[JohnnyZ]

Ugh! Bad news from Alaska:

"Murkowski has advised former Wasilla Mayor Sarah Palin, former Fairbanks lawmaker Johne Binkley, retired banker Mike Burns, former state official Mead Treadwell, Alaska Teamsters head Jerry Hood and former state Sen. Drue Pearce that they will not replace him. All but Hood said they received phone calls from the governor telling them so Monday or Tuesday; Hood said he was called within the last week.

...

Others on the longer list that Murkowski released last month included University of Alaska President Mark Hamilton, former state Rep. Mark Hanley, former state Sen. Jerry Mackie and Gen. Joseph Ralston, a former commander of the Alaskan Command and presently supreme allied commander Europe."

I saw Sarah Palin as the great conservative hope. Mini-Stevens and Mini-Murkowski are both still on the list, too. Maybe one of these other folks is conservative.

[JohnnyZ]

SC Rep. Joe Wilson says he won't run for Fritz Hollings senate seat, according to Roll Call, so that leaves Rep. Jim DeMint and former rep Hartnett to duke it out.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Having elected so many moderates recently (Stevens, Murkowski, Ulmer, Knowles), it's reasonable to say that a conservative like Sarah may be out-of-step with the state. Since this appointee will be running against Knowles, they need to be the perfect candidate. There's not much room for error.