Quote of the Week from Governor Sean Parnell
24 11 2009Looks like somebody has made a decision about who to crawl into bed with, while trying to get elected governor all by himself.
“Clearly the federal government is taking away our freedoms and our opportunities for a strong-growing economy,” Alaska’s Sean Parnell said in an interview. “We’re fighting them off every day that I’m governor.”
“Fighting them off?” Really.
Perhaps that’s why the governor this month refused to drive 2 miles down the road to meet President Obama when he touched down in Alaska for the first time, to honor the troops at Elmendorf Air Force Base. Can’t be seen cavorting with the enemy.
Before you grab your muskets, here’s a fun fact. Alaska receives more federal money per capita than any other state in the union. That’s why we kept re-electing Ted Stevens, remember? And they employ almost 18,000 people in the state. Jerks. They ruin the economy, alright.
So, will “SP II” (which he now deserves to be dubbed) be running as a Republican, or with the Alaska Independence Party?
While he’s deciding, he’s just appointed Tammie Wilson, recently defeated in the Fairbanks North Star Borough’s mayoral election because…well, she was just too fringy even for Fairbanks voters, to the vacant District 11 House seat.
This may be interesting. Will we see a fracturing of the Republican vote like we did in District 23? I believe their representative is now … what is he? Oh, that’s right. A Democrat.
November 24th, 2009 at 7:28 PM
Alaskans, call him out on his comments!
Demand that Sean Parnell present a State budget that declines all Federal funds.
Demand that Sean Parnell use State resources to replace all Federal programs.
Then see if he gets re-elected.
November 24th, 2009 at 7:28 PM
I don’t recall any further information ever being announced of Parnell seeking further information as to why there was no response to his asking for aid for the lack of salmon the villages were able to catch to maintain themselves over the winter months.
Another one that makes you go ‘Hmmm’ when you read his quote.
November 24th, 2009 at 7:29 PM
Opps. I meant “elected”, since he is an appointee as Governor now.
November 24th, 2009 at 7:53 PM
Parnell is a huge disappointment. He had an incredible opportunity and he blew it.
Craig Campbell – a true loser outside of his carefully controlled military realm.
The State is ripe for change. YES WE CAN!
November 24th, 2009 at 8:19 PM
After witnessing what happened with the election of Sullivan, I suspect that a Republican will win the election in the red State of Alaska. To hope it goes blue may be a mistake.
Consider this – Democrats, re-register as Independent before election and vote for the other Republican in the Primary. Parnell, though not a drama queen like Palin, HAS TO GO.
Sorry if this has been suggested – I have not read through all the comments yet.
November 24th, 2009 at 8:21 PM
Has Parnell but a freeze on Government hiring or is he expanding Government like S’error did?
If Government is such a bad thing, why is this guy Governor. Seems ironic doesn’t it?
November 24th, 2009 at 9:06 PM
I’m from NJ sent an E-Mail To Sarah when she was Gov Sent an E-Mail to Gov Parnell asking what I think anyone would consider a reasonable question.(What are you doing about the problems the Alaskan Natives are having ? ) It looks like the reaction to my E-Mail is the same as the reaction to the Native problems.”NO ACTION”
November 24th, 2009 at 9:15 PM
Sean, you ignorant slut.
Actually, I’m not sure I have any further comment. I suppose (like others here) I could ask for him to give an example of how “federal government is taking away our freedoms and our opportunities for a strong-growing economy”. But it would be pointless, because I already know he doesn’t have any examples; he’s just blowing hoohah out his chacha.
Does he really think this is going to improve his election chances? I mean, given Alaska as it is, he can probably get elected if he just hides under his blanket for the next year. I cannot imagine that spewing nonsense is going to do him much good; the nonsense-consumers will already vote for him, and some of the more thoughtful independents may find themselves wondering “does this guy live in the same universe as the rest of us”?
I suspect he has been infected with Palinoia — the overwhelming need to lash out at the powers-that-be, even when you ARE the powers-that-be. And to say things like “It wasn’t my fault, he MADE me steal his toy truck”.
Sean, you miserable excuse for a human being.
November 24th, 2009 at 9:21 PM
Off subject, but you have to see these clips of Palin sheep in Cleveland
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5sqvmsKd_M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7tvuHTW8_A&feature=related
November 24th, 2009 at 11:24 PM
OT also, but for a good time,a laugh, and to forget about Palin (well, almost) watch The Muppets: Bohemian Rhapsody
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgbNymZ7vqY
November 24th, 2009 at 11:32 PM
lori in los angeles (@55) – if I remember correctly, here in Georgia, one does not need to ‘re-register’ to vote a (particular) party in the primaries. I don’t know how it is in other states (AK, too, also) but, here, you go to the polling station on primary day and tell them which party’s candidate slate you’ll be wanting – Democratic, Republican, or Independent. They hand it to you (after all the legal stuff like checking ID and whatnot) and you go to the booth/station and make your selections.
The thing of it is, though, when/if you vote the ‘opposite’ slate, you have to figure out which ‘opposite’ candidate has the least likely chance of beating your (preferred) candidate in the head-to-head general election. Knock wood, the least-likely-to-win ‘opposite’ candidate has never won in the past decade that I’ve been keeping track. (Then again, I’ve never seen an ‘opposite’ slate yet, that didn’t list at least one candidate who could make my skin crawl from just reading their name.)
And yes, I’ve always thought it a pretty under-handed way of selecting elected officials, but the longer I live here, the more I see that it’s what ‘they’ do. In some local families, it’s been done for 4 or more generations.
The MAJOR downside to ‘opposite’ voting in the primaries, however, is that you end up on their mailing list. I found the literature touting the GOP in the run-ups to the 2004 and 2006 elections to be particular odious, but we did get *two* (auto)signed, 8X10, glossy photo of GW and Laura (suitable for framing!) with one of their pleas for money.
I did not frame the pictures and I did not send money. My candidates have consistently won the county, though. beth.
November 24th, 2009 at 11:38 PM
[[that would be "couldn't"..."couldn't" make my skin crawl. beth]]
November 24th, 2009 at 11:47 PM
I have a “IDEA” it appears like a winner – a thread that might get the point across-
How about ——– drumroll please……………….. “if Sarah Was Queen,” what would life be like. The top 100000 thoughts-
To continue – Rules need to be established- 1. Each participant is limited to no more than 10 responses.
Rule 2. “See rule 1.”
Rule 3. Civility and decency should be required- realism could be helpful as well.
I will set the tone -
“if Sarah Was Queen,” what life would be like-
1. There would be no more abortions.
2. We would drastically cut taxes on small business.
3. Oil and big business would be taxed more.
4. If oil refused to “drill baby drill” (due to the taxes) we would take back thier leases.
5. We would eliminate most of the wolves.
6. There would be a “Moose in every Pot.”
7. “Clean Coal” power generators would sprout up across America and spew (whatever they spew).
8. Polar Bears would loose Federal designation as an endangered species even though now there is a Northwest Passage.
9. Fearmongering and Hate 101 is required at all community colleges.
There are my 9- Toss out a few.
Pete
November 25th, 2009 at 12:15 AM
I’m wondering….was this statement made in response to the fact that the Federal Government is selling oil leases on Federal Land up here? The big oil companies are pi88ed off at AGIA and basically pulling back on any “drill baby drill” on state land because they feel the state taxes are too high. SP shot the state in the foot with that one (as did the dems in the legislature who were being all bipartisan-like and kissing up to her 2 years ago). So now there is oil in the Gulf of Mexico (off the shores of Mexico) and they be movin’ the drillin’ down there. Too bad, so sad Alassssska. And they can have their cake and eat it too by drilling on Federal Land where they probably don’t have to pay the higher taxes. I’m no expert so I am not absolutely sure about this.
Don’t get me wrong, I am no great friend of BIG OIL (they get into far too many pi**ing matches and they make more money than god) but they Do employ my husband and our very livlihood depends on them (as do those of many of the teabagging SP lovers who are too stupid to see what she has done). I sometimes have a bit of a hard time with quotes of the day because I don’t know what the context is. I still think Parnell is a loser (although I had a little bit of hope when he came out with the college scholarship thing-Now THAT was a good idea).
Am I flip flopping?
November 25th, 2009 at 12:17 AM
To Pete @63: If Sarah was Queen:
it wouldn’t be my fault.
November 25th, 2009 at 12:30 AM
That borough mayor’s election up here was a little spooky, because it had overtones of what has been going on in other teabagger takeover elections recently– a less qualified individual appears on the scene, and picks up momentum in the absence of strong traditional, established Republican candidates. A vacuum candidate.
The opposition up here to Tammie, who had served just one year as an assembly member prior to running, was bi-partisan. There were notable Republicans including former legislators, well known community leaders and the current mayor who endorsed Hopkins, a Democrat and eventual winner. The main endorsement she received was from Lt. Gov. Campbell, and she has now been appointed to the legislature by Parnell, and will be beholden to both of them.
Too fringy for Fairbanks? Just barely. She got a lot of votes. She’s a dedicated campaigner with conservative opinions and ambition to hold public office, but did not have a great deal of business or government experience and is essentially unproven in the public sphere. Again, a sign of the times.
Where have all the Chamber of Commerce Republicans gone, anyway? They seem to be abdicating electoral politics in droves. Without them, this vacuum candidate phenomenon will be coming to more and more local elections near you….
November 25th, 2009 at 12:45 AM
I really had faith in Sean Parnell.. .until he disprected our President and now he is talking anti federal government. Who are these people that worm their way into politics and represent us. I am definately going to be a much more careful voter in the future.
November 25th, 2009 at 2:22 AM
I couldn’t believe his statement when I read it on here. AK couldn’t exist without federal $$$. When I lived in Bethel, I had to learn a whole new language – the language of government acronymns: PHS (Public Health Service Hospital), BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs), BLM (Bureau of Land Management), NSW (National Weather Service), USPS (Post Office). and, of course, FAA (Federal Aviation Agency). There were a couple more, I’m sure, BUT NOT the Forest Service or Park Service. (HAH – Bethel is treeless tundra.) We were with the FAA, and our son is with the National Park Service. I was employed by Cooperative Extension Service, part of my salary from the U of F, and part federal funds. Go into Anchorage, and I’ll bet you can find a federal agency for every letter of the alphabet.
Ann Strongheart, if you are reading this, jump in and tell me any I might have missed. I’m sitting here with my first cup of coffee of the day, utterly amazed. Gotta get ready for Turkey Day – wil check back later.
November 25th, 2009 at 5:14 AM
If Sarah were Queen—-This one is a direct quote a fan posted on facebook—I swear.
“When Sarah is President (Queen) she will wipe out all religions in the world and there will just be good Ol’ American Christianity.”
First of all, unless she plans on a Third World War to invaded every country on Earth (including the USA) how exactly would the President of the US wipe out all religion in the world except good ol’ American Chrisitanity.
Secondly, when did Christianity became an “American” religion. Do they forget where Christianity started and that there are Christians around the globe? Is our Christianity better than their Christianity? Guess they think so.
November 25th, 2009 at 5:22 AM
tigerwine-
US Fish and Wildlife
NOAA in it’s other jobs -
Nat Marine Fish Serv
and in other places in Alaska there IS US National Forest Service
(most notably here in Southeast where there ARE trees- Tongass National Forest )
Coast Guard
US Army
US Customs
USGS
there are a lot more -also too
the EPA has a profile here…
Army Corps of Engineers…
Also- given the semi- sovereignty of Alaska Native tribes and the way things have been done since Nixon changed the rules some in 1975 (backed the BIA’s role down quite a bit ) and federal recognition of over 200 tribes , the fed contracts directly with the tribes to provide some of their own services in many areas… which is where Alaska Native health groups come in.
They are funded directly by the fed…
November 25th, 2009 at 6:59 AM
@64 lovemydogs:
“The big oil companies are pi88ed off at AGIA and basically pulling back on any “drill baby drill” on state land because they feel the state taxes are too high. SP shot the state in the foot with that one (as did the dems in the legislature who were being all bipartisan-like and kissing up to her 2 years ago).”
—————–
I’m not sure ACES shot the state in the foot with change in taxes- Murk shot us in the hiney with HIS take on taxes on oil though and it NEEDED to be undone. Big Oil has had a stranglehold on far too many things in this state for a long time.
http://www.revenue.state.ak.us/ACES_revenue.htm
And someday the oil will be gone…
AGIA? We’ll see…
My Rep was one of the prime movers amongst the Dems and NEVER kisses up to anyone , let alone SP.
Now… given this quote by Governor Parnell was a stand alone- without context- who was he kissing up to?
November 25th, 2009 at 7:27 AM
Alaska Pi – wow! thanks for coming up with all those other federal agencies! In addition to the Coast Guard and Army, of course the Air Force. There used to be a Navy station in Adak, didn’t there? Is it still there?
Our first winter in BET the city power plant burned down. (Didn’t affect us (FAA) since we had back up generators.) So they sent up
Air Force personnel to man a generator for the town – I think they were there about 6 months until the new station was built. What a treat for us to see all those handsome, fresh-faced young men!
But, with the usual government thinking, they came out of NM – not MT, WA, ND, ID, MN, etc. They froze their butts off!
November 25th, 2009 at 8:54 AM
65 lovemydogs Says: November 25th, 2009 at 12:17 AM
To Pete @63: If Sarah was Queen:
it wouldn’t be my fault.
———
all pregnant teenage girls would be forced to be abstinent.
November 25th, 2009 at 8:54 AM
65 lovemydogs Says: November 25th, 2009 at 12:17 AM
To Pete @63: If Sarah was Queen:
it wouldn’t be my fault.
———
all pregnant teenage girls would be forced to be abstinent. boo ya!
November 25th, 2009 at 9:00 AM
69 trisha Says: November 25th, 2009 at 5:14 AM
Secondly, when did Christianity became an “American” religion.
—————
S’error Palin’s version of christianity is the same as that enforced by Cottom Mather all those years ago in Salem. If she becomes queen, she’ll burn at the stake all those pajama-wearing bloggers.
November 25th, 2009 at 9:02 AM
Here I thought S’error liked Big Oil… especially the foreign-controlled companies. Go America!
November 25th, 2009 at 9:14 AM
So lets look at this logically shall we. Alaska gets x amount of dollars from the federal government. From the latest stats I could find on online, Alaska is third when it comes to amount of tax dollars received compared to amount paid behind Mississippi and New Mexico. I am betting that doesn’t include all the money paid to federal employees, including military who spend it in the local economy. Military members who live on bases where housing has been privatized pay rent not to the Feds but to a private company. On Elmendorf that would be Aurora Military Housing, a part of JL Properties, owned by Jonathan Rubini and Leonard Hyde. The maintenance people who take care of the housing are employed not by the Feds but by JL Properties. And the feds give the school districts extra money for every military dependent that goes to school to make up for the lack of taxation on federal property. Where was Mr Parnell when George Bush was REALLY taking away our freedoms like the right to privacy, habeus corpus, free speech (see free speech zones) etc. Amazing how he found his male parts now that a Democrat is president.
November 25th, 2009 at 9:34 AM
BucsFan – good point about the state receiving $$ for military personnel kids attending school. And. . .it’s not just the military – and it’s not just in AK. We had to fill out a form as a federal employee who had kids in school (I think 2x/yr). When we moved to FL, they tried to charge us $250 to enroll our son in school. (Since we were near retirement, we didn’t buy a house, and they said we were transients, like orange pickers, or somesuch.) When we brought up the fact about the feds reimbursing them, they backed right down. Tried to charge us extra to register our car, too. (Again, $250) The thinking here was that we bought the car out of state to save FL taxes. How many folks do you know that go to AK to buy cars? We had actually swapped our truck for our son-in-law’s Thunderbird. the T-bird had actually been bought in FL in the first place! How convoluted is that? Are you from Tampa?
November 25th, 2009 at 9:42 AM
Why does anyone – ANYONE – with even half a brain even bother living in Alaska?
Signed,
Unemployed pregnant teen mother with 2 kids and a oxycontin habit
November 25th, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Robin Williams on Letterman Re: Palin…
“It’s wonderful, I went looking for her book and I found it in the fantasy aisle. With Sarah you get the feeling she was voted least likely to write a book and most likely to burn one. You look at her and wonder ‘Where did they find her, Project Running Mate?’”
I love that man. Brings me to tears laughing almost every time I see him.
November 25th, 2009 at 10:55 AM
If we’re fighting them off every day, does that mean we’ll go to war with Elmendorf, Richardson, Eielson, and Wainwright (Alaska military bases)? I’d love to see Parnell show up and start throwing rocks at one of the main gates.
November 25th, 2009 at 11:01 AM
Parnell claims he asked to have time with the President but he couldn’t get it so he went an hung out with contractors (republican campaign donors) instead. I’m really looking forward to the upcoming APOC report and see how much his campaign cashed in on that.
Having an African American President stop in Alaska was historic for all Alaskans; even including Parnell. He should have been there.
The message Parnell sent to African American Alaskans wasn’t good.
I’m happy the President prioritized his time on the ground for a family of a soldier who had paid the ultimate sacrifice. Thanks President Obama for supporting our troops.
On the other hand, Parnell: Thanks for nothing.
November 25th, 2009 at 11:28 AM
AlaskaPi: Thanks for correcting me. I meant ACES, not AGIA. Yes, big oil has a stranglehold on us. But the bottom line is this, unless the state can drill for oil (or whatever else we want to rape the land for) we have to go along with the businesses that do the production (to a certain extent). Otherwise, they pull their equipment and go somewhere else.
And I didn’t mean to insult your legislator. I am a Democrat. One of the very few in my area. None of my legislators do anything that I ask of them (well—Tom Wagoner DID vote against WAR–but that’s it). I’m just not sure that ACES was the best idea. Popular yes.
November 25th, 2009 at 5:31 PM
lovemydogs-
I think the most important thing we have to deal with here in Alaska is
the ‘certain extent’ you noted in :
“we have to go along with the businesses that do the production (to a certain extent). Otherwise, they pull their equipment and go somewhere else. ”
I’m not sure ACES is the right or perfect balance but Murk’s giving-away-the-farm did not begin to ensure that our resources are managed for the benefit of all Alaskans as the state constitution specifies.
I have grave doubts about what large corporations call an acceptable climate to do business in after watching too many of them do the carrot and stick thingy to push for overly ample incentives for themselves BUT I do know there is a point of no return ( no profit) beyond which they will not go.
I wish we could have open conversations in this state about these kinds of things instead of all the retreating into camps of pro and con.
This dumb remark by Governor Parnell widens the gap between Alaskans on development when we need to be shrinking it to plan for the future …
As well as amping up the stupenagle fed/state hooey.
My Rep Kertulla mostly makes me happy and pays attention to constituents.
I’m kinda touchy about what folks say about my Legs these days after SP not only insulted them but also took her childish pique at Rep Kertulla and Senator Elton out on all of us here… so, apologies for sounding thin skinned…