This is the place to talk about Alaska politics -- state, local, national. Public life in the Last Frontier has probably never been more interesting than right now -- the governor as candidate for vice president, the broad and still-evolving corruption investigation, a big election, powerful members of Congress under scrutiny, and the usual hardball Alaska politics. Come here for news, tidbits and information, and join the discussion. Keep your comments civil and on point. Avoid personal attacks. Do not use profanity. Posts that violate the Terms of Use will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be banned.
Erika Bolstad
Erika Bolstad covers Alaska issues, including the congressional delegation, from Washington, D.C., for McClatchy Newspapers. Before joining the bureau in 2007, she spent seven years as a reporter at the Miami Herald, where she covered politics, government and the state legislature. E-mail Erika at ebolstad@adn.com.
Sean Cockerham
Sean Cockerham writes about Alaska state politics. He spent three years based in Juneau for the ADN before joining the Tacoma News-Tribune to write about Washington state politics. He went to Iraq twice for the News Tribune, and previously wrote about Alaska government and politics for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. E-mail Sean at scockerham@adn.com
Kyle Hopkins
Kyle Hopkins covers politics and other stories for the ADN. He covered the 2006 campaign for governor, has blogged extensively about Alaska politics, covered Anchorage city government and was a reporter based in the Mat-Su. He grew up in Southeast Alaska and previously was a reporter at the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and Anchorage Press. E-mail Kyle at khopkins@adn.com
SECTION
The FBI raided state legislatures offices in Aug. 2006, and the fallout since has been epic in Alaska's political world.
Bob Poe running for governor - 1/7/2009 1:50 pm
Before the storm - Palin e-mails from Aug. 27 - 1/7/2009 12:07 pm
Reid on punishment for Stevens - 1/7/2009 7:32 am
Polling on Palin vs. Murkowski - 1/6/2009 3:24 pm
Citgo 'suspends' free heating oil program - 1/5/2009 2:37 pm
Palin's comments on first grandchild - 12/31/2008 4:35 pm
Suicide council audit - 12/30/2008 9:11 pm
Son of Snowzilla - 12/30/2008 8:55 pm
'People' editor: No deal for baby photos. Yet. - 12/30/2008 1:12 pm
'Baby Name Bible' - 12/29/2008 8:14 pm
Anchorage Mayor: Begich out, Claman in Jan. 3 - 12/26/2008 12:40 pm
No trash power? (Plus: School board pay) - 12/26/2008 11:22 am
PETA's beef with Palin - 12/24/2008 12:02 pm
"The opportunities that were not seized." - 12/22/2008 1:48 pm
Palin's next big speech? - 12/22/2008 12:37 pm
Here we go - a look at potential 2010 election matchups (and Palin popularity) - 12/20/2008 1:42 pm
Hawker to Palin: Try again - 12/19/2008 5:11 pm
Video: Palin on salary, energy plan - 12/19/2008 9:58 am
Walt Monegan is planning to run for mayor - 12/18/2008 4:40 pm
Covering Juneau - 12/17/2008 5:07 pm
Palin says no to raise; energy plan delayed - 12/17/2008 2:19 pm
Meyer joins majority, gets LB&A (Updated with McGuire, Menard joining too) - 12/16/2008 5:45 pm
Posted by Alaska_Politics
Posted: August 21, 2008 - 12:37 am
From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage –
Alaska Congressman Don Young told his challengers tonight that they are just “novices.”
Young said at the KAKM public television debate that he’s the one who has the experience to be Alaska's lone member of the U.S. House. (Listen to the Republican candidates here, and the Democrats here).
“We have a bunch of novices at this table and that’s unfortunate,” Young said of his challengers in Tuesday's Republican primary, Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell and Kodiak state Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux.
“I work for this state and I work for you," Young said to the camera. "Each time I’ve run you’ve sent me back to Washington D.C. And I thank you for that, I expect you to do it again.”
LeDoux attacked both Young and Parnell. She said Young has spent over a million dollars of his campaign funds on attorneys fees and his own colleagues in Congress asked that he be investigated.
“And on the other hand, we have a challenger who, while saying that he’s only supported by individual people, is really taking money from an anti-Alaska, Washington D.C. organization,” LeDoux said.
She was talking about the Club for Growth, the anti-earmark group that's bankrolled most of Parnell’s campaign. Parnell said people who make individual contributions through the Club for Growth share his belief in cutting spending.
“If you want lower taxes, if you want less wasteful government spending, if you want honesty in government, I respectfully request your vote,” Parnell said. “If, on the other hand, we want to continue down the same path, I just can’t go there.”
Young and LeDoux teamed up during the debate to bash Parnell for his position on earmarks, which the Alaska delegation has long used to steer money back to the state. (Parnell has said he wants fewer earmarks -- as well as a one-year moratorium on them to make reforms in the process.)
Parnell, for his part, questioned Young for proposing to raise the federal gas tax.
“I guess Congressman, I’d like you to explain, why don’t you think Alaskans are paying enough at the pump?” Parnell said.
Young said Alaskans are paying too much at the pump but “without that tax you can’t build bridges, you can’t build roads and you will have potholes,” Young said. He said the nation is behind in improving highways as population increases.
Parnell replied:
“So do you really think that Alaskans are paying too little at the pump, because you still want to raise taxes on Alaskans. I don’t think that’s right. You go to Kotzebue, people are paying $2,000 a month for heating oil, you go to Fairbanks it’s $1,400 a month. Anchorage, our gas prices are up, it’s about $4.35 a gallon now.”
Young told Parnell he “can’t hear too well.”
“I didn’t say Alaskans are paying too little, I’m saying…when you are a Congressman, you represent the whole nation as well as the state of Alaska. And our infrastructure is way behind,” Young said.
LeDoux said that, in 1999, while Parnell was co-chair of the state Senate Finance Committee, he proposed a budget that would have increased taxes on car rentals and commercial fishing licenses, as well charged landing fees at state-owned airports.
Parnell told LeDoux that "your facts are simply wrong." He said the finance committee laid everything on the table for how to deal with what was a billion dollar state deficit at the time, but he chose to reduce spending instead of raising taxes.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Democrats
The two Democrats running for the U.S. House seat, Ethan Berkowitz and Diane Benson also debated one another tonight.
Benson pressed Berkowitz on why he wouldn’t return campaign contributions from lobbyists.
Berkowitz said there a lot of ways to assure the public the influence of money is minimized.
“All people have to do is look at my record. I’m a guy who stood up to corporate influence time and again when I was in the state Legislature,” Berkowitz said.
Benson said she finds it unethical to accept lobbyist contributions and Berkowitz is making the same excuses as Congressman Young.
“I mean clean government begins with clean campaigns,” Benson said. “How can we have honest discussions about issues if we’ve got dollar bills hanging over our heads.”
Berkowitz repeated that he proved in Juneau he’ll stand up to powerful interests and will do the same in Washington D.C.
“People should never expect that when you make a campaign contribution, any politician is going to be beholden on it,” he said.
Berkowitz praised Benson at the debate, saying that he’s admired her courage and ability to bring veterans’ issues to the fore.
Berkowitz focused his closing statement of the debate on energy. He called it “the defining issue of our time,” saying he wants a natural gas pipeline, more oil from the North Slope and more of an effort to develop the state’s renewable prospects.
He said there is village wind potential, more geothermal than the rest of the country put together and 90 percent of America’s tidal potential.
“I want to be the person who goes to Washington D.C., spreads that word. I have the ability to do that, I have the will to do it,” he said.
Benson said the state need to develop its resources in a way that benefits Alaskans. She said called for “clean campaigns” and said she’ running to fight for people tired of career politicians.
“This campaign really is about trust, ethics and accountability,” Benson said.
13 August 21, 2008 - 5:15pm | cls
I pray that he is not re-elected. I cant stand him and his statements. Alaska deserves much better. Its time for him to go and everyone I talk to agrees so I hope his time is done.
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August 21, 2008 - 8:08pm | gargantua
Depending on which side you are on, those are the best candidates.
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August 21, 2008 - 9:35pm | rfn
their chances are about equal.
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August 21, 2008 - 11:33pm | blue_in_AK
I'm not giving up, rfn. She's the best and I'm sticking with her. I've gotten to know this woman well since 2006 when I first worked on her campaign, and I'm convinced she's worth fighting for.
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12 August 21, 2008 - 4:57pm | Natalie_0
....did I read his statement right? "He expects" the people to send him back to DC? People put that man on a pedastel and he doesn't want to jump off, does he? thats okay...he doesn't have to jump off on his own...I'm sure someone is coming along very soon thats going to help him jump off that pedastel! Even if I was a republican and he was the ONLY candidate running, I wouldn't vote for a ranted bully like Don Young.
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11 August 21, 2008 - 10:59am | Stags_Leap
his entire campaign is -largely, bankrolled by the anti-senior citizen group The Club for Growth.
The little guy is doing very little campaigning. He has taken Alaska voters for granted..that he needs to do little more than flash Sarah Palin's support ono his campaign literature and ads -and we will all vote for him.
In the old days, candidates had to work for our votes. Parnell has done nothing to work for our votes, and he most certainly doesn't deserve them either.
Young and LeDoux have both worked hard for votes. They don't take anything for granted.
Alaska should demand more from our candidates.
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August 21, 2008 - 1:02pm | AK_Lady
I wonder if he's thinking he'll be governor soon?
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August 21, 2008 - 1:13pm | rfn
That's an interesting proposition.
Should Mr. McCain be elected president (a long shot for certain), then Ms. Palin would undoubtedly be in line for a major cabinet position. She would resign and that would make Mr. Parnell Governor. Unless, of course, he defeats The San Francisco Threat in November. I believe that would leave Mr. Colberg as Governor. Perhaps not a charismatic figure as Ms. Palin and not as experienced in legislative matters as Mr. Parnell, but those are the rules!
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August 21, 2008 - 1:18pm | AK_Lady
Is he the guy that spoke to Monegan about Wooten?
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August 21, 2008 - 1:21pm | rfn
Who was totally open and transparent about that.
The same Colberg who is the designated replacement for the governor should the Lieutenant Governor be unable to serve if needed.
I think it will be easier to become accustomed to saying "Governor Colberg" for some than will their getting used to saying "Secretary Palin".
Of course that depends on the notorious Liberal John McCain disrupting the desire of so many for this to become "Obamanation".
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August 21, 2008 - 7:43pm | predictable
You're really starting to scare me.
Next we'll be placing Jerry Ward, Rick Halford, and John Lindauer in vacated seats.
Maybe even Obermayer as his spokeswoman.
Not a fan of Lt. Parnell, Congressman Parnell, Gov. Parnell, or "My name is Parnell and I'll be your waiter for tonight."
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August 21, 2008 - 11:47am | rfn
Perhaps Parnell is campaigning
in places you don't frequent.
He's working very hard in places where it's obvious that the impact of Don Young's proposed $1.00/gallon tax on gasoline will have the most impact.
Meanwhile, his Democrat likely opponent in November, Mr. Berkowitz-Pelosi is highly visible campaigning in places likely to be in tune with the ideals of the California power brokers who finance his campaign and direct every effort. Ideals like same-sex marriage, abortion on demand, and raiding local city treasuries to fund a deficit state budget.
So yes, it IS understandable that those who do not or cannot drive to work really don't care about Mr. Young's proposed tax gouge (which would only fund new highway projects in Florida) haven't seen Mr. Parnell campaigning. He knows better than to waste his time.
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August 21, 2008 - 2:32pm | AvengingAngel
His money comes overwhelmingly from Alaskans, whereas Sean's money is overwhelmingly from outside (most from the Club for No Growth).
Our state doesn't have a deficit, but a huge surplus.
Berkowitz was born in California, but has lived in this state for years - and lets remember that nearly 70% of the people in this state were born elsewhere.
Berkowitz does not support, well, any of things you just listed. And where exactly ARE the places in Alaska that are in tune with those things?
As a long time republican who has voted for Young for decades now, I'm sick and tired of watching my party slide further into the the muck. In this race, we have a choice between the Corrupt B*st*rd or the slimy weasel Parnell.
Given that choice, yes, I'll take the Democrat. God help me, but he has to be better than what our party has thrown at us this year.
Even Dan Fagan said so...which has to mean...something.
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August 21, 2008 - 3:26pm | rfn
Alaska doesn't really need a representative in The U.S. House if there is a Democrat majority. California can always use one more. It's not about where anyone was born; it's about who sponsors them. Who gave them their political education (some say "indoctrination") and if backing them all the way. San Francisco power brokers Feinstein and Pelosi are OK with some Alaskans. Notably those who came from elsewhere and would be more comfortable in a gun-free, vehicle-free pristine wilderness. Those, along with same-sex marriage and abortion on demand are strong beliefs in Baghdad-by-The-Bay. Not necessarily those of any individual candidate; just those of the power brokers in charge.
Of course a vote for Don Young is a vote for all those California values...not that he would promote them. Goodness knows, he has his hands full with his legal defense and promoting his obscene tax on gasoline. The problem is that he can't win in November; even Democrat polls make that plain.
I guess that's why so many Democrats will be crossing over to vote in the Republican primary next week....to set up Mr. Young - the weakest opponent for Mr. Berkowitz-Pelosi in anticipation of November.
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August 21, 2008 - 8:12pm | gargantua
I challenge you to call Ethan Berkowitz and ask him about his stance on issues that you just mentioned (gun-free, vehicle-free pristine wilderness, same-sex marriages,etc.) You might be surprised.
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August 21, 2008 - 9:18pm | rfn
that's of interest. It's the positions, long held by his San Francisco power brokers that count. These are the folks who call the tune. Sometimes, when you want to stay in politics, you dance to the tune or you don't dance at all.
Certainly Mr. Berkowitz-Pelosi is free to blog here as do Mark Begich and Mr. Metcalfe. Occasionally, the former politician, Mr. Halcro puts in an appearance as well.
This would be a great place for him to promise not to take the California line on those issues. In writing so it can be printed and stored electronically. Where he can be held to it should he bow to the pressure. There's MY challenge. Don't make statements privately that can be later refuted; go public!
In the meanwhile, that's the reality: San Francisco power brokers; San Francisco values. Of course he could deny them their desires if he dared.
For real daring, how about renouncing the San Francisco viewpoint on "Sanctuary City"? Making it official policy not to cooperate with Immigration & Naturalization authorities? That erupted again this week in Baghdad-by-The-Bay and even more violently in Los Angeles. It's in keeping with not just California political policy but also a topic that repeatedly arises in The U.S. House of Representatives. Will it be possible to ignore the power broker's demands on that issue, too?
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August 22, 2008 - 9:09am | pixieteeth
How do you "know" who blogs here...
Should you be "outing" people who "blog" here? Privacy anyone? If they do not choose to blog under his/her birth name shouldn't they be allowed to share their views as well?
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August 22, 2008 - 11:06am | rfn
I'm not "outing" anyone.
Mr. Begich, Mr. Metcalfe and Mr. Halcro each post, occasionally, under their birth names. Perhaps you have overlooked their comments.
Perhaps Mr. Berkowitz posts too but he has not done so under his own name....as have neither you nor I.
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August 22, 2008 - 9:50pm | Gus_Davis
Make some attempt to to remain anonymous after moving more towards "real" names on the Blog.
Names Like William or Bill or billie or Mack.
I figure his name is Leo or somethig like that.
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10 August 21, 2008 - 8:52am | Denali_king
Young is right about nation's infrastructure
Congressman Young's assessment of the nation's highway infrastructure is correct. The majority of the Governors from around the country are sounding an alert of the serious situation. The economic backlash could increase the tax burden upon private property owners across the country. Proposed construction projects to literally hold the line in protecting the commercial traffic that keeps this nation's economy functioning costs money. It can come from earmarks or gas taxation. I believe the record speaks for itself. Congressman Young has responsibly worked the system to provide needed infrastructure without imposing unreasonable gas taxation. This has been accomplished with...earmarks.
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August 21, 2008 - 10:19am | Denali_Girl
Young is right about nation's infrastructure??
Hummm, let's consider this for a minute...a tax increase of just $.05/gallon. Alaskans will only have to buy 200 million gallons of gasoline to pay for Don Young's $10 million dollar earmark to improve the infrastructure along Coconut Road in Florida!
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August 21, 2008 - 6:41pm | TheSdog
How many gallons do we have to buy to make up for the $1.6B tax break for the trial lawyers slipped in the last energy bill by the Ds.
Earmarks can be a terrible thing but they are but a mere drop in the bucket of government waste and other games in DC.
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August 21, 2008 - 9:18am | TheSdog
He is right about infrastructure
The dirty little secret is that Al Gore was also right when he wrote Earth in the Balance. High prices on fossil fuels will be the main driver for alternative energy and greater efficiency.
You need only look to places like Europe and Japan to see the power of economics.
Government is at its best when it subtlely drives things instead of trying to control everything. A gas tax is a perfect example of how the government can get people moving in the right direction.
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August 21, 2008 - 3:04pm | fred280403
It has always perplexed me that a person as obviously intelligent and thoughtful as yourself could be so dead wrong so much of the time - but I find myself in complete agreement with you on this one. I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later.
Keep writing tho - even if I disagree with most of it, I appreciate your contributions. Intelligent dialog never goes stale - and there is way too little of it out there (and here).
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9 August 21, 2008 - 8:52am | LilysDaddy
"fighting way too hard to stay inside the Beltway."
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8 August 21, 2008 - 8:19am | Kuparuk
...because he's on the transportation committee. More money to the committee = more spending power for him, more people beholden to him, and more chances for him to make more money for himself.
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7 August 21, 2008 - 8:12am | franklin_6
A deporable culture of entitlement
I was disgusted by Yon Dung's assertive strategy of pandering and blackmail. Decent people would be ashamed to assert the correctness of handing out earmarks simply because the Representative for all Alaska had Congressional seniority and can get however much he wants from the Federal Treasury. Don pretends not only not to be ashamed, rather, he is defiant.
Doing "too much" for Alaskans and proud of it. Jesus Christ!
How does Don get away with it? He puts out TV ads showing old fat people who've had too many paydays and payoffs clamoring for pork. Nothing ever said about the economic sensibility of Don's earmarks, only that they're "desirable" by over-entitled Alaskans.
What happened to commonsense, personal integrity and regard for the country as a whole? Why have so many Alaskans given in to a culture of oil company blackmail and sauve qui peut?
Sadly, all Parnell had to say in rebuttal was some milk-toast comment about "wasteful government spending". C'mon, Sean, surely you can get more to the point than that.
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August 21, 2008 - 8:35am | gargantua
LeDoux was the winner last night
She was A M A Z I N G
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August 21, 2008 - 2:51pm | fred280403
You and I must have seen different debates
LeDoux was decidedly second-tier on the show I listened to. Face it - all her candidacy is going to end up doing is handing the nomination to Don. She certainly has every right to run, and she has some valid points, but ultimately I'll bet she stays near the top of Don's Christmas card list for a long, long time.
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August 21, 2008 - 1:25pm | franklin_6
LeDoux doesn't have a prayer.
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August 21, 2008 - 7:51pm | predictable
Young had a couple of assists that set LeDoux up for an intelligent response. She might have come up with those on her own, but you have to admit it's easier when someone gives you a lead in.
Sean on the other hand was definitely the minority.
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6 August 21, 2008 - 7:26am | staufen
Don is correct in his own mind... he's certainly the most experienced at gathering campaign kickbacks and bribes from people all over the nation, while he was on the Transportation committee.
LeDoux needs to read CREW's report on earmarks - how past presidents considered them unConstitutional, and the real problem is the shifting of power, not the small dollars involved. Would she vote for legalizing spitting tobacco on the Capitol Steps? No. She needs to exit now, and ask Kodiak voters to write her in for the State seat she had, because the U.S. House is above her pay grade, but she's done a pretty good job at home.
Diane Benson not only deserves the House seat for many reasons, AND all of us are going to need many similar representatives from across this Nation to support our returning troops. Figure out the risks if we don't treat them fully and fairly, as these boys have been trained in urban warfare. And they all know we have spent more per capita on Iraqis than we'll ever spend on proper medical care for our own Vets.
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5 August 21, 2008 - 7:23am | dab
Time for a change--This is exactly what Murky did when he came back to Alaska--Said just what it took to win then screwed Alaska over.
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4 August 21, 2008 - 5:18am | Stags_Leap
like rfn, he thinks if he keeps implying that Young supports raising the price of gas, which he does not -that will resonate with Joe Voter -and it does NOT.
Parnell fails to offer up anything of substance. He appears weak and girlish in these debates...in my opinion.
A strong candidate offers hope and vision. Parnell does neither...just the support of Sarah "Liar Liar" Palin. Don Young is clearly the better option in the primary...or LeDoux.
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August 21, 2008 - 11:52am | rfn
"Implying that Young supports raising the price of gas..."
Technically that's correct. He does NOT propose to raise the price of gas. Only to lump an immense new tax ON TOP OF the already obscene price of gas.
The end result is the same: Higher cost for getting to work (OK, so some people just have their "benefits" direct deposited and don't have to drive tow work). Higher cost for delivery of goods, resulting in ever-higher prices.
"Implying"? When Mr. Young, himself, has repeatedly. That means he's done it several times. Repeatedly stood up in Congress and demanded higher taxes. Perhaps not on the very same day he arranged for road construction - not in Alaska - rather in Florida where the donations to the campaign/legal defense fund apparently are greener.
No, there is no "implication". Only the simple fact.
Denial! It's not just a pipeline anymore!
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August 21, 2008 - 12:06pm | akmooster
and not in support of dy.
But, maybe, he was able to see, because of his chairmanship, how dire the condition of our infrastructure is. Maybe he saw the absolute necessity to start fixing it. Maybe he saw how much less the US pays for gas. Maybe he saw the only fair source for funds is those who are using it. Maybe, he took the unrepublican stance of raising taxes on gas to pay for this NEED for good reason.
Maybe he was right. Maybe as prices start back down, it should be replaced with the dollar tax to start fixing infrastructure. Even hydrogen cars need roads and bridges.
Maybe.
But since he is a lying crook, who cares what he thought.
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August 21, 2008 - 12:14pm | rfn
this is about an election.
There may be grand logic in running up the price of gasoline to levels where ordinary people won't be able to easily move from place to place. It works in a couple of ways. If roads aren't being used then they won't deteriorate as quickly so the cost of maintenance will be lower. Also there's more money to be diverted to build new roads where they'll most benefit campaign/legal defense fund contributors.
But that logic aside, to win an election you need votes. A great way NOT to get votes is to proposed taking more money out of people's pockets when they're already near broke.
Important thing is that people need to be constantly reminded who wants to grab their wallets on the eve of the election.
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August 21, 2008 - 8:39am | gargantua
To me, Gabrielle LeDoux was the winner of the Republicans and she deserves a chance to be considered for the nomination.
Parnell is a joke as a candidate. How in the world did he win elections before this?
Don Young is Don Young. He needs to go.
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August 21, 2008 - 8:32am | funhog
Don Young supports higher gas taxes
Don Young wanted to increase the gas tax 22 cents a gallon when he was the head of the transportation committee. That's right 22 cents a gallon to pay for all the ginormous projects he was proposing. Well TEA-LU went nowhere because President Bush wasn't accepting higher taxes. The transportation bill languished while Don couldn't get off his high horse and cut the pork and leave out the tax increase. The transportation bill which finally passed, came from the Bush administration, Not the transportation committee. Don Young wants to raise your taxes and fails at the leadership.
While we are talking Don Young, whats the story on Mark Zachares? The guy he hired to be his head staffer on the Coast Guard & Maritime subcommittee and chief counsel on the Oversight & Investigations subcommittee. Both committees overseen by Don Youung. Zachares was convicted of a felony for accepting tens of thousands of dollars in bribes. Why did Don hire this guy and what did he think when the guy was convicted. What did Zachares do for Don? Off course Don is silent on the issue? why? its our tax money paying for both their salaries, why can't we get some simple answers? Instead we get silence, that's leadership?
If as you say, a strong candidate offers hope and vision. Don offers neither, he doesn't even come close.
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August 21, 2008 - 5:54am | leowassilie
well isn't there a gasoline tax
which DY has earmarked? Meaning, he has dedicated his special interest projects right into our pocketbooks. Is this true or not?
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3 August 21, 2008 - 5:15am | eight_ball_nine
It's disgusting to see Sean Parnell try to mask both his incompetency and lack of public speaking skills behind that decievingly pretentious, Bushesque snicker he employs every time Don Young finishes speaking. Does Sean Parnell even know what a congressional earmark is? Would he had rather not had the 9/11 Comission, which was established through and earmark, and secure George W. Bush's unchecked power regarding the Iraq War? Moreover, he can't criticize Don Young for pandering to special interest if more than two-thirds of his campaign money derives from the non-Alaskan members of the unlawful Club for Growth. Despicable. No thank you, Mr. Parnell, for being my Lieutenant Governor. I also won't be supporting you or any of your Palin legislature cronies come November. No thank you, Mr. Parnell, no thank you.
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August 21, 2008 - 9:35pm | palmeranian
He will likely be elected anyway.
The reason Young and Ladoux were ganging up on him is because he is in the lead.
I'm not crazy about his speaking ability either. I am concerned mainly about his values which I like better than any of the others running.
All of them are far from perfect, we don't have a good selection this year
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August 21, 2008 - 9:59pm | Emperor
...selection. Vote NOTA instead of settling for least objectionable.
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2 August 21, 2008 - 3:07am | Skeptical
What does the nationwide fuel surcharge
have to do with the price of oil in Kotzebue? Is that tax added onto heating oil too? Or does it reflect in barge/shipping costs to the Bush?
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August 21, 2008 - 7:22am | KodiakFlyer
He's the only one that thinks it does. Everyone else, it seems, knows that the gas tax is on gas, and it goes toward building roads, bridges and infrastructure. Young's right on this one--we (America) have bridges falling down and our roads are crumbling and the highway trust fund is billions in the hole. That's where the gas tax goes (does Sean know this?) and its where we get the funds to pay for fixing and upgrading our roads. If he's worried about the deficit, maybe he shouldn't propose a gas tax cut, since all it would mean is more deficit spending to fix our infrastructure.
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August 21, 2008 - 11:04am | akmooster
and the bridge in minnesota is the picture postcard of the problem.
The fix is figuring out how to lower the cost of highway construction. I'm sure they waste half of the money. It would be nice to instead see twice the accomplishment.
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August 21, 2008 - 4:46pm | fred280403
And how do they waste the money?
....earmarks!
In most areas of the federal government, and certainly in anything to do with federal highway maintenance, there are project queues that the professionals in those departments prepare. There are always some rotten apples, but for the most part these queues are derived from the relative importance/value of the projects contained therein. With earmarks, some congressman who cares not one whit about any project that does not bring money to his district writes into legislation funding for his/her pet project, jumping it to the top of the queue and dispensing with any discussion of the relative merit of his project altogether. And all the other projects that got into the queue on the basis of actual merit get to stay at the back of the line. It's insidious, wanton, and wasteful.
Of course money is wasted in all sorts of other ways too...but this is a biggie - and the collapse of the Minnesota bridge can be directly attibuted to it.
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August 21, 2008 - 1:31pm | franklin_6
"I'm sure they waste half of the money."
Try 75 or 80 %.
Think bridges to nowhere, 19 million dollar street intersections and gentrified rights-of-way (eg. Bragaw extension).
And almost nobody says squat.
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14 August 21, 2008 - 7:07pm | EatMoreFish
No money for infrastructure
....not in the US, anyway. With $10 billion a month going to rebuild Irag's infrastructure there is no money left to fix bridges, roads, ports/harbors at home. What a travesty - none of the House candidates talk about that.
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