Posted on 09/18/2010 3:20:16 AM PDT by Clintonfatigued
The U.S. Senate race in Alaska was turned on its head in August, when Tea Party Express-backed candidate Joe Miller upset incumbent Lisa Murkowski in the Republican primary. On Friday evening, Murkowski stunned the state again with a decision to mount a write-in campaign to hold on to her seat.
"This is a statement we must make for Alaskans. Together we can do what they say cannot be done. Alaska is not fair game for outside extremists. We are smarter than that … and we will not be had," Murkowski said as cheering supporters in Anchorage shouted, "Run, Lisa, run!"
The announcement sets up a bruising battle between moderates and the conservative "tea party" movement on the rich Republican turf of Alaska, and provides a potential new ray of opportunity for the Democrats, who now stand to capitalize on intramural turmoil within the dominant GOP.
Analysts said the eight-year incumbent has a tough road ahead to edge into Miller's already commanding lead.
"She's taking on the winner of the Republican primary, and she's not going to have the support she thought she would have," cautioned David Dittman, a veteran GOP pollster in Alaska.
The national Republican leadership has lined up behind Miller, a Fairbanks lawyer who has called for giving Alaska control of the millions of acres of federal lands within its borders and who wants to phase out Social Security and Medicare.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) reiterated his support for Miller and said Friday night that he accepted Murkowski's resignation from her Senate leadership position as vice chairman of the Republican Conference. The Republican National Committee echoed that support.
(Excerpt) Read more at mobile.latimes.com ...
Well, she really went through wtih it. This sucks, but it may hurt the ‘Rats, just like Charlie Crist’s independent candidacy has. I’m glad I didn’t support Murkowski in the primary.
Another Rove, hack, long time GOP Republican. Specter, Crist, MurCOWski.
If candidates agree to run in the primaries under a party banner they should be forbidden from running as an independent if they do not win.
Another RINO calling the people extremeists.
OHMYGOSH. And that "outside extremist" is...Sarah Palin???
If these anti-US maneuverings (which Lieberman first did, and no one complained when he was saving the Senate seat Israel and the insurance companies share), it could lead to the total collapse of the Republican party, with something new emerging. Maybe it's already happened, and Mackorski (sp) is doing what a lot of anti-constitution globalist neocons are doing, setting up their own political party.
And these are the same "Republicans" who for years kept real pro-US constitution voters on line by voting for the "lesser of two evils".
I never did that, because the lesser of two evils is still evil. Bow your heads in shame, those who did!
These evicted RINOs are all the same. They don’t get their way so they try to destroy the republican who did win.
1) The Republicans are the Party of Change.
2) There will be a run on kleenex and diapers after the November election. Whether that will be counted as a stimulus will be up to the counters.
She’s a career politician from a political family. Perhaps this is the only trade she knows.
She should be required to turn over the campaign funds she raised prior to today to the GOP.
Add D’Amato to the list. He has announced that he will be supporting Cuomo for NY governor.
And once again the elistists republicans talk down to the voters. Murkowski says she “didn’t explain” Miller’s extremist views to the people. What would we do without these royalty guiding us through life?
I don’t know if she’s one of the main street republicans but if she is, she’s likely getting support from Soros.
These clowns never go away. In my district (Mi-7) Joe Schwarz was defeated by Tim Walberg in 06 and he’s still conducting his little jihad. In 06 he ran a write in campaign after losing the nomination, in 08 he endorsed and actively campaigned for Marxist Mark Schauer. This year he endorsed a moderate republican over “extremist” Tim Walberg. He actively encouraged democrats to cross over and vote for our liberal GOP nominee for governor.
This will be an extra log on the fire in this race. She will be EXTEREMLY surprised at the ash kicking she gets. It will fire people up as never before. She will draw votes from the Democrat more than from Miller.
Seeing the d’amatos and murkowski and crist types throw themselves out of the party is good for the GOP. All in all these folks really are Dem/Libs who just spend slightly less and talk about efficiency. getting rid of these trough-hogs will attract the conservative independent tea party types to the new GOP
The more opposition we encounter the more we solidify our support for a candidate. The creeps have been sleeping with the rats all these years and now we are really seeing the difference between GOP rinos and the rats......... nothing. This tidal wave will bury you, change your party to the rat party thier the only ones who will listen to you bitch and moan. GO PALADINO
I assume you’re “talking” to the gop establishment when you say “bitch and moan”.
Man, these RINOs — what a bunch of freaking crybabies.
Instead of conceding that a rational, civil person would do, Lisa instead is behaving in a way that clearly demonstrates that she is UNFIT for office of any kind, IMO.
Instead of supporting the candidate who won the Republican Primary, Murkowski wants to go down and take her party with her. Very sad for the Republican Party; such action supports the contention of many that the Republican Party has degraded to the level of Democrats; not much difference these days.
I kinda agree. The only job she can make any money from...is a lobbyist. I don’t think she’s much of a decent lobbyist, if you ask me.
The curious thing is that across the state of Alaska...I think she could pull in ten to fifteen percent of the state vote. It might be enough to help the Democratic candidate win. It might be time to find some female comedian to go up and announce herself as “Liza-Liza Murkowski” and wanting your write-in vote as well. With a couple of dopey You-Tube commercials and visits to bars in Anchorage....the fake Liza-Liza could probably draw votes away from the real Lisa.
She needs a new job. I don’t care if she flatbacks it for money. She needs to go away.
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