Shoot

We do NOT need someone else to win. I'm not sure we would beat anyone other than Young.

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by: RandySF @ Mon May 12, 2008 at 22:38:18 PM UTC

Think of it as a trade-off.

The more odious Young is, the more easy it is for us to beat him, but the less likely it is for him to survive his primary.

Textbook problem: Find the optimum odiousness.

party: Democratic, ideology: moderate, district: CT-01

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by: Glenn Magus Harvey @ Mon May 12, 2008 at 22:42:59 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

He'll survive

The rightwing activists aren't doing anything on a national level comparable to what we did for Donna Edwards against Wynn. I think Young is still somewhat embraced because they always tend to lean for the establishment.

That many Republicans willing to vote against Young really bodes well for the GE. I'm more concerned with Beigich beating Ted Stevens, hopefully Young stays on the ticket :)

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by: bobbyd100 @ Mon May 12, 2008 at 22:48:54 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Of course, normally

one would always prefer to run against a non-incumbent candidate rather than the incumbent.

But here I suspect that IF Young loses to Parnell, most Alaskans would consider that they've done the job of cleaning house and would go ahead and vote Parnell in the general
(whereas they might still vote against Young in Nov.)

But still... you'd have to waterboard me before I'd ever root for Young for anything

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by: homerun @ Mon May 12, 2008 at 23:10:09 PM UTC

That's what happened in the AK-Gov election

when the Republicans kicked out Murkowski in his primary against Palin.  Palin won in November, and is now very popular.

Let's not have a repeat of that please.  

John McCain: Healthcare for kids?  Not for a Bush-McCain America.

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by: bosdcla14 @ Tue May 13, 2008 at 00:21:00 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

perhaps

We should start and ActBlue page for Congressman Young. Looks like he could use all the help he could get ;)

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by: Venslor @ Tue May 13, 2008 at 01:32:51 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Young needs to go

Yes this certainly would be one of those execptions to the "incumbents are usually stronger" rule. The GOP has caught a few of those breaks this cycle actually, Doolittle, Cubin, Renzi (maybe), etc. Without these a bad upcoming election would be even worse. Anyhow, Alaska deserves a non-corrupt Congressman, hopefully it will be in the form of a Republican though. I wish Parnell would have run earlier, I would have sent him money like I did a few other guys.

A cat can have kittens in an oven but that doesn't make them biscuits.

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by: Kyle98632 @ Tue May 13, 2008 at 01:37:45 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Alaska corruption

A couple of days ago a former Alaska state legislator was convicted and sentencd to three years for getting $4,700 in bribes and a $3,000 summer job for his nephew.  Three years for chump change.  The high paid VECO execs lined up to testify against them and are still at large with huge fortunes.  The only big names they can testify against are RepubLican: Ted Stevens, Don Young, Frank Murkowski and iperhaps Sarah Pallin.    

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by: David Kowalski @ Mon May 12, 2008 at 23:51:48 PM UTC

Bad news

But also Parnell only raised 50k last Q so he isn't going to be able to put much effort into the challenge. Despite Young's legal fee's he has money to spend.

Go Young in the primary! If he wins the primary I think this seat is ours.

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by: Populista @ Tue May 13, 2008 at 01:22:16 AM UTC

But

You have to remember that Parnell announced only a few days before the end of the 1st quarter.

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by: James L. @ Tue May 13, 2008 at 01:30:09 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Oh

I didn't know that. His fundraising numbers will be interesting then!

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by: Populista @ Tue May 13, 2008 at 04:51:09 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Is it a closed GOP primary in Alaska?

Can only registered Republicans vote in the GOP primaries for Congress and Senator?  If not, and the Dems can vote n the GOP primary that day, then Dems ought to vote for both Young and Stevens.  We can beat them in the general but may not be able to beat other Republicans not named Young and Stevens.

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by: pasuburbdem1 @ Tue May 13, 2008 at 09:34:49 AM UTC

Only

Republicans, Non-Partisans and Undeclared can vote in the Republican primary, not voters registered for other parties. And Democrats have a primary on their own, so they might be willing to choose their own candidate against Young (or whomever).  

33, living in Germany  

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by: micha.1976 @ Tue May 13, 2008 at 11:18:13 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Dem vote

Besides that most average voters wouldn't be thinking "If I vote for X in the other party's primary, it will help my guy in the general". Thats just us political junkies. I would guess Parnell would be helped if Dems were allowed to vote.

A cat can have kittens in an oven but that doesn't make them biscuits.

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by: Kyle98632 @ Tue May 13, 2008 at 17:11:37 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

this is deeply worrying

i wonder if young has started spending money on direct mail or radio yet.  it will be interesting to see what he does with his financial advantage.  he could run the way ernie fletcher did in the kentucky primary - accenting that he is the true conservative and suggesting that the "scandals" are part of a partisan democratic witchhunt.  and he needs to define parnell.

let me have this damned campaign, i can get young through to his eventual doom.

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by: st paul sage @ Tue May 13, 2008 at 18:22:18 PM UTC