Alaska Governor Snubs the President and the Troops

No, not that governor. The new one.

In what Alaskans hope is not becoming a longstanding tradition, the governor just dissed the President of the United States. No, he didn't accuse him of "pallin' around with terrorists" or criticize him during a speaking engagement in a foreign country. He decided instead to say "thanks but no thanks to those tickets from the White House."

Yesterday, Air Force One arrived on Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage and President Obama touched down for the first time ever on Alaskan soil. The officer who introduced the President said that we were thrilled and grateful to have the President with us. You wouldn't know that by looking at Alaska's chief executive.

Republican Sean Parnell, stepped in to the governor's office after the rogue one up and quit. So where was he during this presidential visit? Parnell's office explained that unfortunately, the Governor had a long-standing commitment to deliver a "major" speech, and he just couldn't get out of it. The event? The Associated General Contractors of Alaska Annual Conference in Anchorage. The conference started on Wednesday, November 11 at 8am will continue through lunch this Saturday afternoon, and concludes with a dinner/dance Saturday night. That's three and a half days.

And the "major" speech that the governor apparently could not reschedule to welcome the President of the United States to Alaska? According to the agenda, that was the "Excellence in Safety Awards Luncheon" at the Captain Cook Hotel. It's sandwiched (pardon the pun) between the "Go From Profit Mystery to Profit Mastery" presentation, and a Department of Transportation Q&A session.

Guess those General Contractors can be pretty brutal about their scheduling requirements of the Governor's office.

For those unfamiliar with the area, according to Mapquest, the Captain Cook Hotel is 2.24 miles from Elmendorf Air Force Base. For travel planning purposes, you can expect the trip to take 6 minutes.

The President met the families of fallen troops, and addressed an enthusiastic military crowd in a filled hangar. Senator Mark Begich (D) was on hand to welcome the President, and spent a good deal of times granting requests for pictures, and showing his appreciation to the men and women in uniform, while Parnell ate lunch less than three miles away.

Behold an Alaska governor who has skewed priorities, poor judgment, bad manners, who thinks people will actually buy the lame excuses for bad behavior, and who embarrasses the citizenry in thinly veiled displays of inappropriate bipartisanship. I wish this felt unusual.

But in this two-for-one display of numbskullery, the new governor not only snubbed the President, he also snubbed the troops that the President took time to honor. Nice work.

 

Follow Jeanne Devon ("AKMuckraker") on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Mudflats

Comments

[skatoolaki]

Absolutely rude and inexcusable.

[lafayette2009]

I never want to hear a Republican talk about respecting the office of the President of the United States again because I have yet to hear one do so in the past 10 months.

They are a disgrace the way they are dealing with this Presidency and I don't think they realize how much they are alienating many people.

Yes, they will probably benefit from a protest vote in 2010 just as the Democrats did in the mid-terms under Reagan when unemployment was at 10.4% but then he was reelected in a landslide.

[megalanzero]

Were Senator Murkowski and Representative Young in attendance? I only watched the intro of the speech where he pointed out Senator Begich.

[Jean AK]

Dermot Cole from the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner called Parnell out yesterday when he didn't show up to greet President Obama.

Bravo, Mr. Cole!

Somewhat to Parnell's credit, he actually did respond to Mr. Cole. However, he said that he didn't attend because he would be just "filling a seat" and the schedule didn't allow for time to interface.

Well, we've all seen the photos -- lots of interfacing. hmmm ...

So, Governor Parnell, when's your next chance to meet the Commander-In-Chief? Alaskans are waiting.

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner:
http://www.newsminer.com

[2008CaliforniaFan]

What Parnell did was BAD for AK Business.... short-sided and Wrong.

Parnell is like the Manager in a Company, representing His State. ( But he wasn't even there to represent)
The President is like the CEO of a Company... in this case the whole US and all those Managers/Governors work under the CEO. For an upper Manager ( Gov.) to refuse and opportunity to get some face-time with the CEO of a Corporation is bad for business and the State suffers.

If there is a problem in the future and Parnell calls on Washington/The President to ask for help.... would or could you even take the Guy seriously...? Not likely. You would of course remember his Management abilities and question His decision making. I certainly wouldn't have confidence in Him and his skills as someone who can make good decisions.
And WHO can bring or direct more jobs and money into the State to help the People of Alaska...?
Some Private Contractors..... or the Federal Government...? This was a no-brainer.

Parnell is the #1 State Executive. He didn't even show up to do his Job. Alaskans suffer in this case.

[mlaiuppa]

The citizens of Alaska can take some solace in the fact that they did not choose Parnell.....Sarah Palin did.

And they'll have the opportunity to choose anyone but Parnell very soon. May they make a wise choice this time.

[justafarmer]

Maybe he plans on quitting and writing a book

[2008CaliforniaFan]

He needs to read...

" How to Win Friends & Influence People" by Dale Carnegie first.
He's obviously clueless.

[TwoSpirits]

Gee where is Parnell going to be when it comes time for annual earmarks? I hope Obama smacks his greedy hands.

[justafarmer]

the contractors!!!!
that's the group that was more important than the President and the troops!

[mlaiuppa]

And we're all aware of how sacred contractors consider commitments.

A contractor would never think of showing up late for a job or rescheduling if something important came up. Once they make a commitment, they tenaciously stick to it no matter what.

And what could Obama possibly do for the state of Alaska? No, it's the contractors that will be there to offer jobs, earmarks and national security to the citizens of Alaska.

[PepperzMom]

Maybe there's something in Governor's office/mansion water supply...

[KayJay90]

It's certainly not the fault of the Governor's Mansion water supply, because Parnell is carrying in the same fine (sarcasm) tradition Palin started, abandoning the state capital, Juneau, in favor of doing state business in Anchorage unless the legislature is in session (January through March). The Alaska Governor's Mansion has stood vacant most of the last 3 years.

Of course, Alaska taxpayers pay for this administrative double-dipping, paying for office space in Anchorage when there's a perfectly good Capitol building in Juneau, and paying for upkeep on a vacant Mansion governors of any other state would be proud to stay in.

[PepperzMom]

"It's certainly not the fault of the Governor's Mansion water supply, because Parnell is carrying in the same fine (sarcasm) tradition Palin started, abandoning the state capital, Juneau, in favor of doing state business in Anchorage unless the legislature is in session (January through March)"

Actually, you just said "yup". Why? The governor's OFFICE is wherever the governor is working, be it Juneau, Anchorage, in the native villages.

Just sayin'....

[NJProgressiveIndie]

...And the dynasty of Palin-ism continues. Are the good people of Alaska EVER going to get a break?

[AKDreamin]

What can we expect from Parnell, wasn't he hand-picked by Ms Smarty Pants Sarah? He was Lt. Governor, and stepped up when "she" quit... the Palin Dynasty continues.

[AKDreamin]

I am an Alaskan and a military family member. Governor Parnell was downright rude not to change his schedule. Not only was it bad etiquette for a Governor on our taxpayer's payroll not to prioritize his obligations and not participate in the President's visit, it was a dishonor to the military which has a strong presence in our state, (much less-America).... It was - in my opinion - very unpatriotic... and simple bad manners!!!

[fedupinfla]

I sure hope he's reminded of his rudeness when it come election time!!!

[cordyc]

Sure hope you can get rid of the governor soon. He seems to have the same lack of common sense as the last one.

[mh11060]

Maybe the new Gov. of Alaska was meeting with the Associated General Contractors of Alaska to discuss how the former Gov. of Alaska did not use their services when she built her house!!

That is the only excuse I will accept.

[Lee323]

PO was privileged to meet Alaska's "Finest" on his stop at Elmendorf AFB .....

"Alaska's Finest?" No wonder Petty Parnell wasn't there.

If the head of state from Japan .... or Mexico .... or Canada had stopped in Alaska, Parnell would have put his underwear on backwards in his haste to grab a photo op with a foreign dignitary. His behavior toward this country's head of state was provincial, partisan, petty .... and unpatriotic.