Random Observations From The Desert...
Never underestimate the will of the people...
Back in 2000, Missourians voted in Mel Carnahan as their senator, beating former Governor John Ashcroft.
Only one problem.... Mel had died in an aircraft crash several weeks earlier.
That probably sounds like one of the weirdest election outcomes possible, but the same happened three times previously in the House...
This week, we had a close second.
Alaskans appear to have relected Senator Ted Stevens, a true legend after 40 years of service. The irony is that it was ten days after having been convicted on seven counts of corruption...
Senate majority leader Harry Reid and Sen. John McCain have both called for Stevens to resign, and Reid has said that he won't be allowed to return. Stevens claims he's entitled to serve as long as his conviction is on appeal.
So why didn't he step down before the election?
Seems pretty simple to me...
In Delaware, Biden will be replaced with a political appointee by the Governor of Delaware, and a special election will be held. In 2010. Likewise in Illinois, although their Governor has not committed to when the special election will take place.
Alaska law is a little more unique, thanks to Palin's predecessor. Murkowski was elected Governor, leaving his Senate seat vacant. He named his daughter to serve out his unfinished term... While she was subsequently elected to the position, the nepotism was enough to call for a constitutional change which prohibits the Governor from naming a replacement, and instead requires that a special election take place within 90 days.
There's no doubt that Sarah Palin is popular in Alaska, and she's going to be an up and coming star in the Republican party if they decide to return to their conservative roots.
I give it a 95% chance that she runs for Stevens' seat, assuming of course that he is re-elected. The race is within 3000 votes, and 1% point. We should know in about a week or so.
Sen. Palin will certainly be an interesting twist on this election, and the thought of having both Palin and McCain in the minority would be sweet justice.
Only one problem.... Mel had died in an aircraft crash several weeks earlier.
That probably sounds like one of the weirdest election outcomes possible, but the same happened three times previously in the House...
This week, we had a close second.
Alaskans appear to have relected Senator Ted Stevens, a true legend after 40 years of service. The irony is that it was ten days after having been convicted on seven counts of corruption...
Senate majority leader Harry Reid and Sen. John McCain have both called for Stevens to resign, and Reid has said that he won't be allowed to return. Stevens claims he's entitled to serve as long as his conviction is on appeal.
So why didn't he step down before the election?
Seems pretty simple to me...
In Delaware, Biden will be replaced with a political appointee by the Governor of Delaware, and a special election will be held. In 2010. Likewise in Illinois, although their Governor has not committed to when the special election will take place.
Alaska law is a little more unique, thanks to Palin's predecessor. Murkowski was elected Governor, leaving his Senate seat vacant. He named his daughter to serve out his unfinished term... While she was subsequently elected to the position, the nepotism was enough to call for a constitutional change which prohibits the Governor from naming a replacement, and instead requires that a special election take place within 90 days.
There's no doubt that Sarah Palin is popular in Alaska, and she's going to be an up and coming star in the Republican party if they decide to return to their conservative roots.
I give it a 95% chance that she runs for Stevens' seat, assuming of course that he is re-elected. The race is within 3000 votes, and 1% point. We should know in about a week or so.
Sen. Palin will certainly be an interesting twist on this election, and the thought of having both Palin and McCain in the minority would be sweet justice.
Labels: Politics
posted by Lanehog at
6:15 PM
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