The nation's most unpopular senator still refuses to own up to her failures.

Speaking to Arkansas Public Radio in Little Rock on Monday, the chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee appeared to blame Lt. Gov. Bill Halter and the swarm of outside groups that backed his insurgent bid for her current perilous political position.

FM-89 reporter Kelly MacNeil asked Lincoln whether she thought she would be even with Boozman now if “it weren’t for that tough primary.” Lincoln replied, “Yeah, oh yeah ... I believe I would.”

“When somebody spends $21 million of negative advertising against you, you’ve got to spend an awful lot of time and energy winning back people’s approval and people’s trust,” Lincoln said.

Reality:

The primary was May 18. Fact is, Lincoln was always dead in the water. It was only her ginormous ego that preventer her from seeing it. And when the wife of the executive director of the DSCC works as Lincoln's finance director, well then, the party also has no interest in seeing her retire.

Too bad, because she was always fatally unpopular:

Maybe this seat was a goner no matter what. Maybe Halter would be losing by 10 points, instead of 20 -- still only worth a loss in the end.

But Republicans would've had to fight harder for the seat, spent money, put GOP nominee John Boozman under pressure. Halter had positive favorability ratings, could play the outsider card in a tough year for incumbents. And he would've had an enthusiastic corps of grassroots and union groups fueling his candidacy. All of that would've been a positive for grassroots Democrats eager for something to get excited about this dreary cycle, yet the establishment rallied around their dead-in-the-water and useless incumbent.

And now she blames Halter?

Final note -- Lincoln was bailed out, in huge part, by a lying campaign by the GOP shadow group Americans for Job Security, who dumped a million into the primary on Lincoln's behalf. Funny how they abandoned her after the primary, content in having prevented the Democrats from electing their best candidate.

Still, to be fair, Lincoln's final achievement will be a genuine bipartisan victory -- as both sides cheer her defeat and banishment into ignominy.

What's coming up on Sunday Kos ….

• brooklynbadboy will write from the heart about his support for President Obama. He is sticking with him through thick and thin, but has one line in the sand: Social Security.
• Election Night 2010 is upon us. Steve Singiser will go hour-by-hour, telling us what races are the bellwethers for how good (or bad…or awful) the evening will be for Democrats.
• In 1994, a Nebraska rancher made an unusual call to an Israeli rabbi, offering to him something that they both desired. For one man, it was a symbol of Israel's restoration. For the other... it was a key to the end times. Mark Sumner will look at why some people don't just worry that the world might end soon, they want to hurry it along.
• Chris Bowers will provide a Governor Snapshot.
• Since he has to forgo Saturday’s edition of the Wrap because of that pesky real world getting in the way, Steve Singiser will offer up the treat of a special Sunday Edition of the Polling and Political Wrap.
• While Democrats worry that their voters won't bother to go to the polls, Laurence Lewis will recall the Republican history of trying to prevent them from doing so.
• Dante Atkins is desperate for cocktail weenies, and will get a head start on trying to shape the post-election narrative.

It's this young woman, Rim Abera (via Goldy at HorsesAss:

Rim Abera is a 20 year-old college student in Seattle, Washington. Her family is originally from Eritrea and came to the United States from the Sudan when she was a baby, achieving citizenship nine years later. In high school Rim became very active in politics and voter outreach and is excited to be voting for the second time on November 2 – after having convinced the rest of her family to also register in 2008.

Rim is part of OneAmerica Votes, the organization smeared by the AP who told the organization's story under the headline "In Washington, illegal immigrants canvassing for Democrats." The real story behind OneAmerica Votes is about just that--one America. After that story ran, Goldy interviewed Pramila Jayapal, the director of the program.

“The exciting story here,” (and one, by the way, that starkly contradicts the prevailing national narrative), “is that even people who cant vote are energized about this election, because they understand that it’s their future that is at stake.” Indeed, many of OneAmerica Votes’ volunteers can’t vote, not because they are undocumented, or even non-citizens, but because they are simply underage.

“We have an amazing group of high schoolers who are canvassing with us,” Jayapal told me, “who say to me ‘Wow... I just woke up to politics.’ That’s very exciting to watch.”

As are the results. Over the course of this election over 162,000 immigrant voters throughout the state have been contacted by OneAmerica Votes, including over 41,000 homes canvassed by phone and/or at the door by volunteers. That’s a huge chunk of the 230,000 registered immigrant voters who make up over 7.5% of the Washington state electorate.

And far from this being the Democratic GOTV effort the AP headline implies, much of  OneAmerica Votes’ efforts have focused largely on the many initiatives cluttering the November ballot, with the organization translating voter guides into six languages, and inviting proponents and opponents alike to initiative forums in neighborhoods with large immigrant communities. That’s a unique, grassroots voter education effort that should be celebrated, not vilified.

This is all about new Americans becoming a part of their new home. To that end, Rim Abera and the other volunteers working to educate and engage immigrant voters, are the future. And that's what has the GOP, and the teabaggers, so scared.

Dems crow about the early voting numbers in Illinois:

* So far, 298,113 Illinois voters have cast ballots including 174,739 Democrats (58.6% of those who have voted so far) and 83,166 Republicans (27.9%). (Note: Illinois does not have party registration, so Democrats are defined as those who have voted in a Democratic primary and Republicans are defined as those who have voted in a Republican primary.)

* Cook County is the most Democratic county in the state, and Cook County is voting at one of the highest rates of any county in the state. While only 38.5% of all registrants are from Cook County, 43.5% of all ballots cast so far are from Cook County.

* In fact, there are more Democratic primary voters from Cook County who have already voted than there are Republican primary voters who have already voted in the entire state of Illinois. This is despite the fact that Cook County makes up only 38.5% of registered voters and 43.5% of those who have voted so far.

* According to the latest DNC modeling analysis incorporating today's early vote returns, Giannoulias leads by more than 6 points among those who have already voted, and this lead has been growing since early voting began in Illinois two weeks ago.

Now this may be spin, but it's based on hard data. I'd love to see what flaws might exist in this analysis.

So how does the GOP respond?

UPDATE
Reply from a Republican Strategist to Democratic memo:

"DNC memo on Illinois early vote reads as nothing more than a CYA. The fact that they cooked up numbers on a Friday night right before POTUS arrives tells you everything you need to know. Won't be enough to explain loss of Obama's seat on Tuesday. Nice try though." END UPDATE

Um, what? What numbers were cooked? How does this fit the definition of CYA (I don't see any excuses or finger pointing)? Is there any rational, logical, or statistical response to the data provided by the Dems?

Nope. Just a pissy, bitchy, snide, hollow, anonymous insult.

In other words, true to form for your modern Republican Party.

Last week, KT at Burnt Orange Report wrote about a clever gambit by the Texas GOP to get the Green Party automatic ballot access:

Basic Point- The Texas Republican Party bought the Texas Green Party for less than $200,000, knowing that without a Democrat running for Comptroller, Green Party nominee Ed Lindsay could more easily garner 5% ensuring Green Party access for the 2012 elections.

Ed Lindsay, twice the Democratic nominee in HD-54 against Republican Rep. Aycock is but a pawn in this almost beautiful GOP scheme. Many Democrats, seeing no nominee of their own on the ballot, still want to vote against Comptroller Combs- but now they have a Green candidate (instead of just a Libertarian) for whom they can cast their protest vote. And if enough voters, just 5%, choose the Green Party candidate to "stick it" to the Republicans by voting for the "most liberal" alternative, Democrats will give the Greens (and the Republicans) the only thing they both want- automatic statewide Green Party ballot access for 2012.

The facts of the case are incontrovertible. It's all out in the open. But it's always painful for the Greens to admit when they're being used by Republicans, and the candidate in this case, fired off one of the most hilarious letters to the folks at Burnt Orange Report:

Dear Mr. Musselman:

How DARE you call me a "pawn" for the Republican Party! Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a "pawn" for anybody.

I have not been,  nor am now, nor will be a "pawn" for any person, any organization, or, especially, a political party.  The reason I am in this race is to restore Honesty and Integrity in our State Government and to correct what has been going  wrong in the Comptroller's office. Plus, I don't believe in career politicians neither.  

Anyone who has  viewed my web site at www.newmenu.org/lindsay and has seen my qualifications and accomplishments knows that my principles are beyond reproach; and it is outrageous that you insult me by calling me a "pawn."  This is disgraceful and shows a lack of integrity and honesty on your part.

The REAL REASON that Republicans wanted a Green candidate on the State Ballot is NOT for the reason you cited on your Burnt Orange web site.  The Real Reason is that they wanted to draw some votes away from their Republican candidate for Governnor! You know this to be true and you should inform your readers as well.  .

By the way, Bill White's father knows me very well; and he will be the first to tell you there is NO WAY that I would be a "pawn" for anybody.

I demand an apology on your web site!

If you don't have the intestinal fortitude  to issue an apology, then at least print my retort on your Burnt Orange web site.  According to law and to the Texas Ethics Commission, I have the right to respond to any political attack; but I tried to post a reply on your web site and you apparently blocked me from doing so or even posting a blog.

It really irks me that someone, like you, tries to impugn my integrity.

You should also admit to your readers that you are a staunch Democrat and oppose anyone who would give Democrats any competition

Sincerely,
Edward Lindsay  
U.T. Austin grad of 1963
Texas Green Candidate
for Comptroller of Public Accounts
5062 Tierney Ct. South
Fort Worth, Texas 76112

Sure, it's cute that he thinks he has a right to respond to all attacks, when he actually doesn't. And registering to post a comment on a blog is hard!

But what's particularly hilarious is that he thinks the Republican Party paid to get him on the ballot to drain votes away from the Republican gubernatorial candidate!

A useful idiot. Literally.

Jon Ralston wraps up his excellent coverage of Nevada early voting, and the final numbers should give Harry Reid and Co. some confidence heading into Tuesday:

Republicans lost ground to the Democrats in the urban counties on the largest and last day of early voting Friday, surely giving Democrats hope that a surge to blunt the GOP momentum could carry over into Election Day.

The GOP still maintained a lead relative to registration in urban Nevada, but Democrats kept it to under 4 percent. When the rural data is in, as well as Washoe absentees, the statewide turnout advantage for the GOP is expected to be closer to 3 percent. In 2006, after Election Day, the GOP had a 6 percent turnout advantage, but the Democrats did not have a 5 percent edge in statewide registration, as they do now. And upwards of 65 percent of the overall turnout already has occurred.

Two-thirds of the Nevada vote is in. And while the GOP is outperforming the early vote, relative to their voter registration numbers, the absolute numbers look better for us:

That's a 19,000-vote lead for Democrats. And remember, public polling shows Reid getting about 15 percent of the GOP vote, while Angle gets low-single digits of Democrats.

That wouldn't be enough to overcome a deficit with independents, but it's still a decent cushion to take in into Election Day.

Finally, while the numbers are encouraging, note that they do show an intensity gap:

D: 46.3 percent (actual registration is just under that)

R: 37.6 percent (actual registration is 33 percent)

Rest: 16.1 percent (actual registration is about 20 percent)

It's not that Democrats aren't turning out relative to their registration -- at least in Nevada, they're actually on the mark. But Republicans are far more engaged. And of course, non-partisans are underperforming. Mid-terms are base elections -- something that Republicans understood from January 1, 2009, and Democrats didn't.

• There are 3 days until the November 2 elections. Early voting is now taking place in Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Virginia allows early absentee voting under certain circumstances -- check here and see if you qualify. And New Jersey allows voting by mail -- apply here. And if you vote in Oregon or Washington, mail in your ballot today.
• Should the Republicans take the House, John Boehner will be Speaker. His victory strategy includes stumping for this guy.
• According to a Washington Post poll, two-thirds of voters think Sarah Palin is unqualified to serve as president. That's consistent with other polls over the past year, and it cannot be overcome. Here's hoping she has a successful run in the primaries!
• Heath Shuler is considering running for Speaker. Apparently, he misses the embarrassing defeats that were his NFL career.
• Samuel Smith at Scholars and Rogues finds the perfect Rand Paul ad.
• Don't tell Carly Fiorina, but this doesn't sound like a good thing:

  Stunted redwoods, flooded campgrounds and a mighty Yosemite waterfall reduced to a trickle.

  Those are a few of the dire consequences facing 10 California parks over the next century because of rapidly changing climate patterns, according to a new study by an environmental think tank.

• Why is Jonah Goldberg published?
• Salon's Steve Kornacki has all the gruesome details about the Clarence Thomas scandal, and Angela Wright, who worked for Thomas at the EEOC, had the bottom line:

  Wright gave an interview to NPR's Michele Martin in October 2007, just after Thomas' memoir was released, in which she declared that he had "perjured his way onto the Supreme Court."

• One of Britain's senior police chiefs calls for the decriminalization of cannabis and other drugs.
• The Guardian's Tanya Gold goes to Romania in search of Dracula.
• The Top 10 haunted cities in the U.S., and the Top 10 haunted homes. And I love this Halloween costume.
• Let's hope this isn't just words:

  A historic global treaty to protect the world's forests, coral reefs and other threatened ecosystems within 10 years was sealed at a UN summit.

  Rich and poor nations agreed to take "effective and urgent" action to curb the destruction of nature in an effort to halt the loss of the world's biodiversity on which human survival depends.

  Delegates from 193 countries on Saturday committed to key goals by 2020 such as curbing pollution, protecting forests and coral reefs, setting aside areas of land and water for conservation, and managing fisheries sustainably.

You know where to find the goods!

In one of the closest races in the country, President Obama gave a stark message to Colorado Dems.

President Obama held a conference call with Sen. Michael Bennet on Thursday night, urging thousands of his supporters to mobilize for the embattled Democratic incumbent in the final days so they "don't wake up Nov. 3 to a Sen. Ken Buck...."

"This election is about more than just the Colorado Senate seat, it's about the direction our country takes for years to come," the president said, according to a recording of the call provided to POLITICO. "So don't wake up Nov. 3 to a Sen. Ken Buck and say, 'Gosh, I wish I had knocked on one more door or made one more phone call.' This is the time where we've got to put in maximum effort. Nobody's going to work harder than Michael is, but we've all got to be there to help him."

That could be said for voters across the nation--we'll wake up to an ugly reality on Nov. 3 with inevitable losses. But if we wake up to a Senators Buck, Angle, Miller, Johnson . . . well, if you think that the Senate GOP caucus has been a problem under Mitch McConnell, just think about what it'll do under Jim DeMint if these whack-jobs get in.

GOTV, on the ground in your own neighborhoods or in neighboring districts or states, or in a virtual phone bank.

[Such a good reminder, we're going to run it once every day until the election. Susan]

Questions:

1. What was the average monthly private sector job growth in 2008, the final year of the Bush presidency, and what has it been so far in 2010?

2. What was the Federal deficit for the last fiscal year of the Bush presidency, and what was it for the first full fiscal year of the Obama presidency?

3. What was the stock market at on the last day of the Bush presidency? What is it at today?

4. Which party's candidate for speaker will campaign this weekend with a Nazi reenactor who dressed up in a SS uniform?

Answers:

1. In 2008, we lost an average of 317,250 private sector jobs per month. In 2010, we have gained an average of 95,888 private sector jobs per month. (Source) That's a difference of nearly five million jobs between Bush's last year in office and President Obama's second year.

2. In FY2009, which began on September 1, 2008 and represents the Bush Administration's final budget, the budget deficit was $1.416 trillion. In FY2010, the first budget of the Obama Administration, the budget deficit was $1.291 trillion, a decline of $125 billion. (Source) Yes, that means President Obama has cut the deficit -- there's a long way to go, but we're in better shape now than we were under Bush and the GOP.

3. On Bush's final day in office, the Dow, NASDAQ, and S&P 500 closed at 7,949, 1,440, and 805, respectively. Today, as of 10:15AM Pacific, they are at 11,108, 2,512, and 1,183. That means since President Obama took office, the Dow, NASDAQ, and S&P 500 have increased 40%, 74%, and 47%, respectively.

4. The Republican Party, whose candidate for speaker, John Boehner, will campaign with Nazi re-enactor Rich Iott this weekend. If you need an explanation why this is offensive, you are a lost cause.

The moral of the story is this: if you vote Republican, I hope you enjoy Election Day -- because you're not going to like what comes next.

:::

This post originally appeared here on Friday, October 29.

…we should work together to tackle the broader challenges facing our country – so that we remain competitive and prosperous in a global economy. That means ensuring that our young people have the skills and education to fill the jobs of a new age. That means building new infrastructure – from high-speed trains to high-speed internet – so that our economy has room to grow. And that means fostering a climate of innovation and entrepreneurship that will allow American businesses and American workers to lead in growth industries like clean energy.

President Obama in this morning's weekly address called on the Republican opposition to lay politics to rest after Tuesday's election and focus on the issues he repeatedly returns to in his Saturday remarks: rebooting the economy, fostering innovation, rebuilding infrastructure, investing in education and keeping America competitive in the global economy.

In light of polls showing Republicans poised to gain seats in both the House and the Senate, the whole tenor of his weekly address today can be seen as a preemptive call for cooperation from a re-energized opposition. He seems to know what he's up against:

The Republican leader of the House actually said that “this is not the time for compromise.” And the Republican leader of the Senate said his main goal after this election is simply to win the next one.

But in light of the rabid obstructionism of the past two years--almost certain to intensify in the next Congress--it's hard to put a lot of faith in the president's call for getting down to business and setting aside differences:

But when the ballots are cast and the voting is done, we need to put this kind of partisanship aside – win, lose, or draw.

Ummm … yeah. Good luck with that one.

"In the end," he said, "it comes down to a simple choice."

We can spend the next two years arguing with one another, trapped in stale debates, mired in gridlock, unable to make progress in solving the serious problems facing our country. We can stand still while our competitors – like China and others around the world – try to pass us by, making the critical decisions that will allow them to gain an edge in new industries.

Or ….

We can move forward. We can promote new jobs and businesses by harnessing the talents and ingenuity of our people. We can take the necessary steps to help the next generation – instead of just worrying about the next election. We can live up to an allegiance far stronger than our membership in any political party. And that’s the allegiance we hold to our country.

Any bets on which choice the Republicans will make in the next Congress?

The full transcript can be found at the White House website and beneath the fold.

Isn't it amazing what selection can do to a species? In this fine article we see inside the effects of selection on mans best friend, from the cute lil furbutts to the skulls:

We've turned a fine-tuned hunting animal, the wolf, into a wide variety of creatures, from the wolf-looking shepherds to the bizarre toy breeds. Before domestication, dog's life was tough. But when people pulled specific wolves out of their packs and began breeding them, we changed everything.  

• Are you a creative or technical writer, graphic artist, or new media manager? There's a MMORPG firm that's hiring in a number of fields and more. And my understanding is its one kick-ass place to work.
• The assassin bug is one creepy Halloween arthropod. Speaking of Halloween, try this for a chuckle.
• A countdown of some of the most extreme of the extremophiles.
• Last flight of shuttle Discovery next week, first flight of Falcon 9 with a Dragon capsule next month, and I think I just put the finishing touches on a book describing all that stuff today.

Matt Taibbi (in yesterday's Daily Kos GOTV diary):

There are two reasons why Tea Party voters will probably never get wise to the Ponzi-scheme reality of bubble economics. One has to do with the basic sales pitch of Tea Party rhetoric, which cleverly exploits Main Street frustrations over genuinely intrusive state and local governments that are constantly in the pockets of small businesses for fees and fines and permits.

The other reason is obvious: the bubble economy is hard as hell to understand.

Charlie Cook:

The sour economy will only turn up the pressure on Washington and on anyone who holds public office, Democrat or Republican. Incumbents in both parties should be worried about the political implications of the nasty downturn lasting so long. Voters have demonstrated very little patience with their elected officials and have developed itchy trigger fingers, ready to dispose of any politician who doesn’t deliver what they are looking for.

Margie Omero:

Taken together, these numbers suggest stronger Democratic candidates can probably thank women if they overperform party tendencies.  And Republican women candidates cannot rely on gender alone to put them over the edge.  As far as enthusiasm goes, it's possible women have become more engaged in recent weeks as Democrats have increased efforts to reach them.  But recent pollingshowing women giving Republicans the advantage suggests there's still quite a bit of work left to do.

Sam Stein:

In several key Senate races, the nomination of Tea Party candidates over more established figures has required Republican campaign committees and outside organizations to spend resources that, conceivably, could have gone to other races. In Alaska, a state that incumbent Senator Lisa Murkowski would have walked away with had she not lost the primary to Joe Miller, there has been more than $1.4 million spent by third party groups benefiting Republicans. The National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee has spent nearly $600,000 itself (a total that includes coordinated expenditures).

In Delaware, a seat that the GOP should have easily held had Rep. Mike Castle been nominated, more than $550,000 has been spent by third party groups benefiting Christine O'Donnell and other Republicans. The NRSC has offered the max donation of $42,600.

In Kentucky, where the Republican Party was banking on an easy victory by Trey Grayson, the emergence of Rand Paul has required some additional investments. More than $1.4 million was spent by the NRSC (including coordinated money); while more than $3.6 million was spent by third party groups.

In Nevada, Tea Partier Sharron Angle has required more help than the aforementioned candidates combined -- the beneficiary of more than $8 million in independent expenditures by third party groups and $400,000 in spending by the NRSC.

Via Tobin Harshaw (itself an excellent piece), Ryan Kearney:

While their conclusions, invariably, are that Stewart and Stephen Colbert should cancel their Oct. 30 rally, the supporting arguments are myriad, ranging from "Stewart is too serious" to "laughing isn't funny." Hell, even the anarchists have reservations. With new takedowns appearing in the press every day — the Post itself has published a slim volume already — you can't possibly read them all. Nor do you need to.

Added from Behind the Numbers:

Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert may be tapping into the politics of fear, but in a hypothetical 2012 presidential matchup, "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart outpaces his protégé Colbert by a wide margin among registered voters, 42 percent to 22 percent, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

With one in three still up for grabs (mainly undecided), both Comedy Central funnymen may have a great chance to pick up support at their dueling rallies on the National Mall. Stewart plans a "Rally to Restore Sanity," while Colbert is countering with a "March to Keep Fear Alive."

Steven Stark:

Much to the surprise of some of the commentariat, McMahon's problem seems to be that the men of Connecticut like her but women have been deserting her candidacy in droves—she trails among female voters by almost a 2-1 margin in some polls. But anyone familiar with the WWE understands exactly what's happening. Despite all the criticism of McMahon's experience, the issue isn't that she created a pop culture hit—that's actually a terrific experience for a candidate to have, since it's a process similar to launching and sustaining a successful candidacy. Rather, it's that she fashioned a candidacy without diverse appeal, in contrast to a pop culture figure such as Ronald Reagan, whose movies and Death Valley Days were popular across the board, as was his electoral coalition.

I wrote Steven Stark that he was under-appreciating McMahon's negatives, especially with women, to which he observed that "still, if the electorate were only men, she'd win," point being she's not the worst candidate out there (that honor goes to Colorado's Dan Maes.)

Tonight's rescue brought to you by claude, jlms qkw, mem from somerville, Louisiana 1976, srkp23, and YatPundit, with srkp23 editing.

• TheFatLadySings interviewed NM Senator Tom Udall. Furthermore! Senator Tom Udall on Filibuster Reform. (claude)
• Blueslide delivers a disturbing tidbit of data in the Most Important News of October.... (mem from somerville)
• StrandedWind tells us how to use TweetDeck effectively to monitor and influence the legislative process in Legislative Situational Awareness With TweetDeck. (Louisiana 1976)
• RLMiller continues the hunt for climate zombies in Stupid Goes Viral: Toomey's Not A Witch, Either. (jlms qkw)
• Mother Mags with yet another reason why this politician is unfit for office: A Son vs. Jan Brewer: Another Prison Story. (claude)
• eOz stresses the importance of the conversation in the wide-ranging piece Countdown To Karmageddon: T - 5: Listening. (Louisiana 1976)
• Ojibwa shares this American Indian Biography: a Pawnee Prophet. (srkp23)
• MillieNeon touchingly illustrates her priorities in My brother may die and I voted. (jlms qkw)

jotter serves up High Impact Diaries: October 28, 2010.

BeninSC brings Top Comments - Turn, Turn, Turn.

Enjoy and please promote your own favorite diaries in this open thread.

The Alaska Supreme Court just ruled that the elections division can provide assistance with the names of write-in candidates if voters ask for it.

Voters who need help spelling the name of a write-in candidate and who want to see a list of those certified candidates can look at the list under limited circumstances, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled Friday afternoon.

The list, though, won't include the party affiliation of the candidates on it, and it can only be handed out to those voters who specifically ask for help in spelling a write-in candidate's name, the Supreme Court ruled in a decision issued late Friday afternoon.

"There will be some circumstances where providing the list will not be necessary to address a voter's request for assistance and other circumstances where providing the list will be necessary to address a voter's request for assistance," the court said in its ruling.

"For example, if a voter requested the correct spelling of a specified registered write-in candidate's name, it would be unnecessary to provide the entire list to that voter in order to provide the requested spelling assistance."The court also said the Division of Election won't have to segregate the ballots of those voters who reference the list, a change from its previous order.

It's unclear as of yet what might constitute those "limited circumstances" under which the list would be provided, since it seems that it would be given to anyone who asked. It further appears that, in order to get around the issue that Operation Alaska Chaos has created, pollworkers can just circumvent the list and provide individual candidates' names. In response to court's decision overturning a lower court's restraining order on the division, a flood of something like 150 Alaskas have registered as write-in candidates. Now voters won't have to try to find Murkowski's name on the long list to figure out how to spell it, they can just ask a helpful poll worker.

Additionally, the court ruled that pollworkers won't have to separate the ballots of voters who received this assistance, meaning that if this is at all close, we can expect months of litigation and intense scrutiny of every write-in vote cast.

The Democratic party responded to the ruling with this statement, via e-mail:

(Anchorage, Alaska) – Since early voting began, the Alaska Democratic Party (ADP) has sought to have the Division of Elections (DOE) implement a straightforward, fair, and legal election for all Alaska voters.

The DOE create a legally flawed write-in list for the first-time in Alaska history – a mere 2 days after a certain person filed to be a write-in candidate.  The DOE then distributed the legally flawed list without instructions. Abuses occurred, such as posting the list inside polling booths and using it to encourage people to vote for a certain candidate. Through the actions of the ADP, these abuses have been made public.

“We are very disappointed with this decision. We continue to believe that election rules must be followed in order for the public to have
confidence in the impartiality of the election process,” said Patti Higgins, Chair of the Alaska Democratic Party.

“Our lawsuit was in response to the DOE’s hasty and unprecedented actions in creating a write-in list for the first time in Alaska’s history.” stated Higgins.  “We are very concerned about continued election abuses, given this court order.”

This could potentially create some backlash against Murkowski, with the perception that she's throwing her weight and political clout around to gain every possible, unprecedented advantage. That perception will likely be reinforced because of the suspension of KFQD 750 AM host Dan Fagan, the guy who came up with Operation Alaska Chaos, "after a representative of Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s campaign called to complain. Fagan said he's not fired and that the status of the show will be 're-evaluated' on Monday." For a lot of Alaska voters, that's just going to stink, even if Fagan is a right-wing blowhard.

   This Rescue Diary covers the period from 6 PM, Thursday, 10/28 to 6:00 PM EDT, Friday, 10/29

Today's Menu Includes :
88 Diaries Overall

- 20 On House races

- Covering 16 individual Districts in 11 states

- 27 On Senate races

- Representing 11 different states

- 15 On Various election races and ballot issues

- Encompassing Governor, Secretary of State, Local, and more

- 26 General election-related diaries

And be sure to follow the Election Diary Rescue on Twitter

How much does corporate American and the GOP hate health reform?

So $100 million in ads tarring health reform have run since Obama signed the bill into law in March. And many ads on health care contain multiple falsehoods and distortions. Is this entirely to blame for making health reform a political liability for many Dems? No, of course not. Though majorities have steadily said they like individual provisions, the overall law was unpopular in the lead-up to passage. Dems have not done what they needed to do to change the public's mind at the rate they had hoped to.

But even if the massive post-passage ad campaign against the law is only part of the story, it's nonetheless significant. Clearly, those heavily invested in returning the majority to the GOP recognized that a concerted campaign to tar this major Dem achievement -- after it had been enshrined into law -- had to be a central feature of their strategy. It seems likely that this massive ad onslaught may have been one key factor in preventing public opinion from turning around quickly enough.

The various involved industries spent more than $600 million in lobbying and ads during the fight to get a bill they could live with--killing strong reform measures like a public option or drug reimportation--and now are investing in trying to buy a Republican Congress that will focus on undoing what did get accomplished.

And that's what they're gonna get, if the GOP has their way. Because it's perfectly fine by them for insurers to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions.