Based on how Alaska voted for President and Stevens be prepared to see Palin in the Senate in 2009

[Mike Daniels]

People, People. Anyone who thinks Palin isn't 95% likely to be coming to Washington as an elected representative within the first half of 2009 needs to look at how Alaska voted just a week ago.

McCain won Alaska (at least from what I saw on the returns). Stevens managed to come out with an apparent victory despite being found guilty just a week or so prior to the election.

If Stevens does get bounced out down the road why should anyone believe that Palin will not win the special election that will be held to "hire" his replacement. If Stevens' misconduct can't lose him an election why should anyone feel that Palin is going to be diminished by her lose in a race where she was only the VP candidate.

Bank on it. Palin will be the next US Senator for Alaska and will spend the next two to three years building up her record for 2012.

[Alexander]

1. Stevens did not win yet. Not all votes have been counted.

No media outlet has called the race.

There are still enough uncounted ballots to change the race.

Stevens didn't declare victory and Begich didn't concede.

Where are you getting your information?

BTW, after checking the results, it turns out Obama got a higher percentage of the vote in Alaska than any Democratic presidential nominee in the past 20 years - Obama even outperformed Bill Clinton.

[ooga booga]

23. According to POTUS 08 on XM Radio (XM 130)

Governor Palin can ONLY appoint a replacement for Ted Stevens IF he resigns his seat, and he's NOT expected to do that.

If he wins the election and he gets bounced from the Senate -- as expected. Alaska has to hold an election to fill the Senate seat.

If the Democrat, Mark Begich, wins the seat out right. It's all academic.

[Jersey Devil]

34. Who says he is "expected" to be bounced from the Senate

I have read that there is precedent for allowing a Senator to stay in the US Senate if he was convicted of a crime and then voters elected him again with knowledge of his crime. They may strip him of his committees as early as next week but I doubt they will throw him out of the Senate completely.

But let's count the remaining 90,000 votes first. This may be a moot issue if Stevens winds up losing.

[colonel odis]

2. in that case, be prepared to see palin make a fool of herself regularly.

she'll make katherine harris look like a statesman. stateswoman? statesperson?

a real live legislator.

[Lint Head]

3. Does she not understand that most people, including Republicans,

see he as a boob! I know Republicans that will turn Democrat if she continues to claim to be one of them.
:dem:

[political_Dem]

4. That's why it is time to work toward neutralizing her power while we have a chance.

As I've written in other threads, I think that we can take a lesson from the rise of Hitler when looking at the Palin case. People have ridiculed her and played her off. But, she will be very dangerous each step to power that she takes. The mask has to be torn off of her image as a reformer. Secondly, people have to take the kernels that the Republican party has thrown and run with it.

I just hope that there are people who are working toward her impeachment with all these facts. With all the scandals under her belt, it is disgusting that she is still in power.

[Tempest]

5. Begich would crush her

Palin isn't as popular in Alaska now as they would have you believe.

[orestes]

11. He couldn't crush Stevens

You may be overestimating Alaskans.

[Blue_In_AK]

12. Ted has (or had) far more stature here

than Sarah could ever dream of. A lot of people struggled with old loyalties in this election with regard to Ted. Sarah doesn't command near that much respect and support, especially after this campaign season. Give us a little credit.

[Tempest]

16. Exactly

A big reason Alaskans voted for Stevens is because he's been so successful in bringing home the bacon and they feel they owe him.

Palin wouldn't have anywhere near the success Stevens had and even now her support has fallen.

The fact that Begich came close to beating Stevens (and still might) shows how far Stevens' loyalities have shrunk.

[Blue_In_AK]

20. Many, many years Ted didn't even have an opponent.

Mark has accomplished something remarkable here, no matter what the final outcome.

[Tempest]

25. I lived in Alaska during those years

I always wrote in a cartoon character and would scratch out his name.

[Blue_In_AK]

26. Were you here for the Theresa Obermeyer debacle?

I think that was the depths of the worst.

[Tempest]

30. No, I'd move out of state by then

But my sister in Anchorage kept me up to date on that melodrama.

[orestes]

21. I hope you're right, but in this case, I'll believe it when i see it.

[Joe Chi Minh]

6. You forget the probability of honest elections.

[Hippo_Tron]

7. Won't that undercut her Washington outsider maverick argument?

Nevermind... clearly I'm over-analyzing Palin's nonexistent thought process.

[Essene]

8. If she gives up on her governor position... she's really going to dig herself in deep

Her future is as Governor... and she oughta be focused 100% on a 2nd term up there, trying to build credentials within the GOP Governor's Association.

Pawlenty, Crist, Jindal, etc... she has a lot to prove and not much to stand on. She could go for senator, but that will likely end up making her career a lot shorter than it otherwise could be.

[GoesTo11]

9. Current Intrade - Begich 65%, Stevens 30%

Hopefully we won't have to worry about your scenario.

[Blue_In_AK]

10. Please wait until all the votes are counted

and irregularities fully explained before writing Alaska off. I'm tired of this. Fully one-fourth of the ballots haven't been counted, and maybe even close a third. It's not over till it's over.

[snowbear]

13. Mike Daniels, you are full of it..

.....

There are still 81,000+ ballots to be counted, so no.. I will not "bank on it" as you requested.

You may be hoping for Palin to step into the U.S. Senate, but from what I'm witnessing right here in Alaska, you and a handful of stoned Wasilla residents are the only ones.

This morning's e-mail from the Begich campaign:

Hey!

Mark and Heather are busy coordinating our ballot verification activities and asked me to send you a quick update on our race.

First, for those of you who answered our call for financial help last week - thank you! We've raised more that $44,000 toward our $50,000 goal. It was a lot to ask from those who have already been so generous, but your response was fast, overwhelming, and has allowed us to monitor the statewide early vote and absentee vote count.

We could not have done it without you.

There are currently more than 81,000 early, absentee, and questioned ballots going through the validating process. More ballots are arriving each day, so that number will grow a bit. While currently trailing by 3257 votes, we did exceedingly well with the early votes counted so far (61% for Mark, 48% for Stevens), sent a terrific mail piece to every absentee voter, and question ballots in Alaska usually skew to Democrats. You can see this by going to http//action.begich.com/electoralmap.

This is a race we are fighting for and intend to win.

The Division of Elections (DOE) plans to count 2/3 of the outstanding ballots on Wednesday and those remaining on Friday. All oversees ballots have to be in by Wednesday, November 19th and the DOE plans to certify the election on Tuesday, November 25. A recount, should one be necessary, would occur after that. We will keep you updated on the status of the race after each step in the process.

Thank you,

John Vezina
Finance Director
Alaskans for Begich
907.297.2575

[Danger Mouse]

18. I love your bear.

:hug: Not as cute as the orignal, but still adorable.

[secondwind]

14. how will her family live (in Wash DC)? It is a very expensive place.

you think her family will be "bankrolled" by some filthy rich neocon?

[Tempest]

17. She'll charge Alaska a per diem n/t

[Jersey Devil]

15. Over 81,000 early and absentee votes per Anchorage Daily News

have yet to be counted.

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/

[Danger Mouse]

19. Hahaha, yeah sure okay there.

[Grateful for Hope]

22. I think you are jumping the gun n/t

[jobycom]

24. God, I hope so.

She'd be a virus injected straight into the veins of the Republican party. That can only help us.

[Blue_In_AK]

27. Please...

while it might be a Godsend for national Democrats, have a little compassion for Alaskans. We've been wandering in the wilderness for 40 years.

[jobycom]

28. Oh, geeze, your rite, by Gosh!

Hadn't thought of it that way. Apologies. Here in Texas, I'm just so used to being behind enemy lines I forget other people can still hope. :)

[ProgressiveEconomist]

29. I read somewhere she'd have to resign as Governor in order to run in a special US Senate

election, to be held within 90 days of a vacancy to prevent another Lisa Murkowski scandal.

If Stevens "wins" and then is forced to resign, I hope Palin runs and loses everything, game over.

[mitchum]

31. I'm hoping she makes the Hale Boggs milk run

[zulchzulu]

32. Romney apparachiks will work to make Palin lose in Senate race

I have a contact within the RNC batcave and they want Palin thrown under the bus. Even if she gets the Senate seat, they will still be shooting at her politically... she'll be radioactive by 2012.

[DU GrovelBot]

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