Well, the final tally today had Mark Begich leading convicTed Stevens by 3724 votes. It’s a happy happy day on the Mudflats!
Mark Begich has officially won the Senate seat. Alaskans have done something right.
That means that my red red state isn’t so red anymore. We have just elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate for the first time in 30 years! OK, I know….it took running against a seven time convicted felon to do it, and it was still really really close… but nobody better snow on my parade!
I’m having a small-scale flashback to election night, when I felt, for the first time in a long time that there was someone out there who was representing me who was actually representing me! I feel suddenly relevant…light in my heart…with something that feels like a golf ball lodged in my throat.
I truly never thought I’d see this day. When I first moved to Alaska, almost 2 decades ago, I was told by my future spouse that the only thing that would get Stevens and Young out of office was the grim reaper. Who could have known about those undeclared home renovations?
I pause for a moment to salute the very excellent House candidate, Ethan Berkowitz who was unable to unseat Don Young. He came closer than anyone ever has, and deserves our gratitude. Who knows…when Don Young gets convicted, maybe Ethan will give it another shot.
Begich issued a statement shortly before 5 p.m. claiming victory.
“I am humbled and honored to serve Alaska in the United States Senate,” Begich said. “It’s been an incredible journey getting to this point, and I appreciate the support and commitment of the thousands of Alaskans who have brought us to this day. I can’t wait to get to work fighting for Alaskan families.”
The Stevens campaign has made no comment.
Begich more than tripled his lead today after the state counted about 23,000 absentee and questioned ballots from Anchorage, Southeast Alaska, the Kenai Peninsula and Kodiak. The state finished counting from other parts of the Alaska last week.
I take this opportunity to congratulate Senator Mark Begich! I am proud to have him representing me in the U.S. Senate. And I offer these humble words of advice, Senator, now that you have done the impossible, slain the political lion, and defeated the Republican Goliath.
Don’t. Screw. Up.
(Now, pass the cake!)
To celebrate this amazing event, I have turned all the commenters into joyous little critters! Change is in the air!
Mudflats 
It is a damn fine day, AKM!
A damn fine day!
Wooo hoooo!
Its about time! This state began blue, and needs to return to its roots!
I AM ECSTATIC!!!
dang… now I’ll have to update my blog again to include the Begich press release. And to fix my link to reroute to this post. …
It’s a fine day in the US of A! The hell with Sarah Palin and Joe Lieberman.
Fantastic news! Congrats to you and all who kept the faith and VOTED!
Can ALASKA please start to impeach Palin for Troopergate, start criminal proceedings for Housegate, and make sure that wilderbeast lives in the woods praying to God, hunting with her bare hands, and being Jungle Jane instead of Scary Stalin!?
Happy ReBirthday!
I said from the begining ……ALASKA turn blue
Oh, happy day!
YAY!!!!
Congratulations and thank you Alaska!
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15754.html
Someone PLEASE tell Sarah Palin that GOD IS SENDING A MESSAGE!
……ALASKA turn blue…….yaaaaa for alaska and all of the great people that live there
Well worth the wait!
Enjoy having the Blues!
I believe AKM is so excited, the “in” was dropped!
You’re right! I fixed it. Thanks!
Does this mean I don’t have to cancel my Alaska cruise next spring?
we are not snow flakes….what happened
sorry….OT
Today you are all happy little creatures, celebrating Alaska’s blueness with me!! AKM
Now on to changing the other seats, Its just a matter of time until Don Young gets indicted, then Ethan wins in a special election. As for our Governor, so many ethics violations, so many gates, its only a matter of time.
Congratulations Alaska!!!!
Huge congratulations to all happy Alaskans.
I’m sure God is wondering just what he has to do to get through to Sarah. First, he slams the Vice Presidential door in her face. Next, he has the RNC send out a team of lawyers and accountants to retrieve the stolen underwear her family is hiding. Now he slams the door to the Senate shut. Can Sarah take a hint?
One of the reasons that this happened was this blog. Congratulations, AKM. You helped turn out and educate the voters. We will all benefit by this wonderful and astonishing victory!
Are you disappointed their will be no recount? I would assume if a large discrepancy were to emerge between the machine count and the hand count, all races would be subject to a recount including the Young-Berkowitz race. Maybe Young did not really win after all…..
Wow, things just keep going from bad to worse for SP.
Change is coming!!! One step at a time!
Yipee! I can keep my formerly Alaskan head high, and maybe soon I can stop having to answer all those embarrassing questions….
I am so happy that I don’t have to be represented by a felon. Please Mr. Begich, show the people how a representative can go to Washington and maintain his integrity!
Congrats to all of Alaska and to you AKM. Now maybe you can put away the TUMS…..:)
Congratulations Alaska!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is very good news! I had to post to see what my critter looks like!
What great news! This is a good choice for the Alaskan people. Now you have to get to work and throw the rest of the crooks and liars out.
Alaska deserves the very best, and sometimes folks you just need to stand up and take it back.
AKM I share your relief, and joy.
Well done Alaska!
Loving the new critters too!
2Brian aka Snooker Hinge Palin (18:27:09) :
I’m sure God is wondering just what he has to do to get through to Sarah. First, he slams the Vice Presidential door in her face. Next, he has the RNC send out a team of lawyers and accountants to retrieve the stolen underwear her family is hiding. Now he slams the door to the Senate shut. Can Sarah take a hint?
———————————
no…..because you have to have eyes to see with
ears to hear with……and a brain to think with…..sadly she has no brain
Mainly I’m posting just to see what kind of critter I am, but YAY! Alaska! Congratulations on joining the 21st century! And congratulations to Senator Begich. Ummmm, who’s going to replace him in Anchorage City Hall? Can he appoint someone, or does it have to be a special election? Can he appoint Walt Monegan??? Just askin…
AKM, be proud of your role in this. I mean it.
Who knew that when snowflakes melt, they turn into happy, dancing little cartoons! The snowflakes came to life, just as Ted and Sarah melted away.
Go Begich! And that cake looks nice, but someone should really send him some PIE!!!
Can’t wait to hear what kind of word salad Miss Wasilla tosses up to congratulate Begich. Or will she decide she’s a dictator after all and call in the National Guard to round up and expel the “blue menace?”. 😆
empish (wasilla) (18:24:54) :
Now on to changing the other seats, Its just a matter of time until Don Young gets indicted, then Ethan wins in a special election. As for our Governor, so many ethics violations, so many gates, its only a matter of time.
_____________
Amen to that, Empish.
Thanks to the hard work of Alaskans like you, the rest of us in the Lower 48 get to have one less piece of road apple in the US Senate. I send to you, and SMR and inJuneau and EH and Diva and AKM and… well, there’s a lot of good folks in Alaska I’d hug right now if I could. Job well done!!!!
wooooooooooooooohoooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think Begich should be quite proud of an almost 4,000 vote margin. As he told Rachel Maddow, compared to his 18-vote win in his mayoral race, it’s a veritable landslide!
So, the Alex Forrest of the GOP will now have to plot her takeover of the Presidency from outside the perch of a Senate seat.
I may have to re-think my atheism.
Been a good couple of weeks. Obama wins, my wife passes her Cert exam, and Kenny Loggins comes to hang and sit in last night with my friends’ band in Vegas.
http://santafeandthefatcityhorns.blogspot.com/
Life is again good.
BEGICH BEGICH BEGICH BEGICH BEGICH!!!
🙂
And goodBYE, Sarah!!
Congratulations for all your hard work up there on the frozen tundra.
Wait, listen………SLAM, BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM
Oh, it’s just the door being closed and nailed shut on Moosezilla’s last ticket to DC.
Too bad, so sad.
I just heard the news and ran to the computer to celebrate the *V*I*C*T*O*R*Y* with all my Mudflats friends. What a great day! Congratulations, Senator-Elect Begich!
YAY! And Yay for Alaska looking slightly less ‘stoopid!’ to the rest of the nation.
I love you, AKM. Turning everyone into critters. Thank you for making me laugh. The triumph of wise and good-hearted humor! Could there be a stand-up routine in there somewhere? A stand-up blogger? Oh, I guess you already are that–even if you are sitting down in your pajamas.
So there is a GOD!
WOW…………………sooooooooooooooooooooo GREAT……..congrats, congrats, congrats………………………………………………had a feeling it would happen!!!!!!
I like the Critter I became–can I keep her/him/the?
Congratulations to all…and especially to the voters (without you, all else was nothing).
A big warm hello to all fellow posters!
I am a little past the PMS mode and choke (also), the menopausal thing is ebbing.
However, I have this bitchy little itch to scratch.
Sarah and ilk. Eat cake, we will “let you”. And get right on that Dr. Pepper.
At this point in time, perhaps you don’t need it for your pooper…… by the way, have you ever read that Dr. Pepper is made from prune juice? Big stretch, I know. To read a label..
I am going back to doing my research on F. Bacon as Wm. Shakespeares’s ghost writer. Somehow that has me sidetracked from listening to Sarah’s mooseburger compatriot, Sandra Lee from the Food Network. Let’s use neon cheese in those dawgs. Geesh. Were they cloned?
Are you with me? Asiangirl? Glad you are back here!
@Windy City, aka Alien Ears (18:40:41) :
I like the Critter I became–can I keep her/him/the?
~~~~
LOL @ the
Have you ever had responsibility of “the” before? It isn’t as easy as it seems.
MAZEL TOV Alaska!
Now recall/impeach/vote out that Mat-Su Valley girl of a governor, I am so weary of reading about her, it was so nice to read about your new blue senator, Yeah Mudflats!!
Congratulations Alaska! Job well done!
Why is Mark talking about fighting? I heard enough promises of fighting from McCain.
Woo hoo!!! Great job AKM and Alaskans! and thanks to all our supporters(friends) around the world – you helped, too!
yeehaw Alaska! we are celebrating with you in the lower 48! AKM…thank you so much for all you’ve done to “spread the news”! I will still be dropping in to check on you and Brian and the rest of the mudflatters! Congratulations to ALL Alaskan for a new blue future!
Congratulations from Australia!!!!!!! What a great election this has been all around, eh?
*applause*applause*
will try this again…CONGRATULATIONS to Begich and all Alaskans on a new BLUE future!
what a time for the repugs….do they get it…that america is pissed
Congratulations Alaska!!! And thank you too, also for all those blue votes that got us Begich to serve in the Senate. We’re all ecstatic for you Alaskans! Yes, you DID!!!
Can you believe it!!! Wooohooooo!!!
Whabs- Not sure what a ‘the’ is! Did I open a Pandora’s box–the good one perhaps? Please elucidate!
And, yes, yes, yes, congratulations to democrats, liberty lovers, patriots all.
And AKM, all those little critters are giving you critter-sized pats on the back and will for for awhile. Amen to ‘never doubt what one person can do’.
Somehow, I do not know why, this is the final champagn cork popping. It just feels so good.
“light in my heart…” nice turn of phrase.
CONGRATS TO AK!!! what more can we do but KNOW HOPE!!
AKM I hope you know how much you had to do with this, With your fierce and honest reporting; with your loyal minions (that would be all of us) who followed your lead with emails, calls, and canpaign contributions… today even I am Alaskan!!
WHOOOOO HOOOOO :LOL:
Congratulations Alaskans and to AKM for all your hard work! I can picture that happiness in you tonight. I hope this is only the beginning for your future and cleaning up all of the corruption you’ve all had to endure. I am so happy for you all. I’m hoping you all can get your governor held accountable for her deeds and I hope she will never be in the national spotlight running for president again.
mhrt oregon (18:47:17) :
what a time for the repugs….do they get it…that america is pissed
_____________
THEY may not get it, but the REST of us have done what’s needed to MOVE ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!here we gooooooooooooooooooo…………………
OT
Another ethics complaint filed against poor, misunderstood Sarah…
http://community.adn.com/adn/node/134626
Amazing. My critter looks just like me, esp. the wings
Rejoicing with my fellow critters. Congrats to AKM and blue Alaskans!
YAY I’m a purply thing with feets and red hands!
– erm wings!
– erm reddish thingamoos!
I’m gor-ge-mous! Thanks whoever did my makeover!!! (I suspect, however, there’s way too much wine in Alaska. You should send your excess to umm ME!)
Woot-woot! It took me long enough to realize why I was talking to myself on the last thread, but it was worth it. I am so glad that Begich prevailed. Wa-hoo! And I love the little critter avatars. Y’all look so cute and cuddly.
lauren in SD, I’m not quite sure what you said, but if it has to do with the door hitting Palin on her butt on the way out, I’m all for it!
By the way, very interesting topic–Francis Bacon as ghostwriter to Shakespeare. I wonder if Palin even knows who Bacon is?
can I keep my green critter? it’s Irish green after all…and kinda cute…………goooooooooooooooo BLUE Alaska……this country’s blue from one end to the other…………….literally!!!!!
Congratulations, Alaska. Say bye bye to Palinski for us in the lower 48.
Bob in Beaufort SC
Woo hoo! Way to go Alaska! Got rid of the convict and got a Democrat! That slams the door in Palin’s face to try for the senate.
Here’s hoping God keeps slamming those doors shut for her so she won’t be tempted to keep going through them. 😉
Hooray from the blue state of Illinois. I just called my husband to let him know and he’s deeply cheerful. We are now holding out hope for Minnesota and Georgia to ditch Coleman and Chambliss.
(Fingers uncrossed long enough to type this entry.)
Yipppeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for everything AKM. I’m sure it has been a fun rollercoaster ride for you too!
Wow. All the air has been let out of the Senate GOPPERS. I bet they are glad they DIDN’T vote this morning and end up with eggers all over their ties.
There was a fine mayor from Anchorage
Who expressed his distaste and his frank rage
We all need relief
From the Decider in Chief
So he made his way to a new anchorage.
Not quite following limerick rules on the rhyme, but please take it in the spirit meant.
Congratulations, Alaska. Great news. Great site. Thanks for your work on keeping us all informed!
YESSSSSS! God hears and answers our prayers “also” Sistah Sayrah!
Congratulations ALASKA!
WE knew you could do it ~ and that’s one down….
Congratulations, Sen. Begich!….Stay humble. Stay honest. Work hard for Alaska and Pres. Obama.
Congrats Alaska! Yippee for all of us! Oh, and Senator Stevens, don’t let the back door hit you on your way out. Things just keep getting better.
This is really great for the senate majority, too. Guess we got Lieberman back today, too. Sort of. We’ll see about how that goes. But Begich will be a wonderful addition. Alaska can hold its head up high.
Congratulations from a neighboring Canadian!! But Jeez, Louise…is there anyway to strip him of his $100,000 + pension (according to CNN) !!! Un-flippin-believable!!
In all seriousness, this is very good news. Now, this is Change We All Can Believe In!
Too bad Sarabaracuda won’t have the chance to appoint a Rebug replacement! Sorry, Todd!
P.S>>>
I don’t like my bug….so how does one upload their own identifying image?
Just go to wordpress.com and create an account. Then you can upload any avatar you like. It’s actually a pretty painless process. AKM
Blue Is Beautiful :o) Congratulations, Alaska!!!
Well,….I’ll be darned!
(And I know a bunch of repugs who are now swearing cuz they gotta pay up,…to moi! hahaha)
Yes, Sarah, this is God’s way of saying,..that door is closed and bolted!
Cynamen Winter, I use gravatar.com. You can upload an image there.
AKM,
Just want to say Congratulations on the Big Win and Thanks for all your wonderful blogging. I’ve been hanging out at most of the big progressive sites for years, and I rate Mudflaps right up there at the top.
Best wishes from the Hudson River Valley of New York, and Happy Thanksgiving!
Alaskans I am so proud of you and so happy!!!!
Mudflats thank you for bringing the news to
so many people. I’ve been a nervous nellie.
checking the pulse on your blog repeatedly these last
few hours days, weeks, months..
OK, how far apart are the contractions?
it’s , it’s a brand new blue senator!!!!!!
Yaaaaaay! and as you say, the real happiness is that finally
so many of the good people of alaska will have
finally, a representative voice in the U.S. Senate
what a concept, what a fresh breeze concept.
wow.
What a wonderful day this was for all of you living in the beautiful state of Alaska! Congratulations to Mark Begich for making Alaska part BLUE!
Love your blog, AKM!
congrats to you all….job well done. Have a piece of cake and a beverage and then get on that other problem….expose/recall/
impeach/convict her sorry ass. You’re on a roll now.
Way to go big AK!! This Carolina critter loves this news!!
sharon in canada….I like your way of thinking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks alot asiangrrl…
Now, I’ve gotta go get my dancin’ boots in order to CELEBRATE!!!
WAY TO GO!! Congrats from my little red part of Washington State!
Congratulations all AK Mudflatters!
Can anyone explain if this helps put a nail in Palin’s political coffin as to future options?
Congratulations Alaska! And you, AKM, are most certainly somewhat responsible for your blue-ish state! Way to go Begich and Alaska!
Wonderful, wonderful news… for Alaska and for the rest of USA.
Wonderful because… Stevens is out
Begich is in
Sarah’s chance for this Senate seat is out
Alaska’s got some “Blue”
Wonderful thing to look forward to (to hope for) in the future:
Sarah tries for Lisa M’s senate seat, and loses!
or
Sarah runs for 2nd term as governor of AK, and loses.
Upshot: Sarah doesn’t have to go the effort of submitting per diem expense to stay at home in longer. She can just be there all the time, at N/C to the AK taxpayers.
Happy for you, mudflats.
LMAO about it taking a 7 time convicted felon as a candidate to get a Dem in office..
LOL
Oh thank you AKM for the cute lil avatar!!!! looks kinda crabby which is perfect for me since I’m a July baby!
Asiangrrl–SP knows WHAT bacon is, not WHO!
I wonder if she knows about Shakespeare. (evil, catty grin)
This has been a nail biter!!!!!!! Wow! Actually one of the most exciting races of the election…we were just hooting like we were watching a touchdown when we found out! Good job!
Congratulations Alaska!!! We love you!!!!
Yea for Alaska … Minnesota’s recount starts tomorrow. Will Coleman be the next to fall? Stay tuned.
PS to Sarah — that sound you heard was another door slamming shut on you! Thank goodness we’ve been spared the prospect of her … for now.
Congratulations Alaska on your new Democratic Senator…
I am so happy for every Alaskan…Bless you and may the days be brighter and the nights warmer.
We have come a long way, the road was rocky but we built bridges with those stones.
Hugs to all from Ohio.
Am I BLUE over you, you bet. Congragulation AKM and ALASKA. A new beginning now to get rid of RED Palin.
I am so happy! Now I know we can get rid of Murkowski and Young someday! Like somebody above said, we are going back to our blue roots, when I could be proud. And like I said many posts ago, I hope this mitigates in some small way our unleashing of the Wicked Witch of the North upon the world. Oh happy day!
Come home, turn on the computer and my house starts shaking. There’s a blue haze hanging in the air. What’s going on??
Ahhhhh — I get it!! It’s all the dancing and jumping going on at the Mudflats!!! All the blue candles lit up!!! Ahhhhhha!!!
Congratulations Alaska!
I can’t think of a time when I’ve been this happy for a political outcome…well, Nov 4 was a pretty fine day, too. As far as a senate race goes, the de-election of misogynist Rick Santorum was a pretty fine day, too.
Maybe Begich can get Harry Reid to reconsider the retention of that incompetent Homeland Security committee chair, aka Joe Lieberman. The time has come for Joe da unplumber and Joe the insecurity chair to go!
Okay… time to hit the submit button to see what critter I is. …
it’s a wonderful day in the neighborhood…go alaska.
Windy City, aka Alien Ears, ha! That’s a good one. We actually joked the other day about whether or not Palin knew Shakespeare.
I bet Mark Begich does–Francis Bacon, too. However, I read that he probably won’t be too ‘progressive’ since Alaska is still pretty red. Whatever. He’s a Dem, and that’s good enough for me.
well, darn. but that’s okay… I like my beef holding the pu… er, kitty.
But lookee at all them new names. The Begich victory sure has brought all them lurkers out from the corners, hasn’t it? A fine day for Alaskans and the rest of us who believe in good, clean governmnet of the people, by the people and for the people.
Light hearts and golf balls down here too! Last night we went to a concert at the high school across the street; the soloist was the (apparently) beloved african american gym teacher and a former student– they did America the Beautiful a la Ray Charles– I looked around at my fellow audience members and we were weepy! Across this country something is stirring! I am not a corny person! Or one given to excessive exclamation! Ordinarily! I am so happy for you, for us!
Wow! Sooooooo Exciting! Sooooooo Awesome! Out of this world! Ecstatic Joy! Congratulations Alaska! Yes you really really did it! This is a beautiful sweet-tasting victory! Brake out the firecrackers and host a salmon bake!
…and another thing!
wearyvoter– I love your phrase “deeply cheerful”. I will steal it (is that ok?) and spread it. Deep cheer. Yum.
Hey, Marsha, can even an Alaska Woman (no offense to the ‘real AK women’)
“PLOW” through a door going backwards?
and Cynamen Winter–imagine that God must even listen to those nasty liberals! So do they now think that ‘God’ is punishing them? If they do, do they wonder why?
Y’all* are brilliant! (*a few trips to TX and look what happens–I’m ‘y’all’-ing ya.
Tired Mom (VA),
I too like the little critters. Your crabby little one for a July birthday. Mine too.
AKM — you got ESP or something!!! LOL
Actually my first thought was mine looked like a lobster — nummmm. I could go for some of that. Didn’t think of birthday until I read Tired Mom(VA).
Congratulations AKM and Alaska!
That was the election that wouldn’t go away! Good grief, It’s October 18th!
But you got the news you wanted! We’re all thrilled for you!
Oops, I guess that would be NOVEMBER 18th, huh?
I’m a cool little purple dude with green hair…how did you know?!?
Canadian Neighbour (19:20:06) :
Come home, turn on the computer and my house starts shaking. There’s a blue haze hanging in the air. What’s going on??
Ahhhhh — I get it!! It’s all the dancing and jumping going on at the Mudflats!!! All the blue candles lit up!!! Ahhhhhha!!!
—————————————–
we may crash AKM’s site…but it will be a happy crash
Yay!! Congrats!!
What fabulous and joyous news! I am thrilled for our country and, ultimately, our world. Thank you, Alaska!
Soooo… what’s next for Teddy?
Will he concede and fade into the sunset?
Or will he fight the election results in a gross act of poor judgment and/or arrogance?
Will he continue to deny that he’s now a convicted felon not worthy of Alaskan spit? Or will he submit himself into the hands of the judiciary for the proper judgment?
If Teddy is ever sentenced, will the Court pity him and leave him go under house arrest? I mean… will the Court look at his age and pity him to the point of not sending him to jail? Any jail sentence at this point – he’s 85 – will be spun as a life sentence because he could drop dead at just about any point and jail life certainly will cause so much stress in him that his ticker might give out. What will the Court do?
CNN….Begich claims victory over Stevens for Alaska Senate seat
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/18/alaska.senate.race/index.html
Oh Yeah………………life is good………………………….
happy, happy, happy dance from los angeles
This is fantastic news! Congrats to your state!
Senator Begich ~ Has a nice ring to it.
Now I finally hear the fat lady singing. . .and it’s a sweet sweet song.
Mark Begich is DA MAN!!!!
Could Bush pardon him before leaving office? I think that’s the right term — I’m not working on all cylinders!!!
I’m doing the happy dance for all the Alaskan mudflatters, Democratic Alaskan voters, and especially you, AKM!
Can you hear a door slamming shut, SP? (heh heh heh)
Soooooooo has Ted made a statement yet?
Wait!! My critter is RED?! (sigh)
I’d call it dark salmon. 😉 AKM
Canadian Neighbour …..was just wondering the same…could he get a presidential pardon???……………………maybe so….
Yeeee Ha!!!
Yippee–now what’s my critter?
No CO Almost Native… it’s vibrant pink with green hair
They say Good Things Come To Those Who Wait! – congrats Begich, Alaska, and many thanks for all the good people who voted and worked to make it happen!
This is another Happy Day!! 😀
Ohh…cyuuuuttt! Only wish he was blue–
as for Begich–YIPPPPEEEEE!!!!!
Time to retire and enjoy the rest of your life ole ConvicTed…it was time anyway for heaven’s sake! Time to swing on the porch of your lovely renovated home!
Congratulations to AKM and Alaska voters and Mark! You get a rousing chorus of “Go Blue,” from this Michigan Wolverine.
Now, will you please write your senators to get them to approve the bridge loan to the three American automakers, since they can’t get money from a bank these days? I know they’ve made mistakes, but we cannot afford to trash the auto industry, the bulwark of what’s left of manufacturing in the US. The Repugs just want to kill the unions: if they force the American 3 into bankrupty, the courts will allow them to break existing contracts, throw out the unions and take away health care and pensions from retirees. How do I know this? Look at the airline industry. The government pension replacement plan doesn’t come anywhere close to matching what current pensioniers get. I have a lot of friends and relatives who have retired from the car companies and they are shaking in their boots, not to mention the active worker who will lose their jobs, and the parts suppliers who will close, and the local bars and barbershops and restaurants, etc. etc. Please help us, okay?
Thanks for allowing the rant. Back to topice at hand: w00t! for Alaska!
37.83% of AK is BLUE! That’s almost 40%!
Hey, America…the Democrats have come out of the closet in Alaska! *happy dance* *confetti* *noisemakers* *chocolate*
the problem child (a jerk, also) (18:55:45) :
We aren’t the only ones doing the happy dance; the one-less GOPers are quietly celebrating they don’t have a convicted felon to deal with.
I just have to tell this story. Back in the 80’s (I don’t remember which 80) I went to a fundraiser when Mark’s mother was running against Young. Mark was there and I got this funny feeling about him. I remember thinking “this kid is gonna go far.” He must have been in his early 20’s then. Just goes to show those gut feelings are usually right.
Sorry. topice – topic.
Critter query.
Mark Begich is DA MAN!!!! (19:30:29) :
Due to the fact that Uncle Ted does not have a prior record (no one caught him red-handed), he will probably get probation. But he will have a record, and no voting for him, bwa ha ha!
check out the BIG headline on Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
Couldn’t have happened to a better Senator:)
Congrats! ALASKA!
Congrats Sen. Begich!
Thanks to this blog for helping keep me sane for the duration. I’m sure my family thought I was having a nervous breakdown. 2 auto accidents in Oct then
the fear of driving left me a complete mess.
Thank you to all the Mudflat critters.
Oui En Peut!
mhrt oregon– yes, we may crash AKM’s server——-but we are ON TOPIC!!
So in SP logic would that make it ok? (Sorry to make your brains hurt.)
Blue Oregon welcomes Mark Begich as he joins our new Senator Merkley (or would that be O’Merkley, a la Mudflats?). Now, let’s all send our positive vibes to Franken and Martin–we do pretty good work, eh?
Congrats, AKM!
I leave the country and land in Ireland and Obama is my new President! I arrive home and touch down in Phoenix and Begich has won the Senate seat in Alaska!
Hmmm….maybe I should travel more often! ROFL
Congrats Alaskans..we all love you so much and are truly glad for more positive news coming out of your great state.
Makes me wonder what is next for all us crazy mudflatters……?!?!
I just read it, and I came right on over to offer a big smile and some cookies! (That’s the only thing my computer can offer.) Oh, and I will become Steph in MN also on Saturday…I am moving from Kansas to the great white north! (Way, way north)
Just read the article on Huffington which sets out the this statement from Stevens:
“Notwithstanding all that turmoil, Stevens revealed Tuesday that he will not ask President George W. Bush to give him a pardon for his seven felony convictions.”
Of course — things could change very rapidly!!!
OT post aimed at Mudpups living in Southern California.
We’re planning a Mudstock and don’t want to leave people out. So, if you’re in that part of the world, shout out here
http://www.themudflats.net/forum/index.php/topic,3713.0.html
Details of the meetup are in the thread.
@ Windy City…
I actually think that the red-wretched-right wingers are blinded by hypocrisy…as in the “hypocrite in lipstick!” Surely they cannot see the errors of their way…such as praying for rain during the DNC convention, Ha! (And I could not help but notice the irony of Hurricane Gustav…)
But this one thing I’m sure of ~ that we reap what we sow, be that good or bad…and Sistah Sayrah might want to pray for crop failure for the 9 1/2 weeks she spreaded seeds of malice. I am reminded of the interview where SP said that she believed God’s will would be done on Nov. 4th. To that I say, Hallelujah again! Now, I wonder if she too has ALSO “thanked God” yet…. :-]
Congratulations to all Alaskans from a happy woman in the state of Kansas!!!
I would like to see Palin’s face tonight. I heard the good news on CNN. WEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!! Too bad he will still get his pension. I believe a new law has been passed to correct this, but will only apply to members of congress that are elected after the new law is enforced.
Well done, Alaska! And congratulations to Senator Begich!
congratulations! this should help just a little bit
Cali Kid (19:38:49) :
No CO Almost Native… it’s vibrant pink with green hair
Ooooh (squinting at the screen)…ok, I can do vibrant pink- I’m a breast cancer survivor, so I love pink:)
Thanks Cali Kid-
Looking at the success the good guys have enjoyed in this electoral season, it’s amazing to note all the stuff that had to fall into place for things to turn out right. Eight years of a corrupt and incompetent administration in Washington, a massive financial meltdown, the threat of global warming, Ted Stevens getting convicted just days before Nov. 4th, the Republicans nominating a nitwit for Vice-President, and so forth…. I’m happy, but wouldn’t it be nice if America wised up and voted the right way before we experienced so much misery?
gizmo…………….I agree……but just be thankful it happened!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hooray!!! It’s a blue-letter-day for Alaska! Today we are all Alaskans!
Well done Alaska !
Cynamen Winter– yes, they live in another world. Have to think more about hypocrisy, its roots. Just like SP, they cannot see the ‘errors of their ways’. Many thoughts about this but do not want to be responsible for crashing the server!
WhoooooooooooooooooooooHooooooooooooooooo Begich!
Blue for Alaska! 1 down and 2 to go eh AKM? Congrats!!
AKM and Alaskan mudflatters-
Can you clarify something for me? CNN says although Begich is ahead in votes, and his campaign has declared him the winner, there are 2,000+ overseas ballots to count, and the Commission won’t make an official declaration until Dec. 1.
Should we be worried?
We did it, we did it, we REALLY did it!!!!!!!!!!! Yeeehaaaawww!
Thanks AKM and all my lovely blue neighbors…!
Whew… we did it…
A long wait but what an excellent result!
Alaska in the blue.
“Hey Lock Pepper — question for you: what do you call the pork cooked in banana leaves, served at luaus, really yummy, falls apart as soon as you take it out of the leaves?????????”
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SMR, are you here? Just saw your comment from last night–I tink you talk about lau lau, braddah or sistah:
I try to find you recipe…
WHERE is the concession speech? I look forward to it. Congrats again Alaskans!
We aren’t the only ones doing the happy dance; the one-less GOPers are quietly celebrating they don’t have a convicted felon to deal with.
********************************************************************************
CO almost native–you got DAT right!
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! to everyone who voted!!
Yippee!! No more convicTED senator…
but plenty more cute critters!
gizmo (19:54:08) :
I know what you’re saying, but so many times it seems the “bottom of the barrel” has to be explored before we manage to rise to the top.
Congratulations to Alaska, to Begich and to the American People. You guys rock!
HAIL TO THE VICTORS
CO Almost…
If no one else has hopped in the Alaska scoop is that there are NOT enough votes left to count to change it/this…
http://www.adn.com/senateelection/story/593747.html
WELL DONE, ALASKA! Congratulations from the Pine Barrens (NJ) to you and your new, Blue U. S. Senator Mark Begich. In this “Alaskan landslide” election, Begich has accomplished the unheard of political feat of this generation…defeating the 30-year incumbent, Ted Stevens. Hats off to you (and tossed into the cold night air)! (I won’t mention that he’s a convicted felon.) Unfortunately, now you’ll have to figure out what to do with Uncle Ted.
And, AKM, I so agree with your message to Mark…Don’t Screw Up. This is the same message a lot of us have for our own elected officials. And in Begich’s case I, for one, will be watching and wishing you all the best.
I’m late to this party; been out speading the news the Begich made the turn-around (although never doubted it). Complained when spouse pulled my Begich sign from the yard on the weekend, coz the count was not over, but all is good!
had to check my new critter!
CO Almost Native – The way I understand it, yes there are 2500 absentee votes left to count – but Begich is up by some 3700 – so even if Stevens wins all 2500 absentee votes, he loses. And I think the December official declaration is a formality. Of course Stevens could ask for a recount (please no!) but even if there were some mistakes, it wouldn’t be enough for him to win. Thank goodness it’s not like Georgia and doesn’t have to be a runoff election.
Hoorah for Alaska! Ya done good!
Jesus put up a road block for Sarah just to let her know she ought to be teaching Sunday School. And re-reading the lessons.
Alaska Pi (20:12:44) :
Whew! Thanks for the information- I didn’t want to celebrate too much, if there was a possibility…but I think the door is firmly shut (not gonna open for ya, SP- wink wink)
My heart is so happy! Years and years of redness is fading away…I was an absentee vote in southeast. For the first time in ages, my vote counted in a congressional race!
BS (20:18:16) :
And a big thanks to you, too:) I knew I could count on getting the straight scoop from the AK mudflatters-
Hooray!!! AKM, thanks for all the info. and updates.
Saw him on Rachel the other night. He seems like a real nice guy. Congratulations to Alaska. Maybe you will turn the state blue by 2012.
this is so-so-so great ‘also as well, don’t ya know!
Wll, this certainly was great news to wake up to! Thanks for reporting AKM.
Coffee is brewing for the soon-to-be-open Nught Kitchen. We’ll be able to sit around the table and rehash this! Happy Birthday Ted and Sarah!
How close does this put us to 60?
YaHoooooo!!!! Nebraska turned partly blue, and now Alaska has made us all proud! Thanks for sharing the fantastic news. Congratulations Senator Begich!
Sorry – that shold be Night Kitchen – you can see I’m not quite awake yet!
2 more to go-
Way to go Alaska!!! You look good in blue!! (and I don’t mean from the cold!)
My fellow Alaskans – We did it! It’s so exciting I can hardly stand it. I really wanted Alaska to go blue – but one step at a time. It does my heart good – I’ve been waiting for this for so long. I just wish my dearly departed could have lived long enough to see this!
Begich is better for the Senate than Palin any day–he has better hair! And, by what we saw of Palin, that’s the only qualification for public office! Oh, and Senator Begich, don’t let Palin talk to into getting a whole new wardrobe! 🙂
Can’t wait to see my happy dance critter with the posting.
Well done, good and faithful AKM– you’ll never know the part you played in all this, just by streaming the truth out into the ether. Speaking up and speaking truth has a collective effect. It makes others less afraid, too. And that’s how change happens. . .
A parting birthday song for Teddy. All together now,
Happy Birthday to you
You live in a zoo [behind bars]
You smell like a convict
And you look like one, too!
With all the love we can spare from SENATOR Begich,
The Mudflats Hallelujah Choir
Congrats!
I sent Ethan O’Berkowitz a note saying that I would dedicate myself to his campaign for congress in 2010. I will door to door, I will phone call, I will give money, I will, I will, I will! And next time he will win! 🙂
I wanted to share with you that my kids came back today telling us their class are singing songs of Bob the Builders “can we fix it? Yes we can”. There are a number of songs going around Sarah and Joe the Plumber too and I intend to capture the folklore. We are talking 7-9 years old kids… Of course this is elitist upstate New York.
See the video below to understand why McCean felt he needed to elevate Joe The Plumber.
2012 Bob The Builder vs. Joe The Plumber
Ethan will get his chance again soon – as soon as Don’s trial happens. Hopefully that will be soon.
Yabba Dabba Dooooo! Bloooooue!
Yesss time to do the happy dance….. http://lee.org/reading/general/Hampsterdance/
Go MARK!!!!
Wonderful news!!!!!!!!!……….Keep up the good work you Alaskan mudpuppies….your the greatest. Best of Wishes to Senator Begich. 🙂
Congratulations, Alaska – this is wonderful news!! I am so happy for you.
Congratulations, Alaska, all of you and most especially those particularly dedicated souls (*points at AKM*) who not only dreamed so long about this day but worked so hard to bring about the change we can now feel around us.
PS, I love the critters!
Is about time! Congratulations!!!
Post Election Elation! Welcome to the wonderful world of Blue!
Yes! Just imagine if Sarah had appointed herself the Senator for the state of Alaska! She would have had her foot in the door (the door she would have charged through without a blink) thus setting herself up for ’12. Yikes! We seem to have scraped through by the skins of our teethes. Way too close for comfort.
I don’t think that ConvicTED Stevens likes the birthday present you left for him. I wonder if you will still get a thank-you note though.
LibertyLover
Miss Manners says it’s the thought that counts, and, that, while you aren’t obligated to keep, use, or display a present you don’t like, a thank you for the sentiment is in order. I expect Teddy to send a thank you note, commensurate with our sentiments!
nicely done, alaskans!
keep fighting the good fight. don’t settle for just ONE THIRD blue! 2010 and 2012 are just around the corner 🙂
Happy, Happy, Happy, dance! Son just called me with the news. I was busy cleaning out computer files all day and forgot to check in, so am late to the party, but am so glad for all of AK and the rest of US too.
Yippeeeee! Congratulations, Alaska! More good news for the whole country! (waves flag, sings God Bless America)
Congratulations! And another big thank you to AKM and the blog/forum team. [actually/also a thinly-disguised message to view “my” critter]
It is great to see the changes in Alaska. Congrats to Begich. And I think that you were very instrumental AKM with your little blog. Democrats also did well in Washington State. Our governor was re-elected. Now we need to get the senate to vote for the auto workers. Going under will hurt too many people. Don’t allow the republicans to break the unions or we will have even less protections. In this session of state and national government, we need to nag the heck out of our legislators to hold them to their word now.
So happy for you ALASKA and the whole USA!!!
w00t!
Hurray!! I am so happy for Alaska!
And for Nate Silver whose predictions were once again right on the money. Nate said Begich would win by 3000-4000 votes.
(The lead was 1022 at the time).
Ted, please go quietly into the night and not make an ass of yourself by clinging on to a “waste of time” possible recount, or show your arrogance once again. Blue has spoken, and it ain’t you pal. It’s Mark’s turn!
I think serving time behind bars is necessary, and not some house arrest crap either. It just might bring Ted down a few pegs to the reality he’s facing.
Hey, maybe Ted can hang out with Anderson, Kott, and Kohring!
YAHOOOO! Nicely done, Alaska!
Way to go, Alaska!!!!! This truly is a great day.
This whole election cycle proved to us that democracy in these good ole US of A actually does exist!
what a wonderful day for the great state of alaska.
(ooooh can’t wait to see my critter!!)
Congratualations to AKM, Alaska and all the Mudpuppies. We have been part of and have watched history in the making. I am thrilled to my toes to be part of all of this. This is just so exciting.
Congratulations Alaska Democrats — you deserve it.
Well done! I am very relieved to know that this is no longer available to Palin in any special election.
First a congratulations to Senator-elect Mark Begich!!!!!!!!!!!
Update on Worst Case / Best Case Scenarios
Worst Case
Ted wins re-election. (oops, Happy Birthday UnkaTed –NOT!)
The worst case crashed out on the first item! All other items go POOF!!!!
Best Case — well on our way there!
Begich wins the current election and de-thrones Ted. (Done!)
Before re-counts are over, the Rpugs fail to vote Ted out of the party amid much loud debate that exposes those who support him.
(Almost on the button!)
With an especially poignant appeal on his behalf by Hair’em Scara that she cannot possibly back away from later.
(Sarah, you pulled Ted out from under the bus with some encouragement recently, now I am waiting for you to open your big mouth to try again!)
The Senate does not wait a moment and throws him out with a near-unanimous vote where his staunchest supporters fight on publicly to the bitter end – and we know their pork-barrel-loving names.
(come on Senators, throw the bum out!)
His appeals are either denied, or even better, he spends a lot of his own money getting his appeals heard by the Supreme Court who summarily uphold his convictions.
(well, it’s on his dime for sure now!)
He lives to be 105 and dies – during a visit to Ben in prison.
(Ben, the two of us need look no more, We both found what we were looking for…)
So far the Best Case is playing out like a script…… the rest may very well happen!
The 49th State sets the stage for better things to come in the 50th State as well…so glad Senate can just get working now instead of cleaning up and kicking out Ted.
Yay!!!! This was the first thing I saw when I turned on my computer this morning! Congratulations Alaska!!!!
I am SO proud to call Alaska my home today! I am still not happy about the cold, but at least my insides are all warm with joy.
Now that Sarah’s erasing the penciled-in senate race, I wonder if she’ll lend a hand with her buddy, Linda Lingle, governor of Hawaii. A relationship to watch in the next two years. Lingle is a lame duck and will be setting her own political course in the next year, and is surely eyeing a run for Daniel Inouye’s seat, one of Ted Stevens last friends. Remember, Linda spoke fondly of her being with Sarah “when her water broke” as they attended meetings together in Texas, before she flew home to give birth to Trig. They’re an odd pair. One Maui writer, a frequent critic, calls our governor “Cunning Lingle.”
“Today you are all happy little creatures, celebrating Alaska’s blueness with me!! AKM”
Yes, we are, and this happy little creature thanks you for the yummy cake. I might even go to my local supermarket and buy another lovely cake to share.
Pass it forward…
Woohoo!!! Way to go Alaskans!!! I knew you could do it. You deserve so much better than you’ve had in the past. It’s a happy, happy day!
Well, let’s hope that now that the Repug/Rehash spell has been broken (Obama/VA/NC/FLA/Begich/Franken?) the country will realize that they actually have something called FREE WILL! Let’s go Hawaii! Let’s go all you others out there and put those thinking/party hats on!
@Jamie — meet me in the forum on the night kitchen thread (the same one from last night…)
@SMR – okay. My computer is going soooooo slow this morning…
Congrats to the mudflatters and AK turning a bit blue!!! I just read that my Senator, perhaps you’ve heard of him: John Sidney McCain will be running for re-election in 2010. Looks like I’ll still be waiting for AZ to turn a little shade of purple…
Just posting to see what critter i get. : )
Blue—My favorite color! : )
@Glen–That Bob the Builder youtube is great! My grandson loves BB, and sometimes when we are working in the yard, I ask him, “Can we do it?” and he shouts out, “Yes, we can!”
Congratulations Alaska! I am so happy for you AKM I hope that feeling you feel lasts for a while!
Someone needs to make the new Senator a little sign for his senate office door saying It’s HIS! 🙂
Congratulations Alaska and congratulations AKM! You should all be very proud for turning Alaska 1/3 blue. What an accomplishment! I’m so happy that Mayor Begich will be your new Senator!
Thank-you AKM for doing so much during this election season. Your blog helped me bear through those stressful days when I thought that Sara Palin would be our next VP. I was ready to leave the country! Maybe you should run for the next open Representative seat and kick another Republican out of his/her seat! You’d make a great one!
Keep up the good work and again, thank-you so very much for keeping us all informed about what’s going on up there in Alaska!!!
I still remember when Nixon signed the TAPS bill (which Mike Gravel had worked so hard for) and when he (trickie dickie) went to hand the pen to Senator Gravel, ole Uncle Ted stepped forward, grabbed the historic pen and said, “I’m the Senator from Alaska.”
Bastard…
And then when cowpie led the charge to get Ernest Gruening’s grandson to unseat Gravel in the primary –with a MASSIVE repub primary crossover– so that Frank The Bank would have a cakewalk over little boy Gruening.
No, I’ve never forgiven cowpie for that…
signed,
crusty ole sourdough in the tropics
and if uncle ted hadn’t been APPOINTED in the first place… thanks a lot Wally!
Almost forgot:
GOOD ON YA, BEGICH!!!!!
Congratulations AKM and Alaska!
I went to bed thinking this thing could drag out much longer with a possible recount. I wake up, go to the internet and find the news mentioned on a Russian news site–they are keeping an eye on you! So I had to come directly here to celebrate with you all. I have been lurking here obsessively for hours everyday during the last few months.
AKM you played a direct role in this victory and you must feel a huge sense of accomplishment. There is still work to be done–those last possible doors have to be closed, locked and bolted. I have absolute faith that you will keep us informed, aware and engaged–even those of us who are on the other side of the world.
Your essays are amazing. I take such pleasure in your talents as a writer: logic balanced with a sense of humor, perspicacious insights presented with pithy evidence, and an intuitive feeling for style and grammar. You have provided the perfect antidote to the mind-numbing, dubious and seemingly omnipresent nonsense of SP.
Mudflats will remain on my bookmarks bar for a long time to come.
Congratulations!!!! Thank you AKM for all of your hard work.
Kudos from Alabama — WELL DONE ALASKA!!!
Congrats Alaska again and again and again!!!
@LibertyLover – McCain’s to run again in 2010? Is he mad? He needed afternoon naps this time! Imagine how tired he’ll be IN FOUR MORE YEARS!!!
Although…now we get to speculate about his choice of running mates hahahahaha !
Woooo hooo, We are now blue!
Something to share, SHOUT! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAUao5niY-c&feature=related
a little bit begich now. lol.. There were some blue songs I wanted to post, but this ones sums it up.
Congrats SENATOR Begich!
Congrats Alaska & Mudflatters!
What a lot of work, what a nailbiter of an election, but you ALL did fantastic! “Tear down that wall!” You toppled an institution! I do think Begich will be in a better position to work with the new Dem administration, moving things in a positive direction.
This is nice news to wake up to! Now what’s my critter?
South Side Chicago
It feels good to PROGRESS Alaska forward with Senator-elect Begich! Thank God.
We must continue to pray for him to do a good job in this new administration. Thank you AKM and mudflatters for the seismic shift in recovery for this nation. We must also continue to pray for President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden AND their families.
Congratulations Senator Begich. Please do good works for your wonderful state and for our nation. I’m proud to have contributed to your campaign. Good luck.
ugh…first a poop-colored snowflake, now a poop-colored critter.
be strong, Sparky. 😉
Congratulations to Senator-elect Begich, AK, and all Alaskans!
Now, come down here and take your damn weather back. 🙂
s.
Congratulations AKM and Senator Begich. It’s a great day to be a blue Alaskan. By the way, where’s Ben??
Critter check
Ooh! Good one!
Blue too!
Please can we start Palin/Lieberman for President in ’12 ?
It makes sense guys.
A Sledgehammer v A Nut.
Great news.
I think this also tells us a lot about Republicans. Many of them would rather vote for a crook than a public servant. Is that because they think corruption in public life is excusable for anyone with a wingnut perspective ?
I think there is a tendency to think : Palin 2012 – bring it on !
I’d urge anyone with such thoughts to check out the numerous stories on talk2action or read troutfishing and dogemperor on dKos.
Please put in some work, so you can inform others of the latest and most dangerous movement in extremist Christianity.
Congrats Alaska!
A big hurrah to Alaska. AKM, I hope you know just how much you have contributed to the sanity of us folks in the lower 48 these last few months. You raised us from a feeling of hopelessness to the realization that there is HOPE for a better government for ALL of us. Your contribution to the election of Obama and the defeat of Stevens should make you so very, very proud! Thank you from this New Yorker.
I am so late to the party but soooooooooooooo happy! What a way to wake up after a nasty day with a migraine.
Big, big kudos to all Alaskans for not “voting for the crook!” Course, the other alternative in Louisianna was waaaay worse. Y’all have a bright future ahead. Now, if Fox or some other lil bunch of newsies can just convince Bible Spice she needs to go and make zillions rather than run for office, you’ll really be on your way.
Congratulations!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
(Critter?) Thanks
PS. Isn´t it ironic: in Germany red represent parties on the left (like in socialist)?
Congrats to Senator Begich
Just curious – what were the original vote totals back on Nov 4, and how do they compare to this updated total ? Was there a big discrepancy ?
Thanks
Congratulations Alaska!!! Another door closes for Palin Dearest.
Straight from the ADN….Palin Blitz Not Slowing Down…
“As Sarah Palin settles back into her job as the state’s chief executive, a new ethics complaint filed Tuesday says she’s already improperly mixing her official duties and broader political ambitions.”
Tsk Tsk Tsk!
HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPYHAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPYHAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPYHAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPYHAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPYHAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY for you and Alaska and for Dems and for us and for you, again, also, too, us…..way to go Alaska!
Congratulations to Sen. Begich of Alaska and to his supporters for all their hard work, their faith in the system, and for choosing progress! The excitement down here in our Florida house over the Begich win was almost as loud as the excitement Nov. 4. Now onto Minnesota. . .
And how happy were my sleepy eyes to see Begich’s win scrolling along the bottom of my local news show on TV this morning? WOO HOO!! Congrats Mark (with my sentiments too- DON’T. SCREW. UP.)!!
WOOOOOO -HOOOOOO! Way to go Alaska! Big Fist Bump to you all!
And congrats on your bloggers choice award, which is richly deserved.
Love and the best of luck from Ireland!
Congrats Alaska………relish your victory! Here in TX we are still trying to turn our state blue! If you can do it,we can do it too.
Just want to say….every day, in every way, things are getting better and better. NO FEAR!
Looks like God slammed another door in Bible Spice’s face…LOL
Lisa Murkowski better hire extra security, ol’Sarah will be starting her”drag Murkowski thru the mud tour” shortly. You know Bible Spice wants to be a senator
Guess I have to write something in order to see what critter I got!
Never thought I would even care about an Alaskan election result let alone be this happy.
Even hubby “the election is over, can’t you tear yourself away from the mud people?” said, “good, that stops Palin.”
You rock Alaska!
It’s nice to see that when
when given choice — blue wins.
http://www.thehaikudiaries.wordpress.com
YEAH, WHOOOHOO! Long, nailbiting wait, but so worth it. Well done AKM, I’m sure your blog had some part in it. Delighted for you all,
best wishes from the UK
(hee hee hee, hugs self and does happy dance)
CONGRATS to Senator Begich and to AKM for all the hard work. This blog kept me from going “bonkers” during the election season.
haha very funny. I’m from Illinois so I can’t really empathize…but I have to say that I am incredibly happy to see the Dems one vote closer to 60!
CO Almost Native (19:44:16) :
Mark Begich is DA MAN!!!! (19:30:29) :
Due to the fact that Uncle Ted does not have a prior record (no one caught him red-handed), he will probably get probation.
___________________
Stevens was convicted in the federal system where little of this first-time-no-sentence bs goes on. Federal sentencing guidelines will need to be considered. If he gets probation, it will be almost totally based on his age and status as a long-time US Senator.
There have been many first-time convicts who received at least 18 months in the federal pen for single convictions. Stevens has 7 felony convictions. At the very least, he should get house arrest until he drops.
….. and ner, ner ner, ner, ner, sticks out tongue childishly to SWSNBN
@Grammy in PA (04:03:59) :
“Guess I have to write something in order to see what critter I got!”
Me too!
Oooo, I look like a Purple People Eater. Love it!
Big huge massive CONGRATULATIONS to Mark Begich. Now let’s all take a few deep breaths and get to workin’ on that other issue!
Are the critters permanent?
Are all the cool ones gone?
Just had to make a post to see what my new critter is going to be…..
WOW I like the new waistline….LOL
yay!!!!!!
The repubs are dropping like flies in AK. I like AKM’s advice to Begich– “Don’t screw up.”
….man my critter is …..”BIG”!
I am soooo late to the party – saw the news on KO and Rachel last night and let out a great big Woo HOO for the new junior senator from Alaska. Enjoy your cake 🙂 Thankfully the convicTed Senator’s bday is not the same as mine *phew*. I was eating my leftover bday cake in celebration of the Begich win last night!
So….curious what my critter will be? New ethics violations complaints for Bible Spice? Will wonders never cease? I guess we now wait for the baby to be born or news at least on the baby front with Bristol. Has anyone seen her back in Wasilla? When was the last time she was sighted? Perhaps she needs to be put on the endangered species list too – ha ha!
Have a great day Alaska – enjoy your happy blue-ness! I still relish in our blue ness in VA even though I saw a bumper sticker yesterday – Palin Power. *gag* *ack* *twitch* must. look. away.
Must. leave. on. a. happy. thought. Blue.Blue.Blue.Blue.Blue.Blue.Blue.Blue.Blue.
I love my critter!
Someone above mentioned that Ted was initially appointed to the U.S. Senate so I looked up his predecessor on wikipedia – how interesting that Senator Bob Bartlett was a Democrat yet the Governor of AK (Hickel) replaced him w/ republican Ted . . .
Edward Lewis “Bob” Bartlett (April 20, 1904 – December 11, 1968) was an American politician, and was a member of the Democratic Party.
Bartlett was born in Seattle, Washington. After graduating from the University of Alaska in 1925, Bartlett began his career in politics. A reporter for the Fairbanks Daily News until 1933, he accepted the position of secretary to Delegate Anthony Dimond of Alaska. Three years later he became the chairman of the Unemployment Compensation Commission of Alaska.
On January 30, 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed him secretary of the Alaska Territory. Beginning in 1945, Bartlett served as the delegate from Alaska to the 79th and the six succeeding Congresses. Continuing his civic service, he was president of the Alaska Tuberculosis Association and served as a member of the Alaska War Council. He labored constantly for statehood; upon Alaska’s admission to the Union in 1959 he became the first senator from Alaska and served until 1968.
Bartlett possessed the reputation of a quiet man of achievement. The Library of Congress estimates that he had more bills passed into law than any other member in congressional history. Even before statehood he was writing legislation (sponsored by other Congressional Representatives), such as the Alaska Mental Health Enabling Act of 1956. Some of his bills included the Radiation Safety Bill and the Bartlett Act, requiring all federally funded buildings to be accessible to the handicapped.
Bartlett died following heart surgery on December 11, 1968 at Cleveland Clinic Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. Ted Stevens was appointed to replace him on December 24, 1968.
In 1971, the state of Alaska donated a bronze statue of Bartlett to the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall Collection.
Well, better late then never! Congratulations Alaska and congratulations Begich! Blue is in!
I mean “below” (chart didn’t print in blockquote)
Contest Projection Result Delta
AK-ALL Berkowitz +6.4 (i) Young +7.7 GOP +14.1
AK-Sen Begich +12.9 (ii) Stevens +1.5 GOP +14.4
AK-Pres McCain +13.9 (iii) McCain +25.3 GOP +12.4
Jana, I think the last item in the chart is off – McCain v McCain?
You guys do good work.
And, Lordy I envy you.
Congratulations!
I wanted to see my happy little critter dance.
YAY! As a lurker from Texas I just had to comment and say, phew! As much as I am excited for another Dem, I am more excited that Palin won’t have a shot at that seat. Congrats, Alaskans!! Good work.
Jennifer
So when are they going to change the name of the airport in Anch? I suspect they won’t.
What is the process for replacing Begich as mayor. Is that a non-partisan position?
Congratulations Alaska!
It’s a small step, but a good beginning.
They just turned away a RINO – next election there’ll be a fresh Republican in power.
Congratulations Alaska and Mark Begich!
My congratulations to Mark Begich and all of the great people
of Alaska. Been at the forum too much lately, what happened
to the snowflakes?
Congratulations, Alaska, from Canada (we can see you from here)!
Lordy, Lordy. Just look at all the newbies. Ain’t it great.
MUDFLATS just keeps GROWIN’, GROWIN’, GROWIN’.
Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa it’s great. That’s for sure.
Alaska the sleeping Giant woke up, rubbed its’ eyes, looked around, rubbed its’ eyes again , and said,,,,…WTF has been going on around here?
The first to go flying, is Ted Stevens, by the back of it enormous hand.
While the giant begins swatting away Young and other such annoying nats ( must get rid of all those Stevens nats, they breed), its’ stomach is rumbling, getting louder by the minute. All that sleeping makes it VERY hungry and those nats have made it VERY angry.
Fee fie foe fum, I smell the blood of a Paliun!
Designer clothes and crazy speak, will the perfect thing to eat!
To be continued………
CONGRATULATIONS ALASKA!
Great job!!!
Yeah!!! I do work for one day and look what happens! It certainly is a warm day in Alaska…at least in many hearts!
Wow. Now if only Wyomingites would wake up. My home state of Colorado is finally getting it. Maybe we will too.
and as for miss sarah, impeach my ass. RECALL HER SORRY BUTT. Although I doubt seriously she will “hear” the message she’s being sent. Remember she said if there’s even just a little crack she’ll blast her way through.
rankstupidity (06:13:08) :
They just turned away a RINO – next election there’ll be a fresh Republican in power.
_____________________
Stevens is a RINO?? He’s a convicted republican felon thru and thru.
There’s a “fresh” democratic senator for Alaska for the next 6 years. Or are you suggesting that Lisa M. will be replaced by a different republican her next time up? Is there someone not named Palin who intends to run against her? I sure am hoping Palin runs because if she does, Lisa M is going to roast her cookies.
Congratulations Alaska!
Welcome to Blue World. It is lovely here.
What is a RINO!
Congratulations Alaska, Now we have to look at the other senate seat for 2010 don’t let Palin get it!!!!
Poor Sarah..
First she loses her chance to be VP
Then she loses the chance to go to Washington via the back door, by appointing herself in the Senate
Hopefully she will lose her re-election bid for Governor.
God is speaking, clear and concise, that he is not only shutting those doors for Sarah, but bolting them closed
Next up on her list: Author (gag me) and Reality/chat show host.
Congrats Alaska. I am so proud. What a way to celebrate Stevens birthday. Out of the senate. What do you think SP will do now and is she taking care of Alaska business yet?
Congratulations, Senator Begich!
And congratulations to Alaska, too.
Hurray to senator Begich
THANK YOU MUDFLATS- YOU DID AN EXCELLENT JOB!!!
http://WWW.BUZZWORD101.COM
Hey, I just thought of a song appropriate for the occasion:
Maybe Jimmy Buffett isn’t quite “Alaska” music but it works.
Congrats Begich!!!!
@lock pepper in honolulu (20:06:22) :
“Hey Lock Pepper — question for you: what do you call the pork cooked ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SMR, are you here? Just saw your comment from last night–I tink you talk about lau lau, braddah or sistah:
I try to find you recipe…
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I think someone posted a recipe for this over in the Forum Recipe thread a few days ago…
@Grammy in PA (05:57:11) : and Grammy in PA (08:04:36) :
The current Chair of the Anchorage Assembly will move up to Mayor (and keep his assembly seat too I think), until the Mayoral election in April. There are some good folks running (well, at least one–Eric Croft). The mayor and assembly seats are technically non-partisan, but… I think the guy moving up is a D.
And a RINO is a Republican In Name Only (counterbalanced by DINOs…).
Hm, not so sure I like my “critter”. I was fond of the snowflake quilts (albeit not mine so much…)
Thanks InJuneau for the definition of RINO. There was a comment earlier up that didn’t make sense to me, I’m not sure the person was a mudflats regular.
Grammy–Yeah that seems to be a new poster. Maybe someone who has been lurking or who knows.
Anyway, I am THRILLED that Mark has won, even if I’m late to the celebratory party (was in class last night…).
YEAH, GOING BLUE!
I’m glad for Begich and Alaska; it was a gruelling election, though, but I guess the outcome was worth the wait.
Grammy, are you and I the only ones still here? Where did everyone else go?
DonnaInMichigan (08:14:20) :
Poor Sarah..
First she loses her chance to be VP
Then she loses the chance to go to Washington via the back door, by appointing herself in the Senate
Hopefully she will lose her re-election bid for Governor.
She never had the chance to appoint herself to Steven’s seat. There would have been a special election.
What I would like to see is Monegan running against Sarah for Governor and knocking her out in the primary! Now that would be fitting justice indeed.
@katiebegood (09:34:36) :
Thank you for reminding everyone of that. I felt like I was going blue in the face a week or two ago explaining that there would have to have been a special election.
Monegan would be good if he wanted to run or Ethan again or any number of other folks, but I do hope someone takes her out of the running. I can’t see any Rs wanting to take her on, but who knows.
Symbolically sharing a piece of that cake with you. Congrats from upstate New York.
Congratulations to Mayor Begich and the wonderful people of Alaska on their statewide victory.
http://ontheseventhday.wordpress.com/
Oh hey, we’re back to snowflake quilts…
OT sorta how is the SP “house-gate” thing going?
And now there’s a NEW THREAD!
Sigh. And so poor Ted Steven’s dreams and hopes of being the first convicted felon Senator are crushed mercilessly.
I hope you noted the sarcasm.
I’m not sure there’s been any movement on Housegate, but maybe the IRS has secretly sent its investigators to Wasilla!
noodleguy–yeah, poor Ted 😉
ConvicTed Stevens Anchorage International Airport
woooohooooo Alaska!!! Blue looks good on you!!!
Ted was my next door neighbor in Fairbanks when he was the asst. D.A. there before statehood. I didn’t like him then and even less as the years went by. Alaska used to be blue but then turned totally red and I had about given up hope;moved to NM, which just turned blue and couldn’t be happier with the choice of Begich. I lived in Alaska when Begich’ father was a senator and have been waiting for another Begich ever since. Congratulations Big Time.
[…] But due to Democrat Mark Begich beating Alaskan favourite (and convicted felon) Ted Stevens in the senate race. The votes have finally been counted and Stevens has […]