Lisa Murkowski began her Senate career in 2002 when she was appointed by her father, Frank Murkowski. He wanted someone to fill the Alaskan Senate seat he was exchanging for the Alaska Governor’s mansion and who better than his own daughter? Just think of it as musical chairs for ruling class families.
As you can imagine, Alaskans weren’t necessarily overjoyed and eventually changed the rules to keep their Governors from making appointments. (I’ve lived in Massachusetts the past 8 years so I know all about those rules and how they are conveniently modified based on the party of the person serving as Governor. But I digress.)
In 2004, Lisa Murkowski launched an actual campaign to keep the Senate seat. She won the primary handily and went on to win the general election. Was she helped by the Bush reelection campaign? Did Ted Stevens help her maintain the seat after striking fear in the hearts of pork lovers that it would slow should she lose? Was she just well liked by her constituents? All of the above, perhaps? In any case, she was sent back to Washington to represent Alaska’s interests. Her voting record remained moderate and no doubt thought the seat would be hers for as long as she wanted it.
Six years later, in 2010, she found herself campaigning again, but this time, America was changing.
Could the atmosphere be changing in Alaska, too?
Were Alaskans watching the votes being cast in the Senate? Were they upset about the economic decisions being made in Washington? Were they (gasp!) attending those Tea Party rallies? Certainly they weren’t flocking to DC to demonstrate their desire to see the country be fiscally responsible and ethically sound. Those ungovernable people were just having a collective temper tantrum because they didn’t have the mental fortitude to understand that Washington makes the decisions that are best for, um, everyone.
That moderate voting record came back to bite her as she was defeated in the Republican primary by Joe Miller. Before we get to the most recent news, it’s important that we first take a trip down memory lane, all the way back to August 31st:
Lo and behold, on September 17th, Lisa Murkowski decided the people have in fact not spoken (er, to her liking) so she has decided to launch a write-in campaign. It’s not about her. No, no, it’s about Alaska. Alaska needs her. (Or, does she need the power?) At her write-in campaign announcement, she actually had the gumption to say, “On November 2nd you’ll have a choice.” Really, Lisa? Alaskan Republicans already made their choice and they made it on August 24th for your opponent. You lost. But now Alaska needs another chance to have their voice heard? Why is that? Was the message of the primary results, dare I say it, Murky?
Here’s what’s Murky. Just before the primary election, Lisa Murkowski said she would accept its results. During her speech tonight she attempted to walk back from that declaration by trying this line: “I misspoke when I said I would accept the primary results.” Misspoke? Really? Is that the word you’re comfortable using? Why not just be honest and say, “You know, Alaskans, I reject your primary decision. You need me. You really need me. I am not ready to pack it up and come back here to Alaska. I don’t take no for an answer. My daddy gave me this seat and I’m not ready to give it up. I won’t give it up. You can’t take it from me. It’s mine. It’s MINE! It’s MIIIINE!” As Michelle Malkin writes on her site “Entrenched incumbency is not an argument for more entrenched incumbency.”
It’s obvious that winning at all irrational costs isn’t the only thing on Murkowski’s mind. She is also thinking about Sarah Palin. It was bad enough Palin unseat her father as Governor in 2006 but now she was encroaching on her own plans by endorsing her opponent and taking an active part in keeping her from receiving the GOP nomination. In what can only be described as a feeble attempt to take a little jab towards the former Governor, Lisa Murkowski only manages to show that she overstays her welcome. When you lose, you shake hands with the winner and wish them well in the next round. No, not Lisa. She decides she’d rather be like Charlie Crist and go out in flames. Alaska’s politicians, current or former, won’t have the last word, Lisa. The voters will. Again.
Whatever you do, good people of Alaska, don’t even think about writing in Murkowski. If you just can’t help yourself, make sure you get the spelling right. Practice it with me. It’s L-O-S-E-R.
Meet Alaska’s next US Senator, Joe Miller. Get to know Joe Miller. Donate to Joe Miller. By all means, support Joe Miller. I am.