Sarah Palin supported Ketchikan ‘bridge to nowhere’ during 2006 race for Alaska governor
Originally published Sunday, August 31, 2008 at 12:00 a.m.
Updated Sunday, August 31, 2008 at 7:39 a.m.
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Stumble It!With another hurricane bearing down on the Gulf Coast, the so-called “bridge to nowhere,” championed by Alaska’s Congressional delegation on behalf of the people of Ketchikan, just won’t go away.
Three years ago, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the plan to spend hundreds of millions to connect Ketchikan with its airport on Gravina Island became a national symbol of Congressional excess, much to the dismay of Sen. Ted Stevens and Rep. Don Young.
Sen. John McCain has made it a habit to ridicule the bridge project during his presidential campaign.
McCain has promised to veto any bill sent to him by Congress with any earmarks. In July, the Associated Press reported that McCain wants to cut all earmarks and billions more to “punish lawmakers for past earmarks,” the AP said.
Stevens and Young have long argued that earmarks have been essential to the Alaska economy, funding everything from the Denali Commission to the Alaska Volcano Observatory.
In her introductory speech Friday as McCain’s running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin picked up on the Ketchikan bridge that was never built as a symbol of bad federal policy.
“I championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress,” Palin said at her first campaign appearance. “In fact, I told Congress — I told Congress, ‘Thanks, but no thanks,’ on that bridge to nowhere. If our state wanted a bridge, I said we’d build it ourselves.”
That is not how Palin described her position on the Gravina Island bridge when she ran for governor in 2006.
On Oct. 22, 2006, the Anchorage Daily News asked Palin and the other candidates, “Would you continue state funding for the proposed Knik Arm and Gravina Island bridges?”
Her response: “Yes. I would like to see Alaska’s infrastructure projects built sooner rather than later. The window is now — while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist.”
Palin’s support of the earmark for the bridge was applauded by the late Lew Williams Jr., the retired Ketchikan Daily News publisher who wrote columns on the topic.
Williams wrote on Oct. 29, 2006, that Palin was the only gubernatorial candidate that year who consistently supported the Gravina Island Bridge, the Knik Arm Bridge and improvements to the Parks Highway.
Two months earlier, while campaigning in Ketchikan, Palin made a positive reference to the bridge, while also joking, as a resident of the Mat-Su Valley, about Sen. Ben Stevens’ slap at Mat-Su residents as “Valley trash.”
“OK, you’ve got Valley trash standing in the middle of nowhere,” Palin said on a stop in Ketchikan, a quote reprinted in the Juneau Empire Friday. “I think we’re going to make a good team as we progress that bridge project.”
A year later, she issued a news release as governor saying Ketchikan needed better airport access, but a $398 million bridge was not going to happen.
“Despite the work of our congressional delegation, we are about $329 million short of full funding for the bridge project and it’s clear that Congress has little interest in spending any more money on a bridge between Ketchikan and Gravina Island,” Palin said on Sept. 21, 2007.
The money was not sent back to the federal government, but spent on other projects.
That was hardly “Thanks but no thanks.”
In his statement announcing Palin as his running mate Friday, McCain said, “She put a stop to the “bridge to nowhere” that would have cost taxpayers $400 million.”
One of the immediate related questions for Alaska is whether Palin plans to change her position and accept McCain’s view that earmarks should be abolished and that any bill containing them should be vetoed.
This is significant because the state, along with dozens of local governments and nonprofit groups across Alaska, routinely asks Congress to fund everything from new buildings to docks and road work. The Alaska Railroad alone asked for about $80 million this year, while Nome wanted $13 million for wind generation, North Pole asked for nearly $7 million and the Fairbanks North Star Borough asked for about $25 million.
McCain has made his position clear.
“I will veto every bill with earmarks until the Congress stops sending bills with earmarks on them. I will keep vetoing. I will make them famous. You will know their names, ” McCain said in a speech on April 15, according to video on his Web site. He also said, “I have a clear record of not asking for a single earmark for my state.”
Alaska has a clear record of seeking earmarks.
In March, Palin’s Washington, D.C., representative, John Katz, wrote a defense of earmarks, published in the Juneau Empire in which he said the state is cutting back on its wish list.
The Palin administration requested 31 earmarks this year totaling $200 million and “we are not abandoning earmarks altogether,” Katz said, as they are a “legitimate exercise of Congress’ constitutional power to amend the budget proposed by the president.”
Community Discussion
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Dermot, perhaps your attention would be better focused on just how foolish your position supporting earmarks is when there are two obvious flaws in your thinking.
First, Alaska has a ten billion dollar surplus this year. Next year it may be 15 billion. The Permanent Fund has 35-40 billion in it.
Please explain why the Lower 48 states should be funding projects in Alaska when we clearly have the money to fund those projects ourselves- with the billions of surplus dollars that we have.
If we refuse to spend our own, plentiful, cash on various projects in Alaska, why should taxpayers form the Lower 48 foot the bill?
Hmmm?
The second hole in your support for Alaska earmarks is the painfully large Federal Deficit. Why should future generations be saddled with this debt? We clearly are not living within our means. Reforming our piggish spending sprees will be more likely without earmarks.
Sarah Palin is on the right track, and so is John McCain.
Ok, Alaska will stop taking earmarks when the Federal Government gives up it's land claims within the State. Until that time, the State delegation supports Federal funding of our roads, and other infrastructure to cover costs incurred by damage caused by tourists and temporary workers from other states.
What is wrong with you Cole? The opinions coming out of the FNM have always been extreme vanilla, offending no one unless they can think a little bit.
What has happened?
dog
Ok. Wow.
CEO, Dermot never said he supports earmarks. He pointed out Palin's blatant hypocracy in her stance on the Gravina Island Bridge and other earmarks. That is all. Tone down your blind enthusiasm for the McCain-Palin ticket and actually READ what he wrote.
Those whom dislike Sarah Palin sure have a place to flock to. You can surround yourselves with like thinkers such as Dermot Cole. What a wonder place you will have....sit around and sing Kumbaya or something like that while our Governor rises to bigger and better places.
Dermont,
I have grown up in Fairbanks and have read a lot of your columns. Please leave the political commentary to the professional pundits. I appreciate the writing you do with local flair announcing events such as the Creat-A-Gift Bazarre etc, but please don't delve into the realm of politcal abyss. None of the candidates are perfect and people have varying views of them all. Stick with the stuff you know, or perhaps you should go work for ADN as they clearly are out to beat the bushes for every bit of mud they can dredge up about Govenor Palin.
Thanks for the invitation to Sunday brunch, Dermot, but I don't like the sour grapes you're serving.
Dermot, thank you for the information as it's necessary to find out as much as we can about both sides. Personally, it doesn't matter to me where she's from, but what issues she supports.
All Dermot is doing is stating the facts! The sensitivity level here is just a bit to high!
Demont, give us a break! You & your brother will write a book about Palin after this.I would not be surprised if you guy's haven't started already! Create an up-roar then make money on it.Your extreme liberal side is apparent to all, but now try'ing to make money on it as well, is just going too far! Stop try'ing to push your liberal thoughts down our throats!!
Dermot: Your writing is factual and impartial, and largely misinterpreted by zealots who find the facts disturbing to their own narrow world view -- (andJustice4all is correct). Your previous cautionary column about Palin's qualifications (or lack thereof) was a cautionary public service, and exceptional in its content. I trust your reportage, recognizing that you are writing a COLUMN (as opposed to a news story) and its content is, by nature and space, somewhat selective. Most people who read the paper do not understand journalism any more than most people who can tell time can't build a watch (That's a metaphor, for those of you who have trouble grasping parallel construction). So hang in there, Dermot. My concern about Palin for V-P is as much about her inexperience at that level of government as it is about losing a Governor who is clearly "Not Frank"; and who, while very human, has shown serious backbone in her role as Governor of Alaska.
This still goes to show that Palin has still done more than Obama. No matter what it is.....lol....But cole, you have played your trump card already and the game is not over. You are a paid editor and we all see the views of our hometown newspaper. Pack your bags a storm is coming and I don't think it is Gustav.
And I am sure that Cole, not needing his 1,200 energy check is going to turn it back to the state coffers or hand it over to the homeless. Damn, what other governor wouldn't have wanted the money for a project such as this? Surely not Bill and his Whitewater fiasco.
Sarah turned her back on the our in state Gas Line as soon as we hopefuls elected her. While I wish her the very best, to me the sheer polical callousness of that move and others places her in a "worse than
Frank" category. At least Frank as arrogant and heavy handed and so forth was true to his word. Believe me I don't miss Frank. I wont miss Sarah either if McCain wins.
This Gas Line is the most vital project for all of us here in Alaska. It will be the energy back bone of our state if it is kept here in State. It wont benefit me, I am over the age curve for that but it will benefit several generations of Alaskans if it built as necessary infrastructure for this state. Have some vision here folks.
Shame on you Dermot...Why not just say I love Obama and drop the politics?
Holy cow. The religion of Palinism has become quite powerful in only a couple days.
Did any of you folks calling Dermot a liberal or the like actually bother to READ WHAT HE WROTE?!? What I see is a bunch of people who have convinced themselves that Sarah can do no wrong, and anyone who disagrees is not worthy of being an Alaskan. I don't care who you support, that is an unhealthy attitude.
Dermot pointed out that she has been blatantly hypocritical in her position on earmarks, specifically the Gravina Island Bridge. Nothing else.
You better give back the award she gave you--man, what a doofus you are. Can't you just quit writing this drivel? Are you hoping to get national attention to sell your crappy books?
"Alaskan Governor's Awards for the Arts and Humanities Announced
The Alaska State Council on the Arts and The Alaska Humanities Forum are proud to announce the following recipients of the Governor’s Awards for the Arts and Humanities. The Governor and First Lady will present the awards at a dinner on Friday, October 27, 6 pm at the Anchorage Marriott Hotel.
Dermot Cole, Fairbanks, Distinguished Service to the Humanities Award: Dermot Cole is a longtime columnist for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and has written extensively about Alaska and Alaska history for thirty years including authoring a number of books on subjects ranging from the Alaska pipeline to the history of Fairbanks."
Check this out: from the Washington Monthly: Cole's true colors shine--what a traitor! You should be fired for abusing your journalistic 'talent' for personal gain and recognition. I'll bet you couldn't wait to send them your column this morning could you?
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archive...
August 30, 2008
THOSE WHO KNOW HER BEST.... There's never been a politician from Alaska on the national stage before, so I kind of expected Alaskans and the Alaskan media to have a decidedly positive attitude about Sarah Palin joining the Republican ticket. It's not exactly turning out that way.
* The Daily News-Miner in Fairbanks: " She has never publicly demonstrated the kind of interest, much less expertise, in federal issues and foreign affairs that should mark a candidate for the second-highest office in the land.... Most people would acknowledge that, regardless of her charm and good intentions, Palin is not ready for the top job. McCain seems to have put his political interests ahead of the nation's when he created the possibility that she might fill it."
* Dermot Cole, a longtime columnist for Alaska's second largest newspaper, The Daily News-Miner, called McCain's choice of Palin "reckless" and questioned her credentials.
While there is some political expediency in the Governor's pre-election rhetoric and post-election actions, most Alaskans seemed to realize that the 2 bridges were not "Bridges to Nowhere" but at the same time were too expensive in today's federal budget. Alaska did take the money, which was legitimate compensation for road projects, and it was spent as needed. It was not wrong to take the money, and postpone building the 2 bridges, as Dermot seems to hint at.
As for the Governor's "flip-flop" on the Ketchikan Airport bridge, please name me a national candidate not guilty of political expediency. If political expediency was to be prohibited by all national candidates, well that would eliminate the 2 major parties, the Green Party, the Libertarian Party, and a few others. I believe at that point we would be forced to make a decision between the White Supremist Party and the American Communist Party, for only they seem to remain solid to their (misguided) principles.
2 weeks ago, at the Saddleback debate, I saw Senator Obama take 3 positions on an issue within a minute. On many issues, e.g. gun control, timetables, diplomacy, Israel, Obama has been all over the place. Before some Democrat goes berserk again, let me aknowledge that Senator McCain has also "flip-flopped" on some issues, notably energy.
I'm sure, that in the interest of fairness, Dermot Cole's column next week will be critical of the many positions of Senator Biden. Or maybe the wisdom of political endorsements of Mayor Whitaker.
Bluetarp: Tell me what part of that quote from Dermot is untrue?
Has Palin ever demonstrated, publicly, interest or expertise in Federal and national issues? No. She has not.
Some of the comments here make me ashamed to be a Fairbanksian. This is ridiculous.
While there is some political expediency in the Governor's pre-election rhetoric and post-election actions, most Alaskans seemed to realize that the 2 bridges were not "Bridges to Nowhere" but at the same time were too expensive in today's federal budget. Alaska did take the money, which was legitimate compensation for road projects, and it was spent as needed. It was not wrong to take the money, and postpone building the 2 bridges, as Dermot seems to hint at.
As for the Governor's "flip-flop" on the Ketchikan Airport bridge, please name me a national candidate not guilty of political expediency. If political expediency was to be prohibited by all national candidates, well that would eliminate the 2 major parties, the Green Party, the Libertarian Party, and a few others. I believe at that point we would be forced to make a decision between the White Supremist Party and the American Communist Party, for only they seem to remain solid to their (misguided) principles.
2 weeks ago, at the Saddleback debate, I saw Senator Obama take 3 positions on an issue within a minute. On many issues, e.g. gun control, timetables, diplomacy, Israel, Obama has been all over the place. Before some Democrat goes berserk again, let me aknowledge that Senator McCain has also "flip-flopped" on some issues, notably energy.
I'm sure, that in the interest of fairness, Dermot Cole's column next week will be critical of the many positions of Senator Biden. Or maybe the political wisdom of Mayor Whitaker.
AKChick - That award was given to him by his best-est buddy in the whole world--Franky M. Just think what this column would look like if Lisa got the VP nod instead--ha. What a joke Dermot is.
I find it quite funny that a lot of people were either not sure or had positions of being against McCain before Sarah jumped on the ticket. And now all of a sudden he is the greatest...have people suddenly forgotten he is still running for the top spot? He is the one that is going to be in charge, after all.
See Cole. You get away from writing little safe type of local interest stories and this pack descends on you. Got a better gut understanding now how the GOP masterminds win elections now with their 'politics of stupidity' technique?
dog
Dermot should have explored what happened with the cost of the bridge.
The part that Dermot left out is that the estimated cost of the bridge had grown to a staggering 400 million dollars. At some point most rational people (Sarah) do take such things like cost into consideration.
If the bridge had been a 50 million dollar project it would have been built- but at 400 million more cost effective alternatives (improved ferry service) began to make more sense.
Gee, so Sarah took new information, and revised her position. That sounds pretty sensible to most people.
Dermot had shown clear bias against Sarah, and it will not end here. Take a look at the years of executive experience Sarah has and compare that experience with all of the executive experience of Obama and Biden (ZERO days). Sarah has even more experience than John- he had some executive experience in the Navy- but not as much as even Sarah. But Dermot refused to take that into account when he attacked Sarah on Thursday.
And speaking of experience, which team has more experience with the military?
Cleary, the McCain-Palin team does. Sarah commands the Alaska National Guard, and McCain served in the Navy, admirably.
How about Obama and Biden? Neither has served a single day in the military, and neither have any command experience.
Funny how Dermot missed that when he talked about experience the other day.
So now we know the true PLOT !!!
ABC 2005 "Commander In Chief"
The Vice President killed President. Bridges!
Tagline on imdb movie website:
"This Fall a woman will be President
Wife. Mother. Leader of the free world."
LOL
John McCain is a brilliant strategist. It is like playing a game of chess. When he chose Gov. Palin he essentially moved his white pawn and took the black knight. The game isn't over yet but the Dems have certainly been shook.
So, bluetarp has called Cole a traitor, a crime against the nation and punishable by death, for pointing out that in her very first speech as VP nominee she choose to misrepresent her position on the "bridge to nowhere". The frantic criticism above is all about shooting the messenger.
Thanks Dermot, someone has to pay attention to the details, don't let them grind you down!
In my opinion, Sarah Palin becoming VP is bad news for the big oil, News Minus is a puppet for the big oil. It is not the first time that they attacked the most popular governor in the the US.
Wow such venom spewed when Dermot has done nothing but point out the facts. Guess some people can't handle the truth. Palin is just as much a flip flopper as any career politician.
Thanks Bluetarp for the info about the Washington Post and Dermot. I'll be taking his book "Fairbanks" - which sounds almost like his brother's book anyway (he probably used his notes!) to the dump. Yes, facts are facts however it is not Dermot's "column" they should be in. Yes, he should return his rebate and PFD for that matter and join Kelly in the Lower 48 where they can sit and trash anyone more powerful than them - they'll never get any attention otherwise. The News Minus has always been biased against thsoe who are trying to help make life better. He probably agrees that a drunk and abuser like Wooten & his good ol'd boy Monegan and the 4 drunk girls should be given 2nd chances. I'm glad the Lara article rec'd more space but why didn't Dermot write about Lewis and his fundraising efforts for Phillip Lara; that's what he CAN write about. Dermot is NOT a Political analyst and should not pretend to be.
I just don't understand how Mr. Cole can "appear" to be so one sided. It's just what I've viewed, right or wrong. No venom, I just don't understand. I for one am very proud of our Governor being selected for VP. As I watched the "McCain and Obama Revealed" on CNN last night, I was amazed how many times Mr. Obama voted as "Present" instead of for one side or the other of the issue. If I recall correctly, it was 127 times in 2 years. That's not leading, that's avoiding the issue. Personally the only one that I truly do not care for is Mr. Biden. His comments regarding Mr. Obama when he was a canidate, seemed pretty straight forward to me. He didn't believe in Mr. Obama. Now he does? Mr. Bidens comments that he'd be proud to serve with Mr. McCain and not Mr. Obama seemed pretty straight forward to me. Gov. Palin is as honest and straight shooting as they come in my opinion. She has done what she said she was going to do. I will really miss her if they are elected, but I believe that it is for the greater good.
Hey, Dermot - you should write a story about the 4 year old hit by an alleged drunk driver. I'll bet he did something bad in his past you could write about. Hey--you'd just be reporting the facts--go for it! We'll all love you!
A Conspiracy Before The Facts (thanks tv.com)
“Commander In Chief” ABC 2005
Starring Geena Davis as Vice President Mackenzie Allen.
Mackenzie – as in Mackenzie River in the Yukon?
Sarah Palin’s [long a] name is sometimes mispronounced as P-allen by the media.
President Allen is 45 and a mother.
Sarah Palin turns 45 in February and a mother.
President Bridges dies in office [during brain surgery] and is nowhere in the show.
Governor Palin killed the “Bridge To Nowhere”.
(Did the President die or … was he killed???)
Mackenzie Allen has three kids, a six year old daughter and twin teenagers.
Sarah Palin has five kids including a six year old daughter and two teenagers.
(Literary license to avoid paying extra child actors?)
Mackenzie Allen is a “soccer mom”.
Sarah Palin is a “hockey mom”.
Mackenzie Allen is an Independent.
Sarah Palin is independent of the Party’s “old boys network”.
Quote Ep 3: Mackenzie: And there's that whole once-a-month, 'Will she or won't she push the button' thing,'
Sarah Palin is known for her tenacity with a fighting streak.
Quote Ep 4: Mackenzie: Oh, what a town. You can't even trust the backstabbers.
Sarah Palin ousted members of her own party and administration; some of the Republican legislature oppose her.
Ep 6: Mackenzie Allen holds a summit with the Russian President as told she can’t dance with him.
Critics say Sarah Palin cannot handle Russia (a no foreign policy experience thing).
Quote Ep 5: Kelly: You're still upset the President gave me the job.
Alex: Upset? Upset, that I, a Harvard graduate, was passed over by someone who, a month ago, thought a "lid" was something you put on lattes.
(A play on Harvard grad Barack Obama being passed over as president?)
Ep 5: Nathan Templeton mentioned the cone of silence.
Pastor Warren jokes of placing Senator McCain under a “cone of silence” during the Saddleback Church debate in August.
Ep. 6: Titled “First Disaster” a hurricane hits Florida.
Hurricane hits New Orleans during the Republican Convention.
Ep 7: A tell-all book is published about Mackenzie Allen.
Sarah Palin’s biography is called “"Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned Alaska's Political Establishment Upside Down"
A Conspiracy Before The Facts (thanks tv.com)
Quote Ep 7: Mackenzie: The Constitution not only empowers me, it requires me to be president. The people elected me to this position. And only the people and their representatives can ask me to step down. I will never apologize for doing my job. If anything, from this point on, I only pledge to do it better.
Sarah Palin is referred as a fighter and maverick.
Quote Ep 7: Templeton: How about this comment from the vice presidential debates. You said, and I quote, "Mackenzie Allen was chosen because Teddy Bridges needed help with soccer moms." Do you stand by that comment?
Warren: I do, sir. And I'm extremely grateful to all those soccer moms that elected her.
The media claims Senator McCain chose Sarah Palin to get the woman/Hilary vote or to get the evangelical vote.
Ep 9: Mackenzie Allen deals with military base closures in her hometown and a death penalty case.
The bases in Alaska are frequently on the military base closure list; Sarah Palin supports the death penalty.
Quote Ep 9: Templeton: Are you telling me that you're going to take the tape out of the safe and make it public?
Mackenzie: I have no intention of using that tape. I could fight fair and win.
(A reference to “Troopergate”, the public safety commissioner case and tape of the Governor’s aide phone call?)
Ep 10 & 11 involve a submarine disaster, USS Seattle, off of North Korea.
Most things come to Alaska thru Seattle and North Korea is close to Alaska.
Quote Ep 14 [Attorney General’s confirmation hearing]: Carl Brantley: Even if we could win, it--it wouldn't end. They'd be all over me. As your Attorney General, anything I do, they'll use against you.
Mackenzie: Welcome to my world.
Sarah Palin is often attacked by legislators.
Ep 16: Mackenzie Allen has a burst appendix with no Vice President so the Speaker of the House takes command.
If Sen McCain is elected, Gov Palin become VP, and if Lt Gov Parnell wins the primary and race for Congress, the AK Attorney General steps in as AK governor.
Ep 17 Trivia: Jim says, "I'm betting this president can handle a bow and arrow."
Sarah Palin is a hunter and NRA member and footage from Kuwait shows her shooting a rifle.
Ep 18 is titled “Unfinished Business”.
Perfect title selection for a conspiracy theorist or some opinions of the prospect of the Governor leaving office.
What about the flood control project , wasn't it an earmark ? If Palin had been president it would have been [VETOED] The tax payers would not have wasted all that money , Thoes poor Fairbanksan could have pulled them selves up by their boot straps THE REPUBLICAN & McCAIN way .
(If you beleive what she says) Could all be B.S.
Dermont . Hang in there , don't waiver , somebody needs to keep the Rush & Shawn listeners straight . If someone doesn't keep them straight , they believe every word that Rush and Shawn utter .
Dermot -
Now that you have taken several days to bash Sarah I am sure you will be balanced and bash Biden and Obama this week, correct?
Instead the DNM will probably run a week long expose on how crummy Sarah is a la the John Hartmann case that was dredged up and thrown in our face - shameful!
We all know you are doing this so you can get quoted nationally - your ego astounds us all -
Sarah is much more qualified for VP than you are for Political Commentary - stick to happenings around town - - - I hear a church down the road is having a bake sale - - that should be right up your alley
Come on, we aren't reading David Brooks when we read Dermont Cole. Who would view him as a political journalist? He write a nice little column on community events in an end of the road community. I don't call that journalism, Auntie Bea in Mayberry, Fairbanks style. Sorry Dermont, stick to what you do best and let Sarah Palin prove what she can do best.
And why wouldn't any thinking Alaskan stand back and go whoa? Federal spending has given a quality of life up here that perhaps Sarah doesn't understand. Her family has been living on BP"s tit for the last 20 years or so. The slow but steady growth that we have experienced the last several years have been entirely due to Ted Stevens the fellow people seem so eager to trash nowadays. I am done here with this comment business for good long time. I don't want to know what you guys think anymore it is a disturbing and depressing path. Good luck to you all.
Guess we know now - Dermot is a liberal Democrat! You are also a big jerk for saying such harsh words about Governor Palin!!!
I have a question...As I recall, one of the scandals involving the "bridge to nowhere" was the issue that the individuals who stood to gain financially from the bridge were the Murkowski family. They are originally from Ketchikan and own lots of property on the island?
Many believed Stevens was pushing it through to directly benefit Senator (Frank) Murkowski.
If so, Sarah Palin was true to her promise to Alaskans by rejecting the project and distancing her administration from these questionable self-dealings. I respect her even more for her courage...regardless of what she said before.
HEY Dermot Are you going to pick up the Mayor at the airport??
MANY OF THE COMMENTS MADE ARE BASELESS PERSONAL ATTACKS ON DERMOT COLE. HAS ANYONE READ THE GUIDELINES FOR POSTING ? THE BITTERNESS AND MEAN SPIRITED PEOPLE STAND OUT. IT WOULD BE BEST IF YOU GUYS SPENT YOUR TIME ON SELF REFLECTION.
I think the votes have been cast and and the winner (loser) is DERMOT COLE!! Seems to me ole buddy, there are more in favor of you writing about anything BUT political news, as it seems you can't without personal bias getting in the way. Palin has the right to political expediency and when she said "no thanks," she meant no thanks to the higher cost of the bridge(s). Didn't mention that in your "column," did you? Nope, seems you want only the "facts" that you like, to be presented as the "facts." By doing so, you give the rest of these liberal-leaning, far-left loons ammunition to say, "hey, he's just presenting the facts, ... blah, blah ..." Seems to me that those few in agreement with your style of presenting the facts need to distinguish between what is true factual reporting and illusions of grandeur with a hidden agenda.
Ya 'know Mr. Cole, I love reading your commentaries, normally,
You have provided insight and a bit of laughter. Sometimes a bit of needed wisdom. And quite often, a line of truth that even a mother could be proud of.
However-- this is one time maybe you should have left your private thoughts private.
Sarah Palin is a wonderful person in her own right and ANYONE who can deal w/ what she does deserves kudos on that alone.
The words you have presented are wrong.
Point blank.
The way and the reasons for her decisions are out there. The people and the legislature would not have sided w/ her otherwise.
Please continue your articals the way you always have and please.....
leave the editorializing to that department.
Peace BAAA
Your column was always my favorite until you wrote about ballot measure 4 and now this... I don't think you're the best source for political reporting.
What shouldn't Alaska get earmarks we pay federal taxes too just like the other states so just because we have money doesn't mean we don't get the money we put into the fed coffers back. Just because Alaska has money and can budget our money where other states can't doesn't mean we should forfeit out fed tax money to other states. That sounds like a Democrat plan of take from the rich give to the states that can't manage there money.
Dermot, thanks for the fact check. Our Governor a political opportunist!
Heaven forbid!
I'm still elated she has been promoted!
Hard to believe that there are so many totaly uninformed people , or are they just ignorant , also they seem to refuse to learn . That is what happens when they listen to Rush & Shawn .
Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! The reflex organisms are stirring against Sarah Palin and those who want no part in a Marxist "MOMMY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT" led by Barack Hussein Obama and his handlers.
Yes there are many uninformed people; Mostly those who despise Freedom, self responsibility and self accountability, and those who also (though their actions) clearly Despise America.
It is a good thing that so many Alaskans are not afflicted by the "Audacity" of Barack Hussein Obama automatons.
Go Shake Up Washington D. C. and the Democrat Party parasites Sarah Palin!!!!! Great work so far!
Barks - Don't you think it's a bit unrealistic and shortsighted to assume that everyone who believes differently than you do is somehow brainwashed by Rush and Hannity? Believe it or not a lot of people with different viewpoints are capable of independent thought and reason.
Why does Dermot Cole become the scapegoat if he points out that our beloved Governor, largely unknown beyond our state, has stretched the truth in a bid to sell herself to America? The issue here isn't that Palin changed her opinion on the Bridge to Nowhere. The issue is that Palin misrepresented her past actions with regards to the Bridge to Nowhere. It's not about flip-flopping; it's about honesty.
Palin is big on accountability; in fact, just a few weeks ago she admonished Alaskans to "hold me accountable". Don't attack Dermot for following her instructions.
Dermot, stick with fairs, fundraisers, school events and the wonderfulness of your children. Save your far left, socialist views for discussions with your Fellow Travelers at the The Karl Marx University of Alaska.
Wow, it looks like maybe the same people that were calling Monegan are now after this guy Dermot Cole. I just do not see how you people think Cole has done something so offensive here by simply pointing out the facts. Thank God he has the guts to report something called "NEWS". Come on people, you don't think the national press is going to hunt all this down anyway...??? National politics is a much nastier game than what you folks might think up there.
Funny how the lower 48 has invaded our comments sections now
'uscitizen' = 3 posts - all anti-palin - - registered on 1 Sep....
too funny....
Don't waste your time
well "akguy", since Palin is now on the national scene it is very much in the lower 48's interest to find out what we can about her. and it ain't looking very good. at first, exciting, but as the glitter settles, it isn't all that.
...and with that i'll gladly step out of your local attacks on some poor guy just stating the facts. sheesh...
bubye....
maybe Dermot can come down there and live with you
uscitizen you sound-like the town idiot that believes whatever he reads. The Dermot here knows nothing other than how to look out for his disgruntled ex-political friends that Palin put the kibosh to. Real guts finally to kill the good ole boys club,good on Palins part. Dermot did you own property on the island where the brigde would have gone? Go back to writing FFA articles something you know about and that is dirt and manure. I know you know I'm FFA but you know nothing about politics.
Someone has to bring these issues to light and I commend Dermot on his articles. And funny how people have to attack those that aren't from Alaska who are simply expressing an opinion. How the claws are really starting to come out against those who question Sarah and her policies. Last time I checked this was America and everyone is entitled to his or her own beliefs.
Dermot - Thank you for giving us the facts using Gov. Palin's own words! As long as it's the facts, keep bringing the information to the readers!
If it's facts we are looking for, here's some I found that raised my eyebrows:
The following senators voted against making English the official language of America :
Biden (D-DE)
Obama (D-IL)
From Jan 07 until Present Senator Obama was listed as "Not Voting" 293 times:
442 Possible votes in 2007
196 Possible votes in 2008
42% of the time Mr. Obama had no vote. From the "Obama Revealed" story on CNN, of those 293 times Mr. Obama was listed as "Present" but had no vote.
This is right from Mr. Obama's website. I want a leader that can actually make a decision other than to "Not Vote". If leaders are sent to DC to make decisions, why wouldn't they make them?
I have no problem with facts - would just prefer to see all the facts instead of one sided. I could do the same for McCain, but I believe Mr. Cole already handled that side.
Correction
"From the "Obama Revealed" story on CNN, of those 293 times Mr. Obama was listed as "Present" but had no vote." should have been;
From the "Obama Revealed" story on CNN, of those 293 times Mr. Obama was listed as "Present but had no vote 127 times.
This guy Dermot is so left-wing he probably goes through two time zones just to make a right-hand turn on the highway. Just let him go down to the lower 48 and see what it's like down there.
When Gov. Palin stated during her news conference that she said "thanks but no thanks" to the so-called "Bridge to Nowhere," it did not seem to have the ring of truth about it. By quoting Gov. Palin on her past comments and news releases about the bridge, Mr. Dermot has performed in the best traditions of good journalism. A good journalist should point out a hypocritical public official when there is evidence of hypocricy. Mr. Dermot should be commended for his column. As to the persons who can not live with the facts, they are the ones who are trying to fool the public.
Mr. Dermot should be pointing out both sides - not just one side. From what I'm reading that's the biggest issue people have. It's the biggest issue I have with this column. What was hypocritical? Do you see a bridge out there? Were the funds put towards other projects that needed to be done in the state? Did the bridge cost go from $40 million to $400 million?
akracefan -
John McCain has missed 407 votes (63.8%) since the start of the current congress in Jan. 2007. We should all agree that Senators campaigning for president miss lots of votes especially when they are the underdog. I still believe McCain has missed an unacceptable number of votes. Almost 2/3 of the time he did not show up to vote. Even during the time Obama was facing a bruising primary with HRC and McCain had clinched his party's nomination, he did not go to work at the job for which the American people pay him. I believe both McCain and Obama should return their salaries.
akracefan:
I think you guys should leave Mr Dermot out of this, and let's concentrate on Mr Cole. Mr Dermot butts in on this blog way too often as it is, and it's just plain none of his business. We shouldn't stand for it anymore!!!
Yup, McCain did miss that much, and I was in error with Obama as I was actually counting them individually. Now that I go research it more, Obama missed 45.5% and Biden missed 30.3%. Agreed that they should pay it back. Even more reason why I like Sarah! As far as I can tell or find, she was actually on the job.
Funny Istrether! Really, good catch and post.
Ok, here's what I meant to cover:
Agreed - both missed too much. Should pay it back but that's another issue.
Concern - If Mr. Obama was present and voted as "Present" 127 times, that concerns me. That tells me (besides all of them missing too much) that he couldn't make a decision. That's really my biggest concern. How can you actually be there and not vote? There may be a reason, but 127 times? I don't understand. If someone does, I'd like to know as I find this interesting. Really - not being sarcastic at all, I'd like to know.
Holy Cow! You praise Dermot when you agree with him or he's handing out conservative platitudes but when he points out the Emperor is naked you grab the torches and pitchforks. Is this the landscape? Our (new) governor is nominated for VP and all of a sudden we can't talk about what's happened in the recent past? Keep calling 'em as you see 'em Dermot, all of Fairbanks is not as rude as the folks on this blog seem so eager to demonstrate. Everyone needs a voice in this, not just those who agree.
Just out of curosity, I'm out of state now but why is Dermot's column still visble and accessable on the front page of the site? Is the editor, the DNM or Demot trying to stir up do-do?
akracefan -
My understanding is that the 127 present votes was during his 8 years as an Illinois senator. From all I have been able to gather, that is standard practice in Illinois but I don't live there and never have so I don't know.
bluestatedem - while you may not have had the answer to the question, thanks for replying and providing what you did know and find out. I really do find this interesting. I'd like to find out as much as I can about both sides as possible, but have found both sides to be good at covering things up.
Dana VanDam - As always, I love reading your posts.
Thanks
Bullethole:
If you had been paying attention you'd know that his column is always "visble" and "accessable" on the front page of the site. That's how the do-do gets done-done when Demot wants to denote something.
Dermot, Is it true you are against women in office? I love reading your articles, but the last two articles about Sarah Palin have been so negative I do not recognize you. Do you have anything positive to say about Palin at all? Are you not excited that your own governor was selected to be a VP running mate, only the second woman in the US ever? Your articles have done a great deal of damage to our governors chance of becoming a VP. Your last two articles make you look desperate. Please change back to the good old Dermot I love and stop this negativity!!! Let's see a positive article about Palin where you bring out all her highlights in her political career! You will gain far more being positive!!
Why don't you show how Obama flip-flops be fair and balance?
Jeez Louise! You people are personally attacking a person who has every right to report what citizens deserve to know about a vice presidential candidate. She didn't say, "At first I was for the bridge, then I was against the bridge," she said, "I told Congress thanks but no thanks," implying that she was never for the bridge, and that she didn't keep the bridge money. She misled the nation about her actions in her first speech, and Dermot called her on it, as any good citizen should do whether or not they work for the DNM.
Regarding the earmarks, Dermot simply pointed out that she has asked for them herself, then acts as if they're some kind of evil thing because McCainiac is on a political campaign against them. All Dermot asked is how her flop-flopping on earmarks will play out politically and you guys jump all over him for pointing out the obvious. Sarah is clearly the earmark hypocrite here, not Dermot, but just pointing it out makes him subject to vicious personal attacks. You people need to take Queen Palin off her pedestal. She's a politician for crimeny sakes, not some kind of sacred cow.
Thanks for alerting us to the truth, Dermot. Keep up the good work. And hey, it's not a crime to be a liberal. Jesus was a liberal too. He helped the poor, loved His enemies, and kicked the capitalists out of His Father's church.
I'm curious, was Palin the person who was making the case to move the state offices and capital from Juneau to Anchorage??
Being from the lower 48 and in Alaska during the summer of 06 I recall the discussion but don't recall who was pushing forward that agenda.
I am amazed that no one, repeat NO ONE has ever sprouted the "cojones" enough to stand up and clarify that the Ketchikan bridge was to the airport.
Few might argue that a bridge is unneccesary if it goes somewhere.
There is a bridge in San Diego, The Coronado Bridge, I am sure it was expensive, but it goes from San Diego to Coronado. There is a navy base there with an airfield, maybe that was the reason, oh but there was already an overland route as well-took you about 20 miles out of your way, but...
Also it might interest everyone that an expensive tunnel is planned to link San Diego to Coronado. I think it might be built, because it will let people from Coronado go to the airport.
There are other bridges there as well, but they dont really go anywhere.
I admit that I am tremendously amused by statements regarding Sarah Palin's lack of experience for the vice-presidency.
Let's take a wee glance, shall we, at just how Mr Obama's vast experience qualifies him for the presidency.
Community organizer, you say?
Gosh, perhaps, compared to governor Palin, senator Obama is OVER-qualified!
Perhaps Obama should stick to voting present.
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