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.

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

Comments

28 Responses to “EXCLUSIVE: Alaska LP Senate Candidate Dave Haase Is ‘Huge Sarah Palin Fan’”

  1. Rob
    August 27th, 2010 @ 3:33 am

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

  2. Rob
    August 26th, 2010 @ 11:33 pm

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

  3. waylay
    August 27th, 2010 @ 4:03 am

    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!

  4. waylay
    August 27th, 2010 @ 12:03 am

    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!

  5. waylay
    August 27th, 2010 @ 4:12 am

    You and your sources and fantasies…you so hilarious!

  6. waylay
    August 27th, 2010 @ 12:12 am

    You and your sources and fantasies…you so hilarious!

  7. waylay
    August 27th, 2010 @ 5:04 am

    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.

  8. waylay
    August 27th, 2010 @ 1:04 am

    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.

  9. Robert Stacy McCain
    August 27th, 2010 @ 6:34 am

    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.

  10. Robert Stacy McCain
    August 27th, 2010 @ 2:34 am

    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.

  11. The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : Alaska Libertarians Courted in GOP Senate Fight
    August 27th, 2010 @ 3:03 am

    […] In a telephone interview late Thursday, one LP source in Anchorage told me that although Haase has expressed admiration for Murkowski, he's also a "huge fan of Sarah Palin." […]

  12. Virginia Right! News Hound for 8/27/2010 | Virginia Right!
    August 27th, 2010 @ 5:02 am

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

  13. wormme
    August 27th, 2010 @ 11:22 am

    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.”

  14. wormme
    August 27th, 2010 @ 7:22 am

    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.”

  15. Garym
    August 27th, 2010 @ 1:02 pm

    Did wayward ever eat that crow?

  16. Garym
    August 27th, 2010 @ 1:02 pm

    Did wayward ever eat that crow?

  17. Garym
    August 27th, 2010 @ 9:02 am

    Did wayward ever eat that crow?

  18. Bob Belvedere
    August 27th, 2010 @ 1:16 pm

    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.

  19. Bob Belvedere
    August 27th, 2010 @ 1:16 pm

    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.

  20. Bob Belvedere
    August 27th, 2010 @ 9:16 am

    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.

  21. JeffS
    August 27th, 2010 @ 1:25 pm

    Did wayward ever eat that crow?

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

  22. JeffS
    August 27th, 2010 @ 9:25 am

    Did wayward ever eat that crow?

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

  23. Some of the headlines you may have missed… « Cubachi
    August 27th, 2010 @ 9:27 am

    […] The Other McCain: EXCLUSIVE: Alaska LP Senate Candidate Dave Haase Is ‘Huge Sarah Palin Fan’ […]

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  25. What the Heck is Going On In Alaska? – Update – The Plot Thickens :: The Lonely Conservative
    August 27th, 2010 @ 6:37 pm

    […] tip jar since he isn’t on the list of bloggers getting GOP payola. Stacy has more on the race here and […]

  26. Murkowski Is ‘Insanely Un-Libertarian’ : The Other McCain
    August 27th, 2010 @ 7:43 pm

    […] tonight, prior to her appearance Saturday at the Beck rally in D.C. – and is aware that LP Senate nominee is a fan. Don’t underestimate Mama Grizzly’s savvy.More good news: Despite what Erick […]

  27. Meet Team Joe : The Other McCain
    September 2nd, 2010 @ 12:30 pm

    […] Un-Libertarian’ Aug. 27: Murkowski’s Libertarian Effort Is Led by Longtime Palin EnemyAug. 26: Alaska LP Senate Candidate Dave Haase Is ‘Huge Sarah Palin Fan’Aug. 26: Lisa Murkowski ‘Lawyers Up’Aug. 26: What’s the Air Fare to Anchorage? Aug. 26: It’s […]

  28. Groan: Murkowski as Write-In? : The Other McCain
    September 8th, 2010 @ 9:50 pm

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