Of all the ads so far attacking U. S. Senate candidate Dan Sullivan, this one, from Sen. Mark Begich himself, is the most biting and probably the most effective.
Some background: Sullivan recently released an ad where he stands atop the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center and says that Alaska needs “real results, not just talk.” The issue: the convention center was built while Begich was Anchorage mayor, and Begich touts it as one of his biggest achievements. Hence the ad. Ouch.
Mr. Smith, I believe that you’ve most likely come down with a case of being totes ‘jelli’. Now, do you need to have this problem take care of, as people are standing by at the jelli school, Mckay? Nobody likes to see people who are so obviously jelli.
Let’s dive into the Senator’s claimed accomplishments in this ad a little bit shall we?
1. “I got the Dena’ina Center built.” He certainly had something to do with it, as he introduced the proposition, it was passed by the assembly after changing the law to 50%+1 needed for passage and then approved by Anchorage voters. In other words, he had much to do with it but it took a lot of us in order to get it passed.
2. “I got the administration to allow more drilling.” Well, the administration has decided to offer more lease sales in the Arctic and Chukchi Sea, but those leases will not be issued until 2016. So how could the pipe company be doing more business now for operations that will not even be thought about until lease sales are completed in 2016? That is simply a twisting of the truth. There is no new drilling. There are not even lease sales yet. To take credit for work being done now, is a lie.
3. “Merrill Field, where I expanded the safety zone.” Honestly, I have no idea what he is talking about. I do know that Merrill Field is a Municipality of Anchorage asset, not a federal one. Not sure what he is taking credit for here and I can find no reference in my search for one.
4. “Eilsen, there we kept the F-16s.” Well, at least he used the word “WE” here. Simple truth is that our entire congressional delegation came together and worked hard on this and Senator Murkowski actually took the lead on it.
5. “New hospitals in Nome, and in Barrow.” The Nome hospital was funded almost entirely by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which Begich voted in favor of and which sunk our nation into additional debt. So, he gets that one. Senator Murkowski and Representative Young voted no. The hospital in Barrow, which he is taking credit for, was funded by Arctic Slope Native Association, Indian Health Service and the Denali Commission. These organizations secured funding from a number of different avenues, including some federal funding. For Senator Begich to take sole credit for this is disingenuous at best.
Fact of the matter is, Senator Begich has a hard time really pointing to one thing specifically that he has done for Alaskans that has had a current positive impact. The only thing he has left is to let his cronies try to tear apart his only real competition. It is crooked, it is wrong and he needs to go.
Let’s dive into that a little bit shall we?
1. “I got the Dena’ina Center built.” He certainly had something to do with it, as he introduced the proposition, it was passed by the assembly after changing the law to 50%+1 needed for passage and then approved by Anchorage voters. In other words, he had much to do with it but it took a lot of us in order to get it passed.
2. “I got the administration to allow more drilling.” Well, the administration has decided to offer more lease sales in the Arctic and Chukchi Sea, but those leases will not be issued until 2016. So how could the pipe company be doing more business now for operations that will not even be thought about until lease sales are completed in 2016? That is simply a twisting of the truth. There is no new drilling. There are not even lease sales yet. To take credit for work being done now, is a lie.
3. “Merrill Field, where I expanded the safety zone.” Honestly, I have no idea what he is talking about. I do know that Merrill Field is a Municipality of Anchorage asset, not a federal one. Not sure what he is taking credit for here and I can find no reference in my search for one.
4. “Eilsen, there we kept the F-16s.” Well, at least he used the word “WE” here. Simple truth is that our entire congressional delegation came together and worked hard on this and Senator Murkowski actually took the lead on it.
5. “New hospitals in Nome, and in Barrow.” The Nome hospital was funded almost entirely by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which Begich voted in favor of and which sunk our nation into additional debt. So, he gets that one. Senator Murkowski and Representative Young voted no. The hospital in Barrow, which he is taking credit for, was funded by Arctic Slope Native Association, Indian Health Service and the Denali Commission. These organizations secured funding from a number of different avenues, including some federal funding. For Senator Begich to take sole credit for this is disingenuous at best.
Fact of the matter is, Senator Begich has a hard time really pointing to one thing specifically that he has done for Alaskans that has had a current positive impact. The only thing he has left is to let his cronies try to tear apart his only real competition. It is crooked, it is wrong and he needs to go.
Every item he mentioned in this commercial except for the construction of the Dena’ina Center was done during his time as US Senator, not as Mayor. Perhaps you should watch the commercial again.
Yeah! Get em’ PWH! Everyone here’s dumb!
Seriously though, Dan has the biggest bulg. I mean. It’s HUGE! I don’t even think Mead has man parts, and if he does, they’re probably tiny, and deformed like Joe’s.
Woman for Dan! Woooooah-yeah!
Amanda, you have some pretty dumb readers that like to comment. I love the guy moaning about Sullivan not debating. First off, he participated in 4 forums in April. He’ll participate in plenty of debates. And yes, he’ll debate Begich too once he is the GOP nominee. Of course Treadwell and Miller would like to debate every night. Anyone who had campaigns as pathetiare would want to debate nightly. No one shows up for their events. Think about it.
Good grief, Ben Smith. You are obviously a paid mouthpiece for DNR Dan – refuting/answering every question posed or remark made.
Sandra makes a good point: Who knows what DNR Dan’s positions are on so many issues, let alone women’s rights? He doesn’t get out and mix with Alaskans – except at scripted, staged events in Anchorage and Fairbanks. Meanwhile, every other candidate is traveling the state and hanging out informally with all comers.
Come on out to bush Alaska, DNR Dan, (OH>DC>AK) the weather’s fine now (another Ben Smith excuse during the winter). LOL
I was where? In the military? In the Marine Corps? To what are your referring?
If you had actually watched the ad, there were a number of HUGE Begich accomplishments that had a significant impact on Alaskans from his time in the Senate. When it comes to work he’s done for the State of Alaska, Begich has done a fine job which is why you’ll never hear the Rs attack him on that front. When it comes to what he’s done on some of the national issues, I’m not such a huge fan.
Oh, so you were there?
Based on what conclusions? Read my first sentance again and come back. This discussion is a little much for you.
Also, anyone who has served will tell you that a senior infantry officer, particularly a RECON or ANGLICO officer, while not usually in direct contact, shouldn’t be considered rear echelon. I think folks who would say that really have no idea what they are talking about and have never served.
So then, based on your conclusions, why isn’t Dan debating his Primary opponents tonight?
“When you don’t use logic and intelligence to develop arguments, you come across as completely lacking both.”
Hahaha, you’re good. He skipped two Debates is all I’m saying.
Well, a very simple search would reveal that Dan sites his defense of the Parental Notification Act on his campaign website. There is also a lot more useful information there regarding his position on several issues. Each of the candidates seem to do a pretty good job of putting that information out on their websites, except for Miller in my opinion.
Yes, Dan’s ad was about what he had done in his most recent position. See the difference? It’s not hard if you try really really hard.
Also, do you think it appropriate for a candidate to have a debate with the sitting Senator when he hasn’t won the primary yet?
When you don’t use logic and intelligence to develop arguments, you come across as completely lacking both.
I find it very hard to know Dan Sullivan’s real position on lots of issues. I don’t think it’s fair to look to the record from his brief stint as Attorney General to ferret out his position on issues like parental notification for abortion because the job of the Attorney General is to represent the position of the administration (in his case the Palin administration and then the Parnell administration). Defending particular statutes as constitutional is a requirement of the job and doesn’t reveal whether his personal views or the positions he would take as a legislator necessarily match those of the drafters of the laws he was hired to defend. Because candidate Dan Sullivan doesn’t have much relevant experience, it’s hard to know what positions he would take as a Senator other than guessing that he might hew to his party’s line.
Wasn’t Dan’s ad all about what he claimed to do as DNR commish? I think we should talk about records and Alaskan issues. Apparently, from how this election is shaping up, Mr Sullivan is too afraid to Debate on the issues. He has skipped out on two debates now. If he was so ready to take on Mark, why didn’t he ask to have his weekend get-away rescheduled? No, from what I’ve heard (and this is just from people Dan served with) he’s a “REMF”, I had never heard the acronym before, but I thought it was funny when I looked it up.
Begich has been a U.S. Senator for 5-years and his biggest accomplishments are things he did as Mayor. Thanks, Mark, for reminding us that you haven’t accomplished anything in D.C.
Based upon your last sentence, I take it that you believe Dan Sullivan does not stand for women’s rights. Can you tell me what you are basing this on, or is this just something that you heard and are now throwing around as fact?
Mark Begich and Lt. Col. Dan Sullivan are not in a race for mayor of Anchorage. The subject of the Dena’ina Center has no bearing on this current race. However, if Mark wants to make it about his time as mayor, when he did not do our city any favors and left us in a mountain of debt for someone else to clean up, I am sure those who oppose him and his “do nothing but take credit for everything” mentality would welcome that discussion. Or, we could just stick to the more appropriate discussion of his current job performance, which is what this election is all about. How about you start answering the tough questions Mark?
Oh wow, ‘Begich Burn’d’. Begich Burn’d…That’s a thing now, let’s make it a thing.
This is a very good political ad. It makes me feel good about Begich and not so good about Sullivan. It seems more and more that I’m learning that you just can’t trust Dan Sullivan. On the other hand, I know that Begich is a big supporrter of President Obama. Miller is crazy and Treadwell has the moral capacity of a snake. The choices aren’t great. At least Begich stands up for Women’s Rights.
I am supporter of DNR Dan. Unfortunately, I agree that this Begich ad is very good. Actually, I am both disappointed and angry with Dan and his campaign right now. Selecting this venue for this message either tells me my side iis out of touch, not thinking strategically or just plain inept. Begich’s tv ads arre MUCH better than Dan Sullivan’s. I’m starting to worry that my guy is throwiing it away thru ineptitude. Good ad, Sen. Begich.
Great ad. However it would be wise of the L48 Dan campaign staff to counsel their “leader” of the locations so noted by the accomplishments of Begich.
Timely and clever refute. The message hits home, too. Point goes to Begich on this one.