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As the late ballots continued to come in, Mark Begich increased his marginal lead over Ted Stevens, the incumbent Senator (AK-R). One November 19, the day after his birthday, Stevens conceded defeat.
Mark Blood of the Associated Press, November 19, 2008:
In an eight-sentence statement, the longest serving Republican in Senate history said not enough ballots remain uncounted for him to catch Democrat Mark Begich, who holds a 3,724-vote lead out of about 315,000 ballots cast.
The two term Anchorage mayor, Mark Begich, considered his victory a signal of a shift in political consciousness in Alaska, but stressed that he was not a typical Democrat.
“Anybody who knows me knows that I’m a different Democrat — I’m from Alaska,” he said. Along with firearm rights and drilling, “Alaskans are very libertarian in issues where the government shouldn’t interfere in their personal lives.”
Stevens’s lost brings the Democrats one seat closer to a filibuster-proof Senate. There are two more senatorial contests in the states of Georgia and Minnesota, and the Democrats are two shy of 60 seats. There are mixed sentiments about Stevens’s lost in Washington D.C. Some Senators expressed their reverence and respect for the man who has served longer than any other in the Republican Party, but many did not show up for his last Senate speech.
Laurie Kellman of the Associated Press, November 20, 2008:
Perhaps a quarter of the Senate filed into the chamber to hear the speech, with Republican Leader Mitch McConnell turning his chair all the way around to face Stevens. Those gathered in the galleries and on the Senate floor gave the outgoing senator a standing ovation, a violation of Senate custom. But no one objected.
In Minnesota, The incumbent senator Norm Coleman, (R) leads Democratic rival Al Franken by 215 votes with a recount underway as of November 19.
In Georgia, The incumbent senator Saxby Chambliss (R) and Jim Martin (D) are already campaigning the their runoff vote on December 2, 2008.
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Glad to see a pork driven Republican and thief out of office. New guy will be maybe 1 of 40 sleeping in his office. Going to take landry home for wife to clean. Need self serve washer and dryer in the basement of Congress.
I don’t think Martin will pull it off in Georgia. The only reason he gets a run off is the third party candidate who took too much of the vote, even as small as it was. Saxby won Nov. 4th, and I think he’ll take the third party vote in Dec., giving him plenty for a run off victory. We’re rallying down here, though, just in case.
Perhaps a 60 Democrat Senate is appealing enough to the masses to vote democrat just for the sake of seeing a filibusterer proof Democratic Senate. Or maybe they will vote Republican SIMPLY to prevent it. This should be interesting to watch.
You know which one I am hoping. I am surely calling all the family in Atlanta to light fires under them.
Stevens may be right about overturning his conviction.. A witness lied. Said he did not strike a deal with Justice Department, when he had. This may clear Stevens on technicality.. Time will tell
I know Georgians have to do what’s best for Georgia, but if Franken wins his contest, I sincerely hope that they do not vote in that 60th democrat.
I don’t care what your political affiliation may be, surely everyone realizes that politicians, on the whole, are just not the most trustworthy group of individuals in our nation. If they can’t hold each other in check, who will? Democrats already have won themselves plenty of power to do whatever they want in the coming years. Hopefully that will include great things for our country. But I’m sure it will also include rampant corruption and abuse of power, just like it did when republicans had similar control.
Please don’t give the democrats EVERYTHING. That is not in the best interest of our country, checks need balances. If they get that veto proof majority, I guarantee that we will all eventually be shocked to see what our statesmen manage to get away with under the Obama administration.
I mean, I’m sure that’s true already with the majority they have. But it will be that much worse with a veto-proof majority.
Indiminded,
I voted for Obama, and I totally agree wit you. No party should have that type of control. I hate that we have democrat/republican battle but then again, I suppose it does help in some cases to have checks/balances……
Any of you think that this may assist in a 3rd party getting somewhere?
Dreadsen,
How so?
On another note, you’d think if Obama was all about change, he’d switch to being Independent or something other than Democrat.
No Dreadsen, in Georgia it was the third party candidate that caused the runoff!! There’s an old adage that says when you give someone too many choices they can’t decide at all, and I believe that’s true in politics as well.
We’re working very hard here in Ga. on just that basis, Indi and Kendall. Even if you are democrat, you shouldn’t want to see a filibuster proof congress. That’s not democracy, that’s a monarchy.
Also, Chambliss is in a fight to get a new federal contract into Georgia, Jim Martin hasn’t mentioned a word about it, and we need that here in our state. The contract won’t be awarded til after Jan., we don’t need to cut off our nose to spite our face here.
I wish I thought all this could promote 3rd party candidates. I think both republicans and democrats would rather see each other win in most any circumstance than a 3rd party candidate – neither one particularly wants new rivals let into the game.
Maybe if the dems become extremely unpopular, and the public hasn’t lost their negative attitude for republicans – then maybe some 3rd party could work his way in through grassroots and internet campaigning. I’d be pessimistic about the chances of that though.
I wish it could, too, Indi, if they could step up and be more than a fly in the ointment. But when they don’t have enough support to garner more than 2 or 3% of the vote count, that’s all they are, a fly in the ointment, that causes things like an expensive runoffs for state taxpayers. The purpose of a 3rd party candidate seems to be just to pull a few votes away from one of the major candidates, and that serves no real purpose at all. The only 3rd party candidates I’ve seen don’t seem to have enough “oomph” behind them to go anywhere, and are usually extreme in their views. Most people will vote somewhere in the mainstream, not radically, and that’s the label most 3rd party candidates get.
Have you all read about Jim Inhofe’s bold anti-bailout plan in the Senate?
No, Chris, I haven’t. Is there a link somewhere I can read it?
http://justgetthere.us/bl.....ilout.html
Here’s a start, Babs.
That’s interesting, Chris. Has he gotten any support for this proposal?
Babs
It is my understanding that $350 billion is being saved for Obama of bail-out ?
I heard that, but it was reported as speculation as far as I know. No one has actually stated it as fact.
Babs
I understand Japan has been in slump for long time. Things they tried did not work. Are you familar with Japan. I know very litle about it
No, I don’t follow anything abroad except the highlights that may affect the US. That may be narrow minded, but right now we have enough problems to worry about here without borrowing more stress from overseas.
I haven’t been able to find anything about Inhofe’s progress in that regard, Babs. Yesterday Inhofe’s website was not working, but today it does, and here is his own official press release.
http://inhofe.senate.gov/.....21777cb403
Nothing since the middle of November, I see. I hope he can get some support on it. I’ll keep an ear out. Post it if you hear anything first.
Any updates from the Georgia runoff and Minnesota recount?
Okay.