Letter to the Editor
Stevens' wane
Published Monday, October 6, 2008
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To the editor:
This is the first time I will not vote for Sen. Stevens since moving to Alaska in 1965. I believe in “innocent until proven guilty,” but with Senate rules and his current struggles, his power and ability to be effective in Congress has seriously decreased. With the top rank in the Senate being No. 1, his power went from No. 9 in 2006 to No. 51 in 2007. His ability to influence Senate legislation is now No. 57. (See Congress.org.)
I will vote for Mark Begich for the United States Senate in November. He is a moderate Democrat from a family with a history of service to Alaska. Mark supports Alaska projects such as green energy and drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge responsibly.
As Anchorage mayor, he has shown that he works for all the people. He has proven his ability to handle demands from all sides effectively. As mayor, his new budget was presented timely as his campaign continued in good order. In addition, he has already been making Alaska’s case to the leaders of both parties of Congress, outlining our energy plight and special situations.
This summer, Fairbanks was losing physicians at an alarming rate due to the low Medicare reimbursement rate. Although Tricare (military “Medicare”) had already received an increase in the state, Sen. Stevens had to fight his own party to get the same relief for us. The president vetoed his bill and he had to enlist the other side of the aisle to get the veto overturned. It can only get worse. I believe our long-serving senator will find a better way of representing Alaska outside of Congress.
I must consider Alaska’s fate should we not send a new, untarnished senator of the Democratic majority to Washington in November. Mark Begich has proven that he can work well with all of Congress. My children and grandchildren will have a better future for it. Consider the full picture when you cast your vote.
Community Discussion
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Sen. Stevens already has lost much of his power having lost his chairmanship of powerful committees. As a Republican in a Democratic controlled senate he will have little power. So even if he beats the corruption charge he isn't worth a great deal in cold political logic.
Mark Begich will be a Democrat in the Democratically controlled senate, which will give him some power. He is young and likely to acquire more power to use for Alaska as time passes.
Like Ronald Regan or McCain never powdered their noses before appearing on screen... I don't see how make up and politics need to mix unless you are Sarah Palin with her lipstick!
Sen. Stevens' ability to "bring home the bacon" was doomed whether this VECO scandal had come out or not. With the spotlight on Sarah Palin, and with John McCain's anti-pork stance, no AK politician would be able to get away with the earmarks Stevens has accomplished in the past. The rest of America is wise to the fact that Alaskans receive more federal subsidies, per capita, than any other state in the union. (So much for "less government.") Anything he does now is going to be put under a microscope. Besides, he's what -- 83 years old? -- and acts like a crotchety old uncle that everyone tolerates at holidays. Frankly, he's become a liability rather than an asset. His list of accomplishments is long, and we owe him thanks for his service to AK. But it's time to let Uncle Ted enjoy his much-deserved retirement.
Let's send Mark Begich to Washington. He'll be good for Alaska.
CEO, while we're looking for answers maybe we can gat the truth about some of Ted's land deals in Anchorage and Seward that made him or his friends millions. Oh and lets not passup the chance to get some answers on all of the money that went to Alaska fisherman who then hired his son Ben as a consultant. I too have voted for Ted for over 30 years, but I say its time for some new faces in Washington and lets not stop at Ted!
ArcticManMike - They already have with the $850 billion bailout. They need an additional 151 billion to appease and buy votes to pass the legislation.
stevens has been tied to the tracks and I am not waiting for the train. Begich is not equiped to be a senator. Honestly, his ads have made me upset at the least, how will I know he is about to say something of importance, when he starts of with "I remember what my daddy used to say about this...."? His ads ride on his daddy's coat tail and that shows no mind for the issues facing our state, none. I am sorry about your dad BUT what are you going to do to improve things during your time in office?
Taking that aside, I want to hear some one from his camp explain his brother and the HARP project and the letter he wrote about it that almost is some kind of mantra about mind control(!).
I know what to expect from Stevens, I have no idea what not to expect from Begich.
Well, the News-Miner is feeling mighty protective of the Boy Mayor.
Let's try again, shall we?
1. Begich has been accused of doing a land rezone that helped his former business partners- and fleeced the taxpayers by millions of dollars. That is well documented. Google Kyle Hopkins, ADN, Begich, Windfall:
"At issue: Begich's role in a land deal in Midtown that gave a huge windfall to Rubini and Hyde, with whom Begich was business partners in a pair of Anchorage office buildings until last year."
2. Begich allowed the IM program to be returned to Anchorage. How likely is it that the boy mayor will help Alaskans in their fight against stupid federal mandates?
3. The boy mayor is alleged to wear make up. I have this from an impeccable source who saw the make up being applied. Is that something that the News-Miner feels that they need to delete? The question posed in the deleted post is if Begich is really that vain.
That's it. The News-Miner is looking awfully partisan here...
lets face it the only way Alaskans can win is, Stevens is on the ballot, even if found guilty, vote him in and then let the Governor appoint someone to fill his position. The trick is to think outside of the two candidates.
Darfur- You've hit the nail on the head. Let the governor appoint a replacement, but there will have to be another election within 90 days of the appointment. We just have to hope that the new candidates are better than what we have now.
Stevens can still get things done, after all he knows where the BBQ grills are buried in Washington.
Alaska should secede. After reading various posts in and about Alaska's newspapers I concur with the Palins Alaska should secede from the union.I have never seen such idiotic posts and shallow responses in any newspaper forum ever! The only thing that comes close is Idaho newspapers, oh, your governor is from there that explains everything.
Begich is not our only other option.
BOB BIRD, the OTHER conservative (his invitation to this debate was withdrawn by the chamber even though he is a viable candidate and is on the ballot) is quite an acceptable alternative choice. He is a man of integrity and has been teaching high school students the Declaration and Constition for over 30 years.
Vote your conscience...learn about ALL the candidates and make an educated vote.
What is so hard about voting for someone. They ALL ly. They say what they think you want to hear and when voted into office they do the opposite. They all want tax breaks for the $250,000 households because they are in that tax bracket so they get the break. Piss on the low income and poverty households.
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