The Trail : A blog on the 2006 Alaska governor's race by Kyle Hopkins : Final push

Final push

Posted by thetrail

Posted: November 4, 2006 - 8:26 pm

The Knowles and Palin campaigns are rolling out their last commercials. Sounds like both camps have ads that are critical of the other, while Halcro said his final TV spot began Thursday.

He spent the morning judging high school debates. The students argued whether it’s justified for victims of domestic violence to use deadly force.

The other night, after so many gube debates, he described these judging duties as a kind of comfort activity.

“It was very cool for once, sitting on the other side of the table.”

Palin and Knowles signwavers competed for attention -- and honks -- from drivers, and volunteers at both candidates’ Midtown headquarters were busy lighting up the phones, reminding people to vote.

There were, of course, a few late jabs. The Knowles campaign pointed out that a picture on a Palin flier about fishing appeared to depict Canadian cod fishermen in Newfoundland rather than Alaskans. (Palin spokesman Curtis Smith sounded incredulous when I talked to him about the press release Knowles sent out on the topic – a moment before the cell phone connection died.)

The Palin camp said they believe the Knowles campaign was paying some of its sign wavers, which Knowles campaign manager Leslie Ridle said is baloney. “I’ve never, ever, ever in all my campaigns, paid for sign wavers. Ever.”

7 November 6, 2006 - 9:49pm | eatrealfish

Gidget No Go Go for Gov

Gidget a No Go For Gov, esp for fisheries
This woman wouldn't know the difference between a cod and a capelin. At a time when Ak fishermen have been trying to promote quality handling of their catch, that bogus mailer of a dry skiff full of Canadian codfish set alaska seafood promotions back 20 years. Ooops, just a little oversight. what's the big deal says Curtis Smith, one of her many male handlers. Palin is so full of fish platitudes, like with gulf rationalization. "We need to protect our fishermen and our communities." That's a plan?? Has she come up with one sensible, concrete idea of how she'll design a fair ratz program - which like it or not, will happen in some shape or form in the near future? Can you see her articulating the Pacific Salmon Treaty...international anadromous stream issues to name but a few....She is all empty talk and vacuous smiles and aw shucks bless your heart. And speaking of Clem Tillion in another post, her closest fish advisor - how quickly you pseudo fish fanatics forget that he was the champion of ifq's for halibut and black cod. How much does she know about those fisheries? How much does she know about Alaskas biggest fisheries - groundfish. Or the Bering sea crab fishereis?? Or the dive fisheries in Southeast?? No one will take this Gidget for Gov Go Go Girl seriously - the minute she opens her mouth and attempts to speak in a complete sentence. Her administration will constantly be in a reactive mode, covering up her flubs and misstatements and displays of temper. She is a Valley Girl in the truest sense of the perjorative term. Gidget is a no go for Gov!!!

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6 November 6, 2006 - 8:28pm | akisok2

Check out the final push by Knowles

That man is dedicated! He was out there waving signs with his supporters. Sarah was nowhere to be seen.

5 November 4, 2006 - 11:28pm | alaskastraightalker

Palin skips Sitka; Newspaper endorses Knowles

Have you seen the endorsement in Friday's Daily Sitka Sentinel? It speaks for itself.

"Our choice for governor in Tuesday's election is Tony Knowles.

"His proven leadership and his record of high-principled administration in his previous two terms more than qualify him for a return to the governor's office.

"The contrast between this candidate and his Republican opponent could hardly be greater. We know where Knowles stands on revenue sharing, early childhood education, subsistence, the state ferry system. His record as governor speaks for itself.

"Since before the August primary we have been waiting for the opportunity to ask Sarah Palin her views on these and other issues, but she never showed up.

"That's right. She never showed up. Her campaign never responded to the Sentinel's voice mail message requesting a phone interview. We heard after the fact that she got off the plane at the airport for a few minutes one day during a flight from Ketchikan to Anchorage. That was the extent of her personal campaigning in Sitka.

"That could mean any of a number of things: she doesn't care about the Sitka vote, she doesn't want to answer questions about Sitka issues, or she thinks she has the Sitka vote sewed up.

"We are left with what we have gathered from her tissue-thin resume - mayor of a town smaller than Sitka and a few months in a $122,000 patronage job - and the generalizations and happy talk that have characterized her statewide campaign.

"Not everyone believes, as we do, that the sun rises and sets on Sitka. But we do expect any candidate seeking statewide office for the first time to do us the courtesy of telling us where they stand on issues of importance to us.

"For example, as governor would Ms. Palin appoint a qualified expert to run the ferry system? With the disastrous mismanagement of the system by former Sen. Robin Taylor an ongoing affront, we believe that would be a fair question. Ms. Palin's record as Wasilla mayor, from what we have learned from reliable sources, offers scant comfort on that count.

"If Alaska is to return to the principles of sound, progressive social and fiscal policies, which have been so soundly abused by the Frank Murkowski administration, it would be foolish indeed to settle, as so many voter have indicated they will, on a candidate whose platform consists of "Trust Me." Murkowski got away with it four years ago, and we are appalled at the prospect that it could be happening again.

"All indications are that the outcome on Tuesday will be close. The Sitka vote could make the difference. Tony Knowles knows where we are and what we need, and he deserves all the support Sitka can give."

November 6, 2006 - 9:36am | jacekone

Tissue-thin resume

I love that line. What a gem. Sarah suffers from small-town girl syndrome. She thinks the world revolves around her and has never really been required to *think* or *prove herself* beyond the mat-su boundaries.

My dear state of Alaska will bear the brunt of that decision if she is elected. Age and experience are not a requirement for leadership, but maturity and thoughtfulness certainly are - qualities she has not displayed.

4 November 4, 2006 - 11:23pm | alaskastraightalker

SOMETHING FISHY ABOUT PALIN

The Palin mailer on Alaska fishery issues does prominently feature a photo of CANADIAN fishermen.

The mailer includes a picture of fishermen working in a wooden skiff off a rocky shoreline. The picture is of Canadian fishermen.

If Palin can't tell the difference between an Alaska and Canadian fishermen, how will she represent us in upcoming Pacific Salmon Treaty negotations. Knowles has a strong record representing Alaskan issues in treaty talks; will Palin be representing us, or Canada?

If Palin can't tell the difference between an Alaska and Canadian fishermen, how will she represent us in gasline negotations if it involves a Canadian route?

The photo can be found on the web site of a stock photo company, Alamy Images, and is titled “cod fishing west coast of Newfoundland.” The photo is available on the web at Alamy.com:
http://www.alamy.com/image-details-popup.asp?pv=1&n=NaN&imageid={C711A8CA-E99B-4733-A914-90C3069D1F78}&Stamp=2&srch=qt%3Dcod%2Bfish%2Bnewfoundland%26lic%3D7%26ipn%3D1%26apn%3D1%26cpn%3D1%26cdpn%3D1%26cdsrt%3D0%26pn%3D1%26st%3D0%26a%3D%2D1%26cid%3D%26s1%3D0%26s3%3D0%26s5%3D0%26s7%3D0%26cn%3D%26cdid%3D%26cdn%3D

If Palin flack Thomas is incredulous, maybe it's because he has no idea. I'm incredulous that Palin is prooting Canadian fish.

What's next? Promoting farmed salmon?

3 November 4, 2006 - 10:28pm | Beachwriter

Sign waving so early looks desperate

When did sign waving start weeks before an election?

These peeps must actually think it makes a difference. I don't believe that for a second.

When we step into that voting booth and we're alone, it's not going to be sign wavers we remember.

November 5, 2006 - 1:50am | flww2005

Not just the gubes..

Here in Fairbanks, the highly contentious race between Ralph Seekins and Joe Thomas has resulted in the premature appearance of sign wavers one week before the election. But an interesting point, Beachwriter. I can't imagine that anyone has had their vote swayed by a rambuctious sign waver, so why be out there at all? Especially here in Fairbanks, where early morning temperatures could be at 10 below or colder.

2 November 4, 2006 - 9:58pm | justintime

Yep

The picture is of cod fishing in Nova Scotia. Get real Palin. We can see thru your charade.

1 November 4, 2006 - 8:59pm | jmcgaughran

SIGN WAVING

I was one of many "Knowles" sign wavers today - MIDTOWN - there for 5 solid hours; waving, jumping, and smiling away. Must say I had a GREAT time. I must also add, that this is the FIRST political campaign I have felt so strongly about that I engaged myself fully, and FREE - my daughter even bought Knowles sign wavers coffee out of her own pocket (born & raised Alaskan & a Veteran herself - she knows what fighting for your PERSONAL FREEDOMS is all about - People being paid to wave signs, how funny is that! : ) Lots of times what people accuse others of is what they are guilty of themselves... hum..

November 4, 2006 - 9:24pm | mike_l

Palin's Brown Shirt's

these guys were on the corner of Minnesota and Northern Lights. They look scarey, much like Howard Dean supporters.

I support privacy, keeping the church out of schools, and stem cell research. As a vet, I am proud to be supporting Knowles at the ballot box on Tuesday.

November 4, 2006 - 10:17pm | lwilson

Vet? Why use that title? You don't own that copyright.

There are many, many, vets out here who are pulling just as hard for Sarah who stands for life, cleaner politics, and normal husband and wife family and conservative values.

November 6, 2006 - 3:06pm | alasscan

Normal? Copyright?

Sarah proudly stated with her own mouth how unusual her marriage was and how little time they have actually spent together over the years and how they are uniquely independent of each other.

I say great! If the marriage works it works, and it is their business, as should all adult, committed relationships be the person’s own business.

My husband would not consider never being together as normal. Hers obviously does.
That is what makes us individuals.

My father, husband, brother-in-law, three uncles, and quite a few dear friends also use the title Vet. They earned it. Several earned it with disabilities that have plagued them for the remainder of their lives as a result.

They listened closely to Sarah’s answers on the Veterans issues and listened to Knowles and Benson (they already knew about Young). They then decided they were voting for Knowles and Benson.

Had Sarah’s answers been different so might their votes. They earned and protected the right to vote the hard way and they are not ruled by party and their vote is a very big deal to them.

Copyright? It doesn’t say copyright, Vet, Republican or Democrat on one single headstone in any Military Cemetery across this nation. It just represents a Hero, who was in service to his or her country, and deep sorrow for those left only with the headstone as comfort. I have stood at too many of those headstones. Anyone that has earned the right to call themselves a Vet should not be questioned about it, they should be respected for it.

These Vets voted for Knowles, Benson and in the Valley for Hurley.

November 4, 2006 - 10:31pm | ilovelucy

Those aren't values

Denying people equal rights isn't a value, it's a prejudice. When candidates don't have anything to sell, they work on people's fears and prejudices. A gay couple living together doesn't hurt you or your family. Wouldn't you rather promote monogamy, whatever the gender, than something else? Why would you to deny people who love each other to be able to make a legal commitment to each other?

But I digress. The reason you're all fired up about that issue is because the candidate wants you to think about that, and not her lack of experience and ability. She'd rather you worry about what gay people are doing in their bedrooms, than what she would do in the governor's office.

Just as your head was turned by the SBV's bullshit, your head is being turned by someone who won't even promise Veterans medical care in Alaska. She will "study" this and "think about" that for Veterans. That's it. Meanwhile, the Republican fatcats in Washington, none of them risking their butts or their children's butts in any war, are cutting benefits to Veterans every year. You've been hoodwinked, your head turned away from the very unconservative spending that has turned a surplus into a multi-trillion dollar debt that your family is going to have to pay off for generations. Wake up. Pay attention to things like Vet's benefits, health care, retirement, and the deficit. Not stem cell research and other people's lifestyles, but things that will hurt your family.

November 5, 2006 - 3:28am | alasscan

Hear, hear

Very well said ilovelucy!
I know a great deal about disabled vets because I have two in my family and it is atrocious the way they are treated, or more to the point mistreated!
Swift Boating is much easier than being ON THE BOAT, but then after this administration it looks like our boat doesn’t have a paddle anymore.
The gay issue. Oh give me a break! The biggest threat to marriage is divorce NOT a gay couple living next door. If you don’t believe in gay marriage well by all means don’t marry someone of the same gender. I would think the gay issue would be losing ground with the Republicans as the number of gay Republicans grows by the day. They need to worry a lot more about hypocrisy and a lot less about a person being gay.
Then there is that compassion hypocrisy. Sure, it is so compassionate to say you are pro life and then say, well, right up till you give birth honey. Then you better hope you don’t lose your job and hope you don’t have medical expenses for you or the child because you won’t get much help or compassion after the fact. I don’t personally advocate abortion. Nor could I have made that choice, but it should be the choice of the woman, not the government. AND if that is going to be the choice of the government, (to force a woman to have a child)then I think the government should also force the male who also caused the pregnancy that he doesn't have to carry to term to have a vasectomy. Might slow down that anti abortion fervor a touch.
Stem cells? We need brain cells! How it can be better to dispose of many thousands, perhaps millions of non wanted, non viable frozen embryos than use them to save lives is beyond me. Ok, bottom line, I love my veterans and I hate, loathe and detest the way they are treated so I have already voted for Diane Benson. Not only on the veterans issue. Lack of cronyism,arrogance and really questionable dealings played a huge part. I voted for new ideas and honesty, so Diane got my vote. Actually I have yet to talk to anyone Dem or Rep or Ind that said they voted for Don Young. They all expressed being fed up with him and wanting him out. Should be interesting to see how this comes out. However you vote, I just hope we have a record turn out nationwide this year.

November 4, 2006 - 10:45pm | lwilson

SBV's?

What's that?

November 5, 2006 - 12:44am | celtic_diva_ak

I guess you could say that Repubs are "pro-Veteran"...

...if you believe that making it harder for the huge influx of newly-disabled Veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq to qualify for benefits is a "positive" thing.

By the way:

SBVs = Swift Boat Veterans

November 5, 2006 - 3:06am | arajack

You got it and proud of it

I worked on the Swift Boats. (PCF's) Landed in Cam Rahn Bay April 68. J. Kerry arrived in Oct 68. It did not take us a week to figure out he was a phony and danger to be around. I rode with him to Nah Trang a couple of times. What a nut. He wanted to be a hero. First of Jan 69 they transfered him with the 44 boat and a couple of other boats to the delta. Nobody could stand him. After four months in Viet Nam they sent him state side. His daddy was a former ambassader or some kind and had lots of political pull to get all kinds of phony awards. John Kerry is a out right liar and a fraud. I use to call him a bag of pig sh*t, but realized I was insulting the pigs. Official navy records have been dug up. If you want to, go the web site and see the truth yourself. We don't need to cluter this blog about him any more. I have been GOP for years, but I am voting for Knowles because of many of the reasons shown here over the last few months. Sarah needs to go get a job at Cal Worthinton selling used cars. With her B/S she would make a fortune.

November 5, 2006 - 10:23am | mike_l

Palin supports Kerry

and yet another reason I am supporting Knowles.

Palin needs free media from the RGA and Dan Fagan. Talk about sell outs. Mr. Conservative was bragging last week that she would win by 15 points, and then on Friday he decided it was so close that he had to shamelessly plug her all afternoon. And he didn't have much to say about her, other than Knowles was a Democrat. That is the fear factor the Republican Party has been pushing on us for decades. We've had enough of it. We've had enough of the Corrupt Bastards Club. We've had enough of candidates with conservative values and their gay sex scandals. We will be voting Democrat on Tuesday.

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