Why did Tony Knowles lose?

[Eric J in MN]

I donated to him and asked visitors to my website, http://moveleft.com, to donate.

[DenaliDemocrat]

1. Tony Lost for 2 reasons

1)because the democrats killed drilling in ANWR and Alaskan's feel it should be their choice. Personally I don't buy that arguement because if that holds, then every other National Park in other states should be under that state's control.

2)Tony's cowtowing to game policy managment (arial wolf control) to the lower 48 does not endear him to everyone. Hunting is a HUGE HUGE HUGE business up here, and a lot of people depend on it for a living. Also, a lot of people (myself included) live a subsistance lifestyle using fish and game harvested during the year as your primary food source. Our moose populations are dwindling and it is DIRECTLY AFFECTIN people.

[Eric J in MN]

2. What was Knowles' position on wolves and

what did most Alaskans want?

[DenaliDemocrat]

3. Most Alaskans

are for some wolf control, although I do not know anyone who is particularly thrilled about arial gunning, and I know of no one who supports actually allowing HUNTERS and not government agencies to do this sort of thing.

Basically we are pretty practical up here. If we have too many wolves, we want it controlled, if we have too many hunters we want it controlled. I have moose in my yard at least twice a week, and I ENJOY seeing them. We value our game very much. However, probably most important, we don't want a bunch of guys from New Jersey telling us how to manage our wildlife.


When Tony was governor, the biologists said there were too many wolves in some areas, and needed controlling. The guys from the lower 48 threatened a boycott, so Tony caved in and outlawed it even though the game board felt it was necessary.


Thus Tony lost because of a moose.

[I Love Alaska]

12. Glad you admited that

aerial wolf hunting is about guided trophy hunters making the BUCKS. Money once again is more important than reverence for life.

[Alaskan Liberal]

19. WTF?

Denali,
1)You say Tony lost because democrats prevented drilling on the wildlife refuge? I voted for Tony in spite of the fact that he promised to drill ANWR (like Kerry the would-be warmonger, I had no better option). Democrats stopped ANWR? But the Repugnants have had free reign for FOUR YEARS and they couldn't get it done. Why? Because junior doesn't want our oil unless he can kill us and steal it. That's the only strategy he knows for obtaining "energy." (He doesn't even call it oil now. Newt must have told him it's a bad word ;) ). Greedy Alaskans who want to exploit the refuge for a little oil that won't make things any better for America (but may increase our PFDs a little for a few years don't strike me as very liberal.

2) You say Tony's correct stand against aerial wolf killing killed his bid for senator? What a deranged, egocentric view of the world you have. In what debate did this issue come up? I totally missed it. I don't believe that you seriously think that Tony lost because he agreed with the majority of Alaskans who appose this holocaust. That argument has no basis in logic.

I believe the reason you assign these 2 issues as Tony's reasons for losing is that they are your personal agendas for your personal financial gain. Rush says the Democrats would do better if we would just act more like Repugnants. You must actually believe him.

3) Now as to your argument that starvation is more cruel than gunning down those who threaten your guided Moose hunt business--this reminds me of that guy on Southpark who said "We have to kill them so they won't starve to death," and then mowed down herds of dear with his assault rifle.

[Bandit]

4. He lost for the same reason as Kerry lost

More Republicans than Democrats in Alaska. You can't blame not getting ANWR open on Knowles. We have had a Republican lock on Representation for over two decades and for the last four years Republicans controlled all of Congress. ANWR did not get opened because many Republicans don't want it open. He losty for the same reason that Fran lost. People in Alaska are not well informed and very pigheaded and they love their guns and fear Democrats will take them away from them.

[DenaliDemocrat]

6. Exactly

Gun control is HUGE. Hunting is HUGE - both recreationally and economically. How many people make $$ off of hunting up here? Lots and lots.

You know what kill me though? All of the people who cry "socialism" but love
PFD checks.

Also, I think if you check you will find that there are MORE independents registered in Alaska than anyting.

[I Love Alaska]

14. some of us donate our PFD BLOOD MONEY!

[Alaskan Liberal]

20. True,

but what's your point? There are more independents because most Alaskans disagree with both parties. They don't vote Republican because they are religious fanatics; they vote Republican because of money. Our whole economy is derived from environmental exploitation-oil, timber, mining, hunting, and tourism. What do we get that we do not suck from the Earth?
How can anyone call themselves anything but a Repugnant that advocates these forms of revenue?

[shockra]

5. That commercial with Laura Bush...

that Murkowski did. You KNOW that impressed the hell out of Repubs. Also the Ted Stevens commercial where he claimed that he would lose all of his power, and never be elected again if Lisa lost! (Yeah, right.)

Both of those commercials were brought out in the last month to overturn Knowles's lead in the polls.

[Blue_In_AK]

23. Those Ted Stevens commercials

were SO-O-O-O misleading. What do they think, that the state's going to disintegrate when the old codger dies? Good grief.

[Ken Burch]

25. Well, now that they can't appoint Senate successors anymore

Ted may be nervous because he can't be sure he'll eventually be succeeded by his son, Young Ben(now our Senate President.)

Young Ben still needs some polishing. Especially since he let himself be quoted saying he wants to duck the (Democratic)mayor of Anchorage's head in a toilet.

So for now it's Senator for Life and his new partner, Senator Princess.

[snowbear]

7. Definitely..... Without a Doubt... the biggest reason...

...that Tony lost... was because of the very effective ads that Senator Ted Stevens (known fondly amoung Alaskans as only "Uncle Ted")

If he hadn't put his bogus, whiney pleas on the air day and night saying that "If Tony is elected, I'll lose my important seat on... yada, yada, yada..."

As it turns out though- even if Tony had won, Ted Stevens would be exactly where he is TODAY.

It was a ploy that played on the emotions of Alaskans who will do anything for "Uncle Ted"... :eyes: and it worked.

Amazing how many people are sending in letters to the editor in the Anchorage paper since the election apologizing for "caving in to Ted's commercials"

They're all saying that they voted by what Ted said.. to keep him in his position, and as a result, they voted for someone that they DID NOT want to vote for.

Well guess what Alaska voters.. you can't have it both ways. You screwed up and :mad: Lisa Murkowski :mad: is ALL YOURS !!!

[sd_UDO]

8. Paint Alaska BLUE!

In South Dakota, Daschle's ads stressed that we wouldn;t be first in line in the senate anymore. Ads didn't work. Thune's ads said--It's time. Short message.

My message is--elect Democrats every 2 months---

Here's how we can paint South Dakota Ultra-Blue! This will work for
Alaska too--start an UDO group for Alaska!

After the election, I decided to change things. I decided we needed to have our own elections-- 6 times a year!

Check out UDO!

Wanna OutBLUE people in a Red County? Check out my Yahoo Group--

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sd_democrats_UDO /

Let's start a state wide UDO (Ultra Democratic organization)--

first elections December 2004!

(Anyone can join the Yahoo group)

Thanks!

[I Love Alaska]

10. SHE SPEAKS THE TRUTH!

This is the reason why Tony lost. Aerial wolf control was not even on the radar during the election! The commericals with Murkowski and TED pulled much weight!

[I Love Alaska]

13. I didn't vote for either of them...

and I don't want them!!!!

[Eric J in MN]

9. What is Tony Knowles position on hunting wolves from helicopters? NT

NT

[I Love Alaska]

11. Knowles did not support it in the past

and probably would not now. There are alternatives to aerial shooting but you don't hear many Alaskan talking about them.

[Eric J in MN]

15. So, did Knowles disagree with most Alaskans in opposing

hunting wolves from helicopters?

[I Love Alaska]

16. Yes, it was voted down twice

by the people and Knowles disagreed with this particular killing method. That is why this wasn't the reason why Knowels lost. Lisa Murkowski only won because of the commericals with Ted Stevens that said he would loose his committee seat if Knowles won. What most Alaskans didn't know was that Stevens was loosing his seat on the committe anyway. Alaskans are very money conscious and many, many vote $$$$$.

[Eric J in MN]

17. Alaska voted against wolf-hunting from helicopter

twice or in favor of wolf-hunting from helicopter twice?

[I Love Alaska]

18. against

[DenaliDemocrat]

21. But this isn't HUNTING it is an EXPERIMENT

This is a STUDY to eliminate wolves from two areas of the state where moose and caribou populations have been decimated. If you frequent the Lake Louis Area you will know that you cannot even SEE a wolf anymore.

Biologist are removing bears and shooting wolves to evalaute it's impact on moose and caribou populations. This is an EXPERIMENT. AERIAL HUNTING has not been approved.

Why do you purposely miselead?

[spreadingpeace]

22. spread these messages across Alaska!

Check out these stickers and buttons and get them out across the state!

www.peaceproject.com

[stavka]

24. My understanding is because he ran in Alaska...

I have a very good friend who lives in Alaska who said in the election he had to choose between the candidate that advocated exploring the oil reserves, protecting national security, and safe guarding the values typified by the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman and the candidate who advocated exploring the oil reserves, protecting national security, and safe guarding the values typified by the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman.

Nice choices.

I think he went fishing or crabbing instead. (but I don't want to ask)

[Ken Burch]

26. As governor, Knowles was often seen as a bit of a sleaze and

a con man.

Also, he alienated a lot of state employees with his attitude on contract negotiations (a friend of mine pointed out that Knowles' margin of defeat was about equal to the number of state workers here.)

Knowles pissed off some Democrats here with his obsession with distancing himself from Kerry. People don't like a candidate who acts like his party's presidential nominee is a leper.

At the end of the campaign, Knowles also offended the sensibilities of a lot of people with his insistence that only he and Lisa Murkowski be allowed to participate in the statewide debate broadcast on public television here. Traditionally, this debate is the one chance minor party and independent candidates have to present their case to a television audience. Knowles took this stance specifically to keep Jim Sykes, the Green Party candidate, out of the debate. Having Sykes there would have done Knowles no real harm, and excluding him just seemed petty.