Comments (18)

Anonymous wrote on August 1, 2007 6:00 PM:

“I come to you as a weakened man whose weaknesses are greater than my strengths at times.”

I think that's a Freudian statment.

Maybe the DC Madam's next victim?

EH wrote on August 1, 2007 6:03 PM:

Took him two weeks to save up enough crocodile tears.

Culture of Truth wrote on August 1, 2007 6:06 PM:

I believe that's "Garrett".

blogenfreude wrote on August 1, 2007 6:12 PM:

Health problems? More like the fact that he's soon to go to the slammer.

David_F wrote on August 1, 2007 6:38 PM:

Anyone know how this incident played back in his home state? Maybe it was a plus for him, to be able to demonstrate how aggressive he is in representing one of his constituencies? Seems like the entire AK congressional delegation is laser-focused on grabbing as much money as they can for AK, including both the worthy recipients and those 'less-worthy,' through means both above-board and corrupt. Just wondering whether AK voters tend to distinguish, or primarily reward ferocity and results?

Ed*ard Teller wrote on August 1, 2007 6:46 PM:

David F,

Anyone know how this incident played back in his home state? Maybe it was a plus for him, to be able to demonstrate how aggressive he is in representing one of his constituencies?

That's how his office tried to play it. I'd say it was sort of a wash. In the old days, his spin would have been gobbled up by the Alaska media, especially the Anchorage Daily News, like so much mink fodder. But those days have passed. He's already got two Dem challengers, progressive Diane Benson and old-school Dem pol Jake the Snake Metcalfe. I predict that by the end of August there will be a registered GOP challenger too.

aklocal wrote on August 1, 2007 6:58 PM:

David_F

It didn't play well. There's plenty here who are sick of his oafish "biggest hog in the trough" ways. He didn't just anger the rest of the country, he pissed us off, too.

Ed*ard, who do you figure for a R-challenger?

parrot wrote on August 1, 2007 7:09 PM:

Not to worry. TPMMongoose is on the story!

alambernakis wrote on August 1, 2007 7:16 PM:

I agree it didn't play well in Alaska. A couple years ago it would have been laughed on in the there he goes again kind of way. But given his looming criminal problems, most people I know (and most of the are pretty apolitical) just took it as one more example of our Congressional delegation embarassing Alaska.

As for the candidates against Young, John Binkley and John Harris are potential Republican candidates. As Ed*ard says, the Democratic candidates are Diane Benson and Jake Metcalfe. I don't, however, agree with Ed*ard's characterization of those two candidates. Benson is a former green party candidate who will never be politically viable in this state. If she is the Democratic nominee, whoever is the Republican will win.

Metcalfe is a much more interesting candidate, although I still need to learn more about him. I met him when he was the Anchorage school board president (a nonpartisan position). We had a problem with the school district administration, and Metcalfe helped us work it out. He was pleasant, friendly, and smart. He was also very honest with us, and where he couldn't help us, he told us so without mincing words or trying to pretend he could do more than he actually could -- a common problem with politicians.

As I say, I need to learn more about his positions on the issues, but my current impression of him is very positive. I also like that he is from an old-time Alaska family, and has lived in rural Alaska. Both of these things mean that he would be well-grounded in the problems of the entire state.

alambernakis wrote on August 1, 2007 7:23 PM:

It didn't play well in Alaska. People used to think Don Young's goofy comments were funny, but this latest one, on top of his criminal problems, is no longer amusing.

John Binkley and John Harris may run against Young as Republicans. Diane Benson, the former green party candidate, is way too liberal for this state and there is no way she could ever be elected, so I hope the Democrats come up with someone better than her.

Jake Metcalfe is a very interesting candidate. When he was Anchorage School Board president he helped us with a problem we had with the administration. He was pleasant and intelligent. He was also very honest -- there were some things he couldn't help us with and told us that straight up. I also like that he was born and raised in Alaska, to an old-time Alaska family, and that he has lived in rural Alaska. But I need to know where he stands on the issues before I could support him. I am glad though that someone other than Benson will be running against Young.

alambernakis wrote on August 1, 2007 7:24 PM:

Sorry for the double post -- I thought the first one had disappeared, so I did a second one.

alambernakis wrote on August 1, 2007 7:24 PM:

Sorry for the double post -- I thought the first one had disappeared, so I did a second one.

VictorLaszlo wrote on August 1, 2007 8:16 PM:

I can't help but comment on the fact that the mink in the picture looks uncannily like a set of cocknballs.

Terribly sorry, carry on.

lanie benes wrote on August 2, 2007 12:51 AM:

Jake Metcalfe is a real score for the Alaska Dems. As alambernakis says, he's smart, honest and direct. He's a labor Dem--an attorney for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. The IBEW can't be painted as a greenie union--they're the linemen and wiremen who work the big construction jobs.

Jake grew up in Juneau in the southern, coastal part of the state. He worked as the District Attorney in Bethel in western Alaska (Yupik country), served as school board president in Anchorage, and as the Democratic Party chair (which he gave up in order to run against Don Young).

Jake's got connections in every part of the state, an infectious smile and great personality. People like him. One blogger compared him to Jon Tester in Montana--good comparison. Jake's a real "people person." He'll do well.

wombat wrote on August 2, 2007 1:41 AM:

The Senator from the gtrat state of Alaska is actually an environmentalist and animal rights activist warning womone of the revenge being exacted by all those mink stoles and coats

lifelongalaskan wrote on August 2, 2007 12:09 PM:

Don Young is and has been an embarrassment to Alaskans for YEARS. With any luck Alaskans will finally wake up and send this bozo on his way.

Mr. Flood wrote on August 2, 2007 1:00 PM:

Alaska's been way too accommodating to Don Young and his crude, disgusting mouth. He once talked to Fairbanks high school students about art or what he deemed pornography and used some graphic term you wouldn't hear most sailors say: b***f******, referring to gay men, if I remember correctly. And he got away with it. I don't remember an apology then.

Jake's got the charm & integrity of Sarah Palin, and the credentials of a long-time Alaskan (3rd or 4th generation)and comes from a long line of working class Democrats. He's a natural - easy-going, very friendly and outgoing.

Although Ethan Berkowitz's name has been bandied about as the likely Democratic challenger, he's got almost no chance of winning. He filed to run for Governor last year and even people who liked him shook their heads and said, uniformly, "it's too bad because he can't win." That's why former Governor Tony Knowles was begged to get into the race. Ethan's an Outsider, he's got baggage from his long legislative career, he's from a wealthy family (and liberal San Francisco, to boot) and he's not a friendly guy. And he's solemn and standoffish. Good looking but SHORT. I just don't see it.

Anonymous wrote on August 2, 2007 7:51 PM:

Mr. Flood ... actually I think Don did eventually apologize, but I always suspected that he only did it after being taken to the woodshed by Ted, who probably said "Don, I know you don't get it, but you need to go say you're sorry." Up until the apology, he kept insisting that he had nothing to apologize for because it wasn't anything those kids hadn't heard before.