~Lisa Murkowski and husband Verne Martell when she declared her write-in candidacy.

Today, Lisa Murkowski was sworn in for her second full term as U.S. Senator. She was escorted to the swearing in by Murkowski the Elder (Also known as Murkowski the Lesser). Frank the Bank who gave her the seat when he left to become the second-worst governor ever, today gave her a kiss on the cheek. Husband Verne Martell upgraded her rubber “Fill it in, Write it in” wrist band from the campaign to an engraved gold one. No word if it says “Voter intent trumps all, so oval optional, and get the spelling close if you can.” Lisa Murkowski’s present to the Native Corporation Super PAC that ensured a successful campaign has yet to be revealed. We’ll continue to hope for more good votes in the meantime. And remember, there are Alaskan women that would be far worse in Washington, D.C., let’s put it that way.

Don Young (aka Yon Dung) has also been sworn in for his TWENTIETH term in office. I don’t really know what to say to this except that Alaskans despite being on the other side of the globe from the geographical roots of the disorder, seem to have Stockholm syndrome. I don’t actually know anyone who voted for Don Young, so his supporters must be completely outside any circle of people I know, or nobody admits to doing it. In any case, he’ll continue to provide another two years of head shaking, hand wringing and self-inflicted blunt force trauma to skulls. He’s already fired a warning shot across the bow of the man he thinks may be vying for his seat next – Joe Miller.

He thinks that Joe Miller is a little too…. (no not crazy), a little too… (no not extreme)…. a little too OLD for the job.  

The congressman from Alaska sits with KTVA for an interview about his agenda and a possible 2012 challenge against him from the just-defeated Joe Miller. There is no bravado when he is asked about this. There is, instead, political science about how Alaska needs to elect young congressmen who can serve for decades and bring the good stuff home.

“I think Joe’s a little old for the job,” says Young to KTVA’s Matt Felling. “The only thing a House member has is seniority.” The ideal candidate, he says, is “preferably somebody between the ages of 26 and 35.”

Yes, Joe Miller that rickety 43-year old fossil is just a bit too long in the tooth to replace the 77 and a half year old Don Young.

Just on the chance that this turns out to be the primary matchup in 2012, you’ll want to fill the larder with Jiffy Pop before they run out at Carrs.

One of the 17 ads named in the complaint

Some of you have been following the saga here on Mudflats about my APOC complaint against Alaska House District 5 Representative William Thomas, Jr. (R-Haines) and his re-election campaign. The complaint (plus amendment) deals with 17 ads placed and designed by campaign Deputy Treasurer James Studley and charged to various Haines businesses. My complaint asserts that they should be considered illegal campaign ads in total, either illegal in-kind contributions because some of them were paid for by corporations, or illegal independent expenditures because they were coordinated with Studley as well as others campaign staff.

We left the story at the APOC hearing, which actually went very well. My testimony was first and there were a number of questions from the very engaged Commissioners. I felt my strongest points were made regarding the fact that two of the ads (including the one pictured above) the APOC staff agreed fell under the definition of compaign communications, yet 15 other “thank you” ads were given a pass by the APOC Staff (from their report):

“Staff’s investigation revealed that the intent of James Studley and the other Haines business owners was to create “thank you” ads independently of the Rep. Thomas campaign. Each Respondent in this case indicated that the intent of the thank you ads was not to influence the outcome of Rep. Thomas or Senator Kookesh’s re-election, but was to express gratitude for their service in the state legislature,”

I respond to that in my testimony at the hearing:

The staff’s conclusion is in utter conflict with the “Facts” presented in Section III, P4, para 2:

“James Studley thought of the idea to run “thank you” ads following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Citizen United. Mr. Studley’s original understanding was that Citizens United held that businesses could now give contributions to candidates. However, he wanted to play it safe with any action, and to run his ads separately from the Rep. Thomas campaign. In May 2010, he began contacting Haines business owners in an effort to demonstrate local support for Rep. Thomas…”

The Citizens United case had nothing to do with fluffy “thank you” ads, it dealt specifically with campaign communications. Mr. Studley basically lays it out for us that he intended to find a way to campaign for Bill Thomas without having to bother with those pesky campaign laws, which are understandably annoying. Had he not been a member of the campaign, he may have found the road easier.

The Commissioners were full of questions when it was the staff’s turn to present and it was clear that some of my points were already on their mind. It was also clear that the fact Mr. Thomas’ campaign documents fail to show that they placed any advertising at all in the Chilkat Valley News, one of the two biggest papers in District 5, was a surprise to the Commission.

By the way, this was the first time in four campaigns he didn’t purchase any ad space. (Could those “thank you ads” negate the need for further advertising?)

Monday, following nasty ice storms and the Thanksgiving holiday, the Commissioners went into Executive Session to deliberate on the issues presented in the hearing 10 days previous. Today, they made their ruling. The title itself boded well for “our side”:

ORDER REJECTING RECOMMENDATION TO DISMISS COMPLAINT ALLEGATIONS AND REMANDING TO STAFF FOR PREPARATION OF NEW INVESTIGATION REPORT

Below follows the entire report, as it has not yet been included on the website (emphasis mine…on issues I brought up in my testimony):

On October 4, 2010, the Complainant Linda S. Kellen filed complaints against Respondents Representative William Thomas, Joyce Thomas, Doug Olerud, James Studley, and Gregg Richmond. The Commission on October 11, 2010 granted an unopposed motion to consolidate these cases for purposes of drafting a staff report and a hearing. The complaints allege that the Respondents violated AS 15.13 because they did not file the required campaign disclosure reports regarding a series of “thank you” advertisements that ran on a weekly basis from June 17, 2010 to October 7, 2010 in the Chilkat Valley News, a weekly newspaper in Haines, Alaska. During this period, a total of 17 separate “thank you” advertisements ran in the newspaper.

The staff investigated the allegations and issued an investigation report dated November 5, 2010 recommending that the complaints’ allegations be dismissed, with the limited exception that two of the “thank you” advertisements that expressly included the word “vote” should be considered campaign expenditures and contributions that should have been reported to APOC.

On November 19, 2010, the Commission held a hearing regarding the staff’s recommendation to dismiss the complaints’ allegations, with the exception of the two advertisements referred to above. The Respondents did not appear at the hearing. The Complainant appeared and presented a statement protesting the staff’s recommendation to dismiss the complaints regarding the remaining approximately 15 “thank you” advertisements. The Complainant urged that all of the weekly “thank you” advertisements should be considered campaign expenditures and contributions regulated by APOC.

The Commission has carefully reviewed the evidence presented at the hearing and concluded that it cannot affirm the recommendation to dismiss the bulk of the complaints’ allegations at this time. It is important to note that this is not a final determination that the remaining allegations of the complaints have merit. Rather, pursuant to 2 AAC 50.460(c), the Commission at this stage of the proceedings must either accept or reject the staff’s recommendation to dismiss certain allegations. The Commission does not agree that the evidence conclusively supports a dismissal of the remaining allegations without further investigation and presentation of evidence. Thus, the complaints are remanded to the staff in order to prepare a new investigation report pursuant to 2 AAC 50.460(c).

In preparing a new investigation report and performing additional investigation, the Commission directs the staff to respond to the following issues:

(1) Should the weekly advertisements be considered one cumulative communications effort that was made for the purpose of influencing the nomination or election of a candidate and subject to APOC’s regulation of expenditures and contributions under AS 15.13?

(2) Did Mr. Studley coordinate each of the approximately 17 weekly advertisements that ran in the Chilkat Valley News? If so, is that fact significant? Related to that question, can the advertisements be considered independent expenditures?

(3) The volume of the “thank you” advertisements. The thank you advertisements ran for approximately 17 consecutive weeks as opposed to one or two weeks. Should the volume of ads be considered communications regulated by APOC?

(4) The timing of the advertisements. The legislature adjourned on April 18, 2010, the primary election was held on August 24, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. Is it significant that the advertisements ran from June 17, 2010 to October 7, 2010?

(5) The language and format of the advertisements. Did the advertisements include similar language and a similar format? Are those facts significant?
(6) Two of the advertisements included language urging readers to “vote.” Is that fact significant regarding whether the other 15 advertisements should or should not be subject to APOC regulation as contributions or expenditures?

(7) Did Representative Thomas have an opponent in either the primary or general elections and are those facts significant?

(8) If one person coordinated the advertisements is the intent of the coordinator relevant to the issue of whether the advertisements should be considered communications regulated by APOC?

(9) The Complainant presented various arguments at the hearing: those arguments should be reviewed and considered.

(10) Mr. Studley submitted a written statement dated November 13, 2010. This statement should be reviewed and follow-up investigation undertaken regarding his assertions that he was at “fault,” and regarding any other pertinent issues such as those raised above.

(11) Based upon the results of further investigation, the investigation report should consider whether to continue or modify its conclusions regarding the violations alleged against each Respondent and the proposed penalties, if any. 1

The Commission also directs the staff to allow the Respondents an additional opportunity to address the issues raised in the complaint and the questions raised above.
Dated: December 1, 2010

BY ORDER OF THE ALASKA PUBLIC OFFICES COMMISSION

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1 The Commission does not disagree with the staff’s conclusion that two of the advertisements that expressly contain the word “vote” are subject to APOC regulation. However, it will await a new investigation report before considering the responsibilities of each Respondent regarding these communications and any appropriate penalties

It was clear that the Commissioners were listening, not just to me but to the testimony provided within the staff report. It seemed that the staff themselves were not.

I recieved a phone call this afternoon congratulating me on “my victory.” It is not a “victory” yet. We will need to see what the APOC staff comes up with in their next report and see whether or not they come to different conclusions.

If they don’t, will the Commission reject their report a second time?

This entire case is extremely significant for many reasons, including the advantage it would give incumbents if these “thank you ads” are allowed to stand as non-regulated communications. Another big reason: Representative Bill Thomas has now been chosen as the House Finance Committee Co-Chair. That means that Rep. Bill Thomas is now Co-chair of the committee that is in charge of (you guessed it) the budget for APOC.

For those who haven’t been following closely (or would like to brush-up) you can read about it HERE, then HERE and again HERE and finally HERE.

Stay tuned for updates…

And nowhere in Alaska can you witness the traditional Election Eve battle of the signs like you can in two locations – The New Seward Highway and Northern Lights Blvd., and down the road at Northern Lights and Minnesota, in Anchorage.  It’s a combination of spectator sport, pissing contest, and ritual.

So, I took a little drive to see what was to be seen at these two prime areas of sign real estate.

I pulled up to a red light and noticed that Don Young for Congress supporters were on the island in between the north and southbound lanes of the New Seward. I grabbed my camera and snapped a couple pictures, and suddenly noticed the form of a person standing right next to my window. I jumped. I looked. It was Don Young himself peering in my window. I rolled down the window not knowing quite what to expect. “I’m not asking you for five dollars,” he announced. “I just want to shake your hand.” It was quite obvious he didn’t know who I was or he would not have asked to shake my hand. And I was glad he wasn’t expecting five dollars. I did shake his hand, though… just to enjoy the strangeness of the moment.

The next red light revealed the Joe Miller crowd, and an interesting little side show. There were snake flags aplenty. I find myself wondering why the fascination with a flag that was soundly rejected by the founding fathers? I remember studying the flag in American History class in grade school and feeling very relieved that we didn’t end up with the yellow snake flag as our national symbol. A venemous reptile isn’t really the face I wanted to portray to the world.  Little did I know I’d be staring at a bunch of snake flaggers all these years later.

And then I noticed that sitting on the back of a large yellow gas guzzling SUV was someone dressed like “Queen Lisa” in a mask, waving at the crowd with a little wrist wave, like Queens do.  On the street side of the truck were signs saying “Please Don’t Dethrone Me,” “Long Live the Aristocracy and the Elites,” and “Vote 4 Lisa, Sore Loser Party Candidate.”

Unable to resist, I pulled into the parking lot next to the Millerites, and rolled down my window to have a listen. “We’re surrounded by commies!” I heard. I was pretty sure they weren’t talking about me, but rather the KTUU News truck behind me.

The signs on the other side of the truck were all dedicated to slamming the media.

The acronyms were amusing, particularly the one for KTUU in which the signmaker tells us that the NBC affiliate wants to “Keep The Voter Uniformed [sic] Uneducated.” The [sic] part wasn’t actually on the sign. I only put it there because I assume that keeping the voter “uniformed” doesn’t actually have anything to do with the men and women in uniform.  Although with the socialist lamestream media, who knows? Maybe those darn Democrats are supporting some kind of Marxist fascist leftist plot to force everyone to wear a uniform when they vote, just to create bigger government and a voter uniform tax.  I wouldn’t put it past them.

Then a man with an extra tall Joe Miller sign started walking down the line of sign wavers, and presumably to try to get everyone pumped up to wave even harder, he yelled with an extra helping of testosterone, “We’ve got the EXTREME candidate! We’re the only ones with an EXTREME candidate! YEAHHH!”

Joe Miller and his wife were there on the corner waving and posing for pictures.

Midway down the parking lot were the Lisa Murkowski supporters. There were only about a half dozen of them, and no Lisa. Strangely, they were standing right in front of a parked truck with huge placards on the sides and the back of the vehicle that was facing out to the street. They said, “Tru Love” [sic] and then Lisa & Barack inscribed in a huge heart. I wasn’t quite sure why the Murkowskibots didn’t change locations, but there they stayed with the orchestrated backdrop provided free of charge by a Miller supporter.

Further down was a nice crowd for Ethan Berkowitz for Governor. Ethan and his wife were there also, and Ethan was out working the line of cars when the light turned red.

Across the street from there were the McAdams folk. They had a pretty decent turnout too. The day was cold, but not cold enough to dampen anyone’s spirits.

I decided to do a drive-by of prime intersection #2 just to see who was there. I discovered the most adorable sign waver ever.

Sean Parnell and his wife were working the other side of the street, and Scott and Romee McAdams were working the opposite corner, with another crowd of supporters. The McAdams campaign was the only one to have representation at both coveted intersections.  Since this is part contest, I thought I’d just throw that out there.

Just as I crossed over to the McAdams side, Scott and Romee crossed the street the other way. I thought I’d missed them and they were leaving, but it was just Scott crossing the street to say hello to the governor and shake his hand. A class act all the way, I thought.

By this time it was time to head to Carpenters Hall where Scott took the stage and delivered a nice rousing speech to supporters.

The whole McAdams clan was there (L-R) Romee, Gavin, Scott, Chloe and Katie.

Everyone remember to get out the vote tomorrow. Elections in this state are often decided by a handful of votes.  So grab a friend and remember to fill in the oval for Scott McAdams, Ethan Berkowitz, Harry Crawford, and one of the host of awesome Democratic candidates in the local races.  I’ll proudly be casting a vote for Janet Reiser!

If every Democrat votes for Scott McAdams, we’ll have it in a landslide. Let’s make it happen, and end this election cycle on a sweet note.

Please check the booth for any evidence of campaigning. In Homer, apparently, reports were received that each booth had a written list of the write-in candidates posted. This is electioneering, and absolutely illegal.

If you see anything irregular when you are early voting, please take a picture of it.

Let us know ASAP if you see anything in a booth or at the polling place itself like signs right outside the building, stickers in the booth or at the polling place, or buttons or bracelets left behind in the booth. All of these things are illegal.

If you discover something illegal, you can ask for these illegal things to be removed. Please also keep track of who you talked to at the polling place, and whether or not they were willing to take down the illegal item(s).

HERE are the early voting sites.

*UPDATE – The posted write-in candidates came from a judge clerk who apparently made a bad call and fixed the mistake as soon as they realized the problem. If I get any further details I’ll let you know.  The main point is to keep irregularities whether intentioned or innocent mistakes from happening.  Thanks to the voter who noticed the problem and made it known.  There are sure to be legal challenges in this election, but we need to keep them to a minimum if we can.

Contact Scott McAdams headquarters and send information to leslieridle@gmail(dot)com and you can also send them to me at akmuckraker@yahoo(dot)com.  Thank you for your efforts to keep this election honest.

Below is the (draft) press release I will be sending out in final form later today.  As you can see, I’ve been working hard in the basement office!

————————————————————————————————————

The Alaska Public Offices Commission accepted a complaint filed by Linda Kellen Biegel. It is against five members of the Campaign to Re-elect Alaska Representative Bill Thomas, Jr. (R-Haines). One of the complaints is filed against the candidate himself.

The complaint is in response to a newspaper advertising campaign consisting of 12 ads which ran in the Chilkat Valley News during the weeks leading up to the primary election. (The ads are attached to the complaint.) Each ad contained the name and address of a Haines business at the bottom in the “This ad paid for by” line. They all had photos, some were of the candidate, some of which (like the Haines “100 years” celebration photo) were taken at public events unrelated to the candidate yet giving the impression those in the photo supported Rep. Thomas. Some encouraged the reader to “vote,” some thanked Rep. Thomas and several had quotes attributed to him. (Several pictured Rep. Thomas together with Senator Albert Kookesh, but it is unknown if Sen. Kookesh gave his permission or was made aware of the ads when they ran in the paper.)

The name or image of Rep. Thomas was clearly present in each of the 12 ads during this election cycle.

Upon further research, it was impossible to determine exactly what category of legal contributions these ads were attempting to fit, if any:

James Studley was the one who coordinated the entire ad buy. He provided the photos, drafted the copy, designed the ads and worked with Ms. Evandon on the buy, but directed Chilkat Valley News to bill each business listed on the ads for payment. Mr. Studley is also a Deputy Treasurer on Rep. Bill Thomas’s re-election campaign and would have been legally able to make a campaign ad purchase. However, that was clearly not the intent because (a) the proper format and wording were not on the ads, (b) while coordinating the purchase, he was not paying for it…he instructed the newspaper to bill the listed businesses, and (c) these businesses were not “individuals, group, non-group entity and political parties” — the only entities allowed to make in-kind contributions to campaigns.

On the other hand, because Mr. Studley was one of Thomas’s Deputy Treasurers and he coordinated the entire advertising buy, this did not appear to qualify as an “Independent Expenditure” because AS Sec. 15.13.135. and regulation 2 AAC 50.270 states that Independent Expenditures cannot be coordinated with members of the campaign.

This wasn’t the only “coordination with the campaign” regarding these ads. Per the complaint:

4) …At least three high-ranking members of Representative Bill Thomas, Jr’s re-election campaign staff sit on their Executive Boards of some of the businesses purchasing these ads:

- Haines Real Estate (2 ads): Owned by Alaska Resources Consulting, Inc — James Studley, Deputy Treasurer for the Thomas Campaign, is President of Alaska Resources.

- Alaska Resources Consulting, Inc.(2 ads): James Studley, Deputy Treasurer for the Thomas Campaign, is President.

- Oleruds Inc. (1 ad): Doug Olerud is the Chairperson & Deputy Treasurer of the Thomas Campaign and he is President of Olerud’s, Inc.

- King’s Store Inc.: Gregg Richmond, Deputy Treasurer for the Thomas Campaign, is on the King’s Store Board of Directors as a Secretary/Treasurer.

Originally, an expedited hearing was requested but was reconsidered in order to allow APOC to do a full investigation. Per their notification letter, this investigation could end in 1) a civil penalty, 2) a dismissal, or 3) a consent agreement if the APOC staff and Repondents agree to a resolution.

The acceptance notification was received via US mail on Saturday, October 9, 2010. HERE is a link to the complaint and HERE is a link to an amendment (the original complaint did not use the most recent version of the Alaska Statutes). Notification was sent via email today that they will be combining all five complaints into one hearing.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

I took this complaint on because it seemed that the campaign didn’t feel like they had to bother with any rules or regulations…an attitude which has grown profoundly in Alaska over the years.  The SCOTUS Citizen’s United ruling has just made it worse, causing folks to think that there ARE NO rules or regs to follow anymore.  I hope this complaint will be a wake-up call to folks in Alaska.  I can’t even imagine how many other small towns are experiencing the same thing.

Matt Felling of KTVA-11 News had the dubious honor of sitting down with the Congressman for All Alaskans (who voted for him) and chatted about the Constitution and its 17… er… 27 amendments, Joe Miller, and the infamous Coconut Road scandal.

MTF: You’re talking about constitutionality and earmarks. Yesterday, the Republican Senate contender for Alaska, Joe Miller, he told a Fairbanks audience that the concept of an evolving constitution is, in his words — pardon me mom — “Bullcrap.”

Congressman Don Young: It’s a strange thing. We have 17 amendments to the Constitution, do we not?

MTF: I think we have a few more than that.

Congressman Don Young: How many more.

MTF: More than 20. (Note to readers: It’s 27.)

Congressman Don Young: And that’s up to the decision of the people. He can have the decision or opinion he wishes to have, but if just follow that everytime we have a consitutional amendment, which we have. I think that’s crucially important to understand that the public has spoken. Now if he doesn’t want the public to speak, that’s his decision. But the public always has the last say.

MTF: I wanted to bring up something. It’s been a few months. There’s been a comfort level and I’ve always understood that you can’t discuss ongoing investigations. But are you at a point where you can discuss what happened with the Coconut Road story?

Congressman Don Young: I don’t need to do that, I’m not going to that. The Department of Justice has dropped that. There was never anything there to begin with. But I am not going to lower myself to explain something that is from a rumor-mongering machine.

MTF: But as long as there’s no information out there, people will speculate.

Congressman Don Young: They can do anything they want to. It doesn’t bother me. I’ve said all along: I know who I am. I know what I’ve done wrong. Nothing. And that’s been proven so why should I explain that? How do you explain something that didn’t exist? I’m just going to do it.

MTF: The argument out there, though, is that there was malfeasance on the investigators.

Congressman Don Young: I have nothing to do with that. I don’t know why anyone would say that. It’s kind of like trying to answer something that doesn’t exist. Why would you want to even attempt to do that. I’ve said all along it didn’t exist. It was always a rumor. Why should I answer a rumor that didn’t involve me. Why do you even ask a question like that? Because duh. I’ve said all along that there’s nothing there.

MTF: But given all the ink, you have to wonder if there was a there there.

Congressman Don Young: It was promoted by a newspaper, promoted by rumors and innuendo and I’ve said all along that there is nothing there and I stick to that story. And apparently there wasn’t anything there.

*******************************************

You can donate to the campaign of Harry Crawford, Don Young’s Democratic opponent HERE.

Here’s the latest commercial for Harry Crawford, the Democratic candidate for Congress. We’ve had Don Young (Congressman for everyone who voted for him) for NINETEEN terms. I, for one, think that’s quite enough. Harry Crawford is experienced, tough, honest, and hard-working. He’s been an effective legislator as a Democrat in a relatively conservative district, and will bring his ability to work across the aisle to Washington D.C., where goodness knows, we need it!

Check out his campaign website and where he stands on the issues HERE
Friend him on Facebook HEREFollow him on Twitter HERE
Give ‘em Hell Harry!

Those Alaskans prone to a more cynical outlook might say that the Alaska summer is already over, based on the rain we’ve been experiencing most of the last two weeks.  However, I choose to believe that the rain is merely an opportunity to enjoy indoor events…or in the very least, an opportunity to use those expensive-to-rent canopies!

Saturday, after our family spent the morning and early afternoon at the Scottish Highland Games, I skipped over to the home of Patrick and Patti Higgins (Pat is on  the Anchorage School Board while Patti is the Chairwoman of the Democratic Party).  I joined a number of prominent Anchorage names (including Assemblywoman Harriet Drummond, pictured above) at a fundraiser for the Democratic Candidate for US Senate, Sitka Mayor Scott McAdams.  In keeping with their pattern of excellent fundraiser cuisine, they were serving fried turkey.

I went because I wanted to meet Candidate McAdams.  I’ve been wanting to meet Scott for awhile because I’ve heard so much about him.  True to those descriptions, I found him to be an energetic, enthusiastic and forward-thinking candidate…someone I could get excited about as a member of Alaska’s Congressional Team.

…and the turkey SERIOUSLY ROCKED as well!

To donate to Scott McAdams for US Senate, GO HERE!

Sunday morning we were greeted with an attack from our leaky roof.  However, we stuck a bowl under it and braved the rain to attend the Union Solidarity Picnic at Anchorage’s Downtown Parkstrip.

The event was emceed by the lovely feather-covered Shannyn Moore and the almost-equally lovely AFLCIO President Vince Beltrami.  At many events it would be an exagerration to claim that “everyone who was anyone was there”–it was no exagerration here:

The entertainment was provided by my dear friends and the band at my wedding, The Aquanets.  The candidates were there–Hollis French and Ethan Berkowitz who are running for Governor.

The Democratic candidates for the Congressional Delegations races were also there–Scott McAdams (Senate) and Harry Crawford (running against Don Young for House) pictured below:

Harry is pictured with Legislator Lindsey Holmes below:

Campaign managers (below, for Diane Benson) as well as assistants, bloggers and politicos all came together discussing campaigns, strategies and a dose of gossip:

And fun was had by all.

One important issue brought up at this event were the rejection of the Hospitality Union and unfair labor practices conducted by the Sheraton and Hilton hotels in Anchorage.  Representatives for the workers spoke:

And they passed around a petition, encouraging a boycott of the two hotels.  I happily signed it and so did my husband:

For more information on the issue, GO HERE.

DONATIONS:

to Harry Crawford for Alaska Congressman At Large, GO HERE.

to Scott McAdams for US Senate, GO HERE.

 to Hollis French for Governor, GO HERE.

to Ethan Berkowitz for Governor, GO HERE.

to Diane Benson for Lt. Governor, GO HERE.

Here’s something to chew on for a Sunday afternoon. The 2010 election cycle  is upon us, and as progressives we cannot afford to sit this one out. We are the majority and we proved it two years ago.  But as we have all learned to understand, it’s not about the majority – it’s about who wins.  Ask Karl Rove.

2010 is the year of redistricting.  The battle lines will literally be drawn.  You can imagine a room full of power suits with red pens, drawing contorted, tortured polygonal shapes that mean fewer seats for the majority, and more seats for the minority. Because if that’s what it takes for them to gain the “permanent Republican majority” then that’s what they’ll do.  We’re already up for a battle this year after Citizens United v. the Federal Election Commission, which was decided in favor of corporations by a Republican majority Supreme Court, has allowed for virtually unlimited corporate cash to influence elections.

2008 was fun.  It was exciting – a presidential year, a great candidate, lots of drama, Sarah Palin a potential heartbeat away from the White House.  We had lots of reasons to get out and stand in line, and cast our ballots.  Midterm elections are never quite the same.  But this midterm election is as important as any we’ve seen.

Alaska only has one congressional district.  I know.  I’ve been stuck with Don Young for a very long time.  But redistricting is happening on a statewide level too, and Anchorage is on the chopping block.  Tea partiers are mobilized, and I’m sending this out as a reminder not only to those of you outside Alaska, but also to Alaskans.  Make sure everyone you know understands.  Make sure they are planning to vote on every race, local to national.  Make sure they “get it” and don’t let them stay home.

 How to Win the Redistricting Fight in 2010

By Greg Speed
Executive Director, America Votes

In six months, voters may determine control of Congress for the next decade in elections for governors and legislatures that will control the redistricting process in most states.

Our opponents understand these high stakes and are highly-skilled practitioners in exploiting the redistricting process. Bush-era operatives including Karl Rove and Ed Gillespie recently reemerged with plans to take control of key state capitols. Rove clearly hopes to use redistricting in the states to resurrect his dashed dream of a permanent Republican majority.

Progressives must stop Rove and the Right’s redistricting plans in 2010 and there is a clear path to victory in an otherwise tough year. We can win even in a rough tide with a plan for “strategic sandbagging,” heavily targeting the states and districts most important to redistricting control. America Votes has created a Redistricting Control Project to execute coordinated plans in many of these key areas.

The importance of who controls redistricting cannot be overstated. After 2000, Republicans had full control of the process in Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas, and netted a 31-seat gain in Congress (+15 GOP, -16 Democrats) in those five states in the next election.

After 2010, congressional districts will be redrawn again by politicians in 35 states (the others have independent commissions or are single-district states). Democrats are now in control of states projected to have 108 congressional seats after the Census and Republicans control over 75 seats. Over 200 seats have split control, including big states like Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan, where Republicans pushed through gerrymanders in the last redistricting.

There are approximately 15 target states for redistricting control in the 2010 election based on two factors: competitive elections that could shift control of the state’s redistricting process (a governor’s seat or legislative chamber), and the likelihood that a change in partisan control of the process could flip control of congressional seats.

Ohio may be the most important redistricting battleground this year. The Buckeye state is projected to lose a seat and many of the remaining 17 districts could change hands as a result of redistricting. The Gubernatorial and Ohio House races are vital to Democrats’ redistricting prospects, races for Auditor and Secretary of State are also key to Ohio legislative redistricting.

In 2008, Democrats won a 4-seat majority in the 99-seat Ohio House by a combined 2,739 votes in the closest races. The margin of victory may be that close again in 2010 so a plan for prioritizing battleground regions overlapping competitive Ohio House seats is essential.

Franklin County is an example of a perennial battleground and a redistricting “hotspot.” The county will be vital for Gov. Ted Strickland’s reelection, freshman U.S. Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy’s reelection is considered a toss-up, and within her seat are also several competitive Ohio House districts. We need a strategy that targets voters in Franklin and other redistricting hotspots for maximum impact up and down the ballot.

For example, one of Democrats’ best opportunities to pick up a GOP seat is House District 21 in Western Franklin. President Obama won HD-21 by a large margin in 2008, but a GOP incumbent managed to retain the seat because 6,639 voters failed to cast a ballot in his race. We can’t afford to have our voters “roll off” again this year in such a hugely important race. Voters must be contacted early and often about multiple races to turn them out and ensure they complete their ballot for every key race – from HD-21 to CD-15 to Governor.

Winning redistricting means hand-to-hand combat like this in places like Franklin County, often targeting just a few thousand voters in the right districts. America Votes’ Redistricting Control Project will lead this strategy by providing strategic planning, coordination, and smart targeting to win where it matters most.

Progressives must remember both the importance of this election for redistricting and the ugly history of our opponents. After 2000, Karl Rove and Tom DeLay demanded state Republicans ignore existing maps and push the most aggressive gerrymanders for Congress and state legislatures possible.

After the 1990 Census, the RNC’s nefarious redistricting project openly advocated the packing of minority voters into the fewest districts possible and cracking communities by dividing minority voters into multiple districts to dilute their impact. If the plan itself wasn’t cynical enough, GOP uber-lawyer Ben Ginsberg actually named the RNC project “Project RatF*ck” to drive home the point.

The other side sees redistricting as the best means to advance their right-wing agenda. With Congress controlled by a conservative majority we can expect 10 years of special interest policies; 10 years of repealing and “replacing” health care reform; 10 years of immigration policy that separates families, builds walls, and stops people to ask for their papers.

Redistricting isn’t determined by a national election, but by small blocs of voters in key states and districts who this year hold enormous sway over the direction of the country for the next ten years. Progressives can win the redistricting battle this time with a smart plan in places like Franklin County, Bucks County (PA) and Washoe County (NV).

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Greg Speed has served as Executive Director of America Votes since October 2007. Under Speed’s leadership, America Votes coordinated over 62 million direct voter contacts in the 2008 election cycle. Speed previously served as Communications Director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. On Capitol Hill, Speed worked as press secretary and legislative aide to former U.S. Rep. Martin Frost (TX), and for IMPAC 2000, the Democratic leadership’s redistricting project after the previous census. He hails from “Chicagoland” and received a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He lives with his family in Washington DC.

America Votes leads coordination and strategy for 40 national and over 300 state progressive groups’ advocacy and election campaigns, and advances voting rights through election reforms in the states. The coalition shares strategies and resources to maximize impact and ensure that progressive voter mobilization campaigns build lasting capacity.

Image from Patchwork Nation

Here are my favorite parts. The interview is indented, and my own additions are at the margin. Enjoy.

On Afghanistan:

I’ve said all along this is going to be a very difficult achievement for the United States. The terrain is horrendous. They’ve been ruled by elders and by lords for years. It’s a sectarial [sic] society, and I think it’s going to be nearly impossible to achieve a so-called democracy which we’re speaking of. [To Felling] You mentioned the leader and I will not try to pronounce all those names, I would like to congratulate you, Matt… But the leaders now are sort of kissing up to Iran, and Iran’s policy is to eliminate Israel, and their policy is to eliminate, very frankly, anybody who is not a Muslim. That’s their theory. That may get me in trouble but that’s their policy of government.

(The leader of Afghanistan is called Karzai…  That’s like CAR and ZYE put together.  Say it.  CAR-ZYE ….Karzai.  Good!  We’ll work on the leader of Iran in our next lesson.  We know it’s hard and has five syllables, but it might come in handy to know it, considering you’re our only representative in the House and you get to vote on stuff concerning him.  You know…)

On Whether He Would Support the Repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”

Probably not. I think the system has worked. I think we have to recognize that. I am not at ease saying that this would be a plus for the armed services. And I think we ought to stop going to the heads of the so-called military, and the politicians and ask the troops and see how it comes out. That would tell you a lot more. We have a tendency to think that we know more than the common folk. And Obama and Nancy Pelosi is an exaple of that in the health bill.

(And what exactly is the “so called” military?  Are they really something else?)

[Felling] So you think that the Secretary of Defense, and the Generals don’t have the best sense…

I actually dont think that they… They’re like the President. They don’t have any contact with their troops. The troops in the field, the guy that’s got mud on his boots, and pulling that M-16 trigger, he’s got armor on his chest at 110 degrees, you ought to ask him.

(News flash for Congressman Young… That guy with the M-16 and the armor? He may be gay.  Just sayin’.)

On Violence and the Current Political Climate:

[Felling] There are people calling each other names on the chamber floor. There are people calling each other “baby killers.” And we’ve seen ever since then, bomb threats, assassination threats, property damage, people’s gas lines are being cut… It’s getting really nasty out there.

Yes and no. And when I say “yes and no”… How much of this is being utilized for publicity? How much is being utilized to spin the so-called health bill? I have really reluctance to say “Alright, the gas line was cut. Who cut it?” Was it somebody… a line with the anti-person, or maybe somebody’s neighbor maybe. Maybe run over their dog. But now it’s automatically because of the health vote. I’m just… I’m a little reluctant. I’ve always been one to paddle my canoe all my life. And when some people start going to the press and saying “So and so said something to me!” That’s sort of like a schoolyard syndrome. You know… “Sally spit in my face.” And really she didn’t, and because Sally’s not really on the best list of the teacher, Sally’s in trouble. And so I just get a little bit leery about that.

(Click HERE for an actual video of “Sally” actually spitting on actual Congressman Cleaver (D-Mo.) And yes, Sally was arrested by the Capital Police, but the Congressman chose not to press charges. So, you can stop being leery now.)

On Civility in the House of Representatives:

As far as the civility on the floor, it has deteriorated from what it was when I first went there, and I don’t think I play a role in that. You’ve never seen me say anything really wrong on the floor. I’ve made a few gestures, but never any words. And so I’m saying the civility factor has primarily being increased because of the exposure of media. We have television now. We didn’t have television before. [snip]

(Here’s a video of Congressman Young’s famous “Biting Mink” speech to a Republican Congressman from New Jersey.  This is him not saying anything uncivil on the floor, in case you were wondering.)

Back to our current interview:

I’ll be honest with you, and watch me get in trouble now with my staff…
I really think a straight forward approach to a problem is better than this “Oh, my good friend, the gentleman from …” Always, what a phony thing to say. They don’t like ‘em. They don’t consider them gentlemen, but they say that. That so-called “civility.” I’m saying that sometimes I think it would be better to say, “You’re full of it,” and go up and smack the guy on the nose. He’s insulted me! Now, everybody says that’s sort of barbarian, you know… but right now we’re hiding behind it, and yet we say words and things that play to the media, and I really thing that overexposure in the media is what has led to the decay of the house.

(So, basically, according to the Congressman, manners are ridiculous and disingenuous? Yeah, who thought those ****ing things up anyway? Manners….pfft! [insert gesture here] Probably some ***ing candy-*** ****ing piece of **** a***** who wasn’t raised in a g** *** barn. Those stupid **** ******s… Go smack ‘em on the nose, Don! And you could do it too, if it weren’t for those g** **** TV cameras. ****ing newfangled technology. Grrrrr.)

On a side note, I did get my shiny new Harry Crawford for Congress button the other day at the Democratic headquarters on Fairbanks Street. I know that all you Alaskan progressives out there have thrown a little coin in his direction already, RIGHT?  But for those of you out of state who may have a solid good candidate in your district, and you’re looking for some other poor group of people to help… A group of people who are stuck here with our palms on our faces, after NINETEEN terms with this guy, who are one step away from being on our knees BEGGING you to help… you can click HERE and support someone who would do Alaskans and the country proud.