# Alaska Senate race
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607
**Category:** Politics & Elections
**Created:** [August 27, 2010, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607 "2010-08-27T01:03:44Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 12
### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2010, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/221 "2010-11-22T18:06:36Z")
Senator and noted major asshole Jim DeMint is [still raising money](http://www.adn.com/2010/11/21/1566331/demint-still-raising-funds-to.html) to try to overturn Murky’s win in Alaska, all the while making overtures to her just in case it doesn’t pan out for his ego. She isn’t buying it. I think that even though she has stated she will return to being a Republican once reseated, she is a prime candidate for a swing vote for the Dems if they can ever break the mindless lockstep of the right. I fear the republic is on a downward spiral, however. Our congressional members have become very adept at politics, while losing the ability to govern.
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### Author:  [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2010, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/222 "2010-11-22T18:09:14Z")
Why would DeMint do this? It’s a near zero percent chance of a win.
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### Author:  [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2010, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/223 "2010-11-22T18:28:12Z")
> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> Senator and noted major asshole Jim DeMint is [still raising money](http://www.adn.com/2010/11/21/1566331/demint-still-raising-funds-to.html) to try to overturn Murky’s win in Alaska, all the while making overtures to her just in case it doesn’t pan out for his ego. She isn’t buying it. I think that even though she has stated she will return to being a Republican once reseated, she is a prime candidate for a swing vote for the Dems if they can ever break the mindless lockstep of the right. I fear the republic is on a downward spiral, however. Our congressional members have become very adept at politics, while losing the ability to govern.
Ability? They’ve lost the desire to even attempt. And the problem is that a good chunk of their constituents see the lack of governance as a positive, not a negative.
> [@hajario](#):
>
> Why would DeMint do this? It’s a near zero percent chance of a win.
He recently managed to bitchslap Droopy Mitch into line - maybe he wants to see if he can get a second senator under his thumb.
-Joe
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/224 "2010-11-22T18:42:41Z")
All I can figure is that it arises from a black-and-white, with-us-or-against-us mentality. They were trying to beat Murkowski before, therefore she’s the enemy, therefore she’s absolute evil, therefore she must be defeated at all costs.
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### Author:  [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/225 "2010-11-22T19:04:46Z")
> [@hajario](#):
>
> Why would DeMint do this? It’s a near zero percent chance of a win.
If he can get it into the court system, he can win it. Get it to the Supreme Court and Miller would be a lock.
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2010, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/226 "2010-11-22T19:32:47Z")
Did you see the Federal judges injunction/stay as a warning to Alaska?
They better take Miller’s legal challenge seriously or else?
I can see the Feds itching to jump into this unless Alaska treads carefully.
If this gets into Fed court it could get ugly. Is a write in vote even constitutional? I rather not see this challenge played out.
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### Author:  [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2010, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/227 "2010-11-22T20:21:53Z")
I hope that DeMint loses something that he really, really wants for lack of one GOP vote.
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2010, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/228 "2010-11-22T21:34:55Z")
Of course a write-in vote is Constitutional. How could it not be?
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2010, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/229 "2010-11-22T21:42:38Z")
That was just an example.
If this gets in Fed Court there’s no telling what sort of desperate argument Miller and Demint’s side will try.
I’m baffled why he hasn’t shook Lisa’s hand and lived to fight another day. Sore losers don’t get far in politics.
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### Author:  [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2010, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/230 "2010-11-22T22:05:30Z")
> [@aceplace57](#):
>
> That was just an example.
>
> If this gets in Fed Court there’s no telling what sort of desperate argument Miller and Demint’s side will try.
>
> I’m baffled why he hasn’t shook Lisa’s hand and lived to fight another day. Sore losers don’t get far in politics.
The whole Teabagger movement is built around nothing but sore losers. He’s King Teabagger - he’s supposed to not be a sore loser?
-Joe
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2010, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/231 "2010-11-22T22:07:37Z")
I don’t care if it gets locked up in the courts forever. It’s one less vote for the Pubs in the Senate.
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### Author:  [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2010, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/232 "2010-11-23T00:56:07Z")
> [@aceplace57](#):
>
> That was just an example.
>
> If this gets in Fed Court there’s no telling what sort of desperate argument Miller and Demint’s side will try.
>
> I’m baffled why he hasn’t shook Lisa’s hand and lived to fight another day. Sore losers don’t get far in politics.
Because there won’t be another day for someone like him no matter what he does now.
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### Author:  [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2010, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/233 "2010-11-23T01:16:09Z")
> [@DigitalC](#):
>
> Because there won’t be another day for someone like him no matter what he does now.
I agree. This is his big chance, probably his only chance, and people are, for whatever reason, willing to throw money at him to pursue it. I’d likely do the same, even though in my heart I knew it was over.
It will do neither him nor Palin any good in Alaska politics if his court challenges wind up costing Murkowski her seniority, however.
There is not yet any breaking news that he has filed for a recount today, which was the judge’s requirement to maintain the injunction. What time is it in Alaska?
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/234 "2010-11-23T15:24:47Z")
> [@Frank](#):
>
> I agree. This is his big chance, probably his only chance, and people are, for whatever reason, willing to throw money at him to pursue it. I’d likely do the same, even though in my heart I knew it was over.
>
> It will do neither him nor Palin any good in Alaska politics if his court challenges wind up costing Murkowski her seniority, however.
>
> There is not yet any breaking news that he has filed for a recount today, which was the judge’s requirement to maintain the injunction. What time is it in Alaska?
Let the [circus](http://www.adn.com/2010/11/22/1567823/miller-files-vote-suit-in-state.html) begin! Miller has complied with the federal judge’s order and filed suit with the state, thus triggering the second half of the mess requiring the state to withhold certification of the election. His assertions are just bizarre, and it’s apparent that this is just a loser poking the eye of the electorate.
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### Author:  [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/235 "2010-11-23T16:36:00Z")
Miller claims you can not interpret the name. It has to be exactly Lisa Murkowski. If they put a y at the end it should be thrown out. One signature had a cursive L and the rest was block letters. His team felt that should be thrown out too. He wants the job very badly.
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/236 "2010-11-23T17:22:50Z")
> [@gonzomax](#):
>
> Miller claims you can not interpret the name. It has to be exactly Lisa Murkowski. If they put a y at the end it should be thrown out. One signature had a cursive L and the rest was block letters. His team felt that should be thrown out too. He wants the job very badly.
Correction: he wants the instant retirement check and the lifetime healthcare for serving one term very badly.
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### Author:  [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2010, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/237 "2010-11-23T18:51:47Z")
> [@gonzomax](#):
>
> Miller claims you can not interpret the name. It has to be exactly Lisa Murkowski. If they put a y at the end it should be thrown out. One signature had a cursive L and the rest was block letters. His team felt that should be thrown out too. He wants the job very badly.
I usually write the opposite - block capital letter and cursive to finish the name.
Oh no, I won’t get to vote in Alaska!
-Joe
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### Author:  [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2010, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/238 "2010-11-24T02:49:49Z")
> [@gonzomax](#):
>
> Miller claims you can not interpret the name. It has to be exactly Lisa Murkowski. If they put a y at the end it should be thrown out. One signature had a cursive L and the rest was block letters. His team felt that should be thrown out too. He wants the job very badly.
Isn’t he still about 2,000 votes short even if they throw out every single vote he challenged?
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### Author:  [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)
#### Post date: [November 24, 2010, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/239 "2010-11-24T02:59:33Z")
> [@waterj2](#):
>
> Isn’t he still about 2,000 votes short even if they throw out every single vote he challenged?
Supposedly yes, but now he’s claiming that there was something wrong with the machine counting of ALL the ballots, not just the ones that had a write in for Murkowski on them.
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/240 "2010-12-04T18:44:19Z")
Miller is now [under investigation](http://www.adn.com/2010/12/03/1586076/millers-missing-borough-e-mails.html) for possibly deleting up to 15,000 emails when he suddenly resigned his position with the North Star Borough. This is a felony offense, if true.
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