# Why the FUCK is MSNBC giving free air to Saxby Chambliss via Sarah Palin's speeches? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 1, 2008, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-fuck-is-msnbc-giving-free-air-to-saxby-chambliss-via-sarah-palins-speeches/475182 "2008-12-01T14:15:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-fuck-is-msnbc-giving-free-air-to-saxby-chambliss-via-sarah-palins-speeches/475182/21 "2008-12-02T17:31:20Z")
[Murkowski’s letting Sarah know what’s what.](http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1208/16112.html) > [@](#): > > Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski has some Republican-to-Republican advice for Gov. Sarah Palin: If you want to make a run at the White House, keep your hands off my Senate seat. > > Murkowski, up for reelection in 2010, is nervously awaiting word on whether John McCain’s former running mate will run against her in the GOP primary. But she says Palin is the one who should be nervous. > > “I can guarantee it would be a very tough election,” Murkowski said in an interview. > > Palin is also up for reelection in 2010. She could run for a second term as governor, but the Senate holds some obvious attractions: a national platform, and with it the chance to beef up a thin résumé and rebuild damaged credibility on foreign policy and other issues. > > But Murkowski says a run against her would be fraught with risk. If Palin lost, her stock would drop just ahead of a potential 2012 presidential run. And if she won, she’d be a backbencher in a chamber that is dominated by seniority — and would have to begin her presidential campaign as soon as she took office. > > “If she wants to be president, I don’t think the way to the presidency is a short stop in the United States Senate,” Murkowski said. > > … Chefguy, how is Murkowski seen in Alaska? Has she done a good job so far? Is she a tough fighter? Would Palin have an “easier” time if she forgot about the Senate and just ran for re-election? (easier is in quotes because I assume the opposition is now energized and ready and neither would be as easy as she might have once thought) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-fuck-is-msnbc-giving-free-air-to-saxby-chambliss-via-sarah-palins-speeches/475182/22 "2008-12-02T20:20:24Z")
**Dio** : the letter should be in the Opinion section of the [Anchorage Daily News](http://www.adn.com). Free registration may be required. Ah, the saga of Lisa Murkowski. Lisa was serving in the state legislature as the majority leader when her father (Frank Murkowski) abdicated his Senate seat and decided to run for governor, ending up as the most hated governor in the United States in only four years, and losing his seat to Palin. A practicing attorney, Lisa had no political experience to speak of prior to running for the state house. One of the first chores Frank had to undertake was to appoint his successor in the U.S. Senate (that law has been changed due to what followed). After much coyness about trying to choose from so many qualified candidates, he appointed his own daughter to his position. The outrage from all quarters was intense and justified, and so started his steady decline into "worst governor of Alaska _ever_ status. The mystery was how he ever managed to get elected in the first place, since he accomplished nothing of note in all those years in Washington, and was, after 20-some years there, completely out of touch with state issues. On to Lisa. Everybody thought she would fall on her ass and be an easy mark for the first Republican or serious Democrat to challenge her. Politicians were salivating like pit bulls at a Palin rally. Surprising to all was her solid performance during the remainder of her father’s term, and she not only slaughtered the Republican primary challengers, she also won fairly handily in the full election cycle over Tony Knowles, a two-term governor of Alaska and two-term mayor of Anchorage. She seems to have her own mind and votes her conscience rather than the party line on many issues. I would consider her a moderate who keeps a low profile and someone who is serious about doing a good job for her constituency. As to whether or not she could beat Bible Spice, it would indeed be a tough battle and I would be loathe to try to predict the outcome. I would change parties to vote for her in the primary (just to help beat that cooz), and over any Democrat that I can think would run against her. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-fuck-is-msnbc-giving-free-air-to-saxby-chambliss-via-sarah-palins-speeches/475182/23 "2008-12-02T20:28:41Z")
Thanks for that synopsis Chefguy. Nice to hear that Murkowski is doing a good job for the people of Alaska and doesn’t seem to be a party-line hack. Have there been any rumblings of Walt Monegan running for Governor since he’s so popular there? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2008, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-fuck-is-msnbc-giving-free-air-to-saxby-chambliss-via-sarah-palins-speeches/475182/24 "2008-12-02T21:26:22Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > Thanks for that synopsis Chefguy. Nice to hear that Murkowski is doing a good job for the people of Alaska and doesn’t seem to be a party-line hack. > > Have there been any rumblings of Walt Monegan running for Governor since he’s so popular there? Nobody can beat Palin at this point, and I doubt that she’s naive enough to screw up that badly by the next election. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-fuck-is-msnbc-giving-free-air-to-saxby-chambliss-via-sarah-palins-speeches/475182/25 "2008-12-03T01:21:16Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > But Saxby’s a Republican, that’s all that counts. Oh, Well, when you’re looking at a possible Democratic supermajority in the Senate, with a Democratic House and a Democratic President-Elect, yea, that is all that counts. As of right now, 22% of the vote is in and Chambliss is up 65% to 35%. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-fuck-is-msnbc-giving-free-air-to-saxby-chambliss-via-sarah-palins-speeches/475182/26 "2008-12-03T01:24:50Z")
[QUOTE=Equipoise] But Saxby’s a Republican, that’s all that counts. Oh, and the TV cameras. [/QUOTE] > [@Weirddave](#): > > Well, when you’re looking at a possible Democratic supermajority in the Senate, with a Democratic House and a Democratic President-Elect, yea, that is all that counts. What he said. It’s not like the Democrat big guns aren’t campaigning in Georgia too. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-fuck-is-msnbc-giving-free-air-to-saxby-chambliss-via-sarah-palins-speeches/475182/27 "2008-12-03T02:13:30Z")
Yeah, but the Democrats weren’t campaigning for a scumbag. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-fuck-is-msnbc-giving-free-air-to-saxby-chambliss-via-sarah-palins-speeches/475182/28 "2008-12-03T02:33:56Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Yeah, but the Democrats weren’t campaigning for a scumbag. Why is Chambliss a scumbag? Just because he’s Republican? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-fuck-is-msnbc-giving-free-air-to-saxby-chambliss-via-sarah-palins-speeches/475182/29 "2008-12-03T02:36:51Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Why is Chambliss a scumbag? Just because he’s Republican? Try reading the rest of the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-fuck-is-msnbc-giving-free-air-to-saxby-chambliss-via-sarah-palins-speeches/475182/30 "2008-12-03T03:00:17Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Why is Chambliss a scumbag? Just because he’s Republican? Because he insulted Max Cleland (or at least that’s the take from the Left)\* when running against him for the seat in the first place, although remember you’re talking to DtC, in his world everyone with an (R) by their name is a scumbag. - He ran an ad stating that Cleland was soft on terrorism. Cleland is a Vietnam Vet who lost 3 limbs in the service of his country. Now, I don’t know if Cleland was soft on terrorism(I suspect not), but while I honor his service, and his sacrifice, I don’t necessarily think that they make him immune to criticism 30 years later. It’s a Senate race, not a Sunday School picnic. I also note that many of the same people who squeal about this issue had no qualms going after John McCain with both barrels. As usual, it all comes down to who’s ox is being gored. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-fuck-is-msnbc-giving-free-air-to-saxby-chambliss-via-sarah-palins-speeches/475182/31 "2008-12-03T03:07:21Z")
Looks like Chambliss won. God, I hate that sack of shit. ---
**Author:** ![ReuvenB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@ReuvenB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReuvenB)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-fuck-is-msnbc-giving-free-air-to-saxby-chambliss-via-sarah-palins-speeches/475182/32 "2008-12-03T03:11:40Z")
> [@Weirddave](#): > > Because he insulted Max Cleland (or at least that’s the take from the Left)\* when running against him for the seat in the first place, although remember you’re talking to DtC, in his world everyone with an (R) by their name is a scumbag. Actually, I’ve met him in person. He really is a scumbag. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-fuck-is-msnbc-giving-free-air-to-saxby-chambliss-via-sarah-palins-speeches/475182/33 "2008-12-03T03:17:49Z")
> [@XWalrus2](#): > > Actually, I’ve met him in person. He really is a scumbag. I don’t know, I’ll take your word for it. He probably is, he seems unpopular with the left and the right (I’ve read a lot of blogging lately about conservatives in Georgia holding their nose and voting for Chambliss to prevent a supermajority, not because they particularly like Chambliss). ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-fuck-is-msnbc-giving-free-air-to-saxby-chambliss-via-sarah-palins-speeches/475182/34 "2008-12-03T03:23:04Z")
> [@Weirddave](#): > > Because he insulted Max Cleland (or at least that’s the take from the Left)\* when running against him for the seat in the first place, although remember you’re talking to DtC, in his world everyone with an (R) by their name is a scumbag. This is bullshit. > [@](#): > > - He ran an ad stating that Cleland was soft on terrorism. Cleland is a Vietnam Vet who lost 3 limbs in the service of his country. Now, I don’t know if Cleland was soft on terrorism(I suspect not), but while I honor his service, and his sacrifice, I don’t necessarily think that they make him immune to criticism 30 years later. It’s a Senate race, not a Sunday School picnic. I also note that many of the same people who squeal about this issue had no qualms going after John McCain with both barrels. As usual, it all comes down to who’s ox is being gored. He ran an ad which morphed an image of Cleland into an image of Osama bin Laden. Tell the whole truth, dude. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-fuck-is-msnbc-giving-free-air-to-saxby-chambliss-via-sarah-palins-speeches/475182/35 "2008-12-03T03:49:03Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > He ran an ad which morphed an image of Cleland into an image of Osama bin Laden. Tell the whole truth, dude. That’ll do, pig, that’ll do. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-fuck-is-msnbc-giving-free-air-to-saxby-chambliss-via-sarah-palins-speeches/475182/36 "2008-12-03T13:41:00Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > This is bullshit. > > He ran an ad which morphed an image of Cleland into an image of Osama bin Laden. Tell the whole truth, dude. I forgot that commandment… Thou Shalt not Morph. Sorry for the religious referance… I couldn’t think of a good secular one that would more likely meet your aproval. [Here’s what Slate had to say about that infamous ad.](http://slate.msn.com/id/2098171/) ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-fuck-is-msnbc-giving-free-air-to-saxby-chambliss-via-sarah-palins-speeches/475182/37 "2008-12-03T14:03:48Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > This is bullshit. > > He ran an ad which morphed an image of Cleland into an image of Osama bin Laden. Tell the whole truth, dude. Don’t forget Saddam Hussein. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-fuck-is-msnbc-giving-free-air-to-saxby-chambliss-via-sarah-palins-speeches/475182/38 "2008-12-03T14:18:28Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > I forgot that commandment… Thou Shalt not Morph. Sorry for the religious referance… I couldn’t think of a good secular one that would more likely meet your aproval. What makes you think I give a flying fuck if someone uses a religious reference? ---
**Author:** ![ReuvenB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@ReuvenB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReuvenB)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-fuck-is-msnbc-giving-free-air-to-saxby-chambliss-via-sarah-palins-speeches/475182/39 "2008-12-03T14:23:00Z")
For the record, I believe [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKFYpd0q9nE) is the ad in question. It’s not really all that bad, considering that Chambliss ran ads this election claiming that Martin killed children (not kidding). ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-fuck-is-msnbc-giving-free-air-to-saxby-chambliss-via-sarah-palins-speeches/475182/40 "2008-12-03T14:30:05Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > I forgot that commandment… Thou Shalt not Morph. Sorry for the religious referance… I couldn’t think of a good secular one that would more likely meet your aproval. > > [Here’s what Slate had to say about that infamous ad.](http://slate.msn.com/id/2098171/) RNATB, I suggest you read this link for the full story, thank you for posting it What The…!!!. It also jogged my memory, I remember musing at the time how ironic it was that the left was outraged at Chambliss’ ads for having been beyond the bounds of propriety…while at the same time many of them were chortling with glee at ads comparing Bush to Hitler. As I said, it all comes down to who’s ox… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-fuck-is-msnbc-giving-free-air-to-saxby-chambliss-via-sarah-palins-speeches/475182.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-fuck-is-msnbc-giving-free-air-to-saxby-chambliss-via-sarah-palins-speeches/475182.md?page=3)