Dan Fagan is My Bedfellow.
OK, that headline was difficult to type on many levels. But it goes to illustrate the larger point, which is that truth makes strange bedfellows.
One of my personal pet peeves is partisan politics. Principled people who have a well thought out political philosophy often find themselves agreeing with one party or the other. But when they start agreeing with, or defending the members of that party because of the (D) or the (R) or the (AIP) or whatever it is, after their name, that’s when we get into real trouble. Reliance on the “letter loyalty” is what makes politicians of all parties feel safe when they blur, bend or break the rules.
And don’t get me wrong, there are many local politicians whom I really do like, personally, and philosophically. But if they screw up, and cling to that D, and hold it up in front of them like a shield in a sword fight, it won’t do them much good in my book.
But back to my bedfellow. Dan Fagan, local conservative pundit, has written a piece in today’s Anchorage Daily News. The subject, which has been touched on in Andrew Halcro’s blog, and also in The Alaska Standard, is Governor Palin’s soon to be son-in-law Levi Johnston, and his eligibility or lack thereof for the position of electrical apprentice on the North Slope of Alaska.
The governor, in trying to dispel rumors the father of her grandchild is a high school dropout, released this statement this past week,
“Levi is continuing his online high school work in addition to working as an electrical apprentice on the North Slope.”
But federal regulations require all members of apprentice programs, union or otherwise, to first obtain a high school diploma, something the governor’s soon-to-be son-in- law does not have. Some apprentice programs even require the completion of high school level algebra or the post-secondary equivalent.
So how is it that the governor’s soon-to-be son-in-law is working in an apprentice program? Is this another case of the governor believing the rules don’t apply to her or her family?
Good question. So, the next logical step would be to call the guy responsible for running the apprenticeship program at Arcitc Slope Regional Corporation, where Johnston is now employed. Fagan did this, and got some answers….sort of. We don’t have a transcript, but we can imagine what might have transpired. It probably happened over the phone, but for dramatic effect we can imagine Fagan with a microphone, and Bo Underwood, the gentleman in question, in a back and forth exchange.
Fagan: So, is Levi Johnston enrolled in your electrical apprenticeship program?
Underwood: Yes. Yes, he is.
Fagan: And is one of the requirements for enrollment in this program, as the Federal Government states, that the applicant must have a high school diploma?
Underwood: (saucer eyes) I don’t know.
Fagan: You don’t know?
Underwood: (bigger saucer eyes) I don’t know.
Fagan: You head up this program, and you don’t know?
Underwood: (blood draining from face) I….don’t know.
Fagan: I hear there is normally a long waiting list for this program. Is that true?
Underwood: I don’t know.
Fagan: And how did Mr. Johston, your most famous employee at the moment, come to be enrolled in this desirable program?
Underwood: (turning grey) I don’t know.
You get the basic idea. At this point, if you are a Monty Python fan, you can imagine King Arthur calling out to the French guard in the tower, “Is there someone ELSE up there we can talk to?”
Fagan goes on to say that he gives Palin a 3 in 10 chance for reelection once the AGIA (Alaska Gasline Inducement Act) and Trans Canada’s involvement in the pipeline project go up in a pretty green puff of smoke.
The truth does indeed make strange bedfellows, and even though I may be all squinched up on the very edge of the bed, clinging to the covers with white knuckles to keep myself from falling out on to the floor, I won’t kick anyone out for telling the truth. Eating crackers is another story.
This seems to be the topic of conversation all over Alaska and the US today. Phil Munger has it on his Blog, It was brought up in the conversation on FireDogLake with him, and Gryphen talked about it on his blog and I think Celtic Diva brought it up too…lol wow…Sarah created another fire storm… Is that a wild fire I see starting on the North Slope????
Sarah Palin never ceases to amaze with the amount of damage she can do to herself and others around her with just a few simple and seemingly innocent enough mis-timed phrases.
Or would getting Levi a plum apprenticeship by bending the rules in the first place be the true cause of the damage?
I suspect we’ll see some low-level staffer used as political kevlar yet again to protect Sarah on this one….
Hey, while you’re out there calling in favors, Sarah, how about getting Sherry into a real nice re-hab facility?
Oy Vey, another “gate.” Someone needs to list them all, and name the latest gate. Like “Preferrential Treatment 4 Levi -gate.” Or something.
Too many gates to hold up the fence….lol
Sarah Palin does it again. Foot, meet mouth. Why is all this posted on the government website? Is this official state business? Is she breaking the rules again? I thought they said that if something is state business ( Sherry Johnston’ arrest that they would not comment. ) Is this another ethics violation? And the hillbillie Republicans still think she is great. Grrr.
Well, yeah. Crackers always are another story.
YES YES YES!!!!! I read this article this morning and was astounded that I agreed with Dan Fagan!!!!
I hope that this leads to some tough questions for the Gov and others, maybe even a lawsuit or threatened lawsuit from people who have been hanging out on the waitlist for years waiting for their chance to get into the apprenticeship program.
Levi could have had many positions on the North Slope that did not have the requirement of a HS Diploma or involve him frog-leaping over a hundred others who had been dutifully waiting their turn on the waitlist having completed &/or met the requirements for the position.
Let Dan Fagan be the first of many Republicans willing to speak the truth about our lousy governor.
Just as Levi is unqualified to be an electrician or even an apprentice, the governor of Alaska is unqualified to be the governor or to hold any higher political office.
Shout out to Gryphen over at Immoral Minority for posting about this as well.
http://theimmoralminority.blogspot.com/2009/01/okay-not-to-belabor-point-but-how-is.html
If she would’ve just kept her mouth closed,people probably wouldn’t have said anything,But! once again ,she leads us right to the dirt,I read an article last week or two that he was just working on the slope as an apprentice and she was taking correspondence courses,now it’s shes returning to school and hes taking the courses,it was either the times,cnn or post one of those. obviously! someone will try to put a band aid on this.Didn’t Todd work up there? maybe he got him in. That family reminds me of those wrong turn and deliverance types.
She needs to go away.
Actually, I saw on the state site under apprenticeship programs that the applicant must be at least 16 and have a GED, be a graduate, or enrolled in a program that leads to a high school diploma. However, that doesn’t explain him jumping the line if there is a waiting list. As for the federal requirement being that an apprentice has to have completed a high school diploma, I don’t think that is true. Job Corps has students working on their diploma while apprenticing.
SMR:you have that right on! Good job Fagan I rarely agree with him but he’s on the right track here! req. diploma, Algebra and usually 2years of electrical classes.
Call me paranoid, but I am suspect. I have seen several posts (on other websites/blogs) stating that there is a “waiver form” for the requirements of electrical apprentice. Even if the waiver form was not completed prior to Levi’s apprenticeship, it can be done now. What I am saying is: Did Dan Fagan check out the waiver form? If not (and if there IS such a thing), this might be a distraction – LOTS of pressure on Mrs. Palin now (e-mail disclosures, Troopergate report/Branchflower/abuse of power findings, hate-speech, per diems in Wasilla, tax issues, etc.etc.etc.) – I just worry that this COULD be the latest “shiny object” to distract us and make Sarah look good. Hope I am wrong, but does anyone know what is on the “waiver form” for the apprentice job requirements and if such a form actually exists?
I bet Levi Is very upset with his future M-I-L. He was safe up on the slope out of harms way and now the attention is on him again. Way to go sister sarah.
Sounds like the same thing that happened to Bush 43. Daddy got him a plum job over the heads of hundreds of far more qualified pilots so he would be safe from harm in Viet Nam.
WTF is it with these idiots?
I was just over at the Alsaka Standard site and noticed the list of contributors there is a Who’s Who of Alaskan Republican Party members of the Ted Steven’s faction. Lisa Murkowski is even listed.
The Dems may eat their young, but the Repugs on occassion like to eat their incumbents….Sarah is now between the hammer and the anvil and things are heating up. Time for some serious pounding?
Dan and Andy brought this up – Andy first. Note Dan doesn’t mention that. Here are my questions at this point:
1) What did Palin give in exchange for Johnston’s illegal placement in a federally subsidized program? If she did give, she’s got a problem the state can’t sweep under their rug.
2) How many Alaska Natives and people of color with more appropriate qualifications was this young man given “white boy welfare” over? (that’s Diane Benson’s Question)
3) How is this different, if the answer to #1 is “something substantive,” to what Vic Kohring was charged with by the Feds for the favor to Aaron Kohring? (and Aaron was a better prospect, and there were no Federal funds involved in the program in which he was placed)
4) Who but Sarah Palin would be dumb enough to leave an answering service message at People Magazine with such possibly incriminating information on it? Even Miss South Carolina might do better.
And since Phil is being humble, and not linking to his most excellent blog Progressive Alaska, I shall do it for him! http://www.progressivealaska.blogspot.com
AKM
@Lori In Los Angeles,
I don’t know yet, but I am pretty sure we will all know soon enough.
If a waiver did not exist before, somebody is probably creating one right this very moment for Sarah to review and say “You Betcha” in that safe room where there are no microphones.
Wake up American has a good point. And this was raised before in a letter to the editor of ADN in October – as follows – Then some of the commenters madementio of relations who were doing GED and apprenticeships. So the question would be what is required on the slope – and the issue of a waiting list.
From ADN –
Who got Levi Johnston his job at the slope?
Posted by riverlee
Posted: October 13, 2008 – 6:10 pm
I am wondering tonight, who got Levi Johnston his job at the slope as an electrician? He didn’t even finish high school, right? ………………….
Writing from Alaska – another good question is, “If commenters and letter writers to the ADN were asking this in early October, why hasn’t the ADN covered this over the past three months?”
Surely, the people who helped line this job up can’t be dumb enough to not have covered their bases yet, regarding this so-called “waiver”?
There’s info on the DOL website re apprenticeships in AK, no info on waivers for the diploma/ged that I can see
http://www.jobs.state.ak.us/energy-apprenticeship.htm
WOW! just WOW! Every time she opens her mouth, it’s more crap rolling out! Truly the gift that keeps on giving!
Here is the link to the requirements for the electricians apprentice program. Must have completed H.S. or have a GED BEFORE applying. Must have completed Algebra 1 with a C or better. No mention of waivers.
http://209.85.173.132/search?q=cache:NhjrL6cOS6wJ:www.jobs.state.ak.us/apprenticejobs/flyers/anchorage-elec-1008.pdf+requirements+for+electrician+apprenticeship+in+Alaska&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=us
How long will it take for Sarah’s romper room spokespeople to contradict her statement on Monday morning? I will bet anything if you go the the AK governor’s press release page that statement will be scrubbed or modified. The statement exists so many other places so I wonder how she will squirm out of this one…I heard it on CNN, MSNBC, and even E News (my guilty pleasure…).
You know the sad part is that she has draggged her kids into this mess.
Another interesting part of the requirements is the timing of the application process.
“When these requirements are satisfied and the application is completed, the applicant may submit his/her application and will be scheduled for an interview after the next quarterly deadline submission date.”
Looks like apprenticeship-gate is growing some legs on the national level, also
http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20090103/pl_mcclatchy/3136456_1/print
Then there is this: per the Dept of Labor, apprenticeship programs must “Uniformly apply rules and regulations concerning apprentices”
http://www.dol.gov/dol/allcfr/Title_29/Part_30/29CFR30.3.htm
Does accepting one person without a completed GED while NOT accepting others without one violate the federal laws laid out at the above website??
A statement was issued from the governor’s office over a personal family matter–abuse of power according to Alaska law.
Look at all the “-gates” and what do you have? Corruption.
Bedfellows? That got my attention!
Its not so much about who has an opinion, as it is what the opinion is.
Ideas and opinions are like suits of clothing. We can remove them if they are not suitable, and find one thats better.
Though we often attribute clothing and ideas to the people who ‘wear’ them, its the very thinking that leads to partisan politics.
You can tell Dan Fagan – hey, nice tie, without endorsing anything else about his wardrobe, character or judgment.
In this case, “good idea!”
Bedfellow. hmmm you’ve come up with less creepy metaphors…
Does your spouse know ? heh ; )
I’d have used “Dan Fagen gets one right.”
But hey my blog was 2 readers, and one is me. ; )
I believe there is an income guideline to be eligible, if not there might be. I should check out the alaska website, but if they just got paid $300K for pictures of their baby, I bet they wouldnt qualify either. hmmm
This woman (Palin) thinks no matter what she does, it is the WILL of God and it is ok, even the lying and BS. She must be held accountable for all these things, esp the “good old boy” network that got the “sex on ice” hockey boy a job when there were many others, far more qualified, for the job…I think the cutesy winking has run its course
“Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
“Ye shall know them by their fruits. …
“A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.” Matt. 7:15-18
ARSC is an Inupiat organization formed when the Inupiat’s sold their land to the government.
Todd Palin is 1/16th Inupiat. Is Levi Johnston an Inupiat by birth or marriage? Is he then eligible for special treatment if so?
Now, as for apprenticeships available, this is where you would go to sign up:
The AJEAAT
The Alaska Joint Electrical Apprenticeship Training Trust
http://www.ajeatt.org/program.htm
The AJEATT website lists the following requirements must be met before anyone can even APPLY for acceptance.
(snip)
“A copy of a birth certificate or other official document showing date of birth such as a passport.
A copy of high school diploma or GED certificate (if high school diploma is not available, a graduating date on official transcripts will substitute).
An official copy of high school transcripts (an official copy is a set of transcripts that are certified by the issuing school with an official seal or stamp, and delivered to the Training Center or Hall in a sealed envelope either by mail or by hand).
Official transcripts, either high school or college, for High School showing one full year of Algebra, and College one full semester of Algebra not (Pre-Algebra) that have been successfully completed.
Documents showing that residency has been established in the State of Alaska for at least one year prior to the application date (this can include permanent fund dividend receipts, rent receipts, or resident fishing/hunting licenses issued at least one year prior to application date).
When all documentation is available, the applicant may make an appointment to fill out the application form by calling the Training Center indicated. All applications will be filled out at the Training Center or Hall unless the applicant resides further than 100 miles from the area, in which case special arrangements will be made. The applicant will complete the application form indicating the classification for which he/she wishes to be interviewed. There is a $25 application fee. Please make the check or money order payable to the Alaska Joint Electrical Apprenticeship and Training Trust(AJEATT). ”
(end snip)
Both the ASRC and Todd Palin are associated with the APICC as evidenced by his participation, along with an employee of the ASRC, by providing a promotional profile here:
http://www.apicc.org/downloads/Brochure.pdf
The requirements say High School Diploma (preferred) but this is a general statement that encompasses many of the opportunities available through the APICC and is not specific to Levi’s apprenticeship by any means.
(Snip)
To succeed in Alaska’s
Process Industries you
need:
• A high school diploma (preferred)
• To be drug free
• A clean driving record
• Post-secondary education
? Vocational or Technical
Certification
? Apprenticeship
? Occupational or on-the-job
training
? 2 year (associate degree)
? 4 year (bachelor degree)
• Employability skills
For more career information
visit our website:
http://www.apicc.org
NOW HERE IS WHAT IS INTERESTING, if you go to the APICC website and look through the Electrical Apprenticeships, it takes you back to the AJEATT……
http://www.aatca.org/Electrical_Workers_Fairbanks.html
Where we find contact information for Dave McAllen as the State Training Director, and Tom Minder as the Apprenticeship Coordinator.
I bet these two guys are responsible for overseeing the registration of Levi’s apprenticeship at the State level and making sure the requirements are all met.
I noted in the comments of AKM’s recent article about Hawkins response to Palin’s recently released state budget hallucination that the U.S. Dept. of Labor does not set any educational requirements for entry into an apprenticeship program. Rather, it is left up to the individual program sponsor (i.e. employer) to determine what educational level is appropriate.
From their website:
“Registered apprenticeship program sponsors identify the minimum qualifications to apply into their apprenticeship program. The eligible starting age can be no less than 16 years of age; however, individuals must usually be 18 to be an apprentice in hazardous occupations. Program sponsors may also identify additional minimum qualifications and credentials to apply, e.g., education, ability to physically perform the essential functions of the occupation, proof of age. All applicants are required to meet the minimum qualifications. Based on the selection method utilized by the sponsor, additional qualification standards, such as fair aptitude tests and interviews, school grades, and previous work experience may be identified.”
Nowhere does this mention anything about educational level.
While most sponsors of apprenticeship programs DO require at least a high school diploma or GED I can find no state or federal regulation that require it by law. If another reader of this blog can find the applicable section(s) of either state of federal law that set forth educational standards then please share. I hate to talk out my butt and if I’m wrong I’d like to be corrected. I’ve looked and looked and can’t find anything aside from the afore mentioned DoL requirements.
I would be surprised if ASRC, Johnston’s new employer, does not have basic educational requirements for entry into their electrician apprenticeship program, given the risk of the trade and high level of technical expertise required to do the job safely and competently.
That said, there is nothing to prevent ASRC from making exceptions to their own in-house rules if it doesn’t violate state or federal law. Even if they adhere to their own hiring policies and guidelines they are free to hire Johnston as a General Maintenance Technician (slope-speak for laborer) with the understanding, tacit or not, that he will officially become an apprentice after he receives his diploma/GED.
As for fairness about Johnston being preferentially hired, I’m a retired sloper and their has NEVER been anything particularly fair about the way companies hire for the slope. More thoughts on that in my comments over in the other article. Just sayin’……..
Finding Number One (via Mudflats):
For the reasons explained in section IV of this report, I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act. Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) provides
“The legislature reaffirms that each public officer holds office as a public trust, and any effort to benefit a personal or financial interest through official action is a violation of that trust.”
Maybe time for another “abuse of power” hearing? Then again, no penalties seem to follow a guilty verdict, so why bother? Any answers dear Legislators?
OMG! Bedtime with Fagan? Really? I am TOTALLY LMAOROTF. Gotta give the Guv credit for stirring up the Repubs pot. Love it, LOVE it, when they argue. Doogan, you pay’n attention here? It’s OK to question the Guv. Hell, even the R’s are doing it! Grow a pair.
Phil, HiHo ol buddy, from the Copper River Flats!
I predict they find ”cause” to charge misconduct in that he never paid the 25 dollar application fee. That will be her undoing.
”Applications are accepted on a year-round basis. There is a $25.00 application
fee for all classifications. ”
AKDennis,
If the US DOL website (see my upthread entry) about apprenticeship applicants says that apprenticeship programs must “Uniformly apply rules and regulations concerning apprentices” does that mean that they have to use the same rules for all applicants or can they change “in-house rules”?
Just seems both Palin and the head of the ASRC have painted themselves into a corner by publically admitting that Levi is an electrical apprentice (per Palin) and Underwood has “confirmed Johnston is indeed enrolled as an apprentice”.
akdennis (14:34:37) : go to the link I posted above @ (13:41:01)
I think the qualifications are different for different jobs, but that an electrical apprentice’s qualifications are high school diploma or GED. with special math, maybe just oil workers and carpenters are less.
CR Flats,
God do I miss that place – until I get there.
Oh gosh, is Sarah Palin still out there? I had forgotten all about her. Doesn’t Alaska go into hibernation or something when the sun sets for the winter?
I guess the Nothern glowworms don’t.
Is it really so important for a glowworm to stay in the spotlight, no matter what it takes or who it hurts? It’s so hard to be a national figure when you officiate in an obscure and remote outpost of a fading empire whose main export is a commodity that has lost its magic goose shine. (I don’t mean the salmon.) (Hey, remember the salmon?)
Good thing Alaskans will survive the Palins. Surely one extended family cannot Huey Long an entire state?
The contact information for the US Dept of Labor Employment & Training Administration’s various state offices is found here:
http://www.doleta.gov/OA/stateoffices.cfm#AK
Also note the AJEATT is run with Union participation, the NECA/IBEW Local 1547.
http://www.aatca.org/Electrical_Workers_Anchorage.html
“The IBEW/NECA apprenticeship program was jointly established by the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), Alaska chapter and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 1547 in 1958. This program has been successful in training electrical workers for the Alaska electrical construction industry for almost 50 years. The IBEW/NECA apprenticeship and training program is a statewide program. “
Tsk, Tsk, so many posting here have found different requirements for the electrical apprentice job levi was gifted with.
Is there not a qualifications statement from the HR office of his alleged employer?
If there is, indeed, a waiting list and an income limit, and as the job is federal or state funded (?), where is the transparent documentation?
Oh Alaskans, you’ve been discovered by the world and we all have sympathy for you.
Get after her, you wonderful darlings, make her accountable for her lack of ethics and lying….
@txdemocrat
True enough. But all ASRC has to do is say, “Oops, our bad. We misapplied the policy in Levi Johnston’s case”. And then they just move him into the afore mentioned General Maintenance Tech (GMT) classification, which does NOT have an educational requirement. Of course they are then free to assign him to the electricians as a GMT, allowing him to “unofficially” apprentice until he gets a GED.
Of course, I’m sure ASRC would have preferred the the Governor just keep her mouth shut about the whole apprenticeship thingy. I’m sure that they don’t want this kind of attention. Will it hurt them? Not likely. They are one of the biggest contractors on the slope with several hundred employees. They are also a native corporation, not that there’s anything wrong with that. But politics are politics. Again, just sayin’……
Well, you’re right.
Sarah Pain is no Huey Long.
Just what she is, time will tell.
Woo Hoo: Sorry for the OT post but:
Counting the 900+ wrongly disallowed absentee ballots in MN is done. Franken is now ahead by 223.
Time for Coleman to concede. Even if he wins all his challenges, he can’t overcome that lead.
akdennis (14:34:37) :
That said, there is nothing to prevent ASRC from making exceptions to their own in-house rules if it doesn’t violate state or federal law.
=========
Its a rule or its not.
I find it hard to believe that its okay to federally fund a program that allows exceptions for reasons of political patronage.
“Equal protection under the law”, is a provision that applies to criminal and civil law.
It should be deeply offensive whether the law provides penalties or not.
There is a too widely held belief that if its not going to land you in jail, its both legal and moral – Wrong!
@ Dr. Patois
I did look at the link before I posted. The information you cite is for a program sponsored by the IBEW union. Of course they are going to have high standards for acceptance. ASRC is non-union.
Indeed, I think any company that doesn’t require at least a high school level education for an electrical apprenticeship is just asking for it. It’s one of the most technical trades out there and you need a certain amount of mental horsepower to avoid frying yourself or someone else. So I agree with y’all about questioning the appropriateness of young Mr. Johnston’s selection as an apprentice. I’m just playing devil’s advocate, along with sharing my own slope experiences as well as what I have been able to learn about whatever applicable apprenticeship laws are out there.
Honestly, I would like someone to cite the appropriate section of law as it applies to this topic of discussion. It’s KILLIN’ me! I’m still looking but all I can find are entry requirements to individual programs. Of course, they ALL require a high school diploma/GED, which is good and proper. But is it a law?
The next Palin spawn should be named “Gate Palin”.
An underlying theme of the Fagan article, is that according to recent polling, the good Gov. “is starting to lose her appeal”. This might possibly encourage the faint of heart to show a little bit more courage.
I mean, surely there are whole villages of human beings in Alaska who are more interesting and inspiring than Sarah (the megakillergovernorfrommegafame) Palin.
Please, Alaska!
It would be really great if someone actually alive and kicking and not Sarah or related to her in Alaska got a chance to tell their story. Sarah is soooo not interesting anymore. She just needs to be monitored to limit the damage she’s up to is all. Let the real Alaska step forward.
They may be able to play games with an apprenticeship, but will he be able to certify as an electrician? I doubt it. It is a setup for failure. They chose this field for the remuneration rather than the probability of career success. This is just another Palin confusion about ends and means and control.
Here’s a link to the DoL rules governing apprenticeship programs.
http://www.dol.gov/dol/allcfr/ETA/Title_29/Part_29/29CFR29.6.htm
The rules are indeed vague and I have not found any part that covers and specific individual’s eligibility requirements for any program. However, I believe in section 29.6 there is wording that requires an individual Aprenticeship Agreement to be filed for every applicant and maintained on file and/or amended apropriately by the registered agency running the program.
I would also posit that the supporting documents required by the program’s published entrance requirements would be a part of that file, especially if any of these requirements were waived.
This probably means civil action by someone who feels they were excluded from the program unfairly would be more easily initiated than any claim of criminal activity, unless representatives of the agency were found to have engaged in behavior such as accepting bribes, or quid-pro-quo transactions.
There is also an Equal Opportunity requirement that forbids discrimination that might be used should a claim of preferential treatment be made.
I’m still wondering when Alaska “law” is going to catch up to Palin…doesn’t appear to be anytime soon. tsk tsk…simply amazing to the rest of us. Since things are run so far from the norm up there in A…maybe it should seceed. This soap opera is getting old.
@AKDennis,
The AJEATT program is run through the Union, do you know for fact that ASRC have their own separately registered program with the DoL?
SP will say “I demand a Personnel Board review!”..where the PB lawyer can say “she didnt know, so its nothing to worry about”…….
WOOHOO!!
I finally found the applicable section of federal law with regards to apprenticeship program standards. They’re contained in 29CFR29. For those who care the U.S. DoL link is:
http://www.dol.gov/dol/allcfr/ETA/Title_29/Part_29/toc.htm
Doesn’t look like the feds have anything to say about educational level requirements. I’ll keep looking for the state regulations.
@DrChill
The feds don’t fund ASRC’s apprenticeship program, nor any other apprenticeship program for that matter. Again, from the U.S. Dept. of Labor website:
“Registered apprenticeship is a voluntary industry-driven training program. The registered apprenticeship program can be a partnership of business and organized labor as the primary operators of programs, or implemented by employers or employer associations. Government plays a support role. The Office of Apprenticeship (OA) provides technical consultation services on the development of apprenticeship standards.”
Apparently, though, there are certain limited grants available to employers for administering job training programs. I didn’t get into it too deep but if your interested follow this link:
http://www.doleta.gov/OA/pdf/funding_fact_sheet.pdfhttp://www.doleta.gov/OA/pdf/funding_fact_sheet.pdf
I’m not trying to defend OR crucify anyone here. I just think that we should operate with a sound basis in actual facts, not just take the word of some journalistic hack. And yes, I think Dan Fagan is a hack! And, yet again, he doesn’t seem to have bothered checking HIS facts.
Someone prove me wrong. It’s OK, I have thick skin.
I bet Levi “he shoots, he scores” Johnston is WISHING HE USED A CONDOM right about now…OY VEY is right!
@BigSlick
Aw, shoot. Ya’ beat me with the CFR’s!! I was busy writing my last post when you got yours posted. Thanks for looking for it, though.
I’m pretty sure that ASRC’s apprenticeship program is registered. As I stated earlier, they are a pretty big player on the slope and as such, would tend to toe the line about running any job training programs according to industry standards. Just speculating, but I would be very surprised if their program wasn’t registered and accredited. I’m also pretty sure that the field operators (BP, Conoco/Philips) would demand it. However,I could be talking out my butt as I worked for one of their competitors. It’s just my personal experience that industry standards are invariably followed by all companies up there.
@ FW
You know the sad part is that she has draggged her kids into this mess.
@ Ray
This woman (Palin) thinks no matter what she does, it is the WILL of God and it is ok, even the lying and BS.
Right on the money.
Unfortunately, the woman never seems to think that anyone would dare to look behind the pronouncements which she makes. Come hell or high water, no matter who she’s bound to harm, she seeks out the limelight and ignores that she’;s putting others in harm’s way.
The dogma of Papal infallibility is accepted by few lay Catholics today; trust Sarah to believe that Palin infallibility will be much more successful.
AKM, glad you kept digging, journalist or not. Keep the heat on.
I’m really hoping they do the “feet, meet fire” thing with SP.
Also, too, I am laughing myself silly about all the screw ups with this baby, the announcement, etc. Who needs TV when you’ve got the ‘flats!
Sucks to be Sarah. She’s probably too big a dope to realize she should have blinked.
Dennis,
I’d like to see Levi’s Apprenticeship Agreement and the supporting documents for his application then. Before it gets revised tomorrow.
The vehicle for filing a complaint would definitely not be criminal courts. It’s still either through the DoL, questioning the fairness of fund allocations, or in a civil complaint by someone who can prove they were “more eligible” than Levi in a competetive application process. If the registered program is through the AJEATT then perhaps a Union complaint could be filed, but my guess is the Unions up there are not going to be too keen on chasing this one.
So it looks like nothing can really be done. Provided of course that nobody squeals about any quid-pro-quo arrangement that took place to get Levi in there.
To be honest, this all smells like Todd’s doing, not Sarah’s, given the Inupiat connection and the type of job.
Lastly, and this is a sick half-joke… if Levi isn’t really qualified for this kind of work could the Palin’s be hoping for a bolt of man-made “lightning” to hit this poor boy as part of their belief in Divine Justice?
Newsweek has it totally right – their CW section has Sarah Palin: “Ill-informed, inarticulate shopaholic has ego bigger than Alaska” She absolutely thinks everything she does is right………
Quote ed from AKDennis
I’m pretty sure that ASRC’s apprenticeship program is registered. As I stated earlier, they are a pretty big player on the slope and as such, would tend to toe the line about running any job training programs according to industry standards. Just speculating, but I would be very surprised if their program wasn’t registered and accredited.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Dennis,
If you see my post above on the connections between ASRC, APICC, and AJEATT, it might just be the case that ASRC lean on APICC, who in turn lean on AJEATTA for their program registration.
Looks like there may be several layers of bureaucratic kevlar that the Palins are wearing on this one.
So, being a known dropout would cause a problem in Levi’s job prospects according to his prospective mother-in-law’s website.
Obviously he had no trouble getting work as a dropout in October. Mrs Palin did not deny his dropoutness in October.
This week she made a big fuss of the kids being “enrolled” in school – she knows a lot about enrolments, especially how to enrol but never take a class – but I particularly liked her lie about them working their butts off parenting and working and studying during the holidays.
Even during the holidays she doesn’t take a break from official lying.
Someone mentioned fire, what’s the latest verdict on that church fire ?
Anyone up there seen Bristol anywhere, or is she being kept in total seclusion ?
What about Levi – has his new son even met him yet ?
Where is everybody getting their “coffee” nowadays ?
Any updates on Track, Willow and/or Trig ?
What will happen next October when it comes time again to issue those BIG checks to each and every Alaskan, now that the price of oil has plummeted ?
If those checks are not forthcoming, or only amount to 1/3 or 1/4 of last years check, will Alaskans finally rise up and hold SP accountable ? They credited her when the money was flowing in hand over fist (80% approval rating) ! if everyone only gets a few hundred bucks this year, will there be an uprising on the steps of the governor’s mansion/office (or wherever it is that she calls ‘home’) !
ApprenticeGate anyone?
I have been waiting for these questions to start as I have been asking them since I read SP statement.
I also will bet top dollar that Bristol did not willingly give her own statement. I can just hear that poor girl now. Mom would you just shut up! Even if she was not saying it out loud I know she is thinking it. What did SP expect when she pulled these poor kids into the national spotlight. She set them up like any diva wannabe. Think Lindsey Lohans Mom. To quote KO worst person in the world.
My last thought on this is a question. Isn’t this how Trooper Wooten started his police career with a letter from his SIL. Watch out Levi there is a very high price to pay to stay in that family. You are so trapped that you don’t see the spider moving your way.
I also have been curious is Alaska going to start a new program to find jobs for all of the teen unmarried fathers? Seems to me the Gov has started a precedent.
@BigSlick
Todd Palin’s part Yup’ik. That’s Bristol Bay Native Corporation. ASRC is the corporation of the Inupiat eskimos. Different tribes. And he’s only 1/8th Yup’ik. Shoot, I have more native amierican blood than him!
He is, however, a process systems operator for BP which gives him leverage to recommend people for empolyment on that position alone. Having people on the inside is a critical factor for getting hired on the slope.
I keep telling everyone that’s this is just the way it is on the slope. Fair is not a factor in hiring a new employee. All a preferential hire has to be is “minimally qualified” to be selected (and lets not beat the qualifications issue for apprenticeship until we get more facts, OK?) It is virutally impossible to get hired without the sayso from a long-time and/or highly placed sloper. I’m telling you folks that, as a fact of life of life on the slope, that (just about) the only way to get hired is through nepotism or cronyism. To have any shot at all you just about have to be someone’s relative or fishing and beer drinking buddy. This isn’t sour grapes because after all, I managed to get hired up there and I actually didn’t have any inside connections. I guess they just liked my face, or sumpin.
Anyway, take it for what it’s worth but it is likely that Levi Johnston would have been preferentially hired even the world had never heard of Sarah Palin. Just based on Todd Palin’s recommendations.
Everyone who thinks that ASRC (or any other slope company) is committing some sort of actionable offense with their hiring practices is just tilting at windmills. We’re talking about multi-million to multi-billion dollar corporation that have full time legal departments. They aren’t some sort of two-bit redneck outfits. They all get sued periodically for unfair hiring practices. I’ve seen it myself multiple times. You want to know what slope companies do when this happens? They settle out of court, usually by offering the litigant I nice, fat job on the slope!
Just tellin’ ya’ how things is, folks.
Anyone that connects Palin to the size of the dividend check is sadly mistaken. Theres a formula to determine that.
http://www.apfc.org/home/Content/alaska/dividendPrgrm.cfm
How the PFD amount is calculated each year
Add Fund Statutory Net Income from the current plus the previous four fiscal years.
Multiply by 21%
Divide by 2
Subtract prior year obligations, expenses and PFD program operations
Divide by the number of eligible applicants
sjk from the belly of the plane (15:56:39) :
I bet Levi “he shoots, he scores” Johnston is WISHING HE USED A CONDOM right about now…OY VEY is right!
*********************************************************Ah, the value of latex
akdennis:
They all get sued periodically for unfair hiring practices. I’ve seen it myself multiple times. You want to know what slope companies do when this happens? They settle out of court, usually by offering the litigant I nice, fat job on the slope!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So all the guys/gals Levi beat out of a apprenticeship just have to bitch enough/sue and they will all get good jobs on the NS?
Huh! Nepotism, cronyism….corruption! Are there not any Labor Laws in Alaska? Seems like not too many “laws” in Alaska and what little there are…are not enforced or bent and twisted by the likes of Grifter’s of Wasilla, the Palin’s…
I hope someone’s keepin’ track of all the “Gates”…they are really piling up now…
My favorite part of Sarah’s phone message to People Magazine: “They are certainly not high-school dropouts… and any suggestion otherwise harms Bristol’s reputation and Levi’s reputation and THEIR CHANCES FOR GOOD WORK OPPORTUNITIES.”
This statement boggles the mind on so many levels. Apparently, in Sarah’s world, one is not a dropout – even if they have voluntarily dropped out of school – as long as they intend to obtain a GED at some point in their life. I wonder if there’s a time limit to that definition.
And harm their reputations? Are you kidding me? For all we know, these kids may be the greatest, but to the public they are the pregnant unwed teenage daughter of a famous governor (who also survived the longest case of mono known to man), and the proud young redneck who impregnated her, now son of a self-admitted drug-dealer charged with six felonies. But the proud Grandma would rather we focus on the fact that they PLAN on getting married and finishing high school – eventually – whenever.
Seems to me the lady Sarah doth protest too much. That these kids dropped out of school is not new information. The press was writing about this months ago. It’s also obvious that their chances for good work opportunities, at the moment, are largely linked to their family connections and new-found celebrity, which is only enhanced by every new sordid detail revealed about that family and their connections. Who needs high school diplomas when magazines are bidding for the first pictures of your new baby?
Oh, I forgot, it’s a private family matter and none of our business, also. Piece of work, that one.
My husband & I are very familiar w/the oil industry. Very very familiar. Some jobs you get on merit &/or education, for others it helps to have connections, but honestly, people DO get hired without them if they have a strong enough background/experience/references, particularly with the contractors (such as ASRC). The Big 3 here in AK do not generally hire based on connections — they have very strict HR/hiring guidelines, and a basically bottomless well of contractors from which to bring new employees on board.
However, as engineers, it’s a bit galling for us to see a high school dropout (and whatever SP says, he fits the definition — he’s not in high school, did not graduate from high school, and a GED is NOT the same) in an apprenticeship program in which he could potentially earn more than teachers, engineers, professors, even doctors, by jumping the line, particularly since he does not meet the minimum requirements.
Is there anyone on this earth who wants their wiring done by someone who has not graduated from high school and does not have basic math skills (considering Algebra basic, here)? Wouldn’t a sane person consider those guidelines & requirements a SAFETY issue?
If a company — even a large one such as ASRC — circumvents those requirements/guidelines, they open themselves up to a tremendous amount of scrutiny, i.e. do they make a regular practice of hiring unqualified applicants, &/or letting people jump the waitlist? This would NOT be welcomed by ASRC. As with so many others who have been exposed to Grifter Spice, she has proved to be pure poison for ASRC. I would not be surprised if lawsuits on the part of people on the waitlist force them to open up their books. They cannot possibly have enough jobs to hand out to those people on the waitlist if it is around 100 (as with the other program’s waitlist).
The company has a policy. The state has a policy. The federal government has policies. There are guidelines and requirements, and some of them may be in place for health & safety reasons as much as any other reason. Stepping outside of those to give someone a job as a cook or general field hand on the slope may be acceptable, but in a job where people’s lives are on the line? I don’t think so.
If I were on that waitlist, and particularly if I were a NATIVE ALASKAN sitting on ASRC’s waitlist, I would be spitting mad. Some people are on these waitlists for years. YEARS.
at least we know what Sarah reads now..PEOPLE MAGAZINE!
SMR, I was hoping you would weigh in on this subject. Your view on these oil field matters are spot on. Hope you stay around and post until this latest subject is finally rested. I think Palin tripped a breaker on this one.
Poor Levi! He should have taken Bill Maher up on his offer when Maher started the “Free Levi” campaign -
Wow. Weaving a couple of recent threads together, bloggers (and polemicists) may not adhere to the ‘accepted’ rules of journalism, but look what’s happened here– Sarah opened her big mouth and out plopped another fat, juicy lie. That lie and the circumstances under which it was told (left as a voicemail message at People Magazine, a headscratcher all its own) have unleashed a sh*tstorm. Knowledgable people on this blog have done appropriate research, leading to some answers and many more questions. It may not be traditional investigative journalism, but it works the same way. And we get to watch it happening from front row seats.
Dennis, SMR, BigSlick and others, Thank You and keep up the good work! Oh, and please pass the popcorn.
p.s. I take great pleasure from imagining Sarah and/or Todd, Bill, Meg and the other members of that sorry family and gang surreptitiously reading Mudflats, Gryphen, Munger, Shannyn, CelticDiva, etc., swearing at the monitor, pounding their fists on the keyboard in a rage as each new act of venality and stoopidity is rolled out for everyone to see. heh heh
@akdennis –
Hope that you took my post as what it was meant to be, that of an addendum to yours rather than disputing anything that you posted.
Your summation of the north slope hiring experience is true for contractors, not so much for the Big 3. Many many years ago it might have also been true for them (you see lots of siblings up there as operators & such), but not really any longer.
And the lawsuit issue is true, but I’m not sure how it would apply in this particular situation.
First, as a native corporation, does ASRC receive special tax consideration from the state & fed’l govts that would require them to operate within certain confines, i.e. adhere to certain hiring standards? I would wonder if they would be obliged to hire natives first?
However, my main concerns in relation to this would be A) how could any company reasonably justify leapfrogging this kid over a waitlist?, and B) what sort of legal requirement is in place and how much of that requirement is related to health & safety?
Another big question (this one for the gov) — what’s the incentive for kids to finish high school when they can drop out and get a well-paying job, finishing up a GED at their leisure? What does that say about the importance (or lack thereof per SP’s attitude) of education? That’s a pretty sucky message to send to your constituents!
The governor of AK is pure poison — to constituents & anyone else within her sphere.
I sincerely hope that Dan Fagan’s prophesies are true in re: her popularity & chance to be re-elected. That sort of a dire prophecy from one of her former supporters and fellow republicans is encouraging.
Further, empish is correct in that the sitting gov has absolutely nothing to do with a PFD handed out on any given year. However, when you get a banner year, as was the case this year, the glow of it rubs off on the governor. There’s just no way around that. One hopes that in the case of SP that the reverse will be true when PFDs come down this year &/or next. There’s also the fact that there is absolutely no way that she will ever be able to justify – again – handing out additional money to Alaskans. She can’t beg for money for her pipeline to nowhere AND give away money from the state coffers, not while other states are operating in the red.
During the campaign the story was that Bristol had finished high school early taking ‘long distance courses’. Now she’s still taking courses? Has Sarah contradicted herself yet again?
-ginf
Understanding that your Gov was reported to have skipped the last AK education conference, where she might have picked up at least a little bit of useful information on the concept and real-world consequences of dropping out of high school, might it ever occur to her that the problem with these teenagers’ future employment prospects is NOT the fact that their drop-out status has been (for quite some time) accurately reported (not that the broader public would have cared, had mom not assumed the unblinking “family values” persona), but THE FACT THAT THEY ARE DROP-OUTS and don’t have high school diplomas, which represent an EDUCATION at least to minimal state standards? (Sorry: my thoughts were yelling.)
And if strings were pulled for Mr. Johnston last March….hmmmmmm…..before, according to the McCain campaign’s public announcement, the Gov’s daughter was impregnated by this fellow……why? Why did he need suddenly to drop out then & “bust his butt” working instead of just finishing up a couple of months of high school?
Education matters, and that includes the daily education that comes from being raised in an environment in which truth is valued and the free exchange of challenging ideas is encouraged. It matters, and will forever matter, to those young adults’ lives, and to their legacies to their own children. So many young people of their ages were indeed working over the holidays, at school work, at jobs, and some at premature parenting without any celebrity resources or political connections……and also finishing up their college applications for the January 1 deadline.
Hey, I’m a dropout, TOO. And 1/8 Native American. OK, I returned to night school a year later and finished up, but didn’t officially graduate. Don’t think better of me for that, though–I’m still a dropout! What I’m askin’ is, can I get a job on the Slope, too?
Oh, wait–I’m already retired…
Well I think SOMETHING is amiss here for Barbie to make such a ISSUE…ie: hight school dropouts. Now I thought I read somewhere too that Levi’s dad, a K name, keith, kenny? worked on the slope and pulled some strings? Can’t remember where I read it gosh darn it! But For Barbie to make such a ISSUE of it…well…where there’s smoke there’s fire, and I know you can’t just walk into these apprenticeship jobs without jumping though a bunch of hoops and waiting…. still that’s no guarantee unless of course your in the Wasilla’s grifter clan…Palin!
Hope some one keepin’ tabs on the gates…here….8)
@SMR
No offense taken. I always enjoy your posts and if I am operating with erroneous facts or assumptions I appreciate being corrected by someone who may be more knowledgable than I. We seem to be the only ones with north slope experience who post regularly.
I gather that you and your spouse are engineers? Nepotistic/cronyistic hiring is more of an issue for individuals applying for craft or entry level positions than for professionals like yourselves. And I certainly agree that the Big 3 aren’t guilty of this. But then most of their positions are professional or supervisory/managerial in nature (with a few exceptions). Of course skilled journeyman tradespersons and those with oil field job specialties are more selected on the merits of their experience and qualifications than are craftspersons. Even contractors won’t hire someone without serious experience for critical positions like, say, a pipe welder, no matter what their connections might be.
The information I relay through my posts are based on my own personal slope experiences and observations. I’ll stand by my guns and iterate that, for certain types of employment [notice the qualification there ?
] most contractors do not always hire fairly, but there is not much anyone can do to call them on it. Contractors are certainly will versed in butt coverage.
One of the problems for those seeking to file suit over unfair hiring practices is that they have to file suit on their own dime. For the average blue collar schmo this requires hiring an attorney out of pocket. Something most blue collar types really can’t afford. Some of us blue collar types have enough legal acumen to bring the action ourselves, without the aid of an attorney, but I’ll go out on a limb and say that most don’t. And please don’t take offense, you blue collar types. Remember, I r wun to!
Oh, and I noticed that the McLatchy News Washington Bureau has locked onto the story about the legalities of Levi’s apprenticeship. Of course they are citing Fagan’s article about this and I STILL think he has his facts wrong, at least in part.
“I said thanks but no thanks to those bridges to nowhere”
“We’re building a 40 billion dollar pipeline ourselves”
“I have been exonerated”
“They are not high school drop-outs”
She lives in a separate reality.
My favorite part of Sarah’s phone message to People Magazine: “They are certainly not high-school dropouts…
~~~~~~~~~~~
I believe it started out with…”YOU NEED TO KNOW…..”maybe she was at the same party as Doogan was that night????
Holiday cheer and all….
*****
akdennis:
One of the problems for those seeking to file suit over unfair hiring practices is that they have to file suit on their own dime. For the average blue collar schmo this requires hiring an attorney out of pocket.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do you not have labor board up there? Usually you file a complaint with labor board and they take it to court, at least her in cali..?
@SMR-
Thank you for your insight. I assume the major issues are: Levi was placed into the apprentice program over a number of others who meet the qualifications and are waiting for a slot; Levi may or may not meet the qualifications for the position, specifically he does not have a high school degree or a GED, that shows he was successfully completed requited math classes.
Levi/his placement is a problem because he is connected/related to the Palins, and there is an appearance of favoritism. SP can’t keep claiming innocence- doesn’t she know what the rest of her family is doing?
crystalwolf a.k.a. caligrl(20:49:52) :
My favorite part of Sarah’s phone message to People Magazine: “They are certainly not high-school dropouts
_________________________________________________________________________
SP can technically claim that Bristol and Levi are not drop outs IF they are in a district-approved plan to complete requirements for graduation. If Levi has not taken the GED, I assume it’s because he does not have enough knowledge in one or more areas to be able to pass the tests. Or the Palins do not want their daughter married to a GED-holder. Bristol may be in the same boat: she will have to complete the required coursework within a set period of time to graduate/receive a diploma.
@crystalwolf
I don’t know the mechanism for contesting wrongful hiring practices in Alaska. I made the statement I did regarding suing because I worked with a woman who sued the company I worked for preferentail hiring. She told me that she had to hire an attorney to bring the lawsuit. Of course, they offered her a job if she agreed to drop the suit.
There could very well be another avenue to follow (besides bringing a lawsuit) if one wants to contest hiring practices but I’m not personally familiar with it.
Anyone else know?
It would appear that SP’s only issue is that of being high school drop outs. I am sure that one of her lame political advisers told her she will never make it through the primaries with a personal record of indifference to education. Instead of actually having a policy or anything so rational, she made a reactive call to Peoples and made it worse. Yeah Sarah. Keep it up! Love that display of George Bush incompetence.
Must be tough now that she has real problems that require real solutions. The budget, anyone?
On the positive side (for the nation) all this slick favoritism is happening in Alaska. And we don’t have to stick 988 loader tires on the 4 corners of the whitehouse to make the trailer trash feel ta’home. Trash is much easier to sort out if its kept local.
akdennis (21:07:01) :
There could very well be another avenue to follow (besides bringing a lawsuit) if one wants to contest hiring practices but I’m not personally familiar with it.
Anyone else know?
__________________________________________________________________________
In Colorado, one can file a complaint with the Civil Service Commission, or the State Department of Labor, and they will investigate the claim. I think a successful complaint can lead to the payment of wages lost, or placement in a job-
@akdennis — yes, definately there exists a difference between the hiring practices for technical folk and others. And a difference between the practices of the contractors and the Big 3.
But, since you have worked on the slope, how would you define an electrician? I consider them somewhere in between technical & not, I guess. BP operators are union. Are their electricians as well?
I was just reading somewhere — wish I could remember, but I don’t, so won’t even take a stab at it lest you all go on a www goose chase — that the unemployment rate in Wasilla is over 11%. That is roughly twice the avg.
It’s nearly impossible to explain the connection between the nepotism/cronyism in hiring for north slope oil jobs and where you live in AK, don’t you think? Wasilla & Kenai have a real lock on that. Not coincidentally, Kenai has big contractor offices and the LNG plant. Wasilla does not have the offices or plant, but has, I’m guessing, a disproportionately high number of oil workers per capita.
Wasilla is a long way for a daily commute to/from Anchorage. When I was a teen we tried it, moved out to Wasilla, folks did the daily commute for a while, then threw in the towel. Lots of life hours burned on the road and not a lot of quality of life value in exchange (I, personally, loathe Wasilla, but that’s just me, and it has nothing to do with SP, everything to do with small town, lots of drugs, small minds, too religious in a hypocritical way, etc etc). So, there are loads of people who live out there that work on the slope in oil jobs. That being the case, there is a disproportionate of cronyism/nepotism concentrated there.
Same thing for Kenai, minus the option of commuting.
Is it any big surprise that those two places have the highest concentration of republicans/palin supporters/right-wingers AND drug use/alcoholism/domestic abuse????
I’ve lived both places. I’m not just guessing here.
Southcentral Alaska (lucky blue Juneau & Ketchikan get to miss out on all of this craziness) has some very strange dynamics. One large city, Anchorage, with approx 250,000 people. Smallish suburbs considered easy commuting distance (Eagle River, Chugiak, Peters Creek, Girdwood, Bird Creek, Indian). Wasilla & Palmer for the hardcore commuters. And lots of people all over the state who fly to Anchorage or Fairbanks (or drive there) to fly to jobs on the north slope, but a disproportionately high amount of them in Kenai & Wasilla.
Is there anything to compare it to in the lower 48? Not that I’ve seen. There is no other state that is so heavily dependent on the oil industry. And of course our gov is busy shredding the state’s relationship with the oil companies to bits. Crapping all over the Big 3 to gain the state a few extra dollars in the short term, losing the state money in the long term, trying to paint herself as the big reformer, taking on big oil, all effing mavricky.
It’s just such a strange dynamic that it’s really difficult to try to explain coherently — I’ve just sort of rambled on here without being able to put it in a way that someone outside of it can understand.
I understand the cronyism & nepotism, but I don’t see how the leapfrogging of waitlists can be overlooked, nor the requirements, some of which are likely in place for safety reasons.
And I sincerely hope that there’s some attorney out there (Rex?) who is willing to do a class action on behalf of all of those waitlisted guys. ASRC has some mighty deep pockets, and our gov isn’t going to be in office forever…
SMRNo Gravatar (21:37:02) : “I understand the cronyism & nepotism, but I don’t see how the leapfrogging of waitlists can be overlooked, nor the requirements, some of which are likely in place for safety reasons.”
That worked just fine with OSHA and Chemical Safety Board gutted by the Bushies. Now it is changing. I am familiar with a petrochemical company that had been recommended for OSHA Star Status that had a chemical spill. Now they are all over the company for safety violations, improper or no training, not following standards, and on and on. Electricity has serious standards. With a new government in DC, these companies face serious risks if there are reportable accidents.
I still say this is a kid set up for failure.
…on another blog, someone made some interesting points about SP statement…saying that it had something to do with insurance…that her daughter had to be in school in order to be covered….and that’s whay SP made a bigger deal of it to People Mag.
~AND~
if Todd is 1/16th what does that made his daughter…would her health care be paid because of this.
`AND`
Also they aren’t married because they would then become responsible for paying for their own health care?
I’d be interested to know if anyone has been denied a place on the list because of the diploma/GED requirements. It’s possible that the union can make its own rules (different from federal rules), I guess, but once they’ve made those rules I think it would be hard for them to justify letting some people get in without the right credentials while denying others.
And if Levi has been working since March, the “damages” anyone might sue for are rapidly approaching a years’ salary.
@Hick Town –
That is for double sure. BP has had some serious issues on the slope, in Texas, etc. And I don’t think they would look very kindly on having some boy working for them – thru a contractor, but still – that did not meet minimum requirements.
If something happened, the lawsuits go down the chain, and BP ends up paying for a mistake made by some 18 yr old boy w/out a HS diploma or GED that got his job thru a contractor looking to do a favor to the gov who is HUGELY unpopular with the Big 3… I don’t think so!!!!
Look for Levi looking for a new job – asap.
SP seems to me to be this package for everyone she comes into contact with — state of AK, John Mc, Levi, TransCanada, the poor fools who she appoints, you name it — looks great on the outside, you think it’s that present that you’ve been wanting all year, open it up and it blows up in your face.
@Duct –
At the native hospital in Anchorage you can receive free care if you can prove that you are of native descent. 1/4 or 1/8 or 1/16 — doesn’t matter, you just have to be able to prove it.
However, the kids still have to earn a living. How in the hell they’re supposed to do that with neither of them having graduated from high school is beyond me. Even with a HS diploma, having a small baby means one income (flipping burgers at McD’s if you don’t have any prior work experience to speak of &/or no particular skills or intelligence), or two small incomes and subsidized daycare. Sounds like a blast, the start of a beautiful thing.
More than likely the kids will be living w/the gov & first dud indefinately. Levi’s mother is obviously not an option.
Well, I wish them luck, they are really going to need it. Life is hard enough when you don’t start w/all of those responsibilities.
Just a clarification. The program that is being indicated that Levi is in is the ARSC program. This is not a union sponsored program. The AJEATT (Alaska Joint Electrical Apprentiship Training Trust) is sponsored by IBEW/NECA and is the Union apprenticeship program.
@QuiltAK –
Dennis and I were talking about ASRC meaning Arctic Slope Regional Corp. I was under the impression that that was who he was hired through…
akdennis (15:56:21) :
okay. Wondering why the article refers to the feds, when it may be a private program.
But maybe not. I could have my own company, approve myself as an apprentice, certify I have passed, and apply for an electrician’s license, a license which has some legal standing.
I suspect that private companies with apprentice programs have some relationship with the a certifying trade group.
Perhaps they administer the training, and certify its legitimacy.
Its hard to imagine a certifying program that accepts drop-outs.
Hannity is claiming that Dan Fagen’s article is liberal yellow journalism.
heh
duct idaho palin (22:10:32) :
I’d be interested to know if anyone has been denied a place on the list because of the diploma/GED requirements. It’s possible that the union can make its own rules (different from federal rules), I
========
Rules like:18 years of age
High School Diploma or GED Certificate
2 passing semesters in high school algebra or one post high school algebra class.
Official copy of high school transcripts
One year Alaska residency
$25.00 Application Fee
http://www.ajeatt.org/apply.htm
Nepotism-gate
@SMR
QuiltAK is correct. ASRC is NOT union, nor are most contractors on the slope. I think that Peak uses union equipment operators but that’s the only one that comes to mind right off. It doesn’t really matter since most companies compensate their employees quite well even with the employees lacking union representation. Plenty of money to go around in the oil industry, as we both know!
As far as the apprenticeship program being a cut above unskilled craft work, well it deffinitely is. But it is still entry level and the pay isn’t all that great to start. I buddy of my stepson is a electrical apprentice and he started at around $14.00 per hour. Pretty good wages by some standards but not at all good for the slope. I would classify an electrician as more technical than not. A journeyman electrician working for a contractor makes $32.00 to $34.00 per hour, last time I heard.
I agree that most of the slopers in Alaska live either here in Mat-Su or out Kenai/Sterling/Soldotna/Homer way. Don’t know why this is but suspect it’s our good buddies nepotism and cronyism again!
/tinfoilhat on
Levi Johnston is actually in hiding at a secret location. A work accident will be staged, his death will be faked. No wedding. Levi will be spirited away to start a new life.
/tinfoilhat off
SMR (22:43:27) :
I know you were. I apologize if I came off as being rude. I’ve just seen it posted by a few here and on other sites refering to it as union (that and I’m doing some other research at the same time so my head is buzzing). NECA/IBEW is pretty strict about its requirements. Levi would have had to apply and go through an interview process just like other candidates. If he didn’t meet the qualifications he wouldn’t even get an interview. If he can muster it, it’s a good trade to be in, but very dangerous. Not to be entered lightly, in my book.
I’ve posted a diary on aspects of this at firedoglake’s Oxdown Gazette. The diary is called “The Curious Case of Dan Fagan’s Levi Johnston Op-Ed in the Anchorage Daily News.”
Sorry – don’t have time to do the html thingie…
Riverside, I heard your call on the wind. Here’s some news to chew on. It is -62 at our house. The weatherdude says there is no end in sight to the cold. Half of our plumbing works fine, the other half doesn’t. The warmest it has been in our house for days is 51-62 degrees. Now it’s 62 and it feels like paradise. Dogs hate to go potty, but they’re good Alaska dogs and do it because they must. Like we all must. Tonight, a meteor shower, the Quadrantids, sprayed overhead alongside a weak and fluttering green curtain aurora borealis. We own 70 acres of a birch and spruce covered hill facing south. We are behind a taller hill in the wintertime, so we get no sun on our land from November to February. And then suddenly, we will be drenched in sun. We have about four feet of snow, which means that our septic system is working this year. We had a moose in the yard, one who was bawling two days ago for some reason. Maybe she was saying it’s $@#!ing cold today! One dog and two cats sleep with me, the other three cats sleep with the Better Half. And one dog has her own bed in front of the heater. Life is good, and you can’t get better than this.
For all of you thinking that Sarah Palin is all that Alaska is, please come visit and see for yourselves. Life is good here, life is fine. Life is an adventure, sometimes hair-raising, sometimes just plain interesting. Sarah just gives us something to talk about instead of always moaning about the cold weather. How about a Summertime Mudflatters Meetup at the Flats?
I hate to get overly optimistic about Alaska politics, but maybe, just maybe, the tide is turning on SP. The latest Dittman Poll commissioned by Alaska Standard and release yesterday, shows her soundly defeated in a (theoretical) run against fellow R, Lisa Murkowski in 2010:
http://www.thealaskastandard.com/?q=node/232
Men still like her more than women, and interestingly, young voters like her the most. Don’t quite get that. Don’t they watch the Daily Show or SNL? Seriously worried about the younger gen.
Who did the electrical wiring at the church ?
Sure hope it wasn’t Levi, as part of his “apprenticeship” program.
Would someone from Alaska please to to the State House on the second floor and see if the wall shown on the left with the famous interview showing SP pregnant actually exists? Audrey of Palindeceptions shows the picture on her site. The left wall has always bothered me. This morning I opened the picture in PSP – a photo editing program and clicked View – Grid. My understanding op perspective is that vertical lines should be parallel to one another and horizontal lines go to a vanishing point. This doesn’t work in the interview picture.
I’m about to post this picture on my blog. See above.
Kinda reminds me of that old story about the current POTUS. Seems he didn’t want to go to Vietnam like many others his age but there was daddy-o helping him leapfrog over hundreds of others waiting to get into the Texas Air National Guard. Once in that outfit, daddy-o made sure shrubbie wasn’t stuck in some infantry-type unit and got him into the pilots program. Standards be damned. There’s nothing like good old family patronage.
The real question now is, will Levi be like shrubbie and bail out on completing his program (with the attendant claim that he “served”) and forever be able to wear the unie? Or will Levi at least meet the requirements of the program and get that job done?
Of course, the other option to this entire thing is that the guv mispoke, again, and Levi’s not really in the apprentice program, but is just a regular worker up on the slope.
1.) SWWNBN is definitely an ‘expert’ on dropping out… 3-4 times…
2.) Does the Levi’s mum’s income / i.e. family household income need to be certified… could be interesting…
3.) “SP can’t keep claiming innocence- doesn’t she know what the rest of her family is doing?”
Now that opens an interesting can of worms re. the Levi’s Momma J. opening a competition to Starbucks… and certifying that income…
End snark.
As an M.I.T. Architect who went on to become a certified Journeyman Electrician, I will say that the knowledge and technical requirements of that license were, at least for me, harder than those for Architect – i.e. structural engineering, etc..
Morning all!
If you have not checked out ADN this morning it seems another Palin Gate has opened.
Article about Johnstons drug investigation and political tampering. Seems that the investigation was slowed down until after the election. Here we go!
Have to say I pretty much figured that was the case when I read about the arrest. Seems I may have been correct in my assumptions.
Are there anymore gates to open or will the last one be a jail cell for SP?
Yup…Sarah has said she will plow through open doors, but it does seem more like gates these days…babygate,troopergate,whoreallybuiltmyhousegate,oxycontingate….
Wonder what Levi wrote in the “Education Completed” section of his app. ???? Also – the only door I see in SP’s future is a trap door……..with a felon’s neck-tie !!!!
If SP had a clone, she would be going to the legislature to lobby for impeachment!
The part I like best about this the petty cronyism. Palin’s two big promises when she was running for governor was to fight the old boys network and to get alaska moving, e.g. get the gasline built. If and when she runs for reelection she will be judged on her record. With a slowing economy, AGIA stuck at nowhere and a tough budget to sell, the legislature is going to be a lot less deferential than they have been the past two years. The 50th anniversary won’t be the only fireworks in 09. Know hope.
I was an apprentice at one time, but the company I worked for certified me as a journeyman when the apprenticeship was complete.
BTW, my entrance into the program required a HS diploma and a year of HS physics.
I wonder if Levi has learned the meaning of “86″ yet?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ANSI_Device_Numbers
Duncan – the only math he needs to master is percentages…….as in what % he walks away from the People deal with !!
Is it noted somewhere that Levi did start working in March, thus dropping out of high school at that time? If this is the case and there was a “Tripp” infant born last weekend sometime, then it would be facetious to state that Levi started work to care for “Tripp” and his and Bristol’s future back in the month of March 2008.
It would be rather difficult for Bristol to know as early as March 2008 that she was pregnant with the infant allegedly born last weekend.
Actually, if March is recorded somewhere as his “drop out” date and declaration of Bristol’s pregnancy then the statement doesn’t hold water. A pregnancy is only 280 days (if longer then intervention by the attending doctor does/should induce labor as post mature infants are at risk just as premature infants have their difficulties) and many pregnancies result in birth around 260 days.
Any reference anywhere re: March and Levi’s work history?
Keep up the good work AKM and Mudflatters. What an island of comfort you provide!!
Betzy, my guess is that he started work in early March 2008, because that is when he and Bristol’s FIRST child was born, named Trig.
Then, a VERY short time after that birth, he knocked her up AGAIN, and Tripp was born in Dec ’08.
So, can we expect another baby to be born in early October, 2009 ?
Or have they FINALLY learned about birth control ?
NY Dem – your timeline and theory work for me…….drill-baby-drill indeed !!!!
I have my popcorn ready, just waiting for the new TV Series to begin, “Palin’s Apprentice”.
NY Dem & Betzy…yes, that is the theory and timeline I have been going with since Bristol was thrown under the bus back in September by her mom and McLame.
I believe when Levi was interviewed in his driveway back in October the article stated her had been working since March.
Sarah’s lies, coverups, and double talk have come home to roost…why would Levi have to drop out of school and get a job back in March when Bristol wouldn’t have even missed her first period yet? Why would Trig, a premature DS infant (who weighed over 6 pounds) be released from the hospital in 24 hours with Sarah who showed up at the office three days later? Why would Sarah take a 4.5 month old DS infant on the campaign trail exposing him to germs, colds, & possible ear infections by having him on those buses, planes, and crowded rallies? All the while a with a supposedly “very pregnant” Bristol in tow who was obscured from the photogs, stages, and interviews unlike the other kids.
It boggles the mind, doesn’t it?
Wouldn’t the IBEW know what is needed for the apprenticeship?
Seems like they would. I don’t think they will be too happy if things are needed for apprenticeship,and he doesn’t have it,Especially since Sarah Palin basically went with MCCain on getting rid of them.
Thanks Glow,
It is really refreshing to hear something real from Alaska. The SP creature is such a tinsel publicity crazy lady that she reads like a back-lot Coney Island manekin from the Twilight Zone. That way madness lies.
Great to hear a real Alaskan speak.
Alaska Electrical Apprenticeship Waiver Form
Are you related to or in the good graces of the omnipotent Governor Sarah Palin?
Please check:
Yes No
If no please resubmit your application and when Sarah Palin runs out of relatives in need of job training or cronies who need the same your application will be reviewed.
If yes please pack your bags and report to the Training Facility listed in enclosure (1).
Thank you for your interest in our program.
Sincerely,
Sarah Palin
Governor
Levi just announced he’s quitting his apprenticeship job.
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/643519.html?mi_pluck_action=comment_submitted#Comments_Container
Levi Johnston, the Wasilla teenager planning to marry Gov. Sarah Palin’s daughter, Bristol, has quit his North Slope oil field job over questions about his eligibility to participate in an electrical apprenticeship program, Johnston’s father said today.
(snip)
Keith Johnston also said the governor had nothing to do with getting Levi Johnston the oil field job. Keith Johnston said his own position as an ASRC construction engineer accounts for any help his son received in landing work.