I have just finished reading through the comments and have found a majority of the comments untrue, or at best, a stretch of the truth. I have lived in Alaska for about 35 years and have found that, for the most part, Alaskan's have done a good job of taking care of this state. As for Steve's and Young, until the proof is out that they have committed a crime, I will withold judgement. I have seen a lot of good that they have done for this state through their efforts, all of which would not have happened through any outside government agency or group. The majority of people that live in the continental US (Lower 48 States) could care less what happens to Alaska unless it is to make a political statement about the environment. Most want to turn Alaska into a seasonal nature theme park. I have found it very dissappointing how environmental groups have been workng to lock up this state and all of it's resources. I have seen numerous business leave the state due to environmental groups find ways to discourage any activities what-so-ever. Everything from roadless initiatives (Clinton) causing lumber mills to close down to ANWR being locked because people who have never been there find it to be the last great park (mosquito infested marshy/tundra flat land frozen 9 months of the year). I have live and travel just about every across this state and find that it is beautiful. This state is home to roughly 600,000 people, if you are not one of us enduring the conditions of this state, keep your opions to yourself as to how best manage the affairs of this state.

DOJ spam Alert Protect whats in your wallet
Our court systems has adjusted it's marketing plan to include a way out of the being

on the registry for sex offenders.
Yes you can get off the registry.
It reads like an email from an oppressed infidel in a rich oil country with tons of

money at the end of the rainbow.
All you have to do is sue your government.
following steps are necessary.
1. Sign on with the attorney who emails you.
2. Except his offer to win you twenty five million dollars.
3. Allow them to offer less.
4. Understand that the government changed the law and statutes of limitations have

run out.
5. Send your check for $2, 700.00 to file a writ of habeas corpus.
Now just like the guy down the street who has so much money coming in the mail

from a rich oil buddy you too can feel rich again before these sex law destroyed your

life.

I am fighting for my life, inconsiderate less informed persons who are quite likely a bigger part of the problem than the solutions would have you turn your head as you walk by a homeless person. Thank you for your support.

Right on "don't feed the trolls"!

So . . . .Loudon, I, Soltz, San, Mike, AJ, James CH, QED, RickB, If you can't, Andrew, proud to be, rufus, John D, No facts, truer words, blarg, we demand, what about, dem science, ssd, no econ, KR Radford, Reid ML, X, 1arryb, MM Hecht . . .

Man do you guys enjoy listening to yourselves talk ! Everything you have said has little or nothing to do with this article. You feed off each other like a bunch of cannibals, boring the hell out of the rest of us.

Alaskans are great folks, it's just that they let a few people run things until their bitter ends. A great Alaska story, of which there are many, is that of Soapy Smith who ran roughshod in Skagway for years. It was his town @ the time of the Gold Rush which gave him control over much of the activity and money gained from mining. That is until one day when Soapy met his bitter end via a well-placed bullet. As to the bridge in Ketchikan (having lived there briefly), it wasn't needed in 1976 and still isn't today. Part of the downfall of Stevens.

Ted "I want my bridge to nowhere" Stevens, your time is running up.
http://www.top1000destinations.com

What's wrong with Alaska? Simple - CAREER POLITICIANS such as Stevens. And the same problem exists in other states - including Utah.

You are a coward CC.

Let someone discredit me, then block. Propogandist fascist. You can not win lying and propogating daily. Ask you buddy Ben SMith how if feels. Get a job at us weekly or the national enquier if you want to report FAKE news. You cannot stop me by blocking me from your site. I'm much bigger than that. You coward

On the question of DDT: The self-justifying blather that DDT wasn't banned worldwide is pure sophistry. The U.S. State Department prohibited funding of projects that included the use of substances banned in the United States, such as DDT. Therefore, poor countries would have to give up financial aid if they continued to use DDT. In effect, DDT was banned from use. The USAID carried out this policy with a vengeance. Other NGOs also adopted this policy.

On the question of resistance, DDT not only kills mosquitoes, it repels them. Therefore the indoor spraying of DDT on house walls repels mosquitoes whether those mosquitoes are resistant to DDT or not. This is what makes DDT uniquely effective, compared with other pesticides.

DDT was a lifesaver, from the time it was dusted on troops and refugees in World War II, to its postwar use in malaria control. It has saved millions of lives--more than any other man-made chemical. Its ban has resulted in the death of millions. Now that the WHO has okayed it use for indoor spraying, it will again be able to control malaria--unless the anti-DDT forces prevent it from being used.

Behind the ban on DDT is a policy of population control, particularly of black and brown populations. The founder of the Malthusian Club of Rome, Alexander King, admitted this forthrightly, saying that he had supported the use of DDT during the war but later on, he saw that by controlling malaria it was allowing the increase of population--a bad thing in his view (and also in the view of many environmentalists today).

Bertrand Russell advocated the "culling" of population every decade--by famine, war, or disease. Prince Philip, a founder of postwar environmentalism, agrees. He, after all, said he wants to be reincarnated as an AIDS virus to help in this process. The question for the environmentalist movement as well as for the right-wingers, is whether the policies they support will have the result that Bertrand Russell and Prince Philip advocated.

For more information, see this interview with Donald Roberts, an entomologist who has worked for decades with DDT to combat malaria.
http://www.21stcenturysciencetech.com/Presub_samples_MMH07/Fall%20Winter%202007%20articles/Donald_Roberts.pdf

I think the Fix has hit upon a key factor that could at a minimum mean a new Junior Senator from Alaska: Alaskan voter fatigue. Stevens has received national and local press, virtually all of it unfavorable, over everything from the so-called 'bridge to nowhere' to his famous "internet is a series of tubes" speech on the Senate floor to the current scandal, all of which paints a picture of a dangerously out-of-touch, possibly corrupt politician. In light of this almost any candidate (Republican or Democrat) appearing as a sensible, experienced outsider to Washington will score favorably among Alaskans.

Rape (a la the "Bridge to Nowhere") and spend R's; always consistent in that at least.

You think anybody in Anchorage is about to regret having Ted Stevens' name on their airport?

> another bias article.
> Yeah, this article has sickly bias.
Its a politics blog entry, not an article. That means it leans more towards commentary, which means it is more likely to express just one person's POV rather than multiple perspectives.

Here in Juneau, Alaska's Capital City, Ted Stevens is seen as the Great Provider. Even Ted has said very recently that he is personally responsible for $3 billion being funneled into the state's economy each year.

The Republicans in this capital city, which is mostly liberal, see the investigations into the business of Ted Stevens, Ben Stevens and Don Young as personal attacks, and they view media coverage and commentary as kicking these men when they're down. No only that, but anyone who disagrees is viewed as an outsider who, if they don't like the status quo, can pack their grip and hit the road.

The gravy train for Alaska is about to end. Then what will the lovers of these arrogant, perhaps corrupt old men do for the future of the place they supposedly hold so dear?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romulus_and_Remus

"The rest of the people became the populace of the city, and out of the populace, Romulus hand selected 100 of the most noble men to serve as a council for the city. He called these men Patricians and their council the Roman Senate. Romulus called these noble men Patricians not only because they were the fathers of legitimate sons, but also because he intended the great and the wealthy to treat the weak and the poor as fathers treat their sons."

Why does the party that claims patriotism as a virtue, hate this country so. Why do people that claim to be christians hate liberals and the poor so much. Why to the wealthy not share with the less fortunate so as to not involk the hungrey's wrath?

These questiosn are included in my previous. You want REAL conversation. Let us see how you answer a real question. Or if you answer it at all.

GOP. what's up Old man :).

I hear your attack. But what do you think about taxing the millionares TO FORCE the business owners to pay their employee's more?

I hear your attack and spin, but what about the poin tI made? Do you think that is a fair approach? Let me dig something up for you. You people say this a a republic, reminesent of the roman republic. If that's the case why to the top not filter the money down anymore. Why the hording Listen to this:

Alaska! I have never been there. I have told I should more there. What is your state's political leanings. Are there more liberal areas than otehrs?

What is so good about Alaska? What is bad about Alaska?

Anybody that lives there or has lived there. Is it mostly military in the woods?

rufus "Raise taxes. Yeah. if you make over a million"

Actually rufus, most of the dems plans would raise taxes on those making over $200,000 not a million. Your idea of punishing the successful in America is but one example of why the dems will lose again in '08.

Tax and spend dems; always consistent in that at least.

Blah blah blah. Keep making yourself feel big.

"Trollbait, you forgot one:
6. volunteering to fight the trolls."

Eminently sensible IF you can first recognize the signs of trollism which are the first five on that list.

"You do me. I'll do me"

You do you that is. Sorry :)

You do me. I'll do me. I got my agenda. It is in progress and seems to be working. I'm the one doing the hard work out here. Help me, don't hinder me.

Do you, I'll do me. Ignore me if you must. Or leave. No disrespect.

Some things need to be said. Some people need to be called on their BS. With me being on here the furthest left, if gives all of you the chance to say whatever you want AND NOT BE SCARED. Maybe someone reading will clarify or clean up my statements for me, happens on here all the time. Maybe a troll will attack me rather than you, bsimon.

If you disagree or think I'm lying, research. If you can re-phrase, please do so. But don't silence me. If only we all could speak our minds without fear. That used to be what this country was founded on. The mere fact that you have ANY fear before posting ANYTHING shows how far this country is fallen

Trollbait, you forgot one:
6. volunteering to fight the trolls.

Troll Bait:
1. DDT
2. Global warming
3. Harry Reid or Nancy Pelosi
4. Math
5. The elimination of tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires

This seems to cover it. Please take note.

I feel that. Don't post for zouk. Post for the independant viewers who read, but are scared to post because they don't want to be put on some terrorist watch list. That's who you should post for. The people who are not in the know.

Don't worry about these fascists that know what time it is, but continue to spout propoganda. That is his game. don't let him suck you in. That's why I'm here. To battle the trolls ( and be the furthest left) to give you the oppurtunity to speak freely to the independants. Speak your mind. Ignore the trolls. I got this :)

After reading most of the comments, it is cetain to me, that most of these folks probably don't know where alaska is.
I have been a resident for 44 years.
Stevens and Young need to go, along with ted's son.
It is a great state and beautiful.Come up some June, if your a anti Alaska, try December or January.

After reading most of the comments, it is cetain to me, that most of these folks probably don't know where alaska is.
I have been a resident for 44 years.
Stevens and Young need to go, along with ted's son.
It is a great state and beautiful.Come up some June.

Reid my Libs says:

Hillary, Nancy, please show me how to be a man. I seem to have lost my way. you two clearly know more about it than I do.

This is [unintentionally] poignant. 10 year old boys are running this country.

'Am I in error to continue a conversation with someone who does nothing but spout half-truths and insults? Well, I'm afraid you've got me there.'

It IS a waste of time, blarg -- zouk gets proven wrong and he just cites the same false stats all over again. he can no more tell the truth than explain why he isn't in Iraq, or why he doesn't have a job or a life.

"trolls -- let's see, you're missing -- how we are winning in iraq, how 'Libs' don't understand economics, how "Dems' will raise taxes -- he's got quite a list. Every day."

Raise taxes. Yeah. if you make over a million. I have a novil idea. Instead of hording your wealth, why not pay your employee's more. That will bring down your taxable income :)

"I am done with arguing with dimwits who couldn't admit an error if it hit them in the face."

Tell me what my error is.

Am I in error when I say that DDT is still widely used around the world? No, that's true. Malaria.org describes the use of DDT to fight malaria throughout Africa and Asia. This usage is supported by the World Health Organization.

Am I in error when I say that the 1972 ban only affects the US? Nope, that's true too. Other countries banned DDT earlier, or later, or not at all. And, of course, it's not banned in countries that still suffer from malaria.

Am I in error when I say that your citations are meaningless? Looks like I'm correct there also. Just because you're incapable of remembering what you're arguing about doesn't mean that everyone else is. None of your citations have done anything to prove your point.

Am I in error to continue a conversation with someone who does nothing but spout half-truths and insults? Well, I'm afraid you've got me there.

Oh yes I forgot:
5. The elimination of tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires.

nd no amount of time will make much of a difference" in the war in Iraq. "[P]rudence dictates that we plan for an eventual drawdown and the transition of responsibilities to Iraqi security forces," he said. In questioning later, he conceded, "there does not appear to be much political progress" in Iraq.

Mullen also said, "A protracted deployment of U.S. troops to Iraq...risks further emboldening Iranian hegemonic ambitions and encourages their continued support to Shia insurgents in Iraq and the Taliban in Afghanistan."

In the end, however, Mullen qualified his skepticism over the current course in Iraq by endorsing a long-term occupation. "U.S. military forces will be needed in Iraq for 'years not months," he said.

UPDATE: Asked whether or not U.S. forces were "winning" in Iraq, Mullen said, "[b]ased on the...lack of political reconciliation...I would be concerned about whether we'd be winning or not," Tim Grieve notes.

Hillary, Nancy, please show me how to be a man. I seem to have lost my way. you two clearly know more about it than I do.

trolls -- let's see, you're missing -- how we are winning in iraq, how 'Libs' don't understand economics, how "Dems' will raise taxes -- he's got quite a list. Every day.

Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani on Tuesday offered a consumer-oriented solution to the nation's health care woes that relies on giving individuals tax credits to purchase private insurance.

Edwards estimates that his plan would cost $90 billion to $120 billion per year

Obama estimates his plan would cost $50 billion to $65 billion per year

Troll Bait:
1. DDT
2. Global warming
3. Harry Reid or Nancy Pelosi
4. Math

What am I missing?

QED: "Stick with what you know - insults, slander and emotionalism. Men who act like women and women who look like men. Pretty funny when the most masculine member of your party is hillary."

That's not too internally inconsistent, is it? What a d-bag.

Can we hurry up and surrender now. what would happen to my majority if somehow we were to win this war? Now that I have staked my career on losing, I really need it to happen soon. Nancy - help!

Why aren't you in the Military, zouk/QED-- instead of sitting on your pimply white a*s typing all day, shilling for chemical companies?

ANSWER ZOUK/QED - WHY AREN'T YOU IN IRAQ? WHY DO YOU ALWAYS AVOID THE QUESTION?

Hit number two, after lowe's last week:

"Home Depot seems to have had a change of heart. They're now unequivocally telling their customers that they will not advertise on Bill O'Reilly's show."

No, Zouk a lower death toll is always better news for all of us.

Now, let's make it progressively lower. Instead of being used as twisted logic for having to send more troops in, to get them killed.

The level of nastiness on this thread is unbelievable. This is just the way the repubs like it. Hurl insults at each other--that way no serious discussions can occur and the political elites in Washington can go on scheming their corrupt, criminal enterprises. Why do you think Rove et al bring out the hot topics like gay marriage, flag burning, aboertion, etc. before all elections? The answer is to distract the rabblefrom knowing what's being done in Washington against most people's self interest. They don't have3 to bother anymore--you're all distracting yourselves now.

See, someone does watch MSNBC. I thought you all were extinct.

U.S. toll in Iraq lowest in 8 months

Ohhh bad news for Ms Reid.

""The Mona Lisa should hang in a museum, not a subway platform. The Statue of Liberty should stand unvarnished in New York Harbor, not draped with corporate logos.

And The Wall Street Journal should be owned by a company dedicated to maintaining its integrity, not one grasping to find content for a yet-to-be-launched cable channel."

wow.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19916213/?GT1=10150

don't get curious and head over to junk science and look around at your new religion - global warming. there is real science there and you Libs will be very dissappointed.

Stick with what you know - insults, slander and emotionalism. Men who act like women and women who look like men. Pretty funny when the most masculine member of your party is hillary.

'Do you really think that you being a republican tool makes everyone who disagrees with you a liberal?'

they don't think -- that's the pronblem.

MikeB - maybe we could send all the engineers to Alaska too.

I simply don't have the patience to do all your work in educating yourself. I always suspected you were slow blarg, but now i am convinced. try this:

The late Dr. J. Gordon Edwards estimated
that 190 people per minute are either
dying or suffering directly or indirectly from
the USA ban of DDT and other pesticides.

http://3billionandcounting.com/index2.php

this should speak directly to your carved out argument, for what I am no longer sure. If you keep back peddling, maybe you will arrive where you began. I am done with arguing with dimwits who couldn't admit an error if it hit them in the face. After having written that last sentence, I understand hill's position. It is no different than the rest of you liars and enablers.

'I also bet you'll post the same lies again in a few days.'

blarg, zoukie/QED/etc -- has a standard routine, a standard set of talking points he posts every single day -- so my guess is it will come up on the next thread.

oh and look how precious -- he uses the American Nazi white suremacists over at the Little Green Football site as a credible reference.

LOL....

If you've ever bothered to notice you would see that conservative talk show hosts all call themselves "political satirist". They have to do this to keep from being sued for the lies that they say about people. A person who calls himself a journalist is bound by law (and news company policies) to be able to prove that he has reasonble evidence that what he writes is true.

Do you really think that Rush Limbaugh believes anything he says on the radio?

Do you also think that Dan Rather would have paid the price for being wrong if he had been a talk radio charlatan like Limbaugh?

Do you really think that you being a republican tool makes everyone who disagrees with you a liberal?

I'll tell you what's wrong with Alaska. It's cold up there, the winters are dark and long, which all make for boring people with nothing better to do than get into mischief. I think we ought to send Hillary and her groupies up there where they wont menace the rest of us.

Discrimination allows superiority where truth is hidden and corruption tends to creep in.

This is the human equation.

People change day to day. Things change, steal rusts while conceited blows away, but the energy that makes us who we are moves

through us as we experience our lives.

Governments, Advocates, Churches, and Media put pressure on sex offenders who are struggling daily to make a way for their

families.

These groups are one in the same who have created the realm of secrecy and oppress for gain.

To be ashamed of being a flawed human who makes mistakes, is the responsibility of the person/group/s allowing laws of decimation

which is abuse.

Inflicting pain on any person who has been betrayed by that societies recklessness to hide the truth because of its own shame is

the ultimate in irresponsibility.

By continuing to advocate lifetime sentences, separation, eradication, concerning sexual offenses is recognition of the breakdown

of group/s and any system/s which supports this human rights abuse .

There can be no justice where the responsible party is the society which refuses acceptance of its error.

Thinking that labeling anyone concerning life and death decisions with regard to sexual offenses has no validity.

The stigma/demonization/and continuance of the myth is perpetrated by the group/s and any system/s that makes people suffer for a

belief that has only for centuries hidden its own truth.

Please take time to write those who can change our laws.

What ever we do we do to ourselves as money and power leads us by the ring in our nose rendering us unable to hear or see beyond

sound of our own greed.

Mr. & Mrs. Keith Richard Radford Jr.
http://www.SOSunite.com
http://www.youtube.com/sosunite

'might as well write off this blog today.'

you always promise zouk and then you never leave. ever.

'demented individual who sees something called zouk everywhere he goes'

QED/zouk -- anon is several people. your speech and grammar patterns, and particlar obssessions make you recognizable no matter how many names you use -- no one is foooled.

Simple....Anwar The Dems will never get Alaska

Oh look, it's No Facts again! Now we can continue our discussion of DDT. For those that missed it, here's a recap:

No Facts (AKA kingofzouk, QED, SSDD, etc.): Since DDT was banned, malaria has killed millions.
Blarg (AKA me): No, DDT is still used to fight malaria.
No Facts: You didn't cite a source! You're a lying lib liar who lies!
Blarg: [Citations from wikipedia]
No Facts: multiple citations from scientific sources
Blarg: Waaahh, can we go back to opinions only?
Other Libs - we don't do facts, why try? Poll anyone?

The junk science site says nothing to prove your original statement that millions have died due to DDT bans. Your citations from that site usually don't even relate to your point.

The first quote describes that DDT prevented many deaths in the 40s and 50s. As a quote from 1970, it has nothing to do with post-Silent Spring DDT bans.

The second quote says that many people are killed by malaria. It mentions nothing about Rachel Carson, the environmental movement, or DDT bans.

Then you include a couple of quotes about mosquitos becoming resistant to DDT. This actually undercuts your point. If overspraying causes resistance, then not overspraying is good. Guess what? Silent Spring advocated against overspraying DDT. And since Silent Spring, overspraying has been significantly reduced. Spraying of DDT continues, however, because it was not banned.

Then you say that DDT was banned for bad reasons. That still doesn't prove that the US ban caused any deaths.

You wrap up with a study that says DDT doesn't cause cancer. That still says nothing about your original point.

And, yes, I looked at malaria.org. It has many references to the fact that DDT is still used to fight malaria in Third World countries. Which casts some doubt on your original claim that DDT bans kill millions, because it clearly shows that DDT HAS NOT BEEN BANNED IN COUNTRIES WITH MALARIA!

Face it; you've got nothing. You pulled up a bunch of citations that are only periphally related to your original statement, and none that provide any sort of proof. And every time I point out how wrong you are, you paste in a few more pages of crap, then mock me for not responding. Absolutely pathetic.

"Many of those 297,000 that you don't count were far more innocent and noble than the 3,000 that you bother to count" - Andrew

And YOU know that they were far more innocent and noble because?

'funny how all the howling misfit moonbats'

so very characteristic, koz -- what a brainless little illiterate twit you are. and yes, some do believe you work for the RNC -- it is well documented that they have been hiring trolls since 2006 -- but you'd think they'd pick somene smarter.

one of the main reasons people think this, however, is that you could not posibly on here as much you are every single day, if you had an actual job.

You assert the benefits of socialism and cite Japan as a "socialist" economy.

Japan is an oligarchical economy that practiced precapitalist mercantilism until their monetary system nearly collapsed.

You correctly cite China as a Communist country - but its economy is largely capitalist, and certainly not Marxist.

There are no purely socialist economies in the industrialized world although there are various categories of "welfare states": countries in which most means of production and distribution are privately owned but the government provides a "safety blanket"
for the lame and halt, the elderly, the orphan, the sick, and/or more.

From your examples you meant "welfare states" when you referred to "socialist"
states.

These kinds of economies can exist in a dictatorship, like China, or in a representative government, like ours. Under a representative government, many people will opt for private control of the means of production and distribution, out of inherent distrust of one entity controlling the lifeblood of the nation. As a result, actual democratic socialism has only worked for limited times in local contexts where everyone knew and generally trusted everyone else. Even the Israeli kibbutzim have now largely disappeared.

Not one voter in ten in Alaska would choose socialism, although most enjoy the "oil dividend".

Mike says

"your to stupid to govern yourself."

!!

But that ban was in the US ONLY.

who do you think makes the stuff for the rest of the world. I should have considered that you Libs don't do math or science. I forgot you have so little understanding of world economics as well.

If you really want an answer to all your clueless claims about DDT, simply go to the junk science site. It is all there complete with actual scientists and their publications. It will be a much better use of your time than this blog ever will be. you may learn something if you care to. I always thought that blarg was not a complete close-minded Lib, until now.

'Ultimate power ultimately corrupts. However, of the sitting Senators who have held office for >40 years, 5 out of 6 are Democrats.'

--therby implying that they have done something wrong, which they have not. you people are so deceptive, so dishonest.

Video: Feds Search Sen. Stevens' Home In Probe

Watch this video coverage of the breaking investigation now:
http://onthehillblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/video-feds-search-sen-stevens-home-in.html

"Before Democrats get to far ahead..."

CC, that should be "...too far...."

--repugs can't spell or use grammar...

"Before Democrats get to far ahead..."

CC, that should be "...too far...."

--repugs can't spell or use grammar...

I guess you weren't actually interested in a response of any depth to your idiotic demand. did you even look at the junk science site with solid citations on every claim - how about malaria.org.? Why demand answers and then ignore them. you are a coward and dishonest. a true Lib. hint - stay away from science - it makes you look even weaker and dumber than the average Lib, if that is even conceivable.

WASHINGTON - President Bush's choice to head the military Joint Chiefs of Staff said Tuesday an increase of troops in Iraq is giving commanders the forces needed to improve security there.

time to flop Hill, a new poll is in.

So, are you going to retract your ridiculous claims that DDT bans have killed millions in Africa? Or are you just going to ignore the fact that you have, once again, been proven wrong? I'm betting on the latter. I also bet you'll post the same lies again in a few days.

Posted by: Blarg | July 31, 2007 03:29 PM

What say you now misguided fool? Want some ketchup with that. I don't expect a response after such a thorough drubbing. you Libs always run and hide when forcibly confronted.

Try this:

Mosquitoes are evil - like bush. that seems to be the level of your discourse on this blog.

"Who was the last Democrat who lied to US into a war that destabilized an entire region of the world and cost over 3,000 lives so far?"

Johnson.
They U.S. government faked an attack on a ship in order to get the country to committ to invading Vietnam and interfering in a civil war that we had no part in and couldn't really benefit from all because of an over-the-top irrational, paranoid fear of a political philosophy.

Anyway, the cost of lives from the Iraq war is more around 300,000 instead of 3,000. Many of those 297,000 that you don't count were far more innocent and noble than the 3,000 that you bother to count. But it still isn't as high as Vietnam.

Can we Libs go back to the pre-internet days when facts and figures weren't so readily available. we always lose when actual numbers and facts are involved.

curse you al gore.

Can we get back to talking about Breck girls hair now. Our little Lib brains hurt.

You're quoting from advocacy articles on sites like Free Republic. Those aren't valid sources; their facts are flat-out wrong. For instance, the 21stcenturysciencetech article refers to millions dying since the 1972 ban. But that ban was in the US ONLY. It was not an international ban. So unless 60 million people have died in the US because of lack of DDT, the US ban has nothing to do with anything. DDT is still used in malaria-prone countries.

Then there's the malaria.org article. It argues against a proposed DDT ban in 1999. And that ban was never enacted. Remind me how this helps your argument that millions of have died due to 1960s DDT bans.

By the way, the first limitations on DDT usage in the 60s were due to mosquitos showing resistance to DDT. Are you going to blame Rachel Carson and the environmentalist movement for that? No, that was caused by evolution, so I guess you'll have to blame Darwin.

As a committed Lib , I will study the DDT facts above and not rest until I can find a single misspelled word with which to discredit the whole affair.

we are Libs, we don't do citations to scientific magazines. We only believe truth from Kos and NYT. Or any cable show with really low ratings.

Dem science -
1. write a book that predicts doom and gloom
2. go to wikipedia and enter in your opinion.
3. find some journalist who flopped out of college because calculus was too hard, get them to report the news
4. find sufficient negative motivation in all your skeptics
5. no matter what, ignore numbers, facts, figures and old science.

I've lived in Alaska for almost 40 yrs, and watched in disgust as the politicians have become more and more corrupt, however I doubt it has anything to do with political affiliation. When you are coming from a state with so many natural resources to be exploited, a politician is going to be courted by the industries attempting to exploit those resources. It is only human to take the money and run, too bad. I am glad they are finally getting some outside scrutiny. This house deal of Teddy's is nothing, compared to what he has socked away, imho.

To only a few chemicals does man owe as great a debt as to DDT... In little more than two decades, DDT has prevented 500 million human deaths, due to malaria, that otherwise would have been inevitable."

[National Academy of Sciences, Committee on Research in the Life Sciences of the Committee on Science and Public Policy. 1970. The Life Sciences; Recent Progress and Application to Human Affairs; The World of Biological Research; Requirements for the Future.]
It is believed that [malaria] afflicts between 300 and 500 million every year, causing up to 2.7 million deaths, mainly among children under five years.

[Africa News, January 27, 1999]
Some mosquitoes became "resistant" to DDT. "There is persuasive evidence that antimalarial operations did not produce mosquito resistance to DDT. That crime, and in a very real sense it was a crime, can be laid to the intemperate and inappropriate use of DDT by farmers, espeially cotton growers. They used the insecticide at levels that would accelerate, if not actually induce, the selection of a resistant population of mosquitoes."

[Desowitz, RS. 1992. Malaria Capers, W.W. Norton & Company]
"Resistance" may be a misleading term when discussing DDT and mosquitoes. While some mosquitoes develop biochemical/physiological mechanisms of resistance to the chemical, DDT also can provoke strong avoidance behavior in some mosquitoes so they spend less time in areas where DDT has been applied -- this still reduces mosquito-human contact. "This avoidance behavior, exhibited when malaria vectors avoid insecticides by not entering or by rapidly exiting sprayed houses, should raise serious questions about the overall value of current physiological and biochemical resistance tests. The continued efficacy of DDT in Africa, India, Brazil, and Mexico, where 69% of all reported cases of malaria occur and where vectors are physiologically resistant to DDT (excluding Brazil), serves as one indicator that repellency is very important in preventing indoor transmission of malaria."

DDT was banned by an EPA administrator who ignored the decision of his own administrative law judge.

Feeding primates more than 33,000 times the average daily human exposure to DDT (as estimated in 1969 and 1972) was "inconclusive with respect to a carcinogenic effect of DDT in nonhuman primates."

[J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 1999;125(3-4):219-25]

http://www.junkscience.com/ddtfaq.html

While it is true that we don't know every last risk of using DDT, we know very well what the risk of malaria is - and on balance malaria is far, far more deadly than the worst that one could imagine about DDT," said Amir Attaran, director of the Malaria Project in Washington. He and the Malaria Foundation International organised the open letter.

"We are not in love with DDT. But the reality is that if you try to get rid of DDT without guaranteeing that money will be available for alternatives, you will kill people.

http://www.malaria.org/DDT_Guardian_VIII_99.html

Trying to keep this on thread - would DDT work on the Black Flies in Alaska?

Sixty million people have died needlessly of malaria, since the imposition of the 1972 ban on DDT, and hundreds of millions more have suffered from this debilitating disease. The majority of those affected are children. Of the 300 to 500 million new cases of malaria each year, 200 to 300 million are children, and malaria now kills one child every 30 seconds. Ninety percent of the reported cases of malaria are in Africa, and 40 percent of the world's population, inhabitants of tropical countries, are threatened by the increasing incidence of malaria.

The DDT ban does not only affect tropical nations. In the wake of the DDT ban, the United States stopped its mosquito control programs, cutting the budgets for mosquito control and monitoring. Exactly as scientists had warned 25 years ago, we are now facing increases of mosquito-borne killer diseases--West Nile fever and dengue, to name the most prominent.

http://www.21stcenturysciencetech.com/articles/summ02/DDT.html

It has been 30 years since DDT was banned as a result of Rachel Carson's literary skills. Malaria and other diseases controlled by the "miracle pesticide" are on the rise again. In Sri Lanka, five years after DDT was banned under pressure from U.S. regulators and diplomats, malaria deaths were back up to 2.5 million per year.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/731285/posts

According to Bate and Okonski, writing in a recent issue of UpDate, the monthly newsletter of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, "Spraying DDT in houses and on mosquito breeding grounds was the primary reason that rates of malaria around the world declined dramatically after the Second World War. Nearly one million Indians died from malaria in 1945," they report, "but DDT spraying reduced this to a few thousand by 1960. However, concerns about the environmental harm of DDT led to a decline in spray- ing and, likewise, a resurgence of malaria. Today there are once again millions of cases of malaria in India, and over 300 million cases worldwide -- most in subsaharan Africa."

http://www.conservativemonitor.com/news/2001017.shtml

"What's wrong with the Empire? It's run by Darth Vader and the Emperor. Corruption inevitably results."

How much did the Repub get for the pardon. I think the actual cash value of a pardon has slumped in the last 7 years. How much is a stay in the WH these days? Oh, I keep forgetting, all that stuff was made up by Ann coulter. And Monica and all the other bimbos lie. If you're a Lib.

Oh look, it's No Facts again! Now we can continue our discussion of DDT. For those that missed it, here's a recap:

No Facts (AKA kingofzouk, QED, SSDD, etc.): Since DDT was banned, malaria has killed millions.
Blarg (AKA me): No, DDT is still used to fight malaria.
No Facts: You didn't cite a source! You're a lying lib liar who lies!
Blarg: [Citations]
No Facts: [Silence]

So, are you going to retract your ridiculous claims that DDT bans have killed millions in Africa? Or are you just going to ignore the fact that you have, once again, been proven wrong? I'm betting on the latter. I also bet you'll post the same lies again in a few days.

With reference to the butt-ferret who chose to bring Louisiana into the discussion about ALASKA: Right now our biggest embarrasment is Senator David Vitter. Our biggest short-term problem is a federal government who is much more interested in rebuilding Iraq (which they destroyed), than Louisiana. Our biggest long-term problem is that the majority of domestic oil production runs through this state and our politics is constantly interfered with by "Big-Oil".

Are you still going to say that the troubles of my state are caused by Democrats? Check the facts and history of Louisiana before using it in a lame attempt to make yourself think you have a point.

QED - HAHA I'm laughing. I didn't want to sound stupid by asking who the hell Zouk is -- because a lot of people seem to see him. I thought maybe my computer wasn't downloading all the posts.

"clinton 1 was the most corrupt administration in modern history? the most convictions, the most pleas"

You're ignoring the pardons given by Republican Presidents in this statement, right Zouk!

BSIMON, an answer to your question: Alaskans are not too much into the family-values stuff. The general political debates are over natural resources (mostly oil) and how to manage them -- extract or preserve. We have hard-core "boomers" who want to drill, mine and pave everything (like Frank Murkowski), hard-core "greenies" who live off the grid (Alaska has had the nation's most successful Green Party) and all varieties in between.
Lately, the major, overwhelming issue has been, what is going to be our relationship with the oil industry? Sarah Palin, though a Republican, campaigned and has governed as a tough-on-oil official. This makes her a very atypical Republican.
Social issues that are considered important in the Lower 48 -- abortion, gay rights, immigration -- are not big deals here. Socially, the state is pretty libertarian (like the Yukon and Northwest Territories). One issue that does come up perennially is the question of legalizing marijuana, or to what degree it should be legalized.
Alaskans tend to be not too straight-laced and not Bible-thumpers, even the Republicans. If we were, we wouldn't be living here.
Hope that gives you a sense of the social and political scene.

I see kowardly Kos klown is at full speed ahead on his hate and envy kick today. might as well write off this blog today.

funny how all the candidates but biden are in the pall of the hateful left. and afraid to take them on. why are Libs always afraid of everyone?

go the way of Dean and Lamont. Buh bye.

how will hillary the robot answer a real question if and when she finally gets one?

Posted by: ssdd | July 31, 2007 11:17 AM

A prediction that always comes true around here.

Off thread but, only a lawyer could come up with this opinion:
Does S.C. Law Cover Federal Campaigns?
By Jim Davenport, AP

COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina law may allow state workers to use taxpayer computers and time to promote presidential campaigns, a state Ethics Commission lawyer said.

The comments from commission general counsel Cathy Hazelwood came after an Associated Press review of e-mails that showed former state Treasurer Thomas Ravenel exchanged messages promoting Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani during office hours. Ravenel resigned last week following a federal cocaine charge.

"I think an argument can be made that it is an unwise use of time; however, campaign practices specifically excludes federal candidates," Hazelwood wrote in an e-mail to the AP.

Mental corruption!

No wonder the ads on con talk shows are all for baldness and ED remedies and snake oil salesmen. They are stooooooopid

the end of Lib intellect is upon us. this is the last try at making sense

VECO had two large contracts in Barbados; a pipeline and a prison. People here are wondering if there were inappropiate payments here as well

If you are referring to Whitewater, I think you'd better check out how that one turned out. I beleive that there was no wrong doing found.

Ha ha - try to ignore the fact that most of all their friends went to jail. nope- no wrong doing there. If you're a Lib.

How about you face the fact that clinton 1 was the most corrupt administration in modern history? the most convictions, the most pleas, the most fleeing from the country, etc,.

Cons prefer corruption to socialism. That really just about sums up their incredible and bottomless stupidity. They'd rather their money stolen than have a social safety net. No wonder the ads on con talk shows are all for baldness and ED remedies and snake oil salesmen. They are stooooooopid.

Loudon can point to 1 intelligent conversation in 2 weeks. OK.

that puts him well above his fellow kooks. Try to find a single, original, creative idea from the loonies of the left here. you can't because they don't exist.

what you get is Bush bashing, cutting and pasting from lefty hate blogs, ruin America sensibilities and of course insults. there is also one particular demented individual who sees something called zouk everywhere he goes and likes to shout it to the moon when he spies it. what sort of poor tormented creature lives thier life like this?

watch and you will see.

"so incredibly stupid they can't write a sentence"

followed by:

"if they weren't they wouldn't be cons"

Laughing yet. there is more.

...and to the poster preceding my correctly spelled, capitalized and punctuated post, from one considered to be a conservative by my Democrat friends: huh?

"Isn't it long past time to impeach Bush and Cheney, and throw MANY of their upper-level minions in jail??!"

I'm quite sure the Democrats are perfectly happy to allow this crew to remain in office right through next year's presidential campaign.

BSIMON, I think you hit the nail on the head. It's not a particular party, it's the lack of checks and balances that comes from one-party rule. Don't forget, our government had one-party rule for 6 straight years; hence, more corruption.

Who was the last Democrat who lied to US into a war that destabilized an entire region of the world and cost over 3,000 lives so far?

Isn't it long past time to impeach Bush and Cheney, and throw MANY of their upper-level minions in jail??!

Sorry about the double post. I didn't realize that the internet isn't a big truck you can dump stuff on! It's a series of tubes, I have learned from an informed source, and I guess mine were blocked.

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men."

Well, "|", 50% of the last phrase may, indeed, apply to Senator Stevens.

'What was the last study... reporters and journalists who are democrats outnumber republicans 4:1. And what was it, 22? out of the 25 highest circulated newspapers weigh heavily toward liberals'

that phony study again -- included clerks and folks in the mail room -- and even people who were no longer employed -- by not a single editor. bogus through and through.

Mike: "But what do you do with a known felon? Nominate her for President."

The Web is the greatest invention ever for gutless cowards like Mike. It allows them to engage in libelous behavior from the safety of mommy's basement.

Mike,

Please explain to me how Hilary Clinton is a "known felon". I believe that one has to be indicted and convicted for that to be an accurate statement.

If you are referring to Whitewater, I think you'd better check out how that one turned out. I beleive that there was no wrong doing found.

Stevens is a criminal hack. The rest of the country should file a class-action suit against Alaska to recoup the theft from the treasury. I'd happily give up the pitance my MN hacks managed to bring home to get the Alaska haul returned.

'Yeah, this article has sickly bias.'

why is it than cons are so incredibly stupid they can't write a sentence? i guess that answers itself. if they weren't they wouldn't be cons.

Some one please explain to me just how this article is "bias" - (I think that perhaps you mean to use the word biased)

It factually reports the goings on regarding Stevens and Young. It states that the Alaska Republican party has undergone some upheavals, and implies that Alaskan voters have a somewhat independent streak.

It closes by pointing out the Alaska is a strongly Republican state that will probably continue to be so.

Oh, wait a minute. The facts reported in the story cast a bad light on Republicans. Silly me - of course it's biased.

Loudon can point to 1 intelligent conversation in 2 weeks. OK.

Clinton, Carter, Jefferson, etc. all just prove that corruption isn't unique to any party.

I agree with Dave - We dump our corrupt politicians. I have done nothing but call for Vitter to step down.

But what do you do with a known felon? Nominate her for President.

"does any sane person think the RNC would pay someone to come in here and try to get Kos Koward to vote R? Only a Lib."

Ahh, the King has arrived.

Does anyone actually edit these articles before they get posted?

If nobody wanted to hear what they have to say, would they still have jobs?

I guess you haven't heard about the massive layoffs at the NYT and the rest. Indeed. you have something here, despite your best efforts to avoid the truth. Meanwhile fox news dominates the ratings, Rush is king and the feeble Libs continue to look for someone to surrender to.

Therefore, the money controls the media, because if advertisers don't like the message, they pull their dollars. Result: conservatives control the media."

Well said james. And so who is really controlling the media? $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

The media is now paid advertsiments for the advertsiers. That's why fox has been so bold. Do you think their oil peddlers are going to pull support for them? Not likely. Without Fox and rush what would the gop do? How would thye consolidate their lies and propoganda.

If you can't win, cheat - I believe that what you described is the method which Maine already uses to award Presidential electoral votes.

It's just one of a number alternatives in the discussion of Electoral College reforms.

Didn't the Powers That Be in Maryland just come up with something similar?

It may have been done quietly in Sacramento, but it is a legitimate alternative to the current archaic process. It's far from cheating.

A number of us suspect that he works at the RNC and that it is part of his job

how many voices inside your pea brain today Kos koward?

does any sane person think the RNC would pay someone to come in here and try to get Kos Koward to vote R? Only a Lib.

another hour, another new name for gutless coward/ignorant moron

Frank G writes
"Alaskans are sick of partisan politics and bickering. Ethan B. was minority whip and all he did was whine. He's from Frisco - Alaskans are ready to elect a real Alaskan. jake's the best guy for the job."

Frank, sounds like you're a local Alaskan. What do they like, from the Republicans? My guess is the Alaskan mindset identifies with the traditional GOP sales pitch of small government, low taxes, states' rights, etc. Is it that stuff, or the social stuff - 'family values' etc?

You appear to have a backup -- it's coming out your mouth.

Doug C.'s comments aren't exactly, well, accurate or fair.
Alaska has a long history of irresponsible resource exploitation (starting with Russian fur traders) alternating with periods of resource conservation. Sometimes, the rip-rape-and-run practices are being conducted in one area while wise conserveration practices are taking place elsewhere.
I have long been a critic of many in Alaska's political establishment, including the Congressional delegation. I don't support drilling in ANWR (putting me at odds with most of the state) or the Teshekpuk Lake area (putting me probably on the same side as a majority of Alaskans); I'm skeptical about the Kensington Mine (putting me in a minority) and opposed to the Pebble Mine (putting me in the vast majority).
It is true, though, that Alaskans make their living from natural resources, renewable and non-renewable. Sometimes that use of resources is responsible, sometimes not. Doug is WAY off the mark when he criticized Alaska fisheries management, for example, which has been cited as a model for the world. Especially Alaska's salmon management.
As for other environmental preservation, Alaskans deserve some credit as well as some blame. Alaskans, overall, are pretty responsible about wildlife management and appreciative of wildlife. Anchorage is the only big city, maybe in the world, where brown (as well as black) bears roam, and in fact are valued. In other U.S. states, people are still fearful of brown bears, as well as wolves, and fighting hard to prevent reintroduction.
Alaska was also the first U.S. state to impose environmental regulations on cruise ships, which previously had been major sources of water pollution, as well as emitters of air pollution. Other states are taking Alaska's lead. Former Gov. Tony Knowles deserves a lot of the credit for Alaska's cruise-ship regulation, which now has benefitted all places where the ships go because the cruise lines have had to upgrade their wastewater-treatment systems to comply with Alaska law.
Doug is also WAY off the mark when he refers to the Alaska Permanent Fund dividend as a bribe or a payment from the state to residents. It is an annual dividend from investment earnings in a publicly owned fund that was built from public royalties earned through the extraction of a publicly owned resource, oil. Almost every drop of oil that is pumped out of Alaska comes from state-owned land and state-owned mineral rights. The people of Alaska own that oil and also are entitled to the financial benefits when their public oil is extracted. Unlike other states (such as Texas, where ranchers can become oil barons if oil is discovered on their property), there are no private individuals who own mineral rights. It's illegal. All mineral rights are owned by: the state, the federal government or the Alaska Native corportations. Don't have any more time to explain the Permanent Fund or its dividend; just Google Jay Hammond (populist pro-environment, Big Oil-fighting former governor who's considered the father of the dividend) to learn more.
And speaking of Alaska Natives, I would wager that we've done a much better job here of preserving our Native cultures, including our Native languages, than most other states.
Yes, Alaska's Congressional delegation and the Corrupt Bastards Club (primarily Ben Stevens) have what is coming to them, but don't bash all of Alaska unfairly along the way.

Doug C.'s comments aren't exactly, well, accurate or fair.
Alaska has a long history of irresponsible resource exploitation (starting with Russian fur traders) alternating with periods of resource conservation. Sometimes, the rip-rape-and-run practices are being conducted in one area while wise conserveration practices are taking place elsewhere.
I have long been a critic of many in Alaska's political establishment, including the Congressional delegation. I don't support drilling in ANWR (putting me at odds with most of the state) or the Teshekpuk Lake area (putting me probably on the same side as a majority of Alaskans); I'm skeptical about the Kensington Mine (putting me in a minority) and opposed to the Pebble Mine (putting me in the vast majority).
It is true, though, that Alaskans make their living from natural resources, renewable and non-renewable. Sometimes that use of resources is responsible, sometimes not. Doug is WAY off the mark when he criticized Alaska fisheries management, for example, which has been cited as a model for the world. Especially Alaska's salmon management.
As for other environmental preservation, Alaskans deserve some credit as well as some blame. Alaskans, overall, are pretty responsible about wildlife management and appreciative of wildlife. Anchorage is the only big city, maybe in the world, where brown (as well as black) bears roam, and in fact are valued. In other U.S. states, people are still fearful of brown bears, as well as wolves, and fighting hard to prevent reintroduction.
Alaska was also the first U.S. state to impose environmental regulations on cruise ships, which previously had been major sources of water pollution, as well as emitters of air pollution. Other states are taking Alaska's lead. Former Gov. Tony Knowles deserves a lot of the credit for Alaska's cruise-ship regulation, which now has benefitted all places where the ships go because the cruise lines have had to upgrade their wastewater-treatment systems to comply with Alaska law.
Doug is also WAY off the mark when he refers to the Alaska Permanent Fund dividend as a bribe or a payment from the state to residents. It is an annual dividend from investment earnings in a publicly owned fund that was built from public royalties earned through the extraction of a publicly owned resource, oil. Almost every drop of oil that is pumped out of Alaska comes from state-owned land and state-owned mineral rights. The people of Alaska own that oil and also are entitled to the financial benefits when their public oil is extracted. Unlike other states (such as Texas, where ranchers can become oil barons if oil is discovered on their property), there are no private individuals who own mineral rights. It's illegal. All mineral rights are owned by: the state, the federal government or the Alaska Native corportations. Don't have any more time to explain the Permanent Fund or its dividend; just Google Jay Hammond (populist pro-environment, Big Oil-fighting former governor who's considered the father of the dividend) to learn more.
And speaking of Alaska Natives, I would wager that we've done a much better job here of preserving our Native cultures, including our Native languages, than most other states.
Yes, Alaska's Congressional delegation and the Corrupt Bastards Club (primarily Ben Stevens) have what is coming to them, but don't bash all of Alaska unfairly along the way.

As for what's wrong with Alaska, well, it's the same thing that's wrong with the rest of the country, and it can be summed up in two words:

Power corrupts.

Happens with Democrats, happens with Republicans, and everyone in between. It's been proven time and time again.

If you can remember that far back, we're in an ethical crisis not unlike the one we saw in the late 80s-early 90s with a too long in power Democratic Congress. Too much power routinely leads to its abuse. Hence checks and balances. This is a natural, albeit unfortunate, byproduct of democracy mixed with capitalism.

The root of the problem is the for-profit nature of American politics as they are today. Find a way to shut off the money, and maybe we can return to democracy for the benefit of the people.

Just my opinion. I wish I had the ability to go beyond defining the problem, but I can't yet see the solution.

proudtobeGOP -Google "lord acton"

Human history shows over and over again that power corrupts. The more power an individual has, the less they feel there are consequences to abusing that power, the more they will abuse it.
It is especially bad in the hands of Conservatives whose entire philosophy is based around reckless selfishness, unbased pride (arrogance), the need to squash and control others, and a constant itch for conflict and bloodshed. All of this, of course, well supported by an ancient book they all take far too seriously.

However, power can be abused by people who start off with more noble intentions as well. Especially when corporate forces who are best served by the representatives failing to serve their people work on all sides to tempt that person into obedience or submission.

There is nothing wrong with socialism, it is a far better way to run a government then sit back and let autocracy turn quickly into an oligarchical plutocracy. The fact that under Republican leadership in the last 20 years with only an 8 year break, America has deflated entirely and now runs entirely on credit lent by Communist (China) and Socialist (Japan) nations. Meanwhile countries that were bankrupt after WWII took on more socialist governments and built back up.

However, democratic socialism, the best form of government, only functions when the people care enough to participate. When it is unusual for even 50% of eligible voters to participate in an election, American incumbants are more likely to be reelected than they were in Russia at the height of the Soviet rule and nothing that the government does creates the kind of bitter demonstrations that would really make the politicians fear for their jobs when not doing their jobs well, it really doesn't matter.

Members of the American government spend more time raising funds for their next election than they do representing their people. The reason is simply because they know that no matter how good or bad of a job they actually do over the year, a bunch of commercials and smear campaigns at election time will mean more than all of that when it comes to staying in power.

"The New Yorker:

At first glance, next year's Presidential election looks like a blowout. But it might not be. Luckily for the incumbent party, neither George W. Bush nor Dick Cheney will be running; indeed, the election of 2008 will be the first since 1952 without a sitting President or Vice-President on the ballot. At the moment, survey research reflects a generic public preference for a Democratic victory next year. Still, despite everything, there are nearly as many polls showing particular Republicans beating particular Democrats as vice versa. So this election could be another close one. If it is, the winner may turn out to have been chosen not on November 4, 2008, but five months earlier, on June 3rd.

Two weeks ago, one of the most important Republican lawyers in Sacramento quietly filed a ballot initiative that would end the practice of granting all fifty-five of California's electoral votes to the statewide winner. Instead, it would award two of them to the statewide winner and the rest, one by one, to the winner in each congressional district. Nineteen of the fifty-three districts are represented by Republicans, but Bush carried twenty-two districts in 2004. The bottom line is that the initiative, if passed, would spot the Republican ticket something in the neighborhood of twenty electoral votes-votes that it wouldn't get under the rules prevailing in every other sizable state in the Union.

If you haven't seen it already, take a look at the video "Hacking Democracy". (h/t Todd for link)"

All of you are full of crap!!!
Democrats quit fooling yourselves!!! I have
One word for all of you...ILLINIOS!!! Controlled by the Democrat party since its inception!!! You want corruption, we got it!!! NEPOTISM, no problemo, an unbalanced budget year after year, no problem!!! We have a $1 BILLION deficit to match!!! The Democrats cannot even pass a budget here & they are all in the same party. We got it all!!! And who fault is it, DEMOCRATS!!
Time for both these parties to belly up & admit they are equally incompetant & equally corrupt!!!!!!!!!!
WHEN IS THERE GOING TO BE ANOTHER CHOICE!!! GO THIRD PARTY GO!!!
God bless!!!

shouldn't you be asking Loudon if he/she only comes on this website to bash republicans?

That is exactly what Loud and
dumb voter does here. And that is the extent of it.

funny how all the howling misfit moonbats come on this site to bash bush and they never see how utterly worthless that is. Just like the last election - no ideas leads to no new laws.

Let's rename the blog 'howling misfit moonbat losers who despise Bush incoherently'. that is apt.

why argue with an idiot about the level of thier stupidity. It is sufficient to note that they all seem to be equally stupid and have no agenda but hate and envy.

Why is it that all the women are tough and all the men wimps in Lib lalaland? something contrary to human nature there, same as Marxism.

QED

Berkowitz the best candidate for Young's seat? How about Jake Metcalfe, who had the balls to announce his campaign, while Ethan B. sits on the sidelines, calling potshots and waiting for someone with real Alaskan cache to hand down his coattails?

Alaskans are sick of partisan politics and bickering. Ethan B. was minority whip and all he did was whine. He's from Frisco - Alaskans are ready to elect a real Alaskan. jake's the best guy for the job.

Lauren: "The problem with this type of article is it is never about the person it is always about what party they are from because heaven knows that democrats will never pull something like this...."

Lauren, do you see something factually wrong with the article? CC is hardly considered to be a Democratic stooge.

Texas Mike, how long do you think it will take Zouk (or whichever name he uses this time) to get over here and try to get the blog away from Stevens and Young and onto Jefferson?

Or Klinton, or Peanut Carter, or anybody but Stevens and Young?

Zouk is the one who more often gets a thread far offtrack by casting wide nets of generalizations and hauling in anybody who gets caught in the net. [An example is how he landed TruthHunter posing as "ssdd"?]

A number of us suspect that he works at the RNC and that it is part of his job.

Keep an eye out for him and watch how he operates. The intentional subversion of the thread is more often from the right side of the page, not the left. (the rufuses don't count - they are head cases unto themselves).

hey nlavigne, does that "professionalism" apply to Fox News also?

Mikeyboo: "bsimon -- shouldn't you be asking Loudon if he/she only comes on this website to bash republicans?"

you can ask and you'd be wrong, ace. bsimon can tell you that last week we had a very interesting debate over the alleged coat-tails effect. It was 100 percent polite. Of course, you weren't there.

Those of us who have dealt with elected officials on a regular basis for many years will tell you that the incidence of venality and dishonorable conduct is about what you would expect from the general public: maybe as many as 1 in 30 are, for want of a better word, crooks.
I hope Sen. Stevens is not one, because prison would be very hard on an 80+ year old man.
Always remember that absolute power tends to corrupt, absolutely, and never let any person or party think that he or it is indispensable.
Do not become beholden to a party or a candidate. They represent you; they cannot own you.

Mike asks
"bsimon -- shouldn't you be asking Loudon if he/she only comes on this website to bash republicans?"

I can see why you would think so, but no. Loudon Voter referenced Alaska in his comment, thus remaining on-topic. He did choose a partisan attack, but it still met reasonable criteria for topicality. Now, if you want to pick a post for criticism, lets go with the 2:11 note, which was likely offered by rufus. Totally off-topic rant solely intended to bash the opposition.

The problem with this type of article is it is never about the person it is always about what party they are from because heaven knows that democrats will never pull something like this....

False premise Mike.

First of all, if nobody wanted to listen to liberals, then how could they possibly make up that 4:1 ratio of journalists and reporters? If nobody wanted to hear what they have to say, would they still have jobs?

Second, while the journalists may more often than not be categorized as "liberal", they mostly work for large corporations. Who runs the large corporations? Conservatives. Who, for the most part, controls the purse strings in the form of advertising dollars for media outlets? Conservatives.

Therefore, the money controls the media, because if advertisers don't like the message, they pull their dollars. Result: conservatives control the media.

Mike: "Toss the constitution and apply excessive fines and taxes.Pass more laws since obviously your to stupid to govern yourself."

Hey Mikey, you neglected to mention who controls both houses of the Virginia legislature and enacted these fines to allow themselves to say they didn't raise taxes.

Why, it's the Republicans of course!

The dems are fed up and pubs are in denial. Who are you going to turn to now? No, seriously who's next in line that is the problem the system is failing and we are no longer a great nation because of it. We lack the foresight or the strenght to challenge an age old system in this young democracy, only we have the power to chang and we need to change. vote for the outsiders the problem inlays with the people who know the system.

It's not the corruption, but the the obviously blatant " I dont care what the people say or want" kind of corruption that leaves me and I believe the rest of country mad at these criminal politicians. They obviously believe they are above the law and untouchable. Unfortunately the president encourages this with his own brand of corruption and pardoning power.

Imagine if a Democrat was running for president, and his grandfather had been a major financial supporter of Hitler -- how the rightwing/media would have howled over it. But bush -- not a peep. Never a mention.

going to beat that horse again you obsessive klown. did anyone tell you Bush is not running? Stooge.

$100,000 spent on the cuff to fix up his house and it still looks like a dump.

I have to say, Ted Stevens' record as #1 Senator Bringing home the Most Pork is a shameful stain on his record and the party, and it's high time the good people of AK voted in someone less, er, creative in fundraising methods.

He has not been a fiscal conservative, something the voters of AK seem to value. And what is with that Incredible Hulk necktie? - Is the Incredible Hulk from Alaska? I could see maybe Bigfoot, but c'mon....

Ultimate power ultimately corrupts. However, of the sitting Senators who have held office for >40 years, 5 out of 6 are Democrats.

"Change to a Democrat so you can be more like us over here in Virginia...and apply excessive fines..." - Mike

You probably never looked to find out, but the sponsor of the excessive fines legislation was a Republican.

(This is my First Post -- though there is another Mike now)

It only took 27 minutes for the rabid left-wing bloggers to corrupt this conversation. Not surprisingly, it was the first post.

bsimon -- shouldn't you be asking Loudon if he/she only comes on this website to bash republicans?

(see previous thread)

What's wrong with DC, Massachusetts, Louisiana,...
When a party dominates, the crooks go there to seek power. Not suprising. The difference is that when a Rebublican crook is found, Republicans dump the culprit. Democrats re-elect there crooked politians.