AK-House GOP primary polling: Rep. Young vulnerable

Despite Rep. Don Young having 24 times his cash on hand, Alaska's Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell is tied or beating the incumbent in most polls:

Republican Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell stands a strong chance of defeating Young in the party’s Aug. 26 primary, according to recent polls and analysts, which would provide Democrats with a new opponent for the general election.

Young has drawn wide support over the years for his advocacy for his home state, but critics argue that his connections to a federal investigation into Alaska oil services company Veco Corp and its ties to political figures in the state have made him vulnerable for re-election this year. Opponents also note that the House has called for an investigation into an earmark for a Florida transportation project, which Young is accused of changing to possibly benefit a major supporter. Others believe Young’s well-known rough-hewn manner is diminishing his effectiveness in the House and reflecting badly on the state.

Parnell, a lawyer and former state lawmaker, entered the House race just two months ago, but is backed by popular Republican Gov. Sarah Palin . Recent polls show Parnell besting or nearly breaking even with Young.

“It’s time for a new messenger in Congress in Alaska,” Parnell told CQ Politics.

[...]

Parnell is campaigning on issues such as resource development, job creation, the nation’s economy, establishing a natural gas pipeline and fixing high gas prices, in addition to what he calls “restoring trust issues,” all things on which Parnell believes he can be more effective than the congressman.

“Voters appreciate the years he’s given, but we also think it’s time for new leadership,” Parnell said of Young.

Parnell's kind words stand in deep contrast to Rep. Young's response when he found out Parnell was challenging him. A refresher:

"Sean, congratulations," Young said. "I beat your dad, and I'm going to beat you."

Pat Parnell ran as a Democrat against Young in the 1980 general election. Young received 114,089 votes to the elder Parnell's 39,922, according to the Division of Elections.

Gesturing with his finger toward Parnell, Young said that if Parnell had wanted the U.S. House seat, he should have run two years ago.

"If you wanted to run for this job, you should have done it two years ago instead of running for lieutenant governor," Young said. "You wanted that job. Stay where you are, and that's where you're going to be."

A real class act.

I've never been to Alaska, but I think that if Parnell takes this seat away from Young, it would be the one bright spot in an otherwise disastrous election season. So, shill away I must.

Contribute to Parnell's campaign here.

(h/t RedState)

Rep. Don Young (R-AK) to face GOP primary challenge!

Finally, it looks like there might be more political change coming to Alaska. 18 term imcumbent Rep. Don Young will be facing Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell in a primary.

Let's take a little trip down memory lane, shall we? Here is Rep. Young last summer on the House floor defending earmarks:

Rep. Don Young attacked his fellow Republicans on the House floor Wednesday, as he defended education funds allocated to his home state of Alaska.

"You want my money, my money," Young stridently declared before warning conservatives that "those who bite me will be bitten back."

Young took extreme exception to an amendment by Rep. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) to strike money in a spending bill for native Alaskan and Hawaiian educational programs.

You got that? Your tax dollars = his money.

Interesting side note: Lt. Gov. Parnell's father, Pat Parnell challenged Rep. Young for his seat in 1980 and lost. Rep. Young's extremely classy reaction to this new challenge noted this (from earlier link):

"Sean, congratulations," Young said. "I beat your dad, and I'm going to beat you."

Pat Parnell ran as a Democrat against Young in the 1980 general election. Young received 114,089 votes to the elder Parnell's 39,922, according to the Division of Elections.

Gesturing with his finger toward Parnell, Young said that if Parnell had wanted the U.S. House seat, he should have run two years ago.

"If you wanted to run for this job, you should have done it two years ago instead of running for lieutenant governor," Young said. "You wanted that job. Stay where you are, and that's where you're going to be."

It is about time that Alaska stopped being a politically corrupt "Northern Louisiana". First stop: removing Rep. Young. Then on to Sens. Stevens and Murkowski!

Ethical House GOP reform for the price of a latte

I know many in the conservative movement are dismayed. We have a Gerald Ford of a presidential nominee, an bluer than blue Congress, and the head of the NRCC is a complete boob.

In light of this, I think the best thing for conservatives to do is to fight. Don't like McCain? Find someone down the ballot to vote for. Don't like your Representative or Senator? Support real conservatives in the Republican primary. Don't dig in and turn off in anger. That doesn't benefit you or the country.

In keeping with that spirit, the fellas over at RedState are calling on people to support one of my favorite candidates, Alaska Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell, in his primary fight against Kleptocrat Rep. Don Young:

Give up that trip to Starbuck [sic]. Give the cost of your double carmel [sic] latte to Scott Parnell. Give up that trip to McDonalds [sic]. Give the cost of your quarter pounder value meal to Scott Parnell.

You people bitch about the party losing its way all the freaking time. I do too.

It's time to put up or shut up. If we're not willing to give to people like Scott Parnell, well then we get what we deserve -- the party of Don Young instead of the party of Ronald Reagan.

I'm gonna go ahead and pat myself on the back and say that I gave the price of a tank of gas. Parnell's site is here, and you can donate to his campaign here, in case you're too lazy to go to the site and find the donation link yourself. I know you morons.

(Also, Erick Erickson should probably spell and grammar check his posts.)

Parnell for Congress: Donate Now!

As I mentioned earlier, Kleptocrat Rep. Don Young (R-AK) will face a primary challenge from Alaska's Lt. Gov Sean Parnell. Parnell's campaign site is finally up. You should head over there and drop a couple dollars to help unseat one of the most unethical members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

NRCC: Sure, we'll fund the kleptocrat!

Stephen Laffey vs. Lincoln Chafee, version 2.0:

U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla. said that even though Alaskans might be lukewarm about the Republican on the presidential ticket, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the state is so red that it won't matter when it comes to the congressional race. McCain will "provide cover" for Republican candidates in Alaska, including Rep. Don Young, Cole said.

[...]

"But so far as I know, nobody's been charged with anything and I think that becomes really critical. At the end of the day, I've served with Don Young. I believe he's an honorable man. I don't have any doubt about it."

They will never learn. This makes it all that more important for conservatives to support Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell's candidacy. If I can afford to do it on my $18,000 a year salary, you can, too.

Despite Rep. Cole's friendly words, Don Young remains one of the most corrupt figures in politics on either side of the aisle. Cole can't even (reliably) say that Rep. Young could win against his Democratic challenger in the fall. Internal polling from his likely challenger shows Young behind by 8 points.

Cole and the NRCC are sacrificing respectability, ethics, and even electability on the altar of incumbency. This is why Republicans lost in 2006, and why they will continue to lose in 2008. If McCain stands up and "provides cover" for Young, he can throw out any chance of running on a message of good ethics and change in government.