

2. How could this happen? How?

How?

It's certainly puzzling that Alaska would re-elect Don Young, but that's not even CLOSE to the real shocker. I figured that would be a tough fight (but I thought Ethan would prevail.)

More importantly, how could Alaska re-elect Ted Stevens? I realize I'm stating the insanely obvious but I mean he is a VERY recently convicted FELON!! On CORRUPTION related charges! Hasn't Alaska had enough of corrupt politicians? Does Alaska lack the capability to view the world around them, determine where mistakes have been made and correct them?

If Alaskans are so fucking ignorant as to re-elect THAT idiot, I don't know that Ethan OR Diane could have beaten Young. Young hasn't ever been convicted of anything and is a long time incumbent. If Alaskans would choose a convicted felon over a well respected Democratic Mayor, I don't see how either Diane or Ethan could have won. How does ANY progressive overcome THAT LEVEL of ignorance?


This is just fucking embarrassing. I left Alaska last year for the lower 48 and now I'm really glad I did. I don't know that I could handle having neighbors like this any longer.

I'm sorry to be so down on the state, but what other conclusion can I draw? I've defended Alaska vehemently through all the over-generalizations and attacks that came because of Palin, but no longer. Unfuckingbelievable.

[Steerpike]

4. I think I posted on this before...

Republicans came out in droves in order to stave off a Democratic victory. Now, they can get a "special election" and possibly defeat Mark Begich. Everyone anticipates that Stevens will get ousted by the Senate leadership. But, if he had stepped down, then Mark would waltz right into the senate without any republican opposition. This way...the repugs can still field a viable candidate, even if Stevens is ousted. It was all about party strategy...not stupidity.

Regarding Ethan Berkowitz...who in the hell thought he would be a better candidate than Diane Benson? He was gonna lose the native/rural vote that was a forgone conclusion. The repugs as a whole portrayed him as a Jewish, San Francisco carpetbagger. Fair or not...that stuck...and it hurt...even with the push from the National Dems and 5 million dollars he still could not do it. Even Don Young said that Diane would have been a bigger threat.

Well, at least Doogan won...and of course Obama...as they say...

the best of times the worst of times

[AlaskaVet]

5. Diane?

Diane would have lost in a landslide, just as she did 2 years ago. Ethan was a lousy candidate, and not my favorite, but suggesting that Diane could have done better against Young is just silly.

[Steerpike]

6. Well I have been labled as silly in the past.

But I respectfully disagree with you regarding Diane.

[Ken Burch]

7. Bullshit. There's no way Don would've beaten Diane in the Bush

Plus, Diane had never treated Ethan viciously in the primary so there would not have been anywhere near the hard feelings towards Diane by Ethan supporters that there were in the other way.

Plus, Diane is great in one-on-one situations and Ethan is a cold fish. Ethan probably cost himself a vote every time he shook someone's hand.

And 2 years ago, Diane made the best showing anyone had made against Don in 14 years, and did so with NO party backing and no money. Rather than build on that, the party hardballed her out in favor of their notion of "a REAL candidate".

Admit it. This proves national party intervention in primaries doesn't work.

Diane would've kicked Don's ass last night. And besides, one of her biggest causes was better treatment for veterans, so why would you be hostile to her at all? What did she ever do to you?(that is, if you actually ARE a vet?)

God, you'd have probably preferred "Loyalty Oath" Metcalfe.

[AlaskaVet]

8. Well, we will never know

So Diane's bitter-enders are still up in arms. Sorry about that, but we won't ever get a definitive answer to the question, so there's no sense continuing with a vitriolic and counter-productive argument. After all, we need to get busy recalling Sarah Palin! But a couple of clarifications:

1. I didn't call anyone "silly" -- rather, I suggested that the notion that Diane would not have lost in another landslide was kind of silly.

2. Diane hasn't done anything to me; in fact, I kind of like her. But I'm certain she can't win a statewide election. Nothing personal.

3. And yes, I'm a real veteran of the United States Army, honorably discharged.

Regards, and apologies for any angst my perceptions may have caused; I didn't intend to inflict pain, just to have a rational dialog.

[Lucky 13]

11. FWIW, I agree with you completely.

Diane is vastly unqualified in comparison to Don and Ethan. She's just not in the same league.

What's more... she LOST last time. Yes it was closer than in previous attempts to oust Don, but it was a big LOSS nonetheless. I think it was smart of them to try a new, better qualified candidate.

And like I said in my previous post, if Alaska is ignorant enough to elect a convicted felon over a respected mayor, then there is no way ANYONE could beat the not-convicted, long-time incumbent, Don Young.

I'm really surprised. I thought Alaska was better than this. Electing Ted again is unthinkable.

[Blue_In_AK]

9. Ken, I agree with you 100 percent.

It was very telling to me that Diane won the Bush, half of Fairbanks, the bases, and a good portion of Anchorage, as well, in the primary. I just feel in my heart that she could have beaten Don this time around had she been given the chance. Also telling to me is that Don complimented her on the race she ran, intimating that she was the superior candidate, while Ethan didn't even bother to contact her at all after the primary until finally toward the end he called her and asked her to appear at some function he was holding. She declined because of the dismissiveness that he showed towards her throughout the campaign.

There is no warmth to the man that I've been able to discern. He doesn't connect. And the times that I've seen him give speeches or in the debates with Don, he just appears whiny and petulant. While I'm no Don Young fan, I'm not particularly sorry that Ethan lost.

[Ken Burch]

10. Thanks, blue. I have to say, I felt sure this was coming somehow.

I thought Mark would take it, but somehow I knew Ethan couldn't close the deal. Hope they don't run him for the Senate in the special election when The Ted is expelled.

[Blue_In_AK]

12. Ken, did you see this in the ADN political blog?

http://community.adn.com/?q=adn/blog/24417

From Megan Holland at the Egan Center--

From Don Young:

"Ethan did me a favor. He made me work a little harder. And, it's hard to have a race, very honestly, when you're not very challenged. Now, I will say this: Diane Benson would have been a much stronger candidate. Now, I say that right up front."

"She had a cause that you'd have to really work on."

The biggest challenge to him in this race, he said, was the outside money. "The $5 million that was spent against me in this race. Between the primary and general election, $5 million spent against Don Young."

"I'm very supportive of Ted Stevens. ..We didn't get to the place we are in this state... with the revenues we have in this state, without Ted Stevens."

Young said he wants to work on getting a bullet line built to help Alaskans with energy costs. "Forget AGIA. .. that's just big bucks. I need someone that will supply the gas to Fairbanks, supply the gas to Anchorage."

------------------------

It sounds like even Don agrees with you. Lucky13 will never admit it, but I think there's little doubt that Diane would have taken the Bush handily, and if she had had Ethan's outside money and the support of the party, she would have taken the cities, too.

[Lucky 13]

13. That's actually an interesting take by Don that I hadn't thought of...

Come on. I'll admit that Diane has some major plusses. I voted for her last time. I agree with her ideas and positions. And I'm not so bullheaded that I can't recognize a legitimate argument. Give me a little credit.

Because she was nearly a single issue candidate, on an issue that people feel passionately about, maybe it could have made the campaign a little tougher for him. He sucks when it comes to veterans - she could pound him on that.

But RARELY can you base an entire campaign on a single issue. And when you move away from that single issue, one that isn't even the TOP priority for people right now, Diane's experience pales when compared to Don's and Ethan's. I keep coming back to that question: How is she remotely qualified? She's an actress/poet... and not a very accomplished one. Her resume demonstrably lacks any leadership experience. She has no record of any type of public service. That doesn't inspire confidence in "on the fence" voters to switch from a well-liked (inexplicably) incumbent.

(You can think me bullheaded all you want, but I have yet to hear a Diane supporter make a convincing argument to make me change my mind about her not being qualified enough. Make the argument! Prove me wrong! I'm totally willing to listen. I agree that ideals and positions are important, but hell... I have some good ideals and positions, but do you think I am qualified to run for Congress and beat a solid incumbent? I can assure you the answer is NO. Barack Obama didn't run for President right off. He started in the State Senate, then advanced to US Senator, THEN ran. I still maintain that Diane would be infinitely more electable in the future if she would first serve in the Alaska State House or Senate. But to me, it comes off as arrogant for her to believe that she can just show up with absolutely no record, background, or relevant education and just assume she can win the Congressional race. You've got to earn that through some public service first. How else do you expect to earn the public's trust?)

I think there's plenty of "what if's" that we could amuse ourselves with all day, but in the end it's VERY telling to me that Stevens was re-elected despite being a convicted felon. It tells me the majority of Alaskan voters are completely irrational Rethugs. If they'd re-elect Ted over Begich, I don't think there's any way either Ethan or Diane could have beaten Don.

Alaska has more problems now than who would have lost least badly: Ethan or Diane. The Democratic Party up there needs to get their fucking act together and attempt to establish a ground game. There's no organization. There's no fundraising. There's no candidate support. There's no "plan". The message isn't resonating. They gotta figure out how to retool and repackage the message in a way that Alaskans find acceptable and then MOBILIZE in an organized fashion. Until then, no Democrat is going to win any major races any time soon.

[Blue_In_AK]

14. Single issue?

I respectfully disagree, but it's pretty obvious we're not going to change each other's minds.

[Lucky 13]

15. Well I said "nearly" single issue....

Truth is, it doesn't matter. Mostly, I just like to argue. ;)

And hey, we disagree about Diane and Ethan, I can think of at least one other thing we agree on...


Beautiful! Today is a HAPPY day!!

[Blue_In_AK]

16. You are correct about that.

:)

Well, Don will be indicted soon enough anyway, and we'll see what happens then. One thing about Alaska politics -- it's never dull.

[investintrains]

17. Alaska's alleged lowest natl election turnout was arranged by Republican vote fraud

Alaska's alleged lowest natl election turnout was arranged by Republican vote fraud

May Light be shed on all dark corners of Republican vote fraud