Sarah Palin Taking on Big Oil
September 8th, 2008 at 11:55am Kevin Patrick
The Washington Post takes a substantive look (see, the MSM “can” do that) at Sarah Palin’s record as Governor. Specifically they analyze the “nearly $40 billion natural gas pipeline to help lead America to energy independence” she brought to Alaska. Turns out she rejected the deal negotiated by her predecessor, a deal that, according to The Post, “would have awarded the companies a long-term tax freeze in return for relatively weak commitments to actually build the pipeline:”
Ms. Palin rode criticism of Mr. Murkowski’s deal to victory over him in the 2006 Republican gubernatorial primary and then to the governor’s office later that year. She reversed Mr. Murkowski’s strategy, asking the legislature to pass a law setting criteria for a deal, then throwing the project open to companies other than the Big Three. The result was a commitment by an experienced pipeline company, TransCanada, to build the project, which may take 10 years, in return for $500 million in state seed money derived from Alaska’s recent oil windfall.Ms. Palin’s outflanking of the oil companies injected some competition and urgency into a process that was previously stalled. Perhaps her Democratic opponent for the governorship in 2006, who campaigned on similar ideas, would have achieved these results. Nevertheless, Ms. Palin actually did.
The more scrutiny the media does on her actual record, the more they will highlight the contrast that she actually “did” something in her elected roles whereas the Presidential candidate for the other party quite simply has not.
Entry Filed under: Campaign 2008, Energy Issues
15 Comments
1. Timestar | September 8th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Four Palin post in a row, and about 10 of the last 12. Looks like Republicans are running on her record instead of McCain’s. Go figure, thought he was the one running for President.
Where have you gone John McCain a nation turns its lonely eyes to you?
McCain and that other white Bush meat in 08
2. The Arctic Fox | September 8th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Seems to be very important to stay away from the fact that John McCain has no real policies and focus on rewriting history for Sarah instead.
Things like not mentioning the Bridge to Nowhere, that she backed when it would get her into office but now claims to have contested all the time; the “pork barrel” things like the Alaska Railroad which she claims no link with “pork barrel” bills but has always allowed through.
While the Republicans keep her as far away from the press as they possibly can, they use the “echo chamber” machine - which this blog is a deep part of - to try and re-write her history, while at the same time not letting anyone near enough to her to ask her about all these things and report her answers.
3. megapotamus | September 8th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
The Democrats are as afraid of McCain’s record as they are ignorant of Palins. But whatever, tactically the most important thing is that this feeding frenzy that now finds nothing objectionable sets a new tone. Now they MUST actually scrub Barry’s record and friends and foes, it ain’t good. The best thing you can claim of Barry, after one admits his skill at manipulating the ballot, is utter mediocrity. They have not wanted to look into Barry because they know this. This is the same reason we have the baseless objections typified above.
4. kimberly4victory | September 8th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Here comes the waaaahbulance. Had too much of Palin, boys?
It’s so refreshing to see a candidate actually accomplishing things while in office. No wonder she has such a high approval rating in Alaska.
Where has Biden been hiding? Oh, that’s right, he was on a show claiming he is pro-life. Snicker.
I am Sarah Palin.
POW/WOW ‘08
5. HeyHey | September 8th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
I agree Kimberly… the incompetence of the current administration is astounding
90% McCain is gonna change all that…..
6. William of Orange | September 8th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Kimberly, et al,
Apropos of nothing..
Here are a couple of links to very good pieces about how effective Sarah has been. One deconstructs the silly little piece of fluff about her selling Murkowski’s jet for a loss and the other is an IBD write-up on her work on the gas pipeline:
http://www.ibdeditorial.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=303693123946167
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/040808/sta_267202920.shtml
..it’s good resource material for the Kos tools who post here.
By the way, did you and NeoCon get together for lunch yet? Tell him I sent him an e-mail (but it probably got stuck in his spam filter); Tell him to look for “k6whp”.
Keep up the good work!
7. Timestar | September 8th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
It’s so refreshing to see a candidate actually accomplishing things 4. kimberly4victory | September 8th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Her snookering the American taxpayers out of $223 million for the bridge to nowhere and then diverting the funds somewhere else like say her hometown of 9000 people when the bridge idea became unpopular was easy. She would not be the first or last politician to do this. However, I think it can be said with honesty her re-writing of this period in her history sounds of same old politics we already have in Washington. I don’t get the refreshing part.
8. Danish Artist | September 8th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Blondestar,
(this is too easy)
Your candidate:
(A) is running against Palin. The last week has been nothing but attacks on Palin. His campaign has shifted focus from the issues and McCain to Palin.
(B) voted down the Coburn amendment that would have diverted funds from Alaska from the “bridge to nowhere” project to Louisiana to repair the I-10 span over Lake Pontchartrain damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Your candidate (and many other Democrats) voted NO to keep the earmark to Alaska.
Again, you show your ignorance to the facts of your candidate, which makes you a mindless lemming obamaton.
9. kimberly4victory | September 8th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Heyhey: What is the current Democrat-led Congress approval rating? 9%. Yikes! What have they done the past two years?
WOfOrange: No, not yet. Next week.
Timestar: Which party’s ticket can boast not one but two people who supported the bridge to nowhere? Hint: Not the GOP’s. BTW, I heard Obama ask Palin to stop re-inventing herself. Now isn’t that calling the kettle black! LOL!
Here’s a great site for all our liberals going through PDS … Enjoy:
http://www.mererhetoric.com/archives/11274839.html
10. djp | September 8th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Why on earth would someone who supports the GOP support a candidate who “took on the oil companies” - taking on the oil companies means embracing demmycrap socialism, I thought.
11. Obama08 | September 8th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Deleted - off topic.
12. William of Orange | September 8th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
kimberly4victory wrties:
WOfOrange: No, not yet. Next week.
..great! Say hello for me and keep up the good work!
13. Obama08 | September 8th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
The lack of any responses is revealing.
14. neocon | September 8th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Obama08,
Palin confronted and defeated corruption in her own party which is far braver, and far more accomplished than Obama has ever dreamed of doing. I have no doubt that Palin will bring change and sensibility to our secondary mortgage market. You’re opinion that she won’t, is certainly in the minority.
Speaking of minorities. A little while back you contended that we were very much in the minority as “far right Christians” and that conservatives have nothing to match Obama with. If we are so far in the minority as you claim, why does McCain lead Obama?
15. kimberly4victory | September 8th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
The lack of responses is because I could not get on the site! Anyone else? I think I’ve rewritten this twenty times ……
So what’s ignorant about Palin’s statement?
Michelle Malkin said it correctly, “Now, we are on the verge of bailing out these behemoths to the tune of $200 billion in taxpayer backing — while potentially forking over untold millions in severance packages to Democrat cronies.”
Why does the govt have to bail them out? Because they’ve gotten too big and crooked and too expensive for taxpayers. And, now the taxpayers have to foot the bill once again because of the incompetent executive running them. I cannot tell you how much scandal is associated with Mac and Mae and the ones involved in the scandals have D’s after their names, and have donated to the Obama campaign.
BTW, do you know which party has supported Mae and Mac for years? Let me give you a hint. It’s not the GOP.
So, again, what exactly was wrong with Palin’s statement?