The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

The Night They Drove Old Murky Down

Posted on | September 1, 2010 | 50 Comments

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Front page of the local paper:

“Murkowski concedes” not “Miller wins.” It’s about her, you see? And notice how, by delaying her concession until the absentees were counted, Murkowski cheated Miller’s supporters out of their chance to celebrate together on Primary Night.

A volunteer at Joe Miller campaign HQ checks Ace of Spades HQ.

TV news satellite trucks parked in front of Murkowski HQ.

Murkowski HQ was next to a mattress store in a shopping center.

Murky concedes. If you’ll look, you’ll see my cell phone on the round table. I’d put it on speaker and placed it there so that Melissa Clouthier could listen to the speech live.

Several of us convened afterwards at the Moose’s Tooth Pub, a popular local restaurant, and talked about the campaign. That was after I’d already filed my story for The American Spectator:

Miller’s victory was a vindication for a lot of people who have grown tired of seeing the GOP act as accomplices to the remorseless expansion of federal power. The campaign succeeded in large measure because the Tea Party movement has turned long-simmering conservative discontent with big-government Republicanism into an organized national force. Ever since the 2008 TARP bailout of Wall Street — for which Murkowski voted — more and more GOP voters have joined the insurgency that helped fuel the Miller campaign in accomplishing a rare thing: The defeat of an incumbent senator in a Republican primary. . . .

Read the whole thing. Yesterday, somebody asked me, “What do you think of Alaska?” I answered, “I haven’t seen Alaska. I’ve seen an airport, a taxi, a motel, another taxi, a campaign headquarters, a government office, a restaurant and another campaign headquarters.”

And it was exhausting. I don’t know exactly how many hours of sleep I’ve had since Sunday — when I decided to buy a one-way plane ticket here — but it hasn’t been enough.

So I’m making an executive decision to get some sleep today.

After spending my first night in a cheap motel by the airport, now I’m in a better hotel. The checkout time is noon local time (4 p.m. ET) but I’m going to need a lot more sleep than that. If readers will hit the tip jar to help fund another night’s stay here, I’d appreciate it.

Once I’ve gotten some sleep, I’ll think about booking a flight back home and then . . . well, I understand that Delaware is lovely this time of year.

UPDATE: “Just a flaming skull in an oversized pudding cup. Not a thing wrong with that.”

PREVIOUSLY:

Category: Alaska, Election, Joe Miller

Comments

50 Responses to “The Night They Drove Old Murky Down”

  1. Pudding
    September 1st, 2010 @ 5:21 pm

    I will not be denied.

  2. Pudding
    September 1st, 2010 @ 1:21 pm

    I will not be denied.

  3. Palin Backed Miller Defeats Murkowski in Alaska GOP Primary | REPUBLICAN REDEFINED
    September 1st, 2010 @ 1:39 pm

    […] “Its Miller Time” – it should be noted that this may at least in part be because he’s in Alaska celebrating. (March 26, 2010 – Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images North […]

  4. Stacy McCain Loses Sleep To Bring You The Truth…Heh | Pierre Legrand's Pink Flamingo Bar
    September 1st, 2010 @ 1:56 pm

    […] He went to Alaska to cover another defeat of old time republicans. The Night They Drove Old Murky Down […]

  5. Bosk
    September 1st, 2010 @ 6:03 pm

    I saw you there last night RSM. You looked so damn tired I didn’t want to bother you. I should have at least shook your hand.

  6. Bosk
    September 1st, 2010 @ 2:03 pm

    I saw you there last night RSM. You looked so damn tired I didn’t want to bother you. I should have at least shook your hand.

  7. JR
    September 1st, 2010 @ 6:13 pm

    Please stay away from Mike Castle. De-railing his campaign in order to nominate someone with no name recognition 8 weeks before the election is complete folly. Leaving aside the political composition of Delaware (it would be akin to primarying Scott Brown), just the name recognition issue and time constraint alone is enough to make an O’Donnell candidacy a negative-risk proposition.

  8. JR
    September 1st, 2010 @ 2:13 pm

    Please stay away from Mike Castle. De-railing his campaign in order to nominate someone with no name recognition 8 weeks before the election is complete folly. Leaving aside the political composition of Delaware (it would be akin to primarying Scott Brown), just the name recognition issue and time constraint alone is enough to make an O’Donnell candidacy a negative-risk proposition.

  9. JR
    September 1st, 2010 @ 2:14 pm

    Otherwise, excellent work!

  10. JR
    September 1st, 2010 @ 6:14 pm

    Otherwise, excellent work!

  11. Red
    September 1st, 2010 @ 6:47 pm

    Woot!

  12. Red
    September 1st, 2010 @ 2:47 pm

    Woot!

  13. Jennifer H
    September 1st, 2010 @ 7:12 pm

    Can you check out what is going on with the Palin Beck 9/11 rally from AK, and give us a bit more insight? Perhaps you can even get the scoop….

  14. Jennifer H
    September 1st, 2010 @ 3:12 pm

    Can you check out what is going on with the Palin Beck 9/11 rally from AK, and give us a bit more insight? Perhaps you can even get the scoop….

  15. Estragon
    September 1st, 2010 @ 7:19 pm

    At least Palin merits a passing mention (5th paragraph) in the Spectator piece.

    Seriously, without Palin, this would have been a rerun of the typical Alaskan incumbent primary – a 25 point walk in the park for Murky.

    Nice parting cheap shot on her, too – “…notice how, by delaying her concession until the absentees were counted, Murkowski cheated Miller’s supporters out of their chance to celebrate together on Primary Night.”

    Classy. I’m so sure if Miller had been on the short end of a <1700 margin election night, you'd have urged him to concede so Murky's folks could party, right?

    Let's hope Miller is more gracious in victory and takes up the olive branch, so the party may unify and we don't pitch away a Senate seat.

    Of course with the scorched-earth policy some seem to favor, the Senate seat matters less than unseating an establishment figure.

  16. Estragon
    September 1st, 2010 @ 3:19 pm

    At least Palin merits a passing mention (5th paragraph) in the Spectator piece.

    Seriously, without Palin, this would have been a rerun of the typical Alaskan incumbent primary – a 25 point walk in the park for Murky.

    Nice parting cheap shot on her, too – “…notice how, by delaying her concession until the absentees were counted, Murkowski cheated Miller’s supporters out of their chance to celebrate together on Primary Night.”

    Classy. I’m so sure if Miller had been on the short end of a <1700 margin election night, you'd have urged him to concede so Murky's folks could party, right?

    Let's hope Miller is more gracious in victory and takes up the olive branch, so the party may unify and we don't pitch away a Senate seat.

    Of course with the scorched-earth policy some seem to favor, the Senate seat matters less than unseating an establishment figure.

  17. Shirley
    September 1st, 2010 @ 7:54 pm

    I agree wholeheartedly with JR. Castle may be a RINO, but he’s OUR RINO ! O’Donnell doesn’t have a prayer (but may get enough contributions to pay her rent this month).

  18. Shirley
    September 1st, 2010 @ 3:54 pm

    I agree wholeheartedly with JR. Castle may be a RINO, but he’s OUR RINO ! O’Donnell doesn’t have a prayer (but may get enough contributions to pay her rent this month).

  19. JeffS
    September 1st, 2010 @ 7:58 pm

    The Moose’s Tooth is a good eatery; I ate there a few times.

    And, heck, Stacy, just drive out to Wasilla, and you’ll see Alaska; it ain’t nothing but wildernesss with occasional spots of civilization.

    PS: Can you still work in an interview with Levi Johnston? His mayoral “campaign” might be a foot in the door.

  20. JeffS
    September 1st, 2010 @ 3:58 pm

    The Moose’s Tooth is a good eatery; I ate there a few times.

    And, heck, Stacy, just drive out to Wasilla, and you’ll see Alaska; it ain’t nothing but wildernesss with occasional spots of civilization.

    PS: Can you still work in an interview with Levi Johnston? His mayoral “campaign” might be a foot in the door.

  21. Take action… | The RIGHT Opinions
    September 1st, 2010 @ 4:26 pm

    […] and do something.  No more whining and complaining,  just DO SOMETHING to change the situation.  Like they did in Alaska… Don’t talk about […]

  22. Kojocaro
    September 1st, 2010 @ 9:27 pm

    go to hell estragon you murkowskibot the reason why she lost is because big government nepotism was denied

  23. Kojocaro
    September 1st, 2010 @ 5:27 pm

    go to hell estragon you murkowskibot the reason why she lost is because big government nepotism was denied

  24. Kojocaro
    September 1st, 2010 @ 9:36 pm

    btw joe miller is not perfect

  25. Kojocaro
    September 1st, 2010 @ 5:36 pm

    btw joe miller is not perfect

  26. Bill in Anchorage
    September 1st, 2010 @ 9:44 pm

    Who would have thought: two Democrat senators from Alaska? Miller will lose the general because Alaska is the most socialist state in the Union.

    Federal funds and subsidies pay for just about everything here. Our property taxes are covered by our oil dividend checks, and there are no state or sales taxes, period. In other words, we pay nothing other than Federal taxes, and what we pay in we get back in spades.

    Miller wants us to trade all the $ we get from the feds in return for national park entrance fees and ideology. By killing off Murky, the crazies in our party have just handed the Dems a pickup. Good job.

  27. Bill in Anchorage
    September 1st, 2010 @ 5:44 pm

    Who would have thought: two Democrat senators from Alaska? Miller will lose the general because Alaska is the most socialist state in the Union.

    Federal funds and subsidies pay for just about everything here. Our property taxes are covered by our oil dividend checks, and there are no state or sales taxes, period. In other words, we pay nothing other than Federal taxes, and what we pay in we get back in spades.

    Miller wants us to trade all the $ we get from the feds in return for national park entrance fees and ideology. By killing off Murky, the crazies in our party have just handed the Dems a pickup. Good job.

  28. Shirley
    September 1st, 2010 @ 10:00 pm

    @ Kojocaro: Dude, who is ?

  29. Shirley
    September 1st, 2010 @ 6:00 pm

    @ Kojocaro: Dude, who is ?

  30. Obi's Sister
    September 1st, 2010 @ 10:23 pm

    Pic #5 – is that a hat or an air filter?

  31. Obi's Sister
    September 1st, 2010 @ 6:23 pm

    Pic #5 – is that a hat or an air filter?

  32. William
    September 1st, 2010 @ 10:26 pm

    That’s the worst picture of Murk possible.

    Possible caption: “Wha happened!?”

  33. William
    September 1st, 2010 @ 6:26 pm

    That’s the worst picture of Murk possible.

    Possible caption: “Wha happened!?”

  34. AkRonin
    September 1st, 2010 @ 10:36 pm

    Holy heck! that is one of the awesomest I’ve seen. Please tell me you’ve printed that pic out and are sending to Senator-to-be Miller for an autograph. I think it would look great in the den on the wall over the pool table.

  35. AkRonin
    September 1st, 2010 @ 6:36 pm

    Holy heck! that is one of the awesomest I’ve seen. Please tell me you’ve printed that pic out and are sending to Senator-to-be Miller for an autograph. I think it would look great in the den on the wall over the pool table.

  36. Mrs. The Other McCain
    September 1st, 2010 @ 10:55 pm

    Good Job honey! Now come home.

  37. Mrs. The Other McCain
    September 1st, 2010 @ 6:55 pm

    Good Job honey! Now come home.

  38. jefferson101
    September 1st, 2010 @ 11:01 pm

    Re: Kojocaro, #14….

    He’s not perfect? Well color me shocked and stunned. He’s a Politician, isn’t he?

    Perfect people don’t run for Political office, because they don’t give a Shout in Sheol about the adulation of the masses.

    Those who want it come in lots of flavors, but none of them are “perfect”. My Religious beliefs tell me that humanity is not perfectible in this world, which is why we needed Jesus.

    The best we can do is not going to be good enough, eventually. But we don’t have to settle for the worst, either.

    If we lose a couple of RINO’s, and gain someone who votes with the Democrats over half the time, instead of slightly under half? The next Republican to hold that seat will probably go to 60% instead of 50%, just to keep from being primaryed.

    You got to keep them honest. If we can’t do that, a Third Party is the next choice. Which is better?

  39. jefferson101
    September 1st, 2010 @ 7:01 pm

    Re: Kojocaro, #14….

    He’s not perfect? Well color me shocked and stunned. He’s a Politician, isn’t he?

    Perfect people don’t run for Political office, because they don’t give a Shout in Sheol about the adulation of the masses.

    Those who want it come in lots of flavors, but none of them are “perfect”. My Religious beliefs tell me that humanity is not perfectible in this world, which is why we needed Jesus.

    The best we can do is not going to be good enough, eventually. But we don’t have to settle for the worst, either.

    If we lose a couple of RINO’s, and gain someone who votes with the Democrats over half the time, instead of slightly under half? The next Republican to hold that seat will probably go to 60% instead of 50%, just to keep from being primaryed.

    You got to keep them honest. If we can’t do that, a Third Party is the next choice. Which is better?

  40. Remurkable
    September 1st, 2010 @ 11:28 pm

    What IS that UFO on the other ladies head?

  41. Remurkable
    September 1st, 2010 @ 7:28 pm

    What IS that UFO on the other ladies head?

  42. David R. Graham
    September 1st, 2010 @ 11:54 pm

    Strongly suggest IL-17 as next stop, not Delaware.

    Just left this at Riehl:

    This one (the Hare in IL) is critical, archetypal. Beat this demonic personality Hare and the hordes surrounding him will shudder. McCain and Co., Tea Partiers and lawyers should go there, focus there, shine lights on this guy and cronies and haul him and them into courts, blogs and media. This one is vital because it is the heart of the beast in clear view. A rare opportunity. Point the vector of attack there and everywhere else forces will align in support of candidates promising to close agencies and restrict bureaucrats. And for the RNC, focus here, for Hare’s opponent, will convince conservatives that the RNC hears, believes and can represent the spirit of the times. This one is archetypal, a clear, splendid opportunity for universal effect through specific focus.

  43. David R. Graham
    September 1st, 2010 @ 7:54 pm

    Strongly suggest IL-17 as next stop, not Delaware.

    Just left this at Riehl:

    This one (the Hare in IL) is critical, archetypal. Beat this demonic personality Hare and the hordes surrounding him will shudder. McCain and Co., Tea Partiers and lawyers should go there, focus there, shine lights on this guy and cronies and haul him and them into courts, blogs and media. This one is vital because it is the heart of the beast in clear view. A rare opportunity. Point the vector of attack there and everywhere else forces will align in support of candidates promising to close agencies and restrict bureaucrats. And for the RNC, focus here, for Hare’s opponent, will convince conservatives that the RNC hears, believes and can represent the spirit of the times. This one is archetypal, a clear, splendid opportunity for universal effect through specific focus.

  44. Rich Rostrom
    September 2nd, 2010 @ 5:00 am

    The snark is misplaced: the headline is correct. Miller didn’t do anything today. No authority ruled for him. He had already won. Murkowski is the one who acted, and the headline stated that.

  45. Rich Rostrom
    September 2nd, 2010 @ 1:00 am

    The snark is misplaced: the headline is correct. Miller didn’t do anything today. No authority ruled for him. He had already won. Murkowski is the one who acted, and the headline stated that.

  46. VRWC in the Last Frontier : The Other McCain
    September 2nd, 2010 @ 3:27 am

    […] up here seems to be a matter of constant intrigue, and if you think the shenanigans ended with Lisa Murkowski’s concession speech, you’re wrong. However, I can say no more about the behind-the-scenes maneuvering, as what […]

  47. “Paco Enterprises Takes Us All To Task” – ? « Si Vis Pacem
    September 2nd, 2010 @ 10:12 am

    […] The Night They Drove old Murky Down. An’ it ain’t just Murkowskaya gettin’ ‘er butt kicked.  NONE of this […]

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

    […] 2 general election. Two top members of Team Joe took time to talk:Continuing a theme we started yesterday, let’s take a look at the front page of this morning’s local paper:Notice that there […]

  49. Blog of the Week: The Other McCain
    September 7th, 2010 @ 9:19 am

    […] cojones to do. He went out on a limb to stay a few days. He bought a one-way ticket to Alaska to do some light political reporting and in the process scored an exclusive interview with the former First Dude of Alaska, Todd Palin. […]

  50. EXCLUSIVE: Lisa Murkowski Meets Personally With Alaska LP Officials : The Other McCain
    September 7th, 2010 @ 6:07 pm

    […] primary, but refused to concede until after absentee ballots were counted.After Murkowski’s concession speech last week, I warned that “shenanigans” are still afoot in Alaska, and her top […]