Now I would like to point out that I had been hearing this rumor for several months, and had ALWAYS dismissed it. That is until West Anchorage Representative Lindsey Holmes suddenly, and without warning, jumped ship.
So that got me thinking that since it seemed that the GOP had Alaska by the short hairs perhaps those rumors about Mark were not so far fetched after all. So I figured it was at the very least something we should be thinking about, and if we saw signs that that was indeed about to happen we could respond accordingly.
Then yesterday I received this in my comments section:
I can assure you Senator Begich is staying a pro- business, pro-development Alaska Democrat. - Susanne Fleek-Green, State Director for Senator Begich
And there you have it.
I have met Susanne and she seems like a very honest individual, so if she says that Begich is sticking with the blue team I take her at her word.
Which is really great news for Alaskans, because right now I am beginning to feel like the last survivor from the recently scuttled good ship "Democrat" bobbing in a sea of Teabagger sharks.
And I don't Goddamn like it!
"Senator Begich is staying a pro- business, pro-development Alaska Democrat."
ReplyDeleteIn other words, Begich is a Blue Dog Dem. He doensn't have to switch parties, he's already voting with the Republicans over 75% of the time.
If McAdams or some other REAL Democrat runs against Mark, I will be voting for him. I've supported Mark Begich since before he was the Mayor of Anchorage but I've since been very disappointed in how he has run his Congressional seat. I KNOW that Alaskan "democrats" have to be in bed with industry and business in this state to survive, but gosh it still leaves a very bad taste in my mouth.
From project Vote Smart: "Mark Begich repeatedly refused to provide any responses to citizens on the issues through the 2008 Political Courage Test when asked to do so by national leaders of the political parties, prominent members of the media, Project Vote Smart President Richard Kimball, and Project Vote Smart staff."
DeleteHere's his voting record: http://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/79426/mark-begich
Very happy to have this verified, IM. I've known Mark Begich a long, long time and have always voted for him. He's getting better and better at his job all the time!
ReplyDelete‘The only thing that can stop a bad guy with a gun…….’
ReplyDeletehttp://theobamadiary.com/2013/01/15/the-only-thing-that-can-stop-a-bad-guy-with-a-gun/
I've known Mark Begich a long, long time …
ReplyDeleteIf we knew a little bit about you, based on a consistently used pseudonym (it's not hard to do!) if not your real name, this recommendation could actually mean something.
What a weird comment, Ted Powell. Do I have to identify myself because I'm pro Begich? I live in Anchorage - actually met him prior to his being Mayor of Anchorage. What is your point in requiring my identification? I would suggest that more 'anonymous' people post on this blog than those identified. I'll tease you - my first name is Millie - I'm a straight woman and I'm 70!
DeleteDo I have to identify myself because I'm pro Begich?
DeleteNo. Please re-read my comment.
What is your point in requiring my identification?
I wasn't, and would not even if I had the power to do so. Please re-read my comment.
I take it that you are asserting authorship of the comment at 12:29 PM that I quoted from. Beyond that, and the content of the comment I am responding to now, I know absolutely nothing about you. With knowledge that scanty, on what basis should I evaluate your stated opinion of Senator Begich? The only person with whom the writer(s) of those comments has any reputation is Gryphen, who—should he choose to do so—can match them up with earlier comments.
I would suggest that more 'anonymous' people post on this blog than those identified.
There are certainly more anonymous comments here than identified ones, but for all I—or you—know, there could be just two anonymous people, you and one very busy other person. Unlikely, of course; I doubt Gryphen would put up with it.
Getting back to my original point, if an anonymous commenter writes a recommendation about somebody, and writes enough more in the same comment to let the reader form an opinion of the commenter's good judgement, then that recommendation, I venture to suggest, will carry more weight. We get people commenting here with positive opinions about various people, about how we would think more highly of those people if only we knew them better. What differentiated your comment from those? Answer: you were expressing approval of someone I approve of. But that's not logical.
I was critiquing your logic, not your judgement. An unsupported recommendation from a completely anonymous—hence reputationless—source does not have much of a claim for acceptance. In your followup comment, of course, you note that you live in Anchorage and have met the person in question; you have provided factual (albeit uncheckable) information in support of your opinion.
Using a consistent pseudonym admittedly has security implications, but it does let one have a backstory.
FWIW, my father can be found in the 1891 British census.
I think this current wave of state legislators running as Democrats and then switching just after the election is a kind of "candidate fraud." I suspect that in some districts that the Republicans don't think they can win, they plant a candidate who takes in money from Democrats, convinces voters that he/she is a sincere Democrat, gets elected and then jumps ship. I think it is shameful behavior and has absolutely nothing to do with philosophical disagreements. If a candidate thinks he/she does not agree with the party he/she is affiliated with, then he/she should change parties before running for office. Not after winning. I think it's a "dirty trick" scam worthy of Tricky Dick or Karl Rove.
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
A Whitehouse Petition worth signing:
ReplyDeleteTaxpayers Want Birthers to Pay the Costs of Defending Against Their Lawsuits
We, the taxpayers, respectfully petition for an Executive Order or directive to the Attorney General to seek to recover taxpayer funds expended in defending frivolous Birther lawsuits by requesting sanctions, costs, and attorneys’ fees in each and every pending or future case.”
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/mandate-ag-seek-sanctions-costs-and-attorneys-fees-recover-taxpayer-funds-used-defend-birther/qB6gkrBv
http://www.politicususa.com/petition-force-birthers-pay-costs-frivolous-lawsuits.html
Gryphen, re: the lone Democrat in a sea of teabaggers, I can relate. I live in a VERY red part of California (south Orange County) home of the John Birch Society and a mecca for idiot teabaggers. I was recently redistricted into (shudder) Darrell Issa's district. In my work I'm bombarded with anti-Obama e-mail and surrounded by Republicans. It can be daunting at times, so I pretty much keep my mouth shut and don't respond at all. If I could afford it I'd move to San Francisco.
ReplyDeleteI know how you feel Gryph. I am a died in the wool Texas Democrat, an endangered species. And now I live in Arizona.....
ReplyDeleteGryphen - you are so so mistaken!
ReplyDeleteTo call oneself a 'democrat' does NOT a Democrat make!
A effin' blue dog - you might as well be a Republican!
Blue Dogs enable the Democrats to move to the RIGHT. They detest Progressives, they detest Liberals.
Their function is to move the democratic party to the right - and they've been very successful at it.
If someone cannot make up their minds to be either a Democrat or Republican - well, you can bet on them being right wing and NOT a Progressive.
I don't know what you're so happy about.
Hang in there! The GOP has become so fractured, I think we'll be seeing MORE people changing affiliations. Jan Brewer (yes, THAT one) actually had good things to say about the aca
ReplyDeletehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/14/arizona-medicaid-expansion_n_2474726.html?utm_hp_ref=arizona-politics
O.T. Anonymous smacks down Westboro, AGAIN! The vile critters were going to protest Aaron Swartz's funeral.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/15/westboro-baptist-church-aaron-swartz-anonymous_n_2479019.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular