America moves forward into history, but leaves Alaska behind stumbling in the darkness. (Well not all of us.)

(Click the title to see the reactions of Obama supporters in Anchorage.)

So Barack Obama won this historic election with 349 electoral points to John McCain's 173. A mandate if ever there was one.

But not from Alaska. In Alaska Obama was only able to get 36% of the vote.

And as for our local elections, while the whole country is turning a beautiful shade of blue, we remain an angry shade of purple.

The battle between our convicted Senator Ted Stevens and challenger Mark Begich is extremely close, but as of yet, undecided. (As of this posting Stevens is ahead.)

But even more upsetting to me personally is that soon to be indicted Don Young still holds a healthy lead over his challenger Ethan Berkowitz. This is one contest that I believed was a no brainer.

I understand the affection that many Alaskans feel for Uncle Ted Stevens, but Rep. Don Young is an ass**le and EVERYBODY knows it. Don Young does not work well in a bi-partisan environment. He is a bully and is very used to muscling through deals, or making back room bargains to get money for Alaska and for his pockets. This will not sit well with the new Democratic Congr3ess.

In this new Congress Don Young is going to be completely ineffective. But for some reason my fellow Alaskans were unable to understand that reality. And how much longer does Don Young really have before there is a knock at his door with HIS indictment? Not very damn long, that is for sure!

I guess this bothers me the most because we have just suffered two straight months of having our state made into a national joke through the bizarre behaviors of our current Governor as she tried to become the first Vice President of trailer trash.

I had hoped that Alaska would vindicate itself last night. In many ways we came very close, much closer then in years past, but not close enough. We can do better than this.

I have no idea what the next few days and weeks hold for my state. I hope that we will see Ted Stevens defeated and Don Young sitting in a courtroom finally facing the music that he has played off key for so many years.

But I am still filled with confidence and hope for my nation as a whole, and last night I stood shoulder to shoulder with the very people who are going to be working together to make Alaska's future a bright promise for tomorrow. Yes we can.