(no subject)

[winterbadger]

GOP denies Monty Python connection to campaign

"Republicans spokespersons have denied that Sen McCain;s pick for running mate, AK Gov Sarah Palin, is related to British comedian and documentary filmmaler Michael Palin."

OK, so I made that quote up. But it would be about as plausible as anything else in this election. Yes, Sen McCain, you are going to draw in all those disaffected middle-of-the-road voters who were inspired by Hillary by choosing a woman as your running mate. Of course, she's anti-abortion, a life member of the NRA, is deeply conservative, has never been heard of before on the national stage, and has none of the experience that you criticised Sen Obama for not having (less, in fact). But I bet all those Hilary supporters will be flooding into your campaign. Any. Day. Now.

P.S. BTW, Sen McCain, watch your mouth around her; she's a tough Alaskan, and if you use some of the language to her that you use towards your wife and your Senate colleagues, you may be picking your teeth up off the floor...

Comments

[winterbadger]

She was all for the bridge until it became apparent that the federal government 'would not fund it'.

Apparently, though Alaska has enough money to give every Alaskan a check for $800 to nearly $2000 a year in recent years (the Alaska Permanent Fund is valued at $40 BILLION according to Wikipedia), they need the rest of the states to pay for a $400M bridge.

In fact, as the Wikipedia article points out, BTW, the authorisation to Alaska *never changed*! The specific direction of the funding to the bridge was removed, but AK was given the *same amount of money*! So, in fact, Gov Palin lied in saying that the congressional delegation was unable to get the money for the bridge!

Actually, my question on the Gravina Island Bridge topic has always been: why did a 'city' (pop. ~7,000--almost a village anywhere else) build an airport on an island to which there was no bridge, only a ferry? Seems pretty stupid to me!

[wcg.livejournal.com]

The permanent fund is a Ted Stevens porkbarrel project, as is the bridge.

I think the airport got built on the island because there's a lot of air traffic around there. People get around by plane a lot in Alaska, because there are often no roads to wherever they need to go.

[winterbadger]

The permanent fund is a Ted Stevens porkbarrel project, as is the bridge.

Really? Are you sure? It was established in 1976 and deals strictly with Alaska's own revenue. It is not funded by the US government, but by state oil and mineral receipts. This history suggests that one Robert Krantz, an investment banker, and AK Gov Keith Miller were the leaders in the idea.

I think the airport got built on the island because there's a lot of air traffic around there. People get around by plane a lot in Alaska, because there are often no roads to wherever they need to go.

I realise people travel around Alaska by plane a lot. I would think, however, that putting the airport on the mainland, where the town is, would have worked better than putting it on the island. Ketchikan has been around a lot longer than its airport.

[wcg.livejournal.com]

No, I'm not first hand sure. I'm getting my information from colleagues in Alaska at the Poker Flat ground station there. To hear them tell it, Ted Stevens is the leader of a bunch of corrupt old codgers who've been controlling Alaskan politics since the cremation of Sam McGee, and every boondoggle in the state is his invention. They've been going on about Sarah Palin since she won the election there because she's their great hope of reform.

[winterbadger]

Well, I hope for their sakes she's not just making all the right noises while pursuing business as usual, but between the state trooper business and her sounding like she's falling over herself to find business for her husband's company, I don't think she sounds all that different from the good ol' boys. But then I realise I have trouble summoning up any respect for people who are pro-creationism and anti-abortion.

I don't think they need worry about her going anywhere, though... :-)