This Seattle Times article describes the chances for federal money to help replace the Alaskan Way viaduct with a tunnel (nil), and the chances for federal money to help replace it with a new viaduct (not bad if Congressman Reichert gets the credit). Nothing wrong with the article as far as it goes, but I don't see how the reporter could omit Congressman Young's colorful personal history, history that I think is relevant in this fight.
Here's most of the lead paragraph on Young from the 2004 edition of the Almanac of American Politics:
Don Young has been Alaska's congressman-at-large since 1973. He was once tugboat captain on the Yukon and is the only licensed mariner in Congress — in his words, "not one of these smooth, namby-pamby politicians." He is a hot-tempered, salty-tongued true believer, given to malapropisms ("Pribilof's dog" and "bladderdash") and tough talk (when a Texas congressman blocked a motion for unanimous consent on an airline bill, Young replied, "Those in Texas will not fly; may you walk and may you die in the desert.") Young grew up in rural California, served in the army and graduated from college, then moved to Alaska, captained his tugboat, and was elected mayor of Fort Yukon.
And I should mention, as the Almanac does later, that he has had many clashes with environmental extremists.
Now, who would you sent to negotiate with this former tugboat captain? A former sheriff, like Dave Reichert? Or, to take an example not entirely at random, a popinjay career politician*, who spends much of his time slipping in front of the camera at political rallies?
(*Do I have any particular local politician in mind with that phrase? Maybe. What do you think?)
Posted by Jim Miller at July 01, 2005 01:07 PM | Email ThisYou'd have to know Don Young personally, or have worked for him in DC (like I did), to get the full story. We are talking DUMB, here. He only gets elected from Alaska because his wife is full-blooded Athabascan Indian from Ft. Yukon, and because Don Young uses his power in the Republican controlled Congress to bring home the pork. Alaska has about 600,000 residents (less than Pierce and Thurston Counties combined) and yet Alaska gets by far the most in federal spending than any other state. Think about that, you WA taxpayers. Don Young gets real pleasure in offending environmentalists (like putting 40 or 50 animal heads in his DC Office and inviting PETA over for lunch), and offending homosexuals (like using words such as "butt....ers" while addressing high school kids at an assembly in AK). Real smart guy. Ask the average Alaskan about Don Young. They all say the same thing: "Don Young is so dumb, that we'd rather have him in DC and the hell out of Alaska."
He chaired the House Resources Committee in the 90's and the House Trans. Committee in the 2000's. But this is a guy who doesn't know how to fish, and cheated to get his marine captain's license. He can barely paddle a canoe in still water. And he certainly can't swim.
Look for Anchorage mayor Mark Begich to finally take him out in 06'.
Don Young is a living disgrace to all Alaskans and to Mr. and Mrs. American taxpayer. He'll spend your money on the most ridiculous public projects just to get a few more votes. (Look at his proposed $1 billion dollar federal project to build a bridge north of Anchorage so that travelers can save 20 minutes on the hiway to Fairbanks. Wow, what a savings to us all.
DUMB!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's Don Young in a nutshell. DUMB. But what the hell. He's our idiot in an idiot Congress. Do what you want with Don Young. Just don't invite him over for a vegetarian lunch or to the next gay and lesbian meeting in Seattle. And be sure not to invite him to Seattle to speak on the viaduct project. You thought Dan Quayle was bad? You think George Bush can't speak? Wait till you hear Don Young talk. Or, as former Alaska Republican gubernatorial candidate Arliss Sturgulewski called him: "Yawn Dung."
Posted by: Elroy on July 1, 2005 02:02 PMBut then, urban sophisticates have a hard time stretching their brains around the concept of how life is lived in the red states. They lack diversity in their lives, and could use a few years working on a construction crew to round out their educations.
And they'll continue in their bewilderment at the loss of elections by politically correct blue-staters.
Posted by: Insufficienntly Sensitive on July 1, 2005 02:16 PMIn fact, my biggest beef with Young is that he is more libertarian than conservative simply based on the amount of pork he does bring up here.
As far as Begich knocking him off, keep dreaming. Mark can't even control his city council, got spanked this last election, and is too damn liberal for statewide office.
All in all though, he is not someone Seattle wants to cheese off, so muster what support you can to open ANWR cause that's almost a golden ticket to anything you want.
Posted by: Grey on July 1, 2005 02:19 PMThe judge ruled today that the i-912 org cannot spend the 20k of internet donations and the STATE could enter into contractual bond agreements.
This is the same judge who as a commissioner INVENTED FAMILY LAW FROM THE BENCH AND HAS DESTROYED COUNTLESS FAMILIES IN THURSTON COUNTY.
I've said in previous comments that anyone wanting to run against this courthouse clown / bozo on the bench will be EXTREMELY well backed both financially and with feet on street.
Posted by: Andy on July 1, 2005 02:35 PMInteresting stuff.
From reading your comments, if Sen. Young really sticks his thumb in the eye of PETA, well..."Huzzah!"
Posted by: Shaun on July 1, 2005 03:47 PMHa ha ha........ Elroy hit the mark, right on. I live in Alaska and watch this website closely. Don Young is a baffoon and most Alaskans would agree. They vote for him so that he can send more money to us lazy, socialist-state Alaskans. He is our Ted Kennedy (red-neck, of course). But don't take a ride with him on his boat. He's been known to hit a bridge or two.
Posted by: the Captain on July 1, 2005 06:34 PMCaptain, what I heard bout Don Young was that he crashed his tug at Fort Yukon and ended up marrying the daughter of the village chief. Since he couldn't steer a boat too well, he decided to teach 1st grade to the Indians. But he couldn't spell or do basic additon and subtraction, so he decided to become a politician instead and run for Congress. The one thing he could do was b. s. the public. One more thing, Teddy Kennedy needed a little bit of bourbon to help guide his car into the river. Don Young can hit the bridge on straight diet-Pepsi. Better watch that viaduct, Seattle.
Posted by: The ADMIRAL on July 1, 2005 06:53 PMDumb as a box of rocks and the most offensive person you'll ever encounter.
IMHO
Posted by: Dan on July 1, 2005 07:13 PMWhy can't they spend this money? What was the reasoning behind this?
BUT ... I don't think anyone that cares about fathers rights should be supporting Reichert. I swallowed the VAWA crap hook, line, and sinker (or however that one goes). He is a political opportunist and the worst thing to happen to fathers and kids in this area since ... well, probably since ever.
Posted by: BananaLand(aka Iguana) on July 1, 2005 08:06 PM