The Other McCain

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EXCLUSIVE: Alaska LP Senate Candidate Dave Haase Is ‘Huge Sarah Palin Fan’

Posted on | August 26, 2010 | 28 Comments

Libertarian Party sources in Anchorage say they’ve been deluged with phone calls today from media and “political types” asking about the LP line on the ballot, which is Lisa Murkowski’s only hope to remain in the Senate unless her NRSC lawyer can find a way to steal the GOP nomination from Joe Miller.

Murkowski’s supporters “want us to keep an open mind and not say ‘no’ immediately” to their suggestion that LP Senate nominee Dave Haase step aside and let the incumbent Republican senator run as the Libertarian candidate on the Nov. 2 ballot.

In an e-mail Thursday to Ace of Spades HQ contributor Drew M., Haase praised Murkowski as a “smart lady” and said he had voted for her in the GOP primary.

However, the person who might be most able to sway Haase’s decision is none other than Sarah Palin.

“He’s a huge Sarah Palin fan,” the source in Anchorage said of Haase. The idea that the LP candidate admires both Murkowski and Palin – who are bitter political rivals – might “seem kinda weird,” the source said, but Haase is “a unique individual” who is “open to anybody who is open to his message.” Haase advocates the abolition of both the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Reserve.

Would it make a difference if Palin herself were to contact Alaska Libertarian Party officials directly? The source said such a call “would likely make a difference.” With the LP suddenly in the middle of the nation’s biggest election battle, one call from “Mama Grizzly” might prove decisive.

Palin has a long-standing friendship with Alaska’s Libertarians. In 2005 and 2006, the source said, the future governor attended two LP meetings at the Denny’s restaurant in Anchorage as a guest speaker. During the last few weeks of the 2006 election, the leadership of the Alaska LP endorsed Palin for governor.

UPDATE: You’ll notice some snarky know-it-all in the comments quoting two-day-old reporting about the Alaska LP. The actual situation behind the scenes is complicated, chaotic and subject to change. While rounding up the Miller-Murkowski news at The American Spectator this morning, I came across this:

Meanwhile, Alaska Libertarian chairman Scott Kohlhass told KTUU in Anchorage that if Haase were to step aside as the party’s candidate, the choice of Haase’s replacement would be up to the LP executive committee.

Get it? Although it’s Haase’s decision whether or not to step aside, the choice of Haase’s replacement in such a scenario would be made by the executive committee, of which Kohlhaas is a member. I’d be remiss if I failed to point out that (a) Libertarians are firm believers in free-market capitalism, and (b) at last count, the Murkowski campaign had $1.8 million cash on hand.

Like I said, this is complicated.

BTW, thanks to everyone who has hit the tip jar so far to help send me up to Alaska. It’s past 3 a.m., and I’m too tired to give you a rundown on prospective travel plans and thank everyone individually at this point, but we’re definitely getting there. Mrs. Other McCain talked to me Thursday evening about the family budget. Just keep it coming, y’all.

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Category: Ace of Spades, Alaska, Election, Joe Miller, Republicans, Sarah Palin, Senate

Comments

  • Rob

    Lisa’s short end of the stick has just gotten shorter.

  • Rob

    Lisa’s short end of the stick has just gotten shorter.

  • waylay

    Would it make a difference if Palin herself were to contact Alaska Libertarian Party officials directly? The source said such a call “would likely make a difference.” With the LP suddenly in the middle of the nation’s biggest election battle, one call from “Mama Grizzly” might prove decisive.

    I’m sure he will be willing to step aside if Palin calls… ie if Rob Miller wishes to run on a LP ticket. LMAO!

  • waylay

    Would it make a difference if Palin herself were to contact Alaska Libertarian Party officials directly? The source said such a call “would likely make a difference.” With the LP suddenly in the middle of the nation’s biggest election battle, one call from “Mama Grizzly” might prove decisive.

    I’m sure he will be willing to step aside if Palin calls… ie if Rob Miller wishes to run on a LP ticket. LMAO!

  • waylay

    You and your sources and fantasies…you so hilarious!

  • waylay

    You and your sources and fantasies…you so hilarious!

  • waylay

    Scot Kohlhaas, chairman of the Alaska Libertarian Party, could not comment on whether they’d be open to putting her on their ballot. Their candidate, David Haase, would have to withdraw voluntarily, and the party would have to make the change by a date in September. “I can say this,” Kohlhaas said. “She is more pro-choice, and we like that. She voted for amnesty, we like that. There are things about Lisa that we like.“

    [emphasis mine]
    http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/08/murkowskis-third-party-options-limited-and-not-promising/62075/

    On the other hand you have a right wing lunatic who supports a ban on ALL abortions (and perhaps even considers birth control pill as a form of abortion) with his tea party supporters who want to round up all illegal suspects and build prison camps to put them in.

    And you tell me Alskan LP might make a deal with Miller rather than Murkowski…’cause Palin called? You are truly hilarious RSM.

  • waylay

    Scot Kohlhaas, chairman of the Alaska Libertarian Party, could not comment on whether they’d be open to putting her on their ballot. Their candidate, David Haase, would have to withdraw voluntarily, and the party would have to make the change by a date in September. “I can say this,” Kohlhaas said. “She is more pro-choice, and we like that. She voted for amnesty, we like that. There are things about Lisa that we like.“

    [emphasis mine]
    http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/08/murkowskis-third-party-options-limited-and-not-promising/62075/

    On the other hand you have a right wing lunatic who supports a ban on ALL abortions (and perhaps even considers birth control pill as a form of abortion) with his tea party supporters who want to round up all illegal suspects and build prison camps to put them in.

    And you tell me Alskan LP might make a deal with Miller rather than Murkowski…’cause Palin called? You are truly hilarious RSM.

  • http://theothermccain.com Robert Stacy McCain

    You are truly hilarious RSM.

    But Murkowski is a big-government Republican who voted for TARP, etc. Not so good from a Libertarian perspective. And what political people say on the record, in official public pronouncements, is not always the whole story. The behind-the-scenes situation — the “Let’s Make a Deal” incentives, etc. — are quite complex and nuanced.

  • http://theothermccain.com Robert Stacy McCain

    You are truly hilarious RSM.

    But Murkowski is a big-government Republican who voted for TARP, etc. Not so good from a Libertarian perspective. And what political people say on the record, in official public pronouncements, is not always the whole story. The behind-the-scenes situation — the “Let’s Make a Deal” incentives, etc. — are quite complex and nuanced.

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  • http://wormme.com wormme

    Haase seems like a nice guy. Too nice. Like he’s sending off a “Simple Jack” vibe or something.

    “You muh-muh-muh make me huh-huh happy.”

  • http://wormme.com wormme

    Haase seems like a nice guy. Too nice. Like he’s sending off a “Simple Jack” vibe or something.

    “You muh-muh-muh make me huh-huh happy.”

  • Garym

    Did wayward ever eat that crow?

  • Garym

    Did wayward ever eat that crow?

  • Garym

    Did wayward ever eat that crow?

  • http://thecampofthesaints.wordpress.com Bob Belvedere

    One hopes that the Alaska LP will realize that Joe Miller would best promote the causes that are the most important. The only possible reason I could see for the ALP going for Lisa M. is if the fact that she’s more liberal/libertarian on social issues matters more to them than fiscal issues. But, hey, isn’t that just the kind of behavior the LP criticizes the conservatives for with such vehemence?

    SIDENOTE: Thank you, Stacy, for putting me in your HEADLINES column.

  • http://thecampofthesaints.wordpress.com Bob Belvedere

    One hopes that the Alaska LP will realize that Joe Miller would best promote the causes that are the most important. The only possible reason I could see for the ALP going for Lisa M. is if the fact that she’s more liberal/libertarian on social issues matters more to them than fiscal issues. But, hey, isn’t that just the kind of behavior the LP criticizes the conservatives for with such vehemence?

    SIDENOTE: Thank you, Stacy, for putting me in your HEADLINES column.

  • http://thecampofthesaints.wordpress.com Bob Belvedere

    One hopes that the Alaska LP will realize that Joe Miller would best promote the causes that are the most important. The only possible reason I could see for the ALP going for Lisa M. is if the fact that she’s more liberal/libertarian on social issues matters more to them than fiscal issues. But, hey, isn’t that just the kind of behavior the LP criticizes the conservatives for with such vehemence?

    SIDENOTE: Thank you, Stacy, for putting me in your HEADLINES column.

  • JeffS

    Did wayward ever eat that crow?

    How could he/she, what with that foot in his/her mouth all the time?

  • JeffS

    Did wayward ever eat that crow?

    How could he/she, what with that foot in his/her mouth all the time?

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