1 This is a seat the Republicans needed to hold and Portman is going to be a substantial upgrade over George "The Weeper" Voinovich. That's setting the bar pretty low.

2 5pm on a Friday

aka Happy Hour.

3 Not sure whether to believe this, so grains of salt recommended.  But Wizbang spotted this:

White House insider on Obama:  The President is losing it

Used to see this stuff peddled widely on Bush, and it was garbage.  However given Barry's weird steps lately...

4

Would Ace consider this in lieu of the flaming skull?

5 Damn, that Lisa is a whiny bitch.

6

Watch the Values Voters Summit live all morning here. Basically everyone who is thinking about running in 2012 is there and giving speeches. Mike Huckabee was first and wasted everyoneÂ’s time, but all of the good speeches are still to come!

Demint just finished up and Michelle Bachman is on fire right now!

7

O Brother Where Art Thou, now playing in Alaska.

Is you my constituency or is you ain't?

8 Don't the election laws in Washington state say that they just keep counting the ballots until the Democrat wins?

9 If, IF, Didier has fucked up this WA race the man deserves pitchforks at the edge of his property.  What a douche!

10 The flaiming skull challenger graphic is the red haired siren over at Big Govt. site under moveon.org story.

11 Any country that elects Pity Party Patty deserves to be ruled by Pity Party Patty.

12 Wow, Murkowski is sounding more like a democrat every day. A "responsibility" to who, your lobbyists. Now, for the first time, a closed primary is bad, but when it worked for you it was good. And she is now officially an Alaskan version of Scozzafava.

13

Murky's like the Kathy Griffin of politics. She thinks she's remotely relevant. Oh and shes' a whore.

14

Conservative women calendar: http://tinyurl.com/2d54rnk

 

15 Did Rossi screw something up?  Outlier?  I hesitate to question the Ubergruppen Fuhrer.

Posted by: toby928 at September 17, 2010 11:15 AM (S5YRY)

This isn't an outlier.  2 polls ago, Rasmussen had her up, as well, though not over 50%.  Though, at the exact same time, a poll conducted by the local NBC affiliate had Rossi up 7.  *shrugs shoulders*

The truth is, there is no gusto.  Rossi comes across almost disinterested in his ads.  If he is now ramping it up, that is good.

16 Is you is or is you ain't my 'stituency?

17 Who's the dumber bint:  Murkowski or MegaMac?  Loser has to tongue bathe AllahPuke.

18 The despair in DC is palpable. They are openly hoping for an October Surprise - like catching Bin Laden. It is quite amusing to see anti-military lefties begging for the military to save their asses.

19 I would be all for her running against Begich in 4 years ( I don't hink Palin will run, and the Repub. congressman from Alaska is a bigger pork-lover than Murky) .  But not unless she's strongly backs Miller this time.

20 Murky, follow the path of a born leader - run for mayor of Wasilla.

21 Fox sues Carnahan over political ad

22

Conservative women calendar: http://tinyurl.com/2d54rnk

That's awesome! I'm so happy they put Starr Parker in that.

Memo to S.E. -- I love you, but the red hair ain't working.

23 18 Ain't it the truth- these idiots must all have premonitions of impending doom if the country is deprived of their brilliance for even a moment, much less a few years. Also regarding the WA race- the apparatus is so incredibly corrupt ( I think Franken actually brought in some "help" from Washington during his theft) that I would regard Rossi winning as a minor miracle. Hopefully the rout will be on early in the east and midwest and maybe depress democrat turnout.

24

She added: "When you think about the outcome of that, in a closed Republican primary, how many Alaskans were actually able to weigh in?

Since it was the republican primary, presumably everyone who would have voted for you and cared enough to show up.

25

I've said before that most Americans are revolted by socialism and are intelligent enough to recognize the failure inherent in that type of model.

Of course, there are exceptions to the rule.  Seattle, Portland, San Fran and a few other areas prove that.

26 Hopefully the rout will be on early in the east and midwest and maybe depress democrat turnout.

Posted by: jjshaka at September 17, 2010 11:25 AM (yknIg)

Uh, not possible.  We're all mail-in, here.

27 Damn shame about Murray vs. Rossi.

28 "I'm a public servant. My job by definition is to listen to my constituents. And there was a process in place -- a primary election -- that's certainly one way that you listen to your constituents." Now if she would only listen to them now and just go away.

29 "Watch the Values Voters Summit live all morning here. Basically everyone who is thinking about running in 2012 is there and giving speeches."

Well, everyone except the one who matters.  There's a little Iowa GOP event in Des Moines...

30 If Rossi loses for the third(?) 2nd time, that ought to be it for him, yes?

Posted by: toby928 at September 17, 2010 11:26 AM (S5YRY)

FIFY.

31 31 Oh lovely- never a chance for fraud with that system.

32 Of course, there are exceptions to the rule. Seattle, Portland, San Fran and a few other areas prove that. Hey, buddy... we're exceptional too.

33 25 That you, ya2daup, for recognizing that I am, indeed, a strong leader.
Posted by: Levi Johnson at September 17, 2010 11:24 AM (OWjjx)

Levi, your calling is to mate with Meggie-Mac. She's in heat now. Go, boy, go!

34 21 The despair in DC is palpable. They are openly hoping for an October Surprise - like catching Bin Laden. It is quite amusing to see anti-military lefties begging for the military to save their asses.

Posted by: Jean at September 17, 2010 11:20 AM (Hx1qz)

Or George Soros.

35 Ace, As I driving downtown to the office this morning, I passed a new billboard, put up overnight, saying "Lisa Murkowskia, U.S. Senate" So, yeah... she's actually gonna do it.

36 WA, OH, AK...sounds like the responses of a previously oblivious lib to the incoming tide...'Wha--?  Oh...ACK!'

Perfect.

37

Alaska voters: We the people...

Lisa M.: Shut up, I'm trying to decide here.

38 He's already lost the governorship twice I thought.  2004 and 2008.

Posted by: toby928 at September 17, 2010 11:29 AM (S5YRY)

He won in 2004.  They just stole it away from him.

39 Sorry, can't wait for an open thread to post this.

6th grade field trip to Boston mosque has boys praying to allah while the girls are told to stand in back.

40 20 Who's the dumber bint:  Murkowski or MegaMac?  Loser has to tongue bathe AllahPuke.

Posted by: Captain Hate at September 17, 2010 11:20 AM

 

I'm sure he tastes bitter, bitter, bitter. 

41 It is sad but true that trivial things like the name of the candidate matter.  Don't know where Rossi stands on the issues but NOBODY wants to vote for the Democrat In Name Only.

42 and try again in 4 years against Mark Begich Sen Murkowski: Personally, I liked the Senate. They gave us money and facilities, we didn't have to produce anything! You've never been out of government! You don't know what it's like out there! I've *worked* in the private sector. They expect *results*.

43 If Rossi loses for the third(?) time, that ought to be it for him, yes?

At what point do we demand Washington conduct clean elections?

Or are we simply conceding that Democrats can rig elections to come out however they wish?

44 You have no idea how inconvenient these "election" thingies are. Hereditary aristocracy was good enough in Europe for centuries, and that's a great place for a vacation. So why can't we do like they did? Imagine... my life could be like a non-stop holiday in Paris. This is a mean country.

45 50 Posted by: IllTemperedCur at September 17, 2010 11:34 AM (9Lm5R)

Who ya gonna call?

46 The irony of her announcing on Constitution Day would just be overwhelming.

47 Or are we simply conceding that Democrats can rig elections to come out however they wish?

Posted by: Rob Crawford at September 17, 2010 11:34 AM (ZJ/un)

Who do they think they are to do whatever they want regardless of the law?  The Congressional Black Caucus?

48 O/T but kind of important, I think.

What "crime" is involved here? What law did this guy break?

I mean, I understand people can be accused of doing dumb things, but if there's actual law punishing someone who commits an act that is only dumb, we are closer than I thought to the totalitarian Islamic country envisioned for us by the Mohammedan Mouthpiece and his regime, and something had better be done damn quick.

http://bit.ly/arRmiZ

49 Posted by: ya2daup at September 17, 2010 11:37 AM (yRrAd) The good news is that someone of Murky's qualifications would have no trouble finding a top-flight job in either the food service or housekeeping industries.

50 Didn't we say yesterday that the Dems have abandoned OH? Ah, to hear the lamentations of their women.

As for WA, I expected the Dem polls to make up ground after Labor Day we starting to see it now. Keep in mind though that even as the polls start swinging I don't think the polls accurately reflect the enthusiasm and turnout.

Maybe even these turning polls will be good for Republicans because it will keep them from getting the big head and complacency.

51 At what point do we demand Washington conduct clean elections?

Or are we simply conceding that Democrats can rig elections to come out however they wish?

Posted by: Rob Crawford at September 17, 2010 11:34 AM (ZJ/un)

We'll see if the Tea Party really puts an end to bidness as usual.

52 I'd bet Parnell has his own plan for 2014...  But don't tell Murky that.  Losing again to a Palin buddy might cause permanent damage.

53 Levi, your calling is to mate with Meggie-Mac. She's in heat now. Go, boy, go!

Posted by: ya2daup at September 17, 2010 11:29 AM (yRrAd)

And you two could get a reality show, Bitches.

54 Hey, buddy... we're exceptional too.

Posted by: the entire county of Los Angeles at September 17, 2010

How could you forget us?

55 #57: All joking aside, can you imagine today's Hollywood making a movie as anti-EPA as Ghostbusters?  Michael Moore would suicide bomb the studio.

56

Holy crap! How arrogant can that Murkowski woman get?! She is basically saying-  because Alaska had a closed primary, and not everybody (read Democrats who like RINOs) got to vote FOR ME (because to know me is to love me) then the "will of the constituency", despite her Primary defeat, is not satisfied. I do not think she would be satisfied even if the Alaska Board of Elections went door-to-door and asked every voter in Alaska personally who they want to run as the Republican candidate for senate.

These "scorched earth" tactics that many former incumbents are using, where they will do anything it takes to try and remain in office up to and including going against the will of the party voters, only send more and more moderates across the line to the Tea Party, as they begin to realize that these clowns are looking for the main chance, and not for the good of the people or party.   

57 Nice to see Lisa M burning all her bridges at once. Won't even be able to get a job as a talking head for the MFM. She probably has a lobbyist job all set up, but at least the public won't have to deal with her. Die RINO die, die MFM die die die. Won't be any pudding left in the stores come November 2. La la la.

58 45

Somehow, I don't think the ACLU will get involved with this one.

Really strange, considering their standard response to a kid praying in school is "OMG, EVIL, KILLITWITHFIRE~!"

59 @62

Your forgetting Park Slope and all of Manhattan.

60 We could lose our phony-baloney jobs.

61 Speaking of Michael Moore Pizza I Said Moore Pizza Damn It!  I see he gave $50,000 to help build the Ground Zero Victory Mosque.  No word on how much he gave to build a monument to the Crusaders in Mecca.

62 Keep in mind though that even as the polls start swinging I don't think the polls accurately reflect the enthusiasm and turnout.

Posted by: Vic at September 17, 2010 11:39 AM (/jbAw)

Ditto.

63 63 #57: All joking aside, can you imagine today's Hollywood making a movie as anti-EPA as Ghostbusters?  Michael Moore would suicide bomb the studio.

Posted by: Ian S. at September 17, 2010 11:42 AM (p05LM)

Heh, I'll go you one better: can you imagine today's Hollywood making a movie as anti-racist, and non-PC, as  Blazing Saddles?

64

Sorry, can't wait for an open thread to post this.

I weep for my country.  I can't even express my feelings right now.  Outrage doesn't even come close.  Now you know why I despise liberals.

65 Fearless prediction...she's not going to do it. She'll make some sweet, sweet lobbying money in DC, hang out in Alaska on vacations and try again in 4 years against Mark Begich. No one who wants to make a splash, and even a sitting Senator reduced to this needs a splash for a write-in campaign, makes an announcement at 5pm on a Friday.

--I hope.  As unsavory as Murky is, she still opposed Øbamacare and Begich supported it.  Nevertheless, I hope in 4 years there will be a more solid alternative.  Hell, Sarah for Senate apppeals to me a lot more than Sarah for President.

66 The best comparison of the new dem logo,  via Gateway

67 Clint Didier's "concession speech" was one of the biggest train wrecks I have ever heard.  He basically said, yeah, I lost but I can't support Dino Rossi unless he accepts three demands that I have for him.  (This from a guy who got crushed in the primary.)  Oh, and he decorated this speech with about 10,000 football analogies because that's about the only thing he knows.

I agree with all the basic Tea Party values, but we need to make sure the TP candidates have some intelligence and competence as well.  Didier was selfish and brainless in defeat and he's hurting Rossi's chances now.

68 67 @62 You're forgetting Park Slope and all of Manhattan. We're thinking of demanding our own Senators. We are, after all, the Fourth Estate.

69

What has been interesting about this year is that we've been going along, minding our own business, when all of a sudden the GOP wave hits.  Like in WI.  Maybe it's one particular ad, maybe it's a story in the news that triggers it, but it seems to happen all at once.  Maybe it will happen in WA.

As far as Murky, she's totally delusional.  She was appointed by her father, which pissed Alaska off.  She was re-elected because they didn't want to elect a Democrat.

She proceeded to rack up a moderate voting record (her real sin) and now she's gone.

She's starting to realize that she has no constituency.  No moderate Republican does.  They are compromise candidates.  Republicans put them up so as not to lose the seat.  Well, Alaska doesn't need one.

As far as Begich, she'd be better than him, but she won't win the primary.  She's made too many enemies among Alaska Republican voters.

70

Rossi is a conservative for sure but his campaigning style is so wimpy. He doesn't confront Murray hard enough on her specific record. I find it infuriating. People think he's a RINO simply because of his lack of being able to hit hard. I am not talking about dirty politics but Murray has so much low hanging fruit and all Dino does is talk in generalities. So disappointing. Supposedly, he has a Rand Paul campaign manager helping him. Really?

71 Heh, I'll go you one better: can you imagine today's Hollywood making a movie as anti-racist, and non-PC, as Blazing Saddles? It's twue, you people are gifted.

72 @46 - So it is, thanks for the head up. Apologies to DrewM. I had thought the announcement was going to be this morning and I assume that there are more posters and such put up elsewhere in ther city or around the state as the two I saw this AM weren't there last evening. Guess we'll find out tonight.

73 #71  Heh, I'll go you one better: can you imagine today's Hollywood making a movie as anti-racist, and non-PC, as  Blazing Saddles?

David Zucker tried with An American Carol and while it was a decent attempt, but it wasn't nearly as good as Blazing Saddles (at least the fragments of Blazing Saddles that I saw).

74 I agree with all the basic Tea Party values, but we need to make sure the TP candidates have some intelligence and competence as well.  Didier was selfish and brainless in defeat and he's hurting Rossi's chances now.

Posted by: rob at September 17, 2010 11:46 AM (h6sl7)

One thing to keep in mind about the Tea Party organizationS (pl). They are far from monolithic. There are some good ones and there are some that are so bad they are actually fighting the Tea Party stated values.

75 As of now if Murkoski wants to get back to the Senate, her best chance is to challenge Begich in 2014 with a President Palin endorsement!

76 Murky reminds me of the Duke brothers at the end of Trading Places.

A Murkowski has had this seat since the state was founded! We founded this state! ... turn those voting machines back onnnnn ...

77 Whatever happened to us?

78

I don't think the polls accurately reflect the enthusiasm and turnout.

Don't underestimate Ras.

79 -- 3: Hmm.  Problem here is it fits the profile.  It's extremely worrying, though also about what I expected at this point.

One big, urgent crisis outside his rhetorical wheelbox and he's toast.

80 brace yourselves for a bullshit CA poll from PPP..Jensen already giddily twittering "crunching the numbers and the Democrats look better here than conventional wisdom says"- my guess a likely voter poll showing Boxer up 6 or more and Brown up 3 or more, totally contradicting every other poll coming out of the state but just high enough to further skew the average.

81 85 Whatever happened to us? Okay, that made me laugh. My sweet jelly roll Jeebus, leftards are clueless. Here in the heart of deepest blue southern Clownifornia, I haven't heard one single person mention the "coffee partiers." Man, that copycat idea deserved a drool cup from day one.

82 So if Murky is The Keymaster, who's The Gatekeeper?

83 Have Palin or DeMint endorsed Rossi yet?  If there's any Didier effect, that should mitigate it.

84 PPP polls are accurate like 30% of the time, and it really is not hard to figure out which ones are crap. Just use a little common sense.

85
She won't win a write-in campaign.  She might make is so that the Republican won't win.  Is her ego that big?

Scorched earth. 

86

"crunching the numbers and the Democrats look better here than conventional wisdom says"- my guess a likely voter poll showing Boxer up 6 or more and Brown up 3 or more, totally contradicting every other poll coming out of the state but just high enough to further skew the average.

Yes, I do think PPP and Newsweek exist only to push the PPP average.

"Crunching the numbers" doesn't suggest a LV poll with straightforward numbers showing a lead.  But it might suggest that they are using a 2008 turnout model.

87 ...but it wasn't nearly as good as Blazing Saddles (at least the fragments of Blazing Saddles that I saw).

Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at September 17, 2010 11:49 AM (9hSKh)

You've never seen Blazing Saddles?  Do yourself a favor and find a copy of the UNCUT DVD and watch it end-to-end.

You will be amazed at how far BACKWARDS race relations have come in America since the 1970's thanks to race-baiting con artists like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.

88 Oh, and its not an Ace written post. It is from Russ from Winterset.
Posted by: Mallamutt at September 17, 2010 11:32 AM (OWjjx)

Dude?

89 Have Palin or DeMint endorsed Rossi yet?  If there's any Didier effect, that should mitigate it.

Posted by: AmishDude at September 17, 2010 11:55 AM (3wPsb)

Rossi is having Scott Brown come to Washington, so don't be surprised if the Rossi Campaign has specifically asked those 2 NOT to publicly endorse him.  That's how the WSRP rolls here.  They suck.

90 You will be amazed at how far BACKWARDS race relations have come in America since the 1970's thanks to race-baiting con artists like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.

Yup. Draping everything in the uber-serious veil of political correctness and the "right to not be offended" are exactly the opposite of what we should have done, which was to lampoon racism. This was Mel Brooks whole point (same with The Producers).

91 86 Don't underestimate Ras.

Posted by: AmishDude at September 17, 2010 11:52 AM (3wPsb)

I dunno. I'm with Vic and Editor on this. Honest, accurate polling relies on historical data and I don't think any of the pollsters have seen anything like what's happening this midterm election. Even Ras, whom most consider to fall in the honest, accurate category, can't do anything but go with the best data available, which is probably '94 for the Rs.

92 Sarah needs to get grizzly on Didier. 'I endorsed you punk, but you lost, so get on the team now or meet the boomstick.' Rossi needs to attack that Osama loving twat. If we don't win the Senate, it will be because of this race, not so much DE.

93 Say, for the sake of argument, that Murky runs a write in. What are the odds she will cause Miller to lose? Is she that beloved? What's the skinny?

94 Say, for the sake of argument, that Murky runs a write in. What are the odds she will cause Miller to lose? Is she that beloved? What's the skinny?

Posted by: Donna at September 17, 2010 12:19 PM (yZg/M)

I think pretty low, at this point. 

95 On the Ras polls, I am not saying that Ras is inaccurate. He is probably the best there is.

What I am saying is that it is very difficult to measure the enthusiasm factor in a poll. However, if you look at what has been happening in the primaries we are seeing unprecedented numbers of Republican voting and in most cases, voting to out RINOs if they were up for election.

Did the Republican base all of a sudden jump in numbers? I don't think so. What we are seeing has not happened in this country for hundreds of years. The "conservative" wing of the country is fed up and determined to do something about it.

That is why I keep saying to throw "conventional wisdom" out the window. This is all NEW.

96 Whoa ... Christine O'Donnell has raised $1.52 Million in 3 days.

97

 I agree with all the basic Tea Party values, but we need to make sure the TP candidates have some intelligence and competence as well.  Didier was selfish and brainless in defeat and he's hurting Rossi's chances now.

 Ain't gonna happen.

It's a characteristic of decentralized spontaneous order. It has numerous plusses, but it is chaotic, there is no control, and failure is a vital and neccessary mechanism.

An organization without failure is like a body without pain - it may sound like a sweet gig but it's got issues.

98
White House insider on Obama:  The President is losing it

I have to wonder: did he ever have it?

99 I think she will do it. No one holds a press conference to announce they aren't going to do something, at least not that often. If she had decided not to run a write in campaign she would just say so and be done with it. No, the big announcement means she's doin' it.

100 No, the big announcement means she's doin' it.

Posted by: Paul at September 17, 2010 01:08 PM (DsHk0)

She may have some other behind the seems scheme she is trying to pull with the Republican Party and this is a way to threaten them.

One never knows about these things. However, in any case she is rapidly burning her bridges. And like all traitors even the side that you "traitor for" will not trust you afterward.

101 When you think about the outcome of that, in a closed Republican primary, how many Alaskans were actually able to weigh in? So what is the will of the constituency?

This pisses me off. You will smooch up to a party in order to use their name recognition and voter base to launch your Senate career when, if you hadn't, you would be a nothing name from nowhere, with no real life experience, and no skills, and certainly no political career; but when that voter base and party asks for its due in supporting the party platform and ideology, you routinely stiff them; and then after your career and name recognition is built by that party, and they reject you for your transgression, suddenly, the party is the evil and you should be allowed to face the whole of the constituency without the blessing of the base duly registered into the party, when if you had done that in the beginning you would have nothing, and been nothing.

So the end takeaway is, that parties are good so long as they serve your personal political career interests, and they are evil the instant they do not. You match the very definition of a RINO. Being part of the party is merely opportunistic, voting with the party if it occurs is merely coincidental to your own selfish acquisition of political capital; And turning on the party a foregone conclusion if it ever stands in the way of you gaining or maintaining power.

Arlen Specter is the modern political Benedict Arnold of the new struggle for freedom.

And yes, you ma'am are an Arlen Specter.

And I don't like to think of it as a purge so much as a flush.

102

Tea party and Palin backed GOP primary candidate Clint Diedier still hasn't endorsed Rossi. In a 5 point race, a little unity could go a long way.

Palin needs to put on some pressure.  That's leadership.

103 Rossi is the penultimate GOP establishment candidate.  He spurned the Tea Party people with his foot during the primary..  He's responsible for his candidacy, not Didier. Clint lost weeks ago, and if Rossi isn't  capable of reaching out to conservatives that voted someone else, then Dino won't win.  That's politics.

Blaming Didier for Dino's stupidity isn't a winning argument.

104

As a Floridian, I hereby grant Miller the right to use a Rubio opening line about "This is a very important election.  It's not just a choice between a Democrat, a Republican and an Opportunist".

 

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