Signs of Things to Come – Alaska Election 2010
Nothing says political season in Alaska like signs. Sure, sign waving happens in all elections, but Alaskans love our signs more than most.
And nowhere in Alaska can you witness the traditional Election Eve battle of the signs like you can in two locations – The New Seward Highway and Northern Lights Blvd., and down the road at Northern Lights and Minnesota, in Anchorage. It’s a combination of spectator sport, pissing contest, and ritual.
So, I took a little drive to see what was to be seen at these two prime areas of sign real estate.
I pulled up to a red light and noticed that Don Young for Congress supporters were on the island in between the north and southbound lanes of the New Seward. I grabbed my camera and snapped a couple pictures, and suddenly noticed the form of a person standing right next to my window. I jumped. I looked. It was Don Young himself peering in my window. I rolled down the window not knowing quite what to expect. “I’m not asking you for five dollars,” he announced. “I just want to shake your hand.” It was quite obvious he didn’t know who I was or he would not have asked to shake my hand. And I was glad he wasn’t expecting five dollars. I did shake his hand, though… just to enjoy the strangeness of the moment.
The next red light revealed the Joe Miller crowd, and an interesting little side show. There were snake flags aplenty. I find myself wondering why the fascination with a flag that was soundly rejected by the founding fathers? I remember studying the flag in American History class in grade school and feeling very relieved that we didn’t end up with the yellow snake flag as our national symbol. A venemous reptile isn’t really the face I wanted to portray to the world. Little did I know I’d be staring at a bunch of snake flaggers all these years later.
And then I noticed that sitting on the back of a large yellow gas guzzling SUV was someone dressed like “Queen Lisa” in a mask, waving at the crowd with a little wrist wave, like Queens do. On the street side of the truck were signs saying “Please Don’t Dethrone Me,” “Long Live the Aristocracy and the Elites,” and “Vote 4 Lisa, Sore Loser Party Candidate.”
Unable to resist, I pulled into the parking lot next to the Millerites, and rolled down my window to have a listen. “We’re surrounded by commies!” I heard. I was pretty sure they weren’t talking about me, but rather the KTUU News truck behind me.
The signs on the other side of the truck were all dedicated to slamming the media.
The acronyms were amusing, particularly the one for KTUU in which the signmaker tells us that the NBC affiliate wants to “Keep The Voter Uniformed [sic] Uneducated.” The [sic] part wasn’t actually on the sign. I only put it there because I assume that keeping the voter “uniformed” doesn’t actually have anything to do with the men and women in uniform. Although with the socialist lamestream media, who knows? Maybe those darn Democrats are supporting some kind of Marxist fascist leftist plot to force everyone to wear a uniform when they vote, just to create bigger government and a voter uniform tax. I wouldn’t put it past them.
Then a man with an extra tall Joe Miller sign started walking down the line of sign wavers, and presumably to try to get everyone pumped up to wave even harder, he yelled with an extra helping of testosterone, “We’ve got the EXTREME candidate! We’re the only ones with an EXTREME candidate! YEAHHH!”
Joe Miller and his wife were there on the corner waving and posing for pictures.
Midway down the parking lot were the Lisa Murkowski supporters. There were only about a half dozen of them, and no Lisa. Strangely, they were standing right in front of a parked truck with huge placards on the sides and the back of the vehicle that was facing out to the street. They said, “Tru Love” [sic] and then Lisa & Barack inscribed in a huge heart. I wasn’t quite sure why the Murkowskibots didn’t change locations, but there they stayed with the orchestrated backdrop provided free of charge by a Miller supporter.
Further down was a nice crowd for Ethan Berkowitz for Governor. Ethan and his wife were there also, and Ethan was out working the line of cars when the light turned red.
Across the street from there were the McAdams folk. They had a pretty decent turnout too. The day was cold, but not cold enough to dampen anyone’s spirits.
I decided to do a drive-by of prime intersection #2 just to see who was there. I discovered the most adorable sign waver ever.
Sean Parnell and his wife were working the other side of the street, and Scott and Romee McAdams were working the opposite corner, with another crowd of supporters. The McAdams campaign was the only one to have representation at both coveted intersections. Since this is part contest, I thought I’d just throw that out there.
Just as I crossed over to the McAdams side, Scott and Romee crossed the street the other way. I thought I’d missed them and they were leaving, but it was just Scott crossing the street to say hello to the governor and shake his hand. A class act all the way, I thought.
By this time it was time to head to Carpenters Hall where Scott took the stage and delivered a nice rousing speech to supporters.
The whole McAdams clan was there (L-R) Romee, Gavin, Scott, Chloe and Katie.
Everyone remember to get out the vote tomorrow. Elections in this state are often decided by a handful of votes. So grab a friend and remember to fill in the oval for Scott McAdams, Ethan Berkowitz, Harry Crawford, and one of the host of awesome Democratic candidates in the local races. I’ll proudly be casting a vote for Janet Reiser!
If every Democrat votes for Scott McAdams, we’ll have it in a landslide. Let’s make it happen, and end this election cycle on a sweet note.
I do not know about the rest of Wasilla but McAdams, Berkowitz, Benson etc all had little black ovals beside their names when I got done..
OFF TOPIC – FAWNSKIN…….. your mailbox is full again so you can’t receive any more messages until you clear some of them out! {{{HUGS}}}
I was wishing I had a camera with me this morning – when I saw a row of snowmen with Joe Miller signs. That was actually pretty funny – I guess they had more signs than people. I had to appreciate the creativity.
Having said that – go SCOTT – and for a number of reasons I will be calling the Division of Elections to complain about the instructions for write in candidates being located inside the polling booth.
For our friends in the lower 48….a voter’s poem from an Alaskan who McVoted.
We’re voting in Alaska, what fun we’re having here,
to vote our hearts and minds today without ignorance and fear.
Before you vote, there is a way for those tea baggers to freeze,
Just cast your vote for a guy named Scott and file it if you please.
Through wind and rain and sleet and snow, to the voting booth we go!
Don’t cast a vote for Tea Bag Joe or Lisa’s party of No,
And never trust your vote for that guy named Captain Zero.
One of my favorite signs from Saturday’s Rally for Sanity was a yellow flag with that coiled-up snake. On the bottom it read:
“Oh man – cramp”
Speaking of signs, the McAdams signs are by far the classiest and most well-designed in the bunch.
At 5:00 the exit poll results will be sent out. 26 states have exit polls for local elections. Around 5:30ET those results should hit the airwaves. Anything before that is guessing and your basic wishful propaganda.
So, pay attention to turn out from those exit polls if they go higher than expected to Dems and what is predicted in local contests dem vs repub. That could give us an idea of which way things are turning nationally too.
Voted! Voted! Voted!
Okay, I put on my uniform (“Keep Voters Uniformed!”), braved the snow (all 2 inches), walked over to the polling place, and voted. See y’all in two years.
I love Scott McAdams! Would one of you AKers please cast a vote for him on my behalf?!
MAY THE WIND BE AT YOUR BACK, SCOTT!!
Voted during my lunch hour – here in our little community – they said it has been busy all day.
(This is a high RED county in Montana)
We have one congressman (Rep.) Denny Rehberg up for election – no doubt beside my best effort he will stay in. Wanted to write down Scott McAdams – but needed my vote to count in Montana.
Good luck Scott !!
Alaska is counting on you !!
I haven’t voted yet today- too busy covering the election for the newspaper! Will vote w/ family at 7pm then off to the winners party (this may be fun or not).
Hilarious on the “uniform” sign…wonders never cease to amuse me:)
holy cow the Millerites are crrrazzzzzy. What are we going to do if this sycophant gets elected?
Just checking AKM, were you selective in your photos, or was Joe Miller really the only one with negative campaign signs? He is such a sleaze.
WOW! What CUTE KIDS McAdams has!
According to Nate Silver and other prominent pollsters and pundits, Alaska is the only state with the chance of a Democratic pick-up in the Senate with McAdams!
As the illustrious Captain Picard often says: “Make it so!”
All Democrats: Go the polls with a light, but aggressive heart……Vote McAdams! The time is now. You won’t regret it, but if you throw away your vote on Murkowski, you’ll have six years of regret.
Heard this on the radio coming in…….Due to the bad weather conditions in South Central, the Republican Party is asking Republicans to stay home. They will make arrangements to vote by phone, so please stay by your phone today and wait for the call.
Is such a thing even legal? South Central where? There are many areas named South Central in our nation.
Southcentral Alaska, where most of the pictures were taken. Sorry, forgot that many followers here don’t actually live here. And no, its not legal. Just one of my fantasies.
…and with the “herd mentality of the Republicans” (Andrew Halcro’s sentiments) they would do just that. Good one, Cortez.
I voted my values!
good luck, Alaska. Keeping my fingers crossed for all the Dems this year. My own state, Illinois, is a dead heat, but probably leaning R. (thank you Blago – he’s the gift that keeps on giving) I’ve enjoyed these two years – oddly enough since I discovered Mudflats- of living without fear of R power. Now we’ll have more junkets to Uganda to promote anti-gay legislation, less truth, more hate and fear-mongering, more apologies to oil companies (claim denials have spiked now that the R’s will likely take over the House), Alaska is the bright spot – thank you.
Best of luck to all Alaskans and McAdams! He is a really nice guy! How many of THOSE brave politics?
Miller is such a bad man and Lisa is a sellout for power.
Wouldn’t it be nice to send an actually good person to represent you ?
The tallimat household voted early and for our values.
It felt really good.
Just got a call from one of my former students in the village, who wanted to know why someone from the tribe would tell him he was throwing his vote away by voting for McAdams. I told him that you NEVER throw your vote away if you have looked at the candidates and chosen the one that represents you ethically and personally, even if that candidate doesn’t carry the day…..you’ve identified your values and goals in that vote, and that means something. You have a direction for the future and goals to work towards. You are WAY ahead by voting for someone you believe in, instead of making a cynical deal with yourself to vote for someone you don’t like so he or she will “win.”
I was honored to be asked.
You gave wise counsel. I wish everyone understood and embrace your words of wisdom.
While I have never voted for someone I don’t like, I like the way you put your advice – that identifying your values and goals means something even if your candidate doesn’t win. I’ve never quite thought of it this way, but you are right.
‘Happy’ voting everyone! Also sending cosmic support to Scott McA!
I had to vote for someone I don’t like yesterday. Our local race had a reprehensible republican who has been in the state house forever and an AIP militia leader running (no dem, no one reasonable). I thought about leaving it blank but there is NO WAY I want that militia guy anywhere near our state govt. Came home and took a shower.
Excellent Answer, MWT. I see why you were asked. You are honorable.
Excellent answer. I voted once for a candidate that I was sure wouldn’t win because I didn’t like the two main ones. And later, I did realize that my little protest hadn’t accomplished anything except that I had wasted my vote. I never made that mistake again. You are so right – it’s important to vote your conscience, even if your candidate doesn’t win. You can sleep a lot better knowing you did the right thing.
My daughter who lives in another Alaskan town, emailed me, asking me for my opinion on who to vote for today. She has an ultra-hectic life, single mom with teenagers, etc., no time to read/listen to the political antics. I gave her the rundown… that’s another vote for McAdams. It is also a good example of why write-ins don’t work- a lot of people are not seeing Murkowski’s ads will choose with the one that is printed on the ballot.
The fact that he would cross the street to greet Parnell says a lot to me. He would indeed represent ALASKA, all of us. I have fingers and toes crossed that he will be our next senator!
And remember, Parnell wouldn’t drive five miles to welcome the President of the United States to Alaska . . . . whatta dip.
Ahhh, I remember that. Partisan politics – Enough!
He’s learned well from his mistress and benefactress. Charming.
Woke up to NPR announcing. “The only possible pick-up for a Democratic senate seat in the nation is in Alaska.” The race in Alaska has national news from NYT to Washington Post calling it a toss-up.
That’s significant progress from Cokie Roberts saying a few weeks ago that there were only two viable candidates in the race and they were both Republicans.
It’s a three-way horse race. May the best, smartest, strongest, most ethical horse that will work hardest for the people of Alaska and not so much the corporate lobbyists win.
Go Scott!
Voted this morning and Scott walked away with two votes from our home, we’re crossing fingers and toes and hoping!
Just heard a report of electioneering by Miller campaign at a Juneau precinct! Keep your eyes & ears open & report any shenanigans to DOE immediately!
I’m just as excited as everyone else to vote for Scott today (who I finally met this morning coming in to work – what a swell guy).
But I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that his daughter Katie is SMOKIN’. Goodness gracious.
McAdams does seem like a class act. On every prime time news show that I’ve seen him on he never trashes the opposition – just states the facts. How refreshing.
Go Scott! We have the most extremely nice guy for a candidate, YEAH! And those kids, what a bunch of smiles.
This is an excellent post – the pics just say it all, don’t they (with a little help from AKM and the humor god)?
Best wishes and all fingers crossed for Scott McAdams from DC, where we STILL have taxation without representation!
As I cast my vote today in Georgia, I was wishing I had a ‘Scott McAdams’ to vote for.
That child with the McAdams sign is adorable! So are McAdam’s children… beautiful.
Good luck Scott! (and the rest of us too also..)
I had not seen Scott McAdams family before – they are lovely. Makes me feel good, like seeing the Obama family – that they are decent people I would be proud to have represent me.
I voted for Scott this morning – it felt so good to get in there and get it done.
Also, too – would anyone else like to see some sort of regulation of factual content of political ads? We are seeing increasing instances of outright lying and distortion of records. Mind you, it seems that the bulk of this falsifying is done by Republican or Tea Party candidates, but I for one am tired of them being able to lie without being called on it.
Folks such as Keith and Rachel do their best on the national candidates, but honestly, the local and state ads are just as bad.
I would rather see honest disagreement about issues than lies, half-truths and innuendos. Seems to me there should be a way to regulate political speech as issue of public welfare, for the public good. When something can be proved to be a lie, a candidate should be forced to yank an ad and publicly, apologize, correct their lie.
Just saying, I am tired of obvious lies and distortions.
We have a couple of candidates here in KS (both Democrats who have run clean, honest campaigns – refusing to discuss anything but issues) and you have that wonderful Scott McAdams. We need more of these candidates – people who speak truth and talk about issues and who do not lie.
Please support McAdams. He has run an exemplary campaign. I will be voting for the candidates here in Kansas who mirror his honesty and integrity. I wish them all the best!
” would anyone else like to see some sort of regulation of factual content of political ads? We are seeing increasing instances of outright lying and distortion of records.”
*raises hand*
*raises hand, jumps up and down*
*raises BOTH hands, jumps up and down and whines*
Now, can we make the MONEY trail completely transparent too?
YES!! I don’t mind losing if we lose based on FACTS. But we are going to lose a lot today based on LIES and MISINFORMATION.
that is hard to take
I have a question: am I the only one who is fed-up with the pundits making projections before the vote is finished?
I wonder if the projections sometimes deter some folks from even trying.
I know here in Kansas, a lot of people just don’t go vote because they feel it is an exercise in futility unless they vote Republican. That’s not true, but with all the pundits saying it’s a done deal, I can understand why some folks who may just be on the fence or not that passionate for a candidate or party may stay home.
Makes me angry that the media has such a huge influence on our system. Of course, I could be in the minority there because a lot of people like having their decisions made for them. Any one else tired of the predictions maps, the check marks, the colors red and blue?
Here’s how it works & how the Koch brothers pay for it. Example: An article on Sunday or Monday says a new (mysterious) poll shows Christine O’Donnell is catching up. Then the electronic voting eVote wizards go to work and the Candidate wins!!! No one questions it because everyone knows the candidate was surging. Other voters in other states see this and think they are in the minority and give up, while in reality they were in the majority and they were hoodwinked by eVote fraud in a few key places.
When W won in 2004, it wasn’t just in Ohio that eVotes were rigged. They were likely rigged across the country to make it appear W had much more support than he really had. That is why after his dubious victory, he said, I have some political capital, and I’m going to spend it.
The public walked for years around thinking they were in the minority and were afraid to speak out for fear of being ostracized. Yet I heard tales that by about 2003 there were Republicans who voted Republican all their lives that were planning on voting Democratic in 2004. Yet W won?
Wonder if one day we will have standard (the same) voting machines in every state. I would prefer we get a voter’s creditcard-type voter’s card, we just swipe it, cast our votes and then get a receipt with our votes clearly labeled. If we can go to the grocery store and not get ripped off, why exactly can’t we seem to do it in our voting booths? (Diebold voting machines anyone?)
I’ve always felt, what you mentioned, that was going on… especially in districts strongly blue suddenly pop out a red on election day?! Yeah right.
We need to get rid of the electorate votes thingy too also. The popular vote is the only fair one: The candidate with the most votes win, representing the largest majority of people.
Hey, I can dream.
Yes, I agree. The last years it is always a fight over Fl and OH. Sick of them having so much power.
Isn’t this the same conspiracy theory that Miller brought up and the left quickly brushed off as fantastical?
I sure am tired of the polls too – and I hope that the pollsters fall flat on their collective faces when the votes go Democratic again!
Go Scott!
To many talkers without much to say. My favorites, though: Chris Matthews, Rachel, Elliot Spitzer, Nate Silver in his column, Anderson Cooper, and I am pleasantly surprised with “The last word”, finally someone who lets the guests finish a sentence. Also I like this blog: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/11/palin_palling_around_with_terr.html “In 2007, he advocated threatening to bomb Mecca and Medina to deter a nuclear strike from al-Qaeda terrorists. Not only would attacking the holiest cities in Islam be the worst possible strategic action one could take in retaliation to a terrorist attack, but Mecca alone has a population of about 1.4 million people who wouldn’t have anything in common with the perpetrators other than calling themselves Muslims. In that hypothetical scenario, retaliation should be swift, sure, and accurate. Targeting innocent people, rather than the terrorists themselves, would be the next best thing for the terrorists beyond actually succeeding at carrying out an attack. ”
“It is in this context that former Alaska governor Sarah Palin chose to endorse Tancredo yesterday. Palin’s decision was transparent political cynicism — in order to show she’s a force within the movement, she wants to pick conservative candidates who are likely to win.”
Lots of states, a Presidential vote is an exercise in futility. We need to get rid of the Electoral College.
Popular vote!
Senators from tiny states already have too much power per person, the electoral college makes it worse.
Try reading “Audacity to Win” by David Plouffe, Obama’s campaign manager. It was the grassroots strategy and the electoral college system that propelled Obama forward from the very first primary. It’s an interesting read. Obama did, of course, get the popular vote as well.
But you have some good points there. The Senate and the House are an interesting set of checks and balances with the President and the Courts.
The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC).
The bill preserves the Electoral College, while assuring that every vote is equal and that every voter will matter in every state in every presidential election.
Every vote, everywhere, would be politically relevant and equal in presidential elections. Elections wouldn’t be about winning states. No more distorting and divisive red and blue state maps. Every vote, everywhere would be equal and counted for and directly assist the candidate for whom it was cast. Candidates would need to care about voters across the nation, not just undecided voters in a handful of swing states.
Now 2/3rds of the states and voters are ignored — Alaska and 18 more of the 22 smallest and medium-small states, and big states like California, Georgia, New York, and Texas. The current winner-take-all laws (i.e., awarding all of a state’s electoral votes to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in each state) used by 48 of the 50 states, and not mentioned, much less endorsed, in the Constitution, ensure that the candidates do not reach out to all of the states and their voters. Candidates have no reason to poll, visit, advertise, organize, campaign, or care about the voter concerns in the dozens of states where they are safely ahead or hopelessly behind. Voter turnout in the “battleground” states has been 67%, while turnout in the “spectator” states was 61%. Policies important to the citizens of “flyover’ states are not as highly prioritized as policies important to “battleground’ states when it comes to governing.
The bill would take effect only when enacted, in identical form, by states possessing a majority of the electoral votes–that is, enough electoral votes to elect a President (270 of 538). When the bill comes into effect, all the electoral votes from those states would be awarded to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC).
The bill uses the power given to each state by the Founding Fathers in the Constitution to change how they award their electoral votes for president. It does not abolish the Electoral College, which would need a constitutional amendment, and could be stopped by states with as little as 3% of the U.S. population. Historically, virtually all of the major changes in the method of electing the President, including ending the requirement that only men who owned substantial property could vote and 48 current state-by-state winner-take-all laws, have come about by state legislative action, without federal constitutional amendments.
The bill has been endorsed or voted for by 1,922 state legislators (in 50 states) who have sponsored and/or cast recorded votes in favor of the bill.
In Gallup polls since 1944, only about 20% of the public has supported the current system of awarding all of a state’s electoral votes to the presidential candidate who receives the most votes in each separate state (with about 70% opposed and about 10% undecided). The recent Washington Post, Kaiser Family Foundation, and Harvard University poll shows 72% support for direct nationwide election of the President. Support for a national popular vote is strong in virtually every state, partisan, and demographic group surveyed in recent polls in closely divided battleground states: Colorado– 68%, Iowa –75%, Michigan– 73%, Missouri– 70%, New Hampshire– 69%, Nevada– 72%, New Mexico– 76%, North Carolina– 74%, Ohio– 70%, Pennsylvania — 78%, Virginia — 74%, and Wisconsin — 71%; in smaller states (3 to 5 electoral votes): Alaska — 70%, DC — 76%, Delaware –75%, Maine — 77%, Nebraska — 74%, New Hampshire –69%, Nevada — 72%, New Mexico — 76%, Rhode Island — 74%, and Vermont — 75%; in Southern and border states: Arkansas –80%, Kentucky — 80%, Mississippi –77%, Missouri — 70%, North Carolina — 74%, and Virginia — 74%; and in other states polled: California — 70%, Connecticut — 74% , Massachusetts — 73%, Minnesota — 75%, New York — 79%, Washington — 77%, and West Virginia- 81%.
The National Popular Vote bill has passed 31 state legislative chambers, in 21 small, medium-small, medium, and large states, including one house in Arkansas (6), Connecticut (7), Delaware (3), The District of Columbia (3), Maine (4), Michigan (17), Nevada (5), New Mexico (5), New York (31), North Carolina (15), and Oregon (7), and both houses in California (55), Colorado (9), Hawaii (4), Illinois (21), New Jersey (15), Maryland (10), Massachusetts (12), Rhode Island (4), Vermont (3), and Washington (11). The bill has been enacted by the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Washington. These seven states possess 76 electoral votes — 28% of the 270 necessary to bring the law into effect.
See http://www.NationalPopularVote.com
A survey of 800 Alaska voters conducted on January 27-28, 2010 showed 70% overall support for the idea that the President of the United States should be the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states. Voters were asked “How do you think we should elect the President: Should it be the candidate who gets the most votes in all 50 states, or the current electoral college system?”
By political affiliation, support for a national popular vote was 66% among Republicans, 78% among Democrats, 70% among Nonpartisan voters, 82% among Alaska Independent Party voters, and 69% among others. By gender, support was 78% among women and 60% among men. By age, support was 68% among 18-29 year olds, 70% among 30-45 year olds, 70% among 46-65 year olds, and 70% for those older than 65.
http://nationalpopularvote.com/pages/polls.php#PA_2008DEC
I don’t know how it is in all California counties, but in my county there are no voting machines. We fill in an oval with a black pen they give us. Instructions for write ins are at the top of the ballot–write in the candidate, fill i the oval. If you ask for assistance, that’s what they read to you.
I know voter fraud has occurred in CA, and I know it’s mostly against democrats. But I must say that I feel much better with a paper trail ballot. Of course, they can throw the ballots away, but they have to do something else because all ballots must be accounted for when they’re turned in at the end of the day. It’s entirely possible in this state to hand count the ballots. Since it says right on them that extraneous marks make them invalid, I doubt that there’s much controversy about hand counting (except if an oval is filled in).
I voted at 11:00 here and it was crowded! There were 25 voting booths, all full. Had to wait for ballot, wait for voting booth. Some people were using some extraneous tables, kneeling on the floor.
For the first time in my life, I voted a straight ticket (except one Greenie). All the Republicans in the race were nincompoops. The nincompoops had beaten the reasonable Republicans in the primaries!
Couldn’t agree with you more. It reminds me of the times when they would start giving results in the presidential race once the polls on the east coast closed. If it seemed to be going for one candidate, many on the west coast thought their vote didn’t matter, so they didn’t bother. They did finally stop doing that. But they are so busy predicting that I do worry that voters who are less dedicated will just not take the time to vote.
I really hope all the pundits are wrong – I’m afraid they won’t be – but I would love to see all those younger voters who are never polled suprise them by showing up to vote or in the case of Washington state, by mailing in their ballots.
The commentators are just doing their jobs, but really – give the voters a chance before trying to convince us you know the results. In Washington state, for instance, our mail in ballots have to be post-marked by midnight tonight. That means that they allow a certain amount of time for those late ballots to arrive to be counted. So we likely won’t know if Patty Murray has won or lost until the middle of November – or later, if it’s close and there has to be a recount.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed. Good luck to McAdams and Alaska.
Voter’s Guide: G.O.P. = Republican =
Fear, Greed, Hate
Any questions?
Yes. Why did you leave out ignorance, stupidity, dishonesty and amnesia?
In 55 minutes I will cast my ballot.
It’s finally here.
Go Scott!!!!!!
Go Pi!
This may sound strange, but McAdams just….. looks Alaska to me, the “real deal”
He just appears to be the embodiment of Alaskans.
Lisa always looks nervous and phony, Miller looks like a used car salesman.
They say first impressions mean every thing and McAdams looks trustworthy and confident.
Here’s something from the Kos:
Questions:
What was the average monthly private sector job growth in 2008, the final year of the Bush presidency, and what has it been so far in 2010?
What was the Federal deficit for the last fiscal year of Bush presidency, and what was it for the first full fiscal year of the Obama presidency?
What was the stock market at on the last day of the Bush presidency?
What is it at today?
Answers:
In 2008, we lost an average of 317,250 private sector jobs per month. In 2010, we have gained an average of 95,888 private sector jobs per month.
That’s a difference of nearly five million jobs between Bush’s last year in office and President Obama’s second year.
In FY2009, which began on September 1, 2008 and represents the Bush Administration’s final budget, the budget deficit was $1.416 trillion.
In FY2010, the first budget of the Obama Administration, the budget deficit was $1.291 trillion, a decline of $125 billion.
Yes, that means President Obama has cut the deficit — there’s a long way to go, but we’re in better shape now than we were under Bush and the GOP.
On Bush’s final day in office, the Dow, NASDAQ, and S&P 500 closed at 7,949, 1,440, and 805, respectively.
Today, as of 10:15AM Pacific, they are at 11,108, 2,512, and 1,183.
That means since President Obama took office, the Dow, NASDAQ, and S&P 500 have increased 40%, 74%, and 47%, respectively.
http://bit.ly/cnEhNy
When things are tough, Americans develop amnesia and often choose to vote the opposite party hoping for immediate gratification! It’s sorta like changing the linens. Unfortunately, they usually just get dirty again. And, so it goes. That’s why I vote independent. Vote the best candidate is a better choice — and in this case, it’s Scott McAdams.
Good analogy. Which reminds me I’ve got some laundry to do.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/01/AR2010110105086.html?hpid=opinionsbox1
Eugene Robinson does air some dirty laundry for those who have forgotten big chunks of GW Bush’s presidency.
Speaking of amnesia, Robinson brought up some facts from the GW Bush presidency that many in the Tea Party don’t discuss.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/01/AR2010110105086.html?hpid=opinionsbox1
Yeah – I can really picture Mayor McAdams in a halibut jacket and red rubber boots, walking down any street or road in Alaska and looking totally at home. AND – I can also picture him in a coat and tie, walking the aisles in the Senate. Good luck to him and to everyone who votes for him!
Here in Arizona, we have some very decent candidates and unfortunately, very slim chances. When I was leaving the polling place this morning, I thought “Well, THAT was an exercisein futility.” Still – one does what one must.
Your vote counts even more when it seems futile, you REALLY “exercise” your right to vote then.
I’m glad you know that if you do not use your voice you could lose it, I wish more people were like you.
Thanks for those stats, Martha. FYI, the Federal Fiscal year starts on October 1.
Can’t wait to cast my vote for Scott McAdams. Remember, a “cuppa” Joe with a teabag in it would be pretty bitter! Scott can do it if EVERY SINGLE DEMOCRAT AND THINKING INDIVIDUAL GOES TO THE POLLS!!!!!! Step up and let’s hit a home run folks!
Good luck Alaska… And Connecticut, and Delaware, and Arizona, and… and… and…. There are so many interlopers running for office that I can only hope that voter turn out is high. If it is, the Democrats win. That’s what a really smart person said to me this weekend.
Exercise your right. Vote.
Turnout is Huge in the early going!
Huff post has ticked me off for the last time. On their poll thing, they don’t even have Mayor McAdams as a contender. Just the two Republicans. And, they have the Illinois race oddly numbered.
HuffPo lost me a while ago with their misleading titles then the insane “super poster” thingy with the desperate fanning and fav’ing like some junior high school popularity contest. Some of their writers have questionable reporting skills and that’s unacceptable to me. (How could they leave McAdams off the poll? Grrrrrrr.) I probably read a couple of articles a month… down from at least once a day. Boo on HuffPo for sliding into tabloid territory.
Hope we, here, in Ill. don’t get another Blago in office.
“… but it was just Scott crossing the street to say hello to the governor and shake his hand. A class act all the way, I thought.”
Too true. When you compare and contrast the candidates, I hope THAT moment get re-played, over and over and over again, on your radio and television affiliates.
Then a man with an extra tall Joe Miller sign started walking down the line of sign wavers, and presumably to try to get everyone pumped up to wave even harder, he yelled with an extra helping of testosterone, “We’ve got the EXTREME candidate! We’re the only ones with an EXTREME candidate! YEAHHH!”
*throws up in mouth*
I thought that was “extremely” funny. Talk about “out of the mouth of babes”.
Good luck and well wishings are going Scott’s way from North Carolina!
Go Scott!
Good luck, Scott!
A class act indeed! Alaska can regain a lot of respect if McAdams becomes their new Senator.
🙂 I agree! He is a very good man!
I wish we all had such a good choice. This country would be truly blessed, and good things could happen.
Wee hours of the morning and Anchorage is getting it’s first snowfall. Here’s hoping it doesn’t deter anyone from going to the polls. We know Prevo’s flock will all turn out for Crazy Joe no matter what conditions are, so it’s critical that we get out the McVote for Scott! It’s going to be a looong day (possibly week or month)! Good luck Scott!!
From your mouth to Alaskan voters’ fingers! Or something like that. It is early. The best of luck to Mayor McAdams. I do so hope he wins. Illinois is looking iffy. Ick day around here.
Go Illinois!! GOTV. What’s a little icl?