Joe Miller reappears from the shadows to dip his vague beard back into Alaska politics.

Courtesy of Mudflats

From the National Review:  

Joe Miller, a former Republican Senate nominee in Alaska, is seriously considering a return to politics. 

This week, in a series of meetings with Republican officials on Capitol Hill, Miller signaled his interest in challenging Senator Mark Begich, a Democrat, who is up for reelection next year. 

According to several sources, Miller huddled with Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. He also stopped by the office of Senator Lisa Murkowski. It was the pair’s first encounter since Murkowski, running as an independent, beat Miller in 2010. 

Miller, a favorite of grassroots activists and tea-party conservatives, will likely make a decision in the coming weeks. If he runs, sources say, he’d launch his campaign soon, since there may be a crowded primary. Mead Treadwell, Alaska’s wealthy lieutenant governor, has already formed an exploratory committee.

You know there was a time in the not too distant past where I would have bet big money that Joe would NEVER show his face in the political realm as a candidat3e again. However that was before he managed to hijack the Alaska Republican Party.

During my talks with Bill Fulton he often expressed his feelings that Joe would be taking a serious risk to run for office again.

I tend to agree based on what I know, but then again Miller is not the sharpest tool in the shed.

Having said that, with the connections he now has in the party, and with outside money once again financing his campaign (Yes Joe we know about the contributions from California!) he could give Begich a run for his money. After all the teabaggers LOVE him!

Of course the one person who could probably stop Miller in his tracks is Lisa Murkowski. She is, for all intents and purposes, bulletproof and has a deep and abiding dislike for the Vaguely Bearded One.

If she were to give Begich even the tiniest bit of support it would be enough to make a lot of Republican supporters walk away from Miller, and take their money with them

I have to say though that my favorite possible scenario is the one that sees Begich win yet another Senate race due to his opponent facing charges from the FBI. And THAT is not an out of the question possibility.