Monday, June 09, 2014

More outside money being spent in Alaska than anyplace else. They are trying to buy OUR election.

Senator Mark Begich, in the GOP cross hairs.
Courtesy of The New York Times: 

A big part of being an Alaskan is harboring a suspicion of all things Lower 48. It’s an inclination that runs so deep that locals have a proper noun to describe everywhere else — Outside. 

So, naturally, there is quite a bit of alarm here over the state’s newest political distinction. Alaska has unwillingly become a giant receptacle for money from “super PACs” and other out-of-state groups fighting over control of the United States Senate. 

In no other state have so many ads about a Senate race run so far; in no place else has more money been spent to book commercial time through Election Day. More than $20 million worth of ads have been reserved so far — the bulk of the money coming from Washington-based outfits like Karl Rove’s American Crossroads, which wants to elect a Republican, and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which is defending Senator Mark Begich, one of the most targeted first-term Democrats. 

Five months before the November election, that sum would be extraordinary in any state. It is all the more staggering considering it will be spent to reach only about 490,000 registered voters.

Personally I would not categorize the spending by  Democratic Senatorial Campaign in the same way I would the Crossroads and Koc brother money.

After all the Democrats are spending in response to the PAC money flooding out airwaves and to protect one of their own.

I this this reporter, Jeremy Peters, has really hit it on the head when he describes the suspicion with which Alaskans view outside money and influence.

Simply put, we don;t like that shit!

We may be quirky and a little crazy, but we are far more likely to trust a whack-a-doodle from Seward than some uptight suit from the lower 48.

I think that all Begich has to do is continue reminding people Dan Sullivan's ties to outside influences, and remind Alaskans of his similarities to our most famous carpetbagger John Lindauer and he should have little trouble hanging onto his seat.

26 comments:

  1. "We may be quirky and a little crazy, but we are far more likely to trust a whack-a-doodle from Seward than some uptight suit from the lower 48."
    -----------------------------------
    Yes, well, trusting your little whack-a-doodle for governor as so many Alaskans did has caused a lot of damage to this country. How about voting for the best person for the job? (For the record, I believe Begich is the best one for the job and I hope Alaskans keep him in the Senate.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous8:54 AM

      Guarantee EVERYTHING that's happened in the last 6 years would have happened without Sarah Palin.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous5:00 AM

    Is it too late for Sarah Palin to throw her wig into the race? Sarah ain't scared of nobody. Alaska loves Sarah.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous8:33 AM

      Last Friday was the deadline for her to announce a Senate run; once again, she proves she's all hot air and no action. Not that anyone would vote for her. It's rather ironic that her negative polling numbers here in Alaska are neck-in-neck with what Frank Murkowski's were when Mrs. Palin decided to run against him in the 2006 gubernatorial primary. She's become the very person that she used to revile.

      Some Alaskans bought into her nonsense back then. Today? Not so much. Plus there's that pesky little residency requirement, not sure she would hold up under scrutiny.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous5:11 AM

    I find it strange that Sarah hasn't endorsed or gave money to any politicians from Alaska. Come to think about it, how come Sarah doesn't want to give any junior high, high school or college commencement speeches in Alaska? I think Sarah has become an outsider.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:04 AM

      Why are you surprised? Sarah doesn't even wear her Alaskan flag pin anymore.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous6:11 AM

      Where was Sarah during the Freedom Festival in Wasilla? Anybody see her in Alaska?

      Delete
  4. Attn: Gryphen
    (Off Topic): Bundy Ranch Connection to Las Vegas Murders

    http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/43472_Right_Wing_Terrorism_in_Las_Vegas-_Killers_Covered_Bodies_With_Gadsden_Flags

    ReplyDelete
  5. Re: Las Vegas Shootings

    (Source: Southern Poverty Law Center, August, 2013)

    Nevada Authorities: Possibly More Involved in ‘Sovereign Citizen’ Plot to Kidnap, Execute Police Officers

    http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2013/08/23/nevada-authorities-possibly-more-involved-in-sovereign-citizen-plot-to-kidnap-execute-police-officers/

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous5:44 AM

    Dan Sullivan is nothing more than a carpetbagger! He owns a million dollar home in Washington D.C. He is running ads in Alaska and he comes across as very wimpy and non impressive - wearing Alaska clothing etc. What total bullshit!
    Plus, he/they are running ads against Mark Begich!

    I support our Alaskan grown, former Mayor of Anchorage. He has done a good job in the U.S. Congress. And, he is a good man and has my vote as he all the other times!!!


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous5:58 AM

      What about Sarah Palin? Is she a carpetbagger too? She owns a home in Arizona. Sarah doesn't wear camouflage in the lower 48 but when she visits Alaska she wears camouflage and tells the lower 48 that everyone up hear wears them. Sarah is wimpy and non impressive up here. Walks like a duck, quack like a duck, must be a duck.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous6:18 AM

      Big difference 5:58! Sarah Palin lived in Alaska for years before winning office in Wasilla (Mayor) and then becoming the quitter governor of the state! She purchased her home in AZ AFTER she quit as governor in Alaska!

      Sullivan IS a carpetbagger! He is not from Alaska and has maintained his residency in D.C. Plus, he served under the Bush Administration! Sullivan does not own a residence in Alaska!

      Another thing, Sarah Palin isn't running for any office in the State of Alaska. Sullivan is! He doesn't warrant being elected in our State because he is nothing more than a carpetbagger! His political ads are a riot as I said before - he is wearing Alaskan clothing in them and physically appears to be wimpy!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous7:32 AM

      Anon6:18, Did Sarah buy her house in Arizona after she quit her governor's job in Alaska and after she made money from the Alaska Film Tax Credit Funds? So "Sarah Palin's Alaska" money she got from Alaska's funds was spent in Arizona for Sarah's house.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous8:17 AM

      7:32 She bought the house in AZ after she quit as governor.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous5:49 AM

    Stop asking if Sarah Palin is going to run for a political office in Alaska. Sarah hasn't been for Alaska since McCain tapped her. Remember what Sarah said during the 2008 elections? Sarah wanted to win so badly because she didn't want to go back to Alaska. Well McCain lost, Sarah came back to Alaska, quit her job as governor, bought a house in Arizona and now we rarely see or hear from her in Alaska.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous8:16 AM

      Plus, Sarah Palin is well aware of the fact that the majority don't favor her in Alaska. Why the hell would anyone vote for her in Alaska when she quit midterm when governor?

      She's never win in Alaska even if she did try and run and she knows it!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous9:18 AM

      8:16am
      +1001

      Delete
  8. Anonymous5:54 AM

    same shit is going on in Colorado with the wingnuts trying to buy Mark Udall's seat...creeps know we have a huge faction of gun totin', secession minded wack-a-doodles here who bellyache constantly & unfortunately vote.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous6:28 AM

    The Koch Brothers and their front groups like Americans for Prosperity are working hard to buy elections all over the country. They've funded several vicious ad attacks on the Democratic Senate candidate here in Michigan, Gary Peters, that have been nothing but lies and misinformation. They are determined to own the US Senate as they own the US House. We, the people, must not let this happen. Contribute to your candidates and VOTE in primaries and in the general November election. As a country, we cannot afford to have the Koch Brothers pulling all of the strings. They are a dangerous pair. I wish the US media would unmask them once and for all.
    Beaglemom

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous6:56 AM

    Bristol doesn't have a voice in Alaska either. If she said anything in her blog about Alaskan politics, we would tell the bitch to shut up. Bristol needs to spend her time "co-parenting" Tripp with Levi instead of acting like an immature junior high school brat.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous7:25 AM

    SarahPac money is money spent outside. Sarah send some our way.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous8:36 AM

      I don't think any of the candidates in Alaska want her SarahPAC funds or her endorsement, even Joe Miller, and that's sayin' something.

      Delete
  12. Here's the link to support our guy.
    https://secure.actblue.com/directory?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=Mark+Begich&button=

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous3:19 PM

    Buying votes and elections:

    Rep. Vance McAllister (R-La.) was franker than most lawmakers, when he admitted last week he expected to receive a campaign contribution after he voted against a bill.

    The congressman, perhaps best-known for getting caught on tape kissing a staffer and returning to Congress despite vigorous calls for his resignation from Louisiana GOP leaders, said he was relaying the advice allegedly given to him by a colleague in the House as a cautionary tale of how "money controls Washington," according to The Ouachita Citizen.

    In comments made to a meeting of the Northeast Chapter of Louisiana CPAs last Thursday, McAllister said he “played dumb” with the colleague, who told him to vote “no” on legislation related to the Bureau of Land Management because he would receive a bigger kickback from a special interest group that way.

    “I played dumb and asked him, ‘How would you vote?’ ” McAllister said. “He told me, ‘Vote no, and you will get a $1,200 check from the Heritage Foundation. If you vote yes, you will get a $1,000 check from some environmental impact group.’ ”

    “‘Are you serious?’ ” McAllister said he asked the colleague, “and he told me, ‘Yeah, wait and see.’ ”

    He wouldn’t offer the lawmaker’s name because he “did not want to put their business out on the street.”

    http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/house-races/208624-mcallister-says-he-expected-contribution-for-vote#.U5XfXqYyUA4.twitter#ixzz34ApdesxW

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous3:24 PM

    Since Alaska's population is so low, I would expect that stat.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anita Winecooler5:18 PM

    After awhile, the one's with the most ads don't get the intended effect, it becomes like white noise or muzak on an elevator. If they stretch the truth too much, then they lose any chance whatsoever.

    ReplyDelete

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