Acknowledging Lisa Murkowski

[Tom Rinaldo]

Seven Republican Senators voted to convict Trump and all of them, in this special instance, deserve praise for doing what was right for our nation, undoubtedly in the face of intense pressure. All of them carry targets on their backs now, and even those who are retiring will likely still have to deal with the fury of Trump crazies in their private lives.

Lisa Murkowski however is not retiring, and unlike Republican Senators like Collins and Cassidy she doesn't have six more years before she faces re-election. Murkowski's current term ends in 2022. She will be primaried by Trump Republicans and they will be coming after her both hard and soon. Murkowski knew that when she voted to convict Donald Trump, but she still voted her conscience, and upheld her oath of office. That actually demonstrated some personal courage, and I want to acknowledge her here for that.

[hlthe2b]

1. She's Republican, but I will always admire her 2010 win as a "write-in" after she lost her primary

Pretty amazing... Now, because she showed the strength of character that only six other R's were willing to demonstrate--and she was the ONLY one that faces reelection in 2022.

I'll take 100 Lisa Murkowskis in those races where Dems just can't win.

[Tom Rinaldo]

3. If I remember correctly, she was defeated by an extreme right Republican in her 2010 primary

Last edited Sun Feb 14, 2021, 11:02 AM - Edit history (1)

She'll be up against that again, and the base of the Republican party has shifted further right over the last ten years.

[alp227]

18. 2010 not 2020

She had to run as a write in against Joe Miller

[Tom Rinaldo]

19. Ooos. I knew that but I'll now correct the misentered date. Thanks! n/t

[Walleye]

2. She doesn't need the republican party. She won her first term on a write-in vote.

Too bad more Republican senators don’t have any courage or faith in their own constituents. They must know they’re not doing right by their people.

[Tom Rinaldo]

4. She probably will have to repeat that in 2022 since I can't imagine her winning a GOP primary

against mobilized Trump forces in Alaska, with his impeachment and her vote so fresh in their minds. Republicans like Flake and Corker chose to surrender their seats when their terms ended rather than face what Murkowski is about to face. It will be personal, and it will be ugly, and she will confront the mob at every one of her campaign events.

[Walleye]

5. Well I wish her luck. She will have to show great strength

[JI7]

8. I see no way a Democrat winning there so hopefully she wins

[moose65]

12. Actually she won her first term in 2004

She was appointed by her father in 2002 after he became governor, and narrowly defeated Democrat Tony Knowles in 2004. She has never gotten more than 50% of the vote in any of her elections.

Remember that Alaska is weird. 60% of its voters are unaffiliated, and only about 25% are Republicans. Murkowksi doesn’t need Republicans to win her seat - in 2010 she relied on unaffiliated voters and Democrats to win her write-in campaign.

In 2022 some crazy Trumpista zealot will primary her - whether it’s Palin or someone else. Murkowski needs to think about her future and officially leave the Republican Party. Being unaffiliated won’t hurt her.

[luvtheGWN]

14. Yes, I expect Snowflake Barbie

to reappear on the national scene very soon. And she will be vicious.

[Polybius]

15. It wasn't her first term

She's been a Senator since 2002. She was primaried in 2010 by Joe Miller, who beat her. She then won as a write-in candidate, like you said.

Whether she can do it again is anyone's guess.

[Walleye]

20. Thanks. I didn't know that.why was she primaried, I wonder

[moose65]

24. She was primaried by a Tea Partier

The Tea Party folks were the forerunners of the Trumpistas. They didn’t see Murkowski as “pure” enough for them, so they ran a crazy right-winger against her and he beat her. She waged a successful write-in campaign and retained her seat.

[North Shore Chicago]

6. I admire

her courage!

[ConstanceCee]

7. Very True

The time is always right to do what is right - MLK. I intend to send handwritten thank you notes to the 7 Rs.

[bottomofthehill]

9. She knows a little bit about bullshit claims of elections fraud

As she was a previous victim of BS claims.

[groundloop]

10. It's kind of sad that someone needs congratulated for simply doing their job.

Yet I do begrudgingly agree. She chose to do the right thing when the vast majority of her GOPer colleagues refused.

[Hortensis]

17. Yes. Genuine gratitude to her, but without grading on the curve to beat

all curves today's Republicans would virtually all fail outright, those who hadn't already been expelled. She'd be a better person without running with that corrupt gang, but as it is maybe a D or D-, to acknowledge her occasional breaks with them, plus maybe a point for her "I'm corrupt but do know the difference between right and wrong" present vote on Kavanaugh instead of for?

I'm not so grateful that I won't wait to see the opposition before accepting her as the best AK will contribute.

[niyad]

11. KNR

[judesedit]

13. Absolutely. it was even harder for the rethugs to vote to convict cause they have to work with the

weak ones, who's mouths never shut. And in that party they are the majority. Thank you for speaking youth to power, Lisa Murkowski. Thank you to the other 6, also. You will be remembered for standing up.

[bucolic_frolic]

16. Two Senators with deep historical connections to the country stood tall

Murkowski, and Richard Burr. Seems to me, without running 10 minutes of research, Murkowski's father was a previous Senator from Alaska. Ties to oil industry, I get it, but still not a controversial figure. And Burr, as I recall, is related in some way, perhaps a direct descendant, or a parallel family tree, from the third vice president of the US, Aaron Burr.

These two sent a clarion signal yesterday. Do not ignore it. In some way it is a signal that Trump has deep baggage.

[LymphocyteLover]

21. Yes, not to mention Romney, who also has a strong legacy in this country

also Liz Cheney, as terrible as she is in other ways.

[bucolic_frolic]

23. You are correct. The heavyweights have spoken. /nt

[fishwax]

26. other senators with deep political roots in the country voted to let him off, though

Like Shelley Moore Capito and Rand Paul and others among the republicans.

[GOPistheEnemy]

22. She gets NOTHING she like the rest could have voted for Impeachment the First Time Around

She did not

ALL REPUBLICANS LIE and not not interested in Democracy in anyway, shape or form, fascism is what they sell.

[live love laugh]

25. Somehow I think lauding her here might be a kiss of death.

So ....

[mdbl]

27. I acknowledge and hope she is replaced by a democrat.

Too little too late.