In Alaska, Father's Political Troubles Shadow Daughter's Senate Bid

NNN0LHI

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Sun Jul-27-03 12:55 PM
Original message

In Alaska, Father's Political Troubles Shadow Daughter's Senate Bid

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAKM21CNID.html

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Lisa Murkowski, Alaska's junior senator for less than a year, is a rarity - a vulnerable Republican incumbent. Some of the blame lies with her father.

Appointed by former Sen. Frank Murkowski to fill out the remaining two years of his fourth term, Lisa Murkowski faces a Democratic challenge from a popular former two-term governor and several GOP rivals put out by her easy road to Washington.

When Frank Murkowski passed over a handful of seasoned Republican contenders to tap his daughter to replace him, he was subjected to a barrage of complaints of nepotism. Murkowski said he "reached out to Alaskans from all over the state" and felt his appointee should share "my basic philosophy, my values."

Once that criticism subsided, Frank Murkowski's rocky gubernatorial start, marked by unpopular budget cuts, cast a shadow over his daughter's Senate career. Now, Lisa Murkowski has to worry about the possible political fallout when she seeks a full six-year term in 2004.

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DagmarK

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Sun Jul-27-03 01:14 PM
Response to Original message

1. ahhhhh, poor Lisa........I am weeping.......

Edited on Sun Jul-27-03 01:15 PM by DagmarK

To think that she may not get a fair shake because people unfairly expect that she is just a clone.......

Lord, I wonder how many times he TOLD her how to vote. The first time in history that ONE person got to be governor and senator at the same time. Wow, the repigs really can innovate!

He merely appointed a proxy vote. I dont care WHAT her record is. That appointment was obscene!

Gosh, little lisa might have to learn to get somewhere without daddy's help! The Horrors!

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knowledgeispower

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Sun Jul-27-03 04:40 PM
Response to Reply #1

7. Well I am not one to defend a Republican, but...

As an Alaskan, I feel I must let you know that Murkowski is pretty good as far as Republicans go. For example, she supports the right to choose, which, as we all know, is about equivalent to devil worshipping in the Republican party. Plus, she is not one of these neocons that have taken over the Republican party (but then again, no Alaskan politician is).

Also, she WAS speaker of the state house before she was appointed to Senator, so its not like she was a political nobody.

Having said that, I certainly hope that Tony Knowles wins in 2004. He was a pretty popular governor and people here are pretty pissed off at Murkowski these days, so I think Knowles has a very good shot at knocking her off.

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kainah

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Sun Jul-27-03 06:56 PM
Response to Reply #7

9. Thanks for the background info, knowledgeispower

If she actually might be qualified, then I think she should be even more angry at her stupid father for tainting her with the obvious brush of nepotism. I think she'll lose in '04, doing her career no good obviously. Thanks, daddy!

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Sun Jul-27-03 01:46 PM
Response to Original message

2. The fact that she was enormously unqualified

isn't a problem, but her father's lousy performance as governor is?

I guess when the standard of greatness for republican officials is not to have been indicted, what the heck.

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jbfam4

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Sun Jul-27-03 01:59 PM
Response to Reply #2

3. Honestly, now

When it comes to picking your daughter or Senator Steven's' son to replace you, you have to say nepotism is alive and well and working in the senate.

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BlueMole

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Sun Jul-27-03 02:38 PM
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4. Poor Lisa

Cry me a frozen river!

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Guaranteed

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Sun Jul-27-03 02:42 PM
Response to Original message

5. "My basic philosophy, my values.....

....and my genes." LOL

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lumpy

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Sun Jul-27-03 03:04 PM
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6. Political aristocracy

It's booming isn't it ? Seattle Times had a good article last week re. this not-so-new phenomenon. Becoming more rampant.

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libtexan

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Sun Jul-27-03 05:39 PM
Response to Reply #6

8. Go Tony!!!

I lived in Anchorage from 92-99 while Tony was Gov. People in Anchorage still sung his praises (he was mayor before gov.).

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