Blogger v. Legislator >Ding!< (UPDATED)
Andrew Halcro
Rep. Les Gara
Not since the days of Alaskans for Truth vs. Mike Doogan have we had such a knock-down, drag out fight. That little fracas was held in the ring of the Anchorage Press, and resulted in Alaskans for Truth with gloves held high in the air, victorious, and Mike Doogan with one of those big cloth bags full of ice on his head.
Now we move to the ring of Alaska Dispatch for the latest scuffle between verbal heavyweights Andrew Halcro (R), and Les Gara (D).
>ding!<
First came a surprise punch to the gut in the form of a blog post titled “Rep. Les Gara – Pity the Fool” from blogger Andrew Halcro to Representative Les Gara. It even came complete with a graphic of Mr. T, and was particularly sharp-tongued. Ooph! (You can read it all HERE)
Not having the desired effect, this has now resulted in a searing uppercut from Gara, in the form of an equally cutting response in Alaska Dispatch, landing square on the jaw of the aforementioned blogger. Crunch! (You can read it below)
(From Rep. Les Gara) When sometimes OK guy Andrew Halcro goes on his Exxon Good, Les Bad attacks, I usually ignore him. Today he was in one of those moods again, where he criticizes Alaskans for standing up for the state’s interests as we develop our oil and gas resources.
Today’s Halcro attack piece was particularly rich. Since my friends at Alaska Dispatch published his blog item (I appreciate that they edited out some of the name-calling), I thought I’d take a moment to set the record straight, and accept their invitation to write a response.
In his blog piece Mr. Halcro misstates, well, like my whole legislative career. And he overstates Exxon’s charity towards the people of the State of Alaska. I know. They’re so warm and cuddly it’s hard for Mr. Halco not to see things their way.
So, first things first. The really big thing I take from his blog entry is that – and folks should let me know if I’m reading this right – I shouldn’t call my wife Kelly to keep a day open for an invite to the Halcro family mansion any time soon.
Now, his column.
Halcro’s Love Affair With The 2006 Oil Tax Law VECO Helped Buy
So what’s Mr. Halcro angry about today? According to his blog column, he’s still angry that I voted to fix the 2006 oil tax law VECO corrupted with bribes. You know, the one the FBI’s spent the last 3 years investigating? The Frank Murkowski, Pete Kott, Vic Kohring-era tax Mr. Halcro has said he prefers to the oil tax reform law I worked to help pass. The reform law that finally got Alaskans a fair share for our most valuable natural resource.
If we took Exxon and Mr. Halcro’s advice, Alaska would have given away over $5 billion in revenue – for oil that we Alaskans own in common – over the past 2 years. I guess he thinks Exxon and British Petroleum needed the money more than we do. It’s a mistake politicians who don’t want to offend big donors make alot, so I’ll give him a little slack.
Frank Murkowski Gasline Deal
My friend who blogs from his mansion also can’t let go of work I did in 2005 and 2006 that, you guessed it, Exxon also doesn’t like. In today’s column he extols the “virtues” of the almost universally discredited backroom gasline proposal deal between Frank Murkowski, Exxon, British Petroleum and Conoco. He writes that he’s bummed I and others didn’t let them get their way in 2006.
If Mr. Halcro and friends had it their way, and we passed that deal, we would have been legally prohibited from fixing this Murkowski-era oil tax after the FBI told us it was borne of corruption. The Murkowski-Exxon proposal would have bound us to leave that law in place for 30 years, and would have bound us to keep sending Exxon and friends an unjustified share of the value of Alaska oil.
Still Luvin’ Exxon’s 30-Year Refusal To Honor Their Lease Obligations at Pt. Thompson
And Mr. Halcro notes he’s still bummed that when Exxon refused to develop the huge Pt. Thompson oil and gas field – jeopardizing Alaska’s dream for a gas line by untold years – I joined the state to put pressure on Exxon to honor their contract commitments. Now he’s angry that worked. Exxon is finally – after 30 years – moving forward on exploration commitments on a field we need to develop to maximize the benefits of a future gas pipeline.
I guess his point is that Alaska shouldn’t have sued Exxon for their three decade-long refusal to honor their lease commitments to move forward with Pt. Thompson exploration. My bad. Maybe Mr. Halcro’s right that we should just take the world’s largest corporation at their word more often. Maybe if we stood by for even longer, they’d have done the right thing out of charity.
In his rant, Mr. Halcro also tries to stereotype me as “opposed” to needed “development” projects. In politics it’s easier to mislead than to tell the truth. So – I’ll give Mr. Halcro a few facts about economic development I’ve pushed, and that I’m sure he’ll ignore in his next column. A fraction of these efforts include:
- Filing a bill (House Bill 119) to provide incentives for companies to locate to Alaska to produce value-added products from out natural gas – that will bring needed jobs to this state;
- Pushing for a gasline that serves Alaska’s interests, and against the oil companies’ efforts to stall it, and gain from unjustified tax breaks;
- Voting for expanded onshore oil and gas exploration in Western Alaska (but not off shore oil development in Bristol Bay, Alaska’s most productive fishery);
- Voting for Expanded career development and job training efforts at the University of Alaska;
- Voting to increase Alaska’s West Coast-worst minimum wage – something Mr. Halcro’s GOP friends have blocked since 2003;
- Voting for a lower tax on Cook Inlet gas development so we don’t deter exploration for the natural gas needed to fuel our homes and industry; and,
- Voting to put some of the worlds most vibrant oil and gas exploration incentives into the oil tax reform bill we passed in 2007,
to name a few things. Darn – the facts make it harder to stereotype people, don’t they?I have no illusion that setting the record straight will have any impact on the GOP blogger from the lakefront mansion. He needs people to attack, and oil companies to side with, if he’s going to curry favor from big donors – as he plans his next run for office.
So – I wish Mr. Halcro the best.
But I’ll remind him that free speech doesn’t just mean his right to insult and mislead.
It doesn’t just mean his right to continue to delete the blog comments on his website from people who disagree with him (something he’s built a reputation for doing), or the comments he deletes from people who’ve defended those he attacks.
It also means that every once in a while those he’s chosen not to tell the truth about get to write back.
Mr. Halcro – I’ll just offer one bit of advice. It might make you a happier person. It’s ok to be a constant critic. But it’s better to tell the truth. So, step back from the keyboard, take a breath, and try it. It might actually feel good.
>ding!<
ICE! I think we’re going to need some ICE over here!
**************************************************************
UPDATE:
>ding!<
The battle of the Titans continues. Halcro is back swinging, and this time it’s a whopping Haymaker. The words “idiot” and “socialist” are flying in his latest post which you can read HERE. Ouch. This is getting really ugly. (Hands over eyes) Tell me when it’s over.
Better late than never
Has the Vatican done something right? Yesterday, Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, head of the Pontifical Council for Culture declared that Darwin’s theory and Christian faith were not only compatible, but that Darwin’s views could be traced to St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinus, The Times of London reports. Ravasi said,” what we mean by evolution is the world as created by God.” Organizers of next month’s papal-backed conference marking the 150th anniversary of On the Origin of Species also dismissed Intelligent Design, which credits a higher power for the complexities of life, as “poor theology and poor science” and will only discuss it on the fringes of the convention as a “cultural phenomenon.” The recent admissions settle speculation that Pope Benedict XVI might endorse Intelligent Design, and come just in time for Darwin’s 200th birthday tomorrow.
The Darwin Birthday quote was from Daily Beast blog.
Ice ?? Some sutures might be needed. Les “The Bomber” Gara !!
Hi AKM – thank you for publishing Les Gara’s rebuttal. I heart Les Gara – ever since he confronted Meg Stapleton on the street. Gara is one of the good guys.
It’s not entirely accurate to label Andrew Halcro a “blogger” – he’s a hardcore Republican and former legislator. I hold bloggers in higher esteem.
From the pretty boy’s somewhat narcissistic website:
LOL… My money’s on Les…..
Who’ll take that bet?
Well it’s about time some one besides, AKM & Mudflat blogers asked someone in the GOP in AK to tell the truth.
I think of Halcro as being more moderate. Definately not hard core. He has broken some important stories. I guess he’s not a Gara fan.
Let’s see Exxon-Mobile just posted record profits of $45 Billion.
According to Riki Ott’s book “Not One Drop”, the company in its Alaska operations has cut corners on safety, cut corners on responsibility, drug feet moving the fleet to safer double-hulled boats, allowed a drunk captain to pilot a single hulled boat into a shoal in Prince William Sound spilling crude oil by the thousands of gallons into one of Alaska’s most productive fish sounds, lied about impacts of the spill on fish and wildlife for years, wriggled out of just compensation to impacted parties (4 days profit is what the final settlement amounted to), spied on critics, punished whistle-blowers, and and have been just great partners for the people of Alaska.
Good on ya, Les Gara.
Les – Les, come on! don’t hold back! say what you really mean – HaHaHaHa!
However, not doing backflips over a gas pipeline either. Take a look at the problems cropping in Canada on that issue.
Interesting insight into local give and take. I’ve learned a lot from Andrew Halcro’s blog, so I’ll cut him a lot of slack. He goes more in depth on the AK issues than other blogs I read, so I respect him a great deal. That being said, there’s no need for name calling. As PO says, we can disagree without being disagreeable. On this one, I hope Les wins on a TKO.
Could we put a kudos to Salazar and the Department of Interior in here for allowing time for public process and scientific information on Alaska offshore leasing issues?
Let’s hear it for public process and scientific information!!!!
Give Halcro some credit, he cannot stand Palin and all her loser cronies – not one single bit – that’s worth something.
Also, bloggers can do whatever they want with THEIR blogs including deleting comments. Duh.
Ouch!…someone got a few jabs…but what’s a black eye here and there?
About Halcro…well sometimes old habits are hard to break and no amount of facts or truth is going to alter their heads down, straight ahead path. Reminds me of those acrobats that dangle in the air by their teeth…twisting in the breeze.
Oh…I’m with you Lori in LA…He was an instant hero to me goin’ nose to nose with MegMouth…
It will be really interesting to see what Halcro comes out of the corner swinging with now!…
I’m sure AKM will provide a front row seat once again to all the entertainment. Can’t you just smell the sweat and hear those hits landing?
Let me begin with, Wasilla Ice, Ice Baby…
From previous post, excellent job to all for big hits, big numbers and lost of food.
As far as the post: Bloggers kick A. We knew that, now didn’t we????
FYI I posted the blog gossip yesterday on the ADN and was booted again. For the 4th time.
Funny, doesn’t look like TeamSarahthe Insane have been booted…how much was that bribe from SarahPAC for ADN????
get ready to laugh…
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/02/11/bill-ayers-has-an-idea-for-palin/
Reports:
Sarah Palin once accused Barack Obama of “palling around with terrorists,” a catchphrase intended to highlight Obama’s connection to former Weather Underground member Bill Ayers.
Now that the campaign rhetoric has subsided, Ayers has an idea for a new show starring his Alaskan nemesis.
“I did send her a note after the election,” he says of Palin in the upcoming issue of the New York Times magazine. “I suggested that we have a talk show together called ‘Pallin’ Around With Sarah and Bill.’ I haven’t heard back.”
Ayers assiduously avoided interviews and press attention during the presidential race, but he insists the Obama campaign never told him to keep quiet.
“They apparently didn’t want to call me, and I certainly wouldn’t have initiated it,” he says.
According to Ayers, Obama’s election was “a strike against white supremacy.” But, he says, his victory doesn’t change the fact that “40 percent of black kids under 5 live in poverty.”
He also says that while he considers himself a radical, he believes Obama is “a moderate Democrat.”
“If you look at his record, it’s the record of a moderate, who indeed does know how to make compromises,” Ayers told the magazine.
Oooh! I like the way Gara writes. He keeps his sense of humor. I especially liked his “My bad” comment. I’m still chuckling.
Also on Alaska Dispatch…there have been donations made to Planned Parenthood in Governor Palin’s name. What a hoot!!!
And checking Halcro’s site, he has found a video to help teach Palin about the three branches of government. Awesome!!!
Planned Parenthood raised a record amount of funds in the name of Bush. Keep sending all donations -especially to AK, pl.ph. and the aclu in Sarahs name (the national aclu lost a bundle due to major donors losing $ to Madoff).
Speaking of comments on Halcro’s blog, I just went over there to read the article he wrote about Les but when I went to leave a comment realized there was no place to leave comments. Nice.
I like Les. There are some things I like about Andrew, namely his anti-SP-ness. However, he sometimes takes that to such a level that he loses credibility.
However, there are lots & lots of things about that bullsh!t pipeline deal that stink, and there is, frankly, no justification for giving away $500 million state dollars with no guarantee that it will see a pipeline built or even construction started. I don’t care what Les says and how nice he is, whether he’s a Dem or Rep. No justification. It passed because our legislators were struck by the flashing SP starbursts or just plain terrified of her. It did not serve the best interests of Alaskans. Period. Les gets no pass from me on that argument.
And the tax code. Well, it certainly capitalized on higher prices, but left the state holding the bag at lower prices. Further, independents cannot afford to get in the game at the current tax structure, therefore, our state has established a tax culture that prohibits the introduction of the smaller companies that might someday be in a position to eliminate our total dependence on the Big 3.
So, let’s see: 1) Current higher tax structure = more money when oil is up, but less money than under previous code when prices are down
2) Independents cannot play, so they are more or less out of the picture here in AK. Face it folks, if they weren’t playing in AK at $140/bbl then when WERE they going to play here?
3) If the Big 3 can develop fields in other states/countries without the tax burden, that’s what they’ll do. Further, it is worth it to them to invest heavily in projects like BP’s Liberty (a HUGE chunk of their budget in AK) that will allow for them to drill highly technical wells reaching into Federal waters, at which point Alaska gets no money.
Wow, now that’s a smack down if I ever saw one! Halco can’t be serious in his defending Exxon whose mistreatment of Alaska is legendary.
Go Gara!
Erin, you may have to have clicked on the specific story you want to comment on. I think you have to register, but that’s standard for a lot of blogs.
OT…. UPDATE from Nunam Iqua (in case you missed it on the last thread)
If you already read it, just skip to the next post
NUNAM IQUA UPDATE
2/12/09
Hey Everyone,
OK here’s an update.
Well obviously, y’all know that CNN picked up the story ?
Since then I have received nearly 100 emails and several phone calls. Also Kyle Hopkins, with the Anchorage Daily News called and interviewed me. He is doing a story for the paper and it should be printed and online sometime in the next couple of days.
I don’t know how many of you recall a link that was posted on thetundradrums.com about two villages on the Alaska Peninsula. Ugashik and Pilot Point. Victoria, a woman in Ugashik, wrote describing that it isn’t only the YK Delta that is struggling. Of course, after seeing the letter I found her and started emailing back and forth and I am helping her start a food drive. You can find her story at: http://anonymousbloggers.wordpress.com/another-village-in-need-of-help/
I would greatly appreciate it if anyone could send some food their direction.
Ok back to Nunam Iqua….
On Feb. 9 we received four boxes total weight of 110 lbs.
They were from:
Parker, Colorado
And
Lexington, Georgia (THANKS Tewise!!)
On Feb. 12 we received six boxes total weight 92 lbs.
They were from:
Juneau, AK (THANKS Martha Unalaska Yard Sign!!!)
Plainfield, Utah
Greensboro, North Carolina
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Alexandria, Virginia
And
Lexington, Georgia (THANK AGAIN Tewise!)
Well as you can imagine, it’s been pretty hectic trying to keep up with the emails and phone calls. KEEP UP the OUTSTANDING work!!! If it weren’t for all you mudpuppies none of this would be possible.
Well I am off to clean my house, while CC is napping (SHHHH don’t wake her up!!) LOL
QUYANA CAKNEQ!!!
Catcha Y’all later,
Ann Strongheart
Nunam Iqua Food Drive
c/o Ann Strongheart
P.O. Box 7
Nunam Iqua, AK 99666
P.S. I don’t recall if I mentioned it before but the “Flying Fish” restaurant in Seattle, WA raised $1600 for fuel here in Nunam Iqua and hopefully it will arrive soon and our Tribal Council will start helping people get some stove oil.
QUYANA CAKNEQ!!!!
Moose Pucky (15:53:08) :
Could we put a kudos to Salazar and the Department of Interior in here for allowing time for public process and scientific information on Alaska offshore leasing issues?
Let’s hear it for public process and scientific information!!!!
____________________________________________________
While we Coloradoans miss Salazar as our Senator, he is articulate, savvy, and knowledgeable- qualities sadly missing from Bush’s previous appointees. We’re glad to share:-)
HI ANN !!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have learned a lot from Halcrow- can some AK mudpup comment on his Valley Dairy series? Is it as bad as he wrote?
Sounds like both of these bull moose cracked each other’s heads and it may be an overall draw: pipeline (Halcrow), Exxon (Gara)?
Getting You Betcha Brownie, Wasilla Vanilla, and Hazelnuts Too, Almonds Also ready for the party…
Les Gara sounds like a stand-up guy and a fantastic legislator. Wish he’d move to Illinois. =)
Ouch. I feel a need to defend Halcro, though he doesn’t need me to do so.
Before my fellow mudflatters continue bashing Halcro, please, thank him first. Why you ask? Because he stuck his neck out with the whole Troopergate incident and had he not, we may be looking at a Vice President Palin. That’s scary. He’s also exposed the Mat Maid debacle, and other controversies within the GINO administration.
I know Andrew, though we are not buddies I feel confident that if I confided in him he would keep my secret safe. He’s fiercely protective of his sources and it’s widely known he has some very good sources. He takes no money for his blog, no ads, it’s all on his own. He wants what we all what: ethical and effective government. Les Gara does as well.
Gara and Halcro probably have more in common than we all realize. They are both smart, they both love Alaska, they are both policy types. They are passionate people who speak passionately. (I thought both Halcro and Gara were a little harsh in their verbiage). They are just on opposite sides of the aisle.
We face some tough times in Alaska as does the rest of the country, of course. Discourse will probably continue to be heated for some time. It’s times like these that we need to recognize our common ground and stand up for what is right. Both Halcro and Gara have their points and they should both be considered. I agree and disagree with both at times.
FYI: Halcro is a very moderate Republican and is supportive of women’s rights and doesn’t have issues with same sex relationships. He thinks those should be left OUT of government, as do I.
I listen to his radio program regularly and he questions all political leaders, regardless of their affiliation. He came out swinging, and hard, during the campaign when folks at rallies were making racist comments and death threats against Obama. He was on fire.
Andrew has received a lot of trashing with the whole Troopergate deal, I’m sure he’s received numerous death threats, though I don’t know that to be fact. Callers at times bash him for being hard on GINO. I’m sure TS is no fan of Halcro. He takes it, and continues on because he loves this state.
Thanks for “hearing” me out. And thanks as always to AKM…I’ve been a fan for a long time, long before Aug 29th.
I’ve also learned a lot from Halcro’s blogs, Mat-dairy etc. The pipeline stuff I don’t really understand, the politics behind it so won’t comment except to say GINO is in bed with big oil…Now Les, ever since writing him about Troopergate, even though I’m not in AK he has been sending newsletters, and from the newsletters, and hearing him one night on CC program, I like him and he genuinely seems to care about people in AK. I wonder why Halcro, with all the OTHER stuff going on, went after HIM? Also We might want to write Les, he had said on CC show the Troopergate, would be best to press the AG…..since that was then and this is NOW, NEW AG!
Can anyone weigh in on this? Would it be worth trying to write demanding troopergate be reopened? Or do I just keep sending stuff to the fbi?
oh my huh? So much going on in Alaska.
Secret Shopper For Hungry Children ( 17:41:00 )
Excellent post.
From afar, they both obviously have many redeeming qualities. Chalk up the current dust-up to one word – EGO.
Let’s see….Exxon dirties Prince William Sound and damages it for centuries to come, they refuse to clean up their mess properly and refuse to pay for the people whose livelihoods they destroyed in the process, tying everything up in the courts for years, all the while posting the largest profits ever…and Andrew wants us to be nice to them so they won’t take their ball and go away? As if. And even if Exxon left Alaska, I’ve no doubt another oil company would step in to take up the slack.
It leaves me wondering exactly how much some politicians are being paid by the oil companies to represent them and their interests instead of the people of Alaska.
Birds were singing yesterday…too quiet today?!
Frankly speaking – and probably without a clue – I would gladly have both Halcro AND Gara in Florida – duking it out, going toe to toe, and hashing out the BS – rather than the bunch of dumb-clucks currently sitting in Tallahassee who all wish they were able to doing the Morning Joe show rather than the people’s business.
crystalwolf a.k.a. caligrl (17:52:18)
I think I can answer your question. Halcro covers a wide range of topics, largely policy issues. There are topics he avoids, especially personal ones. He, like Obama, feels family should be left alone. To him the Gara comments were timely and he felt a need to comment on it. It’s his blog, just like this is AKM’s blog, and they are free to comment and delete comments as they wish. Halcro gets trolls too. And really nasty comments.
For example, on election day I was across the street from a dentist’s office in Anchorage that had one of those scrolling signs (don’t know what they are called). This dentist had this to say about Halcro: “Vote Andrew Halcro for Dog Catcher!”
Can you believe that?? I’m married to a physician and his office would NEVER do that. My husband has to tolerate Valley patients who LOVE their Sarah. I noticed the other day his tongue is half gone from biting it so often.
austintx (17:59:21) :
Agreed. An old friend today told me I should be in politics. My response: My ego’s not big enough. Plus, I value my sanity and I can’t lie to people. Period.
“Would it be worth trying to write demanding troopergate be reopened? Or do I just keep sending stuff to the fbi?” crystalwolf – the latter IMO. It will take the Feds to clean up the mess. Although, like our Prez, we can multi-task!
Secret Shopper:
Its just after the Doogan debacle I just decided to send stuff to fbi and CREW, but I did hear Les mention the AG at the time on CC show.
For example, on election day I was across the street from a dentist’s office in Anchorage that had one of those scrolling signs (don’t know what they are called). This dentist had this to say about Halcro: “Vote Andrew Halcro for Dog Catcher!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OMG! That is so unprofessional!!!
Oh, I feel so sorry for you DH, to have to hear “I love GINO” talk…UGH!
Secret Shopper, politics needs more honest people with LESS ego! Yes you should be a politician, think of our PO!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lori: Yes we Can! (multitask, that is)
I agree, AK need “ASLAN” aka the “FEDs:” to clean House! GINO is like Bush in a skirt she has hand picked everyone around her to protect her and kiss A$$. Just like bush did. And soon the chickens will come home to roost for him and hopefully her also!!!! :8
Halcro is one of the blogs I read regulary….good info, agree or dissagree, learned much over there…
This blog: floydmorr. blogspot always has a point of view that makes me glad that I stopped by…he’s not a friend of GINO.
@Ripley in CT (15:42:40) :
LOL… My money’s on Les…..
Who’ll take that bet?
I will! My bet is on Gara. He seems like a real stand-up guy. Don’t get me wrong, I like Halcrow’s blog (partly because he hates GINO’s guts). Yet, in general, all Repubs are on my doo-doo list these days.
I hope all of you who live in “red” states have bombarded your members of the house or congress who voted against the stimulus bill. The Repubs make me sick and hope they’re all happy when “TAX CUTS” are etched on their political graves.
Secret Shopper 17:41
Thanks for that. You put it very well. I was going to say something to defend Andrew from too much bashing here but no need after your post. I like both Halcro and Gara. Both are stand up guys and it’s sad to see them go after each like this. I think Halcro is a little too cozy with big oil but then no ones perfect otherwise I find that I agree with him more than not. And I thought Halcro is an Independent not a Republican.
I visited Mr. Halcro’s website after reading this post. I won’t be bothering going back. It’s uninteresting, not well written, and of the 6 comments on the post I read, I suspect at least 3 to be written by Halcro. AKM, thanks for having an interesting, up-to-date and fun-to-read blog! I’ve never appreciated you more.
Sounds like it may be that time of month for both Halcro and Gara. But Halcro needs to remember it’s usually a bad move to tick off HLS grads. That being said, Gara needs to remember that Halcro can delete as he wishes – even if he ends up looking like an anti-free speech weenie while continuously hitting that delete button.
My take on some of Halcro’s comments is that he may be looking to them (the corporate execs anyways) to provide a great deal of funding for his future political campaigns.
Yanno what they say… when ya sleep with the skunks, ya end up smelling like the skunks.
Opps! Posted this on the other blog by mistake:
http://tinyurl.com/ab2azy
Following this link, Phil blogging there, but there are interesting people there…who is Edward Teller?
akdennis (18:54:30) :
Halcro ran as an Independent in the gubernatorial election in ’06. He’s a fiscal conservative. He’s pro-development but I don’t know him to be cozy with big oil. It’s an unfortunate assumption that if you are pro-development you are “in good” with big oil. Funny thing is, many of my neighbors are oil folks and they were “encouraged” to vote for Palin!
Katherine (19:04:23)
Not true. I wrote one of those comments. Why would he need to write comments when his opinion is stated in the post? I respect your opinion, but disagree. I think his blog is interesting from a policy standpoint. He’s not a trained journalist. Both AKM and Halcro (and the other great bloggers of course: Diva, Phil Munger, Gryphen, Shannyn) are good at what they do, they are just different. I like that. A well-informed person gets their information from a variety of sources.
Do you think AKM writes in it’s own comment section? Of course not.
OK, Edward teller is Phil…of PA, very clever you!
Anyway great article the more it gets out…..
Hmmm. More Popcorn please !
@ Secret Shopper For Hungry Children ( 17:41:00 )
Thank YOU for clarifying! I was highly confused here. My first reaction was “but I thought Halcro was one of the GOOD guys”. I read his blog (didn’t realize he was GOP) and have learned a lot, also. At the same time I couldn’t envision anyone in Alaska defending Exxon, given the way they trashed your beautiful state and then waltzed away by paying peanuts for the destruction and loss of so many livelihoods. At least now, when I read his blog in the future, I have a better understanding of where his politics or motives may lie.
sauerkraut (19:11:10) :
Halcro has no interest in running for office, any office. I do know that to be fact.
AKM deletes as well. Some comments contain profanity or are just incredibly inflammatory. If you disagree with deletion of comments then I think you should take issue with AKM as well. What is fair is fair. Free speech is great but I think as a blogger you have the right to delete if you so choose.
Kath the Scrappy from Seattle (19:40:50) :
I agree that Exxon is responsible for the horrific damage to the environment courtesy of a drunken captain. (They should have vetted him better!)
However, Exxon has legal rights to the Point Thomson leases and believe they have interest in drilling (though I hear it’s a very complicated area to explore) and following through when the economics dictate. But DNR’s Irwin has been making decisions based on emotion, and the last go-round he revoked the leases because he didn’t “trust” Exxon. (That decision has been reversed now once DNR realized this was a losing battle in the courts and would have incurred significant legal costs).
I understand it’s easy to hate Exxon but we need to realize that the big 3 are the ones footing the bill for the gasline and therefore are the ones assuming the risk, the state is not. I think we need to work together, not against one another. I don’t hunt animals, but I don’t hold it against others who do so, as long as it’s done humanely. (I don’t see how spearing an animal is humane but our Native neighbors do it!!)
Halcro is a good guy. He’s far more in the middle than most realize. If you feel a need to like a GOP’er, he’s the one to like. I don’t like most politicians, but I like Halcro (his wife is a real sweetheart!)
the part about halcro blogging from a ‘mansion’ intrigued me, so i went to look at the muni’s property tax records… his place is on two acres outside kincaid park, a 3,200 sf two story house is all, nothing that outrageous. tax valuation of $857,000. that’s definitely in the upper eschelon as far as anchorage goes, but maybe not a mansion.
Halcro is a republican – doesn’t that tell you something? If I were him I would change my affiliation to “non partisan.” The majority of Alaskans are “N or I or U.” It tells you something that he sticks to “R.”
gara’s house is on a very small lot on the park strip downtown, has the same number of rooms as halcro’s, 2,200 sq. ft. and valued at $309,000.
@CO almost native(17:28:54) :
I have learned a lot from Halcrow- can some AK mudpup comment on his Valley Dairy series? Is it as bad as he wrote?
——-
An awful lot of what Halcro has written about the new creamery is simply not true. I personally know it to be factually untrue and I can make a pretty strong guess on who his secret source of “information” is– someone who wants to discredit the principals in the new creamery to feed his own fathead ego because he lost his job at MatMaid.
Halcro’s obvious contempt for working class people is appalling. (Halcro is a millionaire who owns Avis car rentals in Anchorage, which he inherited.)
I’ll bet if he ever had to get up at 3 a.m. to milk a herd of cows, then milk them again at 3 p.m. then milk again at 3 a.m. and do that every single day and night without fail, 365 days a year with no time off for being sick or taking a vacation, he might show a little more respect for the people who dedicate their lives to it. I have the utmost respect for my dairy farmer friends. They’re a hell of a lot tougher than me.
The idea that the people at the new creamery are in collusion with Palin is absurd. The gov and the dairy people can’t stand each other. No backrooms deals there, folks. If the creamery people need a loan from a bank, they first have to get turned down by the state Board of Ag, which manages the Alaska Revolving Loan Fund. (A fund set up to finance agriculture in Alaska.) That’s how things work.
grewingk (21:14:27)
So how do you explain the relationship between GINO and Kristan Cole, the head of the Creamery Board?? I believe they are close long standing friends, Cole is her real estate agent. I’ve never heard of anyone having disdain for the governor- she appointed them all and the farmers are her neighbors!!
I have the utmost respect for farmers of all types, but it isn’t just farmers that work hard. Lots of people get up early and work hard. I spent YEARS prying my eyes open on night shifts trying to stay not just awake but alert enough to care for people during emergent situations as a nurse. And years in a military that called you in for training even after you’ve worked a 12+hour shift all night long with no sleep, all so that YOU could enjoy your freedom. And as a mother my kids don’t care if I’m sick or tired, they still need me and I still care for them. Lots of hard-working folks out there, everywhere. And since when is it a crime to inherit a family business? Can you say “beer industry?”
I suspect you have a differing opinion that isn’t any more accurate than Halcro’s sources. After all, there’s two sides to every story. And perhaps even more.
Halcro and Palin are like two hyenas fighting over roadkill.
Les Gara is the Lion King.
Thanks to SMR and Secret Shopper for providing local perspective. Very interesting. I’ll stick by my initial impression of Halcro that he’s well-informed and very smart (unlike GINO). Everyone’s opinions are colored by the lenses through which they view life, but what he’s written about the creamery is pretty alarming. (And I didn’t get the feeling that he denigrated workers at all). I’ve had less exposure to Gara, other than through this blog and he comes across as a stand-up guy as well. Hopefully, this little dust-up will die down and we can all move on to things we agree about.
Correction of earlier error: ARLF is the Agriculture Revolving Loan Fund, not the Alaska RLF. My bad. Dumb error.
—————
Secret Shopper for Hungry Children(21:31:45) :
grewingk (21:14:27)
So how do you explain the relationship between GINO and Kristan Cole, the head of the Creamery Board?? I believe they are close long standing friends, Cole is her real estate agent. I’ve never heard of anyone having disdain for the governor- she appointed them all and the farmers are her neighbors!!
—-
The Creamery Board has nothing to do with the new privately-owned Mat Creamery. The Creamery Board oversaw Mat Maid, which was the old state-owned creamery that went under. This is where it gets weird — the Creamery Board is a private board which oversees state-owned assets, i.e. Mat Maid. The Creamery Board is made up of all of the members of the Board of Agriculture and Conservation, which is a state board. (It doesn’t sound legal to me, but that’s the way it’s been structured for years. *shrug*) The Creamery Board has nothing to do with the new privately-owned creamery. (I keep repeating that, so maybe it’ll sink into your brains.)
Kristan Cole & the gov are old friends. There’s a seat on the BAC (board of ag and conservation) for someone with business or banking experience. The gov appointed Cole to that seat. (Seats on the board are designated to be filled with people from specific sectors of agriculture. I’m going to paste the description from the board website here –>
Description: 7 members appointed by Governor – 1 with general business or financial experience; 1 member of a statewide agricultural promotion organization; 1 member of a soil and water conservation district who is also engaged in commercial production agriculture; 4 members engaged in commercial production agriculture, each representing a different agricultural enterprise from the others, such as: livestock production, dairy, vegetable production, grain production, horticultural production, and greenhouse and hydroponic production. — end of quoted material –
At this time, two of those seats are vacant. It’s not unusual for there to be vacancies on boards. They get filled as people apply & get appointed.
I don’t understand this comment from you: “I’ve never heard of anyone having disdain for the governor- she appointed them all and the farmers are her neighbors!!”
People who have disdain for the gov don’t apply to sit on state boards. The gov doesn’t pull names out of the phone book for these appointments — interested parties apply and a few of them get approved. I know of many people who are well qualified to sit on the BAC who applied and did NOT get appointed. I’m qualified to fill one of the vacant seats and I have absolutely no interest in applying.
The gov lives in a farming community (that is now the largest strip mall in the state outside of Anchorage), so farmers are her neighbors. That doesn’t mean they’re her friends.
I was saddened to hear about their dust-up as well. I like both of these men. Let’s hope they shake hands and put it behind them.
Oh No!!
DING
Second round!!
http://www.andrewhalcro.com/wit-les_gara
Irishgirl (04:13:53) :
Oh No!! DING
Second round!!
________________________
It’s a shame. Truly it is. Two men who could do so much to help Alaskan politics regain its composure instead spend their time pissing on each other.
Disgraceful.
When it dawned on me that i knew more about Alaska’s political arena than my own beloved Tennessee’s, i was so embarrassed. So ~ i went lookin’ to see what was up in Nashville.
Whoa! High School Musical Drama Alert! In a nutshell: The Repubs had obtained a majority in both houses for the first time in 150 years (50-49). But they gave it all up to strip the new House Speaker of his Republican Party membership because (draws new breath) he consorted with the Democrats to get elected over the party’s original choice.
(http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/us/11tennesee.html?ref=us)
Thank you all for giving me the courage to remind them that they are Tennesseans FIRST ~ and to inform them that they are being watched [grin].
Les Gara rocks.
I agree w/sauerkraut. Give me a break with the tit for tat thing. Rise above it all Les. Many people assume that a lot of Halcro’s motivation comes from some axe to grind, having lost to SP in the election, and when he descends to this level he only gives that theory credibility. Guess I’ll have to stop reading his blog, as I have some serious issues with his attacks on Gara. As I stated above, there are plenty of reasons that I do not support Gara’s statements about the taxes & pipeline (I could go on & on about it, but won’t, and didn’t even touch on the Pt. Thomson issue, which was ridiculous and should not have been taken to court, in my opinion), but this is just petty stuff, and if you’re going to castigate someone for those things then you might as well castigate the other legislators who also went along with all of that.
Our state is still struggling to find a middle ground with oil companies, SP’s setting them up as the evil corporate entity is just as reprehensible as Frank Murkowski’s being in bed with them. Neither position serves the best interests of Alaska in the short or long term.
Rise above it Les! Time to move on folks! Nothing to see here!
To: Secret Shopper for Hungry Children
I am with you on this one. Halcro played a very important role is the discovery of Troopergate. He blew the story wide open for the State and the rest became history. He truly does care about Alaska and with his help, Gara was able to have his moment in the spotlight, givin hell to Staplemouth.
Troopers throughout Alaska know that Halcro is watching the gov. and when she tries to pull her B.S., Halcro will alert people, and those of us that can help, will help.
Although I have never personally met Halcro, he has been someone that has helped out my region and has responded to my questions whenever I contacted him. GAra needs to “move on” and get over himself, period. Keep up the good work Andrew! You know I am in your corner, because I know you are someone who truly cares about Alaska and the families that live here.
@Tina in Tennessee(05:39:21) :
Alaska used the “Tennessee Plan” to lobby Congress for statehood.
http://www.alaska.edu/creatingalaska/StatehoodFiles/infodocs/tennesseeplan/
I’m glad to hear that your state has characters in your legislature, too : ) When Molly Ivins was alive, she was always claiming that Texas had the most FU legislators, although once in awhile, she’d give a nod to Alaska as runners-up in that contest. I think the line, “You can’t make this stuff up” comes from Molly.
So many smart and obviously informed folks here! Thanks for all the thoughtful comments.
I hope Gara and Halcro realize the real danger to Alaska, and the US, is the devious, nakedly ambitious, and absurdly unqualified SP. They must focus their efforts on continued illumination of her graft, corruption, and ineptitude. It is stunning that so many otherwise intelligent folks are blind to her faults. That they are loyal to a Party and not their fellow Americans is the only explanation and SP is taking advantage of this. She is giving them the Hallmark movie of the week (weak, lol) for which they long. Ugh!
SMR:
I respectfully completely disagree with this statement:
“Many people assume that a lot of Halcro’s motivation comes from some axe to grind, having lost to SP in the election, and when he descends to this level he only gives that theory credibility.”
He doesn’t have an axe to grind. Look at it this way: You are obviously well-informed on oil/gas issues because not only are you intelligent but you have a background in that field. You also have a vested interest because you love this state and call it your home. You live and work here. I’m assuming much of your family is here.
Same for Halcro. I think just from the times I’ve spoken with him and/or his wife that he’s passionate about Alaska, and runs a business here, employs people, like many do. He wants to see Alaska grow and prosper and obviously oil/gas development is a large part of that. We can’t deny it.
Plus, I can’t help but think he’s thinking “This woman is really stupid!” My husband (a true genius) thinks the same. He simply can’t tolerate her stupidity and her phoniness. (We have been anti-Palin since BEFORE the gubernatorial election).
I think (IMO) Halcro goes after Gara because Gara tends to be more outspoken then some of the other Dem legislators. You have to admit, he’s in front of the camera often, and word has it, he seeks it out whenever he can.
I find your support of Gara a bit perplexing considering Gara’s staunch support of Palin/Irwin’s childish behavior towards Exxon regarding the revocation of the Pt. Thomson leases. You don’t have to like a company to do business with them when that said business has legal rights to do business with you. (And I’m not a huge fan of Exxon). But you and I know that the gas line can’t happen without gas from Pt Thomson.
It’s too bad they can’t work together but I think that would require longer arms for both of them to reach across a very wide aisle.
Halcro is normally a pretty good read. His writing is usually well thought out and well argued even if you don’t agree with his politics. It seems he’s let his emotions get the better of him here and it’s sad to watch. He’s sounding more and more like Dan Fagan in these attacks on Representative Gara, and he should be ashamed of that.
@Secret Shopper –
I’m not one who actually thinks that Halcro has an axe to grind, but common (mis)perception is that his criticism of SP is due to bad feelings/fallout from the Gov race. I admire his contributions toward unearthing the truth of some issues and holding certain feet to the fire. I’m not concerned with the size of his house or his bank account. I knew his sister many many years ago before she married and moved away, as both a friend of the family and our insurance agent. I wish that neither he nor Gara had descended to this type of behavior, it demeans & undermines them both. There are always two sides to a story, and this could stretch on ad infinitum. Where does it end once you begin down this road?
I appreciate that he takes issue w/some of Gara’s positions, but as far as I can tell the issues that he is taking issue with are no different from those policies that were also espoused by many other leglislators. Unfortunately for Alaskans, there were far too many who swallowed the AGIA/TransCanada snowjob hook, line & sinker. So, why single out Gara using AGIA, TransCanada or Pt Thomson as issues? There’s a HUGE cast of misguided legislators out there who could be tarred with that brush.
If you single out one person, when there are a cast of dozens who equally share the responsibility/burden/?, you undermine both yourself and the point that you are trying to make.
I don’t support Gara’s position re: Exxon, Pt Thomson. As I said, this state has a very long way to go in reaching a middle ground that benefits Alaska in the short- and long-term when it comes to the oil industry. Gara, and others who demonize the oil industry, are part of the problem, not the solution. The oil industry cannot be evil while still providing 80% of government funds, tens of thousands of jobs directly, and ten times that indirectly. It is a mystery to me how Gara can understand that our Gov sucks (I don’t know him personally, so I have to say that that is an impression that I get), yet still adopt her philosophy of oil = evil. Reactionary politics is no solution, and I see this oil-hating & oil-baiting as a reaction to the slime oozing from the VECO scandals, Frank M. & the Stevens father & son.
I admire Gara’s social reforms, his altruism, his compassion & all that he has achieved. I scorn his views of the oil industry that could be defined as the perfect liberal cliche. As a legislator in a state that receives so much benefit from oil, whose existence at this point is dependent upon oil, he has a lot of growing to do in that area.
I’m no huge fan of the oil companies, but I’ve been perplexed by Gara and others’ blind support of Sarah’s Trans-Canada deal. I don’t know much about the oil and gas industry, so I’m not speaking with authority, but something about this deal just hasn’t felt right to me from the beginning — maybe because TC was the ONLY company that qualified under Sarah’s guidelines, it doesn’t seem like an open process to me.
I admire Les’s social stands, but I really don’t understand his siding with Sarah on this deal.
I wish they’d gone with the old Yukon Pacific plan of building a gas pipeline to tidewater in Valdez. The plans are already drawn up and have been for many years.
On Halcro, he’s lost the argument. Whoever flings the first ad hominem attack or invokes the name of Hitler loses. That’s an Internet rule that goes all the way back to ARAPNET.
@SMR(11:30:49) : Good essay, girl. You usually manage to annoy me a little bit, but I like this one.
@grewingk –
I’ll try harder next time.
@grewingk (07:43:12):
Thank you! Thank you! The “Tennessee Plan” was a fascinating read. I guess it’s good we’re an ornery bunch [grin].
I actually have a piece of paper that declares me a member of the First Families of Tennessee. When i was explaining to my nine-year old daughter (at the time) about having an ancestor living in Tennessee since it entered statehood and his name was Robert Tipton, she replied “wouldn’t he be an anbrother?”
I wish we could use that same Tennessee Plan strategy, somehow, to keep you-know-who out of power [sigh].
Oh, I’m enjoying the sparring between grewingk and SMR. Much more intelligent and enlightening than the broad swipes between Halcro and Gara.
And these gals are civil!!! You go girls.
@SMR(13:46:10) :
@grewingk –
I’ll try harder next time.
—–
Oh, gee. I just knew that a left-handed compliment would tick you off.
What I mean is that you are very pro-oil. Understandable, since you & your DH work for them and you have an insider’s perspective. Me, I’m pro-development if/when it can be done responsibly and when it makes sense. (What were Jay Hammond’s three rules? I can never remember.) I’m not against oil, but I live in a coastal community where the effects of EVOS still linger to this day. Having XOM fight tooth & nail for 20 years to avoid paying damages is contemptible. It shows that they will do whatever they damned well can get away with.
One of my jobs is a spin-off of the oil industry. I feed a herd of 15 horses for a neighbor who works for Nabors. He’s a driller on Parker 245. So I’m taking oil money. My SO worked on the construction of TAPS right out of high school. I became a welder to work on TAPS, but didn’t boom up here until after it was complete. By the time the gasline goes, I’ll be too old to weld on it because of 30 years of working the trade (visual acuity), so will go for a job driving truck or something like that.
XOM hasn’t done a danged thing with Pt. Thomson in 30 years until just now. Another example that they do whatever they think they can get away with.
We’ll never agree on this stuff, but we can agree that our opinions differ and let it go at that.
SMR (11:30:49) :
Agreed, the majority of the legislators swallowed the pill crammed down their throats from GINO’s popularity, they wanted to speak out but couldn’t. Sad.
I don’t discredit Gara’s hard work and contributions to the state and the welfare of it’s people. I think he possesses a different development philosophy so I have to be careful about jumping on the Gara bandwagon. I give him props for his good work, but you bet I will continue to be critical of his anti-development stance. He doesn’t come up with solutions of how to fund our government and the people’s needs if we deter further oil development (for those outside 90% of our state money is from oil.)
I think Gara just grates on Halcro’s nerves, I think we probably all experience that from time to time. I know a couple people who have that effect on me no matter what they say or do: GINO is numero uno.
I always appreciate your insight, which is very similar to mine since I have so much exposure to oil folks here in my neighborhood (I’m not oil.)
I still think that Halcro, though not always correct, is the unsung hero in this saga we are in. He’s taken a lot of hits….and continues on. Gotta give him props for that. We NEED more watchdogs…even if they bite too hard at times!!
Cheers!
We’re not sparring! At least I don’t think we are… I was just ribbing grewingk — I didn’t take the comment personally or take offense.
Having been born & raised in AK, and having lived here pre-oil-boom, it’s an interesting exercise to imagine what Alaska might have been had the oil boom not come to this state. My job/field is not oil-specific, though my husband’s is, so I’m not tied to it, and would frankly prefer that he was not either (though he is not open to going back to school, which I can understand). The oil industry is subject to so many volatilities that it’s more than a bit unnerving to be so subject – financially – to its highs & lows. I loathed the company that I worked for (before becoming a stay-at-home-mom to the newest addition to the fam), and have sworn off working for an oil company forevermore, although my problem with them was their corporate philosophy, they were not any better or worse than any of the others in terms of their exploration or production practices. All of that being the case, I am definately more pro-paycheck than pro-oil. The thing about the oil industry is that it goes thru cycles where a welder is much more likely to be able to get a job than a petroleum engineer!
I vividly recall the Exxon disaster. A trifecta f-up: drunken (known!) captain, complacent & complicit oil company, lax industry standards.
Unfortunately we live in a world that is dominated by the need for oil, it fuels the zillions of cars, as well as greed, wars, environmental decline, etc. The shift toward environmentally responsible exploration & extraction is proceeding at a glacial pace, and that is really only happening here in the US and in Europe, as far as I’ve seen. Oil exploration in many places continues to be rape & pillage, sometimes literally. At one point my husband was offered a job by a company that shall remain nameless — I looked them up on the internet and read up on some headlines they were making over in Nigeria, burning out villages in the path of their proposed pipeline, and I told him no way could he take that job. The company wasn’t Exxon, but I definately consider Exxon at the evil end of the oil spectrum, a lot of that has to do with the Exxon-Valdez thing. They have probably done horrible things in many other places, flying under the radar. They seem to be so dominant that they can bury any story at any time. The Irwin/Pt Thomson legal debacle was just a bunch of grandstanding by Irwin. That stuff would never had made it thru the legal system before Palin’s term was over, Irwin would have gone with her, been replaced by our next Gov, and the next Gov would have dropped the suit. Our Gov has some strange anti-oil thing going on that defies comprehension, and it has pervaded her peons and the legislature, too.
I am not opposed to a gas pipeline that brings jobs to our state, but I am vehemently opposed to the TransCanada deal that gave away $500 million state dollars with a contract that does not even require that the pipeline ever be built, if you can’t build it just give us all of your studies & plans & what-have-you before you give up. The deal was flawed, unethical & suspect, just like the Gov who engineered it.
So, although I do have a bit of an insider’s view of the oil industry, I am as committed to seeing responsible oil exploration as any other, and much less pro-oil than many who are not even employed by an oil company, because I know the highs & lows of the industry personally, as well as its attendant costs.
I have liked and respected Andrew Halcro for a while now, but I know less about Les Gara, except for what I read on this blog. I’m dissapointed in Halcro for the name-calling, it’s childish, but I’m uncomfortable with demonizing him. I think Halcro deserves the benefit of the doubt. You can disagree with someone without making him into The Enemy.
@SMR,
I was ribbing too. Just enjoying the exchanges and the different perspectives.