Holy Out-of-Right-Field Batman!

Posted 10 minutes ago on ADN:

Alaska Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell stunned everyone at the Republican state convention Friday by announcing he will challenge 18-term incumbent Don Young for Alaska's lone seat in the U.S. House.

"For too long, we have expected too little from our elected officials," Parnell said. "It is time for change."

Young, the subject of a federal investigation that includes his campaign finance practices, last month refused to answer questions about why his campaign has spent $845,035 on legal fees. Young said only the media, not his constituents, had asked about the fees.

Young refused to answer again when a reporter identified himself as a constituent, but one who had not voted for Young. Parnell seized on that detail in his announcement.

"The notion that an elected official gets to pick who his constituents are based on whether they voted for him -- that is wrong," Parnell said.

Young had briefly left the room and returned to find he had just picked up a formidable primary opponent. He followed Parnell to the dais and delivered a typically feisty reply.

"Sean, congratulations," Young said. "I beat your dad, and I'm going to beat you."

Pat Parnell ran as a Democrat against Young in the 1980 general election. Young received 114,089 votes to the elder Parnell's 39,922, according to the Division of Elections.

Gesturing with his finger toward Parnell, Young said that if Parnell had wanted the U.S. House seat, he should have run two years ago.

"If you wanted to run for this job, you should have done it two years ago instead of running for lieutenant governor," Young said. "You wanted that job. Stay where you are, and that's where you're going to be."

Translation of Don Young's response: He's scared...and he should be.

Lt. Gov. Republican Sean Parnell is the other half of the Gov. Sarah Palin ticket who, per a poll this week, has an 85% favorable rating. (54% of that is highly favorable) The Palin/Parnell ticket ran on "change" and "corruption-fighting"...two things they have followed through on. (Ask Dems how much better things are under Parnell regarding Alaska voting issues.)

Yes, Don Young probably browned his britches when he first found out.

While this probably doesn't bode well for a Democratic takeover of Young's seat, it does bode VERY WELL for Alaska as the chances of Young losing the seat to a candidate that's a vast improvement just skyrocketed.

Yes, I'd much prefer a Democrat. However, it's more important for Don to be gone!