Local Democrats in the Baranof Hotel cheered Tuesday night when major news organizations projected President Barack Obama had won reelection. Shortly before 9 p.m., before Alaska’s votes even showed up on the state website and in the national count, they heard GOP candidate Mitt Romney congratulate Obama on his win and wish him luck during his next term in the White House.
President Barack Obama took the stage to accept his second term as president a little more than two hours after CNN announced his win. At 7:18 p.m. Obama had won more than 272 electoral votes he needed to earn another four years in the oval office.
By 9:15 p.m. the Romney backers meeting at the Baranof Hotel had mostly disbursed. Obama’s supporters hung out by televisions in the hotel bar and in an Obama gathering near the front desk.
Newly elected Assembly Member Loren Jones said watching an election is more stressful than running for office.
“This is a little more nerve wracking,” Jones said. “I’ve only got one vote and I’m not campaigning. Just stand and watch.”
Jones said he watched the national race from home and came down to the Baranof conference room to watch the state results roll in.
LaRae Vons lives in Juneau and came down to the Baranof to hear Obama’s acceptance speech. “I am a Barack fan,” Vons said. “He’s for the people. There is no way I can think about the other guy.”
Grace Snider said she is traveling from Willow for a brain institute meeting, is staying at the Baranof, and saw the Obama gathering and stopped by.
“It seemed like a good place to be,” Snider said. “I’m glad to be in good company.”
Snider said she had voted absentee before her trip. She wore an Obama shirt and said she’d voted for the incumbent.
Statewide she said she would like to see a change from Rep. Don Young, but she said she doubted that would happen. The tallies would prove her right.
Once the national chapter in the election was over, Alaska voters still had other issues to decide, including who would represent the state in the U.S. Congress. Young won his 21st term, weighing in shortly before 11 p.m. with a 64 percent lead over Sharon Cissna’s 22.8 percent with almost 27 percent of precincts counted. Young climbed to 63 percent with half the voted counted.
U.S. Senators Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski were quick to weigh in on the presidential race.
“I look forward to continuing to build on the important progress we have made not only on Arctic development, but on other critical Alaska issues like supporting our veterans, balancing the budget, permitting mines and improving education,” said Begich, who is a Democrat. “I am also happy to see that voters have sent common-sense moderates from across the country to join me in the Senate. Not only do we share common ground on policies, but we have a like-minded approach of reaching across party lines, rolling up our sleeves, and looking for solutions. Tonight’s results also sent a clear message to those who want to overrun our elections with unlimited secret money and divisive politics. I am hopeful the newly elected group of senators and representatives will join me in pushing for a bipartisan, balanced and swift approach to cutting our federal deficit.”
Murkowski, a Republican, congratulated Obama as well.
“While the presidential race was hard fought on both sides, I think this election process has demonstrated that Americans want us to work together to solve the difficult problems facing our nation,” Murkowski said. “In his second term, I am hopeful that President Obama will see the value of pragmatism over partisanship. Both parties created the challenges we face today, and the solutions can only be found through collaborative efforts - good ideas don’t come with a party label. I encourage President Obama and his administration to work with Congress, represent all of America and make a better tomorrow for our nation.”
Shortly after 9 p.m., results from Alaska’s statewide races trickled in.
Alaska voters in early numbers chose the Romney/Ryan ticket over Obama/Biden, leading by about 56 percent to 39 percent with 63 percent of the vote counted.
State Sen. Hollis French was in a tight race with Republican challenger Bob Bell, trailing by just over two percentage points with about half the precincts counted. French, a Democrat, is part of a bipartisan coalition targeted by some Republican leaders and is an outspoken critic of Gov. Sean Parnell’s oil tax reduction strategy. Bell led by five points with more than 70 percent of precincts counted.
Redistricting forced an election in Senate District Q between incumbents Bert Stedman and Albert Kookesh. With 44 percent of the vote in, Stedman had 50,14 percent and Kookesh 49.64 percent but the tide turned quickly against Kookesh and with 88 percent of precincts in Stedman held more than 65 percent of the vote.
In Anchorage’s Senate District M, a similar situation pitted Anna Fairclough against Bettye Davis, but with almost half the vote counted Davis trailed Fairclough by a large margin, Fairclough gaining 58 percent of the vote by 10:17 p.m.
• Contact reporter Russell Stigall at 523-2276 or at russell.stigall@juneauempire.com.
• Contact Managing Editor John R. Moses at 523-2265 or at john.moses@juneauempire.com.
Comments (90)
Add commentGOP Can Rebound
The Republicans can rebound if they just accept their defeats.
They lost the gay marriage war
They lost the abortion war.
They lost the healthcare war
They lost their war against science. (global warming and evolution are real)
They lost the war to privatize critical government functions (education, social security and even FEMA).
Accept these realities and it will be the beginning of a fresh start.
familiar place part 2
THE DILEMMA: The present economic growth rate is roughly 2 percent. This growth rate lags behind average historic statistical rates of approximately 3.25 percent. The recovery from the 2007-08 economic melt-down has been slow when compared to previous recoveries. The primary reason for this is the magnitude of the economic collapse from which we had to recover. The closet parallel to our present situation is the Great Depression. It took, then, approximately 12 years for the economy to effectively recover, most of which occurred in the last 3 years of that period. The primary engine of that recovery was massive government spending in preparation for WWII. Correspondingly, national debt skyrocketed even with a marginal tax rate (i.e. $ taxed after $200,000) between 80-90 percent. Also, due to the rate GDP fell but rebounded quickly after the war due to economic expansion from shifting from a war footing to peace.
The historical optimal marginal top tax rate for GDP growth is approximately 63 percent subject to the income amount being taxed at that rate.
Massive expenditure cuts and significant tax increases to reel in the debt at this time will push the economy back into recession.
THE SOLUTION 2: long term graduated reductions in spending and increased marginal tax rate to 42 percent.
THE PROBLEM 2: The Republican held House of Rep’s inability to put country first over ideology and party politics.
@HANSSOLO
The IRS wants to discuss the tax you owe on that easy $250.
PS: The tax rate just went up.
Conservatives are now
Conservatives are now outnumbered by the 'stoooopid' people.
Aurora Vista, your top 9 are spot on. And I'll add another - America is now less safe. How 'bout that Russian nuclear sub detected off the east coast recently?
Ken d - explain to us your vote for BO. Most of the time you sound intelligent and responsible then you go and vote for a big government liberal. Did you bother to reason out what 2 or 3 years hence might look like?
All is not lost - republicans picked up governors, attorney generals and state legislators. Those elections matter too.
We always need to be looking "forward" (to quote a Democrat favorite - Stalin). In 2014 there are 20 Democrat senators up for re-election.
Progressives in America control the media and the education system. Once an entity has the air waves and the children's minds, it's difficult to penetrate the propaganda. Conservatives have made big inroads with the media. Education is a bigger battle. The all powerful teachers' unions have lots of money and money talks.
Keep your heads up - Americans don't go down this easily...
Lets buck-up & move on.
Aurora Vista said it all with those top 9. Now, watch your money for it will soon part your hands regardless what tax bracket you are in. However I just moved some stock into all the firearm manufactures, this will be money well made. Thanks Skippy. What I would like to know is BO just inherited a very bad situation, who is he going to blame this one on? I’m afraid this one is all his. Four years from now it will be the same.
@Calypso
Please get you head out of the sand. The Republican Party is NOT what it used to be! THe HOuse of Reps need to think about what this country needs to move forward, and not march to their own drummer. The Republicans are the stupid people for refusing to compromise for the betterment of the country. The country has spoken. Sorry it is not too your liking, but both sides need to start working together not pulling id different directions
@AH HA
There's a line right there on the 1040 where you list your gambling winnings. As the year goes along, I set aside 25% of my winnings along with 25% of any short term capital gains or dividends in a savings account so the funds are available to pay my taxes. Fortunately with capital gains, you're dealing with net gains/losses. Gambling earnings are more of a grey area, that's why it's so nice when a "sure thing" comes along every once in a while.
Again, I'd like to thank all of the delusional bettors on the other side of that wager.
Obama won the Catholic Vote
and his campaign won a small increase in evangelicals from 2008.
Interesting.
Mike
It ain't very complicated....
With more and more Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, and other immigrants flooding into the country of course they're going to vote for Obama. I wouldn't be surprised if this was the last chance for Republicans to win a presidential election.
Bubb
Puerto Ricans are already citizens of the U.S. It's a U.S. territory.
Mike
I think most Catholics are a little more nuanced than you give us credit for. Or at least we're not as hung up on cognitive dissonance as you were.
But, let's not turn this into a religion thread. Please.
milspec
It's absolutely certain that this time Obama WILL be coming for your guns and ammo. You'd be a fool not to spend any available cash you have buying more of both, much more of both...while you can still get them. Don't wait!
(*Disclaimer - A week ago, once the direction of the election had become obvious, I invested heavily in gun and ammo manufacturers. Like HanSolo, I like investing in a 'sure thing'.)
Head for hills
It was the same thing four years ago...
Stock up on guns and ammo! That commie's gonna come and take r' gunnns!
Get a grip. The world is faced with some pretty serious problems: overpopulation, environmental degradation, dwindling resources, unsustainable economic disparity, soveriegn debt...
The GOP has been highjacked by ignorant loudmouths, typified by the likes of calypso, milspec, and roughcut, whose plan to deal with those problems is a two-fold approach of pretending the problems don't exist and ridiculing those who are trying to come up with some solutions. Sorry, but that's not going to attract a lot of voters outside of your old, fat, delusional, white base.
Nationwide election results
The slope of moral decline in the USA just got much steeper with the national results yesterday. What a sad day for this country. The negative repercussions will last for a long, long time if not for eternity. Gigantic storms, numerous earthquakes and prolonged drought are just the tip of the iceberg because America voted yes to sin yesterday. God help us all.
charleylarson
You and the religious right have lost your minds! I am not religious, but consider myself spiritual. I my eyes God has spoken to ALL Americans to STOP this ,I said you said and this political posturing and let's start working together for the betterment of this country. ALL your religious Crap will get you or this country going in the right direction!
Calypso: Knew that was coming. Your question is valid...
I'll be back with my reasoning...
charleylarson
Sorry charley I forgot to put in the WRONG direction. It was a typo to say right direction. The Religious has NO right to control the views of those that are NOT Christian
Supreme Court
I want to remind the whiners that President Obama will surely put a couple new justices on the Supreme Court this term.
hansolo says - "I think most
hansolo says - "I think most Catholics are a little more nuanced than you give us credit for. Or at least we're not as hung up on cognitive dissonance as you were."
"Cognitive dissonance is the term used in modern psychology to describe the state of holding two or more conflicting cognitions (e.g., ideas, beliefs, values)"
"nu·ance (n äns , ny -, n -äns , ny -). n. 1. A subtle or slight degree of difference, as in meaning, feeling, or tone; a gradation."
Well, there you go. That's a devout Catholic if I've ever seen one!! Must be kinda like Joe Biden's brand of Catholicism!
Call yourself whatever you want hans but you're not fooling us or God.
Hey bill - racist much?
OT - how 'bout that stock market today?!
Calypso
How is it racist to think that Religion and Politics DONOT mix?
Remember Spirituality is what is, and Religion is a learned behavior. I know when I drank and was in a bar the two things that one would NEVER talk about were Religion, and Politics.
Joe Biden is not wrong in his beliefs, but why should he impose them upon the rest of the country? I also believe that a person needs to go within to find God or he never will find him
What a wonderful day it is
What a wonderful day it is today.
If the anti-reality crowd isn't going to start taking its meds, at least the results last night show their relevance is diminishing.
Cognitive dissonance??
Calypso, of course, is well versed in the idea of cognitive dissonance
US AND THEM
5/7/12
Calypso: We must not allow the progressive way of thinking - 'them vs us' - to continue to rot our society or we will fail as a democratic republic. We are ALL Americans...
7/23/12
Calypso: @ah ha - Don't give up. We can beat them - there are more of us than them.
COMMUNITY
7/15/12
Calypso: wally - you write "We're in this (meaning life) together". Oh my gosh, you've just made my case for being a conservative. That's exactly what we believe. We use religion, community, family, neighbor, etc. to solve our problems and to help each other.
7/26/12
wmolson: We are fully capable of living together in community. Indeed, that is how we continue to survive.
Calypso: To me that reeks of a citizenry thought process in a communist society.
FISH IN A BARREL
4/24/2012
Calypso: I've never accused anyone of being "intolerant or elitist". That's liberal speak...
10/20/2011
Calypso: About what I'd expect from this audience that has zero tolerance for opinions that don't walk the progressive walk
7/11/2011
Calypso: And, mike, as you continue your ranting post, it's very evident that you are extremely intolerant.
4/26/2012
Calypso: This one sentence illustrates progressive elitism at its height...
2/21/2012
Calypso: Maybe it's that superior scientific elitism that you just can't get past - at least in your own mind.
Calypso: I will try to be as succinct as possible.
I did not support Obama in 2008 because I felt he was inexperienced and opportunistic.
I did not support Obama during his first term because I felt his idealism handicapped him with Congress. He did not exhibit a talent for compromise. I felt he considered himself 'above' such petty politics. Yes, he empathized with us, the people, but he allowed his own ideology to circumvent the process of Washington and he was no George Washington. He did not have the history or charisma to pull it off.
The President centered his attention upon social programs during his first two years at the same time battling two wars, similar to what President Johnson tried to pull off only Obama also had a deepening recession which he never failed to attribute to his predecessor. That 'buck' was always passed.
What Obama has going for him in his second term is a license to steer Congress towards being what reflects America today: 1. true immigration reform which more reflects the spirit of our Liberty Statue; 2. a recognition of today's American 'family values' which include same-sex life-long commitments which can also include a belief in God; 3. a little bit more inclusiveness and humility accompanying the Oval Office. He may not be able to pull these off but I am hopeful he has gleamed some belt-way perspective on how his ideologue may be flexible enough to entertain compromise.
As far as 'Obama-Care': Reality will set in and I see a consumptive tax being initiated, in time, to pay for it. This will in turn revisit tax reform and so on. Above all I see a real need for health care for everyone. What is in place is far from perfect but I am confident America will work out the bugs.
Mitt Romney did not sell me.
Government does not work like a business. Granted, he is more business friendly but his math did not compute, or at least he did not sell it well. His tact struck me, during a deep recession, as too similar to Herbert Hoover's approach. Granted, Obama misdirected funds for ideologic 'shovel ready' jobs but his heart was in the right place. Mitt was a little too close to the Kochs of this world to warrant my support. Furthermore I do not believe a first order of business is to make it harder for the unemployed to qualify for assistance when there are not the jobs to support it. Cart before the horse and all that.
Bottom line: Romney stuck with his baseline. Time to redraw it.
Bill B....
The main difference between you and I is you believe all truth is relative while I believe in absolute truth. Time will tell which of us is correct.
Ken!!
A very enlightened and coherent response. I'm impressed.
You do realize that you're utterly wasting your time explaining things to Frenchie, right?
To all the people out there
To all the people out there feeling bad about the results of yesterday's election, here's something that might cheer you up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX7wtNOkuHo
charleylarson
What is the absolute truth? That is relative also. NO ONE knows for sure what the absolute truth is. If they did there would NOT be so many different opinions AS TO what God is and isn't. Even among the different Christian faiths there are MANY different beliefs. A preacher friend of mine That has studied both the Old and the New Testament says that many things that people are trying to bring into politics are taken out of context for the Bible. She is a Christian.
Now I know
how Leo Ryan felt in 1978 (Disambiguation), I could use something for the pain. Any ideas?
.
.
Big Win?
When half the voters lack confidence in the president, ITS A BIG WIN for our country. Thats very strange thinking. Huge win for credit cards with no limit, held by vote seekers. Cute little kids will pay for this spending spree. Thankfully there are term limits in one of the three branches of government. The other two branches believe in royalty, seniority, kinda like the Brits had before we ran them back to England. You can't vote me out, we as a state will lose our committee chair due to my seniority! Nice loop hole. Implement term limits, and end seniority at every level. But the british kept a coming.