Hopefully things are going well all across the state. I'm happy to report the Sunday edition of the Juneau Empire pretty much has tears streaming down my face.
There are fully a dozen letters for Scott McAdams--so heartwarming and heartfelt, and intelligently and passionately written, that it is clear Scott has won the hearts and minds of the people on the street.
There is also one letter for Joe (sincere) and one letter for Lisa written with a Sealaska (Native corporation) perspective (not to be taken lightly).
Despite the corporate endorsements, despite the dirty tricks, despite the $$$$ raining down on the two Republican candidates, Scott has proved himself to be worthy of the support and votes of Alaskans.
I hope things are going well elsewhere across the State. It's clear Lisa is in a desperate fight for her political life and we must keep our noses to the grindstones to get out the vote until the polls close.
Collectively, across a double page spread in Sunday's Juneau Empire, these letters create quite an impact.
Here's one of my favorite headlines for one of the letters. Excerpts of actual letters below the fold.
Murkowski worked hard to lose my vote and McAdams worked hard to gain it
From Sitka:
The political scene across the country is full of poisonous posturing and Alaska is no exception: our U.S. Senate race is dominated by the bizarre [M&M show]. The calm, steady voice of Scott McAdams speaking about important issues has been the welcome exception when not drowned out or ignored.
McAdams has high ideals nicely balanced with practical wisdom, rare qualities for high public office. He is a man of principle who has demonstrated a quality of political leadership desperately needed in Alaska and Washington, a moderate candidate not beholden to any party. He has shown himself to be attentive to other points of view and works tirelessly to find common ground. He is a great choice for Senator...
From Sitka:
I am going to vote for Scott McAdams for U.S. Senate on Tuesday. I have known him for a number of years and consider him a friend. When he was going through his teacher training, he was a student teacher in my American Government class at Sitka High School. I was impressed by his intelligence and character then and have had that impression reinforced throughout the current campaign. I believe he will represent the people of Alaska honestly and fairly. I think he will look at issues from our perspective and vote in our interests rather than be bound by a narrow ideological focus or rigid party lines.
We used to be in an exercise group called "Big Men Walking," and during our laps of the track, we got to know each other well. I miss having the opportunity to talk daily about the current state of the nation. He is a voracious reader and has a strong command of the issues. I am positive when he gets to Washington, he will be quick on the uptake and will be a credit to our state...
From Juneau:
...Over time, many people have realized that even though Murkowski is a nice person, she does not vote as they would want. Her anti-choice votes, her votes against two highly-qualified U.S. Supreme Court Justices, and her putting national party politics before Alaska's interests stand out as extremely bad choices....
Voting your conscience, voting your values is what America is all about...
From Juneau:
...If Scott McAdams is elected, we'll have a senator who listens to ideas and will try to represent all of us...This brings us to McAdams. What a surprise. What a great, wonderful surprise. Everyone figured Murkowski would beat Miller. McAdams would win a meaningless primary to be a certain loser in the general election. But to growing recognition and support, McAdams has proved to be a smart campaigner, an articulate voice for communities, and a candidate supported by thousands and thousands of Alaskans. He is listening to our views and will stand up for the people who send him to Washington D.C...He has my vote.
From Juneau:
Friends, we will all lose if we don't vote our values. The system depends on this simple truth. This is an election, not a horse race or a football pool. On election day, put your truth out there and let the numbers fall as they will.
From Juneau:
McAdams is the only candidate who is 100 percent pro-choice. He will fight against politicians who try to undermine a woman's legal right to safe reproductiv health care. He will ensure that women have access to all necessary health care services, including reproductive health...Alaskans, this is completely clear. If you believe we must elect a senator who will fight to maintain a woman's legal right to the full rang e of health services, please make the informed choice. Vote for McAdams on Nov. 2.
From Douglas:
...If you want change in Washington, think about casting a vote for McAdams. He is a man of the people, who has spent his life working with his hands and educating our children. He is not, and will not be, a puppet for any corporation or special interest. McAdams is a straight shooter and a great American...Vote your values, not your fears. Cast a vote you can be proud of. I'm proud to cast my vote for the fisherman from Petersburg.
From Anchorage:
Neither of these candidates [M&M] are friends of Alsaka seniors. Why would you vote for them?...
From Auke Bay:
Scott McAdams supports fairer taxes for Alaskans...McAdams says "no" to tax breaks for the rich...Should we go on expanding the frontiers of high living, while teachers and police face layoffs and parks and libraries close? That is not the America and Alaska I want to support. I am supporting McAdams for U.S. Senate.
From Juneau:
As many other, I too was initially skeptical of Scott McAdams for his lack of experience...Those who watched any of the debates or attended events should have no argument McAdams is a thoughtful, articulate candidate. He also differs from his competitors in that he or his campaign has not been associated with past or present mistakes and lies.
Let's not encourage future mistakes by making one of our own--if you think seniority or experience counts more than integrity then feel free to cast your vote for one of the 'M&Ms" but as for me, I plan to give McAdams a chance.
And finally from Juneau, the one with the endearing headline noted in the diary introduction:
I voted for Lisa Murkowski in her last election. Back then her voting record showed that she card about Alaska, but in the two or three years she has worked very hard to lose my vote. A review of her voting record shows the very people who depended on her most in the U.S. Senate were the furthest thing from her mind. It wasn't just one vote and then another vote. It was almost all of them. She voted against major legislation that would have helped us in Alaska. do not know who she was thinking about when she placed her votes but it was not Alaska. She worked long and hard to lose my vote.
I have met Scott McAdams, talked about the issues, reviewed his action in past elected positions, and talked to his constituents. McAdams has always worked hard for those he represented whether on the Sitka School Baord, the Sitka Assembly, or the Alaska Associate of School Boards.
McAdams has earned my vote.
The letters are longer and more detailed, with thoughtful comments about why not to vote for the other two candidates. I'm reading them from a hard copy newspaper. Not all are posted online. And I typed these excerpts out by hand.
This year's election in Alaska has reminded us that there can be candidates who run positive campaigns and know their states.
And though many of the other Democratic candidates in Alaska have been overshadowed by the Senate race, I'm also happy to report, they are all running good, strong positive campaigns in Alaska this year.
Never has it been so important to keep on working for the next few days to get out the vote.