Alaska Turnout, Results Raise Questions

[Amazon 7]

Things that make you go HMMMMMMMMM

Could we be seeing DIEBOLD in action again???



http://voices.washingtonpost.com/washingtonpostinvestigations/2008/11/alaska_turnout_results_raise_q.html

Alaskans are different. Very different.

Elections officials, party leaders and voters are wondering what happened this Tuesday in the Last Frontier, where turnout was surprisingly low and two lawmakers who have been the focus of FBI corruption investigations appear to have been reelected despite polling suggesting they would be ousted.

The final voter turnout numbers won't be available until absentee ballots are counted, which could take at least another week. But this year's total is not expected to eclipse Alaska's 66 percent turnout in 2004 or its 60 percent clip in 2000. (This is especially odd given that Alaska's Board of Elections saw a 12.4 percent hike in turnout for the August primaries, before Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was selected as the Republican Party's vice presidential nominee.)

Alaska returns (without the uncounted absentee and contested ballots) show the McCain-Palin ticket garnering 136,348 votes. In 2004, President Bush got 190,889 votes, a "significant disparity", the Anchorage Press reported. "These numbers only add to the oddity of this election in Alaska; in the run-up to Tuesday, Alaskan voters seemed energized to vote for a ticket with our governor on it, despite the barrage of criticism Palin faced."

Couple the dip in support for McCain-Palin with surprising victories for longtime Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, who was found guilty Oct. 27 on seven felony charges, and Rep. Don Young, who is under investigation by the FBI, and a lot of pollsters and voters were left stumped.

Pollster Del Ali of the Maryland firm Research 2000, which tracked the House and Senate races in Alaska, said he was "not happy" how the races -- and dead wrong polling numbers -- turned out. Research 2000 had reported in the days before the election that Democratic challenger Mark Begich, an Anchorage attorney, was leading the 84-year-old Stevens by 22 percentage points (Daily Kos apparently paid for the polls).

Other pollsters didn't fare much better. Anchorage pollster and Republican political consultant David Dittman, a Stevens supporter, predicted a "solid Begich win." The national polling firm, Rasmussen Reports, accurately predicted every Senate race in the country within the margin of error in their most recent polls -- except Alaska. Alaska pollsters Ivan Moore, Craciun Research Group and Hays Research Group all also had Stevens and Young trailing in the lead-up to the election.

Some observers pointed to Sen. John McCain's early concession speech as a possible reason for the low turnout -- McCain acknowledged Sen. Barack Obama's win at 7:15 p.m. Alaska time, well before polls closed in the state. An Alaska Republican Party leader told the Fairbanks News-Miner that some voters might have stayed home after hearing Obama had captured the presidency.

But other pundits and political science professors dismissed that theory, saying the high-profile races for Stevens's and Young's seats would not have dissuaded voters from showing up at the polls. Other pollsters thought Palin drew new Republican voters to the polls early on, and that voting largely subsided after Obama claimed victory.

As the head-scratching continues, we'll be watching to see how Stevens's fellow senators decide to deal with his felony conviction conundrum.

[jgoose71 0]

As an Alaskan I can say that there has always been a few things that have effected the way we vote.

The big problem we have always had is the low voter turn out. With only 3 votes in the electoral college and being so far to the west, Alaskans have never really felt like there votes counted in the presidential election. The everybody already knows who the next president is before we are even half way thru our day to vote. Voters usually only turn out in large numbers if there is a measure on the ballot that is a hot topic in our individual communities.

The other thing to note about Alaska is that it is pretty much all rural. Even in the largest city, Anchorage, everyone is still pretty much a country boy (and I say "boy" in a gender neutral sort of way). That means we cling to our guns and religion. As the "Last Frontier" our way of life has been pretty much killed by the democrats during the Clinton years. I guess he didn't approve of a frontiersman's way of life. If you take a look at the last election results you will notice how Obama won was by winning pretty much all of the urban vote. All of the rural areas still went to McCain. With that said, most democrats don't stand a snowball's chance in hell in Alaska.

The Democrat that said that Palin will have a "surprise" waiting for her when the investigation results came out will have a reckoning next election cycle. Most people in Alaska would much rather vote for a corrupt Republican than a honest Democrat. Everyone can thank Clnton, Gore, and a laundry list of other tree hugging nature nazi's for the attitude.

Yes, my wife can field dress a moose just like "Caribou Barbi".

If the democratic party all of the sudden took a stanse that skydiving was a threat to national security and started putting bans on parachutes and closing down dropzones because they were interefering with the breeding habits of spotted owls, how would that effect your vote?

"There is an art, it says, or, rather, a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."
Life, the Universe, and Everything

[kelpdiver 2]

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If the democratic party all of the sudden took a stanse that skydiving was a threat to national security and started putting bans on parachutes and closing down dropzones because they were interefering with the breeding habits of spotted owls, how would that effect your vote?

Is that something they've talked about doing? Oh, no?

To the degree you can generalize for the entire coastline of a huge state, was there a weather front that could have depressed turnout?

[jgoose71 0]

Oh yes, Obama is personally pushing the legislation thru right now.

As for the weather front, if there was one big enough to effect the entire coast of Alaska, Al gore would have gotten on his magical stretch 747 limo-jet powered by pixie dust and paid for by royalties from inventing the internet and flown to Alaska sprinkling various endangered species instead of jet exhaust to tell us all "I told you so."

It hasn't happened.... yet

"There is an art, it says, or, rather, a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."
Life, the Universe, and Everything

[JohnDeere 0]

Quote

Oh yes, Obama is personally pushing the legislation thru right now.

As for the weather front, if there was one big enough to effect the entire coast of Alaska, Al gore would have gotten on his magical stretch 747 limo-jet powered by pixie dust and paid for by royalties from inventing the internet and flown to Alaska sprinkling various endangered species instead of jet exhaust to tell us all "I told you so."

It hasn't happened.... yet

That is great and o so true

Nothing opens like a Deere!

You ignorant fool! Checks are for workers!

[BikerBabe 0]

well Jeanne, i am pretty sure i can understand, based on the responses to this thread.

Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

[riddler 0]

Quote

inventing the internet

Might be funnier if Al Gore actually said that, but he didn't.

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[marks2065 0]

Quote

As an Alaskan I can say that there has always been a few things that have effected the way we vote.

The big problem we have always had is the low voter turn out. With only 3 votes in the electoral college and being so far to the west, Alaskans have never really felt like there votes counted in the presidential election. The everybody already knows who the next president is before we are even half way thru our day to vote. Voters usually only turn out in large numbers if there is a measure on the ballot that is a hot topic in our individual communities.

The other thing to note about Alaska is that it is pretty much all rural. Even in the largest city, Anchorage, everyone is still pretty much a country boy (and I say "boy" in a gender neutral sort of way). That means we cling to our guns and religion. As the "Last Frontier" our way of life has been pretty much killed by the democrats during the Clinton years. I guess he didn't approve of a frontiersman's way of life. If you take a look at the last election results you will notice how Obama won was by winning pretty much all of the urban vote. All of the rural areas still went to McCain. With that said, most democrats don't stand a snowball's chance in hell in Alaska.

The Democrat that said that Palin will have a "surprise" waiting for her when the investigation results came out will have a reckoning next election cycle. Most people in Alaska would much rather vote for a corrupt Republican than a honest Democrat. Everyone can thank Clnton, Gore, and a laundry list of other tree hugging nature nazi's for the attitude.

Yes, my wife can field dress a moose just like "Caribou Barbi".

If the democratic party all of the sudden took a stanse that skydiving was a threat to national security and started putting bans on parachutes and closing down dropzones because they were interefering with the breeding habits of spotted owls, how would that effect your vote?

i would be surprised if Obama doesn't bankrupt alaska. he is already talked about pulling drilling rights in several states and has no intention of expanding drilling in alaska. for those that voted for Obama i hope you like $5 gallon gas pricing and a larger national debt because they are both coming.

one thing that alot of people don't understand is that alot of the financial problems with the automakers is the fact that they need to meet epa requirements and retool to electric and other forms of fuel, this has put a huge amount of dollars into r&d with GM leading the way with $s spent in this area. when the carbon tax grows and the power generation companies switch to cleaner energy the puplic WILL pay huge amounts to heat homes, light homes, and drive cars. any tax reduction or rebate from Obama will be only a small percentage of the increase the public wil see.

[kelpdiver 2]

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i would be surprised if Obama doesn't bankrupt alaska. he is already talked about pulling drilling rights in several states and has no intention of expanding drilling in alaska. for those that voted for Obama i hope you like $5 gallon gas pricing and a larger national debt because they are both coming.

Alaska runs a surplus - people get paid to live there. How can he bankrupt the state? Most of us pay taxes, either in the form of income, sales, or both.

Quote

one thing that alot of people don't understand is that alot of the financial problems with the automakers is the fact that they need to meet epa requirements and retool to electric and other forms of fuel, this has put a huge amount of dollars into r&d with GM leading the way with $s spent in this area.

??

Seems rather obvious that Toyota has been leading the way. It's been a long time since the EV1, and the Volt came after Toyota and Honda made the hybrid market.

[billvon 3,006]

>for those that voted for Obama i hope you like $5 gallon gas pricing and
>a larger national debt because they are both coming.

I don't mind $5 a gallon gas, and indeed that would do more than anything else to help us along the road to energy independence.

I don't like the national debt. Since Alaska is one of the biggest welfare states there is, ending their earmarks would help reduce the deficit.

>one thing that alot of people don't understand is that alot of the financial
>problems with the automakers is the fact that they need to meet epa
>requirements and retool to electric and other forms of fuel, this has put a
>huge amount of dollars into r&d with GM leading the way with $s spent in
>this area.

Uh, no.

The most telling story about this happened shortly after California passed their ZEV mandate (that was a requirement that a small percentage of cars have zero emissions, like electric or hydrogen fuel cell cars.) Toyota and Honda spent several million hiring engineers to meet the mandate. GM and Ford spent several million hiring lawyers to fight the mandate.

[kelpdiver 2]

Quote

The most telling story about this happened shortly after California passed their ZEV mandate (that was a requirement that a small percentage of cars have zero emissions, like electric or hydrogen fuel cell cars.) Toyota and Honda spent several million hiring engineers to meet the mandate. GM and Ford spent several million hiring lawyers to fight the mandate.

Toyota opposed it as well, and the electric Rav4 went away at the same time as the mandate. But it does seem like at least some focus remained with the hybrid concept, though this did not meet the ZEV requirement.

[marks2065 0]

Quote

>for those that voted for Obama i hope you like $5 gallon gas pricing and
>a larger national debt because they are both coming.

I don't mind $5 a gallon gas, and indeed that would do more than anything else to help us along the road to energy independence.

I don't like the national debt. Since Alaska is one of the biggest welfare states there is, ending their earmarks would help reduce the deficit.

>one thing that alot of people don't understand is that alot of the financial
>problems with the automakers is the fact that they need to meet epa
>requirements and retool to electric and other forms of fuel, this has put a
>huge amount of dollars into r&d with GM leading the way with $s spent in
>this area.

Uh, no.

The most telling story about this happened shortly after California passed their ZEV mandate (that was a requirement that a small percentage of cars have zero emissions, like electric or hydrogen fuel cell cars.) Toyota and Honda spent several million hiring engineers to meet the mandate. GM and Ford spent several million hiring lawyers to fight the mandate.

and what do we do the hybrid batteries?

[billvon 3,006]

>and what do we do the hybrid batteries?

Recycle them. They're like lead-acid batteries (you know, the kind that 99% of cars out there today have) but less toxic.

[marks2065 0]

Quote

>and what do we do the hybrid batteries?

Recycle them. They're like lead-acid batteries (you know, the kind that 99% of cars out there today have) but less toxic.

no a hybrid battery is not lead acid. as of right now they are nondisposable and non recycleable. there is only one country accepting them for disposal and that is china.

[billvon 3,006]

>as of right now they are nondisposable and non recycleable.

Toyota recycles nickel metal hydride batteries, and in fact pays dealers to salvage the batteries from nonrepairable vehicles. They've been doing it since they made the RAV-4 EV, which uses a much larger and shorter-lived NiMH battery pack.

[kelpdiver 2]

NiMH has been a big step forward from lead acid and nickel cadmium batteries. Lead and cadmium are not our friends.

[Amazon 7]

Just to get things back on track on the senatorial race in Alaska....

Stevens now trailing in Alaska Senate race
The GOP incumbent is behind Democrat Mark Begich by three votes

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27677265/

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Republican Sen. Ted Stevens, a titan of Alaska politics convicted of felony charges last month, fell behind by three votes Wednesday as the count resumed in his re-election bid.

Democrat Mark Begich, the two-term mayor of Anchorage, began Wednesday down more than 3,200 votes but closed the gap as officials resumed counting early and absentee ballots. The tally was 125,019 to 125,016.

Neither side expected to be able to claim victory Wednesday. By late afternoon, officials had counted more than 44,000 of the roughly 90,000 outstanding ballots.

[Andrewwhyte 1]

It continues to astound me how long it takes officials in your country to count ballots.
We had an election last month; every ballot in the country was hand counted by midnight pacific. Five ridings needed recounts which were completed (again by hand) within a few days.

[billvon 3,006]

>The GOP incumbent is behind Democrat Mark Begich by three votes

I have a feeling republicans everywhere are breathing a sigh of relief. They will not have to face the next year as "the party of convicted felons."

[kallend 2,027]

Quote

It continues to astound me how long it takes officials in your country to count ballots.
We had an election last month; every ballot in the country was hand counted by midnight pacific. Five ridings needed recounts which were completed (again by hand) within a few days.

Counting requires math skills.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[marks2065 0]

Quote

Quote

It continues to astound me how long it takes officials in your country to count ballots.
We had an election last month; every ballot in the country was hand counted by midnight pacific. Five ridings needed recounts which were completed (again by hand) within a few days.

Counting requires math skills.

learning those skills requires good teachers.

[kallend 2,027]

Quote

Quote

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It continues to astound me how long it takes officials in your country to count ballots.
We had an election last month; every ballot in the country was hand counted by midnight pacific. Five ridings needed recounts which were completed (again by hand) within a few days.

Counting requires math skills.

learning those skills requires good teachers.

Right - teachers should be paid comparably to other professionals, like lawyers and physicians, then we'd get a better class of applicant to teacher colleges.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[marks2065 0]

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Quote

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Quote

It continues to astound me how long it takes officials in your country to count ballots.
We had an election last month; every ballot in the country was hand counted by midnight pacific. Five ridings needed recounts which were completed (again by hand) within a few days.

Counting requires math skills.

learning those skills requires good teachers.

no fire the ones that don't do their job well.

Right - teachers should be paid comparably to other professionals, like lawyers and physicians, then we'd get a better class of applicant to teacher colleges.

[kallend 2,027]

Quote

Quote

Quote

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Quote

It continues to astound me how long it takes officials in your country to count ballots.
We had an election last month; every ballot in the country was hand counted by midnight pacific. Five ridings needed recounts which were completed (again by hand) within a few days.

Counting requires math skills.

learning those skills requires good teachers.

Right - teachers should be paid comparably to other professionals, like lawyers and physicians, then we'd get a better class of applicant to teacher colleges.

no fire the ones that don't do their job well.

Without making it a more attractive career, what makes you think you'll get any better qualified replacements for the ones you fire?

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.