Write-In Votes Pile Up For Alaska GOP/Tea Party Senate Hopeful Joe Miller.
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| Murkowski? Hell, I can’t even spell Lisa! |
Can U Spell “Desperation”? As the spelling bee known as the Alaska write-in vote tally grinds on, the Miller count observers are questioning a goodly number of write-ins for GOP Senate incumbent Lisa Murkowski. Some, they say, are illegible, some misspelled, some are illegible and misspelled, and some are just plain obscene. Miller’s minions hope, of course, to successfully challenge just enough handwritten “Murkowskis” to close a vote gap that as of this evening is more than 10,000 strong. Unfortu-
nately, about 98% of write-ins cast are going to Murkowski.
In any event, the write-in vote count has taken an odd turn lately. According to the Daily Caller, as early as November 10th, Senate aspiring Joe Miller observed:
“Lisa Murkowski isn’t the only one getting write-in votes in the Alaskan Senate race.
‘There are some write-ins for Joe Miller,’ the Republican said by phone from Anchorage. ‘Every one of 15 tables — when I checked this morning — had write-ins for Joe Miller, which is kind of interesting.’”
Interesting As Alphabet Soup. Recall that after she lost the GOP primary to Miller, Lisa Murkowski ran her campaign as a registered write-in candidate, complying with Alaska’s election law to do so. Mr. Miller did not wage a write-in campaign, for a simple reason: He won the GOP primary, thereby landing his name on the November ballot. So, how did Miller suddenly become a write-in candidate as well?
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| A write-in vote claimed by the Miller camp. |
There’s irony in the answer, it seems, given Miller’s insistence on the strict construction of Alaska election law (at least when applied to Lisa Murkowski’s write-in votes). You see on November 3rd – the day after the general election – Alaska Lt. Governor, Craig Campbell, reversed his original decision against counting Miller’s write-ins. No explanation has been offered thus far for the Lt. Gov’s sudden reversal.
The state’s election law statute clearly indicates that write-in candidates must be registered properly.
Candidates filing as a write-in candidate for a General Election must file a Letter of Intent and a Financial Disclosure Statement with any Division of Elections Office no later than five days before the General Election. Votes for a write-in candidate may not be counted unless the candidate has filed a Letter of Intent with the Division of Elections. [Italics added]
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| What’s that frickin jerk’s name?? |
The Stealth Write-In Candidate. In any event, this election gets stranger and harder to follow. Despite Mr. Miller’s obvious concern for the rule of law – particularly the rule that applies to spelling and proper form for valid write-in ballots – he seems pleased enough to accept the Lt. Governor’s activism in voiding the election laws that apply to his own failure to register as a write-in. He could have legally registered within five days of the election. At the time, I’d surmise, Miller was busy redacting his employment records, shackling pesky reporters, declaring various federal laws and constitutional provisions void and unenforceable, failing to file his financial disclosure forms, and being fitted for his Benjamin Franklin wardrobe, silly hat and all.
So, things are indeed different in the upper upper northwest, and, as it stands now, all write-in votes cast for Joe Miller will count. Of course, Miller would be the first to say that they must be write-ins of the highest quality, properly cast, spiffily spelled, and visually legible. After all, that’s the law, election style, in the land where one can see Russia from one’s front porch, but – legend tells it – also the land where God lost His shoes.
No More “Lisa, Lisa, Lisa”!! Since election day, it’s been all Lisa this and Lisa that. The missing – and inspiring – story line has been Tea Partier Miller’s quest to secure as many write-in votes as possible.
Set out below, provided by Miller insiders I cannot identify without compromising (i.e. losing) my life, are examples of the Miller write-ins their bean counters have thus far proffered to election officials. Miller’s people promise to fight for the validity of each and every one – they assert that each demonstrates not only a vote aimed at Joe Miller, but a clear and unequivocal intent to get him out of Alaska and into Washington, D.C. as soon as possible.
With their permission, I publish an assortment of the Miller-proffered handwritten votes below.
o Joe Millerkowski
o That Tea Party guy
o The nice looking man who once almost got fired from his lawyer job in Fairbanks. Is he married???
o I vote for Sarah Palin’s Man-Boy.
o The fella who lied a lot, a whole lot
o That dude who handcuffed some reporter at a town hall mtg. He rules!
o (Sorry, I thought this here booth was a toilet)
o Anyone but that Murcowski woman!
o I shot moose out of season with ol’ Joe. He’s damn got my vote.
o Where in HELL is the toilet paper in this thing?!!?
o Joe Miller for me. He’s a document redactin mother effer!
o He had me at “unconstitutional”
Finally, for your examination, is a sheet full of write-ins claimed by Miller’s monitors:
This election is far from over. The past is simply awaiting its claim as prologue. So, keep your eyes on this blog for more Northern light . . . illuminating the Alaska Senatorial spawning season.
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| Welcome to Washington, Senator! |
