Strip Tease

Why does Joe Miller enjoy a fifteen point lead over Linda Murkoslowsky and seventeen points over the mayor of Alaska's fifth-hugest megalopolis, Scott McAdams?  It's a dynamic that is very familiar from the opposite end of the continental United States:

There will be two names on the ballot in the Alaska race for U.S. Senate this November: Joe Miller and Scott McAdams. But in events today for both those candidates the 800-pound gorilla in the room was incumbent Senator Lisa Murkowski, who announced Friday she will seek a write-in bid to keep her seat after losing the GOP primary to Miller last month.

McAdams’s press conference to unveil his five-point education plan was aimed at leaching teacher support from Murkowski. The National Education Association early on endorsed Murkowski and the group on Friday reaffirmed their endorsement of her candidacy, even as a write in. But McAdams, who has the support of the AFL-CIO, believes that rank-and-file teachers will come his way when they realize what a long shot Murkowski’s candidacy is. “I have a natural connection with teachers,” says McAdams, who got his start in politics petitioning the school board that he would eventually sit on to allow him to form a football team. “And I believe in the hearts and minds to teachers they will recognize that I am the true school advocate in this race.”

The Sitka mayor — the fifth largest town in Alaska, McAdams was quick to point out, right behind Wasilla — seemed nervous in my interview with him, though that may be due to his lack of experience with national reporters and issues. He has good reason to be nervous. Murkowski poses as much, if not a greater threat to him than she does to Miller. McAdams has yet to prove himself as a viable candidate to the powers that be in Washington and, though he’s raised $300,000 in the last three weeks, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has yet to invest in his campaign beyond dispatching a few staffers. There were also some prominent Democrats at Murkowski’s Friday night rally, leading to local speculation the Dems might be flirting with Murkowski in case she actually wins.

In other words, just like Florida.  Same sociopathic mercenary incumbent RINO "unexpectedly" dumped by the Republican grassroots that won't take no for an answer, same Tea Party stalwart, and same Donk tomato can - except that McAdams isn't black.

Well, okay, not JUST like Florida.  Alaska is the antithesis of a swing state with its R+18 registration advantage, which means that the Murk and McAdams have a smaller pool of Donks and Indies to fight over.  Murk has to go after McAdams' base because she lost over half of her own in the GOP primary and has hopelessly pissed off the rest.  And McAdams can't focus on Miller because of Murk's inevitable encroachments.  So while Alaska's Mayor and the Sore Loser beat each other with tire irons, Go Joe can start measuring draperies for his Senate office.

Just like his new colleague, Marco Rubio.

Meanwhile, the Murk, "Sorry Charlie Crist," Scott McAdams, and Kendrick Meek HAVE to be the fixin's of the next hit "reality" TV series on SOME network, dontcha think?

Alaska moves from "likely Republican (hold) back to "Safe Republican (hold)".

And the Party she spurned is making some "atta boy!" moves of its own:

Senate Republicans just said they will move tomorrow to strip Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, from her post as ranking Republican on the Senate Energy Committee.

Republicans say Wednesday they will vote to elect an acting ranking member and then the full GOP conference will ratify the vote…

Another Republican came out of the Senate GOP lunch and told CNN it was clear Murkowski has virtually no support among her colleagues anymore. That senator spoke on condition of anonymity, in order to speak freely about a private meeting.

Even the Squish Sisters?  I would say yes - for now.  When they bolt, it isn't going to be because they got caught with their bloomers down.  I don't think even Jim Jeffords or Arlen Specter would have wanted to go out as pathetically as Queen Litifa.

Evidently this is the most the caucus can do to her right now, as committee assignments are determined at the start of each Congress.  Wouldn't matter anyway, since either (1) she loses or (2) if she somehow won as a write-in, you can bet she'd caucus with the Dems.  A reconciliation with the GOP can, by this indication, be safely assumed to be impossible.

The one dark lining inside that silver cloud is the Lame Duck Session.  Denied renomination, denied in the general, having burned every bridge behind her, and seething with rage at her perceived archenemy Sarah Palin (when in truth, Lulu Murkadoo isn't a pimple on Sarahcuda's ass), this will be a woman scorned who literally has nothing to lose and a crapload of vengeance to gain by joining Dirty Harry's harem.