Campaign Commentary

ALASKA NOTEBOOK

Political discourse

Election Day is less than a month away, and the U.S. Senate race has captured voters' attention. Or maybe driven them crazy. Here are some things I've heard from Alaskans discussing the three major candidates.

POINT / COUNTERPOINT

Constitutional, fiscally responsible government is not 'extremist'

Today liberal politicians like to call "extremist" people who believe in a constitutional, fiscally responsible federal government. But I never thought I would hear Lisa Murkowski call a majority of her fellow Alaskans who cared enough to take the time to vote in the primary, by the same term: "extremist."

POINT / COUNTERPOINT

Longtime Republican almost forced to vote for a Democrat

Last Friday I joined thousands of Alaskans in a huge sigh of relief. "Thank God she's still in," I said to myself. For the past few weeks I have been preparing to do the unthinkable -- vote for a Democrat. As a former Platinum Member of the RNC you'd think it would have been a tough decision. It wasn't. I knew I could never cast a vote for Joe Miller.

POINT-COUNTERPOINT: MEAD TREADWELL

Alaska needs leader willing to fight for state

Three big challenges facing our state compelled me to run for office this year. First, we need to fill the Alaska oil pipeline. Second, we need to get a deal on a natural gas pipeline. Third, we need to work to diversify our economy.

POINT-COUNTERPOINT: REP. JAY RAMRAS

Government should work for, not against, Alaskans

Alaska's future is bright if we elect leaders who respect core values, work hard to restore our sense of optimism and get things done for Alaskans. We don't need more bureaucrats who think we can spend what we don't have.

EDITORIAL

Obama for president

Gov. Palin's nomination clearly alters the landscape for Alaskans as we survey this race for the presidency -- but it does not overwhelm all other judgment. The election, after all is said and done, is not about Sarah Palin, and our sober view is that her running mate, Sen. John McCain, is the wrong choice for president at this critical time for our nation.

EDITORIAL

Biden wins the debate, but Palin regains lost ground

The race isn't over.

EDITORIAL

1 nay, 3 ayes

Our views on the ballot measures

EDITORIAL

Skip this sucker bet

Gaming commission with the power to legalize new gambling? Few Alaskans were born yesterday. Vote no.

EDITORIAL

Cleaner mining

Yes to Ballot Measure 4, to keep big new mines from dirtying salmon streams.

EDITORIAL

Predator control

Measure 2 puts predator control where it belongs, as a last resort. Vote yes.

EDITORIAL

Clean Elections

Send special interests to the sidelines by voting yes on Clean Elections, Measure 3.

GUEST OPINION: CON ON MEASURE 4

Ballot Measure 4 poses threat to Alaska

The proponents of Ballot Measure 4 want you to believe the measure is all about the Pebble Mine. They've spent millions upon millions of dollars to try to convince you that it is. But when you actually read Measure 4 or the summary on the Aug. 26 ballot, you realize that neither Pebble, Bristol Bay nor anything specifically related to Pebble are mentioned in the initiative.

GUEST OPNION: PRO ON MEASURE 4

Pebble is wrong mine at wrong place

Ballot Measure 4, "An Act to Protect Alaska's Clean Water," is focused on preventing the certain disaster threatening the world's largest salmon run -- the Pebble Mine. Nothing more, nothing less.

GUEST OPINION: PRO ON MEASURE 3

Measure 3 lets voters take control

On Aug. 26, we Alaskans have our one and only opportunity to pass the most significant "people's initiative" since statehood -- the Clean Elections Initiative.

GUEST OPINION: CON ON MEASURE 3

Public funding expensive, harmful

Ballot Measure 3 creates a system that would force taxpayers to fund the political campaigns of candidates who may be totally unacceptable to you, the taxpayer. The government has no business interfering in political campaigns in this manner.

GUEST OPINION: PRO ON MEASURE 2

Voters already vetoed aerial shooting

With Tuesday's primary election just five days away, we'll be hearing more and more about Ballot Measure 2, the initiative banning private citizens from shooting predators with airplanes.

GUEST OPINION: CON ON MEASURE 2

Measure 2 proponents try to confuse

Vote "No" on Measure 2. If Measure 2 passes it will place a permanent ban on the state's science-based, aerial predator-management programs -- programs our management professionals have developed with scientific data and public input.

GUEST OPINION: CON ON MEASURE 1

Gambling invites unwanted problems

I'm no war history buff but tactical strategies used in the past intrigue me. During the Trojan War, the Greeks couldn't muster up what was needed to get into Troy so they built a large wooden horse with a hollowed-out belly for soldiers to hide in.

GUEST OPINION: PRO ON MEASURE 1

Measure enhances gaming oversight

Fair, clean and accountable standards for the games of chance that Alaskans play will be on the ballot in the August primary.