Time to Pray

Palin, who was the GOP vice presidential nominee, told CNN's Wolf Blitzer in an interview that she has two years left on her term as governor and wants to serve her constituents the best she can. "At this point it is as governor," she added.

"Now if something shifted dramatically and if it were, if it were acknowledged up there that I could be put to better use for my state in the U.S. Senate, I would certainly consider that but that would take a special election and everything else," she said. "I am not one to appoint myself or a member of my family to take the place of any vacancy."

Toku666 said:
I would prefer the double-secret obscurity of her losing her ass in that special election.

I would prefer Stevens eating the ignominy of being stripped, and then Palin losing badly and then fading into obscurity.

lil_tuffy said:
As far as I understand it, a special election would only take place if Stevens won and refused to step-down but was then kicked out on his ass by a 2/3 vote in Senate. If he steps down, it's the Governor's job to appoint someone new but cannot appoint one's self. So, Palin would have to step down and the Lt. Governor would take her place and subsequently appoint Palin to fill Stevens' vacancy!

lil_tuffy said:
As far as I understand it, a special election would only take place if Stevens won and refused to step-down but was then kicked out on his ass by a 2/3 vote in Senate. If he steps down, it's the Governor's job to appoint someone new but cannot appoint one's self. So, Palin would have to step down and the Lt. Governor would take her place and subsequently appoint Palin to fill Stevens' vacancy!

Coyotemike said:

You forgot the part where Jesus comes down to Alaska for mooseburgers and tells Palin to run. That's what she's waiting for.

Subrosa said:
Yeah, Uncle Ted is going down.

Subrosa said:
Yeah, Uncle Ted is going down.

Subrosa said:
Yeah, Uncle Ted is going down.

Uncognitive said:

But is he going down a series of tubes?

lil_tuffy said:
As far as I understand it, a special election would only take place if Stevens won and refused to step-down but was then kicked out on his ass by a 2/3 vote in Senate. If he steps down, it's the Governor's job to appoint someone new but cannot appoint one's self. So, Palin would have to step down and the Lt. Governor would take her place and subsequently appoint Palin to fill Stevens' vacancy!

Subrosa said:
Yeah, Uncle Ted is going down.

Accuser said:


Last night the count was Begich ahead by three votes.

Three. As in one, two, three.

.

Stiles said:

According to who? Fivethirtyeight's numbers come from the Alaskan government, and were released at 7:30 last night.

http://www.elections.alaska.gov/08general/data/results.pdf


Not yanking your chain, I'm really interested if other credible numbers exist.

malkav11 said:
So, being that this race was apparently decided by only a slightly larger margin than the Minnesota senate race, will there be any sort of recount? (Minnesota's was triggered by state law, but I wouldn't necessarily expect Alaska to have the same thing.)

s5 said:

I believe the law says that an automatic recount gets triggered when the spread is 0.5% of the vote or less. It's still possible they'll finish at a hair over 0.5%.

This is, of course, great news, but really how ridiculous is it that a convicted felon can run in Alaska and almost win?

s5 said:

I believe the law says that an automatic recount gets triggered when the spread is 0.5% of the vote or less. It's still possible they'll finish at a hair over 0.5%.

A recount in Alaska is possible, but the rules are fairly strict. The only automatic recount in Alaskan law would happen if there was an exact tie. Otherwise, one of the candidates must request a recount, and state their basis for asking (some sort of justifiable reason that mistakes had been made). If the vote is within 0.5% then the state pays for such a recount, but if not, then the requesting candidate must put up a deposit to cover the recount's cost -- which is only refunded if their claim of mistakes made proves to be valid.