Pig masks and a political shift in Alaska

[babylonsister]

Pig masks and a political shift in Alaska
By Elana Schor and Jackie Kucinich
August 15, 2007

For the last 15 summers, Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) has hosted his state’s political heavyweights at a down-home pig roast fundraiser. But this August, pigs of a different kind snorted back at him.

About 75 protesters, crying “Oink! Oink!” and “FBI! FBI!” gave Young, Alaska’s two senators and their supporters a shockingly poor reception at last week’s fundraiser. When Young held a public picnic on Monday, the protesters were back, wearing swine masks and waving angry signs.(SHOCKING, I TELL YA!)

More than 3,600 miles from the Capitol, one thing is clear: Young and Sen. Ted Stevens (R) are in political as well as legal jeopardy. Whether Alaska’s tide of corruption allegations is enough to sweep its two federal breadwinners out of office is far less certain.

“Never underestimate what a lot of money can do,” said Eddie Burke, host of a popular conservative radio show in Anchorage. “Whoever decides to run against Ted had better be well prepared for a scorched-earth campaign.”

Formerly a senior GOP aide in the Alaska legislature, Burke was in the thick of the rowdy hog-roast picket, whose turnout stunned even protest organizers. The bipartisan crowd, as Burke described it, amounted to “John Kerry and Newt Gingrich holding hands that corruption is wrong and change might happen.”

more...

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/pig-masks-and-a-political-shift-in-alaska-2007-08-15.html

[wordpix]

1. “Never underestimate what a lot of money can do." At least the repuke talk show host who said it

didn't try to hide the money-is-everything repuke political stand.

[napi21]

2. So, do we have any Dems to oppose them?

Not just any Dem, but ones who can really capture the crowd.

[Blue_In_AK]

3. Diane Benson is running against Don Young again.

She ran against him last year before the corruption scandals broke and in about six months went from having virtually zero percent chance of winning to garnering 40% of the vote in November. Her campaign did projections which showed that if she had had 2 more weeks and 80,000 more dollars she would have beat him, considering the momentum she had going into the election. Part of the problem was that Don refused to appear here and debate her, despite numerous forums offering the opportunity. Finally, the night before the election our local NBC affiliate told her that she could have 10 minutes to herself on the nightly news to make her pitch if Don still refused to show up. He was forced to appear and she kicked his ass. She had the goods on him long before it was common knowledge.

As for Ted, we've heard rumors that former state House minority leader and last year's lieutenant governor candidate Ethan Berkowitz may take him on. Ethan is very smart, very ethical, and well known in the state for attempting to blow the whistle on VECO's influence in the state legislature before the indictments a few months ago. He would be an excellent candidate and probably has the best chance of anybody here to win, I would guess. Our mayor Mark Begich might also run against either Ted or Don, although there have been a few questions lately about some real estate dealings he was involved in -- probably nothing substantive but it's put a question mark in a few people's minds.

Jake Metcalfe, up until a couple of weeks ago the chairman of the Alaska Democratic Party, has also declared his candidacy for Don's seat. I don't know much about him other than he didn't throw much help Diane's way last year, so he's not high on my list. Also, I'm a little put off by the way the local media touted his "fundraising juice," given the fact that that's what has brought us into this corruption mess, IMO.

For pictures of Saturday's picnic demonstration, go here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1586845&mesg_id=1586845

My letter to the editor re Metcalfe here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=138x2147