by Emily GreenwoodSource: American Thinker, story by Emily Greenwood

After Lisa Murkowski’s gracious concession last night, Joe Miller is Alaska’s Republican senate candidate. What drama! As a relatively new Alaskan, I watched this contest unfold in the last few months from my vantage point in southeast Alaska, Murkowski territory. What was Palin doing, I wondered, when she endorsed the long shot Joe Miller?

I was even more amazed when the Tea Party Express group earlier this summer announced its support for Miller, one of only two candidates in the nation it was actively supporting.(The other is Sharron Angle. The group is now also helping Christine O’Donnell.) Why spend scarce resources targeting Murkowski, a solid middle-of-the-road Republican, a safe bet to defeat her Democrat opponent, in a primary, instead of spending the funds on the many critical races that are already past the primary stage?

Further, Sarah Palin has made appearances at Tea Party Express events. Surely Tea Party Express intervened in Alaska only after seeking Palin’s blessing and advice — or perhaps she came to them.

This morning, Palin’s political judgment is vindicated once again. This operation was a daring raid behind enemy lines. It inspirits the troops, stuns the enemy, and completely changes the battlefield, a much better use of resources than throwing them into the trench warfare of the California races. And, after taking it on the chin for supporting McCain in his primary, Palin has shown the world her true conservative colors once again. This matters if she is positioning for a presidential run in 2012. Her decision to endorse Miller and bring in the Tea Party Express convinced me that she is indeed doing so.

Comment by American Grand Jury:

I like Palin. I was against her endorsing McCain in my home State of Arizona but I also understand politics. Palin cannot win the Republican nomination without an “old dog” like McCain giving consent. Palin is a smart field commander when it comes to strategy. She has them all buffaloed — which, as my mother would say, “it’s a good thing.”

The primary reason I endorse Palin is that the communists on the LEFT really (and I mean REALLY) HATE her more than any other person alive. What does that tell you? They are absolutely scared out of their minds that she can stomp the Democrats and put this nation back on a conservative path. She is truly the “second coming” of Reagan. Many may disagree with me but the proof is in the pudding. Murkowski (a pro-abortion supporter) was a shoe-in as the “old line” RINO in Alaska to get the Republican nomination. Palin swooped in and busted up the party naming Miller (a pro-life supporter) the correct choice. This win opened some important doors. If Palin can do the same for Sharon Angle in Nevada it is game, set, match! All eyes are on Nevada come November 2010.

Breaking News

By Dan Joling, Associated Press WriterSource: AP Press Article, Posted on Yahoo

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski has conceded her Senate primary race to Joe Miller.

The Republican made the concession speech Tuesday night, a full week after the primary.

Murkowski trailed Miller, a Fairbanks attorney, by 1,668 votes after last week’s primary. Election officials began counting absentee and outstanding ballots Tuesday. Murkowski made slight gains, but was never able to get Miller’s lead below 1,100 votes.

She said she informed Miller shortly before making the announcement on live television.

“We all know that this has been a long week, a terribly long week,” she said at campaign headquarters.

She said that while there were outstanding votes, “I don’t see a scenario where the primary will turn out in my favor, and that is a reality that is before me at this point in time.”

Miller has never held elected office but enjoyed the backing of former Gov. Sarah Palin and the Tea Party Express.

Murkowski had hoped to avoid the fate that has befallen other incumbents nationwide as they were swept out of office in 2010 amid an anti-incumbent fervor.

She said she was proud of the campaign she ran, which she called “honest” and “upright.” She said the campaign stayed focused on the issues and the “high road.”

Previously, she had criticized Miller for running an unfair fight.

Comment by American Grand Jury:

Thank you Lord! This is really good news for the conservative Tea Party movement — You guys have Sarah Palin to thank for this upset. Miller could not have beaten Murkowski without her endorsement.

It gets tiresome hearing the conventional wisdom say that the Democrats will likely keep control of the Senate. Far from it.

By Dick MorrisSource: DickMorris.com pay-per-view website

Note: Dick Morris is a pay-per-view website.. but what the heck, we published this article for free here. psst: don’t tell anyone!

To gain control, Republicans must win ten new seats. An analysis of the latest polling data suggests that Republicans currently hold the lead in eight pick-up states: Pennsylvania, Colorado, Wisconsin, Washington State, Arkansas, Delaware, North Dakota, and Indiana. In a ninth, Illinois, the candidates are tied and, in the tenth - Nevada - Reid is ahead by only one point. And, for insurance, Boxer in California and Gillibrand in New York are both below 50% of the vote. In Connecticut, Blumenthal is only at 50%. That’s a potential pickup of thirteen seats and a likely gain of at least ten (enough for a majority).

Any incumbent who is running at less than 50% of the vote is in serious trouble. It means that a majority of the voters have decided not to vote for him or her. (Asked if you are likely to be married to the same person next year, a vote of “undecided” does not bode well for your marriage).

So here are the numbers:

August 27th Polls

Nevada:

Reid (D) 45 / Angle (R) 44 (Mason Dixon)

With Reid this far under 50%, Angle is likely to win.

August 26th Polls

Florida:

(Currently Republican) Rubio (R) / 40 Crist (I) 30 / Meek (D) 21 (Rasmussen)

So much for Crist!

Pennsylvania:

Toomey 40 (R) / Sestak (D) 31 (Franklin-Marshall)

August 25th Polls

Colorado:

Buck (R) 49 / Bennett (D) 40 (Reuters)

California:

Boxer (D) 49 / Fiorina (R) 44 (Rasmussen)

Boxer has gained a bit, but still in trouble.

Louisiana:

(Currently Republican) Vitters (R) / 51 Melancon (D) 41 (PPP)

Wisconsin:

Johnson (R) 47 / Feingold (D) 46 (Rasmussen)

Illinois:

Giannoulias (D) 45 / Kirk (R) 45 (Rasmussen)

August 24th polls

Missouri:

(Currently Republican) Blunt: 54 / Carnahan: 41 (Rasmussen)

August 21st Polls

Washington State:

Rossi (R) 52 / Murray (D) 45 (SurveyUSA)

August 20th Polls

Arkansas: Boozeman (R) 65 / Lincoln (D) 27 (Rasmussen)

This is not a typo!

The most likely results are that Republicans win the eight seats in which they now lead and also take Illinois and Nevada for a gain of ten seats and control. They also have a good shot in California and possible upsets in New York and Connecticut.

Comment by American Grand Jury:

We the Patriots can make this election a sure bet if we just do one thing:

GET OUT AND VOTE. The Democrats are scared schittless right now. DON’T LET THEM OFF THE HOOK!

source..Comment: link to ABC News website in Arizona

PHOENIX - The son of former Vice President Dan Quayle has won the GOP nomination in Arizona’s 3rd Congressional District.

Ben Quayle led the field of 10 Republicans by nearly 5 percentage points late on election night. He had 23 percent of the vote, and his nearest competitor, businessman Steve Moak, had just under 18 percent.

The crowded field also included three former Arizona lawmakers.

GOP Rep. John Shadegg is retiring in the Republican-leaning district.

The 33-year-old Quayle made headlines during the campaign for his racy posts on a website and his ad calling President Barack Obama the worst president in history.

He drew on his family connections and raised large amounts of money.

Comment by American Grand Jury:

Good for Ben Quayle. Too bad I can’t vote for him. I am in the 7th District.

However, I truly hope he wins and becomes a new Republican Congressman from Arizona.

Everyone, if you live in Arizona’s 3rd District please vote for this guy. He is one of us!

Pithy comment: I think Quayle believes Obama sucks just like rest of us do! My kind of guy!

source..part of FoxNews continuing election coverage.

A decorated Gulf War veteran was holding a narrow lead over Sen. Lisa Murkowski in the Alaska Republican Senate primary, as ballots continued to be counted Wednesday in what could shape up to be a stunning political upset.

Polls taken before primary day had shown Murkowski, a two-term senator from an Alaska political dynasty, leading handily against the first-time candidate. But challenger Joe Miller insisted all along that the state’s polling was unreliable — as of Wednesday morning, Miller held a 2,000-vote lead.

With 98 percent of precincts reporting, he had 51 percent and Murkowski had 49 percent. The number of uncounted absentee ballots, though, exceeded the number of votes separating the candidates.

Comment by American Grand Jury:

I am really hoping and praying that Alaskan voters get rid of this RINO. Murkowski is a liberal.

No such chance in Arizona where I live. McCain hammered JD Hayworth. He spent 21 millions dollars to Hayworth’s 2.5 million. Money is power in this country and the incumbents and Democrats have plenty of it. Arizona had a heavy turn-out of Latinos looking to cash in on McAmnesty when he gets back to the Senate this fall. He will push hard for giving 25 to 30 million illegals some kind of pass.

I read a few comments from Limbaugh yesterday. He had one call-in that was really worried about Acorn, the Unions, the Move-on.orgs of the world stealing the election. I like the way Limbaugh answered the question. He said, and I am paraphrasing from memory:

This is an off-year election, not a presidential one — the cheaters that buy or steal votes will have a much tougher time this November getting the folks to turn-out — not enough interest from the lazy Obots. On the other hand, he said, there will be a HUGE turn-out on the Republican and Independent side — no matter how many votes the left tries to manufacture they will not be able to overcome the onslaught of determined voters to ride this country of the decay in Congress.

I hope he is telling the truth. Let’s not let this Country down and make Limbaugh out to be a liar. PLEASE VOTE! This is the most critical election I believe we will see in decades to come (outside of 2012 when we blast Obama out of office, if he survives in the WH that long).

PS.. I am not familiar with most other Primaries that happened yesterday. Could some of our commentators fill us in.

Thanks for stopping by,
Bob

Pithy comment: If Miller would have shaved his beard he would have gotten 5,000 more votes. The little old lady voters don’t like beards — I learned this in 40 years of being a businessman. But of course, this is Alaska — it gets cold up there.