Lisa – The New Ted.
Well, looky here. Isn’t this interesting…
If the collective raising of eyebrows made a sound, you’d be hearing it.
Alaska’s new senior Senator (R) Lisa Murkowski, has landed the big one, and slipped into the vacuum left by convicTed Stevens on the coveted Senate Appropriations Committee. Stevens, the longest-serving Republican in Senate history, was a longtime Appropriations chairman with oodles of influence on spending projects in Alaska. This is one of the reasons nobody could imagine life without Ted.
In order to take the slot on Appropriations, she’s giving up membership on the Foreign Relations Committee. But she’ll retain her spot as the ranking Republican on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and she’ll stay on the Indian Affairs Committee and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Murkowski says she pursued being on Appropriations in part to push for funding projects that can benefit Alaska, from basic infrastructure like roads to hospitals.
Basically an Alaskan Senator would give up their right arm, nevermind the Foreign Relations Committee, to get this assignment. Looking forward to 2010, this does not bode well for anyone who’s thinking about challenging Murkowski for the senate seat. If the party powers that be, let’s say, were trying to figure out how to assure that a certain governor from Alaska had a tougher time of knocking down the incumbent in a senatorial race, and worming her way into the nation’s capital, this would be an excellent way of doing it. Just sayin’.
I’ve mentioned before that it would be in the Democratic leadership’s best interest to be awful nice to Mark Begich, and give him lots of goodies in the next six years for that very reason. He needs to come home “the golden boy” with feathers in his cap. I doubt there are many in D.C. on either side of the aisle that would relish a “Palin Dynasty.” A cross-border alliance between a competent and influential moderate Republican and a competent and influential moderate Democrat is the best path for anyone wishing to avoid “Mrs. Palin Goes to Washington.”
I even heard my own eyebrows raising when I heard. Lisa must have been thrilled, although somehow I don’t think it will be business as usual in the Appropriations Committee now.
I wonder if this very surprising move has anything to do with a compromise for Stevens not getting pardoned.
I think the combo of Sens. Lisa and Begich is turning out to be a great team for AK and our nation. … Can you imagine Palin debating Lisa if Snowflake runs for a senate seat next year?? It would be painfully glorious to watch….and it could happen cuz Palin truly believes she is flawless and all her mess ups are everyone else’s fault.
Palin == Out of Touch, Out for Herself.
It’s a known fact in Washington D.C., Palin is NOT respected from either party. If Alaska sent her to D.C., our State would be toast! Senator Murkowski has the respect from both parties and is admired for her intellect, calmness and her true desire to look out for the families in Alaska. The gov. doesn’t stand a chance running against Senator Murkowski, us Alaskan’s have had enough of Queen gov.
What a fine development. There is hope….
EatWildFish: Snowflake……I like that. you know what eventually happens to snowflakes, don’t you?
From what I can tell from a distance, it seems that most Alaskans have always appreciated elected officials who jet off to Washington for the sole purpose of loading up countless barrels with federal pork.
During the presidential campaign, I sometimes wondered how all those McCain/Palin-style Alaskans could keep their heads from exploding when their chosen candidates kept saying “Thanks-But-No-Thanks” and “I’ll-Make-Those-Dastardly-Earmarkers-Famous-And-You-Will-Know-Their-Names.”
” If the party powers that be, let’s say, were trying to figure out how to assure that a certain governor from Alaska had a tougher time of knocking down the incumbent in a senatorial race, and worming her way into the nation’s capital, this would be an excellent way of doing it. Just sayin’.”
—————————————————-
And you couldn’t have said it any better.
I’m having a little snigger at that news.
One wonders why the RNC would OK Alaskan Senator to be on this commitee, again. It is a gravy train spot that I would think all of the more senior members of the RNC would be grabbing at, especially the ones who face tough re-election battles. I always wondered what kind of dirt old Ted had all of his fellow Senators to wield so much power considering he hails from a tiny, far away safe Republican stronghold. I wonder if he passes that dirt on to Lisa and she is now holding the magic wand.
I agree AKM, nice roadblock. It’s over for Palin and has been from day one. Palin is one human being worthy of contempt.
Your analysis is spot on, AKM. When I heard that Lisa got a seat on Senate Appropriations, my first thought was that no Alaskan will vote against Lisa now, except the lunatic fringe that SWWNBN’d is welcome to anyway.
Lisa will not bring home the select bacon like Ted did, not in this administration. If anything, more like bacon ends and pieces.
She will be pushed out by her own. Delicious!
I sure have been smiling a lot lately.:-)
@pvazwindy (13:32:47) :
Ah, but even bacon ends and pieces are better than nothing and will certainly help fend off the lipsticked one…
OMG – could you even imagine putting up with that screechy witch’s voice in the Senate? 1000 blackboards with eager children to rake their fingernails across and a 1000 bins filled with Styrofoam cups being bombarded with baseballs would be preferable.
After hearing this news SP is surely weighing up how much money she could earn in the private sector.
Let hope she goes for it (Fox News, books, appearances etc. can’t imagine many people would want her for the lecture circuit – that voice!).
Then let’s hope she needs every cent she makes in legal fees.
That is good to hear, I have commented that I had hoped that Murkowski and Begich goals to work together, are more important then everything I hear Palin does…. which is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
sswnbn would not last a day in the Senate. They’d chew her up and spit her out.
I’m cautiously optimistic for you Alaskans here… I wonder what the sound of just my left eyebrow raising makes?
Good luck you you, Lisa. And keep a shotgun by the door. Just in case.
Well, I sure hope Lisa can bring home *some* infrastructure money (what ya’ll call “pork”). An example of one of the needs that SWWNBN doesn’t want to fund: a bridge on the highway into Seward — the speed limit used to be 55 mph. The engineers looked at the structural members under the bridge, freaked, and lowered the speed limit to 25 mph. The bridge carries a lot of big truck traffic. They would close the bridge if they could, but it’s the only way to drive in & out of Seward.
Those are the sort of projects that critics love to call “pork”. People Outside take their infrastructure for granted (or did until the bridge over the Mississippi collapsed). We still haven’t built many of the basic roads and things we need. The State of Alaska has fewer road miles than King County (Seattle), Washington.
@Martha Unalaska Yard Sign (13:45:11) :
My ears nearly start to bleed right now just thinking about it (and I’m wondering if I’ll really make it through the SotS tonight…).
@ InJuneau
If you do make it thru the SotS – please post your thoughts for us! I can’t do it, I just can’t do it, her voice makes me itch all over like I’m in a fiberglass suit , I just can’t do it…
OT, but: For anyone wanting to put themselves through the entertainment/torture of listening to the SotS speech, it will be available through Gavel-To-Gavel this evening as a live stream: http://www.ktoo.org/gavel/schedule.cfm It starts at 7 pm, at which point there should be a live link to the Audio Stream. I think KTUU is also going to stream it: http://www.ktuu.com/ Click on the “Watch Sarah Palin Live” banner at the top of the page.
Murkowski’s “pork” for AK is Joe (Lower-48) Six-pack’s tax dollar. Nice to know he’ll be funding the demise of Sarah Palin’s political prance.
Has anyone written the list of keywords yet for a drinking game for the SotS address tonight?
Yup!
I was so excited yesterday to watch the Inauguration.
Every now and then I shuddered, thinking, it could have been McCain and Palin.
Thank God we have a new opportunity for this country.
I would never underestimate Palin. She is positioning for something and is appealing to the crowd that hates liberals, media and anything to do with Democrats.
Alaska needs to keep up the pressure and expose her for what she really is.
@grewingk (14:08:06) :
Oh…I hadn’t even thought about that. I’d better get started, unless anyone wants to share a list. And I have to work tomorrow too…
grewingk said, “The State of Alaska has fewer road miles than King County (Seattle), Washington.”
I believe it, grewingk.
If you’ve never tried Google Earth, do. I took a look at Alaska from these satellite images through Google Earth, just because I wanted to see the pipeline road system. While I was doing that, I also looked at other roads throughout Alaska spreading out from Anchorage and Fairbanks. I particularly looked for roads heading toward the west coast of Alaska where Emmonak and other coastal villages are.
Some of those roads peter out about 200 miles from the coast. Weird. Maybe there’s an insurmountable mountain range at that point, it’s hard to tell. Other roads head north and east, and also peter out. They don’t actually CONNECT to any other cities.
I wonder if some Alaska roads are, on a larger scale, like some of the ranch roads you see in lower-48 states — built partly by property owners, the borough, the state, the Feds? And they go into the interior just as far as the last house/ranch? Then why are the coastal villages left out?
@ Diane
“She is positioning for something and is appealing to the crowd that hates liberals, media and anything to do with Democrats”
That’s one of her biggest failings – her stupidly and hubris regarding the media not only makes her look like a chronic whiner, she NEEDS the media to win a national election and it’s just not going her way. I count a few more “hard wired” failings that will hinder her greatly:
The witch’s voice
The controversies she can’t stay out of
The drama she can’t stay away from
Her complete lack of empathy (thank you Narcissistic Personality Disorder)!
Her inability to debate unless she’s snarky and winky
Her inability to think on her feet for interviews – she’s always got a lie on her lips so the interviews completely stump her since she would be caught so easily on tape
The Dud was a member of the AIP for several years (didn’t change til she ran for office)
@Ripley,
I heard that left eyebrow.
It is good to see the chnage we need and I pray for Alaskans,
re; the coverage of the SotS address, Will check it out.
I noticed at ADN, if I said the slightest thing that wasnt supportive of SP, my comments were blocked. Its ok, if they want to be one sided, but I believe we have a right to state our beliefs. I think I only posted a comment 2x, too. IT seems like most of the media supports palin, but the KTUU, did the story to cover the crisis in emmonak.
@Diane, are you referring to Nation wide, or Alaska. I
WOW Martha UnAlaska Yard Sign
You summed that all up brilliantly,
‘Also’ don’t forget personal vanity as per the stupid lip tattoo, she’s not gonna like the looming menopause.
ACK!! Imagine her in menopause!!! RUUUUUNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!
@ UK Lady
Good one! AND, another that I can’t BELIEVE I forgot on the list:
ANONYMOUS BLOGGERS
I don’t know if has been mentioned here before but today it was reorted that Sarah Palin has signed on with the same entertainment lawyer that represented Barack Obama in his book deals. Didn’t I read here once that taking any money for outside work, such as writing a book went against Alaskan law?
I suggest that whoever she signs with for the book deal will not need the period on their keyboard. They will just need to insert “also after every 12 words.
TMH – you took the question right out of my mouth…….beat me to it as a matter of fact…….
too…
exploiting me…
progressing the country…
all about job creation…
Joe the Plumber…
Maverick…
Mavericky…
pot shot at me…
filter of the liberal media…
thanks but no thanks…
There you go Joe…
Say it ain’t so…
fiscal conservative…
reformer…
leave them alone…
I’m hard wired…
pit bull and hockey…
palling around…
There, I’m almost done writing it!
Please, no drinking games for the book! It would kill us all…
TMH (14:40:35) :
I suggest that whoever she signs with for the book deal will not need the period on their keyboard. They will just need to insert “also after every 12 words.
__________________________________________________________
heh heh…very funny.
I thougt about the violation of AK law also, when I heard about the entertainment lawyer. SP better have signed a contingency contract; her satr power is waning, except with the FREEPERS- and I don’t know how much they’d pay to hear multiple “ya knows”.
HEY, I just noticed something interesting…. I went to the ADN site, like a good honorary Alaskan, and I saw NO picture of Snowflake at the bottom with NO little place for what she’s up to…..
*raises left brow again*
Sots speech: Advance notes:
Drill, bulldoze, cut trees. Let them eat hatchery fish.
Martha Unalaska Yard Sign(14:45:10) :
Oh man- I’d be drunk before she finished the first five minutes of her speech…dontcha know (wink). Oh wait- if someone else writes it, and SP inserts only half of her usual word salad… maybe I’d only be pleasantly stupid.
I can’t listen tonight- I’d run screaming for a red pen…
Hey, Moose Pucky!
OT: I found out that the land AK is getting is part of the deal made when Alaska became a state. Google “federal lands turned over to Alaska”, and a couple of links pop up.
That entertainment lawyer is a ‘Washington Elitist’, who has already signed with David Axelrod to do a book on the brilliant O campaign.
Wonder how the illiterate nitwits at ‘team sarah’ will spin that?
SHe sure slipped into a position of power. I just hope that she would learn more about the renewable energy projects that are going on in the world, instead of just the OIL and Gas politics of Alaska. Its like are Alaskan political leaders just say the words renewable energy buy don’t really mean it.
turns
I think the whole book thing was OT also – sorry but I couldn’t help myself.
All I ask from Murkowski, Begich, and Young is that in going after $$$ for Alaska that there be some transparency in the process and some opportunity for pubic process.
State and local public officials in the slough whom we know well have a tendency to bypass this necessary detail. That’s why earmarks get a bad name. Just want them to keep wild fish stocks and healthy watersheds and healthy habitat in mind when recommending funding for projects. Fixing the existing generally is better than the new mega-projects.
For example, road “improvement” for the pie-in-the-sky gas pipeline would affect the Haines Highway along the Chilkat River and through the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve in Haines. Straightening this route and increasing the speed limit for truck traffic may create some serious drawbacks for our community and all concerned if projects are not done thoughtfully and without hurry. Some of this is already happening along Lutak Road as well and is pushing fill into coastline lands in a rather thoughtless fashion.
State Officials Travel to Emmonak
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGbTbogcdT0
CO almost native–you may be partly right about that. Here’s hoping the new Administration can help ensure the process will include some protective measures (before everyone signs on the dotted line)–because state and local Alaska public review processes for permitting industrial projects–be they mines, pipelines, power plants, hatchery fish projects, transportation projects or other–are notorious for being something less than transparent, inclusive, and sensitive to the desires of the people and the health of land of waters.
@Ripley,
I’m watching that left eyebrow.
I noticed that today on ADN.. no SP page. What in the world?
Oh the powers that be in DC are diabolical! AKM you are so astute…Mark and Lisa might just be the perfect storm!
There IS no pork left in DC. Time to crack the AK piggy bank.
Any monies will have to have jobs attached to them during these hard times.
I think McCain would be the first to expose any frivolous pork going AK.
Palins’ ploy for the pipeline won’t work either, the native groups in Canada are mini sovereign nations, to be negotiated with separately. The Canadian federal government has no control or attachment to their lands any longer.
They want nothing to do with the pipeline, so “fuhgit abaht it”
If anyone were to “bring home the bacon” I’m sure it will be a Dem.
Obama and his people are not stupid. I have a lot of hope for the future of the beautiful state of Alaska.
My crystal ball is showing Republicans transforming into Democrats in the AK legislature.
@Ripley in CT (14:51:08) :
Yeah, they removed that banner of links a week or so ago. I think they got a bunch of complaints about why in the heck was that still up…
CO almost native, thanks for that tip. This link is especially helpful.
http://www.alaskacoalition.org/campaigns/blm-lands
The little brown area in northern SE is part of the “Ring of Fire” region of BLM lands that would include my area of concern–Chilkoot. Chilkoot could easily qualify for nationa wild, scenic, and recreational river status. I see it as being remarkable enough for some sort of special designation like World Heritage Site–though it’s probably a bit small for that. The opportunity is there to care for it now–but there are strong forces, mostly local, mostly Alaskan for developing it. The land transfer will play into this.
Clinton threw another word at Palin to practice. My Dear Sarah, instead of pro-gress an idea, which you have few, try furtherance.
WC Fields had a line I love: “She drove me to drink and I didn’t even thank her.”
@ KaJo(14:22:12) :
Lots of the roads up here were originally built by miners, trappers and homesteaders. The Taylor Highway was originally a Cat trail pushed through by gold miners when they finally got bulldozers in the 1930′s. Before that, all mail & supplies got hauled into the country by a freighter (John Powers of Eagle) with his pack train in the summer and horse drawn sledge in the winter. Eddie Biederman’s grandpa had the mail contract from Eagle to Circle until airplanes became common for mail routes in, I dunno, the 1920′s-30′s. He ran a dog team on the ice, on the Yukon River. (One of his big freight sleds is in the Smithsonian now.)
The road past my house was a Jeep trail built by my FIL and the few other homesteaders that were out here in the 1950′s. They used farm tractors and WWII surplus Jeeps to get stuff in. They also used horses and wagons on the beach at low tide when it was muddy or the snow was deep up here on top of the bluff. My SO and his brothers were homeschooled until they were old enough to ride their horses the 7 miles out to the schoolbus turnaround. (About third grade.)
When my SO was born, my FIL walked 20 miles down the beach to Homer to tell the bush pilot (Gene Lawrence) to come out and get my MIL. Then he walked home and packed a landing strip in the snow with his snowshoes. (We have a Super Cub strip on one of the hay meadows.) The pilot came out the next day and flew mom, dad & tiny older brother to the hospital in Seldovia, where my SO was born two days later. Then the pilot flew them home. Homer didn’t have a doctor yet. Seldovia, across the bay, had a hospital. (Dana Stabenow is a native of Seldovia.)
Anyway, there probably aren’t any/many roads out west because the ground is swampy. (Notice the duckboard sidewalks in the photos you see of the villages.) Good traveling by snowgo in winter when it’s frozen, but during the summer, everyone uses boats to travel on the rivers. That’s why all of the villages are built on rivers.
A side note: All of the native-built villages are on the north side of the Yukon, to get max winter sun. All of the white-built villages are on the south side. (I don’t know about the Kusko.)
To any pilots, in Alaska, IFR means “I follow rivers” because we don’t have any roads to follow. 25% of Alaskans are licensed pilots, because of the lack of roads. If you want to go anywhere interesting, you need an airplane or a boat.
@grewingk-
Thanks! That is fascinating; so different from my birth state Nebraska, and my home state Colorado. Well, Colorado has road issues, and we began-whites, that is- with mining, and snow/avalanches…much smaller scale:-)
@grewingk (13:58:02) : You speak the facts. Thank you. I won’t stick up for Ted, or real Pork, much of what is now going to be referred to as “pork” is basic needed infrastructure, thanks to SP & McCain and the attention she brought on,. However, I do believe alternative energy projects and infrastructure projects that will provide jobs and economic developement that are ready to go, will have a decent job of getting funding, thanks to our improved strategic placement of Lisa and Mark.
Hopefully, health and social services to the villages will not be victims to the inevitable “pork slicing”.
I am a 67 yr old Black female, mother, retired Lt. (CPD) and I started coming to this site during the election.
I don’t know a lot about Alaska. Visited there once in the 80′s.
So…I say this softly…very softly….softly
All the things that are happening and those that will happen…are OLD SCHOOL. The People Mag deal, Levis’ job loss, Native food/fuel shortage, Troopergate investigation,Murkowski/Appropriations Com., Maryline singing at one Presidential Ball and the Youtube video to be aired next month…very subtle things, you can’t point fingers at anyone in particular, but the job is getting done.
Palin should know that NO ONE either Rep or Dem is going to risk ASSOCIATING WITH HER and going up against….
THE MOST POWERFUL MAN ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH.
I do believe that Alaska will get all that she deserves from the Federal Government and more….but I don’t believe that the powers to be are through with Palin yet….and what is so amazing is that she is not putting the whole story together. Someone should tell her before she self destructs and takes the careers of many with her.
@ silverfox67
I like the way you think!
Martha Unalaska Yard Sign
Thanks…..this is all happening very slowly….like an old mystery movie…we have to be patient and wait for the next chapter to unfold. But Alaska will do fine…..I just know it!
silverfox67, your kids have a very smart mother!
Silverfox, Anyone she takes with her deserves it when she goes down. If WE can see the writing on the wall, then certainly they can, too.
The ones who bailed out on her already… now THOSE are the ones they need to get ahold of and get answers from. (sorry about the poor grammar)
antiAnti
I’m not smart….far from it…but I have been fortune enough to have watched some of the OLD POLITICAL DOGS (respectfully said) work their magic on the puppies.
Oh you guys!!! Stop it!!!
Just when I think I can go t least one whole day without checking
in on Mudflats, comes this wonderful wisdom and information, these last from
grewingk and silverfox67, the most recent wonderful ideas.
Thank you.
silverfox67 – fox indeed !!……..this story has been like a shitty little pulp novel – with all the sordid hillbilly twists – and in the end……..the dream house is lost………..
Alaska Division of Agriculture @ 5:00pm: listen live @ 1-800-315-6338 12#
The Board of Agriculture and Conservation (BAC) will hold a meeting beginning on Thursday, January 22, 2009, at 5:00 p.m. and will continue the next day as necessary in the conference room at the Division of Agriculture, 1800 Glenn Highway, Suite 12, Palmer, Alaska. The purpose of the meeting is to review loan applications, proposed loan policies, delinquencies and other agenda items.
If you would like to attend this meeting telephonically, dial 1-800-315-6338 and at the prompt enter the code 12#. Further information is available from the Division of Agriculture, 1800 Glenn Highway, Suite 12, Palmer, Alaska 99645; by phone, 907-761-3851. Alternative communication accommodations may be made with the ADA Coordinator (TDD No. 907-269-8411).
Public Notice ARLF Sale #08-02 Competitive Sealed Bid Palmer Property
silverfox67
You are a very wise woman, and I like how you say
THE MOST POWERFUL MAN ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH
And I think he put EVERYONE on notice yesterday, it is not business as usual…
There will be Ethics in politics….I got a a little chill wondering if it could of been (partally) aimed at the lipstick on a ….well you know…
Could, maybe, some of the Alaskan folk in this forum explain to me why the lower 48 should pay for so much Alaska infrastructure? I understood that Ted Stevens delivered a hugely disproportionate share of federal dollars to Alaska because of his seniority on Appropriations but other than Ted’s seniority, I have never understood why the average amount of federal money flowing to Alaska should be gobs and gobs higher than the federal money (based on per-citizen averages) going to Minnesota or South Carolina (or pick any state you wish?).
Please don’t just get angry and reactive. I am not suggesting that Alaska does not have lots of need. I am sincerely wondering if there is a good case, besides having Ted’s power-and-seniority, to give Alaska a whole lot more than the rest of us? I can easily agree that each Alaskan citizen ought to get a fair share of the federal pie . . . but quite honestly, one reason I am glad to see Ted Stevens go is that I am ready to see Alaskans stop getting what looks, to me, as more than their fair share. If there is an equitable explanation for why Alaska should get more federal infrastructure money than other states, I would like to read it.
If King County, (Seattle), Washington State has more roads than the entire state of Alaska, I am pretty sure that federal money didn’t pay for all of it. King County is probably one of the most densely populated counties in the whole country. Measuring the amount of roads they have compared to Alaska is almost meaningless. Lots of paved roads in King County are residential streets. . . there is no rural in King County. . . federal tax dollars didn’t pay for all those roads. . why should federal government pay for all the roads Alaska needs?
I know my comment is not particularly related to Palin. . . but I believe this Mudflats is about much more than hating Palin.
I can understand why Alaskans would be glad to see Senator Murkowski nab a spot on Appropriations. . . It is part of her job to do what she can to get federal dollars going to Alaska.
Does anyone understand why the Republican Senate caucus delivered this juicy spot to her and not to senators from other states? She (or someone) must have given something to other Republican Senators to land the spot. What did she give up? Was her seat on Foreign Relations coveted by some other Republican Senator?
We have seen a lot of caterwauling in the media about the pay-to-play atmosphere in Illinois, which is my home state (where I grew up, I don’t live there now). . . but let’s not kid ourselves. Politics is all pay-to-play, quid-pro-quo, you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.
I would love to know what it really cost Murkowski to land that seat.
Some have suggested that many want to help Murkowski to fend of Palin. Could that really be a serious motivation? Could some politicians have given Murkowski Appropriations just to fend off Palin? Because that seems like pure pay-to-play to me. Just because money did not change hands, it is still corrupt to do things to gain power and leverage. Elected representatives (including the ones who gave Murkowski the spot on Appropriations) are supposed to vote for what is best for the people they represent. They are not supposed to wheel and deal to perpetuate their political futures. I can see that Murkowski’s securing a spot on Appropriations was a benefit to her constituents. . . I can see why she wanted it and why Alaskans will be glad she got it. . . but it seems almost small to think she only got it to block Palin’s move to the national scene. Murkowski should only be serving the public interest. . .
Well, I’m talking in circles . . . chewing on my cud. I am trying to understand how the jockeying for committee spots happens in the Senate. I’m not challenging Alaska’s needs, honest. I am curious about political process. . .
And hey, congrats to you folks in Alaska. Murkowski’s appointment to Appropriations looks like something good for Alaskans. With your sucky governor and your felon ex-senator, you folks deserve some good news.
@tree fitz (17:17:51): I’ll take a stab at explaining why we don’t hang our head for the Fed dollars coming our way. Before we became a state in 1959 (we are celebrating our 50th this year), we were a Territory of the U.S. for almost 100 yrs. During those years, we had pretty much nothing to say about how our resources were developed, or not. How our communities were funded or not, and who went to what schools (especially the Native children who were forcefully removed from their homes and sent away to BIA schools). During those years Alaska gave, and received little.
OT: Jesse Jackson nearly choked on his sandwich when PBO got out of the “Beast” during the Inaugural parade….
but he was wearing a “bullet proof” suit..Interesting article
http://rodstocks.com/technology/barack-obamas-bulletproof-inaugural-suit-adventurewear/
Thank god, I was holding my breath the whole time as PBO walked fearlessly down the street…He Freak’in OWNED THAT STREET!!!!
silverfox67 (16:28:57) :
Welcome to Mudflats; you fit in just fine:-)
John McCain is on Larry King’s show on CNN right now: He was asked about Sarah Palin. Says he respects her, that they’re great friends, they talk a lot together, and that he’ll be seeing her “in a few days” — for that Conservative conference thingie in February? — but he stopped short when Larry King asked him if he’d support Palin in a presidential bid in 4 years.
McCain said he didn’t know who else would be running, and that he might be supporting a politician from his own state (didn’t get the name, John somebody). He just repeated his comment about respecting Palin, and would not say anything about supporting her.
Guess who’s radioactive?
tree fitz (17:27:03) :
I’ll give it a try, too. There are two different things going on when committee seats are assigned. On the part of the Senator, it’s usually (1) where is my expertise/power/interest and (2) what can I do for my state. For example, our new Senator Michael Bennett (appointed to Ken Salazar’s seat) has never held public office (Republicans licking their chops), so he is going to try to get assigned to the Agriculture Committee. This is important to Colorado, and he can gain lots of knowledge quickly- he’ll run on his own in two years.
On the other side, is the party. They try to (1) reward members, (2) help them get re-elected, and (3) put strong members in strategic positions- sometimes this is about expertise, or personality, or will. Or weak members on committees that don’t matter as much. It’s like a chess match…
OT: sorry…anyone who emailed Les Gara, now get his newsletters? Well I do, and I heard him on CC one eve. and I like him. This newsletter is very intereting to say the least.
” 3) Whether tempers had settled from a divisive National Election (I volunteered for the guy our Governor wanted to lose);”
” Every time the Governor brings up how she feels she was treated unfairly, it’s going to cause an opposite reaction from those who felt she treated President Obama unfairly in the press. I personally believe Governor Palin is on shaky ground in her recent complaints. She made a calculated choice to use the media to hit President Obama – harshly – during the campaign. Maybe it was good campaign strategy. But she can’t ignore that she went to the press – daily – to abrasively accuse President Obama of being a “terrorist” sympathizer. She tagged him repeatedly for the inflammatory rhetoric of his pastor. The Governor chose to take those negative shots – for 2 months last fall. She doesn’t get to claim “victim” status about how the media treated her. I learned when I was a kid in New York that when you swing at someone, you don’t get to complain about getting hit back.”
“Emmonak’s Fuel Cost Problems:
They Should Have Been Addressed Last Year.
Recent press reports fail to note that Alaska’s rural fuel cost crisis was a loud topic of debate during the August Special session, when the Governor and other policymakers were told fuel costs were going to reach and exceed $9/gallon in some villages. ”
It may be posted on his webpage for those who didn’t get it, it is very interesting indeed…
Or AKM if you didn’t get a copy I can forward it to you…
@ tree fitz:
There is rarely equality in allocation of federal funds. Look at West Virginia- lots and lots of roads, buildings, other stuff…all named for Senator Byrd.
I hope Alaska gets its share of infrastructure dollars for roads, bridges, and so on. Every state has bridge needs- and what about New Orleans?
There are so many neglected needs, that each state is only going to get a smallish piece of the pie.
crystalwolf a.k.a. caligrl (17:54:50) :
Thanks for posting; very interesting, indeed…
Was Michelle Obama in any kind of protective clothing? If not, why not?
Totally OT:
Free Laura Bush!!! Arrest her husband!
^^my new slogan
PS Sarah Palin = The Gash
@ tree fitz(17:17:51) :
Two things — we don’t have any people up here, really. 600,000 or so in the entire state. The California suburb I was born in has more people. (Well, almost.) So the per capita thing is real skewed and will always look bad to you guys.
And the federal govt locked up I-don’t-know-how-many millions of acres of our most resource-rich land in National Parks, wildlife refuges and such, so we can’t develop the land and do resource extraction on that land.
I used to be a placer gold miner. The richest stream I ever found by accident is in Denali Nat’l Park now. We panned thumb tip-sized nuggets with our hardhats one day, when the chopper couldn’t fly because of fog. (A survey crew. Pulled the liners out of our hardhats and used them for gold pans.) The park has some of the richest placers in the state.
The National Park Service used our place for a helicopter pad and staging area this summer to fly stuff through Nuka Pass to close the portals on the richest gold mine in Prince William Sound. The mine is now in the Kenai Fjords National Park. (Our place is an 8 minute flight away. The Homer Airport is a 28 minute flight. We saved them a bundle on chopper time, which measures in the hundreds of dollars per hour.)
Gates of the Arctic Nat’l Park up in the Brooks Range is extremely rich in gold, too.
Alaska produces oil, fish, timber, gold and zinc that we export to you. What does your state produce for us? We’re cranking original wealth (tangible things of intrinsic value) into the system.
Your question is legitimate. If I missed any good points, I hope CRFlats and everyone will jump in here to fill in the holes.
Is anyone getting calls from “conservative” organization??? I am??? Last night newt, tonight the son of Reagan, wanted me to be “outraged” how bush was/is being treated. I asked the woman where she got my phone number, and she said I had expressed interest in conservative issues??? Well I told her I would in fact like to see bush prosecuted for war crimes…big pause…”im sorry you feel that way…have a good night.” I had contacted McCains website demanding a apology from stuff Barbie was saying about BO, did anyone else complain there and getting these calls??? Well at least I get to tell them EXACTLY What I think, lol! but its a PIA.
I’ve been analyzing Sarah Palin for years now, as my disdain with her and her politics dates back a long time. I live here, and I’m impacted by her policies.
Please keep in mind that it wasn’t all that long ago that the Dems in this state LOVED Palin. Her ACES tax increase on the oil companies was a real hit, and she scored lots of points for it. One could say, theoretically, that Dems helped Sarah become the threat that she is today, since her approval ratings have been high from the beginning. Had they not been so high she probably would have been overlooked. Republicans loved her so-called “fiscal conservatism” (arguable with the ACES passing), and Dems loved both ACES, AGIA and her avoidance of addressing key social issues.
It is my opinion that Sarah could care less about all of this. Here’s why: she’s going to be laughing all the way to the bank. I believe she despises being Governor, because she doesn’t care to get into the nitty-gritty aspects of government, the less glam side. Being Governor is simply a stepping stone to her.
So while we are all high-fiving Lisa for this new position that likely blocks any chance Palin had to win Lisa’s seat, Palin won’t care if she’s a commentator on Fox and making millions on a book deal. She’s moved up, and moved on.
The best we could hope for is that she does run again in 2010 (I think she won’t) and loses. It will take a strong contender to take her on. In the mean time we need to work seriously to call in to question her actions and her ethics, and highlight her flaws that could be used against her in 2012 should she run for POTUS. I think she will do that, and that is why the option to not run for governor is the one she will chose. She will have the money and be located in a place to better promote herself. It’s much harder to campaign nationally from Alaska, a 3-hour flight to Seattle alone.
Palin, as we know, has a strong base that will support her completely, and will buy her pathetic book even if they don’t have a pot to pi$$ in, along with a well-oiled and well-funded right wing religious sect that will buy her wardrobe in 2012. She’ll use anyone she can to get where she wants to go.
Just my thoughts, someone sick and tired of Palin ruining my state and my children’s futures.
SillyWhabbitNo Gravatar (18:06:12) :
Totally OT:
Free Laura Bush!!! Arrest her husband!
^^my new slogan
PS Sarah Palin = The Gash
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Whabbit, you got it no more Barbie, its “the Gash” LOL!
***************
grewingkNo Gravatar: You have had a very exciting life! I think although Alaska has less people it is the largest state, or next to the largest, but with so much expanse there, I would think more roads (and not roads to nowhere) or helipads, landing strips, would be needed for rural area’s than in Urban areas in the lower 48. grewingk, I know you know where I live and how much growth in the area, and their building and building. But I think Obama wants to create more jobs building roads and such and I can’t see why he would overlook Alaska, because they need roads as much as anyone else.
The question is, will the money earmarked for roads get there? We all know how “the gash” appropriated muni funds earmarked for roads in Wasilla… to redecorate the Wasilla’s mayor office ILLEGALLY! So the question to me is will the money go for Valid roads, or heliports, airport landing strips, or bridges to nowhere/roads to nowhere, with “the gash” in charge of the state???
Palin is the only one keeping Palin in the news. No mention of her from McCain in weeks and no one has asked him about her. McCain has moved on and is back in the Senate. Nor, has there been any mention of Palin from the GOP. She is an embarrassment.
Sarah Palin is the one who keeps her children in the media spotlight – no one else. If SP would just shut up and do the job she was elected to do for the citizens of Alaska, there might be something positive to say about her. But she has a serious case of “foot in mouth” disease and that can be hard to get rid of.
Sarah can’t sell a book _and_ be governor at the same time. It’s in the SOA Constitution. There’s a ‘no moonlighting’ clause in there. I can dig up the exact language, if anyone is interested.
silverfox67, please stick around. We need your perspective to keep our spirits up.
Sally, are you listening to the BAC meeting? We’re getting ready for the SotS address, so I’m not listening. My most excellent SO ran to the store (12 miles away) for whiskey. We were out and we agreed that we didn’t want to listen to Herself without proper provisions.
Well one thing Les’s newsletter didn’t mention is Troopergate! I’m very disappointed about that. Maybe like someone said when the DOJ of Alaska is picked we can complain, Or I’ve have been complaining to the FBI and CREW and even PEO(before)
That’s while I would like to think, his Ethics speech yesterday was a veiled threat to “THE GASH” watch your a$$. Ethics violations and in bed with big oil and all her gates the only things that will make her fall from grace. Nix the book deal, nix faux news caster….everything. she needs to go down big time.
She is more corrupt and hiding much more than any of us knows, Mark my words….
grewingk:My most excellent SO ran to the store (12 miles away) for whiskey. We were out and we agreed that we didn’t want to listen to Herself without proper provisions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OMG! You crack me up, that is priceless…. did anyone every decide the “drinking words”?
A tough time for SP seeking a senate seat? hmmm…
She should try anyway. I’d like to see her failin’ again and again.
And Lowering her ambitions.
SP for dog catcher in 2036 !
DO NOT PUT TO MUCH STOCK IN LISA!! She isn’t a nut case like the Gov. But she is a PUPPET for Ted, Frank and Don.. You will be let down!! she is no more than the lesser of 2 evils..
I totally agree with Marta from BC, except the last sentence”no way”..
Martha drafted a terrific list:
Martha Unalaska Yard Sign(14:45:10) :
too…
exploiting me…
progressing the country…
all about job creation…
Joe the Plumber…
Maverick…
Mavericky…
pot shot at me…
filter of the liberal media…
thanks but no thanks…
There you go Joe…
Say it ain’t so…
fiscal conservative…
reformer…
leave them alone…
I’m hard wired…
pit bull and hockey…
palling around…
There, I’m almost done writing it!
—
Will you guys be able to watch in on live streaming? Watch my senator, Gary Stevens, fawn over her. He’s steadily working his way to the top of my shit list.
@Secret Shopper –
I agree with everything that you’ve said except for two things:
1) I don’t think that Dems love AGIA. Pissing away $500 million in state money for the TransCanada deal was not popular with anyone. People in AK want/wanted a pipeline and they were suckered into believing that this was the only pipeline option available to them. She pushed it through quickly because if it had stuck around for long it would have been scrutinized and booed off the stage by constituents. Too late now. See ya $500 million. Gone. Never going to see that TC pipeline either.
2) The base has plenty of money to throw at their 2012 candidate of choice, but both Bobby Jindal and Huckabee have the anti-abortion & religious conservative credentials, AND they have kept their noses clean and to the grindstone. I honestly do not believe that the GOP far-right powers that be will back her as their candidate of choice. As someone said here, the silence from them in regard to her is deafening. The only support that she is getting is grass-roots stuff from wacky sarah4pres sites and stuff like that. Not a bit of it from GOP power players.
Besides that — she may think that she has a story to tell that is equal to that of Obama (because she has such a huge ego), but the interest is not there outside of the base. Granted, that, to a publisher, is millions of books, but I do think that everyone who is not a supporter realizes that anything that she has to say will be lies. I doubt she could put forth an autobiography that has even the slightest bit of truth in it. But really, at this point because of her reputation, her history of lying, there’s definately the appearance of self-aggrandizement. She’s like Rush Limbaugh or something, a big bag of hot air, no real interesting story, lots of lies, huge ego. The book idea is trashy, really, defeats the purpose if she wants to be taken seriously. She’d be much better served to put her nose to the grindstone and put out a book when she actually has something to put IN it.
Oh SNAP! Sarah, Lisa’s got you outsmarted. I know, shootin’ fish in a barrel…
Verrry interrrrresting, this post and comments. It occurred to me about half-way down that the hard-nosed folks who think the Natives should just be relocated (like the Aleutian Islanders were during WWII) might consider that I could easily take the position, based on their logic, that the whole lot of youse up there should just be made to relocate to, I dunno, maybe North Dakota (where you wouldn’t need all new wardrobes). Then my tax dollars wouldn’t be appropriated to subsidize your unsustainable lifestyles up there. Just send workers to mining camps, seasonal fishing crews, etc. to extract the abundant resources, but not have to build a lot of roads, schools, bridges to Seward, the Ketchikan airport and all that pork-ie stuff. Come to think of it, we could use that money right here in King County, Washington to build more roads of our own, replace that viaduct that’s falling down. Now we’re talking!
I am, of course, just kidding, (except for the viaduct project) but still mad about the ‘let ‘em move or starve’ idjits.
silverfox67
Nice analysis. I think that is why Bob Poe the Dem running for Gov in 2010 gave a early bid. Someones 15 minutes of FAME is SLOwley…..defaming. Another thing silverfox67 there is a huge difference between POWER like Obama and FORCE like Palin. Power always wins, because it is creative and positive. While Force is destructive and negative.
SELFISH PERSON = S.P.
found this site during the election cycle…still here…enjoy it much…have learned more than I ever knew about AK.
Got questions:
NativesNon-Natives issues, where can I find GOOD info.
are NATIVES active or is the political scene more like the person holding office marring into the NATIVE Family [AKA SP & Todd].
Are there degerrs of NATIVE? again like Todd – who is part – and someone who is ‘full-blooded’/
Excuse my mistakes [above], I’m not much on the political correct’ness & I hope i did not offend anyone. THANXS
Bit of comedy for you all courtesy of Doonesbury:
http://news.yahoo.com/comics/uclickcomics/20090115/cx_db_uc/db20090115;_ylt=Agicj3OJuQLbJ0NHqjL3dzPV.i8C
I was just watching Sarah give her speach on media player for about 8 minutes, and I had a problem, man does she look terrible, bags under her eyes a big bouquet of flowers on her lapel. She is dedicating funds for special needs children, and got claps from the audience, but she is cutting everything else, except education which is soooo important.
John Steward is a FOOL!
Ya gotta watch tonights edition
Alaska may have a hard time getting a lions share of the stimulus funds for infrastructure for one major reason.Most of the money will be expected to be used for projects that are already researched,thought out,planned and approved,just not yet funded.Tying up funds for years while projects get proposed,agreed upon,voted upon,studied,planned and approved will serve no purpose in quickly jump starting the nations economy.Those areas such as southern Missisippi,New Orleans,Houston,towns and cities in the midwest that have been ravaged by tornadoes,and other cities,states,counties ,etc with forward looking leaders,already have a host of projects that can hit the ground running.Palin would need to get her aides to tell her what she should do,select a committee to study it,then give a speech about it,then propose it,etc . The energy proposals,for instance,if they were real projects instead of possible ones to be looked at,would have given her an oppurtunity to to be poised to act.Unfortunately,the only thing she seems to have in the works is the pipeline,and I think that would be a hard sell to get Federal tax dollars to give to a Canadian company that may never build it. Projects in Alaska would be years of planning away from actually benefitting the economy,unless some competant politician like LM is able to cut through the bull and make things happen.Maybe thats another reason she was given the seat,perhaps the leaders are afraid to leave Alaska citizens at the mercy of clueless,hapless,whiny,Mrs Palin.
Palin just delivered a very uninspiring SOS address. And again she parades Trig being bottlefed by Todd in the audience. Also , this women needs a hairbrush, anyone. You can sure tell the stylists have left.
Well, geeze. The audio and video feeds didn’t make it out of Juneau. All I caught on the live audio was Mike Chenault adjourning the House until Monday. Dang. Herself will be furious. *snicker*
Sarah’s people emailed the text of the speech to her PR mailing list at 7:23 p.m. I have to go read it right now…
@ mommom (19:47:21) :
You’re right. Why exactly are there no ‘shovel-ready’ projects, particularly relating to climate change and road upgrades in Alaska? These are precisely the projects the Obama administration wants to fund – as they said wayyy before the election! Why wasn’t Alaska ready to take up its role in helping the US economy get back on track – starting on November 4??
Alaska has more than its fair share of bad roads and climate issues. Did the State have no plans at all to resurface bad roads and do something about direct human suffering resulting from climate change? No plans at all?
First I read the speech, Then I suffered through the video. I heard nothing of substance on Alaskan issues. No mention of the Yukon Delta crisis, a lot of self promotion. Does she not realize Obama won? And in 4 years her own party will have put her in her place, but I doubt the Wasilla PTA will have her back.
pvazwindy (20:01:12) :
Palin just delivered a very uninspiring SOS address. And again she parades Trig being bottlefed by Todd in the audience. Also , this women needs a hairbrush, anyone. You can sure tell the stylists have left.
———————————————————–
An average performance, and a rubbish speech. As for the hair, those curlicues would have been done by the hairdresser in her office – immediately before what was obviously a major prayer session.
Bleuucchhh! What was the idea of coming in being held up by two other people? Can you imagine Hillary going to make a major speech holding hands with her preacher and/or staff? Pathetic!
I saw McCain on Larry King tonight, he said he would be seeing Sarah in about a week. Another trip paid for by Alaska for her and her family?
empish (20:05:39) :
First I read the speech, Then I suffered through the video. I heard nothing of substance on Alaskan issues.
———————————————————-
It was all about self-promotion. “How good am I?” I wonder how many Republican speechwriters it took to write that drivel.
@ mommom(19:47:21) : Lots of NGO’s (non-governmental organizations) in Alaska have “shovel-ready” projects that are just waiting for funding. We’ve been building them as we could get the money. Bridges, trails, habitat mitigation, wildlife habitat enhancement stuff, things like that. That’s just the little corner of the NGO world that I’m involved with.
late as usual…bad highlights in hair, tattoo lips (ewww!) Praying for Obama ( you know the terrorist)
Thanks Bush???Thanks Steven’s????
Dud is back there feeding Trig or is it TriPp? who can tell?
Students, and special needs children.
Health, can’t ignore that with a (barf) irondogger….
killing more wolves ie: predator control
Federal misuse of EDA
Allot of clapping seems forced…
Had to mention….are we surprised here??? Mother grizzly and the need to ignore sensationalized distractions….(jaw juts out)
the end.
Barf…..
I’ve heard better speeches from high school debate teams. No substance, just personal glorification. And I said it earlier, she looks like hell. And she’s married to an “irondog”, gee I didn’t know that.
KaJo – Your google earth isn’t wrong. There AREN’T any roads out there….just mountains, tundra, etc. The road system in Alaske is incredibly small – if it wasn’t for planes and boats half the state couldn’t survive.
Aussie Blue SkyNo Gravatar :Bleuucchhh! What was the idea of coming in being held up by two other people? Can you imagine Hillary going to make a major speech holding hands with her preacher and/or staff? Pathetic!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yeah, I was thinking to much coffee with Sherry right about then!
Maybe she caught a hot nut in the bucket, that would explain the disheveled look, I mean she’s married to that iron man.
grewingk–I hope some of those projects make the cut,at least the citizens of the state are forward thinking and civic minded.Its a shame that Governor Palin will probably not even submit any of those projects,but perhaps the Senator can help.
@ pvazwindy (20:20:05) :
The “iron dog” comment was her warning that people with lifestyle-related health problems will get nothing but lectures from her government. Perhaps a warning about her planned health care changes? All I know is, it’s a stick to beat someone with, given she went on and on about it.
@ crystalwolf a.k.a. caligrl (20:18:54) :
Of course the clapping was forced – Parnell was leading it!
off course “the gash” didn’t mention Emmonak….Diva has a updated story along with the Emmo council member appointed by….you know who…who on Fagen’s show told people not to send stuff, check it out:
http://divasblueoasis.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=422
“if the party powers that be, let’s say, were trying to figure out how to assure that a certain governor from Alaska had a tougher time of knocking down the incumbent in a senatorial race”
may have been said in thread above, it’s late, not sure i’ll get that far — think it bears saying –
i wouldn’t be surprised if they are more concerned about a democrat taking that senate seat if it’s a choice between a democrat and palin in the final election pairing.
republicans are giving this to murkowski to ensure that seat stays safely in republican hands.
ain’t president obama grand?
mmBoucher Florida…I think I may have your answer. When I read this earlier today at Huffington, I wondered if Sarah would be there as a draw.
“Lobbyists Who Pay $25,000 Get To Mingle With GOP At Winter Retreat Next Week”
Go to: http://tinyurl.com/dyxfz9
A peak at what the article contains: “The Huffington Post has learned that the retreat, taking place on January 29-31, will be at the Homestead, a mountain resort in Hot Springs, VA.”…” A photo of this resort which appears to be quite swanky….and many more details that might make you want to hit your head against the wall.
################
mmBoucher Florida wrote: “I saw McCain on Larry King tonight, he said he would be seeing Sarah in about a week. Another trip paid for by Alaska for her and her family?”
Aussie Blue Sky…..The older I get the more I remember my youth. Ah, those were the days. I would run 75 miles a week, bike ,swim, all that stuff, triathlons, marathons . Now in my old age I don’t need someone telling me how to stay healthy. Stuff happens and you deal with it. I’ll never forget that commercial Wendys, I believe. The little old lady falls down and yells out, “help I’ve fallen and I can’t get up”, Thats where I’m at today. But I keep trying to stay healthy and it’s tough.
Ok, did anyone keep a tally of Martha’s list of Palin Phrases? How long did it take before The Queen of Word Salad put all players under the table? Just askin’, dontcha know (wink)
la palin didn’t mention the rural villages in her SOS?
i’m surprised people aren’t storming her house with torches and pitchforks.
i ‘m going to bed. great thread.
i leave you with the following clipped from a late post at dependable renegade:
(CNN) — Could Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin be coming to a bookstore or television near you?
Palin has reportedly hired a powerful Washington, DC attorney who has successfully landed lucrative media deals for other political rock stars, a signal the former Republican vice presidential candidate may be interested in further expanding her media exposure in the coming months.
…
Several publishers have said Palin could fetch up to $7 million to write a book about her unlikely VP bid, and could rake in millions more as a television host after her gubernatorial term ends in 2010.
But should Palin decide on a presidential run, federal election regulations would almost certainly keep her from hosting a television show.
The Boreal Narcissus. Coming soon to a Regnery Press outlet near you!
SMR (19:02:03) :
Points taken.
1. I do remember a recent Compass piece co-written by Senators French and Wielechowki pleading to then PE Obama for federal support of the AGIA project. That is what I based my statement on: http://tinyurl.com/bskucj
I believe Rep. Gara has been an outspoken proponent of AGIA as well.
I agree with you, AGIA is a pipeline to nowhere. (I live in a neighborhood full of PE’s). I question the involvement of Marty Rutherford. The whole crew just acted like a bunch of spoiled brats rather than professional and competent negotiators.
2. Yes, tough choices for the GOP next go-round. Huckabee was on Mike Porcaro tonight saying he wasn’t going to run for 2012. Of course, that may mean nothing. However, my theory is that the GOP is quite aware of Obama’s popularity and may put up a sacrificial lamb for 2012 and save their “top dog” for 2016. Palin could be that sacrificial lamb. Or she could be chosen as a running mate again. Either way, I will be campaigning heavily against her.
I think Obama’s popularity will carry him through unless he really screws up. He appears so level-headed that I doubt that will happen. It’s been a long time since I’ve liked a politician as much as I like Obama, and though I don’t agree 100% with him, that doesn’t matter at the moment. This country NEEDS him.
I don’t look at the freak-show websites promoting Palin. I would much rather have my teeth pulled out without anesthesia
@ pvazwindy (20:59:09) :
I don’t believe Mrs Palin was referring to you. I believe she was referring to the people who prefer to eat rubbish and vegetate on the couch until they get heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cholesterol issues, etc. You know – the ‘average’ American. She has been getting her lessons Outside if this lifestyle and consequence doesn’t predominate in Alaska.
She did make a passing reference to “prevention” of these health issues and I thought she was going to announce a prevention/screening initiative. But – no …… Alaska is not going there.
The fact that she used Dud to introduce the subject was just pathetic, and demonstrates that it’s not something her administration cares about.
“I have confidence in Alaskans, in their judgment and groundedness. Even more so after the journey I completed on November 4th. I learned more about fighting the good fight, facing long odds, the need to protect family – my own and our Alaska family – and putting Country First even when voters put you second. Not unlike Alaska’s journey.”
Good Lord, Palin can’t even get through a state of the state speech without highlighting herself. Arrrggghh!
“Groundedness” isn’t a word. Someone obviously didn’t proofread, and I highly doubt a skilled speech writer wrote this worthless speech.
How did that woman ever graduate from college – she must have paid someone off. She gets a “degree” in sports journalism but can’t construct a real sentence and doesn’t know anything about the First Amendment. She has spent more time trying to model the verbal snarkiness of Reagan and the imperialism of Bush than in pursuing any real education. And please, tell me how she could have POSSIBLY passed geography?
OK, maybe she didn’t pay anyone off – she just winked and phony-giggled her way through school. Bleck!
Martha Unalaska Yard Sign (21:42:43), I was on ADN site, saw an ad:
“Sarah palins IQ = 116″
funny
Martha Unalaska Yard Sign
LOL. “she’s always got a lie on her lips”— is this a new lipstick colour?
Just askin’. wink.
grewingk freakin’ awesome stories. I know SO is significant other, but FIL and MIL? WTH? Can we have more Alaska stories too? Wonderful, love reading about that.
silverfox67 Beautifully, softly stated. I believe the same thing. People are fed up and things are going to change.
tree fitz — I believe disbursements won’t be due to any connections or power or what have you, it’ll be based on needs. Like post Katrina residents too, for instance. Old is gone. Believe it. As for Dems angling SP out of the picture — you betcha, it’s all political and prudent to boot. If you were in power, wouldn’t you keep the trash outside? You don’t invite it in. It reeks. Just my opinion.
SillyWhabbit — um, your SP nick, in Britain, that’s rather vulgar, just saying. Hee. You’ve got crystalwolf a.k.a. caligrl cussin’ left right and centre now./
Too funny. I’m sticking with “Grifter”.
karen marie — Well said, “republicans are giving this to murkowski to ensure that seat stays safely in republican hands.” plus the ain’t President Obama grand? Agreed.
As always, a great read and much laughter.
It’s been fun to see “new” posters! Keep it up – we ALL need to speak up whether it’s sad or funny or frustrating or insightful or brilliant…
or silly… (silly is great in my book and it’s a great stress reliever!)
@crystalwolf a.k.a. caligrl (18:31:06) :
Alaska is the LARGEST state, by more than a factor of 2, just so you know. 50 years ago Alaskans ticked off Texans even more than they already were (at being pushed out of being the largest state) by telling them we could cut Alaska in two and then they’d be the third largest…
And for everyone complaining about SP being led into the House Chamber by two people, it’s tradition that anyone important (or whatever) coming to talk to the combined House and Senate is led into the Chamber by one member of each body out of respect. So knock off the snark at this one; Frank and every other Gov. got it, U.S. Senators and Rep. get it when they come to do their annual speeches to the Legislature, the Chief Justice of the AK Supreme Court gets it…
Quetzalcoatl(22:33:58) : said:
SillyWhabbit — um, your SP nick, in Britain, that’s rather vulgar, just saying. Hee. You’ve got crystalwolf a.k.a. caligrl cussin’ left right and centre now.
——–
Yup. Here, too. Basically the equivalent of the “c” word, only possibly more, shall we say, descriptive.
@ mommom(20:35:03) :
grewingk–I hope some of those projects make the cut,at least the citizens of the state are forward thinking and civic minded.Its a shame that Governor Palin will probably not even submit any of those projects,but perhaps the Senator can help.
—
We have a good, close working relationship with Lisa and have face to face meetings with Mark lined up. There’s no glory in our projects for SWWNBN, so we ask for state funding but never count on getting any. Uncle Ted was our Patron Saint. We put a lot of projects on the ground and employed a lot of people with his help. (My SO and I are both unpaid volunteer board members for several non-profit NGO’s. Several boards each.)
Re the future: I read somewhere that the Repug really did such a shoddy job with
the campaign {letting McCain have it as a sop, letting SP be chosen, etc. all the stuff
that Rove masterminded better in the past] because they [neo con puppetmasters]
knew that the country was in such a mess that no one could really fix it…
so let the Democrats be saddled with the mess, do what they could fixing
the holy disaster.
Then in 2012 the Repug part could have at it again, in their long sweep toward
fascism.
I kind of believe this, and so feel we have to thank SP for waking us the REAL
citizens of the USA to the peril that we were slipping and slidding into.
She succeeded paradoxically in saving the nation for all its citizens.
Good morning,
Thanks to all who left positive blogs on my message!!!
I don’t want to hate anyone….I really believe in live and let live.
But I need some one to talk me down…I am so angry and I have a bad heart (quintuple by- pass in2004). I guess from getting the crap scared out of me while working the Police Department.
Rush and Hannity are wishing so much ill on the Obama Administration that it is making me really….really scared.
Help me with this….if President Obama fails…don’t we as a nation….all fail?
@ silverfox67
It’s the knowledge of the hatred and racism we face that Hannity and Limbaugh give to us. In a way, that’s a gift because it keeps it out in the open for examination. It shows us how much hard work we have yet to and it’s important to not overstep or be too confident that as a country, we are fully enlightened.
The last eight years have literally been hell – and the saddest part to me is that there is a young generation that was raised in midst of that selfish quagmire of bad politics. There are some mean little Hitler types out there, thanks to Bush and the right wing fundies – but they’ve always been there anyway – just not so out in the open. The tide is turning, and it’s important to work toward the goal that we will have eight years to raise the next generation with thoughtfulness and respect. Every day we beat the dark shadow back into its cave – don’t ever give up! YES WE CAN.
silverfox67No Gravatar (09:59:13) :
Help me with this….if President Obama fails…don’t we as a nation….all fail?
————
No, one man does not have all the solutions and if one man fails, others will step in to provide other ideas.
“Failure” is completely subjective, in any event. Depression? Another terrorist attack? Neither would be pleasant, but neither would be Obama’s failures.
I expect that a lot of the things that we would think of as successes the Rush and Hannity crowd would consider failures and vice versa. Peace in the middle east would be kind of hard on their military contractor buddies. Affordable health care would be a disaster for their HMO friends. And ethics in government? Well, let’s call that an epic fail for their ratings.
The only way that Obama’s “failures” are failures is if the nation as a whole believes it, and starts to push back massively against his plans for change. Won’t be happening.
@silverfox67,
I just got around to reading your initial post this morning (Irish time), and as I read on, my smile got broader and broader. Where have you been hiding? You must post more.
As regards Rush and Hannity, take a look at this Jon Stewart clip.
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2009/01/fear_and_imbalanced.php
Just laugh at them like Jon Stewart does.
These guys are a sick joke. And everyone is sick of them. Don’t get too worried and stay positive.
By the way, I am fairly certain nothing like this would be allowed on Irish TV or radio….by that I mean Rush. The incitement to hatred or violence act would be called up straight away.
Martha Unalaska Yard Sign
I’m calming down….I like your thinking…out in the open…that’s good…I didn’t think about it that way
The problem child….
Calming down more…..thanks for the input….I am going to sit back and take it easy for a while.
I have two sons, 48 and 49. When I go to them for help of any kind….the younger son often has to tell me ‘Mom’ you need to step back and let us handle this…and when I take their advise….they get things done.
So…. I voted for this 47 year old and I have got to step back and let him and his cabinet do the job.
GOSH!!! I LOVE ANONYMOUS BLOGGERS!!!
UHmm, you forgot to mention this one.
Irishgirl Rosebud,
Thanks for that post….it did lighten things up. I usually watch Jon Stewart every evening and they do make you think about things differently and more often than not, say the things that we were thinking.
Siverfox, take care. Obama will do his best.
Silverfox…my apologies.
The critters in the slough would like to invite SilverFox in for tea/coffee/fresh roadkill or whatever she prefers.
Moose Pucky
Thank you for the invite. I want to go into the slough, if you mean the chat rooms, in fact I have gotten to the door and was just to…..something……to go in. I’ll get there soon because I am thoroughly enjoying these blogs…..I just started doing this last month…..but it really feels like having this great group of people in my living room with all this great information on anything I might have a question about. Thanks again
@ silverfox67
You MUST read “The Audacity of Hope” by BO if you have not already. You will find that our new smart president really IS smart and he knows politics well. It’s available in the Mudflats shop. It will make you feel a LOT better!
Martha Unalaska Yard Sign
I am going to get that book, Thanks
I have a question for the Educators out there in the ANONYMOUS BLOG ZONE….
But I must preface my question with this info.
I watched Gov. Palins’ SOS speech (simply because I feel it is very important to keep up with potential national political candidates)
She seemed to be saying some important things, but I could not tell when one thought ended and another one began.
So my question to you Educators is this: is there a place in the brain where punctuations live, like periods and commas. And is there a lesson for children on this subject to teach them to pause at a comma and stop at a period?
Because the Gov plows through commas and periods like a DRUNK THROUGH A STOP SIGN. I need to know this information.