Diane Benson

Much of my coverage of Alaskan politics has been a somewhat amazed catalog of the deep, deep corruption in Alaska's Republican Party. The VECO scandal which brought down several Republican State Reps and threatens the entire Republican Party of Alaska, Representative Don Young, with a list of probably corruption about as long as I have seen, and Senator Ted Stevens, who I have declared possibly the most corrupt politician alive.

And Republican corruption has given Democrats a real chance at sweeping Alaska this year, with both Ted Stevens and Don Young lagging in the polls and Obama and McCain close to even (depending on the poll looked at). Nationwide Republican corruption led to voters rejecting the Republican Party in favor of what they hoped would be change from the Democratic Party. Yep...the idea of change didn't start with Obama, it started with the voters in 2006.

I want to re-emphasize something I wrote before: my enthusiastic endorsement of Diane Benson for Congress in the August 26th primary and on to the general election. This is a repeat of a diary I wrote back in March. My support for Diane Benson has only grown since then.

I met Diane Benson, Congressional Candidate in Alaska, about a month ago and was very impressed. But I only got to hear her speak as a candidate tonight. Again I was impressed. Diane is a genuine American who has worked hard all her life to get an education and to better the life of her son. Often she and her son have worked hard for our country and for their community. She has the confidence of someone who worked their way through school driving trucks while raising her son. She has the confidence of a woman who worked in the male dominated workers camp on the Alaskan pipeline. She has the confidence of someone who has had to work for everything, being given nothing easily. The contrast with the spoiled brat who inhabits the White House is about as striking as you can get.

I am sure many readers read with disgust the Supreme Court's decision to let Exxon/Mobil off the hook for the Valdez oil disaster, which devastated Alaska's coastline. This just reminds us YET AGAIN that America doesn't matter to the right wing Republicans. Only big oil companies, Halliburton and cronyism matters to these fools.

Here is a video of Alaska's Democratic Congressional Candidate, Diane Benson's, response to the recent Exxon/Valdez decision:

And here is a statement from Alaska's Democratic Senate Candidate, Mark Begich:

“The thousands of Alaskans whose lives were devastated by this disaster are hurt, once again, by this ruling," Begich said. "What we’re seeing today is another example of how Washington is out of touch with real people. The justices have sided with corporate America rather than with Alaska families who have suffered for nearly 20 years.”

I met Diane Benson, Congressional Candidate in Alaska, about a month ago and was very impressed. But only got to hear her speak as a candidate tonight. Again I was impressed. Diane is a genuine American who has worked hard all her life to get an education and to better the life of her son. Often she and her son have worked hard for our country and for their community. She has the confidence of someone who worked their way through school driving trucks while raising her son. She has the confidence of a woman who worked in the male dominated workers camp on the Alaskan pipeline. She has the confidence of someone who has had to work for everything, being given nothing easily. The contrast with the spoiled brat who inhabits the White House is about as striking as you can get.

Among those who came out for Diane was as diverse a group of Democrats you can find. Avid Hillary supporters rubbing shoulders with avid Obama supporters, both writing checks for Diane and THANKING her for her running. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney was among the strongest voices supporting Diane with both enthusiasm and a bit of awe. Also there were former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark, our next Public Advocate Norm Siegel, Captain Jon Soltz, Veteran of Kosovo and the Iraq War and founder of VoteVets.org, fellow Daily Gotham writer Dan Jacoby, and City Council Candidate Steve Behar (if I left anyone out, please let me know!). I also saw members of two Brooklyn Democratic clubs, IND and CBID, and the current CBID president, Chris Owens, was on the host committee. Quite an interesting collection of Democrats.

"Candidates for U.S. Congress talk fish!"
Fisheries Debate

Thursday, March 20, 7-9 p.m.
at the Kodiak High School Auditorium

Congressman Don Young, AK Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, Ethan Berkowitz, Diane Benson and Jake Metcalfe have confirmed participation in the debate!

Since 1990 ComFish has invited candidates for Alaska governor and U.S. Congress to come to Kodiak to debate a single topic: the seafood industry. The fisheries debates have always attracted nearly 100% participation by candidates in what has become the first official debate during an election year.

The lively, two hour event is broadcast live, statewide via the
Alaska Public Radio Network from host station KMXT/Kodiak.