An Open Letter to Alaskans

Dear Alaska,

It's been a roller coaster of a fall...or should I say Autumn. Maybe it just feels like a fall. We've all been catapulted up to the stars, and now I wonder what the re-entry is going to feel like. Where will we land?

Remember how it used to be? You could get on a plane, lay by a pool, stand in line for a concert...pretty soon you would hear "Wow, really? Alaska? What's that like? Cold?" What I love about being born and raised here is now mocked on national TV. Growing up on a brown bear reserve; catching my first silver on a dolly rod, stranded in rural West Cook Inlet with life threatening appendicitis, and being flown through a raging storm for emergency surgery by a pilot who happened to be a real maverick; learning, first hand, the amazing adverse adventures of the great pioneers of this Great Land, have all mutated into a Jerry Springer meets Northern Exposure episode. Alaska had a mystique that inspired books and movies. It's over, "my friends." Now, all people will want to know is if you read newspapers, eat moose burgers and own a snowmachine. The truth for many of us is "yes." I'm making moose chili for a debate night gathering of my friends on Wednesday night. My mantra has been if you don't Ski-Doo, you Ski-Don't. If you don't live here, you're probably laughing. Our lives have been turned into a punch line. I want to scream, "I didn't vote for her! I read! I travel! I'm not that mean!"

Let's be honest. We have grown fat on pork. I haven't complained. I like bacon. But things on the horizon are looking a bit vegan. Ted Stevens has brought it home in buckets, but it looks like he's going to have a few eyes on him should he make it into the next session. Don Young secured money for a bridge or two to nowhere, and wanted to name one of them after himself. After his Coconut Road fiasco, still being investigated by Congress, I think they are going to make sure he doesn't even get a coconut, much less a road. So where does that get us? John McPalin is looking rather flaccid in the polls. His big display of "Maverickness" is his promise to make America "pork free." Wow, how's that gonna work for Alaska? Other option: O'Bama, O'Berkowitz and O'Begich! How much help do you think the returning Governor Palin is going to get from a Democrat President, House and Senate?

Stop playing tiddlywinks and start playing chess. Where will Alaska stand with an Obama presidency? Where will we stand with a cranky Sarah Palin? After the nastiness of this election, how will those in power take care of Alaska's needs? What do we deserve as Alaskans? Do we have to wait for another 1964 Earthquake to get attention? Or another oil spill? We all know the truth about our Governor's abuse of power. We now know more about the Palins than we ever should know about any of our neighbors. Her reality deficit issues are becoming more apparent by the day. I'm asking you, what should we do?

XO,
Shannyn

PS. If you aren't an Alaskan, it's OK. We need to hear from you.

Comments

[burrs55]

Dear Shannyn,
We all know that one BAD apple does not spoil the whole bunch. I have never had the good fortune to visit Alaska, but it is on my "bucket list" of states to visit in my lifetime......hang in there, this will all be over soon and Sarah will fade into obscurity or possibly a TV sit-com, and we can all roll up our sleeves, make a few sacrifices and get to work to make our country strong and respected in the world once again.

[farseer]

I came to AK just 2 months ago. I am proud of my new state, that a bipartisan committee called Palin on the carpet.

[PDinCA]

California elected Reagan governor, and then voted for him for president. The eastern 47 eventually forgave us, and they still love us (although they may not respect us). We still love ya, Alaska. :)

[Jean AK]

Shannyn, as a fellow Alaskan I couldn't have said it better.
I worry about what my lower-48 relatives think of 'my' governor, and whether they think I voted for her.....then by association, whether I have no sense of ethics either!
Frankly, as far as I'm concerned, Palin's election as governor was worlds apart from the one we're looking at now, and at that time she looked a lot better than she does now. The rest of the country doesn't know who she was campaigning against in that election, and how easy it really was for her. She picked the perfect time to run.
To my fellow Alaskans -- Shannyn's right. We probably should get ready to tighten our belts. And work with our state legislators to make sure this kind of fiasco never happens again.
To my fellow Americans 'down there' -- hey, we're not all that bad. Perhaps we have a bit more of an independent streak (survival instinct, maybe), but on the whole we're pretty much like you. We'd like to live in a country, and a state, that's intelligently and wisely governed. We know there's plenty of work to be done.

[Cookie08]

It's called a RECALL. And while you guys are canvassing to collect signatures on petitions, start writing to your legislators and telling them that you want them to call a special session to IMPEACH the governor. Oh, and IMPEACH that Attorney General as well!

[garcohsf]

Exactly right. Show the rest of the country that you know what to do with a politician who "didn't blink" when she should have, is stirring up racial hatred and can't tell the truth.

[ddemos]

Shannyn,

For the sake of all of us, and brevity...PLEASE just take her back.

[mmiddle]

Do what Barack would do, were he from Alaska instead of Hawaii! Stay cool and remember who you are, and who you are not. Electing Palin was a mistake any state could have made -some of us here in the South are secretly a little relieved to see that kind of uber-awfulness coming from somewhere so far away. The key to Obama that is taking many people a while to "get" is that he's not into revenge, or Clinton-type slights. His thing is empathy and he lives it. Wait and see - you have nothing to fear.

[ladydriver]

The only bad thing that will happen to Alaska with an Obama Administration is that they are going to have to take Palin back. For that, I apologize to every Alaskan, but we just can't have her running around down here. I know that you all understand.

[SlappyOC]

Do not fear Alaska you will be just fine. Most people down here *should realize* (but who knows what we realize and do not realize) that there are different issues in Alaska than there are in the lower 48 and although Palin completely and totally lacks any sort of knowledge or understanding of the nations issues she did seem to *kind of* understand Alaska's needs. Unfortunately she was so self absorbed her actions lacked ethics, professionalism and intelligence. If McCain loses and if she is not asked to step down as governer, she'll be fine and you'll be fine. Obama will not take the route of Troopergate and hold a personal agenda against her and despite what ticket wins it is very likely the country will still want to do some drilling, even it gets us minimal yeild. You hold a lot of value for this country and despite your governers lack of ethics and intellectual curiosity, you as a state of the union and community of 'mavericks' will get through this like you've gotten through everything else.

[TrueIndy08]

u Alaskans need to get rid of Palin... we are making sure she does not rule over us a country... bc first of all, I know about her shady dealings with that secessionist party up there, and I know she does not truly love this country.

Secondly, she abuses her office power to settle family scores.... her sister needs to handle her own nasty breakups.... not have the office of the governor doing it... and why the hell is her husband, someone not elected, handling officials government matters???

Third, she charges you citiens per diem when she staying in her own house... whats up with that???

Finally, this sham of having her house built for free and this sports complex is just scratching the surface, we will learn about this nastiness....

So, Alaskans.... do yourselves a favor.. get rid of this woman... tell her: THANKS BUT NO THANKS!!!!

[MsCanadian]

I second that motion! Get rid of Palin and elect someone decent.

[0whole1]

I advise winking. A lot.

Hey, you never know. It might work.

[shanester]

I loved the Anti Palin rally held last month! It was terrific!! Someof those signs were brilliant!

Are issue is with Palin herself NOT the great people of Alaska!!

[Shannyn Moore - Huffpost Blogger]

Here is a link to the pictures of that rally.

http://shannynmoore.wordpress.com/2008/09/27/alaskans-for-truth-rally-report/

[df26]

Shannyn Moore you have a beautiful Spirit..While politics may or may not interest you..Run for Governor!!!! Please..i and many others would be willing to help anyone defeat this very unbecoming person..Who truly misrepresents the Alaska i know from my own first hand experiences. What real diverse and open minded Alaskans are about..Sadly Sarah and Todd Palin epitomize a new breed of a shadowy contemptuous pro-development element. I have always been proud of what i call my Alaskadenity..
(new word)..The Palins are toxic and radioactive with ambition, arrogance, pomposity self righteousness and a new truly low level of stupidity..I lived in Alaska for 17 years and still have many family members that reside there..I have covered the prior administrations of many former Governors..Dating back to the Hickels until I left in 1987..Never before have i seen such a total and complete lack of class, competence or statesmanship as displayed by these two..Alaska should be in mourning until the Governors Mansion is exterminated and the foul era of the Palins are no longer a memory..I think i should stop now before i really get ticked off!!

[ckt]

Sorry to say, but Alaska voted her in, thereby laying the foundation for this scourge that is now traveling the coutryside in the guise of a politician. She needs to go back to Alaska for you to deal with as you see fit, but there is no way that she should reap rewards for the divisiveness and wounds that she has inflicted on this country. As a state, Alaska doesn't deserve her and as a nation, the country does not deserve her. You have to vote your conscience so do what you can live with.

[tellusthetruth]

Shannyn,
I love you and your writings, speeches, etc...You are Alaska's witty intelligent writer who gives us something to smile about no matter how grim.
The answer is, I believe, we need to start practicing what we preach and support ourselves and our needs, especially in our bush communities. Getting funding is great, but not at the expense of being greedy and corrupt. We have lots of room to stop waste and redirect funding to where it is needed. Alaskans, myself included, enjoy paying no state taxes and reaping the benefits of the permanent fund. However, I know the cost of that is facing a volunteer ambulance driver if in a car accident on many miles of our roads and then being treated by an overpaid, overconfident Physicians Assistant. We also pay inflated costs for almost everything from fuel to milk to bread to dental care. We Alaskans have made the choice of what is important and until we decide to fund our concerns ourselves, we will continue to under educate our youth,look the other way as many in our villages live as if in a third world country, require travel to the lower 48 for adequate health care and provide no answers to the outrageous costs of heating our homes. I love this state, but I do not love the choices we have made.

[Lonestarmom]

I hope you get her back in November and then deal with the mess she has left in your state! I live in Texas and believe me I would be happy to send George Bush to Alaska to retire! I have been ashamed he is from Texas since he was elected...I don't wish that embarrassment on you with a McCain/Palin election. I will be voting for Obama and hoping for an upset in Texas that will open some eyes...I know I am an optimist but we are working hard here to support Senator Obama! Good luck in Alaska and please keep her home in Alaska in the future!

[sowhatdemos]

If you don't like us in the lower 40 or so, you can go back to Russia. BTY, I feel the same way about Texas...