Metcalfe says he'll challenge Young for U.S. House seat

[Blue_In_AK]

http://www.adn.com/news/politics/story/9174969p-9091619c.html

Jake Metcalfe, former Anchorage School Board president and former head of the state Democratic Party, announced late Sunday that he plans to run against Don Young in the 2008 congressional election.

"All this stuff has been coming out, there's been a barrage of new information about the corruption and the ethics violations, and I thought, 'You know, somebody's got to run against him,' " he said.

"I just figured I'd do it."

Metcalfe, an attorney for IBEW, grew up in Southeast Alaska in a large, well-known Juneau family. He worked previously as a prosecutor in Bethel. He said by cell phone from Washington, D.C., Sunday night that he plans to file the paperwork today.

Young's campaign manger, Steve Dougherty, didn't immediately return a call for reaction.

<snip>


Any thoughts? I've only met Mr. Metcalfe a few times at some of Diane's fundraisers last year, and don't know anything about him really. Does anybody know his stands on national issues?


(I still support Diane all the way, no matter how quixotic her campaign. I just really like the way she thinks.)

[Ahgoo]

1. I dunno

I've met Jake a couple of times socially and also at some DB fundraisers last year. But like you I don't know much about him. He's a nice guy and a decent lawyer.

But I dunno about this running - shouldn't we all be getting behind a viable challenger to Don rather than diluting the pool?

Wasn't there some rift btw DB and the AkDems last year? Am I 'misremembering?' Didn't seem like they were working it on her behalf.

[Blue_In_AK]

2. They sort of half-heartedly helped her out at the end

but I think they're still mad at her for being Green for a while. They never fully threw their support behind her, nor did the DCCC who the campaign was practically begging for more support. It was pretty pathetic, I thought. I think she could have won if she had had more money...and if chickenshit Don would have debated her. She kicked his ass in the debate on KTUU the night before the election. With more occasions like that, I'm sure she would have gotten through to more voters.

[Ken Burch]

3. I think they're going to try to "Rahm" Diane out of the race this year.

Metcalfe is probably a nice guy, but nominating anybody but Diane means starting all over again from nothing. There's no reason to put at risk the ground we gained in '06.

And it's time to get over Diane once being a Green. I mean, they've welcomed people in from the GOP(like Joe Flood) and even(Carl Moses)from the AIP. There's no way Diane could be less acceptable former right-wingers.

(BTW, does anybody else here have the sneaking suspicion that they refused to help Diane in order to keep the seat open for Metcalfe? The party is supposed to be above doing things like that.)

[Blue_In_AK]

4. I'm not happy about it at all...

I think it was low and sneaky. I did talk to someone from Diane's campaign today who said they have had many e-mails expressing outrage and renewed support since the story came out, and they've brought in over $4,000 in the past two days which is a good start. I made a monthly pledge...I can't afford much but I do what I can. In the best possible scenario this will backfire on Metcalfe and the cowards in the ADP.

[ANCGuy]

5. Only an idiot...

...would warn his or her opponents before announcing their candidacy. While the Dianetards might be pissed that they were caught off-guard, so what? The sooner Diane stops whining and gets-out campaigning ( like Jake is ) the better informed we'll all be come Primary Day.

[Blue_In_AK]

6. Self-delete

I don't know you, so I won't get snarky.

[Ken Burch]

7. "DIANETARDS"? Ooohhh...cut to the quick I am....

May I call you "Jakeass"?

(Btw, Diane's been campaigning hard, and we're working already. So cut the crap.)

[ANCGuy]

8. Yes, you may...

(Btw, I hope she is campaigning hard and will support the Democratic nominee in the general election.)

[Blue_In_AK]

9. ANCGuy, see my post

here with regard to this issue. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=138&topic_id=2147&mesg_id=2202

Now please stop with the unsubstantiated rumors.

[ANCGuy]

10. They weren't rumors...

...I heard her refuse to commit on Shannyn's show with my own ears. That being said, Diane finally commiting to supporting the D Nominee is good news for Alaska Democrats. It's nice to see her in the process of putting herself 100% inside the Democratic tent: I hope she'll be signing the pledge soon, too.

[snowbear]

11. Was she on Shannyn's show TODAY????

I missed all three KUDO shows today.

[Blue_In_AK]

12. I think Diane's statement is unequivocal

There seems to be some effort afoot to discredit Diane's Democratic credentials. I'm not buying it.

[ANCGuy]

13. No, no...

...this was several weeks ago when Diane was on Shannyn's show. Shannyn, in what was a softball throwaway line, asked her if she'd support whomever was the D nominee. She was obviously suprised when Diane wouldn't give a straight answer, dispite repeated questions. Fortunately, Diane seems to have come around and sent an email today to her supporters stating that she -will- support the D nominee. This is a good thing. Now all that's left for her to do is sign the pledge.