The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Did Murkowski’s Mystery Man ‘Mike’ Tamper With Alaska Senate Vote?

Posted on | August 30, 2010 | 16 Comments

Dan Riehl scored a huge scoop late Sunday night with a letter that Joe Miller’s lawyers sent to Alasksa’s lieutenant governor and the chief of the Division of Elections, regarding the activities of a Murkowski campaign operative on Election Day:

Murkowski observer Mike insisted that he had the right to access the Division of Elections computer database and “check voter records.” Over the Miller campaign’s objections, Mike was allowed to use the state computer for 20 minutes before Division Director Gail Fenumial fortunately ordered him off the state computer.

Shenanigans?  Quite possibly, yet when the Miller campaign complains about this kind of stuff, Murkowski accuses them of being “paranoid.” That’s a point I address in my latest report at The American Spectator:

Of course, it’s not paranoia if they really are out to get you, and Miller’s supporters already had solid reasons to suspect that Murkowski would stop at nothing to retain her Senate seat. Chief among these reasons was the fact that Anchorage political consultant Andrew Halcro placed a call first thing Wednesday morning to Scott Kohlhaas, chairman of the Alaska Libertarian Party. Halcro was asking whether the Libertarians would be open to having Murkowski replace their Senate nominee, Dave Haase. Halcro is a former Republican state legislator best known for his boundless hatred of Sarah Palin. After Palin won the GOP gubernatorial nomination in 2006, Halcro waged a third-party campaign aimed principally at attacking the Republican and earned him the nickname Mr. Nine Percent, that being his share of the vote. Since being chosen as John McCain’s running mate two years ago, of course, Palin has become world-famous and Halcro’s bitterness toward her has only increased.
It was Palin’s early endorsement of Joe Miller that was widely credited with launching the underdog to victory, and thus the intrusion of ex-Republican Halcro into the post-primary phase of the Senate campaign is scarcely surprising. Certainly Miller’s supporters could be forgiven for wondering if Halcro would be reaching out to the Libertarians on Murkowski’s behalf without the senator’s permission, especially after he disclosed to the Anchorage Daily News that he had spoken by phone with Murkowski. . . .

Please read the whole thing. Trying to summarize six days of craziness in 1,000 words proved to be enormously challenging, perhaps as difficult as replacing the valve head on a 2004 KIA Optima:

That’s my 17-year-old son Jim working on the car Sunday. He and our buddy Carlos expect to have it running tomorrow evening.

Let me be clear: I am not blaming shady Murkowski campaign operatives for this expensive repair, but who knows what other shenanigans will be afoot by the time I make it to Anchorage?

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Category: Alaska, American Spectator, Dan Riehl, Election, Joe Miller, Republicans, Senate

Comments

16 Responses to “Did Murkowski’s Mystery Man ‘Mike’ Tamper With Alaska Senate Vote?”

  1. Estragon
    August 30th, 2010 @ 10:32 am

    A Murkowski operative being given access to a state computer is questionable, but what is it he is alleged to have done? Or does it better suit the conspiracy theory to leave that part a mystery?

    I keep hearing all these ominous sounds about ballot fraud, always invoking memories of cases where Democrats were involved, but ZERO evidence – not one single actual allegation of anything wrong!

    Is there anything really to go moonbat-sheet crazy over, or is it just the voices – the voices! – telling you all this stuff?

  2. Estragon
    August 30th, 2010 @ 6:32 am

    A Murkowski operative being given access to a state computer is questionable, but what is it he is alleged to have done? Or does it better suit the conspiracy theory to leave that part a mystery?

    I keep hearing all these ominous sounds about ballot fraud, always invoking memories of cases where Democrats were involved, but ZERO evidence – not one single actual allegation of anything wrong!

    Is there anything really to go moonbat-sheet crazy over, or is it just the voices – the voices! – telling you all this stuff?

  3. Jeff
    August 30th, 2010 @ 11:42 am

    I’d say illegal access to voter records is evidence of … wait for it … illegal activity …

  4. Jeff
    August 30th, 2010 @ 7:42 am

    I’d say illegal access to voter records is evidence of … wait for it … illegal activity …

  5. waylay
    August 30th, 2010 @ 11:57 am

    @Estragon

    I once knew a saner RSM. I miss him.

  6. waylay
    August 30th, 2010 @ 7:57 am

    @Estragon

    I once knew a saner RSM. I miss him.

  7. The CIA
    August 30th, 2010 @ 1:59 pm

    My intel is the letter is pure bunk . Be very careful throwing rocks at good guys . Knowing full well the players in the game in Alaska , the LAST word I would say is vote tampering .

    Rule one is don’t call in arty on your own troops , esp Navy Seals .

  8. The CIA
    August 30th, 2010 @ 9:59 am

    My intel is the letter is pure bunk . Be very careful throwing rocks at good guys . Knowing full well the players in the game in Alaska , the LAST word I would say is vote tampering .

    Rule one is don’t call in arty on your own troops , esp Navy Seals .

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    August 30th, 2010 @ 10:35 am

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  10. Joe
    August 30th, 2010 @ 2:38 pm

    It seems unlikely. At least for Alaska. So I would suggest scrutiny rather than outright accusations.

    As for the KIA…I feel your pain. My old car is sitting in a supermarket parking lot because the ignition lock jammed. I have to meet the lock smith out there. That will probably be $200 before it is over.

  11. Joe
    August 30th, 2010 @ 10:38 am

    It seems unlikely. At least for Alaska. So I would suggest scrutiny rather than outright accusations.

    As for the KIA…I feel your pain. My old car is sitting in a supermarket parking lot because the ignition lock jammed. I have to meet the lock smith out there. That will probably be $200 before it is over.

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