Mallott teams up with Walker?!!!

[Steerpike]

What do you think about this Unity Ticket with the Democratic Candidate and the Independent (Republican) candidate joining forces?

http://www.adn.com/article/20140901/walker-mallott-join-forces-governors-race

[raven mad]

1. I dislike Hollis French being cut out this way.

Rumor has it they'll offer Hollis the AG spot, which would be good. This whole thing smacks of manipulation of the electorate, though.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

2. Well, I thought it was a better idea back before

I saw that the 'independent' was a Republican.

[Ken Burch]

4. They made him give up his party registration as part of the unity deal.

And he was the only candidate in the race, whatever else you could say about him, who called for, as he said "separation of oil and state".

Walker may have some interesting possibilities.

[Ken Burch]

3. Well, it had to happen.

Mallott had destroyed whatever chance he had of winning by refusing to take a strong stand in favor of Ballot Measure 1. I'm guessing he let himself be bullied into fudging on that one by some of the native corporation types(some of which backed Parnell's giveaway to the petrocracy because their corps. were heavily invested in oil stocks, methinks.)

I hope that French does get the AG spot.

Kinda of feel sorry for that Fleener dude...he's going to end up being a "Trivial Pursuit" question now.

[Blue_In_AK]

5. Maybe Fleener could be in Fisheries or something,

maybe take Cora Campbell's place. He couldn't be any worse, right?

I have a lot of friends up here who have been pushing this unity thing for months now, and they all assure me that Walker is a good man who will keep his personal social beliefs out of the mix. I think they're probably right. If this ticket wins, he will owe too much to the Democrats to cross them. I actually did some temporary work for him way back in the late '90s or early 2000s, back when he was just doing legal work, and he was a really nice guy, easy to work for.

Of course, I am disappointed that we have to go this route, but in the end it may work to our advantage. It might give a boost to some of the anti-Parnell down-ticket folks, who are mostly Democrats.

Pragmatism doesn't come naturally to me, but in this instance, I see no other choice.

[Ken Burch]

6. I hear you.

It would have been far worse, though, for Parnell to get re-elected with less than half the vote and for Byron to be humiliated in a third-place finish(which was a real possibility).

Weird thought: D'ya think Palin might endorse Walker, just to stick it to Parnell for his oil tax treachery? She does seem to be all about getting payback, if you track her history.

I'd heard that Walker was anti-choice...had he said anything about gays?

[Blue_In_AK]

7. That's a fun Sarah thought.

She does love her some revenge, and this would be a perfect opportunity. Since she was once a protege of Wally Hickel, and Walker has many people on his team who were Hickel allies, I could easily see her "rearing her head." It would be delicious.

Walker is personally anti-choice and supports traditional marriage, but he has allegedly said that he suspects that our anti-equality amendment will be overturned by the courts, and he will not fight it in that event. He has also said that he will sign up for Medicaid expansion immediately.

I can't fault the guy for having more conservative social views than I do as long as he keeps them out of government, and it appears that's his intention.

Of course, he will bear watching, but I'm feeling okay with the whole thing. It would be great if we could get a more bipartisan legislature so that we wouldn't have to worry about those wacky bills they keep coming up with.

[Ken Burch]

8. I appreciate the info. Good night. n/t.

[Blue_In_AK]

9. A recap of yesterday's presser announcing the unity ticket

From Jeanne at The Mudflats

http://www.themudflats.net/archives/44253

Specifically, as to our concerns...

School Vouchers

Asked about school choice and vouchers, Walker replied that he was running because he wanted to fix the economy. “I’ve been on the record I am not pro-vouchers,” he said. “That’s not an issue for me. I’m worried about being able to fund the schools we have.”

The Partisan Divide

Mallott was questioned about working with someone of a different political persuasion from himself. “I’ve been able to work in Alaskans politics for decades. I worked fov Governor Bill Egan, I was appointed to the Alaska Permanent Fund Board of Trustees by Jay Hammond. I’ve worked for Hickel, Knowles, almost every governor in some capacity. We know each other and our core principles and values and I’m absolutely comfortable working with Bill.”

<snip>

Reproductive Choice

When asked what he’d say to pro-choice Alaskans who feel they no longer have an advocate, Walker said, “I believe in the laws as are. I am not going to change anything on social issues. I’ve made that clear throughout that’s not what brings me to the campaign.” He has said he would veto any measure coming to him which further restricts a woman’s rights.

<snip>

Differences with the Parnell administration

When asked how his positions differ from that of the current administration, Walker smiled and looked at his watch as if to say, “How much time do you have?” But he did highlight a couple things, including leadership. He and Mallott will listen to the concerns of the people, he said, something that the current administration has been lacking. “People talk about bi-partisanship, but we’re no-partisanship. There are no lines. So, our rule is going to be if it’s good for Alaska, do it.” He went on to criticize Parnell’s lack of fiscal discipline. “The budget deficit is huge,” he said. “We will veto some things. We will talk about the fact that we are in a deficit. At the State of the State if we’re in a deficit, I’ll say we’re in a deficit… and what we’re going to do to get out of it. That’s probably the biggest difference between myself and Governor Parnell. I am truly a fiscal conservative. We can no longer continue to do what we’re doing and spend the way we’re spending, and ignore the fact that we’re doing it. It’s absolutely unsustainable. We’re spending in deficit every year for the next 10 years according to his own administration.

<snip>

I think this can work out if Walker sticks to his representations here. Anyone has to be better than Parnell.

[lurch2]

10. Can't do it.

No way I can cast a vote for Walker. Can't trust him, "I'm a republican... No wait, I'm going to lose the Republican primary... I'm an Independent... Wait, still going to lose... I'm going to throw some folks under the bus and run with a Democrat... Yeah, thats it." For God's sake the guy wants to use tax money to build a pipeline for big oil companies.
I understand why the D's here did what they did. Hollis French had zero chance of winning against Parnel, I'm not knocking French just being pragmatic.
Guess, I'll write someone in.