Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin Accuses Media Of Conspiring Against Joe Miller, Suggests CBS Stands For 'Corrupt Bastards Club'

Brian Beutler | October 31, 2010, 2:22PM

Former GOP Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin is out for blood (again) this time against an Alaska CBS affiliate. She's accusing the station's reporters of conspiring against Joe Miller, calling them "bastards" and suggesting that the initials CBS stand for "Corrupt Bastards Club." The station is strongly defending itself, though, calling her claims entirely unfounded.

Palin, Miller, and their supporters are basing their accusations on a snippet of audio they leaked to Andrew Breitbart's website Big Government. The audio is weak, and it's hard to suss out the context, but what you can hear sounds like KTVA reporters facetiously explaining how to turn a story into a sensation: specifically, jesting about finding a child molester who's voting Republican and tarring Miller by association. The conversation took place after one of the reporters left a message for a Miller spokesperson, but accidentally failed to hang up.

Palin took to Twitter and Fox News Sunday to gin up outrage.

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John Cornyn

Cornyn 'Concerned' About Joe Miller's Nosedive In Alaska Senate Race

Brian Beutler | October 31, 2010, 11:50AM

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)

NRSC Chairman John Cornyn this morning acknowledged that the GOP Senate nominee in Alaska, Joe Miller, is in real trouble. But, he added, his party will be satisfied if incumbent Repbulican-turned-independent Lisa Murkowski prevails as a write-in candidate.

"We are supporting the nominee of our party, which is Mr. Miller, and -- but are concerned," Cornyn said. "I think that polls are very close now between Senator Murkowski and Joe Miller, and what we want to make sure of is that the Democrat doesn't win."

Cornyn was responding to an earlier report that the GOP had largely given up on Miller, who's tanked dramatically in the polls in recent days. Murkowski and Miller are running against Democratic nominee Scott McAdams.

AK-SEN

Dem McAdams' Flyer: 'I'm Twice The Man Joe Miller Is (Literally)'

Eric Kleefeld | October 30, 2010, 1:59PM

Scott McAdams, Lisa Murkowski, and Joe Miller

Scott McAdams, the Democratic nominee in the three-way Alaska Senate race, has a new flyer that humorously refers to his weight.

"I'm Twice the Man Joe Miller is (literally)," the flyer says in its heading, and then adding: "And probably three or four Lisas."

The TPM Poll Average gives Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski the lead with 40.4% for her nearly unprecedented write-in campaign, GOP nominee Joe Miller 29.5%, and McAdams 23.1%.

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Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin Calls Joe Miller A Lost Cause, Quotes Scopes Monkey Trial Attorney

Brian Beutler | October 30, 2010, 12:45PM

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin

There are probably better ways to inspire confidence in a candidate's prospects when he's in free fall than to call him a lost cause. But that's exactly what Sarah Palin did to one of her favorite tea partiers last night.

"Joe Miller - do not give up. It's you against the machine. This is it. 'Lost causes' are the only ones worth fighting for,'" Palin tweeted, quoting famed Scopes Monkey Trial attorney Clarence Darrow.

It seems unlikely that Palin is aware that Darrow was a big wig at the American Civil Liberties Union given her penchant for scoffing at...civil liberties. And one wonders whether Palin knows that, in the Scopes trial, Darrow defended John Scopes, who violated Tennessee law by teaching evolution. But there you have it.

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AK-SEN

'Operation Alaska Chaos': Right-Wingers Pushed Flood Of AK-SEN Write-In Candidates

Jillian Rayfield | October 29, 2010, 5:55PM

Alaska Senate candidate Joe Miller (R)

The flood of write-in candidates in the Alaska Senate race was pushed by Big Government's Dan Riehl and the conservative group Conservatives 4 Palin in an attempt to hurt Sen. Lisa Murkowski's own write-in campaign and give Republican nominee (and tea party favorite) Joe Miller a boost.

Beginning on Riehl's Big Government blog and dubbed "Operation Alaska Chaos" by C4P, Miller supporters were encouraged to file as write-in candidates so Murkowski's name would be buried on the official list of candidates. It worked.

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AK-SEN

New Murkowski Ad Attacks Joe Miller For Detaining Journalist (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | October 29, 2010, 12:43PM

A new ad from Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) attacks Republican Senate nominee Joe Miller for the incident at a town hall when his security team handcuffed and detained a journalist, and for Miller's comment that if East Germany could secure the border, so can the U.S.

The ad says: "Joe Miller's answer to freedom of the press? Arrest the journalist. Joe Miller's answer to illegal immigration? Use East Germany as an example. Exactly what kind of America does Joe Miller live in?"

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AK-SEN

Joe Miller Ad: 'My Opponent Is Not A Witch,' But She's 'Conjured Up' Some 'Crazy Votes' (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | October 28, 2010, 9:44AM

From a Miller campaign ad, "She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named"

A new ad from Alaska Senate candidate Joe Miller (R) riffs on Christine O'Donnell's "I'm not a witch ad" to attack Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R): "My opponent is not a witch, but she sure has conjured up some pretty crazy votes in D.C."

Cause we all know how well O'Donnell's ad worked out for her.

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Joe Miller

Miller To Maddow On Gay Marriage: 'I Want To Be Straight With You' (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | October 26, 2010, 10:44PM

Republican candidate for US Senate in Alaska Joe Miller

Joe Miller has been known for giving the press the runaround and, in his interview today with Rachel Maddow, he took that rather literally. The approximately five-minute interview took place as Miller was walking from a roof, down to his car, with Maddow peppering him with questions about same sex marriage as they walked.

Maddow asked him if he'd support a constitutional ban on same sex marriage. "That's up to the people," Miller said. "If you get a three quarters vote ratifying -- I'd vote for it."

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AK-SEN

Documents Show Joe Miller Admitted To Lying About Ethics Violations At AK Borough

Jillian Rayfield | October 26, 2010, 9:58PM

Alaska Senate candidate Joe Miller (R)

Newly released documents from Joe Miller's time at the Fairbanks North Star Borough show that in 2008, the Alaska senatorial candidate admitted that he lied about committing ethics violations during his time as a part-time borough attorney.

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AK-SEN

Murkowski Ad: 'A Vote For Scott McAdams Is Definitely A Vote For Joe Miller' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 26, 2010, 2:56PM

Alaska Senate candidates Scott McAdams (D) and Lisa Murkowski (R)

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), who is running as a write-in candidate after she lost her Republican primary to Tea Party-backed Joe Miller, has a new attack ad taking on her other opponent, Democratic Sitka Mayor Scott McAdams.

The ad shows various Sitka residents, including a former mayor, criticizing McAdams and declaring that the town is "Lisa Murkowski territory."

But one line is also a clear pitch to Democratic-leaning voters, casting support for McAdams as a wasted vote: "A vote for Scott McAdams is definitely a vote for Joe Miller." Another voter casts Miller as being way out on the right, McAdams way out on the left, and Murkowski representing everyone from the middle.

The TPM Poll Average gives Murkowski 36.7%, Miller 36.0%, and McAdams 25.5%.

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Tea Party

Top Six Established Laws That Tea Partiers Claim Are Unconstitutional

Brian Beutler | October 26, 2010, 8:59AM

Tea Party activists in Washington, D.C.

It seems as if we've heard more about the Constitution this election than we did in 2008, when questions of due process and cruel and unusual punishment were bona fide election issues. Two years in to Barack Obama's presidency, after turning a blind eye throughout the Bush years, a key goal for the Tea Party this election is to "return" to the Constitution. Minus certain parts of it. And only if you read other parts in a very specific way.

We know the Tea Party has a ... unique interpretation of the country's foundational text, but it's hard sometimes to keep track of all the things their favored candidates would like to see abolished or relegated as part of this "return."

Their convenient reading of various amendments -- particularly the 10th -- would radically transform the country as we know it. Here are a few major programs that would change or disappear.

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AK-SEN

Murkowski Attacks Miller For 'East Germany' Remarks At AK-SEN Debate (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | October 25, 2010, 10:54AM

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Joe Miller and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)

The three Alaska Senate candidates participated in a debate last night, and write-in candidate Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R) used some of her time to hit Republican Joe Miller for his remark that if East Germany could secure its border during the time of the Berlin Wall, the U.S. certainly can as well. "We should not be looking to East Germany as a model for our security and border enforcement," Murkowski said.

Miller responded: "Last time I checked, East Germany was no longer a nation."

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Joe Miller

Joe Miller Consultant Is Anti-Gay Christian Activist

Brian Beutler | October 22, 2010, 4:39PM

Candidate for U.S. Senate Joe Miller (R-AK)

David Corn at Mother Jones keys in to Alaska Republican Joe Miller's views on gay rights issues. Miller himself keeps pretty mum on the subject, though in a letter to voters he defended a pastor who claimed that "homosexuality is a sin, and therefore immoral."

But whatever his views, he paid $2,500, for consulting services unknown, to a veteran anti-gay activist named Terry Moffitt, who runs a project called Hope for Homosexuals.

Moffitt of the school of thought that homosexuality is a sickness that can be cured. Quoth Corn:

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AK-SEN

Police Say Joe Miller Security Team Couldn't Identify Victim Allegedly Assaulted By Journo

Jillian Rayfield | October 22, 2010, 3:05PM

Republican candidate for US Senate in Alaska Joe Miller

According to a report by the Anchorage Police Department, the head of Joe Miller's security team for his town hall last Sunday couldn't identify who Alaska Dispatch editor Tony Hopfinger allegedly assaulted before the private security guards handcuffed and detained him.

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AK-SEN

DeMint-Funded Ad Hits Murkowski For Being 'Pro-Abortion' (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | October 20, 2010, 6:07PM

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC)

A new ad funded by the group of Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), who is supporting Joe Miller in the Alaska Senate race, attacks Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) for her stance on abortion. "There are three Senate candidates. But only one choice to defend the unborn. Republican Joe Miller is pro-life," the ad says.

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AK-SEN

CNN/Time Poll: Miller And Murkowski Tied

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2010, 4:48PM

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Joe Miller and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)

The new CNN/Time poll of the Alaska Senate race shows a tied race between Republican nominee Joe Miller and incumbent GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who is running a well-organized write-in campaign after she narrowly lost the Republican primary to the Tea Party challenger.

The numbers: Miller 37%, Murkowski 37%, and Democratic nominee Scott McAdams 23%. The survey of likely voters has a ±3% margin of error. In the previous survey from late September, Miller had 38%, Murkowski 36%, and McAdams 22%.

A caveat: This poll appears to list Murkowski's write-in bid as a choice for voters to pick. Some other pollsters have listed only Miller and McAdams while accepting Murkowski as a voluntary answer, as Murkowski's name is not on the ballot. It is not clear which approach is better for polling this unique election, but it seems important to know about.

The TPM Poll Average gives Murkowski 36.7%, Miller 36%, and McAdams 25.5%.

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AK-SEN

NRSC Ad In Alaska: Obama And Pelosi 'Want To Tell Us How To Live' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2010, 3:42PM

From a NRSC campaign ad, "Control"

The National Republican Senatorial Committee has a new ad in the highly unusual Alaska Senate race, promoting Republican nominee Joe Miller in an election in which GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski continues to run as a write-in candidate despite her primary loss, and Democratic nominee Scott McAdams is hoping to sneak up from behind.

Interestingly, the ad makes no mention at all of Lisa Murkowski. Instead, the spot focuses on attacking the policies of President Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi -- appealing to Alaska's traditional declarations of frontier libertarianism (though it is arguably something of a socialist welfare state in practice, with government ownership of oil resources and the equal distribution of revenue to all citizens).

"They're out of control. Government takeovers, Wall Street bailouts, and Obamacare," the announcer says. "They raised taxes by $500 billion, then told us we get fined if we don't buy health insurance. They want to tell us how to live. To stop them, we need Joe Miller. Joe Miller will stand up for us, and fight back against big government intervention. Joe Miller is on our side."

The TPM Poll Average gives Miller 34.5%, Murkowski 33.1%, and McAdams 27.5%.

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AK-SEN

How Close Is Joe Miller's Town Hall Security Chief To The Alaska Citizens Militia?

Jillian Rayfield | October 20, 2010, 3:14PM

Tony Hopfinger (right) and William Fulton (inset)

William Fulton, the head of DropZone Security, denies that he's a member of the Alaska Citizens Militia -- though he inarguably has some ties to the militia, and has even been referred to as the "supply Sergeant" by the head of the group.

DropZone Security was hired as Republican Senate nominee Joe Miller's private security team at his town hall on Sunday, during which Fulton and two of his employees handcuffed and detained Alaska Dispatch editor Tony Hopfinger.

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AK-SEN

Joe Miller's Ex-Boss: We 'Were Not Eager To Have Him Stay'

Jillian Rayfield | October 20, 2010, 11:01AM

Candidate for U.S. Senate Joe Miller (R-AK)

Alaska Republican Senate nominee Joe Miller's former supervisor at an Anchorage law firm says they were all too happy to see him go after his three years at the firm.

Attorney David Shoup of the firm -- then called Condon Partnow & Sharrock told Justin Elliott of Salon: "We at this firm were not eager to have him stay, and so when he announced he was leaving, we were relieved."

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AK-SEN

Anchorage Prosecutor: No Charges Will Be Filed Over Journo Detained At Joe Miller Event

Jillian Rayfield | October 20, 2010, 9:25AM

Alaska Dispatch editor Tony Hopfinger sits with his hands cuffed.

Anchorage Municipal Prosecutor Albert Patterson says the city won't file any charges over an incident at a Joe Miller town hall on Sunday in which the Republican Senate nominee's private security guards detained and handcuffed Alaska Dispatch editor Tony Hopfinger.

Patterson says neither Hopfinger, who was detained for "trespassing" after he repeatedly attempted to question Miller, nor the three guards from DropZone Security, who could have been charged with assault, will be charged.

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AK-SEN

Full Security Team May Not Have Been 'Required' For Joe Miller Town Hall After All

Jillian Rayfield | October 19, 2010, 4:19PM

Alaska Dispatch editor Tony Hopfinger sits with his hands cuffed.

Since his security team detained Alaska Dispatch editor Tony Hopfinger on Sunday, Alaska Senate candidate Joe Miller has been claiming that the school district required him to provide security personnel at the event.

But according to a spokesman for the Anchorage School District, the requirement is much more lenient than a professional security force like Miller's made it seem. Heidi Embley of the ASD told TPM today that: "We do not require hired security, but do we require them to outline a plan."

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AK-SEN

Joe Miller Security Team That Detained Journalist Included Active-Duty Soldiers

Jillian Rayfield | October 19, 2010, 4:09PM

DropZone Security In Anchorage, Alaska

Two of the members of DropZone Security who detained and handcuffed journalist Tony Hopfinger at a Joe Miller campaign event on Sunday were active-duty military members, the reports.