Alaska Senate race

[gonzomax]

http://www.nationaljournal.com/member/politics/alaska-judge-says-murkowski-election-legit-20101211
n The election has been certified. Now Miller has 2 days to file. I am sure he will.

[Frank]

The election has been certified.
In fact, it has not. The stay of certification issued by the federal judge is still in effect. This is a decision (already reported in this thread) that Miller's appeal is groundless, and it has itself been stayed until Tuesday to allow time for an appeal.

[Chefguy]

In fact, it has not. The stay of certification issued by the federal judge is still in effect. This is a decision (already reported in this thread) that Miller's appeal is groundless, and it has itself been stayed until Tuesday to allow time for an appeal.

Yeah, it can still go to the SCOAK.

[aceplace57]

Does Lisa Murkowski have to be certified by Jan 1 or maybe Jan 15 to save her seniority and committee assignments?

Alaska needs a senator with seniority to protect their interests. Regardless of politics, it makes little sense to cripple someones effectiveness merely because some jerk won't concede. That's a little like cutting off ones nose to spite their face.

[Frank]

Does Lisa Murkowski have to be certified by Jan 1 or maybe Jan 15 to save her seniority and committee assignments?
She needs to be available to be sworn in on January 3rd, the date the 112th Congress begins, in order to save her seniority. Committee assignments are up to her party.

[Boyo Jim]

I'm skeptical the party would strip the seniority away from an incumbent just because someone was challenging the election results. Surely that's happened before. Are there any precedents that anyone knows of.

I know... don't call you Shirley.

[Frank]

I'm skeptical the party would strip the seniority away from an incumbent just because someone was challenging the election results.
If her election is not certified by noon on January 3rd, she won't be a Senator.

Yes, most of her party has been sympathetic; she was not stripped of her committee assignments and rankings when she launched her write-in campaign, she was not expelled from the party. Yet unless you're Strom Thurmond or Robert Byrd or some other senile old fart, seniority plays an extremely important role in the Senate.

[Boyo Jim]

Seriously? Do you have a cite for that?

So if Norm Coleman had come out ahead on the recount mess with Al Franken -- which took, I dunno, six months? -- he would have lost his seat and his seniority while the case was going through the courts? He would have been booted back to freshman Senator?

[Frank]

So if Norm Coleman had come out ahead on the recount mess with Al Franken -- which took, I dunno, six months? -- he would have lost his seat and his seniority while the case was going through the courts? He would have been booted back to freshman Senator?
Yes, consecutive time as a Senator is the major factor. He'd be exactly where Franken is now - six months behind the rest of his class in seniority.

If by chance, Coleman had been sworn in on the same date as another Senator who had never served in the Senate before, he'd have seniority over him/her, due to prior service in the Senate, but not over those freshman members of his class who were sworn in earlier.

Does this help? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seniority_in_the_United_States_Senate)

[Boyo Jim]

Yes, consecutive time as a Senator is the major factor. He'd be exactly where Franken is now - six months behind the rest of his class in seniority.

If by chance, Coleman had been sworn in on the same date as another Senator who had never served in the Senate before, he'd have seniority over him/her, due to prior service in the Senate, but not over those freshman members of his class who were sworn in earlier.

Does this help? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seniority_in_the_United_States_Senate)

Not really. I'm looking for something to substantiate that an incumbent senator will lose seniority simply by virtue of a challenge to the election results that drags on in the courts past January 3. Is a sitting senator sworn again every two year election cycle? Or every time he/she personally faces re-election?

I would be surprised more elections don't get contested, and specifically for the reason of disrupting the senators' senior status. If course this reason would not be publicly stated.

[Boyo Jim]

Looking around some, I found this article (http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2010/12/at-stake-in-ala.php) which suggests that more often than not seniority is not lost.

Apparently the Senate may choose to seat her on January 3 even if the election challenge is still continuing. But that may depend on the state "certifying" the election results before that date, which might not happen in Alaska.

OTOH, the article claims that the Senate Minority Leader held places open on Norm Coleman's committees so he could rejoin them if he had prevailed. Though whether he would have retained his senior status on the committees was not addressed.

[Chefguy]

Miller is taking the case to the AK Supremes. :rolleyes:

[gonzomax]

http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/miller-appeals-decision-favoring-murkowski-in-alaska-s-senate-race-20101213 heres the article. Miller wont quit.

[Really Not All That Bright]

And the Republicans thought Gore was a sore loser...

[Frank]

And the Republicans thought Gore was a sore loser...
Miller is giving every indication of taking this to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch (http://www.adn.com/2010/12/14/1603687/miller-team-weighs-options-in.html), Judge Beistline, the federal judge who issued the current stay, has asked the sides to submit arguments on whether a certification could be revoked if later found to be in error.

U.S District Judge Ralph Beistline said in a written order that certification of the race between Republicans Joe Miller and Sen. Lisa Murkowski doesn't necessarily mean the end of the court battle. He said it's possible that the certification could be revoked if it was done in error, and suggested the sides to submit legal briefings on that issue.

[Saint Cad]

http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/miller-appeals-decision-favoring-murkowski-in-alaska-s-senate-race-20101213 heres the article. Miller wont quit.

How quickly will SCOAK take this up?
When Miller takes it to the Federal court, how quickly will it be resolved?
Can AK governor appoint someone (obviously Murkowski herself) to fill the seat untill this is resolved?

[Frank]

How quickly will SCOAK take this up?
Arguments are Friday. How quickly will a decision be issued? :confused:
When Miller takes it to the Federal court, how quickly will it be resolved?
Can AK governor appoint someone (obviously Murkowski herself) to fill the seat untill this is resolved?
Insert more puzzled smilies here. Although the governor has looking into his legal options to fill the seat, I haven't seen any more on that. I suspect that Alaska vacancy law doesn't apply to this situation.

[Frank]

The Alaska Supreme Court has ruled against (http://www.adn.com/2010/12/22/1616612/supreme-court-rules-against-miller.html) Miller on all counts.

[gonzomax]

He is pondering taking it to the Supreme Court. Who is financing this fool?

[gonzomax]

Hell, this is republican against republican. How stupid can this get?

[DrDeth]

He is pondering taking it to the Supreme Court. Who is financing this fool?

Per Franks cite:
Miller has been challenging the results of the Nov. 2 election with the help of money from South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint's political action committee, the Senate Conservatives Fund.

[aceplace57]

Murkowski has started showing a fierce independent streak. Crossing the aisle and voting to get some things done.

I don't blame her. The Republicans treated her like crap. The party leaders could reign in DeMint if they wanted.

Now, she has 6 years to vote to help her state and not necessarily walk the party line. Lisa may be a much better Senator than she was previously. She has nothing to lose now.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20101223/pl_politico/46695

[hajario]

She is the only Republican to vote for all four of the following: Tax compromise, DADT repeal, START treaty, cloture on DREAM.

[Chefguy]

She has always talked the moderate line, but almost always voted the party line. I'm glad to see that she's gained some self-respect.

[descamisado]

Maybe with everthing that's happened, she'll come over to the Dark Side.

[Chefguy]

Maybe with everthing that's happened, she'll come over to the Dark Side.

Hah! Only if she's tired of political life.

[Fear Itself]

Will she run as a Republican in her next election?

[Chefguy]

Will she run as a Republican in her next election?

Almost assuredly. She could try to run as an Independent, since there are so many registered Independents in Alaska, but it would probably be seen as a shift to the left by Alaskans, who are generally unhappy with her already.

[Zakalwe]

Almost assuredly. She could try to run as an Independent, since there are so many registered Independents in Alaska, but it would probably be seen as a shift to the left by Alaskans, who are generally unhappy with her already.? They are? Then why did so many of them write her name down?

This is a serious question. I live in a state as far away from Alaska as it's possible to get and still be in the US.

[Chefguy]

? They are? Then why did so many of them write her name down?

This is a serious question. I live in a state as far away from Alaska as it's possible to get and still be in the US.

Because the idiot she was running against was too much of a crackpot for most people and had possible pending felony charges against him.

[Marley23]

Miller is abandoning his effort to stop Murkowski from being certified as the winner of the election. The state supreme court had ruled against him on that anyway. He is still suing in federal court.

[Boyo Jim]

Then what is he suing for? Dies he want her to be un-certified later after he wins in court?

[Fear Itself]

He claims the suit is now about preserving the integrity of the election process (http://joemiller.us/2010/12/miller-will-not-oppose-certification-of-u-s-senate-race/):
“After careful consideration and seeking the counsel of people whose opinion I respect and trust, I have decided that the federal case must go forward. The integrity of the election is vital and ultimately the rule of law must be our standard. Nevertheless, I have also decided to withdraw our opposition to the certification of the election, ensuring that Alaska will have its full delegation seated when the 112th Congress convenes next month.” Miller added, “This decision will allow Alaskans to focus on bringing fairness and transparency to our elections process without distraction of the certification issue.”

[Marley23]

He's asking the federal courts to order a recount of all the ballots because the state wrongly awarded votes to Murkowski. In the state lawsuit, he said the court should stop Murkowski from being seated because the results hadn't been resolved. He's given up on that because the courts told him to get bent. The federal courts aren't buying it either and there's no way they are going to order a recount, or for that matter, that his challenges and other claims are going to succeed or overturn the result. But he's not ready to give up for whatever reason. Here are some details. (http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/12/27/joe_miller_to_keep_fighting_in_federal_court_108359.html)

[hajario]

Then what is he suing for? Dies he want her to be un-certified later after he wins in court?

Yeah. He wants to win and then have her unseated. He also, humanitarian that he is, wants to make sure that never again is someone treated as unfairly as he was.

[Chefguy]

He claims the suit is now about preserving the integrity of the election process (http://joemiller.us/2010/12/miller-will-not-oppose-certification-of-u-s-senate-race/):

After careful consideration and seeking the counsel of people whose opinion I respect and trust. . .

So I guess he had a beer and talked to his cat.

[Boyo Jim]

Cats will betray people for a chicken nugget. Maybe his dog.

[Zakalwe]

Cats will betray people for a chicken nugget. Maybe his dog.Dude, dogs are nowhere near picky enough to require a whole chicken nugget...

[Boyo Jim]

I misspoke, I meant I would betray anyone for a chicken nugget.

[Frank]

The federal judge has not only lifted his stay, but also has dismissed the case.

The elections director has certified Murkowski's win, and tomorrow Parnell will sign it, and then the paperwork will be hand carried to D.C.

Miller appears to be surprised at the dismissal. I think he expected that the stay would be lifted, but that he would be able to continue his arguments. He is considering his options.

Now that it's all over, I've got to say that as a fairly liberal Democrat, I'm not delighted to have Murkowski reelected, but I am 100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 times happier to have her in the Senate than Miller.

[Chefguy]

The federal judge has not only lifted his stay, but also has dismissed the case.

The elections director has certified Murkowski's win, and tomorrow Parnell will sign it, and then the paperwork will be hand carried to D.C.

Miller appears to be surprised at the dismissal. I think he expected that the stay would be lifted, but that he would be able to continue his arguments. He is considering his options.

Now that it's all over, I've got to say that as a fairly liberal Democrat, I'm not delighted to have Murkowski reelected, but I am 100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 times happier to have her in the Senate than Miller.

Ditto that. As I've said before, Murkowski is a moderate, which is fine with me as long as she votes her conscience and not the party line.

[Fear Itself]

Miller concedes defeat to Murkowski (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12101976)

[Saint Cad]

Ditto that. As I've said before, Murkowski is a moderate, which is fine with me as long as she votes her conscience and not the party line.

She introduced a bill to give DC a representative. Considering that the rep would probably be a Dem, I would say that's not the party line.

[Chefguy]

Miller concedes defeat to Murkowski (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12101976)

He's not only conceded, but he's dropped all further efforts to find any remedy in the federal courts. It's only taken him months to figure out what everybody else knew a week after the election. :rolleyes:

[Boyo Jim]

As the Senate is such a deliberative body, he would have fit right in.

[Chefguy]

As the Senate is such a deliberative body, he would have fit right in.

And so ends the thread.

[Fear Itself]

He's not only conceded, but he's dropped all further efforts to find any remedy in the federal courts. It's only taken him months to figure out what everybody else knew a week after the election. :rolleyes:I'm sure the timing of his concession had more to do with the slowing pace of contributions than anything else. He doesn't want to spend his entire war chest on a losing battle, so when the dollars stopped coming in, he pulled the plug. I am sure he still has several hundred thousand dollars in his campaign/litigation fund.

[Chefguy]

I'm sure the timing of his concession had more to do with the slowing pace of contributions than anything else. He doesn't want to spend his entire war chest on a losing battle, so when the dollars stopped coming in, he pulled the plug. I am sure he still has several hundred thousand dollars in his campaign/litigation fund.

I would also suspect that the national and local party orgs want their money back.

[Fear Itself]

I would also suspect that the national and local party orgs want their money back.And people in Hell want ice water.

[Chefguy]

Does anybody think that this guy can possibly ressurect his reputation and political "career"? I don't see it happening.

[Boyo Jim]

Does it matter? All he needs is gall and a couple of fat cat ultra conservative whacko sugar daddies. Christine O'Donnell has run for Senate 3 times now. She'll do it again unless she's in prison for fraud.

[aceplace57]

The Federal judge suggested that the Alaska law needs some rewriting for clarification. I read an article that said the Governor plans to introduce something into the next state legislature.

They got lucky this time that the Federal judge went along with the state's use of older case law. They need to get this fixed before another write in campaign occurs. Who knows, Lisa may need another write in campaign in six years to get reelected. :p