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Subscribe to RSSALASKA: NBC’s John Boxley reporting from Anchorage, AK, writes that one word summed up Sunday night's much anticipated Alaska Senatorial debate, with Joe Miller, Lisa Murkowski and Scott McAdams: nasty. From the start, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (write-in) was on the attack, at one point calling Joe Miller (R) unfit to serve in the Senate. While Miller acknowledged Sunday that he had been disciplined for using government computers to participate in a poll. He was suspended for three days, but he said, "That's one of the things about me I'm not a perfect person and, in fact, I think Alaskans know more about me today than probably any candidate." Murkowski responded, "Joe your statement here this evening demonstrates I think again, the lack of fitness for the office."
More on the debate: “Ethics took center stage Sunday during a debate in which Alaska Senate hopeful Joe Miller said he was suspended for or docked three days' pay for violating ethics policy while working as a local government attorney in 2008,” NECN reports. “Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who's running as a write-in candidate after losing the GOP primary to Miller, questioned his fitness to serve in the Senate — a comment that drew loud jeers from the debate audience in Anchorage.”
FLORIDA: CNN recounts the Florida Senate debate on Sunday’s “State of the Union,” writing that it “seemed more of a two-sided contest Sunday as Republican front-runner Marco Rubio's opponents both targeted him… Democratic Rep. Kendrick Meek and Republican-turned-independent Gov. Charlie Crist both tried to portray Rubio as too rigidly conservative for Florida in the spirited hour-long debate.”
The Washington Post’s take on the debate: “Things started off civil but gradually descended into chaos as Republican Marco Rubio accused Gov. Charlie Crist, running as an independent, of ‘heckling’ during a debate between all three Florida Senate candidates. Ironically, Crist had denounced bickering between the two major-party candidates, but spent a lot of time talking over Rubio and demanding that he release financial records.”
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Next time Congress does election reform, they should do something to kill these debates. They no longer operate as side by side, issue oriented learning experiences. They devolve into either 1) talking points intended to avoid gaffes, or 2) shouting matches where no one really gets heard.
Debates? We don't need them anymore. Get the position statements from the candidate websites. It's more civilized, less argumentative, and much more substantive.
Come Bilweeler, we need debates to understand who are the candidates and that is how we got to understand the twisted policies of Oblaba. We need debates to see if the candidate knows what he or she is takling about and if they are really keeping up with the pulse of the people, I mean their wants , their needs, their aspirations and where they must take the country. And only by debate can someone emerge as a viable leader. And that's what we need, shouting matches, , gaffes, inteligent arguments, all these combine to produce a picture of the candidate. Don't try to shut down free speech.
JB:
That's rich. You have no understanding of "the candidates." Your "understanding" is simply your daily dose of right wing propaganda. You have consistently demonstrated your lack of interest in facts.
Charlie Crist has resided over one of the most oppressive states in the union. Don't even look cross-ways in the "Sunshine State" or they suspend your drivers license without just cause. It has become a big political machine that loves to bow to the will of the federal government and take bail-out money!! Crist is a wolf in sheep's clothing and never smelled a federal dollar he didn't like. Maybe Rubio can straighten out the bureaucratic mess that Crist has left for the state of Florida. But I doubt it, it is FUBAR!!
If Alaska votes in Murkkowski again, sorry, but Alaska.....you deserve the mess you'll get!!! She is no 'lady'......she's a wolf in sheep's clothing!!!
Freedom of speech is only possible with a free and independant press.When huge corporations own all the major media outlets, Democrats who are trying to make gains in tossup contests are portrayed as losers, while Republicans are portrayed as confident winners unless polls clearly show otherwise. If Americans like winners, then this is clearly an under-handed attempt by the right to use their money to influence election results. Furthemore,the lack of condemnation by the mainstream media, regarding secret money used to fund Republican ads is a glaring example of how the media is used to suppress questions about if this gives right-wing candidates an unfair advantage.
Ron:
Great post.
It's no coincidence; the "mainstream media" benefits greatly from this huge infusion of campaign money. They sell out their entire advertising schedule, at premium prices.
I hardly expect them to bite THAT hand...
Lisa Murkowski did not get "nasty." Nasty would be to ask Joe Miller to prove he is not Ahmadinejad's out of wedlock love child. What they have in common:
See, like father like son!
Get rid of career politicians. They got us into this mess.
Joe Miller is one of the most underhanded politicians there are. Taking advantage of all the govt. agencies he could get away with, yet he wants "smaller govt.". Wifey taking unemployement compensation, but yet all the others are lazy bums. The only reason Palin endorsed him is because she has a personal vendetta against Murkowski, since her father beat Palin some years ago. I can't believe Alaskans would vote for Miller. Aren't they paying attention? They would vote a goof like him into office, just because the economy is bad right now? Wow, if they think it's bad now....if they vote him in, they ain't seen nothin' yet.
As an Alaskan, I and most of the people I know are fed up with the way things are in Washington DC. Most of the land area of our state does not belong to us but is in federal hands. The Fed's have OK'ed oil drilling again in the gulf, but not in Alaska. It is time to change things in Washington DC. Miller represents change. Our message is that we are tired of the same old- same old. If Miller does not respond to our wishes - he will be a one term senator and we will replace him. We elect our senators and congressman to REPRESENT us - not to RULE us. That is something the the current crop of elected officials have forgotten. They act as if they have a divine right to rule. We the people have had enough of the status quo it is time for change.