Open Thread – How Things Change
14 11 2009
She was for it, before she was against it. From the Anchorage Daily News on May 8, 2005.
[h/t Mudflatter T]
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November 14th, 2009 at 3:54 AM
But it’s not done. Apparently it isn’t even out of the planning stage, and the deal is far off. So much for her singular accomplishment, and so much for the Alaskan economy.
But what I’m concerned with seems to be the lack of action and concern about diversifying Alaska’s economy. People are trying to get away from dependence on oil and gas these days, and the state needs some other forms of income to survive. It has beautiful scenery, intelligent people, so why not capitalize on those? But then I think about how carelessly Alaska has recently selected its leadership and groan. You need better, or Alaska becomes West Virginia North.
November 14th, 2009 at 4:29 AM
Nevermind her Wasillian HS BFF appointments, how on earth did sitting lawmakers, seasoned staff and expert consultants let this happen? Reporters, lawmakers, John Q. Public knew this woman wasn’t very smart and she really isn’t charming, but all these dead fish went with the flow. The press is finally admitting what a nightmare the Palin Administration was, shame on everyone who voted for her and supported her to make her look good at the expense of not only Alaska, but the country and world as well.
Unfortunately, she uses this singular act as her bona-fides in executive leadership accomplishments and won’t ever sit down and shut up. And she’ll be paid and rewarded for her ghost-written and keyword salad BS.
November 14th, 2009 at 4:52 AM
How much has her Pipeline-To-Noplace cost Alaskans? How much will it cost Alaskans and businesses? What’s the exposure to the rest of the country’s taxpayers?
November 14th, 2009 at 5:05 AM
Soon after SP was nominated by McCain, Newsweek magazine did a lengthy and informative article on the proposed gas line. It mentioned the difficulties in ever getting it approved by some of the Canadian tribes who’s lands it would have had to go through. The article made it very clear that it was going to be a long and expensive project, if it ever got implemented. I remember thinking then that this was nothing but a pipe dream, and a very expensive one at that.
As I don’t save many magazines, I went looking on-line and found the following (Sep 2008) that mentions Cheney’s involvement in it and his connection to part of Ted Stevens’ trial.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/154916
Unfortunately, despite my trying to narrow the search function, I still couldn’t find the article that I wanted.
November 14th, 2009 at 5:10 AM
I haven’t read enough on the subject, but you do have to wonder just what hidden promises and claims on the unfinished project lie under the surface. Companies want money just to abandon projects these days, and if Alaska doesn’t act on some of this stuff, they could possibly sue. And I’m sure Alaska just isn’t the economic powerhouse it used to be.
That’s another reason why snubbing the President of the United States is a bad deal. It may well be the taxpayers in the lower 48 that may end up picking up the tab for this failed project in so many ways, from the trade deal issues to environmental remediation to roads. While Obama seems to have his emotions in control over matters like this, staff just may make sure things get “slow-walked” to his desk from Alaska.
November 14th, 2009 at 5:14 AM
Sauer – This article first appeared just before AK voted on it:
http://www(dot)minyanville(dot)com/articles/BP-xom-COP-oil-gas-Alaska/index/a/18148
This one from the ADN mentions the $500 million seed money:
http://www.adn.com/money/industries/oil/pipeline/story/420067.html
This one is a recent story about disputes in Kansas and how the pipeline would affect taxes:
http://www(dot)winfieldcourier(dot)com/articles/2009/11/13/opinion/editorial/doc4afd9cdb93306741430780.txt
Nature Canada’s website has an article and petition to stop the project.
http://www(dot)naturecanada(dot)ca/advocate/global_warming_forests.html?gclid=CImU46_Qip4CFYlM2godoionog
Sorry that I had to put in the dots and ats – too many links for one message to pass moderation.
Those are only a few articles I found on Google. I’m sure AKM could give more extensive and more accurate info.
November 14th, 2009 at 5:17 AM
Just 2 yrs ago, she had an 80% approval rating in Alaska. LOL
November 14th, 2009 at 6:00 AM
Am I missing something…wasn’t this the pipeline that preceded her own AGIA? So she is on record of saying it was the greatest things since… then when it was to her benefit to do so, she threw the original plan under the proverbial bus (along with all her “friends” who got in her way) to make herself look good. Then, as is her style, she headed out of Dodge before the reality of her failed project came into complete focus (so that now she can blame the people who took over). Her fans are correct on one point, she is amazing…amazingly manipulative and dishonest.
November 14th, 2009 at 6:51 AM
According to an article on ADN this week, Transcanada and Exxon have rented office space. wow. Sounds more like telemarketing calls in the future for signing up contracts for gas to see how much interest.
http://www.adn.com/money/industries/oil/pipeline/story/1007681.html
November 14th, 2009 at 6:52 AM
What amazes me is that she lies with such ease and doesn’t seem to care.
November 14th, 2009 at 7:04 AM
ding, ding, ding, ding, ding….
We interrupt this regularly scheduled open thread for this very important official message…
Illinois Mudstock happens today, 2:00 pm, at Goose Island Brew Pub,
1800 N. Clybourn Ave., Chicago, Illinois.
We now return you to our regularly scheduled comments…
November 14th, 2009 at 7:39 AM
wow — hope all at the chicago mudstock have a GREAT time. live blog if you can………
November 14th, 2009 at 7:44 AM
Breaking news. As the result of faulty wiring at her Wasilla home, Sarah Palin’s personal library was destroyed by fire. Both books were lost, poof… up in flames, and she hadn’t even finished coloring one of them yet.
November 14th, 2009 at 7:51 AM
7 OMG said
“…wasn’t this the pipeline that preceded her own AGIA? So she is on record of saying it was the greatest things since…”
——————————
Yes – this was the idea which preceded hers or what she calls hers.
Please remember that there were problems with the first as well AND that some very smart DEMS worked with her on the AGIA.
There are plenty of concerns about whether the current proposal can work but just because the gone-gov has tried to make it hers is NOT reason to can it entirely.
What IS important is to note that SP changes her stance as often as the rest of us change our underpants…
November 14th, 2009 at 8:03 AM
This is probably already up but AKM has a long article on HuffPo
November 14th, 2009 at 8:07 AM
9 Watching from New Jersey Says:
November 14th, 2009 at 6:52 AM
What amazes me is that she lies with such ease and doesn’t seem to care.
And she is either so obtuse that she doesn’t notice that others notice or is so ego oriented that she doesn’t care and procedes on the basis of the lie anyway.
November 14th, 2009 at 8:21 AM
Lynnrockets, I guess that faulty wiring was caused by the lack of permits and the house being built by Todd’s “buddies”–it was bound to happen to that great library of hers.
November 14th, 2009 at 8:46 AM
Palin’s library size was that which she was able to keep in her toasteroven!
November 14th, 2009 at 8:53 AM
Have you checked out mudpup “Lynnrockets” blog today?
November 14th, 2009 at 8:53 AM
oops- link-
http://lynnrockets.wordpress.com/
November 14th, 2009 at 8:57 AM
Palin’s Vetting Bill = Cost of a Long Distance Call $1.74 for 3 minutes
November 14th, 2009 at 9:13 AM
So why did former Gov. Palin put $5,000,000 in her budget each year to fund ANGDA (Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority), voted in YEARS AGO via Citizens Petition, and then slashed it to zero at the last second each year of her Administration? This is supporting the building of a natural gas pipeline in her eyes?
When are the lawmakers in Alaska going to properly recognize an Alaskan voter mandate and let ANGDA, its CEO Harold Heinze, its Chair Scott Heyworth, and its great BOD build the dang natural gas pipeline? It’s been over 7 years now and it could have been built if the Big Oil corrupt Alaskan government had gotten behind it. Oh that’s right, the crooks are still in charge of Juneau, not the Alaskan peoples nor their corrupt elected officials in Juneau.
This latest stunt to audit ANGDA, once AGAIN, giving AGIA funding, giving ANGDA no funding, shutting ANGDA down at every opportunity HAS TO END. Alaskans need to contact their Governor and State Representatives for an investigation into WHY ANGDA has not been funded and been underminded at every turn by Alaskan’s elected officials and bureaucrats. You voted for it, why hasn’t been allowed to happen?
November 14th, 2009 at 9:28 AM
VP Joe Biden is scheduled to appear on The Daily Show on Tuesday!
Wednesday could be very interesting. Hopefully Jon Stewart will be in the same fine smackdown form as when he had the duffus stock market barker from CNBC on. Lou Dobbs is scheduled for Wednesday on the show.
November 14th, 2009 at 9:41 AM
I know it’s politically incorrect of me, but I love starlings! I know, I know, they’re an invasive species (introduced simultaneously with the sparrow, among others, because the designers of Central Park in NYC wanted all the birds mentioned in Shakespeare to be part of the park), but I befriended a baby many years ago, and he was my “familiar” for 11 years, and founded the Good Bird Breakfast Club, which endures to this day.
November 14th, 2009 at 9:56 AM
What is she wearing in that picture!!!! She looks like she just crawled out of bed and had slept in her clothes. And doesn’t this woman own a comb or a bottle of shampoo? Or has she run out of the free samples that come in the mail? I can understand it if the McCain campaign really didn’t want her wearing her own clothes. I can also see her spending outrageous sums of money on her and her family’s clothes once she was on someone else’s dime.
November 14th, 2009 at 10:34 AM
I’m sure the Alaskans probably know who the ‘ characters ‘ in that picture are.
That was back in 2005 before we ever knew of ‘ HER’…. also too.
Who are the other 3 guys going left to right..? Would we recognize their names.
Have any of these Guys since then…. been indicted ….or maybe in Jail?
Or as a favor once she became Gov., did she appoint them to something.
Maybe they were no longer useful and are under her bus.
As Sundance said to Butch Cassidy with that famous line of his….
” WHO are those Guys?”
November 14th, 2009 at 10:42 AM
She does look pretty scruffy for such an important picture. While I wouldn’t expect her to look like a fashion model, a good professional look would have been expected for something like this.
November 14th, 2009 at 10:56 AM
25 honestyinGov – The man standing right next to her is our most illustrious, beloved Governor Jay Hammond- who I hope is in heaven and going to rescue us…the next man is Governor Wally Hickel, who more or less said Sarah was stupid in an op-ed recently. He is well respected. Unsure who the man is on the far right. Sarah Palin has no right being photoshopped with these dignified smart people- but once she was for an All Alaska Pipeline- but you know the rest…
November 14th, 2009 at 10:56 AM
And the aftermath continues…media visits, surprise over B’s baby/”sex”, McCain strikeback, etc.
McCain: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29504.html
Bristol: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091114/ap_en_ce/us_palin_bristol
Palin says she didn’t know B* was having sex
NEW YORK – Sarah Palin says she didn’t know her daughter B* was sexually active before she learned the teenager was pregnant.
The former vice presidential candidate told ABC’s Barbara Walters: “Truthfully, we were devastated.”
Frankly, I don’t believe the B bit in any manner, shape or form.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:28 AM
Thanks for the answers Polly @27.
Gryphen has posted some funny stuff this morning if you need to divorce yourself from the trauma that revolves around ‘ the Quitter’ and her bad Karma.
The Mad Magazine post about ” Blunder Woman “… too funny.
Her Fans will probably say ” She looks good in those pics though “. They are all a little obsessed about those purty pictures and images.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:34 AM
Everyone of Bush’s business ventures went bust. He was elected to two terms. The gas pipe line would be the biggest infrastructure project in the history of mankind. Who did Alaska elect to head this up? A sports broadcaster. One who’s only record on achievement was building a Sport Center a driving the town she was major of into debt.
America has turned into Monty Phyton’s Flying Circus.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Another funny video starring many of the favorites. The “Stupid Virus”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/14/the-stupid-virus-video_n_357847.html
November 14th, 2009 at 12:07 PM
Zyx – It’s okay, we won’t trounce you for having a starling familiar – after all, you kept him out of harm’s way, and kept him from hurting others… so all is well. lol
Did anyone else notice that Palin’s blue jacket/blazer in the photo with Barbara Walters is identical to the green one in the photo with Oprah? Is her shopping ability and clothing taste so awful that she buys more than one of something in each color (as with her Wal-Mart jammies that Levi mentions)? Or is there something wrong with the coloring in one of the photos and there is in fact only one of it/them?
November 14th, 2009 at 12:10 PM
Alaska Pi @14 says “What IS important is to note that SP changes her stance as often as the rest of us change our underpants…”
Didn’t you mean to say….. “as often as Ann changes Glenna’s diapers…” ??
November 14th, 2009 at 12:15 PM
I just saw the Newsweek cover posted at Bree’s. I am still researching and trying to determine if that will be the real Cover. Is it real… or a photo shop.
It’s the same photo of her from Runners World with the Title
” How do you solve a problem like Sarah…She’s bad news for the GOP-and for everybody else.too”
A Google search, of the story by Christopher Hichens has all the Pro-Palin websites really buzzing this morning and calling the story a ” hit piece “.
Those bees are mad and stirred up. No sweet honey coming from them.
The story has too many quotes by him to pull out of it so you will have to read the whole thing. It’s good and He covers a LOT of areas and has some gems. Here is one though about the ” packaging of Sarah Palin”…
( This is a must read)
“But then all we are considering is a point of packaging and marketing, where charm is supposed to make up for what education and experience have failed thus far to supply. We are further obliged to consider the question: exactly how charming is the Joan of Arc of the New Right, who also hears voices speaking to her of “spiritual warfare”? ”
http://www.newsweek.com/id/222794
November 14th, 2009 at 12:15 PM
Meede @22 – WOW – I’d better plan on naps for Tuesday and Wednesday so I can stay awake to watch Stewart. Biden will do fine and is always entertaining. Dobbs………would love to see Stewart take him down just a wee bit. Thanks for the heads up!
PepperzMom (GA) @28 – Didn’t know she was having sex? Gee whiz, doesn’t Bree Palin have a few screen shots of Bristol’s FB page before it was scrubbed (presumably by the McCain campaign) where Bristol tells someone her mother asked her if she was pregnant? I doubt Sarah will ever learn there isn’t much that is not found somewhere, no matter how great an attempt is made to get rid of it.
November 14th, 2009 at 12:30 PM
If you will be tuning in to the Sunday talk Shows as well… I saw this list posted over on Politico. You may see someone on the list to tune in for that is interesting. I’ll skip posting the faux news line-up of guests.
******************************
NBC’s “Meet the Press”: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, roundtable with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA), and civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton.
ABC’s “This Week”: Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, roundtable with ABC’s George Will, Washington Post’s Bob Woodward, PBS’s Gwen Ifill, New York Times’ David Brooks and Mother Jones’ David Corn.
CBS’s “Face the Nation”: Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI), Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), roundtable with Washington Post’s Dana Priest and CBS’s Juan Zarate
November 14th, 2009 at 12:37 PM
Slight correction on my last post. Bree has the link to Audrey’s posting of Bristol’s FB page.
I think the only time Sarah’s hair ever looked tended to was the night of the Republican convention. Even the photos taken with Barbara Walters look like she barely took a brush to it……….and WHAT is with the BANGS always in her eyes? Every time I see one of those pictures, I automatically reach up to brush the bangs out of my eyes……….and I don’t have bangs!
November 14th, 2009 at 12:54 PM
While on the Who’s On TV, here’s a reminder for those in AK. (Lucky Puppies). I just copied this from AKM’s post from earlier this week as I would think it airs today as it was taped earlier this week:
The Moore Up North Show will air Saturdays on KYES, Channel 5 courtesy of Jeremy Landsman. AKM did not mention the time.
A YouTube channel is planned so the shows can be seen by all with internet access.
November 14th, 2009 at 1:38 PM
Sarah might show her organizers a copy of Rand McNally. I don’t see any so called “small towns” listed she will be visiting. Of course if you’re from New York City, Los Angeles or San Francisco, the places she will visit might be considered small. Most of us small town hicks look at the cities she is visiting
as large. Small towns have less than five digits. Thank you.
November 14th, 2009 at 2:38 PM
The show premiers on KYES channel 5, at 4:00 our time today. Set my receiver to autotune already.
November 14th, 2009 at 3:15 PM
33 GreatGranny2C said
“Didn’t you mean to say….. “as often as Ann changes Glenna’s diapers…” ??”
LOL- it is a better description, isn’t it?!
November 14th, 2009 at 3:26 PM
As usual, I’m posting late on the open thread…
I was thinking of trying to go to the book signing at the Borders near Rochester. Any other Mudpups care to join me? I have a Brian I got at the last Pittsburgh Mudstock (thanks, AKM!!!) and he tells me he would love to go…
November 14th, 2009 at 4:02 PM
Lynnrockets: I just read your comment to my husband & he is still laughing
AKM: thanks for the” not so way back” machine travel. Yes, the All-Alaska gas line was very different from what subsequently happened. And yes, our Sarah got endorsements from our beloved elder statesmen up here, won the election
and yes, they now all have the tire marks from bus wheels across their chests.
Wiser & sadder ,we all be.
November 14th, 2009 at 5:05 PM
Interesting final sentence of Christopher Hitchen’s piece in Newsweek about Palin:
“Sarah Palin appears to have no testable core conviction except the belief (which none of her defenders denies that she holds, or at least has held and not yet repudiated) that the end of days and the Second Coming will occur in her lifetime. This completes the already strong case for allowing her to pass the rest of her natural life span as a private citizen.”
http://www.newsweek.com/id/222794
Actually, Mr Hitchens……One other core conviction that Palin holds with even greater tenacity than the Second Coming is her unwarranted, mind-boggling belief that her skills, education, intelligence, and experiences are adequate for any leadership position beyond the local PTA president.
Her hubris and narcissism have been extensively tested and remain unshakeable.
November 14th, 2009 at 5:08 PM
To all the Juneau mudpups -
I just saw the pics on the ADN website of the mudslides. Hope you’re all safe, warm, dry and out of harms’ way.
November 14th, 2009 at 8:17 PM
@46 leenie17-
Most of us- we’re fine… live a bit away from the slides…damp around the edges but safe.
3 downed trees in MUYS’s yard though…
Snowing now… a few lovely quiet white inches .
Thank you for thinking of us…
November 14th, 2009 at 11:35 PM
Hey y’all, remember when AKM let it snow on the bottom of blog?