The Alaska State House has passed a resolution asking the federal government to apologize to Ted Stevens. They also want him to be able to sue the Department of Justice.

The resolution is nonbinding – which is just political posturing. An apology? Wow, can I get one too? And in this time of record deficits should we really be giving Ted Stevens a bailout? REALLY?

Here’s the resolution and, for what it’s worth, my commentary following the bold Shannyn:

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 10 (HR10):

Expressing support for Senator Ted Stevens and severe displeasure and indignation with the federal government’s deplorable investigation and prosecution of the Senator.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
WHEREAS United States Senator Ted Stevens’ public service began with his military service during World War II; and

SHANNYN: the same veteran who has stated PTSD was invented by this generation.

HR10: WHEREAS Senator Stevens served the State of Alaska for over 50 years as a United States Attorney, member of the Alaska House of Representatives and United States Senator; and

SHANNYN: the same Senator who said to Bill Allen, “They’re not going to shoot us; it’s not Iraq, so what the hell. The worst that can happen to us is we wind up with a bunch of legal fees and might lose, and we might have to pay a little fine, might have to serve a little time in jail. I hope to Christ it never gets to that, and I don’t think it will.“

HR10: WHEREAS Senator Stevens was the longest serving Republican and seventh longest serving senator in the history of the United States; and

SHANNYN: Since when does NOT DYING deserve a federal apology?

HR1O: WHEREAS Alaska and its communities owe a debt of gratitude to Senator Stevens for his tireless efforts on behalf of the state; and

SHANNYN: How about Alaskan fishing communities? How about Kodiak? Talk about debt…

HR10: WHEREAS the United States Department of Justice has moved “to set aside the verdict and dismiss the indictment [against Senator Stevens] with prejudice”; and

SHANNYN: Because Attorney General Eric Holder believes in the Rule of Law from Guantanamo Bay to Girdwood, AK.

HR10: WHEREAS the prosecutors in the case withheld information that should have been provided to the defense during the trial; and

SHANNYN: Agreed that this is a reason to dismiss the trail, re-try the case, and prosecute those who committed crimes against Justice. NOT a reason for an apology or right to sue.

HR10: WHEREAS the Department of Justice’s prosecution team was found in contempt of court for willfully failing to abide by the laws and procedures of the federal court; and

SHANNYN: AGAIN, any federal or state official in ANY case who cheats to win should be prosecuted. This isn’t baseball…but if steroids can keep you out of the Hall of Fame, cheating justice should put you in the Hall of Shame…otherwise known as jail.

HR10: WHEREAS, under 5 U.S.C. 1502(a)(1) (Hatch Act), a federal “employee may not use his official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election”; and

SHANNYN: OH, REALLY? I think under this pretense, the federal government should apologize for the Florida Fiasco in the 2000 election, and the Ohio Shenanigans in the 2004 election! The LIST GOES ON…

HR10: WHEREAS questions have arisen as to whether provisions of the Hatch Act have been violated; and

SHANNYN: We should investigate ALL cases of alleged Hatch Act violations. The sacrament of democracy is our right to vote and have it count (just once).

HR10: WHEREAS the dismissal of these charges does not restore Senator Stevens’ reputation and legacy or compensate Senator Stevens for his legal expenses and loss of future income; and

SHANNYN: Ted Stevens should be grateful Attorney General Holder is not re-trying him and go away quietly…maybe pray the airport keeps his name. Count your lucky stars Uncle Ted.

HR10: WHEREAS the federal government cannot be sued without its permission, except as
15 provided under 28 U.S.C. 1348 (Federal Tort Claims Act);

SHANNYN: Too bad you can’t sue for expensive lies measured in human lives about Yellow Cake Uranium and the outing of a CIA agent or the illegal wiretapping of American citizens…since those don’t count…well, suck it up Uncle Ted. Can you say, “Welcome to Walmart?”

HR10: BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska House of Representatives demands that the federal government grant Senator Stevens permission to sue the United States Department of Justice for redress; and be it

SHANNYN: THIS IS THE SAME LEGISLATIVE BODY THAT IS TRYING TO BRING BACK THE DEATH PENALTY!!! IT’S AS IF MISTAKES ARE NEVER MADE BY PROSECUTORS WHETHER NEFARIOUS OR THROUGH NEGLECT! How can they possibly talk out of both sides of their asses?

HR10: FURTHER RESOLVED that federal employees involved with Senator Stevens’ prosecution be investigated for violations of the Hatch Act and, if found guilty, be subject to penalty under the Act; and be it

SHANNYN: Obama’s Attorney General, Eric Holder, is already investigating the prosecution….oooh, snap!

HR10: FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States Government should issue a formal apology to Senator Stevens and the People of Alaska for this heinous miscarriage of justice.

SHANNYN: I think Mr. Stevens should wait as least as long as the interned Japanese during WWII did for their apology. Their crimes were being immigrants…his crimes? Well, we’ll never know…at least not until Ben Stevens’ looming indictment and trial.

HR10: COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States; the Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Vice-President of the United States and President of the U.S. Senate; the Honorable Eric H. Holder, Jr., Attorney General of the United States; and the Honorable Lisa Murkowski and the Honorable Mark Begich, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.

SHANNYN: I think the Alaska Republicans that sponsored this resolution forgot a couple WHEREAS’s and FURTHER RESOLVED’s…

Here’s what I would add…THE SHANNYN AMENDMENT:

WHEREAS Senator Stevens voted to suspend that which he enjoyed and ultimately set him free-habeas corpus; and

WHEREAS The US Supreme Court reinstated in 2008 that which Ted Stevens thought not important and voted to suspend-habeas corpus; and

WHEREAS Ted Stevens is on record receiving gifts he did not report; and

WHEREAS Ted Stevens was recorded stating, “They’re not going to shoot us; it’s not Iraq, so what the hell. The worst that can happen to us is we wind up with a bunch of legal fees and might lose, and we might have to pay a little fine, might have to serve a little time in jail. I hope to Christ it never gets to that, and I don’t think it will.”; and

WHEREAS The above statement is at a minimum unbecoming and unethical of a United States Senator and at most outright illegal; and

WHEREAS Republican Representative Mike Chenault is sponsoring a bill to bring back the Death Penalty in Alaska; and

WHEREAS The government is capable of making mistakes and of egregious outright prosecutorial misconduct; and

WHEREAS Ted Stevens’ case was thrown out due to prosecutorial misconduct and he is FREE; and

WHEREAS The Death Penalty would make moot the point of throwing a wrongful conviction out due to defendant’s DEATH; be it

FURTHER RESOLVED Senator Stevens apologize to All Americans for suspending that which he was granted-habeas corpus; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED Republican Representative Mike Chenault apologize for potentially putting Alaskans at risk to wrongful deaths from potential death penalty prosecutions due to the possibility of misconduct on behalf of the prosecution; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED Republican Representative Mike Chenault immediately withdraw his death penalty bill from consideration; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED Ted Stevens apologize to Alaskans for his incriminating statements and unethical behavior; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED Ted Stevens NOT sue the Federal Government lest they retry him!

I have stated before that this case was botched and should have been thrown out. The complicit lionization of Stevens by the Alaska State House, however, is a farce.

This bipartisan resolution passed with only one NO vote. The only NO vote? Spenard Democrat Mike Doogan-the man I chased into the bathroom of the state capitol last week after he outed my friend Mudflats. Apparently, he’s trying to make up and get in my good graces again.

JUSTICE has not been served to either Stevens or to the people of Alaska.

Sarah Palin and Randy Ruedrich are calling for a new US Senate election?

Fine…Bring it on…Right after a new trial.

Just when I think Sarah Palin must have gone off her meds…she demonstrates she has…

Months ago, she asked Ted Stevens “to step aside…to play a very statesmanlike role in this now.” RESIGN! This week, she asked Senator Begich to resign. Does she think if they all resign she can move to Washington? I wonder. Write your own rules, play your own game and you get a free wardrobe? Did we vote for best looking? Or best Levi’s? Or best smile? NO! Sarah Palin ousted incumbent Frank Murkowski in the primary and popular governor Tony Knowles in the general! She won because the People wanted change. The people wanted leadership. The people wanted Ethical Honest Government. The people did not want Mean Girl Snark!

Tonight she released a letter to Senate President Gary Stevens. Background: I’ll be brief. Juneau Senator Kim Elton-D received an appointment from President Obama to work in the Department of Interior on March 6, 2009. Alaska rules state that the district party submit preferred candidates to the Governor for an appointment. The Juneau Democrats gave Sarah Palin one name: Beth Kerrtula. Beth is currently a House Representative. She has been a member of the House since 1999. She has been the House leader since 2006. Kerrtula is clearly the most qualified candidate in Juneau.

During the campaign, Beth said that Sarah Palin was not qualified to be VICE-President…I know, shocking assessment. Sarah had a cow and named local Republican turned Democrat Tim Grussendorf to the seat.

Tim was a Republican 3 weeks ago…tadah! Now he’s a Dem. The rules state the Senate Democrats have to approve the appointment. They said, “Thanks but no thanks.”

More background…even briefer: Star Date 2007, Republican Representative (from Wasilla) Vic Kohring was convicted of bribery and corruption. Empty seat. Sarah appoints an elder from her Super Size Your Jesus church, Wes Keller. The Repubs approve…DONE, Keller is a House Representative.

My gosh, you’re all caught up! OH, Wait! The process is now UNCONSTITUTIONAL to Madam Palin. She has just released a letter saying she wants her pick; Republican Tim Grussendorf (sounds like a wizard from Harry Potter) to go before the full house for approval! And, Palin believes the historical process is wrong.

I only hope she has medicine for the drama she brings to the state of Alaska. Here is her letter:

April 2, 2009

The Honorable Gary Stevens

President

Alaska State Senate

State Capitol, Room 111

Juneau, AK 99801

Dear Senator Stevens:

On March 31, I nominated, under AS 15.40.320, Mr. Tim Grussendorf to fill the vacant senate seat for senate district B. On the following day, April 1, I received an unsigned memo from “Alaska Senate Democrats” to Senator Gary Stevens that the nomination of Tim Grussendorf, “did not achieve the needed support to be seated.” The memo also stated that “Today the nine Senate Democrats met to discuss Governor Palin’s nomination.” Based on various news reports, it is our understanding that the meeting of Senate Democrats took place behind closed doors.

The Alaska Constitution provides that “Each [house of the legislature] is the judge of the . . . qualifications of its members. . . .” Alaska Const. art. II, sec. 12. The Department of Law has opined that “confirmation by a political caucus is probably a legally deficient procedure. The confirmation procedure set out in existing law appears to conflict with the Alaska Constitution.” 1987 Inf. Op. Att’y Gen. 2 (Sept. 21; 663-88-0107).

Accordingly, the closed-door action taken by a minority of the Alaska Senate is without legal effect. Until the Alaska Senate takes action consistent with the Alaska Constitution, my appointment of Mr. Grussendorf remains in effect.

I respectfully request that the entire Alaska Senate consider my nomination of Mr. Grussendorf in open session, in the same fashion as the legislature would consider any other appointment subject to confirmation. The people of Alaska and Juneau are entitled to a public confirmation process that is consistent with the Alaska Constitution.

Sincerely,

Sarah Palin

Governor

cc: The Honorable Johnny Ellis, Senate Majority Leader

Enclosures:

Memorandum to Senator Gary Stevens, Alaska State Senate President.

File No. 663-88-0107, Subject: Procedure for appointment to fill legislative vacancy.

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD AND ALL THAT IS HOLY….ISN’T “BEHIND CLOSED DOORS” where you discuss such matters? It’s Alaska…all the doors are closed right now! It’s called heat retention. The political posturing is pathetic. Has anyone reminded the governor that her only friends for the last 2 years have been the Democrats? That is how she passed ACES and AGIA, the two sparkliest jewels in her “Miss Governor” tiara. Too bad those Dems are under the bus now.

With the GOP dumping Sarah Palin for Newt Gingrich, Wayne Anthony Ross a less than savory Attorney General candidate and Senator Begich NOT resigning, we may be witnessing the desperate gasps, rattling coughs, and grasping at ghosts of a lost political career.

]]> http://shannynmoore.wordpress.com/2009/04/03/sarah-palin-is-burning-her-bridges-to-nowhere/feed/ 44 shannon moore http://shannynmoore.wordpress.com/2008/11/19/keith-olbermann-broke-up-with-me/ http://shannynmoore.wordpress.com/2008/11/19/keith-olbermann-broke-up-with-me/#comments Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:08:48 +0000 shannynmoore http://shannynmoore.wordpress.com/?p=877 ]]>

Like it’s not bad enough. I’ve been hearing loons talk about secession up here my whole life. In Alaska, the three top ballot seats: President, Senate and House of Representatives, have candidates on the ballot from the secessionist Alaska Independent Party. In two of the three, the AIP holds at least 4% of the vote. The felonious Ted Stevens looks like he has convinced over a hundred thousand Alaskans what he couldn’t convince 12 jurors of a few weeks ago.

Now, Keith Olbermann has the temerity to ask if it’s too late to sell Alaska back to the Russians. Repeatedly. America’s liberal boy-wonder is breaking up with me. He’s not the only one suggesting putting Alaska up on eBay, but I can only handle one break up at a time. Consider this partner counseling; the circle of truth; the trust tree.*

I’m like many Alaskans, just not the one you’ve been forced to get to know lately. I know what newspapers I read. I know Africa is NOT a country. I know Stephen Harper is the Prime Minister of Canada, and I know he has T.V. perfect hair. I know who makes up NAFTA – which I thought was a crock when it passed. My favorite birthday present this year was the return of Habeas Corpus in a 5-4 US Supreme Court decision on June 12^th.

I’ve never been to New York City, but I wanted to puke in my mouth watching the Republican National Convention’s “9/11 Tribute to Fear.” I wasn’t born in the 60’s, but I know what race baiting is. I know the public executions of JFK, Malcolm X, MLK, and RFK-all in a five year span-drove the American progressive movement into a coma for nearly 40 years. A once empowered, liberal generation sat like Terry Schiavo watching balloons float by; Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Bush I, Bush II. Wars, the corporate job-exporting economy, the perilous environment, expanded human rights violations, erosion of civil rights, The US Constitution compromised; none of it registered due to blunt force trauma on the American psyche.

Barack Obama’s voice blends many of those faint martyred messages cut short; human rights, hope, justice, peace, change. His inspirational urgency moved a generation politically paralyzed to stand up again. New generations learned to walk, on their own power, to change their futures. This promise is precarious. People my mother’s age hold their breath, pray he is safe, and bravely look forward from a painful past. I know, it takes one lone crazy, living in the apartment over his grandma’s garage; walls covered with “Pin-up Palin” shots who doesn’t need much more than a wink, a “pallin’ around with terrorists”, and her silence while “supporters” answered “terrorist!” and “kill him!” to her question of “Who is Barack Obama?” Even now, she’s still talking about “associations.”

I was born here, Sarah Palin was not. I don’t have a fabricated “Fargo” accent that sounds like I make casseroles with tater tots and mushroom soup. Many brilliant, artistic, articulate and cultured citizens call Alaska home. On November 4^th, you got to shake your shoes of our Governor. You sleep easier now. Gone are the train wreck fantasies that kept you up at night; a 3am phone call and she, a heart beat away from the “nukular” codes. You now invest casual interest as you would a People magazine while waiting for dental work. BUT, SHE’S BACK HERE AND READY TO RULE!

Progressive Alaskans have a target on their backs for speaking out about her archaic philosophies and faith-based policies. January’s 2009 Legislative Session may see a bill allowing the aerial hunting of the exotic, but endangered species; “Alaskan Liberal.” I have a public creed of “painting a red state blue, one stroke at a time,” and you’re dumping me, Keith? Really?

Many suffer from PTSD-Post Traumatic Sarah Disorder. It comes with a long list of political collateral damage and shrapnel wounds. The McCain-Palin campaign sent Belmont level horsepower to Alaska to throw the Governor’s “enemies” under the Straight Talk Express Bus. NYC would have spit; Alaska gagged and swallowed.

This afternoon, the AP just called Alaska’s Senate race for Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich. But for two weeks, it looked like we elected a felon. Ted Stevens has been a senator since before I was born. People here are torn between nostalgia and history. No matter where you travel in-state, you bump into establishments named after him; The Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport; Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute; Ted and Catherine Stevens Center for Science and Technology Education and the Stevens Family Chalet at the Hilltop Ski Area in Anchorage. Many can’t imagine Alaska without him, but I can!

I can imagine Ted making license plates wearing an orange jumpsuit! My friend, Phil, says Stevens’ punishment should be overseeing the re-naming of all his institutional namesakes. I’m a recovering commercial fisherman, and I know he sold us out. His confirmation of “conservative” judges paved the way for the recent Baker vs. Exxon case that robbed many Alaskan fishermen of damages incurred by the 1989 Valdez Oil Spill. The R.A.T.S. (Roberts, Alito, Thomas, and Scalia) saw fit to cap the award at ten cents on the dollar after 19 years. Translation to Exxon: four days profit for environmental terrorism-the cost of doing business. Translation to Alaskans: F*@# YOU! Bend over, we’re driving.

The only thing Uncle Ted liked better than the Patriot Act was the Military Commissions Act. His “Incredible Hulk” tie trumped the Constitution more than once. I broke up with him a long time ago. Do I seem bitter?

Mark Begich is Senate seat-worthy. I begged him to run for higher office when he was a weekly guest on my local radio show. I called him the “Fairy-God Mayor” for making many of my municipal dreams come true. During one of our weekly chats, I asked the Mayor what he liked on his pizza. (I have a secret theory people order up their life like they do pizza.) He said, “Oh, just put it all on there. If I don’t like something, I’ll pick it off.” I loved that answer; low maintenance and not afraid to try it all. (BTW, according to my theory, if you don’t like pizza you may need some hotline help.)

Part of wanting Mark to run for higher office was nostalgia for his father’s brilliant political career tragically cut short. Congressman Nick Begich was lost in a plane crash with Louisiana Congressman Hale Boggs in October of 1972. A few weeks later, though presumed dead, Congressman Begich beat his challenger Don Young by 12.4%. A special election was then called which Don Young won. He still holds the seat today.

Truth be told, I wanted a Begich to take the seat back from Don Young, who squandered it. Seeing Mark Begich take the Senate seat has more historic healing for many old time Alaskans than seeing Stevens retain it.

Not to get too “professor” on you, Keith (think hair up, glasses, short skirt, high heels. Oh wait, never mind!) I want you to know what you’re ready to cut loose.

First Alaskans thrived in a frozen land for thousands of years and left no foot print. In 1867, Russia gave you a hell of a deal at 1.9 cents an acre. The Klondike Gold Rush was a quick pay back, and gave Charlie Chaplin some great material.

The last shot of the Civil War was fired by the CSS Shenandoah on June 23, 1865, 10 weeks after Lee’s surrender. Go figure, it was in Alaskan waters and CSN Captain, James Waddell hadn’t heard the War was over. That was awkward.

Homesteading pioneers farmed, fished and flourished. In 1922, a Tlingit Chief, Charlie Jones was jailed for voting. His protest gave way to Native Alaskans getting the right to vote two years before Native Americans. In 1944, years before the civil rights movement in the States, Roberta Schenck, a Native woman refused to budge from her seat in the “White’s Only” section of a movie theatre in Nome. She was dragged out and jailed. Schenck was Alaska’s Rosa Parks. Because of her bravery and the moving testimony of Elizabeth Peratrovich, on Feb. 16, 1945, Territorial Governor Ernest Gruening signed an anti-discrimination law. Against the argument that the law would not eliminate discrimination, Peratrovich said, “Do your laws against larceny and even murder eliminate those crimes?”

We decriminalized abortion before Roe vs. Wade. Our privacy laws are the strongest in the country. A man told me he moved here after studying the Alaska Constitution at law school; it could have been Section 22 that allowed Alaskans the right to possess marijuana.

During WWII the Japanese occupied the Alaska islands of Kiska and Attu for almost two years. Because of the harsh conditions endured, frost bite became worthy of a Purple Heart. 1958, the Inupiat Village of Point Hope protested the nuclear detonation of Project Chariot to create a port on the North Slope. As a “thank you,” the Federal Government transported and buried the contamination from the 1962 Nevada Test Site to the Chariot location. Cancer rates among villagers are staggering. Where’s Erin Brockovich when we need her? In 1988, Homer, Alaska voted to officially become a “Nuclear Free Zone” in response to proposed nuclear subs. That same town — my home town — 20 years later, had the only known “spontaneous” Obama headquarters in the country. You’re welcome, Keith.

Alaska is one of the best things about America. We are the last frontier. What once was wild in America still is here. I still catch my breath; the northern lights over Denali can trump a full moon; a phosphorescent glow in the wake of my row boat; bears fishing salmon out of Brooks Falls; glaciers bigger than cruise ships.

It’s wrong to be hard on you for not knowing Alaskans aren’t all Palinbots. After the last week or so, it would be fair to wonder if we suffer from Reality Deficit Disorder when it comes to Ted Stevens and the Rule of Law. It’s easy to want to knock sense into my neighbors who have ignored our history; so rich with strength, true with characters, and patriotism that deserves to be called American.

The progressive history of Alaska is buried under the “new” wave of oil workers and rapture watchers. McChurches promise to Super Size your Jesus. They haven’t noticed the miracle of “curing a gay guy” wasn’t mentioned in the works of Christ. Sarah Palin cut the red ribbon and the prayer asked God’s blessing on “all those who enter” the Wasilla Wal-Mart. I hope God does bless those who work there; they’ll need it since they have no health benefits.

Women with “the bigger the hair the closer to God” up-do, line up to live the American dream of buying flag lapel pins and sequined “I Heart America” t-shirts made by un-aborted children in China. They punctuate their purchase with a personalized credit card owned by a company in Abu Dhabi. Men drive by in the newest “Ford Compensator 350”, towing a trailer loaded with ATVs. Rush Limbaugh blaring when the Lee Greenwood CD gets too teary; something about “Where at least I know I’m free.” Yellow ribbon magnets claim to support the troops; the same troops who are fighting to make sure the gallon of gas moving him all of 9.4 miles, stays cheaper than a latte.

I too, through my elitist patriotic lens, mock them. I realize how easy it has been to see a regressive, fundamentalist, socially-crippled Alaska. I get it, the jokes have written themselves; in Braille, smoke signals, etch-a-sketch. Alaska has issues galore; who doesn’t? Are you going to break up with Kentucky as well?

So, Mr. Olbermann and others (you know who you are, Bill Maher), before you break up with Alaska, let’s have a reality check. The known examples of Alaskan Spirit have vaporized in the wake of the “Great White Shopper from the North.” I hate to think “That Woman” would come between us. But the truth is, we are what America used to be. We are the Oregon Train with iPods. We are Lewis and Clark with hybrid snowmachines. We are Sacagawea with a Garmin. We are Yellowstone on steroids. We are Davy Crockett with a helicopter. (OK, I’ve gone too far.)

Not to play the blame game, but in the spirit of transparency you only get in therapy*, the colonization of your 49^th State by Global Enterprise has gone largely unnoticed. Again, not your fault, Northern Exposure was filmed in Washington State. We could use some help fighting to insure the wild Salmon runs of Bristol Bay stay pristine against the Pebble Mine. Your aid would be appreciated in keeping our wolves and bears safe from aerial “hunting.” And were your voices lifted with ours in a message to Exxon, maybe our fishermen would have been able to maintain their industry despite an environmental disaster.

Keith. I can call you Keith, right? It would be easier to hear your rejection if you hadn’t kept many Alaskans sane with your “You, Sir” rants. Bill Maher’s New Rules encourage me to write my own. Chris Matthews exhausts me with explanation, but I get it. Rachel Maddow is still talking to us…she’s strangely fascinated. But you — Sir — are singled out as chief dumper. It’s only fair. I was getting ready to go to Anchorage’s Election Central, when I heard your voice break slightly; Barack Obama was the projected 44^th President of the United States. I realized I’d held my breath for 8 years. I cried; in relief, in triumph, for hope, for healing, for history. I felt American.

“You, Sir” took many politically battered, Alaskans; your American brothers and sisters through a keyhole in time. Since then, “You, Sir” keep on the queries of how to dump Alaska every time Sarah Palin stumbles. “You, Sir” should kick Russia’s ass if they even look cross at us. (Well, talk to them first…then get our back.) “You, Sir” are joking, and to an extent, so am I.

We should make up. I’d like that.

We need your help, your respect and maybe some flowers.

*think: Will Farrell’s therapy scene in Old School.

]]> http://shannynmoore.wordpress.com/2008/11/19/keith-olbermann-broke-up-with-me/feed/ 51 shannon moore keithshanny3-copy http://shannynmoore.wordpress.com/2008/11/18/ted-stevens-birthday-present-looks-like-a-new-senator/ http://shannynmoore.wordpress.com/2008/11/18/ted-stevens-birthday-present-looks-like-a-new-senator/#comments Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:18:21 +0000 shannynmoore http://shannynmoore.wordpress.com/?p=869 ]]>

The end of the 40 year Stevens reign is over.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Stevens.

Happy Independence Day, Alaska!

Mark Begich released the following statement following the count:
“I am humbled and honored to serve Alaska in the United States Senate,” Begich said. “It’s been an incredible journey getting to this point, and I appreciate the support and commitment of the thousands of Alaskans who have brought us to this day. I can’t wait to get to work fighting for Alaskan families.”

This just in from Bethany Lesser:

With the final ballots counted for the day, just wanted to clarify what happens next.

At this point, the majority of the total ballots have been counted. Mark Begich is up by 3,724 (Begich – 150,728, Stevens – 147,004), according to the Division of Elections. Approximately 2,500 overseas ballots remain outstanding, but Stevens would need more votes than that to change the outcome of the Alaska Senate Race.

As part of the standard process for the Division of Election’s certification process, the State Review Board is also meeting today to conduct a hand count of 40 randomly selected precincts to confirm totals from the machine counts. These precincts represent at least 5 percent of each district’s voters from the general election on Election Day. They will also hand count absentee and question ballots from 2 districts each for verification as well.

Target certification will be the week of December 1, as soon as the State Review Board has completed their review the director certifies the election.
With the margin of 3,724 votes, the likelihood of a recount has been reduced, since it would have to be paid for by the Stevens campaign. The only time there is an automatic recount is when there is a tie. If the final vote is within 0.5 percent, a recount can be requested, and the state will cover the bill. If the final vote is more than 0.5 percent (+/- 1,600), a campaign can request a recount, but would have to pay for it. A recount may be applied for within 5 days of certification, by either the defeated candidate or 10 members of the defeated candidate’s party. If a recount application is filed immediately, the Division of Elections must commence within five days of receipt of an application. A recount is done by machine in Juneau for the entire state, and would take approximately 3 – 5 days.

I wore an orange revolution shirt. Ha. I look like I’m strait off the Oz set. Funny. Rachel has been great about getting Alaskans on to talk about the issues here. Rachel is fabulous.

News just in from Leslie Ridle…If you want to watch the returns on the official website, Click Here.

You don’t have to be a coroner to smell a corpse. Alaska needs an election autopsy STAT. The stench persists. When Democracy’s infected, there is nothing benign about it. I know Alaska. I know we keep voting for self-professed corrupt bastards. I know it took the FBI to start scrubbing the corruption out of our state legislature. I sat through the trials of men who had sold their votes cheap to big oil. My candidate rarely wins, but I always vote. That said, Alaska’s average presidential election voter turnout is 66.7%. With the exception of Bush-Gore and Bush-Kerry we have known who the President Elect was BEFORE OUR POLLS CLOSE. You betcha, and we still vote in healthy numbers.

Nationally, I get it. You have Palin Fatigue Syndrome. You’re starting to think, “You know that 49th State? Let’s put it on ebay.” Wait. Remember the dream of a filibuster proof majority? It’s not an Ambian haze; we’re three contested seats away! Take a deep breath, hold your nose, and help Alaska, Georgia, and Minnesota find their votes. This is not a tin foil hat activity; just math and uncommon sense. This is not a matter to litigate post mortem; Democracy requires vigilance.  Alaskans have been bitching about election fraud for years and there are law suits to prove it. The Republicans whining about ACORN seemed like Jeffery Dahmer complaining about a burnt hamburger.

In Alaska, the last two presidential elections were decided by the exact same margin of victory; 61-36. The only difference was the number of votes; more Alaskans voted for George W Bush-Dick Cheney in 2004 than Sarah Palin-John McCain in 2008. Initially there were only 49,000 votes left to count. Now there are 74,527 outstanding ballots. Curious. Even still-this year’s turnout is still smaller than the election of 2004 by 6.1%. Hhhhhhmmmm. I would have to smoke more than Salmon to believe that Alaska, with Palin on the ballot, decided to sit this one out.

Relevant Facts:

1) The 1,700% increase in the Democratic Caucus in

2) 20,991 newly registered voters

3) The three largest political rallies in Alaska’s history were held in September and October.

4) Early voters set an historic record. 25,000 Alaskans showed up to vote early in 2008 vs 11,000 in 2004; an increase of 127%!

5) 12.4% more Alaskans showed up for the August primary as compared to four years ago, before the Palin nomination.

6) The average Presidential Election turnout since we started keeping records is 66.7%. The 2008 Alaska voter turnout (including the uncounted 74,527 ballots) is 60.1%. THE LOWEST GENERAL TURN OUT save Clinton/Dole 96’.

7) The Lower 49 had a record voter turnout this year.

8.) 80% of Alaskans approved of Sarah Palin just two months ago.

9) Anchorage Daily News front page on Election Day: Personnel Board Exonerates Palin She flew home to vote with Alaskans.

10) An unprecedented 16 point come-from-behind lead for Congressman Don Young over challenger Ethan Berkowitz.

11) Ted Stevens trial coverage and 7 felony convictions.

12) Don Young under investigation; spending over $1Million on legal fees this year.

So, with that…sorry, I forgot to give you a clothespin. I have more faith in my friends and neighbors. I know they don’t always agree with me, but they do vote. America, before you break up with Alaska, crown us with El Presidente Palin. Let the “Drill, Baby, Drill” chant become our new anthem. Know this: We need you. You need us. Progressive Alaskans are an endangered species, and should be treated as such. I am fighting for what seem to be Alaskan votes; but they are American votes. You need them.

Something stinks. Not just an ordinary low tide smell. Not like something you’d blame on the dog. It smells like an infection. For me to plug my nose, I’d have to overlook some curious facts.

In Alaska, more people voted for George W. Bush in 2004 than for Sarah Palin on Tuesday despite an identical 61-36 margin of victory. Yes. Only four years ago 54,304 Alaskans got off their sofas and voted for Bush, but decided to sit home and not vote for Palin in 2008. In turn, I have to ignore the 30,520 Alaskans who felt progressive enough in 2004 to vote for John Kerry, but weren’t inspired to vote for Barack Obama. I would have to glance past the 1,700% increase in the Democratic caucus in February, the 20,991 newly registered voters, and the three largest political rallies in Alaska’s history. I would also have to forget the people I stood in a long line with to early vote. It would be helpful not to know every other presidential election since Alaska began keeping records has had a larger turn out than the one we just had with our own Governor on the ticket. Try not to remember 12.4% more Alaskans showed up for the August primary as compared to four years ago, before the Palin nomination. Don’t think about the Lower 49’s record voter turn out this year either. Try to delete the memory file, though difficult, that 80% of us approved of Sarah Palin just two months ago.

Something stinks. You don’t care? Obama won. Yes. He. Did! Free at Last! Wait. Democracy demands all of the votes be counted…if you can find them.

In the balance hangs the fate of Alaska’s Senate and House seats. We still don’t know if we have elected the now convicted felon Ted Stevens, or Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich. We still don’t know if Don Young and his million dollar legal problems will defeat former State Representative Ethan Berkowitz and his dreams of Washington DC. Alaska hasn’t had Democrat representation in Congress since Mike Gravel lost his senate seat in 1980.

Four years ago, 313,592 out of 474,740 registered voters in Alaska participated in the election-a 66% turnout. Taking into account 49,000 outstanding ballots, on Tuesday 272,633 out of 495,731 registered Alaskans showed up at the polls; a turnout of 54.9%. That’s a decrease of more than 11% in voter turnout even though passions ran high for and against Barack Obama, as well as for and against Sarah Palin! This year, early voters set a new record. As of last Thursday, with 4 days left to vote early, 15,000 Alaskans showed up-shattering the old record set in 2004 by 28%! Consider the most popular governor in history-and now the most polarizing-was on the Republican ticket. Consider the historic nature of this race; the first African American presidential candidate EVER! The second woman to ever make a presidential ticket; and she’s one of our own. Despite that, we’re supposed to believe that overall participation DECREASED by 11%. Not only that, but this historic election both nationally and for Alaska HAD THE LOWEST ALASKA TURNOUT FOR A PRESIDENTIAL RACE EVER!!! That makes sense. REALLY??? Something stinks.

But wait, there’s more…

Pre election polls had both Mark Begich-D and Ethan Berkowitz-D solidly beating incumbents Senator Ted Stevens and Congressman Don Young by at least 6-10 points. Stevens is currently ahead by 3,353 votes with 49,000 ballots left to count. Berkowitz, however, is behind by 16,887 votes; a 51-43 margin.

Are we to believe Don Young came from an 8 point average polling deficit to win by 8 points-a whopping 16 point turnaround??? Remember how historic the pundits thought Hillary Clinton’s come from behind New Hampshire Primary victory was? She trailed Barack Obama by 9% in the pre primary polls and ended up winning by 2 points. It was called the most “stunning comeback in political history.” On Election Night, Don Young topped Hillary Clinton’s startling and unprecedented comeback.

Furthermore, there were nearly three thousand Alaskans, (2,783) that voted yet left the hotly contested congressional race blank. In the highly publicized senate race, complete with a nationally covered trial that ended with seven felony convictions for the incumbent, 1,392 Alaskans submitted a ballot and failed to register a vote in the senate race. I’m not sure statistically what that means, but it strikes me as odd that well over a thousand Alaskans would wait in long lines and not cast a vote in either the senate race or the congressional race-especially since there was only one ballot measure. In addition, this particular election had an extra high degree of local interest with Governor Palin on the national stage.

McCain-Palin was ahead in Alaska pre election polling by as much as 55-40. The Haysresearch Poll that came out Sunday indicated that gap had closed to 2.7 points! That poll was certainly consistent with Palin’s reverse meteoric fall in popularity within the state of Alaska. In that same Haysresearch Poll released on November 2, Question 2 addressed Governor Palin’s positive-negative rating. 11% of Alaskans surveyed said their opinion of Palin had become more positive while 37% indicated they were more negative towards Palin. Yesterday’s vote contradicts those polls. McCain-Palin won Alaska 61-36! A 25 POINT SPREAD!!! An identical point spread as the 2004 Election.

Alaska has certainly had our share of election hanky panky. Check out this link to our 2004 election results. There are 40 districts in Alaska. The Anchorage area districts run from District 17-District 32. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and pick any district from 17-32. Pay particular attention to the 3rd column labeled % turnout. Hit the back arrow and select another district. There are more precincts with voter turnout over 100% than under 100%. In other words, many more people voted in Anchorage area precincts than there were registered voters. Clearly, this is not possible.

In 2006, the Democrats filed a lawsuit against the Alaska Division of Elections to release public records needed to verify the 2004 election results. The Democrats also sought to have the Alaska Division of Elections release the raw data for the 2006 election. The State requested several deadline extensions and eventually refused to release the “central tabulator data file” taken from the Diebold-supplied computer used to run the “GEMS” (Global Election Management Software) application. A lawsuit was filed in Superior Court seeking release of the records. The Court eventually forced the State to release the 2004 database. The software was found to contain hundreds of edits after the 2004 election, including as late as July of 2006, prior to the release of the data.

With all that history, and the bizarre anomalies in polling and voting and reports from the field of ballots not being scanned on-site due to broken machines, could this election have been stolen?

The world is watching Alaska’s US Senate race. When President-Elect Barack Obama is sworn in on January 20, he will be greeted by a Senate with at least 57 Democrats-three shy of a filibuster-proof majority. And, there are still three hotly contested US Senate races that are too close to call; Georgia, Minnesota and Alaska. Just when we thought we were out of the national spotlight…

I’ve always said if Democracy was a religion, voting would be the sacrament. I’m wondering if someone stole the body and blood of this election. I’m wondering if the wine isn’t poisoned. Take a few whiffs. Breathe deeply. See if you don’t come to the same conclusion. Where are the votes? Something stinks at the Alaska Division of Elections.

SEE UPDATED ELECTION INFORMATION STORY

Here are two other great sources:

Brad Friedman writes about this here

Nate Silver at fivethirtyeight.com writes about this here

Newsflash…

During the KAKM televised debate this evening between Senator Ted Stevens and Mark Begich, one of the moderators, Michael Carey from the Anchorage Daily News asked, “…Do you think the country of Iraq and Saddam Hussein played a role in the 9/11 attacks on the United States?”

Senator Stevens, “I know more than you think I know and I think they did.”

Mayor Mark Begich, “I don’t believe they did.”

Even George W Bush says Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11! (1:19)

TWICE!

7 count convict Ted Stevens needs to go for that remark alone. 

Paul Hipp sings it best…