Some reflections on "losing"

[Blue_In_AK]

I'm sad to report this morning that despite a valiant effort, our grassroots Democratic candidate for House Diane Benson was finally defeated by Don Young's corporate millions and his 34-year incumbency. Everywhere Diane went during this campaign season, she made friends and won converts, and I am truly honored to have worked on the campaign of such a brave and wise woman. But in the end, Alaska is a huge state with very few roads, and with Young refusing to even appear on the same stage with Diane throughout most of the campaign, the people weren't given a chance to compare them side by side. On her shoestring budget, she ultimately wasn't able to reach everyone, but those of us she did reach will honor her forever. As it stands now, Diane has pulled in over 40% of the votes, more than any other Democratic candidate against Don Young since 1990, so we at least made a statement, and though defeated, we aren't broken.

But I want to thank all of YOU who won and won big so that now Don Young can now longer claim to be the fourth most powerful congressman in the House. He'll now be somewhere down around 234th, a mere cypher, a dot -- a "comma," if you will. Thank you so much for putting him in the minority. My guess is he will now miss even more votes than before, his bullying and blustering over pork projects to Alaska -- and Arkansas -- will fall on deaf ears. He will be seen for the corrupt bastard that he is, and maybe, just maybe, with new Democratic oversight, his connections to Abramoff, Cunningham, DeLay, Ney, et al. will be brought to light and he will be forced to resign like all those other high rollers.

Thank you to everyone here who contributed to Diane's campaign - I know there were a few of you, and we really appreciate it. Even though we lost this battle up here, the Democrats have won the war, and that's all that matters.

CONGRATULATIONS TO US!!

[Blecht]

1. nice post - nt

[JeffR]

2. Diane Benson can be proud

and so can all of you who worked so hard and fought this David and Goliath campaign with her.

Your forecast for Young's future seems accurate; with some actual oversight now possible in Congress, a damning new Book of Revelations can be written about Young and his ilk of corrupt fatcat Bush-enablers. He will come to rue his "victory" soon enough.

Here's to you all in Alaska. The '08 campaign begins today.