Watching the WAR Confirmation Hearing - WE WIN!!!!

This is beginning to appear to be one of the most dismal recent days in Alaska history. The word very early this morning was that if it appeared WAr did not have 31 votes, the GOP would caucus and endeavor to not bring WAR's name forth today for nomination.

But, here we are, with my Senator, Linda Menard, praising this unqualified jerk, as if WAR is the epitome of integrity, honesty and legal acumen. One Republican after another is endorsing a racist, sexist, incompetent pathological liar, who told his most recent lies (in capital letters) just hours ago. The fact that the statement he denied having made is recorded, is known to every member of the legislature, and is on an important legal issue (Gov. Palin's most recent "list" for the Alaska Senate Juneau seat vacancy) now before the legislature, seems to have made no impact on most members of the Republican delegation to our legislature.

Now, my Representative, Carl Gatto, disagreeing with WAR on equal rights, Native rights, at first seems to be endorsing Ross. But, he refused to say he is voting "yes." This is unexpected.

So was the "No" from Rep. Tom Waggoner from Kenai. It is interesting that Waggoner brought up what had at first seemed to many of us to be Ross' selective or repressed memory, when it comes to what he might have said about women or minorities or the Exxon Valdez oil spill in the past. Relating Ross' faulty recollection of the Jerry Ward-Waggoner campaign just a few years back, the latter underscored what is becoming increasingly obvious: Ross will lie whenever he thinks he can get away with it; and - as in the Senate list case - sometimes when he even should know he'll immediately be nailed.

Now I'm watching my son's best basketball coach from Alex's youth, Sen. Charlie Huggins. Charlie sounds almost as wacky as WAR. Fitting, for the politician who made his campaign signs on camouflage-painted boards. Nobody could see them.

But - now they've voted. 35 against confirmation. 23 for!