OK, I was wrong

What a shock, eh?
Yes, Senator (still) Lisa Murkowski will actually pick up about 10 places in seniority, putting her in the high 40's after the new Congress begins.
And Alaska's junior senator will pick up a few places, too running him into the 80's.

Finally, it's Wednesday

If you want punditry listen to NPR. Michael Carey hit the nail pretty hard on the head.

Today is Grand Jury for two men who brutally, tortorously murdered a 19 year old boy from Hooper Bay, Benji Kaiser, the Uncle of three of my grandchildren last week.
RIP.

Yes, I Did

MARKing MY ballot

I am not afraid to vote, and I'm not afraid to tell you HOW I am going to voteVOTED.

I know I have a couple of readers who won't be happy with some of what I have to say, but as I told a close friend and political confidante today, I am being philosophical this year.
Obviously my feelings on at least one race have been all over my sleeve in the past couple of months. I have no use for the Republican "nominee". My vitrol towards him knows no particular bounds as the astute reader has noted. Tonight, election eve, some bimbo named Michelle Bachman called my house on his behalf and accomplished little more than exacerbating my chronic bilous nature.

We are voting for Governor of Alaska this year. the choice is clear: a milquetoast and a millionaire or a Hahvaad man and a wonderful Tlingit woman.
Harvey Caspar Milquetoast, self-styled man of action (wore a cape as kid, did you?) and few words demonstrated his strict adherence to a one-issue line when he payed a mysterious visit to the Family Research Council earlier this year. Interestingly, my read, espoused to a few in my circle was that the upshot of that visit would be the readiness of a last minute infusion of campaign cash whenever he needed it. Well, it turns out that the last minute campaigning in this election clycle was against Chief Justice Dana Fabe. Harvey Caspar, you gonna sit there with a straight face and tell us you knew nothing about this? I doubt that.
The millionaire I have met in a past life, when Wally sent him up to North Pole to provide a little adult supervision for Jack's Senate campaign against Pappy Moss. The Treadwell/Ausman tag team kept me and Elizabeth Ziegler (still with the Department of Law, I wonder?) relatively in line along with the two rich kids who were helping out.
I got no gripe with Treadwell and I hope he beats Begich in four years.
My vote for Governor: The guy who is running with Diane Benson.

We vote to retain Judges in this State, and since I personally believe (always have, always will) that Judges are the most powerful officials in Alaska, I have always voted NO on most of them, just to keep them honest. This year however there a rea couple of game changers. The first is Judge Posthma. I don't know him, but since everyone from "Handcuffs" Millers' wife to court administrators want us to vote No, I am voting YES.
Second off, of course, is Chief Justice Fabe. What a cheap shot you assholes are taking against her, last minute, big money, trying to intimidate one of the last independent judiciaries in the Untied States. Screw You right wing " 'pro life' unless they are over the age of 5 mintes then they can fend for themselves" jerks.
I am voting YES to retain Chief Justice Fabe.

Don Young. Congressman for All Alaska. Always has been, always will be. Nuff said.
I had coffee with him in Jack's kitchen, him in a a t-shirt telling us how he whacked Emil the first time around. Good times, man, good times.

Ballot Measures: Yes to the Mt. Edgecumbe swimming pool. I have one more kid to send there and plenty of grandchildren. Yes to Vets. And, I guess, Yes to the dress... I mean the extra legislative seats. Maybe the Lower Yukon will finally get out from under the thumb of Front Street, Nome Alaska.

Lets see, is there anything else?
Oh yeah.....
I see the commercials. All the Corporation executives saying 'write in" but I don't really see any Villagers. I don't see any elected community leaders. I don't see any young people. I suppose it is a function of who is spending the money but even so.
I like her, I really do. I've met her, shook her hand, had my picture taken with her and introduced my Son, a Marine Corps veteran to her. I even sold her a pair of earrings at CAMAI.
I talk regular to members of her staff and have never felt like I didn't have access, useful access at a certain level that has allowed me to at least feel that my concerns, as farcical as they might be (domestic servant visa's while she was on Foreign Relations, for instance) might actually get pushed upstairs.
On the other hand, I was shocked, dismayed and totally pissed off at her characterization of Hooper Bay in a Senate Hearing. Arne Duncan has been to Hooper Bay. She never has.
Be afraid she doesn't win, they say. Look at all we will lose.
You know what, I am not afraid. I've been around a while and I know whats what and whos who.
Seniority is nice, but you know, it seems to me that if she wins she will be ostracized by the GOP leadership despite what she says about "them" hoping she beats "him." She says if she gets elected (by write in) that she will have a new portfolio from Alaskans. I can't see it. I really can't. She is gonna be put on notice by the GOP Leadership that if she wants to retain her rank (not her seniority) she will have to continue to play ball with their obstructionist games.
I am yet to hear ANY Republican candidate explain how we are going to bring jobs back to the United States. Not one. It's all repeal this, impound that and subpeona him. This election cycle has been utterly devoid of policy discussion and she has been just as guilty.
Am I scared what might happen if she doesn't get returned to office? Only if the Republican ON the ballot wins, and right now I think thats a far-fetched idea.
I have looked him in the eye, asked him tough questions and been sickened at the thought that he is the best Randy Ruderich and his pals (and anti-pals) could come up with. I am frightened that he is the embodiment of a political philosophy driven by the dreams of even more profit of a small circle of self-styled Capitalists (with a Capital C) who by their thoughts and deeds do more to bring discredit on the nobler aspitations of mankind than any patent evildoer.
Am I afraid what might befall the republic without her there, in the halls of the greatest debating society on Earth? Well, if it could still maintain that claim I might answer my own question. But it is no longer a debating society. It is no longer a deliberative body. "Loyal Opposition" was replaced with "How in hell did that Nigger get elected?" Yes, Jim DeMint, Yes Mitch McConnell. How in hell, indeed. Where was the Supreme Court when you needed it? If you can't lynch him from a tree, then lynch his agenda. Same difference, isn't it?
Am I afraid that without her "moderate" voice things might be worse in Washington? Quite frankly, the answer is no. I know she does not share the hateful attitudes of what Senators are forced to call their "Leadership" but by the same token the ascent of the Tea Party movement (not a bad thing, actually in some ways) will put absolutely undue pressure on Republican Congressmen (except Don Young) and Republican Senators in what used to be the Grand Old Party, the Party of Individual (even in the Bedroom AND the Doctors Office) Liberty to stay in lockstep with the wizard Karl Rove, witout question, without debate, without regard to what might actually be GOOD for the American People and the world.
Am I afraid that losing a Senator with a seniority number of 58 (and no real upward movement in sight for at least a few years) with one in the low 90's might have a negative impact on Alaska? Well, personally, No. What, Mark? Are you f-ing serious? Dude, you really need to sign a narcotics agreement...
No, I am not on drugs. I am being painfully pragmatic. For the reasons I have stated above, I am terribly afraid that she will be treated like a low-number Senator by the Leadership. After all, if she wins they will consider that she double-crossed the party. And besides there are a lot of Uncle Ted scores to be settled and it doesnt matter WHO is in the Senate, Alaska has a price to pay. If you don't think twwwstlij* hasn't been spilling her guts to McConnell, et al about all those evil government programs in Alaska and all the places that should be investigated by everyone from IG's to the FBI, then YOU are the ones who need to sober up.
No, I am not scared. I think if anyone needs to "man up" its the entire State. The gravy train is over. The 5 or 6 or 7 pro-skater lobbyists who make their quite adequate livings representing "Alaskan Interests" by dint of their connections to her are the ones panicking. Should we as voters GIVE A RATS ASS about them? Hell no.
If you don't uderstand the legislative process, go out and buy a Schoolhouse Rock dvd and watch it with your kids.
States don't get shortchanged because of the make up of their delegations. Change in Washington is a natural process. It happens. it's happened to Alaska.
Yes, we are a young State. Yes, we need more infrastructure (but does it all have to be on-base?) Those fine folks at the Association of General Contractors are worried, but as long as they remain friendly with the AFL-CIO they are OK. More concrete will be poured (on base) and the work will keep on coming. Congress doesn't bankroll box stores (please, don't tell me I am wrong on that) and if the oil industry REALLY wanted ANWR open, it would have happened already.
I really feel bad wriitng this and if it comes back to haunt me, so be it. We'll know tommorrow night or Wednesday morning. And Lisa, it isn't personal, ITS ABOUT ALASKA.
I'll vote for the man I ate lunch with in the hospital cafeteria, and I won't be afraid to do it.
Scott McAdams is on the ballot and I'll just fill in the oval.
I'm not afraid.

*the woman who was supposed to live in juneau

I'm proud of my Atikluk, want to see it?

One of these days I need to put up a few pictures of not only the lovely Atikluk, or summer Kuspuk I have, but my Oomingmak collection and my cool sealskin parka by Elena Evan.
Tommorrow I will wear my Atikluk, which everyone here will call a kuspuk or even a jacket, and I am quite sure that, true to form, its understated quality and gorgeous design will attract the occasional compleiment.
Well in tribute to its maker, Janie Snyder of Barrow, I point you to this great article in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.
I do have to tell the story of how I got my kuspuk from her...and Janie, come back to Bethel this spring! I want another one!

R.I.P. Tom Busch

We received a text this afternoon telling us that Tom Busch, former General Manager and currently Financial Officer for KNOM in Nome was called to the Lord in his sleep today.
For everyone in Western Alaska who enjoyed listening to KNOM, 780 on your AM Dial, "Yours for Western Alaska" this comes as very sad news.
I met Tom once, for just a few minutes, at the Station during one of my two ever trips to Nome. He was in the middle of getting ready for Iditarod coverage (KNOM wrote THAT book) and didn't have time to talk.
Tom was an incredible fundraiser for the station, responsible for a copmplete rebuild of everything except the tower.
He also kept the station on an even keel through some very rough times which those from the region know about.
Tom was on the air regularly, as was his lovely wife Florence, originally from Saint Mary's on the Yukon River.
They raised two children, whom Tom never missed an opportunity to brag about on the air. He and Florence had retired to Anchroaeg, but Tom reamined very active with the Station from providing engineering support to maintaining the active fundraising needed to keep it ont he air.
KNOM remains a beacon of "Music, News and Inspiration" for all its listeners up and down the Bering Sea Coast.
I haven't been much of a listener since I moved to Bethel, but when I do tune it in is is still the same, highly professional yet right next door operation I first heard when I went to Hooper Bay in the summer of 1979.
So, Tom, here's a "Dear D.J., Hi and Hello" and a "Waqqa, Camai, Cangaciit" to you.
God Bless You and your Family, and everyone who ever worked for you or knew you. We'll all miss you!
Pirrua!

Don't play loud!

The GOOD old days

Congratulations are in order!

Elizabeth Hensley named Indian Affairs adviser

Yeah, Binky

Did you watch Quyana Alaska Thursday night? Well that was my daughter Binky (aka Theresa) MC'ing with Andy Angaiak. She did a great job.
I also had another daughter and granddaughter dancing with the UAF group.
Proud night watching RATNET

Its getting ridiculous

So now we have "official" lists of "write-in candidates" being posted in polling stations and voting booths and no one seems to think its electioneering. Except the Alaska Democratic Party. Everyone else thinks it a nice way to help confused votes note get "disenfranchised."
Well let me say this about that. I was disenfranchised. I got (still have, somewhere) a letter from the Division of Elections telling me my question ballot was not counted. Not in this election but fairly recently.

Lets see...
Oh yeah...I told a Division of Elections Director she was fired, once. True story. Ask me and I might tell.

Enough of this tit for tat on the ADN, too. Kill that damn thread off.

Remember Jim Sykes?

He ran for Governor as the Green Party of Alaska candidate in 1990.
AFN held a Governor Candidate Forum.
Jim Sykes basically explained to the AFN Convention that the GPoAK Platform and his own beliefs were about 100% aligned with Alaska Native and Tribal interests.
I was in Hooper Bay watching it on RATNET and was spellbound by the thought that AFN Delegates FINALLY had a candidate who was entirely in their court.
Then Tony Knowles came up.
Bla bla bla.
Well, before you could say "eh-yah-ah" there was a motion for the Convention to endorse Tony.
A little debate and there you had it, Jum Sykes tossed under the sled runners after making the best pitch AFN had ever heard and Knowles endorsed.
Now, it was a long time until AFN endorsed another candidate...until last month.

Her AFN Board Endorsement in hand, no need for others to appear with Lisa at Convention

or so conventional wisdom would hold.
The news speedily made the rounds this afternoon that the Alaska Federation of Natives Board of Directors, composed of Corporation and Village representatives voted to cancel Friday's scheduled 3 pm US Senate Candidates Forum.
Senator Lisa Murkowski will address the annual Statewide Gathering of Alaska Natives in Fairbanks' Carlson Center at 2:05 pm on Friday.
The AFN Convention is televised statewide and carried in radio broadcast as well, so Alaska Natives and anyone else interested will be watching and listening.
The Agenda is set by the Board, but changes can and have been made from the floor.
It should be an interesting weekend.

twwwstlij* tells us why not to vote for Koch-n-cake

"Our Senate is the most prestigious deliberative body in the world. One vote there has consequences extending far beyond that chamber."
Words of wisdom from a most unexpected source.

*the woman who was supposed to live in juneau

Mickey or Mighty....

Mouse, that is.
Early reports form a Gubernatorial (took two tries then spell check to get THAT right) this evening in Anchorage show that the "briefs or boxers" style of questioning leaders and wannabe's by the Youth of Today is alive and well.
In a three-way discussion of favorite cartoon characters sponsored by the League of Women Voters, Sean Parnell said his favorite Disney Character was well known cartoon cocaine user Mighty Mouse. Oh wait, this just in, it seems the one "to save the day" was actually snorting "crushed flowers."

A Matt Nicholai Story

One day Frank Murkowski, when he was Governor, stopped by the building I work at to visit the boss and a few other people. For one reason or another I stepped into what might be politely called "protocol duties" and got to greet Frank on the stairwell.
Since I knew he was coming that day I, very out of character, wore a necktie (actually I look good in a tie).
Well, Frank had to make a "head call" so I led him down the hall towards the 3rd floor bathroom. For some reason, Matt Nicholai was tagging along. Getting to the mens room, we found it was in the process of being cleaned (we have an extraordinary housekeeping staff where I work, God Bless 'em, some of the hardest workers in the firm). Anyway, I started leading Frank even FARTHER down the hall towards the back stairs so we could go to the Second Floor bathroom, when Matt pipes up and says
"Take him to (the big boss's) bathroom."
I stopped dead in my tracks and said "What?"
He repeated his original statement that we go to my CEO's "private" bathroom.
Well never had I taken so much pleasure in contradicting someone and never have I been so proud to work for the company I do when I was able to tell Matt Nicholai, in front of the Governor, that my CEO certainly had no executive washroom, in no uncertain terms.
We lost him at the top of the stairs.
The second floor mens room was clean and open and Frank went to do his business.
I was standing by the sink and in walks our then-Contracts Officer.
He looks at me, in my tie and says, "Hi Mark, what's with the tie? Is the Governor here or something?"
Suddenly Frank, without missing a beat pipes up, "Yeah, and he's taking a piss."
Frank was cool that way.

This One's for You, Joe

A tip or the Drudge-like fedora to UAA Music Professor Phil Munger for pointing to this classic of patriotic song.

Young Alaska Natives speak for Scott McAdams

Best. Comments. Ever. On. ADN.

Miller defends bodyguards; security firm chief says he's been threatened

Oh, except the rent a agent says he KNEW he was a reporter

"Koch n cake's" account previously notwithstanding, the rent an agent involved in kidnapping (look it up in the Alaska Statutes, kiddies) tells Craig Medred he knew he Hopfinger was a reporter:
Miller guard says editor refused to leave private event

Yeah, Whatever

Liberal Blogger "Loses It" at Town Hall Meeting
Obsession with Republican Nominee leads to physical assault, publicity stunt

Anchorage, Alaska. October 17, 2010 -- Joe Miller released the following statement:

"While I've gotten used to the blog Alaska Dispatch's assault on me and my family, I never thought that it would lead to a physical assault. It's too bad that this blogger would take advantage of a "Town Hall" meeting to create a publicity stunt just two weeks before the election."

The Miller campaign was required by the facility to provide security at the event. Even though Joe had spent nearly an hour freely answering questions from those in attendance, the blogger chased Miller to the exit after the event concluded in an attempt to create and then record a 'confrontation' with the candidate. While Miller attempted to calmly exit the facility, the blogger physically assaulted another individual and made threatening gestures and movements towards the candidate. At that point the security personnel had to take action and intervened and detained the irrational blogger, whose anger overcame him. It is also important to note that the security personnel did not know that the individual they detained was a blogger who reporting on the campaign. To them, the blogger appeared irrational, angry and potentially violent.

###

Good Luck

You shaved head punks of "Drop Zone Security" must be off-duty GI's or something, wanna be Secret Service HAHAHAHA.
If you ARE GI's, you might recall that you swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
Well, news flash. ear-piece wearing poseurs...you might find yourselves culpable in violating your oaths for cuffing a reporter carrying out HIS constitutional right,nay, duty, to hold a public figure accountable.
And by the way, be sure and mention todays little incident on your future applications to three and 4 letter agencies. HR screeners all need a good laugh these days.

Questions of veracity may persist

The Lying Koch-Worshiper raises far more questions than he answers on his UNITED STATES SENATE FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORT
FOR NEW EMPLOYEE AND CANDIDATE REPORTS.
Now I am neither a lawyer nor an accountant, but I sure as shit can add.
On page 2, Earned and Non-Investment Income, he claims he earned:
1 Law Offices of Joseph Miller, LLC Fairbanks, AK Salary / Distributions $59,348
2 Fairbanks North Star Borough Fairbanks, AK Salary $38,056

So, a princely sum, eh?
BUT, and here is where my mad math skilz come into play, look at PART X. COMPENSATION IN EXCESS OF $5,000 PAID BY ONE SOURCE which is on Pages 9, 10 and 11. Apart from being a list of his clients, it also lists COMPENSATION ON EXCESS OF $5,000 PAID BY ONE SOURCE.
There are 15 lines on each page. Two pages are full, page 11 has 6 clients listed. Lets see...36 times 5,000 is... $180,000. Wow. Show us da money, mister big time yalie lawyer.
Oh yeah, apart from a West Point Diploma is there anything uglier and more unreadable than a Yale Law degree?

From Joe Miller's Calendar

Town Hall Anchorage
When Sun, October 17, 3:00pm – 4:30pm
Where 1405 E street Central Middle School (map)
Description Why: Because your friends, colleges, family, acquaintances, neighbors, need to be informed and hear Joe Miller speak for himself. Don't let the media skew your views. Make the decision for yourself. Help send Joe to DC!

Soooooo... We have an open invitation to the public, in fact all comers to attend this event.
Tony Hopfinger, editor of the Alaska Dispatch shows up and what happens?
Take a wild guess:
Miller's "security detail" (a fetish for big, strong men, anyone?) handcuff his ass!
OK, Mr. Constitutional Fucking Attorney pipsquak scumbag phony son of a bitch. Explain it to us.

Why I am proud to be an American (didn't we invent the parenthesis?)

What a filthy, socialist regime we find in Switzerland. That impoverished, disarmed, culturally euthanized nation of unemployed clockmakers ruled by a cabal of Obama/Frank-loving "rollers over" to the "concept" of "international banking regulation" just recently "celebrated," in a manner consistent with their new masters in Havana and Caracas a milestone (no pun intended) in the frightening march towards one world economy and, worse, toward the opening (again, no pun intended) of a route for international terrorists (whether of the Baeder Meinhoff set or, even weorse, those Jesus-hating Musselmen that we were warned so clearly about in that classic of Western Literature ((often unheeded in todays troubled times)) - Edward Gibbons' The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire).
I have no doubt that Joe "We can have Koch and cake for lunch...wait, there's no cake!" Miller read it during his studies at the United States Military Academy.
So join me in both rueing the fate of the Swiss, and their TAXPAYER FUNDED railway tunnel and bemoaning their serfdom to the rest of Europe (picture, if you will, trains full of swarthy Europen holiday makers speeding along at 120 miles per hour (sorry, your Both Barrels Editorial Board STEADFASTLY REFUSES to follow the lead of the properly moribund and soon to be shut down National Aeronautics and Space Administration in adopting the marx-inspired metric system) from Italy in the South to Denmark in the North and points in between and let us not forget the literally thousands of Turkmen who will be forced out of their honest labor driving truck along the scenic highways and biways of Switzerland as TRAINS, those most socialist of carriages, haul millions of tons of trans-European cargo through this vile hole in the Earth, all the time the honest bankers and cheese curdlers of Yodelland struggle to pay the nearly $1,300 every Switzer owes to pay for this outlandish project. Can you say "Soverign Debt Crisis"?
But THERE IS HOPE!
The courageous Governor of one of the original 13 Colonies, in an action no less bold than Mussolini's firm hand in making the notorious Italian Railway system run on time, Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey, that jewel of the Atlantic Coast (in the interests of disclosure, the author went to US Coast Guard Boot Camp in sunny Cape May) took the side of suffering taxpayers in his State and put the kibosh on a tunnel that would have done little more than allow residents of New Jersey to get to that center of human degredation, that sewer of every sort, Manhattan in much quicker fashion. We need look no further than the unqualified support for this project, no doubt a favorite of the socialist Musslemen in the (no, I shan't say it) - the "Executive Mansion" on Pennsylvania Avenue - no, we need look no further than the unqualified, even lubriquious support of one Paul Krugman to give good cheer to Governor Christies' upholding of the principles so clearly espoused by such founders as Samuel Adams and Thomas Jefferson.

How Many Votes Will Lisa Murkowski Get in Kivalina

Editors Note:
I am lifting this whole from Mudflats cuz Elstun is my buddy.
His opinions are not necessarily those of myself or the Both Barrels Editorial Board.
However, I do believe in the importance of open dialoogue, and I welcome a response by Senator Murkowski which would be published in whole.
Ed.

By Elstun Lauesen

William Takak from Shaktoolik understands the impact of climate change. The Alaska Native Science Commission quotes him in a survey of the impact of climate change[1]. “Last Spring we only got six walrus because of the weather and the ice moving out to quick. A long time ago it used to be real nice for weeks and even sometimes for months. Now we have a day or two of good weather and this impacts our hunting. The hunters talk about the ice getting a lot thinner. It is going out too quick.”

Hannah Miller of Nome: “The seasons are getting very fast and are all mixed up. The last few years my grandmother was living she said that there was not enough time to put things away like there used to be. When we are done with the willow leaves then comes the sourdocks. These seasons are in too much of hurry now.”

In 2006, the Alaska Legislature established The Alaska Climate Impact Assessment Commission. In March 2008, the Commission delivered its report[2]. Among other findings, the Commission notes:

“In Kotzebue, the Commission recorded insights into coastal erosion in the region, relocation issues at Kivalina and Shishmaref…”

The report talks about the challenges of community relocation while techniques such as the use of armor rock are evaluated, citing “…As many as twenty other Alaskan Villages may suffer from similar strategic shortcomings”

While the Villages struggle with the consequences of global climate change, politicians in Washington DC have been struggling for years to develop a public policy to deal with the issue. Lisa Murkowski has changed on this issue in a dramatic way.

LISA THE GOOD. 2006-2008

In an article for Mother Jones Magazine[3], Journalist Kate Sheppard documents this change. Sheppard notes that in 2006 Murkowski broke from her Republican colleagues and stated that she not only believes that global warming is a fact, she also believed “…it is a reality that man is contributing to the current warming trend. Accordingly, it is appropriate and, quite frankly, our responsibility to take steps to curb the growth of greenhouse gases”

For the next year, Lisa worked with Senators like Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) on the issue and became a co-sponsor of Bingaman’s cap-and-trade bill, the Low Carbon Economy Act.

During this period Lisa was aware of and moved by the plight of rural communities. In her introduction to the REFRESH Act aimed at reducing manmade impacts of climate change she noted“In Alaska, we have certainly seen firsthand the effects of a warming climate in recent years.”[4]

With this kind of profile it is little wonder that Environmentalists were encouraged by Lisa Murkowski The Good to believe that, with the election of BarackObama and a strong Democratic Majority in congress, real progress could be made on climate change policy. But sometime after the inauguration of President Obama, Senator Murkowski turned bad.

LISA THE BAD

The turning of Lisa Murkowski was just one-more by-product of John McCain’s appointment and ruination of Sarah Palin (I have written elsewhere that I thought Sarah was a pretty good socialist governor). When McCain-Palin lost the election, Sarah returned to Alaska as a celebrity with a national following and fund-raising power. The punditry at the time widely speculated that Sarah would have an easy shot at Senator Murkowski in the Republican primary. As a senator, Sarah would establish her bona fides (the lack of which helped pull down McCain’s candidacy) for a run against Obama in 2012 or perhaps 2016. The victory of Mark Begich over Ted Stevens provided additional trauma to Lisa who was suddenly ‘on her own’ as a Senior Senator. Lisa assumed a leadership role with the McConnell team (no doubt facilitated by Uncle Ted) and, according to the rules of that structure, she had to play ball and, in turn, would face any potential Republican challenger with a strengthened hand of plum committee assignments and national gravitas.

Unfortunately, the playbook the McConnell team was running was obstructionism and Lisa has to move hard to the Right. That meant no more maverick Global warming stuff. While Lisa was increasing her health and armor, as a gamer might put it, she still lacked the weapons and kill points to fend off an assault by Sarah and her Troll Army. This required money—and lots of it. Sarah, after all, now had a national cult following.

So Lisa turned to the only source for amassing a war chest that she knew: PACs, industry PACs including the ever-willing energy PACs. But PACs also mean quid pro quo. For Lisa, who came to the game equipped with both brains and a conscience, this had to be framed in terms of some ‘greater good’ rationalization. Given the narrow set of options open to her, it is easy to guess how her self-justification worked: oppose my own values in the short run and I can do good in the long run; an earmark here, a bill there.

But as the anti-Obama rhetoric stepped up, the McConnell team had to match that heat with political initiatives that fed raw meat to the political mob. For Lisa, her actions were defined according to both her leadership and her committee assignments. The Energy and Natural Resources Committee, for example, became her venue for hitting the “undo” button on cap-and-trade, which she once co-sponsored.

Most shocking to the liberals and moderates who had followed her political career was her direct assault on the regulation of the very greenhouse gases that she once said had to be reduced. Most notable was Lisa’s amendment to bar the EPA from using the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide. The Los Angeles Times[5]noted at the time,

Those lobbyists, particularly one named Jeffrey Holmstead, were major facilitators of campaign donations to Lisa for her re-election.

A Washington Post Story[6]also mentioned above notes working relationship between Lisa’s staff and the lobbyists:

“The maneuvering comes as The Washington Post has confirmed that two Washington lobbyists, Jeffrey R. Holmstead and Roger R. Martella, Jr., helped craft the original amendment Murkowski planned to offer on the floor last fall…In an interview, Holmstead said of the Murkowski amendment, “I certainly worked with her staff” on the exact phrasing of the measure in September.”

Politico[7] was even more descriptive of the working relationship:

“Jeffrey Holmstead, head of the environmental strategies division at Bracewell&Guiliani, and Roger Martella Jr., a partner at Sidley Austin, walked Senate staffers through the details of the amendment, via speakerphone, during a meeting held at 8:45 a.m. in Room 370 of the Hart Senate Office Building on Sept. 23, 2009…”

LISA THE UGLY, AND THE CASE OF KIVALINA

Lisa Murkowski filled her war chest with $124,500[8] from the clients of the lobbyists who helped her staff draft the so-called “Dirty Air” amendments to the Clean Air Act. Ultimately, of course, Lisa ended up facing not Sarah Palin, but a much weaker surrogate, Joe Miller,who, despite Lisa’s Right-Wing correctness makeover, beat her. Obviously the base didn’t buy it.

The question Alaskans, particularly Alaskans living in the villages along the coast have to ask is if Senator Murkowski sold you out then, will she do it again? Let’s be clear, Lisa Murkowski did sell out rural Alaskans on the global warming issue, and she did it for both power and money. A Government Accountability Office report found global warming was immanent and threatening as many as 31 Alaska villages because of coastal erosion flooding and climate change. The cost of relocation of those villages could be as high (in current dollars) as $2.4 Billion. These are public costs that will be borne by state and federal governments because, in part, the companies who so generously donated to Lisa Murkowski’s political reelection have been polluting for decades and wish to continue to do so.

What is particularly ugly about Lisa’s write-in is the manner by which it cleaves the interests of coastal villages. The write-in campaign, which is most certainly going to fail, has now pitted most well meaning Alaskans against each other in service to her hunger for power. An example of this cleaving can be seen in the example of the Village of Kivalina, a community located within the NANA region. Many of the residents of Kivalina are shareholders of NANA Corporation, an ANCSA Corporation now committed to the write-in campaign of Lisa Murkowski.

A super-PAC of ANCSA corporate donors has been formed to plow a million dollars of advertising on Lisa’s behalf. I doubt that the Corporation discussed this with their shareholders in Kivalina.

In 2008, the Village of Kivalina filed a lawsuit against ExxonMobil, BP and more than 20 other oil and power companies alleging that their contribution to global warming is threatening to destroy the village [Kivalina v. ExxonMobil et al (2008)].Some of the defendants, including Duke Energy, are clients of Jeffrey Holmstead. The lawsuit, from what I can tell, was dismissed in September 2009 at the District Court level in California for a lack of subject matter jurisdiction. The Village tried to appeal to the 9th Circuit Court but was turned down. Ironically, the argument by the defendants (in part) was that the lawsuit violated the Article III prohibition of federal Court jurisdiction over matters of politics. The issues in contention, Global Warming and its causes and solutions, were matter to be decided by Congress and not the Courts. The Court agreed. The Irony, of course, is that once the federal District Court in California agreed with the defendants, Mr. Holmstead et al began working to stanch Kivalina in congress. They blocked their liability in court but now they had to wound any congressional urges in the same direction as Kivalina and Lisa Murkowski became their vehicle. She was perfectly suited for all of the reasons discussed above, past credibility on the issue and facing political jeopardy from her conservative base. The political assault on clean air and global warming policy was perfectly aligned with the anti-government sentiment ignited by the corporate-funded tea party insurgency. Lisa could benefit greatly by climbing aboard and she did. In a word: Lisa threw Kivalina under the bus.

Since Lisa got donations from most of the defendants in that lawsuit, including Duke Energy, one of Holmstead’s clients, I wonder how many votes she will get in Kivalina?

[1] www.ser.org/files/ppt/Elaine%20Abraham%20PPT.pdf

[2] www.housemajority.org/coms/cli/cli_finalreport_20080301.pdf

[3] http://motherjones.com/politics/2010/03/lisa-murkowski-climate-change-double-agent

[4] http://murkowski.senate.gov/pressapp/record.cfm?id=267610

[5] http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2010/01/murkowski-greenhouse-gas-emissions-epa.html

[6] http://views.washingtonpost.com/climate-change/post-carbon/2010/01/murkowski_and_her_lobbyist_allies.html

[7] http://climateprogress.org/2010/01/15/politico-lobbyists-led-meeting-on-murkowski-epa-amendment-alaska/

[8] http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=341F1A70-18FE-70B2-A8834AE647A29686

__________________________________

Elstun Lauesen is a lifelong Alaskan who has worked for 30 years as a rural develpment specialist, including in Western Alaska.

What do you get

When you put Joe Miller in bed with the Koch brothers?
Oh wait, he already is in bed with them.

Paul Jenkins sometimes hits it RIGHT ON THE HEAD

We've been saying it all along. Joe "rhymes with Koch" Miller has been bragging just a little too much about his stupid Bronze Star. For crying out loud, they were included in the MRE's during the brief "conflict" in Kuwait.
Paul Jenkins, a respectable journalist (despite his flacking forays, but it seems every scribbler gets more than ink on their hands these days) said this recently in the Anchorage Daily News:

"A friend asked me why I have such a low opinion of Joe Miller, the GOP candidate for U.S. Senate. It's not because of his ideas, which range from naive to uninformed to flaky. It's not his "It was good enough for me; it's unconstitutional for you" hypocrisy. I'm offended by his Bronze Star, or, rather, the constant, shameless touting of his Bronze Star. It is unseemly, and I'm embarrassed for him.

Virtually everything written or said about Miller quickly turns to that medal. His campaign ads. The New York Times, Time magazine, even Wikipedia and radio idiots. All of them. It is presented in such a way that the average person certainly could be forgiven for believing it was awarded for battlefield valor. Miller's was not. It was for "meritorious achievement" from Jan. 17, 1991, to March 6, 1991, during Operation Desert Storm."

Read the entire piece here.

Friday Night musicale

Is it Wednesday Yet?

November 3rd, that is...
Yeah, that was my thought today, that this frickin' bad dream would just get over and I'd wake up to find it's Wednesday the 3rd.
Maybe if I take a couple of extra Atenolol's I might get lucky and sleep for two weeks.

Controlled Demolition vid of Attu Takedown

Another One Bites The Dust

"Old Joe" Miller had a Farm

Another Unsung Heroine of World War II Passes On

from the New York Times, Eileen Nearne, Wartime Spy, Dies at 89

I Don't Love Here Anymore - Your Cheap Trick song 'O the Day

Boomers Rule

My favorite morning read is Cryptome because I never know what John Young will have up next.
I particularly enjoy his Eyeball Series which features satellite and other imagery of places we pay up the ass for in taxes but never get to see...
Like CIA Training Center Camp Peary.
This morning I was absolutely as delighted as many must have been absolutely aghast to see this YouTube video linked. Like nukes? Then enjoy. There will be a quiz afterwards...

New York Times at 7:23pm EST

Murkowski will Run as Write-in Candidate

twwwstlij* supports anti-Alaska Native candidate in Arizona

from Politico it appears that the Alaska dentists union has not ended their opposition to the Dental Health Aide Program which puts trained para-professional dental care providers in rural Alaska clinics serving under-served Alaska Natives. They have enlisted the woman who was supposed to live in juneau to further their cause. Assholes.

Where were we on 9/11?

I remember September 11, 2001 quite vivdly. At the time I was the City Administrator in Hooper Bay, a small Yup'ik Eskimo village on the coast of the Bering Sea. The aftermath was several days of dead quiet skies with no planes coming and going, and the same shock and uncertainty every American shared.
I remember exactly where I was when the planes crashed into the World Trade Center, and I remember when and how I first heard the news.
This evening, September 11, 2010 on the 9th anniversary of the sneak attack by a few religious zealots who would not have given a whit nor changed theur plans if the airliners they hijacked were filled with devout Muslims, tonight familes gather around their television sets to watch documentary after documetary about a day which no school child will ever forget for the next 100 years.
And, tonight, in Anchorage, a couple of todays popular cultures biggest stars took the stage to reminisce about this day of tragedy and unbelievable herosim.
One of these stars was probably wide awake, watching it live.
The other was probably (figuratively, not literally) in the same place I was:
The only place most forturne cookies make any sense:
The place MOST Alaskans were when the planes crashed:
IN BED.
Oh yeah- Alaska is four hours behind time-zone wise. 8 am EST is 4 am Alaska time.
So, during these reminisinces this evening, at least according to news reports, the woman who was supposed to live in Juneau (twwwstlij) said she got a call from the Chief of Police of the fair city of Wassilla, and she turned on her tv to watch. OK, sounds fair. I called MY Chief of Police and told Him to turn on his TV.
But heres the interesting thing. She says the next thing she did was close down the City Hall and headed to church. I am not questioing that she went to church - many Americans headed right there. But unless she had her own key to the church, she would have had to wait until at least 8 am Alaska time to close City Hall (as soon as it opened?).
I set my alarm clock for 5:54 am so I can hear news first thing in the morning. That morning I woke from a very strange dream, hearing confused voices and cries, and then I was awake... a few minutes before my clock radio came on.
Then there was KNOM in Nome and it was weird because over the normal pre-6am music was the Associated News Radio feed and they were talking about one of the World Trade Center towers collapsing and planes crashing into both of them.
Well, we didn't have a tv at the time so I called my neighbor, the Chief of Police, woke him up and told him to turn on his tv...."How come," he asked...I told him I'd be over in a few minutes.
Now, as City Administrator I was responsible for the safety and well being of my community. The City Office opened on schedule and I wasted no time in checking the State Division of Emergency Services e-mail. People expected the City to be functioing, and it was. Sure, we listened to the radio constantly, but we sure didn.t shut down.
Besides, I couldn.t have shut it diwn at 8 am Eastern Statndard Time...I was still home asleep.

Joe Miller on Armed American Radio

Listen to the ex-borough attorney Here.




Asked by a caller about elections he said of Alaska "We've got  fantastic Division of Elections. It has integrity we know that  every vote is going to get counted, its going to be accurate" (We'd be hapy to link to some of his published paranoia about Alaska's elections system, but it seems to be gone from his website!)
I did appreciate his comments on Diebold, et al when he advised, "Just fundamentally reject electronic voting" and said "we've got to have tangible ballots." Hard to disagree with "any of the jurisdictions moving to just purely elecronic votes, thats just really bad news."

On the Social Security front, he told the show's host's Dad calling in from Florida that his own parents in Kansas are wholly dependent on Social Security and Medicaid, and that that "contract" should be honored.
Hovever, in typical fashion he claims that his payments into the Social Security Trust Fund "has been stolen from me. That Trust Fund is empty. Well, I shouldn't say empty. It's full of IOU's."
Those IOU's are, of course based on the full faith (he said "good faith") and credit of the United States, which it appears Mr. M has little faith in.
"It's a better answer to privatize," he said. 
The interview starts at minute 16 but the real dog meat is right there at the end.

So Who is Scott McAdams Anyway?

Read all about him Here.

Dan "Who's My Daddy" Sullivan Speaks Out

and endorses, of all people, the ex-Fairbanks North Star Borough attorney.

Lets hope THESE numbers hold

Joe Miller's Dollah Thermometah
However, my guess is 1. It is not a true interactive indicator of receipts and 2. It sure as heck won't show the anticipated dollars from K Street.

Like sewing? Like VERY good writing and photography?

The check out Finnskimo's blog from Kotzebue.

WaPo on the ex-borough attorney

Tea party's Joe Miller: What he plans if Alaska sends him to Washington

 

Glenn Beck's Gallows

Kenai anthropology Professor Alan Borass writes in the Anchorage Daily News that the Glenn Beck Restoring Honor Rally on the grounds of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. was "symbolic violence." Many thoughtful observers take a very similar view.
I know all it took for me was to see the stage under construction to think "lynching gallows." Certainly anyone who has seen photos of mass hangings cannot help but see the imagery in this particular photograph.
Noone ever accused Glenn Beck or his comrades as being very subtle.

Who We Are, Why We Fight and Why We'll Win!

A simple question for Candidate Miller:

Miller's Militia

Lets have another look, shall we?

Ohhhhh...There are SO MANY REPUBLICANS ON K STREET UNHAPPY WITH LISA MURKOWSKI.... Well, WTF they SHOULD be unhappy with her. That means she wasn't at their beck and call. That makes ME HAPPY and should make every other Alaskan happy.

Joe Miller on the other hand seems to be so relishing the thought of being their towel-wrapped turkish bath butt boy that he can't wait for the checks to start flowing in. I wonder how much it will cost to get that towel off. There are plenty of chicken hawks on K Street just looking for a bear cub like Joe. And you know what? Thats about the best he can call himself.

Miss Me Yet?

Yup, the lobbyists of Washington can't wait to get Joe there, behind closed doors, maybe a scotch or two and a fine cigar, a cutie keepin' 'em coming while they discuss the vital importance to the Founders of tax cuts for the Koch Brothers (owners of the groundwater polluting North Pole Refinery) and various other matters pertaining to the very survival of the Republic while Joe tries to remember what it was Vic Kohring told asked Bill Allen... Oh yeah, "Say Brother, can you spare a few bucks?" "Why sure JoeVic we sure can spot you a few bucks. Lets go over there by the mantle where the firelight casts its glow on the fine carpet in the panelled room where only men of power belong and we are sure happy your "folks" back there in Alaska decided to send you here. We are sure looking forward to working with you, JoeVic."
Oh yeah, its gonna be a gravy train for you, Joe. A real moneymaker, especially when you shake yours!

Didn't Take Long for Him to Take the Pipe Between His Lips

Seems Joe Miller has put on the kneepads.
CQ Politics reports tonight on its blog that little known Fairbanks ex-assistant borough attorney Joe Miller has decided God's help isn't enough in getting plain 'ol folk to open their purses and has hired a "prominent D.C. fundraiser" to help him lose to Scott McAdams.
Headed Alaska: Miller Getting Serious About Fundraising and sporting such quotes as an anonymous source saying "There are many Republicans on K Street so unhappy with Lisa that this is a step up," this source said. "It's a winnable seat, and there's no way that Republican leadership is going to allow this to go south."
We agree. The Republican leadership should hold on to whatever dignity it might have after the job it did on Lisa, and NOT allow "this" (scum) to "go south".
Unless it is back into the VistaCruiser back to Kansas.
Yeah, Joe, let me tell ya, the musky aroma of that long K Street is just waiting for you.
No corporate funds, he say. He lie like Jim.

Two Legal Reviews of Miller's Loony Look at Alaska's Federal Lands

First up, the previously cited Wickersham's Conscience.For those of you who may not know, Judge James Wickersham, the Territory's first Jurist, is a beloved figure in Alaska history. Resident of Eagle, Fairbanks and all the Roadhouses in between. Serving form 1900 to 1908 he resigned to become the Alaska Territory's Delegate to Congress. The photo above shows Judge Wickersham with the Tanana Chiefs, leaders of the Dene' people of the Eastern Interior and Yukon River Flats. This is a picture that every third grader in Alaska should be able to identify.
Wickersham's Conscience does a bang-up job of expaining the completely misguided belief of the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate that Alaska can take back Federal lands in  Joe Miller Ignores the Law.
Next up is Mudflatter Legal Eagle who presents a very fine analysis that goes by the title of Joe Miller - Liar, or Idiot? A Legal Analysis.

Blog del Narco

Rumour (just rumour) has it that a drug dealer has moved into my neighborhood. I hear that he pays his mule's $2,000 for an ass-full of oxy's. Bet THAT's an uncomfortable plane ride!
Well, for those of you interested in the latest news from South of the Border it seems a brave young man in Mexico is blogging. Here's a recent news report (in English) about Blog del Narco (in Spanish. Plenty of gruesome photos of dead people and pics of piles of bales of dope, too.)
Fun way to bone up on that old high school espanol, eh?

Hey Eric, Don't Be Evil

But when is his live call-in on KYUK?

Joe's Schedule
Sunday, September 5


4:00pm Armed America Radio Network *Listen Live*

When Sun, September 5, 4pm – 5pm

Where KBYR 700AM KSRM 920AM (map)

more details

Sweet Touch of Love

 Photo of US Senate Candidate Joe Miller and his Wife used by kind permission of independent photojournalist/videographer Zach Roberts/Mudflats.net.

Alaska Girls Kick Ass

Bristol Palin, Dancing with the Stars, and the missed opportunity to make a REAL difference

It's about time

State reviewing case against Bill Allen

And a Fairbanks "Lawyer" we ignore at our peril

On CNN, Joe Miller says his call for privitization of Social Security is "No demagoguery ... at all."

A Fairbanks Lawyer Worth Paying Attention To

I forget where I found a link to Wickersham's Conscience but I am ever so glad I did. I hope you will be glad you found it, too. Commentary, Reviews and Nature Photography is how the site is described and more than amply fils the bill

The germane novel of the political season is...

The envelope please.
Thank you,
and the winner is
Advise and Consent, by Allen Drury.
It's a pretty good movie, too.

Emily Davenport v. Matthew Nicolai

Civil Superior Ct (3AN) - Summary
3AN-10-09812CI Davenport, Emily vs. Nicolai, Matthew

Read her Complaint HERE

And Calista's Press Release

The statute cited:
AS 18.80.220. Unlawful Employment Practices; Exception.

How do YOU spell scum? I spell it miller.

"I thanked her for the hard-fought contest and wished her the best and asked for unity," Miller said in a telephone interview from his hometown of Fairbanks.
Asshole should be thanking the Koch Brothers

Miller said he thinks Murkowski will end up supporting him in the general election. "I'm going to give her some time and we're going to talk more about it later," he said.
"I'm going to giver her some time and we're going to talk about it later."
Lets hope THAT doesn't happen. Lisa is gonna be too busy packing her office and DC home to be talking to a lackey like you. Unity my ass, you phony little shit.

Miller said he's going to meet with close friends and family Tuesday night. "Then we'll probably head back to the office and do some more campaign work a little bit later tonight," Miller said on Tuesday.
Yeah, back to the office to call and thank the Koch Brothers

h/t ADN

SCOTT MCADAMS FOR UNITED STATES SENATE - FOR ALASKA

Your Both Barrels blog is proud to endorse Sitka Mayor Scott McAdams for United States Senate.
As the Father of two Mt. Edgecumbe graduates I can say that Sitka is one of the safest and most liveable communities in our State, and Scott McAdams gets credit for helping to keep it tht way.
Alaskans have a CLEAR choice in November. It isn't about Democrat versus whatever the other guy is (he sure as hell isn't a real Republican). It is a choice for the future of our State.
Scott McAdams' task is simple - run the campaign that Lisa Murkowski did not.
I am looking forward to meeting Scott - he ought be to due for a trip to Bethel and the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta soon.

A few thoughts on Lisa Murkowski

It's interesting to see some of the reaction on at least one liberal Alaskan blog I read. People are actually trying to get busy over Senator Lisa Murkowski's concession based on a partial count of absentee ballots. Now I am no statistician but I know full well that she would need SERIOUS numbers to go her way to make up the deficit.
So she did do the right thing, before everyone got completely worn out (it has, after all, been a week) and she conceded the race, as hard as that might have been for her, her family, close friends and staff and supporters.
There was nothing dishonorable or quitting-ish about it. Unless you have run for office and lost you have no idea.
That out of my system, I want to thank Senator Lisa Murkowksi for her work on behalf of all the residents of our great State. She served with honor and grace and acquitted herself well.
Yes, she was appointed by her Dad, but she was also elected to a full term and her appointment was not a particularly big issue.
She helped people and organizations from across the State. Her staff was (and still is) excellent and responsive. She has travelled Alaska and made friends everywhere she has gone.
Lisa, Thank You, and I wish you a fine next few months as office holder and of course look forward to your continued contributions to the future of The Great Land.

A sad day for all Alaskans

The Anchorage Daily News is reporting Lisa Murkowski's concession.

Attention Calista Shareholders

Davenport Complaint

Vincent Beans for Alaska State House of Representatives

I am more than happy to recommend my old friend Vincent Beans of Mountain Village as the candidate of choice in the August 24, 2010 Primary Election, as he seeks to serve as District 39 Representative. There are only two candidates in the race so it is a "Winner Take All" in the primary.
Vincent is, of course a loyal Alaska Democrat, Veteran, local school board member and has long experience in rural economic development.
Please watch here for more details on his candidacy.

The Final Countdown

Performance Art with Falling Steel

"Wrong Plug" by Connections Video

And still MORE wrecked steel

and a possibly wrecked Gulf Coast, to boot-
The Last Four Minutes of the Deepwater Horizon

More Port Clarence pics

HERE

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

See it in HD on YouTube

Sorry to see it go...

Alaska's tallest structure scheduled for demolition
Safety zone in effect

JUNEAU, Alaska -- The Coast Guard has establish a safety-zone beginning Sunday during preparation for the demolition of the 1,350-foot Long Range Aids to Navigation tower in Port Clarence currently the tallest structure in Alaska.

The safety-zone will include all waters within a two-mile radius of the tower and is being created as part of a project managed by the Coast Guard's Civil Engineering Unit in Juneau which is responsible for taking down the LORAN Station Port Clarence's radio transmitting tower in a controlled demolition.

The LORAN tower in Port Clarence is the tallest of its kind in the country but the condition of the tower is deteriorating and with no funding for repairs the tower is at ever-increasing risk of an uncontrolled collapse. Alaska's tallest man-made structure will be the tallest structure ever intentionally brought down with explosives in a controlled demolition.

The Coast Guard began decommissioning its LORAN infrastructure in response to direction from Congress provided in the 2010 budget. LORAN Station Port Clarence ceased transmitting the LORAN signal February 8, 2010.

More information will be available as the demolition team prepares the controlled explosion. Photos and video will be available following the collapse.

Eyes are rollin'

Interesting tidbit from the Young Turks here.

TWWWSTLIJ to booze biz:

Aww, shucks- listen to it yourself:
The Recorded Sarah Palin-Wine Wholesaler Speech
Tom Wark's FERMENTATION: The Daily Wine Blog hits it hard and spot on.
Just listen.

Where is Bun E.?

Statement – March 19, 2010
Bun E. Carlos is not currently the touring drummer for Cheap Trick. Bun E. remains a band member. Everyone is healthy and Cheap Trick will continue to tour as planned.

Great short interview with Cheap Trick at SXSW

SXSW: Cheap Trick interview, Wednesday morning, Four Seasons

By Patrick Beach | Wednesday, March 17, 2010, 04:03 PM

Hooper Bay is neither primitive nor a settlement

The New York Times, the Old Gray Lady, caries a story by one Sam Dillon entitled Lawmakers Say Needs Of Rural Schools Are Overlooked wherein MY Alaskan hometown of Hooper Bay (Tok notwithstanding) is described as "a primitive settlement with no flush toilets."
Say what?
I have sent a letter to The Times in hopes of being published and since they insist on exclusivity I'll leave my comments at this for now. If my letter gets in, I'll let you know, but read the article and stew with me!

THEY WHAAAAT?????

The University of Alaska Board of Regents did it. They actually hired another retired military officer to run the University.
Hows this for a resume' quote: "Personally helped design, engineer
and coordinated the complete renovation of a 2000 student dormitory,
right down to the selection of all new student dorm room furniture."
Don't the Regent's read these things?

"The Hall of Fame...They'd be lucky to get us in there..."

That Bering Straits Tunnel is sounding better all the time

China To Connect Its High Speed Rail All The Way To Europe

Not a comforting comment, Mr. President

DNA on demand? Open wide and say "ahhh" for the nice Police officer...
President Obama backs DNA test in arrests reports Politico's Josh Gerstein.
Talking to John Walsh of America's Most Wanted President Obama praised the idea of "DNA on Demand."
“It’s the right thing to do,” Obama replied. “This is where the national registry becomes so important, because what you have is individual states — they may have a database, but if they’re not sharing it with the state next door, you’ve got a guy from Illinois driving over into Indiana, and they’re not talking to each other.”
So the President, a Professor of Constitutional Law thinks it's fine for the Police to collect DNA as identifying material from anyone ARRESTED - not CONVICTED - for a felony.

Now, do the existing State laws that allow this extremely intrusive behavior by police call for the removal of DNA from data banks if an individual is released without charge or acquitted?

Before you think the President is sounding too Republican, read what Bob Barr has to say about a proposal in the Georgia Legislature.

And here is an Op Ed,To Stop Crime, Share Your Genes from the New York Times on the same subject, and discussion over at Slashdot.

World War Two Heroine Andrée Peel, R.I.P.

from the New York Times comes the obituary of a true Heroine of World War II-
Andrée Peel, Rescuer of Allied Airmen, Dies at 105
"Andrée Peel, a highly decorated French resistance figure who helped save dozens of American and British airmen shot down over France during World War II, died on March 5 in the English village of Long Ashton, outside Bristol. She was 105. "

FINALLY!

He was never a friend of Rural Alaska, so we shed no tears over his departure from the Legislature.
Bunde won't run for re-election

Attention. Loranimals

Are you now or have you ever been a Loranimal?
For the uninitiated, a Loranimal is anyone who has spent a part of their life (usually one-year increments) caring for and feeding anything with a nomenclature beginning AN/FPN. Touchy things, those AN/FPN's, especially the 42's, 44 and 44A's and 45's.
Well, if you know what I am talking about, then THIS IS IMPORTANT.
It seems that most LORAN transmitters were X-Ray emitters! Thats right, the high-power final amplifier tubes generated x-rays.
You should DOWNLOAD THIS and read it if you ever worked at a LORAN Station.
There is a good set of links at Loran-History.info on the x-ray health issue.
Semper Paratus!

Like to fish?

Here's an interesting one from ESPN:
Culled out
Obama administration will accept no more public input for federal fishery strategy
.

Remarkable WTC Photos from 9/11

As many have heard, a New York Police Department Aviation Unit helo was about the only civilian aircraft allowed to fly in New York City shortly after the double-jetliner attack on the World Trade Center. Photographs taken by Detective Greg Semendinger and possibly other NYPD Aviation Officers are available from the CRYPTOME website, released under a Freedom of Information Act request to the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Containing 153 detailed photos, the 64 mb zip file is well worth the bandwidth. Most pictures are of evacuation efforts by the New York Harbor maritime fleet (US Coast Guard, Police Boats, ferries and tugs) as well as a couple of incredible photos of the roof of WTC North (the tower with the broadcast and communcations antennas).

Talk to the hand

Thus spaketh...

The Legacy of LORAN-C in Alaska

USCG LORAN-C Station Tok leaves the air

I came to Alaska in September, 1976 as a member of the Commissioning Crew of LORAN-C Station Tok, Master Station of the 7960 Gulf of Alaska Chain. We proudly maintained the signal which we knew was used for navigation by the Prince William Sound TAPS tanker fleet.

from the Seattle PI airline blog

Tx to 747sp for the link.
Aviation & Alaska Airlines in the Small Town of Bethel, Alaska

TWWWSTLIJ* in Canada

Thanks again to Palingates for these links:
McLean's Craig Cosh reports here and here.

*the woman who was supposed to live in Juneau

Good coverage of the UA Prexy race

As mentioned a post or two below, the beauty contest for President of the University of Alaska is in full swing but amazingly below the radar of most Alaskans.The consequences of the final decision of the Board of Regents are of importance to EVERY Alaskan.The University of Alaska has touched nearly everyone on our State in one way or another, continues to and will as far off ito the future as I can see.For those of you who might be reading this post from somewhere that isn't familiar with the UA System, our University is divided (figuratively and literally) into three discrete unites, University of Alaska Fairbanks (founding campus and world headquarters); University of Alaska Anchorage; and University of Alaska Southeast.
The University is a world leader in geophysical research and has a number of world-class academic programs. The variety of programs it has available to Alaskan's is astonishing and worthy of the people of our State.
The Alaska State Legislature, of course, seems never to recognize this fact and oftentimes one wonders if the Statewide Administration of the University recognizes it. Anyone who has been to a "Public Meeting" with soon-to-be ex-President Mark Hamilton I am sure will agree.
My recommendation today is Professor Steve Aufrect's coverage and Professor John Creed's commentary Here.

Why SOMETIMES (only sometimes) I wish I lived in Anchorage

Cliff Groh (who looks better in a beard) will be giving a little talk that anyone with even a passing interest in the conjunction betwixt Alaskan politics and Federal Law Enforcement should attend.
And follow his blog!

Why isn't the race for University President getting more attention?

Now between the Irony Dog and the Iditarod, most Alaskans just aren't paying attention to the high stakes game being played by the University of Alaska and the Board of Regents.
"Call me Mark, not General" Hamilton has finally given it up (hey, if I had two retirements, I'd relax, too) and after a relatively (relatively?) hush hush process the Board of Regents picked three finalists from a pool of who knows how many (six); even Gary Stevens thought he was one of them.

Before we rehash what Progressive Alaska has been running I want everyone to look for themselves at the resume's of the official three finalists.

Comments

I just want everyone to know that I am moderating comments. Say what's on your mind, but I'll decide what goes on my blog.
Thanks.

Credit where it's due

Hi folks- Yes, I called Shannyn's show (at Metanoia2K's suggestion!). I found the palingates story yesterday and started boosting it on progressivealaska so you read about it there first :)
The irony of this whole Ironydog thing is, as most Alaskans know, that CITGO, God Bless Them (and the People of Venezuela) has ponied up where noone else would- right into the fuel tanks of Rural Alaskans.
The woman who was supposed to live in Juneau never had anything to say about people being cold and hungry out here and never had anything positive to say about the CITGO/Citizens Energy program.
But now, she's sucking up. What I will find really funny is if she says she didn't know that CITGO owns Mystik. Her other fall back, and true it will be, would be that Mystic Lubricants are made in America by American workers in American refineries.
But still, can we have a little consistency?

Thank You, Hugo!

Big tip of the ol' green visor to Palingates for nailing this one to the wall:
Sarah Palin's newest gig: Making a "mystik" commercial for the Iditarod 2010, and Todd Palin sponsored by the government of Hugo Chavez!