Lisa Murkowski picked to be Alaska's newest senator

Anchorage Daily News ^ | Dec. 20, 2002 | The Associated Press

[litehaus]

"Lisa Murkowsi, 45, is a lawyer "

The LAST damn thing we needed!

[OldFriend]

cute!!!

[JohnnyZ]

Some of these folks are gonna be SO mad when George P. runs for Prez some day . . .

[Swampmarine]

Problems with both revenues and spending. 70% of state revenue comes from the Alaska Pipeline which is pumping at just half the rate it did in 1990. While the Republican legislature did check spending in the late 90's, 8 years of a Democratic governor has resulted in an annual $700 million shortfall (depending on the price of oil) that has been covered by savings. Savings run out in a couple of years. Alaskan's are concerned. Alcohol taxes hadn't been raised in years and it was a no brainer with very little public opposition.

[DAnconia55]

So now we have Government by dynastic succession.....

Bush....
Dole....

Yep. Guess we do.

[RightWhale]

Who else was really qualified

One must be 30 and an American citizen. There are about 1/4 million Alaskans who qualify.

[BlackRazor]

So now we have Government by dynastic succession.....

Actually, it's not really a succession. It's a continuation of the final two years of Murkowski's own seat. His daughter probably holds views closest to the person originally elected to this term, than anyone else. And no matter who he appointed, that person wouldn't have been elected to the seat, either. Any such appointment would be subject to criticisms of favoritism, whether that person be a daughter, close friend, acquaintance, etc.

[abenaki]

In '94 here in Florida, Hugh Rodham ran for the Senate against Connie Mack. His only qualification was his family connection. We beat him by about 2:1. If Lisa doesn't belong in the Senate, Alaska voters can do the same and throw her out in two years. IMO, though, she has made a good success of her abilities, aside from her family connection.

[JohnnyZ]

We now have TWO pro-life GOP woman senators, up from ZERO two months ago -- this is great! especially showing up Barbara Boxer & Patty Murray & Co. when it comes to passing the Partial-Birth Ban this year!

[RightWhale]

John Adams, and John Quincy Adams, or HGW Bush and GW Bush? Elected.

[Dan from Michigan]

I'm not a fan of nepotism. I'd rather have Lisa Murkowski win in a special election than by dad's appointment. This can cause trouble later as well with swing voters.

[aShepard]

Actually, voters have been generally very sympathetic to political families

Geez, you forgot the Kennedy dynasty; the Goron,s; and of course Bubba&Hitlery

[KQQL]

Sugar daddy..lol...

[abenaki]

I don't think we have a worry about any PB abortion bill getting anywhere in the next Congress. No such bill will get through the House of Representatives.

[Anchoragite]

"Their kids all had to win their own elections."

And so will Lisa. Nobody I know is shouting "nepotism" over top of the usual "Good ole boy/girl" politics. She's as qualified as anyone else who was proposed, and she'll have to face her own election in less than two years.

No big deal....

[KQQL]

@

[dirtboy]

And so will Lisa. Nobody I know is shouting "nepotism" over top of the usual "Good ole boy/girl" politics. She's as qualified as anyone else who was proposed, and she'll have to face her own election in less than two years. No big deal....

Sorry, I think it is problematic. It used to be that public figures were supposed to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. Now I guess nepotism is OK if it's our group. Imagine Hillary winning the governorship of NY, resigning the Senate seat and appointing Bill as Senator. We'd be up in arms about that.

[Austin Willard Wright]

A tax raiser is an "okay pick." I guess we disagree.

[Austin Willard Wright]

Big winners? Yeah, I am sure that they all appreciate her record as a tax raiser.

[Anchoragite]

"Imagine Hillary winning the governorship of NY, resigning the Senate seat and appointing Bill as Senator. We'd be up in arms about that."

And remember that we have less than a half-million people here, and we pretty much know everyone involved. We've known Frank and his family for decades. He's not some abstract politician who just "put one over" on us. We know who all the choices were...