Saturday, November 29, 2014

The duplicity of Lisa Murkowski, and why moderates should wash their hands of her.

This editorial was written by Fairbanks resident and political activist Sean McGuire. And it comes to us courtesy of the Fairbanks Newsminer:  

Let’s go back four years to August 2010. In what many view as the biggest upset in Alaska political history, Sen. Murkowski was defeated in the primary by the far-right candidate, Joe Miller. She was beaten fair and square. 

What did she do? She spent the next two-plus months running around Alaska pleading with Native Alaskans and moderate Democrats to save her political life with a write-in campaign. She promised she would represent those moderate voters’ interests. Sen. Mark Begich didn’t attempt to interfere; he let Alaskans decide who they wanted. In the end, Natives and Democrats did indeed save her. 

During the next six years, Alaska’s two senators apparently worked well together, collaborating on many issues and voting the same way more than any other split-party senators in the nation. 

Fast forward four years to this election. Sen. Begich, the champion of the Natives — overwhelmingly endorsed by AFN, and a true moderate — was fighting for his political life. 

What did Sen. Murkowski do? When Begich was most vulnerable, she stuck a knife in his back, going on TV and saying she didn’t have a good partner in the Senate. And just as dishonorably, she betrayed all those moderate Democrats who had come to her rescue when her political life was hanging by a thread. 

Politics is a nasty business. But in my opinion, the dishonor Sen. Murkowski displayed is several levels deep. It’s not only that she betrayed those who saved her. There’s a longstanding tradition in the U.S. Senate: you don’t turn on your colleague in an election.

There's more but I think that this really captures the meat of Mr. McGuire's point.

And it is quite a valid point.

Murkowski has demonstrated herself to be a cagey political operative, who quickly calculates where she needs to position herself in order to retain her Senate seat and garner support for the future.

When she needed moderates, she was moderate. And when she believes she needs conservatives, well...she IS still daddy's little girl.

Clearly she recognized that the Republicans would most likely capture the Senate in this elections cycle, and positioned herself accordingly. I am sure in her mind Begich's lost Senate seat is simply an acceptable casualty in her strategy to gain more power.

And she has indeed gained that power.

She will now be given the chairmanship of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which will allow her to once again campaign for the opening of ANWR, even as we are faced with information about climate change which should dissuade any reasonable person from even entertaining such an idea. (To be fair Mark Begich also promoted the opening of ANWR. You really cannot get elected up here if you are against it.)

The President will of course veto the proposal and it will never happen, but it is once again a move that puts her in alignment with the Republican platform.

And there she will remain right up until it works against her in retaining her seat, and then my friends we will see the Murkowski's political chameleon act once again.

We deserve better that is for sure, however I reiterate once again that Murkowski will undoubtedly hold onto her seat right up until she no longer wants it, or until some unforeseen scandal knocks her out of the running. 

Because that's just the way things work in Alaska.

13 comments:

  1. Chenagrrl12:27 PM

    When you see pictures of missMcConnell, just notice who is clip-clopping six paces behind. Why its Lisa "Clip-Clop" Murkowski. Now we have two senators with very little ground time in the 49th.

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    1. Anonymous1:45 PM

      I've noticed her in the McConnell media moments to - what a gruesome twosome!

      Delete
  2. Anonymous12:42 PM

    I've never voted for the woman and never will. Personally think she'll be in for a rough road when up for reelection.

    Yea, she's involved with important committees, but so was Senator Begich! The majority in Alaska proved they could have cared less in the last election cycle! So, why should they when it comes to Murkowski when she talks out of both sides of her mouth?

    Don't forget too, that she is part of the Republican party that is very much hated in the current U.S. Congress! She's also a party to, & of, the 'do nothing' Congress, which I'd not be at all proud of were I her!

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  3. Anonymous1:21 PM

    She's the worst and I can't believe that so many voted for her in the write in campaign. I personally can be proud that I didn't. She and Joe Miller were equally abhorrent. I kind of hope that Mark runs against her in 2016. It would be the icing on the cake to have him kick her ass.

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  4. Anonymous1:24 PM

    I am so disgusted with Democrats who vote for Republicans. I would never vote for a Republican. Just the very fact that he/she is a Republican lets me know we have a totally different opinion on how the country should be run. This is one of the main reasons we Democrats cannot stay in power. Another reason is Democrats have a tendency to sit out elections.

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  5. OT & sorry if it's been posted in another comment, but I just read it and I'm totally outraged!

    Elizabeth Lauten, the communications director for Rep. Stephen Fincher (R-Tenn.) posted the following on Facebook after watching the annual White House Turkey Pardon:

    Dear Sasha and Malia, I get you’re both in those awful teen years, but you’re a part of the First Family, try showing a little class. At least respect the part you play. Then again your mother and father don’t respect their positions very much, or the nation for that matter, so I’m guessing you’re coming up a little short in the ‘good role model’ department. Nevertheless, stretch yourself. Rise to the occasion. Act like being in the White House matters to you. Dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar. And certainly don’t make faces during televised public events.

    Of course, now "after much prayer" Ms. Lauten has apologized for her "judgmental feelings".

    Funny, I sincerely doubt that neither Sasha nor Malia even own a thong dress.


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    1. Anonymous2:20 PM

      And I bet they take care of their sunglasses too.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous2:23 PM

      Ms. Lauten is a "born again christian" no more need be said to explain her outrage and misguided world view.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous8:10 PM

      It took her hours of prayer to realize she's an asshole?

      Delete
  6. Anonymous3:59 PM

    The Koch bros have no doubt promised Lisa the nomination in 2016 (because the Kochs own ALL of the Right-wing players now). Lying about Mark Begich is easy compared to giving blow jobs to two elderly men.

    Democrats should already be making plans to bring her down the same way they raised her up after the Republicans turned their backs on her. Her focus for the next two years will be squarely on the Kochs and what they want- and we already know how they feel about Alaska.

    You need to keep a close eye on everything she and Ohio Dan get up to, Gryphen. Don't give them a moment of privacy, make the internet their worst enemy. I'd like to hear regularly from Mark Begich, too, regardless of who runs against Lisa. You can be Mark will have his eye on the ball in the Senate and will have useful insight.

    This is war.

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  7. Anonymous7:59 PM

    Hey Alaska "Democrats", You voted for her instead of Scott McAdams. SUCK it!

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  8. Anonymous8:20 AM

    I voted for Scott McAdams. I have never and will never vote for Murky's daughter.

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  9. Anonymous12:39 PM

    I believe Lisa is doing a great job. I voted for Mark but believe he lost for 2 reasons . Obama is not popular and the voters wanted to show they are sick of the crap going on in DC. And his staffers were the WORST. Unprofessional, rude, sloppy never could get an answer about anything from them which reflects on him (I called numerous times) .

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