A Valentine for Ted. <3
Anyone who thought the love-fest between Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, and former Alaska Republican Senator Ted Stevens was over, think again. I have to admit, it just made me queasy to watch Murkowski and Stevens waltzing together at Ted’s “Welcome Home” rally after his seven felony convictions. And when she told those in attendance to “wrap their arms around Ted” I had the devilish urge (as I was in the audience) to use my best Ted Stevens impression and shout “NO!” really loud…
But on Valentine’s Day, at the Girdwood 2020 Annual Dinner, in Girdwood, AK, location of the infamous ‘chalet’, Lisa Murkowski looked at Ted Stevens, who was in town visiting from Washington D.C., and said:
“Since you have gone things have gone to hell and [sic] a hand basket.”
Her declaration was met with resounding applause. Awww. (hands on heart) They still love Ted.
She declined to say exactly what she meant by Hell or who she thinks is responsible for this, but I’m wondering what Mark Begich would have to say.
URGH! And do we really think she’s actually so moderate…?
(heh, just have to say it, since it’s been a while–1st!)
I just wished you had screamed at the top of your lungs…NO…you know we are all behind you.
I get those devilish urges from time to time (ok…I get them a lot)…
It is pretty disgusting that she has now joined the club of the “no-sayer Republicans”. I used to have a lot of respect for her when she would break with her colleagues in the Alaska Legislature on women’s issues. She cannot be allowed to take any credit when the stimulus package begins showing positive signs.
NOOOOOOOO
AKM, I did it and I’m OK!
Go for it next time.
As bad as this love fest is (with Stevens) I wold take Lisa ANY DAY over Palin.
Maybe she’s just missing the devil she knows.
here’s hoping that she wasn’t referring to Sen. Begich at all but that she did mean GINO’s pitiful, half-hearted and months-late half-ass, photo-op begging response to the crisis ( food, fuel, finances, no fishing) in the western part of Alaska.
Call me a dreamer….
I think she meant the fact that the tide had turned and that the republicans were now the minority. She didn’t mean any insult to Mark. At all.
I agree with ATF that she meant that the R’s now being in the minority. She has said on numerous occasions that she will work closely with Begich.
I dig Mudflats, and have respect for AKM, but I will speak up in support of Lisa. She was raised with the Stevens family. He really is “Uncle Ted” to her. We all have relatives we love in spite of their short comings. I believe she is being loyal on a personal level.
I have not voted for Ted, or Lisa’s dad. But I think Lisa is a good civil servant for us, and infinitely smarter than her dad. I know we could do a lot worse, and obviously have. She has maneuvered into real positions of power and influence within the Congress, and I expect her to use them to our advantage. She is a hard worker and does not go on “junkets” and do the wining and dinning others in her position do. I have also found her to be easy to speak with, and while our politics may diverge, I believe she represents our State well.
“Since you been gone”
If Ted Stevens was still in DC, the Republicans might have defeated the Stimulus Bill? (Too much pork for Murkowski’s tastes?) But wasn’t Stevens expert at bringing home the bacon? Not to worry…Don Young is still “there”.
Wonder if ‘Mommy Bear’ attempts any strike back. “Politics First” or “Family First”. Should be interesting.
The National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA), according to a Huff article, is taking a swipe at Bristol.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/geoffrey-dunn/palins-evangelical-base-s_b_168851.html
Her “hell and (sic) a handbasket” phrase could refer to several things:
1) Obama’s win and the Democratic control of Washington.
2) Begich’s win, associated with the Democrats’ ascendancy nationally.
3) Begich’s win, as it relates to local Alaskan politics.
4) A sentimental expression of her enduring appreciation of Ted’s former influence and political clout for Alaska during the “good ole days.”
5) All of the above.
6) A sentimental expression without a specific agenda.
I doubt whether it’s #6. After all, she is a politician.
@ATF and CRFlats, I totally agree with you both when it comes to Senator Murkowski. She is truly a hard worker for our State and yes, is very easy to talk to. There is a mutual level of respect both her and Begich have for one another. In other words, they will not always see eye to eye on certain matters, and they agree to disagree in certain areas. BUT they both know that working together for the good of Alaska is a common goal and is very good for Alaskan’s regardless of party affiliations. They are a strong team for Alaskan’s and we are lucky to have them as our Senators.
We critters sure do appreciate that upbeat report from Lisa. Hope the trend continues.
@ CRFlats and Women Who Run With The Wolves Thanks for seeing Lisa the same way I do. I too, have a great deal of respect for AKM, but I truly believe Lisa has that Servant’s Heart. She will continue to serve our state well.
She is by far a much brighter star than the governor could ever be.
Lisa has already begun to “reach across the aisle” to Mark and other Dems. She will do what she can to help heal this country. You can agree or disagree with her politics, but don’t read anything snarky into that Girdwood 2020 comment.
I had a REAL problem with Lisa’s speech at Ted’s homecoming also, too. The jackets that said “FU the Feds” were pretty disgusting, too, also. As I swore and muttered, my husband reminded me that OF COURSE Lisa was going to take that tack – that is what is expected of her as the Junior Senator. She’s playing the game, and doing it well according to all the unwritten rules of the R party in Congress. He said “she won’t advance unless she does this”.
After becoming only involved in AK politics after SP was announced, I’m pretty green around the ears or whatever you call it when you are clueless. Since then, less than six months later, I’m astounded at how WEIRD senators and representatives are. I mean, they are just WHACKED. They have intentionally created a culture (sub-culture) of their own. Even their jobs are strange – so many lawmakers and so little knowledge of economics, social issues, health care, etc. In my opinion, they keep it that way to stay in power. They don’t WANT us to understand how it works on the inside.
Also, too – a poster mentioned in the last thread that maybe LM and SP made a deal to leave open the prospect of LM running for Governor in 2012 if she cools her heels with Palin. I don’t think so – a Senator gets to sit for six years and unless they really FU, the seat is probably theirs over and over. Not so w/ the Governor, and I don’t think LM would give up her senior senator seat for AK for that. Two term limit = 8 years. After a break betweeb two back to back terms, you can run again if you want, but what do you do in the meantime? LM’s looking at many long years in the Senate unless a Dem unseats her.
Betweeb = new word I just made up accidentally.
CRFlats, I tend to agree with you. I don’t always agree with Lisa, but at least she’s respectful and she listens. She has always responded to my mail and addressed the issue I brought up, instead of some form letter. (Or if they’re form letters, they’re good ones.)
Anyway, I think we might be able to do better, but we could do a lot worse, so I’m not going to complain. And she’s right, of course — things HAVE kind of gone to hell in a handbasket. It’s nothing to do with Ted, though.
TT (tangential to the topic)
An interesting “unofficial” stimulus watchdog site that is well-managed and user-friendly has formed. It allows users to rate and comment on projects proposed for stimulus money in each state, and also has projects listed by category.
The site adds to overall transparency and public process. It is not connected with any organization. It’s four developers are clearly named, however.
Here’s the Alaska page with the list of proposals from Anchorage (from the Mayor’s conference).
http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/AK
The home page would be:
http://www.stimuluswatch.org
The site will be updated as further information is available.
She has responded to my letters also but she is on the wring side of 90% of the issues. She needs to be held responsible for her votes while Bush was in office. Because of the support she and her fellow Republicans gave to Bush she has blood on her hands because of Iraq and has to take responsibility for the economic mess we are in today.
Hey, it was Valentines Day, and she was in the bosom of the Republicans. What else could she say to make Uncle Ted feel better? He’s not going back to the Senate, so no more wheelbarrels-full of pork for Alaska; times have changed.
I hope Murkowski continues to reach across the aisle and work with Begich for the good of Alaska and our country.
Lisa likes Ted, but Ted likes Patty, at least a little bit. Seattle Weekly reports that Stevens gave the desk from his senate office to Senator Patty Murray, Democrat – Washington State:
http://www.seattleweekly.com/2009-01-28/news/patty-murray-s-unlikely-hill-climb/1
AND, also, what happened to the little moose icon in the address bar? Brian is gone. (Just a little random thought.)
WakeUpAmerica (21:00:11) :
AND, also, what happened to the little moose icon in the address bar? Brian is gone. (Just a little random thought.)
__________________________________
I still have the moose icon; I’m using Firefox, on a G5 Mac computer. (just as random:-))
Brian is on my addy bar
I use IE, but it’s weird that it changed to the MSN flag. A week ago, it changed to the Yahoo logo; then Brian came back. I don’t get it.
My Firefox browser has Brian, but not my IE. Weird. Sarah did it. She shot Brian from an airplane.
I say we all send little handbaskets to Sarah.
With a nugget inside of course.
I still think we should all send her cheese balls to go with her whine.
OT; speaking of sending things, has anyone heard from the villagers? How are they doing since the stampede of notables and un notables arrived among them? I have been under the weather today and wasn’t online much, so just scrolled the comments to see if Ann has checked in with a report. Did I miss it?
@Peaceful Granny (23:48:54) :
I haven’t seen an update from Ann. She’s prob. too wiped out from hosting all the lovely VIPs! (HA!)
It didn’t sound like they were going to her village.
Perhaps by her reference to “going to hell in a hand basket”, Lisa was referring to that old gravy train that Ted used to run so efficiently. With the chief engineer of political bling forcibly retired, the lobbyist’s gravy train has plunged off the bridge to nowhere, so the gravy is not arriving with its previous efficiency.