Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Alaska Update

WE'VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com

If you've been reading DCW for a while, you're all up on Troopergate, the Ted Stevens trial, and the upcoming indictment of Don Young.

Here's the latest:

From the Anchorage Daily News editorial:

Sarah Palin's reaction to the Legislature's Troopergate report is an embarrassment to Alaskans and the nation.

She claims the report "vindicates" her. She said that the investigation found "no unlawful or unethical activity on my part."Her response is either astoundingly ignorant or downright Orwellian.

Page 8, Finding Number One of the report says: "I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act."In plain English, she did something "unlawful." She broke the state ethics law.

Perhaps Gov. Palin has been too busy to actually read the Troopergate report. Perhaps she is relying on briefings from McCain campaign spinmeisters.


Mudflats reports that a recall petition on Spunky is being considered.

The defense is nearing the end of their case in the Stevens trial. Some interesting points have been raised recently.

Now, about 38% of the voters in Alaska are registered as unaligned with any party. And we know it's predominantly a Republican-voting state. The latest polls show:

President: McCain (R)
Senate: Toss-Up
House: Berkowitz (D)

Thee CW says that McCain will do better since he has Palin as his running mate: the CW says that because she has such a high approval rating in Alaska, more people will turn out.

The CW logic also says that while people are there voting R-top ticket, this will bring more votes to the down-ticket Republicans. While no one thinks this will shift the House race, CW says it COULD be enough to switch the Senate race, since Mark Begich's lead has been tightening of late.

So what do you think?