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Governor Sarah Palin Has What It Takes To Be The Next Dick Cheney
With Sen. McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his vice-presidential running mate, the Huffington Post is re-featuring Chris Kelly's May 2008 piece on the Alaska Governor
Sarah Palin keeps showing up on short lists of John McCain vice presidents. She doesn't have a weird thing growing on the side of her head, so she brings that to the ticket as balance. She also has a few other obvious things going for her:
She's the Governor of Alaska.
(A state that's 22 years younger than John McCain. Shows he can adjust to new things.)
She's a lady.
(Take that, Hillary. Or Obama, for slighting Hillary.)
She's what they call Nice Looking for a Politician.
(Don't look at me like that. I didn't say it. For one thing, Nice Looking for a Politician is what they say about anyone prettier than Haley Barbour. For another, I think Sarah Palin looks like an anchorwoman on a newscast no one wants to watch. And even if she didn't, I'm not shallow like that. I vote for the candidate with the most flag pins.)
Over the weekend, the Anchorage Daily News discovered a whole new reason Governor Palin is the perfect person to be the next Dick Cheney:
She can look you in eye and tell you black is white.
Especially when there's oil involved.
Back in January, the secretary of the interior was considering whether or not polar bears should be on the endangered species list. There were strong feelings on both sides of the issue. Childish romantics, who think there should be more bio-diversity on Earth than cows and us, wanted them listed. Grown-ups (and oil company lobbyists) argued that the answers are never that simple. But what about the scientists? Governor Palin wrote an op-ed for the New York Times that said:
"I strongly believe that adding them [polar bears that is, not scientists] to the list is the wrong move at this time. My decision is based on a comprehensive review by state wildlife officials of scientific information from a broad range of climate, ice and polar bear experts."
The polar bears weren't drowning. They were hanging themselves in their cells.
So that was that. Scientists said so.
Except they didn't.
The Feds -- who eventually did add the bears to the list -- based their decision on models that showed all of Alaska's polar bears dead by 2050. The ice they hunt and mate on is melting and they'll fall in the water and drown.
There were too many "ifs" to this theory for Governor Palin. (Does ice really melt when it gets warm? Is ice really water? It doesn't look like water.) She had to have her own people check it out. So she sent the Feds' reports to three marine biologists, including Robert Small, head of the marine mammals program for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
Small wrote back:
"Overall, we believe that the methods and analytical approaches used to examine the currently available information supports the primary conclusions and inferences stated in these 9 reports."
In other words, the Feds are right. The email is dated October 9, 2007. Palin's op ed, where she says they said the Feds were wrong, was published January 5th, 2008.
But was Palin lying? Not technically. Look at what she wrote again. She only says her decision is "based on a comprehensive review of wildlife experts." She doesn't say it's based on agreeing with anything they said. That's you, jumping to conclusions.
It's like later, in the same op ed, where she repeats talk radio's favorite polar bear fact:
"Polar bears are more numerous now than they were 40 years ago."
The implication is that their habitat is stable and climate change is something Al Gore made up because he's lonely. But it's only an implication. Why else would their population increase? I mean, we also stopped hunting them in 1973, and that's... let's see... 08 minus 73... carry the 5... round up... about 40 years ago. Not shooting them -- that might be part of the explanation. But I'm sure there's more.
All I know is, there are lots of polar bears and no scientific reason at all to believe they can't live happily, underwater, eating clean coal. Let's get drilling!
It's almost like Republicans say ridiculous twisted half-truths, and the New York Times publishes them as facts.
Makes you wonder if they'd lie about a war.
--
Gov. Palin loves to say that drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will affect "a small footprint... about 2,000 acres, which is smaller than the size of LAX." This is an adorable sound bite, but when I go to LAX, I take a road. Presumably, to get the trucks to the drills, they'd also need to build those, too.
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sarah palin will likely be the next vice president, and all the obamaites that bashed hillary will be to thank. the millions of women voters, sad and bitter that their candidate was robbed by the obama-insurgency, will find sarah the perfect person to satisfy their bitterness. hillary's gals become sarah's, and with them the presidency goes to mccain easily.
I personally know several women who love polar bears and cry when they see them dying, starving, drowning, etc. But none of them believe we are affecting the climate. I have to scratch my head in bewilderment when dealing with people like this. It's almost as bad as blue collar workers who continue to vote for the same people responsible for the loss of their jobs. They just don't get it, and probably never will.
I've just had a revelation.
So, if fossil fuels is made from dead stuff, and we are running out of fossil fuels, we are obviously runing out of dead stuff.
Therefore, if we kill a lot of people or living things we'll get more fossil fuels. Also, if we kill the polar bears, not only do we get more fuel later, but we also won't have to worry about this whole endangered business. This is partially why I like Mac (I unfortunately have the same name as he does). He realizes that if there is a problem...kill it.
Well, I went off on a bit of a rant didn't I?
I can't tell if you're kidding or not, but by the time today's dead stuff becomes oil, humans will be among the dead stuff. But then we won't have to worry about it, so who cares, right?
She can be the next puppeteer for the new Mcbush . Cheney was "W"s string puller. Being a Veteran i can't understand Mcbush wanting to limit benefits to Vets. He got his! We need a direction that don't involve downward.
She's a jerk and a dbag. What did you expect from that state, and what would you expect McCain to want?
She won't get the nod, though. Too stupid
We are in a crisis.
The Middle East is past it's Hubert curve in oil supply.
Sen Chuck Schumer said it'll take ten years to get any oil out of Alaska.
Watch: "A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crisis". Google it.
I'm sorry, but us Democrats HAVE to start drilling here.
I say, go to Africa, pay huge countries of African tribes money---make them rich, to drill there.
Hurry and start incentives for alternative energy.
The planet is running out of oil. And this is just the beginning of our troubles.
Let's remember that we Americans comprise less than 5% of the world's population and currently consume greater than 25% of the world's petroleum. {We use a whole bunch of that petroleum to wage our wars.] But don't you think we should save just a drop or two of oil for us in the future? We're going to want that oil more in the years ahead than we do right now.
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This of course is a ridiculous comment. American oil consumption has been essentially flat at about 570 million barrels per year for 21 years, even though the population of the United States has grown to 330 miion (double the population when Kennedy took office).
America is the largest industrialized nation with the greatest infra-structure. One can suggest we de-industrialize and give up a $14 tillion GDP (that's $14,000 billion), live in grass houses and contemplate out toes. Industrial societies require an energy base. To simplify the situation is to reduce an interesting discussion to less than useful terms.
There is reality and there is silliness.. Giant oil fields hhave and continue to be discovered (brazil is the new giant kid on the block). There is no real oil shortage; production is controlled by very large government monopolies that comprise OPEC--80% of the world's production is government controlled.
North America has between 800 billion and 1 trillion (1000 billion barrels) of oil in tar sands and oil shales virtually unused. At a use of 600 million barrels/year, that'sabout 1000 years of oil in tar sands and oil shales.
The Chinese are building platforms off of Florida by virtue of permits issued by the Cubans; American companies cannot drill. The total drill footprint for ANWR would be a football field somewhere in the state of Connecticut. There is likely oil off the east Coast, where American companies cannot drill; the West Coast, where American companies cannot drill, the western Gulf, where American companies cannot drill (but the Chinese can), and new sareas of the Western Interior.
Hahaha, yeah that's about right. I wonder if she realizes she sold her soul for politics?
This is delightfully witty writing. Thanks, Chris,
Next time you fill your car or complain about our dependancy on Middle East oil, think about all that the areas in Us which are off limits to exploration because bleeding heart liberals found a rat or a bird which may die out... I guess to them human lives are less important...
Relax Neo...you know darned well that digging for oil in the ANWR region is not going to produce much oil and that will go somewhere else..oh in maybe 15 years and 2) it will not bring down the exhorbitant prices being paid today for gasoline. Obviously in your new state of being a neo con..you have bought into the lies they spew. Scientists be damned, right? I pity you. You are a self indotrinated "victim" no doubt.
correct, it was (and still is) the boneheaded policies of the Libs in Washington and in all the state government that started this ball rolling in Carter's day.
So what is your plan to fix this?
The USA cannot remain a global power without plentiful energy. What do you suggest as a solution to this?
ProudNeoCon: Smart people (non neocons's) have stopped trying to have an intelligent conversation you with you trolls. Now, we just ROFLOAO when you spew your stupidity on these web sites. Actually it is good to laugh, so please keep it up. You republican’s can never get your "facts" right and you "lie like rugs". That is why the rest of the world is disgusted with Americans. By the way, you might want to get Scott McClellan's new book (you can purchase it at Amazon.com) where he details the pathetic liar that GW Bush is. There will be many more such books in the coming months as you "proudneocons" try to clear your conscience.
Like always, you never answer the points made in the post. you name call and think 'TROLL' is a snipe. Answer the points if you can. But I guarantee you are complaining about the price of gas too. What is you alternative for an energy source replacement?
Funny... I seem to remember the Oil Companies Own statistics showing that the ENTIRE
ANWAR deposit amount to LESS THAN A YEAR'S SUPPLY, at our CURRENT use rates.
So, all you neo-nuts are just peachy with Destroying what's left of Alaska's ecosystem
for a 1-YEAR margin ???
You guys are REALLY fucked in your heads... in the worst possible, penny-wise, pound-
foolish mode.
Who said I am talking only about ANWAR. What about ofshore drilling? The biggest discoveries in the last decade came ofshore. US does not permit even exploration in many of ofshore areas.
What about the fact that liberals killed nuclear energy in this country with no plants being constracted for decades. Same with refineries.
If ANWR was used to supply about 5% of the US oil consumption it would last from 12-32 years based on 1998 USGS sutdy. In addition, the study states the oil deposits could replace all US consumption for 7 months up to 2 years and 2.3 months.
Secondly, the idea that we get all of our oil from the Middle East is just wrong. The top supplier of foreign oil to the US is Canada. 4 out of the top 5 are not from the Middle East. They include Mexico, Nigeria and Venezuela. Saudi Arabia is number 2.
Lastly, have you ever been to Alaska? I find it curious that the majority of people who support not drilling there, have never lived there or even visited the state. The state's ecosytem is perfectly fine and the implication that it is falling apart is based on zero evidence. I lived in Alaska for 5 years and just recently moved. It is the cleanest state I have ever lived in and would love to go back if the right job opportunity exists. ANWR is in the middle of nowhere and would have no impact on the state whatsoever, except providing high paying jobs to locals and other Alaskans.
Like all GOP politicians, Gov. Palin is amoral and utterly lacking in ethics. She will lie by omission or distort any facts to get some more money into Alaska's coffers. How will she get richer if she can't attract oil companies that will bribe her to help them? Well, bribe is a harsh term so we can call it donations to her campaign funds as well some nice trips to a few warm, expensive resorts to discuss the alarming growth of the polar bear population.
"Well, bribe is a harsh term"
Too bad. It's an accurate one.
When oil runs out, we can always find another energy source to power our lives. But when a species disappears, that's it. It isn't coming back.
For God's sake, can't we do anything for moral reasons anymore? Does everything have to be justified by economic self-interest? The fact is that we are doomed. We are one of the most poorly evolved species on the planet. We have evolved beyond the point where nature can provide for our needs, and we are forced to develop ever more complex, ever more wasteful systems to sustain ourselves. The dinosaurs ruled this planet for some 200 million years. Our species has been here for only a quarter of a million years, and we have already developed the technology to wipe ourselves out in one fell swoop.
My main point is, if we're too arrogant to save ourselves, can we at least agree not to drag down the other species with us?
Drilling in Alaska is not going to Kill the Bears (or anything else). Remember it is global warming?
If you look at ANYTHING in nature, and be honest about what you see, you will see you did not 'evolve' but were designed.
I can leave a pile of chevrolete parts on the ground for a billion years, and it will never become a chevrolete. If something as simple as a car needs to be designed, then how much more is a designer needed for an eye or skin, or fur, get it?
So what you are saying is you were designed - by GOD apparently. In my Bible, God gave you stewardship over the land. That is a big word, stewardship. It means you are responsible for the earth you live on and that you were entrusted to care for all its creatures, great and small. I have heard it said that you should be more concerned with people than a plant or a bug or an animal or a bird. Even kids know about the food chain. There is a cycle and if something in that cycle is extinguished; it affects all the other things in the cycle. You might not think polar bears mean much in the scheme of things - but they are one of the top predators. If they die out then the prey they eat will overpopulate. Many people depend also on this prey. The prey will become sick because they have to control the herds some other way and death is a good controller. With the animals sick, what will the humans eat? Don't say plants, because something else depended on ithem and on and on.
It is true that cheverolet parts will not put themselves together....it is also true that the human species carries its own seeds of destruction - no matter how wonderfully designed we are.
So, Jerry, you are not only a neocon troll but also a creationist. A little education would do you worlds of good. I suggest, in response to the creationist nonsense you are spouting, you do some reading. 'The Blind Watchmaker' would be an excellent place to start.
> My main point is, if we're too arrogant to save ourselves, can we at least agree not to drag down the other species with us?
The most likely way to save the other species is to become convinced that doing right by them is actually doing right by our own species. After all, we are rather a self-absorbed species.
Great point... and we should take ANY "Cost-Effectiveness" study that includes business
bottom-lines, but DIS-includes environmental concerns in the trash can they belong.
Who cares who McCain's running mate is? He's a loser, big time.
And she can go back to Alaska and count her slimy, black oil dollars.
I suppose you would rather her count the immoral income tax dollars instead, like every other governor (excluding some states who have no income tax)?
The state of Alaska supports all of its budget with the natural resources (oil, eventually natrual gas) that are so abundant. This is a hell of a lot less immoral than forcing people to pay for government with the income tax. In additiion, the state compensate the people every year with a PFD check for the usage of the natural resources.
Ahhh, Sarah Palin- exemplifying the attitude in my home state (which I left, thank god), where I truly learned to despise Republicans and everything they stand for, as well as lazy, complicit moderate democrats and their pathetic cowardice. You can have your Last Frontier, but in your hands it won't last much longer.
Where are you referring too? The entire state is mostly untouched by man. There is less road mileage in Alaska than the state of Rhode Island. This statement is absurd and demonstrates that you clearly dislike the governor and nothing more.
She can look you in eye and tell you black is white"
In other words, she's a shameless liar.
As a liberal Democrat living in Alaska, I feel the need to stick up for Gov. Palin. There is no statewide elected official in this state who doesn't support opening ANWR and who isn't opposed to the polar bear designation. That's the nature of political life up here. While it may be true that Palin is a consummate truthy politician, that doesn't make her a Cheney-esque liar. Seriously, you should see the guy she replaced.
Currently, our sole representative (Don Young) and our senior senator (Ted Stevens) are both under investigation by the FBI for corruption. Our junior senator (Lisa Murkowski) got her seat when her daddy (then Gov. Frank Murkowski) gave it to her. Within that paradigm, Palin has been a breath of fresh air. She's not a crooked crony and that's just very unusual in Alaska. Plus, the far right wing up here hate her. With enemies like that...well, let's just say she can currently count on my vote next time around---for governor, NOT for VP.
Isn't there some way we could just rescind the statehood of this piece of frozen tundra full of selfish and hostile goons? Even the fake-romantic tv shows about Alaska's wonderfulness were filmed somewhere else anyhow.
Well for gawd's sakes...drilling for oil is all the money that filters in that is supposed to be shared with the Native Alaskans. Might I ask just how much of the take did they get. Senator Stevens is one of the most despised senators in Congess..and Palin might be a breath of fresh air..but but considering those around her..the devil would be a breath of fresh air. You can't depend on oil to make your way, Alaska. You do raise a good argument tho, but how did all of these corrupt members of the Congress keep getting re-elected...says something about the voters of Alaska, doncha think?
Sarah Palin is going to become more popular as gasoline hits the five buck or more a gallon mark. Alaska drilling is going to gain in popularity. The elk are going down. She is photogenic, athletic, and an ex beauty queen. And anyone naming her kids after her mushing team can't be all bad. 5 kids, Track (in the military), Bristol, Willow, Piper and the newly born Trig, a Downs Syndrome child. Palin probably won't be on the ticket this year. Inexperience and a special needs child probably will keep her occupied. For awhile anyway.
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