# 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:** 5
### Author:  [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)
#### Post date: [October 26, 2010, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/81 "2010-10-26T22:45:13Z")
Yeah, I like the part where he bought that 40 acres and house during the same time period he was working as a lawyer but filed “indigent” in order to get free hunting licenses. What a shitheels.
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [October 26, 2010, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/82 "2010-10-26T23:25:34Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#):
>
> Yeah, I like the part where he bought that 40 acres and house during the same time period he was working as a lawyer but filed “indigent” in order to get free hunting licenses. What a shitheels.
My brother has done shit like that. It really pisses me off. He has a house near Anchorage and a very nice cabin on a remote lake, several boats, snow machines, trucks, etc., yet claims residency in Glenallen and lists his possessions as “one canoe”.
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### Author:  [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)
#### Post date: [October 27, 2010, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/83 "2010-10-27T01:16:17Z")
I’m just impressed that Rachel Maddow managed to ask Miller any questions at all.
And why are all her live shots when on the road from bars?
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### Author:  [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)
#### Post date: [October 27, 2010, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/84 "2010-10-27T10:14:53Z")
There’s no penalties for lying though, right? He’s still gonna win.
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [October 27, 2010, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/85 "2010-10-27T13:33:21Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#):
>
> There’s no penalties for lying though, right? He’s still gonna win.
Very much in doubt at this point. The winning candidate must have at least 40% of the vote. According to a recent poll, Murkowski has 35%, Miller has 30%, and the Dem has 27%. In the case of a runoff election between the two highest vote-getters, Dems would swing to Murky, as Miller is too far to the right.
Speaking of lying, [the documents](http://alaskadispatch.com/dispatches/politics/7283-miller-i-lied-about-accessing-all-of-the-computers) have been released.
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### Author:  [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)
#### Post date: [October 27, 2010, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/86 "2010-10-27T14:42:24Z")
> [@asterion](#):
>
> I’m just impressed that Rachel Maddow managed to ask Miller any questions at all.
>
> And why are all her live shots when on the road from bars?
and he answered some!!!
she did rather well up there. i enjoyed the tank segment. his look when she asked him if “gay could be cured” was priceless.
i guess some people like diners… some people like bars. she does have a “cocktail hour” segment sometimes.
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2010, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/87 "2010-10-29T13:29:50Z")
The [latest ploy](http://community.adn.com/adn/node/154002) by Palin and friends.
The Alaska Supremes overruled a lower court judge who ruled that voters couldn’t have access to a list of write-in candidates on election day. In response, a local right-wing asshole by the name of Dan Fagan, a failed TV reporter, and now conservative radio yap-show host, encouraged people to place their names into contention for the seat as write-in candidates. Over 100 people managed to get their names on the list before closing time. They were hoping people named Murkowski or at least Lisa would show up. Palin’s people are dubbing it Operation Alaska Chaos, and claiming it’s civil disobedience in response to what they claim is an illegal ruling by the ASC.
While this is not an illegal act on the part of the Tea Party, it points out the scummy tactics and high school mentality of these people. Palin’s hatred of Murkowski, who in a recent debate said she could not support Palin for president , knows no limits.
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### Author:  [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2010, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/88 "2010-10-29T16:06:52Z")
Except that by making it harder to vote for Murkowski makes it more likely that McAdams will win. I don’t understand why the Alaska Supreme Court overturned the lower court, as I think the lower court make the proper ruling in accordance with Alaskan law. Anyway, this Republican civil war in Alaska could have them sending a second Democratic senator.
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2010, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/89 "2010-10-29T16:26:36Z")
> [@asterion](#):
>
> Except that by making it harder to vote for Murkowski makes it more likely that McAdams will win. I don’t understand why the Alaska Supreme Court overturned the lower court, as I think the lower court make the proper ruling in accordance with Alaskan law. Anyway, this Republican civil war in Alaska could have them sending a second Democratic senator.
That would be the ultimate irony for Palin: being the architect of her own defeat. The court decision was apparently a temporary hold on the lower court decision in order to allow the election officials to compile a list. They are now allowing arguments from the State as to the legality of the decision.
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### Author:  [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2010, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/90 "2010-10-29T16:51:33Z")
I heard about this list of write-in candidates thing – what the heck does that mean? Isn’t the official list of write-in candidates called the ballot? Write-in candidates are meant to be anyone you want to write in. I don’t know what the election law in Alaska is, but this doesn’t make any sense at all to me.
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### Author:  [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2010, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/91 "2010-10-29T16:58:49Z")
Write-in candidates still need to be registered as such. The state doesn’t have to bother counting votes for Mickey Mouse or Gandalf or you voting for yourself or whatever unless those people are pre-registered to be write-in candidates.
From a practical sense, if you haven’t bothered registering yourself then there’s no sense in counting votes for you since you’ve shown no interest in taking the office.
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### Author:  [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2010, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/92 "2010-10-29T17:11:49Z")
I guess that makes sense. It never occurred to me before. Thx.
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### Author:  [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2010, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/93 "2010-10-29T19:01:17Z")
> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> While this is not an illegal act on the part of the Tea Party, it points out the scummy tactics and high school mentality of these people. Palin’s hatred of Murkowski, who in a recent debate said she could not support Palin for president , knows no limits.
Were I an Alaska voter, I would see this as an attempt by Palin to subvert the will of the electorate, and to try to damage the democratic process.
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### Author:  [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2010, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/94 "2010-10-29T19:55:48Z")
> [@Jophiel](#):
>
> Write-in candidates still need to be registered as such. The state doesn’t have to bother counting votes for Mickey Mouse or Gandalf or you voting for yourself or whatever unless those people are pre-registered to be write-in candidates.
Missouri is the same way, as is (from memory) Colorado. An interesting exception in Missouri is if there is no candidate listed on the ballot for an office.
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#):
>
> Were I an Alaska voter, I would see this as an attempt by Palin to subvert the will of the electorate, and to try to damage the democratic process.
I agree. From this distance, all indications are that Miller is suddenly sinking like a stone. This can’t help.
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2010, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/95 "2010-10-29T21:24:33Z")
> [@Frank](#):
>
> Missouri is the same way, as is (from memory) Colorado. An interesting exception in Missouri is if there is no candidate listed on the ballot for an office.
> I agree. From this distance, all indications are that Miller is suddenly sinking like a stone. This can’t help.
If Murky wins, I hope she rubs Palin’s nose in it, but good.
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2010, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/96 "2010-10-29T23:33:35Z")
Even more so if McAdams wins, which is a longshot, but made more likely by shenanigans like this.
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### Author:  [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2010, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/97 "2010-10-30T11:07:39Z")
In case anyone is curious, the write-in list is [here](http://www.elections.alaska.gov/ci_pg_cl_2010_genr.php).
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### Author:  [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2010, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/98 "2010-10-30T15:07:10Z")
In a new poll, [Joe Miller has dropped to third](http://www.haysresearch.com/page2/page30/page30.html?wpisrc=nl_pmfix), behind Murkowski and McAdams.
Perhaps that is due to [Miller’s resemblance](http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/afternoon-fix/afternoon-fix-alaska-poll-show.html)to the demented kinapper played by [Phil Hartman on “Third Rock From The Sun”.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guNa-Yj7714)
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### Author:  [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2010, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/99 "2010-10-30T20:51:10Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#):
>
> In a new poll, [Joe Miller has dropped to third](http://www.haysresearch.com/page2/page30/page30.html?wpisrc=nl_pmfix), behind Murkowski and McAdams.
>
> Perhaps that is due to [Miller’s resemblance](http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/afternoon-fix/afternoon-fix-alaska-poll-show.html)to the demented kinapper played by [Phil Hartman on “Third Rock From The Sun”.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guNa-Yj7714)
I’m looking for a guy named Harry!
So, is Alaska a runoff, or is it just top of the three takes it?
-Joe
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaska-senate-race/551607/100 "2010-10-30T20:55:31Z")
> [@Merijeek](#):
>
> I’m looking for a guy named Harry!
>
> So, is Alaska a runoff, or is it just top of the three takes it?
>
> -Joe
Runoff, if nobody gets 40%.
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