Not to harsh anyone's buzz... but take a look at Alaska.

[VolcanoJen]

It would appear Alaskans have re-elected Ted Stevens, Senator Felon.

Couldn't Governor Palin appoint herself to that seat? And if she wants to make a run in 2012, wouldn't it be smart to get the hell out of Alaska and move to "Acela" so she can stay in the national spotlight?

[Dennis Donovan]

1. Yes, she could. Her ambition knows no bounds...

She'll get to DC, one way or another.:thumbsdown:

[donheld]

35. NO she cannot

Alaska will have to hold a special election. That's their law.

[Dennis Donovan]

40. WHEW! And thank you for the info!

:thumbsup:

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

2. I don't believe she can appoint herself.

However, I will be surprised if she doesn't run for the seat when it comes up again in 2014, or sooner if they have some kind of special election.

[rzemanfl]

16. Could she resign and have her Lieutenant apppoint her? eom

[billyoc]

3. Alaska doesn't do gubernatorial appointments since the Murkowski debacle.

They do special elections now, like you would for a House seat.

[VolcanoJen]

7. OH THANK GAWD

But... I thought it was a Constitutional issue?

[billyoc]

14. I believe you MUST have a special election for a House seat and you MAY have one for a Senate seat.

[VolcanoJen]

20. 7th Amendment:

"The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years. . .

When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct."

I'm afraid I still don't understand for certain how this would work.

[hisownpetard]

4. Well, then I vote for Alaska to take her morons and secede. Good riddance.

[HereSince1628]

5. No Palin can't appoint a replacement.

Alaska has dealt with bad appointments in its past and doesn't do them anymore.

[kenny blankenship]

6. I know this is some heartbreaking crap - also if Franken loses

I just hope that there is a special election held quickly in Alaska, and that Begich runs and wins it. We need those Senate seats bad.

[indie_voter]

8. This, Franken and most of all Prop 8 here in CA has tempered my joy. n/t

[Peregrine Took]

30. And the odious Bachmann creature's being re-elected. I'd boycott her

district to pay them back if I would ever wind up near the hell hole, which I doubt.

[HelenWheels]

9. Not surprised

I felt right from the start Felon Stevens would win. He brings too much pork to Alaska for them to throw him out. And you can bet the Senate will not dump him.

[Cha]

10. The bright side is

Senator ted felon stevens is a reminder of what corruption is and the rest of us will be ever vigiliant.

Traitor joe and he can go sit in a Senate corner.

Congratulations on OHIO, JEN! :toast::bounce::party::kick:

[VolcanoJen]

12. Wasn't OHIO the best!???!???

Yes, yes, all credit to all the formerly red states.. FL, VA, CO, NM, INDIANA!!!!!

But when they called OHIO for OBAMA was the moment we all knew we had won, wasn't it????

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[WeDidIt]

11. Ted's ahead by 3533 votes

and there are absentee ballots yet to be counted.

But yes, it would seem Stevens is going to be re-elected.

[Blue_In_AK]

13. Mark Begich may pull this out yet.

Only 4,000 votes separate him from Ted Stevens and according to this morning's paper there are at least 50,000 ballots left to count. We probably won't know for a couple of weeks how this shakes out.

Of course the Republicans are gaming us because I think they know in their hearts that Ted's going down -- and at 84, there's not even a guarantee that he'll live another six years. It's going to be kind of interesting to watch the factions, as well, because Sarah DID ask Ted to step down and he refused, so there's probably some tension there. There's been a battle brewing here between the Palinistas and the Old Guard, so it could get really entertaining in the coming months.


As for Ted Stevens, yes, he's a grumpy old bastard and, yes, he's brought an excessive amount of pork to Alaska, but he has been very responsive to individual regular constituents, as well, over the years. I suspect that there are very few people here who haven't been helped at one time or another by Ted or his office -- myself included. He interceded for me with HUD in DC after I was sold a HUD house with a bad roof, and I've heard many other stories of individuals who he's helped. He was an effective senator for Alaska for many years, and I think a lot of folks are suffering from separation anxiety and especially are having trouble coming to grips with the fact that he has committed crimes.

[VolcanoJen]

17. Thank you for the Alaska Update!

So... if Ted pulls this out, didn't Harry Reid already say he'll be booted from the US Senate? Not at all sure how that works.

What's the word up there... can Palin appoint herself, or do you have a special election?

The 7th Amendment to the US Constitution says:

"The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years. . .

When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct."

So what happens, Alaska????

[Blue_In_AK]

22. What happens is that we have to have a special election

within 90 days of a vacancy, although the governor can make an interim appointment if she chooses to. I don't think it would look too good if Sarah appointed herself as the interim senator -- but she's pretty ballsy, so who knows.

[whistler162]

43. Although Gov. Palin appointing herself would solve

certain problems. Especially if she lost a bid for the Senate seat.

[uppityperson]

21. I am sorry Blue, you have to have Sarah and Todd back.

Good luck with them.

[AtomicKitten]

15. Reid already told him he can't serve, but that means you-know-who appoints his successor.

[Blue_In_AK]

24. We have a special election.

Any appointment would only be for the interim, maximum 90 days.

[AtomicKitten]

26. good to know

thanks

[VolcanoJen]

27. Interesting!!

So... she could still appoint herself, though? And then run in the special election?

Is anyone in Alaska talking about this or am I just being weird here? :-)

[Blue_In_AK]

36. No, you're not being weird.

We're ALL talking about it. I'm anticipating a bit of a battle between the Palinistas and the old-time Republicans over who will run for this seat when Ted steps down, as he no doubt will have to eventually. The Republicans are definitely factionalized at this point. A lot of the old-timers think she's a socialist (really) because of the energy rebate and the increased tax that she put on the oil companies. And now I'm sure there's going to be some discomfort over all the right-wing religious stuff that came out during the campaign ... Sarah had kept that all pretty much under wraps during her governorship, so I'm wondering if she'll really try to pull out all the stops now. If she does, she'll be in trouble, because we're not particularly religious up here. In fact, I read a survey a while ago that Alaska has the least number of church-goers per capita of any state in the union.

Anyway, it should be an interesting few months coming up. I'm sorry the Democrats couldn't do better up here, but at least we've got Obama, and that makes as alL VERY happy. :)

[Zomby Woof]

18. We should support the AIP

And encourage secession.

I will miss the wonderful National Parks, but we must make sacrifices for the good of the country! :patriot:

(NOTHING CAN HARSH MY BUZZ! THANK YOU FOR DELIVERING OHIO!!!) :loveya:

[VolcanoJen]

19. We DID IT!

Hi baby!!!

:loveya:

So, when they called Ohio for OBAMA, did you feel it out there? Wasn't that the moment!?? We worked SO HARD here and not only did we turn Ohio back to its rightful blue color, we did it BIG. We are DEEP BLUE, darlin'!!!!

And Obama even won Hamilton County (Cincinnati). First time that's happened for a Dem since LBJ!

I do have to add that my buzz is indeed harshed by that Prop 8 nonsense, though. :-(

[Blue_In_AK]

25. We cheered loudly when Ohio was called for Obama.

That was when we all started breathing a little easier. :)

[Zomby Woof]

28. It was the first major catharsis of the evening

I whooped when PA was called. But with Ohio, it started to become VERY REAL, and the floodgates opened. Tears just flowed. I didn't know if I was laughing or crying, it was so sudden and strong. We all knew the electoral math denied Republican victory without Ohio!

And then that was topped by the official passing of 270 votes. Ohio, however, was a very special moment of the evening. Never to be forgotten. :-)


As for Prop 8, I am willing to help the ACLU and others - at the first chance we get - take it to the U.S. Supreme Court (with its new Obama appointees)if in any way possible. I believe a serious 14th amendment case can be made concerning equal protection under the law. Barring that, then there is ALWAYS the chance of getting a new proposition on the ballot next year and repealing it. Ever so surely, civil rights are a struggle with which we can never let down our guard.

[VolcanoJen]

31. I popped the cork on my champagne when Ohio was called

Moet & Chandon White Star, by the way. FRENCH!!!

In 2004, that bottle sat in my fridge for six months until I finally just decided to drink the damned thing. And last night, I was going to wait until 11:00, but I just couldn't. I knew it was over when Ohio was called, because as big as Pennsylvania was, Ohio was the first red-state-poach of the night, and she brought with her 20 Electoral Votes. :-)

I have never felt this good, Zomby!!! Almost eight years now we've been slogging away together at DU and last night, we finally got to pop the cork.

:hug: Zomby :hug:

You of course know we are ALL behind California's efforts to fight Prop 8. We are energized and motivated and awash with the gorgeous scent of hope. Yes, We Can.

[Zomby Woof]

33. That is the SAME CHAMPAGNE WE HAD!!

:rofl:

It had been sitting in the fridge most of the year - and did I dare HOPE that the election would be our chance to pop the cork? YES, I DID! :D

We did wait until 270, however, if only because that unbelievable moment seemed like it would never come! :hug: JenJen! :hug:

[VolcanoJen]

39. How awesome is that!

French Champagne, White Star, for Two of the Original DU OG's!!!!!!!!

:loveya: Zomby! :loveya:

[TheKentuckian]

32. The problem is Obama at least in his 1st term

is unlikely to have any impact on the Supreme Court other than to maintain the balance we have now.

Bush has stacked the court with a bunch of middle aged ideologues and they will continue to be a problem over a long time.
Technically, he could add more justices because I don't think the Constitution sets a hard cap on the Court but doing so would open up a Pandora's box.

[Zomby Woof]

34. We'll likely fight it in the state courts again

And then the ballot box. But it's a fight that did NOT end last night.

[dogpatch]

23. yeah Prop 8 shat on my buzz

what a way to twist the knife in our backs in this otherwise incredible and joyous moment

[RiverStone]

29. At what point would his convictions kick his ass outta office?

I know, it's all under appeal at the moment.

[Blue_In_AK]

38. Alaska's Republicans are very stubborn.

When he is evicted from the Senate, we'll HAVE to have a special election. It's kind of in Harry Reid's court at the moment, or we'll have to wait for appeal results.

[BrotherBuzz]

37. No felons in Senate

Stevens, a freshly minted felon, cannot remain a senator even if he’s re-elected. There will be a big hole on the senate roster until they have a special election to replace Stevens.

[demo dutch]

41. They're beyond help if they elect people like Stevens & Palin

[Blue_In_AK]

44. Don't write us all off.

The progressives here shine twice as brightly by comparison, even though we're in the minority.

[Arkansas Granny]

42. We were discussing this at lunch today. How strange is it that a convicted felon

cannot vote, but can be elected to office?