Requesting positive vibrations :-)

[Blue_In_AK]

Today is our primary election for U.S. House and Senate candidates, plus four initiatives - a clean water initiative, a gaming initiative, a clean election initiative, and a ban on aerial predator control. Some of you know that I've been working very hard volunteering for Diane Benson, progressive Democratic candidate for the U.S. House (Don Young's seat). Her opponent in the primary, Ethan Berkowitz, is a well funded lawyer, who served in the state house for 10 years and was minority leader for 8, I think. He came to Alaska from California in 1990, after the EXXON VALDEZ spill, and worked in the DA's office as a prosecutor for a couple of years before he ran for the state house. He ran for Lt. Gov. on Tony Knowles' ticket in 2006 and lost to Saran Palin and Sean Parnell (who is one of the Republicans running for this seat). He is supported by Rahm Emanuel and the DCCC, accepts lobbyist money, has slick commercials. He insists that despite all these connections, he can remain ethical. Perhaps, but I have my doubts. His claim to fame is that he called out the VECO lobbyists when they were busy bribing Republican senators and representatives in 2005 or 2006, but that wasn't until right before the indictments came down, after years of corruption had been going on right under his nose. Why didn't he say something sooner? Ethan's not a bad guy, but in my opinion at least, Diane is a much better candidate for Alaska.


Diane is purely grassroots, a woman of the people, a single mother of a wounded Iraq vet, an Alaska Native woman who grew up in Alaska's foster care system with all that entails, the first woman teamster to drive a truck on the Pipeline, who worked her way through college, established her own theatrical agency connecting Alaskan artists with Outside media. She has been a strong voice in our antiwar community since before her son went to Iraq and lost his legs. She is a passionate advocate for civil rights, equality, privacy, and the needs of veterans. She ran unopposed in 2006 against Don Young (pre-FBI investigation), and despite being outspent 15 to 1 and receiving no support at all from the national or state Democratic party (they thought Young was invincible), she got over 40% of the vote. I just can't say enough about this woman's strength.

We have a closed primary. The Republicans have their own ballot and everybody else is on the Democrats'. The pre-election analysis is if only a few Democratic ballots are taken, Ethan wins. If more Democratic ballots are taken, then Diane's got it. The Republican candidates are Don Young, Sean Parnell, and state representative Gabrielle LeDoux. A lot of people believe that if Ethan wins the primary, he will lose to the Republican, whoever it is, in November; but if Diane is the candidate, she will win. This election depends on the independents, unaffiliated, and disaffected Republicans asking for a Democratic ballot in tomorrow's primary and voting for Diane Benson. Independents and unaffiliated voters are in the majority here, so they hold the key.


Anyway, long story -- but I'm asking if you can please think positive thoughts for us today. Diane is the real deal. She is exactly the kind of person this country needs in Congress, someone who understands our issues because she's lived them. She wants to clean House.

http://www.bensonforcongress.com /

[PDJane]

1. With pleasure!

And a great deal of hope.

[jhain]

2. of course!

Kick it up, Kiddos!

[tnlefty]

3. Wishing Ms. Benson the best of luck!

Many, many positive vibes going out. Good luck.