Setting The Record: Palin's Earmarks

CBS Evening News: Reality Checking The Alaska Governor's "Bridge To Nowhere" Claims

(CBS)  Its one of those claims that gets so much applause.

"I told Congress 'thanks but no thanks,' to that bridge to nowhere," Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has said over and over on the campaign trail, CBS News correspondent Wyatt Andrews reports.

Palin just won't let it go. But the truth is the governor never rebuffed Congress. Here are the facts.

After a year of supporting the proposed bridge, near Ketchikan, Palin pulled state funds from the project, which killed the bridge for good, but she never said "no thanks" to the Federal funds promised by Congress - $233 million.

In fact, here's the list of how Palin is spending those federal tax dollars - on other highway projects around Alaska. As a candidate for governor, she defended every dollar for roads and bridges the state could wrangle from Washington, according to the Congressional Record and the Alaska Department of Transportation.

"I'm not going to stand in the way of progress that our Congressional delegation in the position of strength that they have right now, they are making those efforts for the state of Alaska," Palin said.

Now however, Palin is on a Republican ticket that's promising to reform all earmark spending - all of those federal grants aimed at specific local projects.

And McCain's credibility here is excellent.

"My friends, I have never asked for nor received a single earmark pork-barrel project for my state of Arizona," McCain said.

Palin's record on earmarks is mixed. Compared to the previous governor, Palin's earmarks are down 44 percent, but stills totals more than $450 million over two years.

By repeating the claim she said no thanks to the bridge, the implication is that she confronted a spendthrift Congress recklessly wasting money.

The record shows she wanted that bridge until the end and kept the money.

[bennyblack1]

Oh and by the way, she said she turned down the earmark spending for the BRIDGE. So, if she kept the money, she spent it on something other than a money pit.

[bennyblack1]

And she probably kept the money and used it for better outcomes. I wonder what the record would show if it was investigated. If she kept it, then what, exactly, did she use it for if not for the bridge? I''m rather hoping it was for things such as National Guard, Education, Community Help Programs, Wildlife Reserve Maintenance, or perhaps to build that oil rig to produce jobs and a source of energy that we don''t have to import. No matter what anyone says here, it hasn''t been investigated. So, unless you''re on the news or in the administration handling the funds...YER DISQUALIFIED!!!! hehehehe

[p_davenport]

Ok you folks need to use your own minds if possible. This article addresses Alaska''s elected officers & their budgets & their timelines of actions as elected officals. Go use the State of Alaska''s web page follow the date of the bridge to no where & get the truth. I hope you don''t vote by blogs or "news" but by facts. Personally look up Sarah''s Governor record online. Look up the Governor before her also to all the facts. First hand knowledge is the logical way to go. One more thing look up military in Alaska.
From Fairbanks,Alaska, Ft.Wainwright

[p_davenport]

Sarah was not the Governor at the time of requesting the funds. Sarah was voted in after the funds was given. She supported our prior Governor''s request for it. When she came in office she looked at roads across Alaska & chose to benefit most citizens with that money by using it wisely for Alaska. First one must understand we have limited roads that aren''t dirt or gravel; so her chioce was to use it to the fullest benefit. No Governor gives road money back, as a Governor it is their position to improve their states citizens. One also has to remember Alaska has only been a state a lil over 50 years, we are way under developed because of lack of roads. One more vital info that bridge to no where allowed access to our former Governor''s & family''s & businesses property.
The same former Governor who brought the jet she sold & the Governor who requested the bridge to no where money......Don''t blame Sarah for him.....

[aljack3]

Does the Reality Check page ever bother to check on Obama? Seems like the McCain can''t send an email is ripe for the checking.

[kwvaughn1]

"HUSSEIN plans to GUT the MILITARY if he becomes PRESIDENT,,,"

Posted by trrrorislamj at 12:51 AM : Sep 12, 2008



I''m still trying to figure out where you''re getting this. I tried your link and it gave me the old "404 file not found" message. It''s almost like it doesn''t even exist.

[kwvaughn1]

"New evidence has emerged that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama was closely associated as early as age 25 to a key adviser to a Saudi billionaire."
Posted by trrrorislamj at 12:51 AM : Sep 12, 2008


Is it really wise for repubs to point out who has ties to Saudi billionaires? (Don''t look behind you...Bush is right there.)

[vsg4]

he will basically disban our military and hault all new weapons programs,,,

and leave the usa defenseless to our enemies,,,

Posted by trrrorislamj at 12:51 AM : Sep 12, 2008

Bring him on. Let us see what worse can happen than 4100 dead brave soldiers, 4000 + disabled brave soldiers, 650,000 dead Iraqis & end less war to be dumped on next administration and record national debt, budget deficits.

[vsg4]

(she flip flops and misrepresents her stand about the Alaskan bridge to nowhere)......

Posted by kopana at 11:02 PM : Sep 11, 2008

I thought McCain opposed tax cuts to top 0.1% of the people when Prez. cut taxes and now he wants to make them permanent. Her change of mind suits hers too.

[kopana]

Can''t American do better than this....

For McCain desperately looking for a woman running mate..so he can say he is for change.... how.... when he votes 90% of time for Bush that he picks a women who is anti-women,(she has been well documented to be anti-pro-choice even in cases of rape and incest) anti science, ( she wants to teach creationism in the public schools isn''t that against the u.s. constitution of separation of church and state????? anti-environment, ) she wants to drill for oil on the north slope where the endangered polar bear are and she is suing the bush department of intereior for listing the polar bear in the first place...what a friend to animals..what does PETA have to say about this???) anti-truth, (she flip flops and misrepresents her stand about the Alaskan bridge to nowhere)......

[eroosevelt08]

Women who vote for female candidates just because they are female are idiots. Sarah Palin is no Hillary Clinton.

[splainin2do]

Governor Palin''s state has requested earmarks to study the genetics of seals and the mating habits of crabs. I guess they will read the reports while they ride the ferry over to the island where the bridge to nowhere was slated to go.

[actornaught]

Posted by Publius77 at 12:51 PM : Sep 11, 2008

You''ve been listening to too many hate-comedians.

Even tho'' only teaching practically part-time, due to BO being a state senator, "Douglas Baird, then chair of the law school''s faculty appointments committee, convinced Obama to take a two-year post as a law and government fellow, promising him an office and time to work on his first Book."

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1835238-2,00.html

[hhcainrk]

Have you heard ABC had to submit their questions 48 hours in advance to get the interview with Gov Palin?

[funobama]

Posted by mabourn at 12:58 PM : Sep 11, 2008

Hey Mabourn, I jist bet you was the little geek who always donned the hall *** sash??

ROTFLMGTBO!!!

[funobama]

Posted by mabourn at 12:58 PM : Sep 11, 2008

Hey Mabourn, I jist bet you was the little geek who always donned the hall *** sash??

ROTFLMGTBO!!!

[mabourn]

The paragraph below was taken from the CBS "Rules of Engagement" for posting comments. My thought is that we should be hitting the little "Report Abuse" link for for those who engage in profanity and abusive language. (On Both sides)

Here''''s the plain English: no libel, slander, no lying, no fabricating, no swearing at all, no words that teenagers use a lot that some people think aren''''t swearing but we do, no insulting groups or individuals, no ethnic slurs and/or epithets, no religious bigotry, no threats of any kind, no bathroom humor, no comparing anyone to Hitler, Stalin or Pol Pot. We expect heated, robust debate, but comments should be polite and civil. We consider this to be public space so behave and write accordingly.

[publius77]

last post for the day and a question for actornaught:

Can you cite one publication or work of scholarship to support your claim that Obama was "an admired and accomplished academian [sic]"?

How about some actual detail about or concrete results from Obama''s "community work"?

Over and out...

[funobama]

Sarah Palin is as qualified as Obama to lead this nation.If I had to trust someone to cover my back.I would pick Palin.
Posted by mr2258

Palin''''s stint as mayor did NOT have the governmental experience of Obama''''s community work, she took 6 years & 6 schools to get one journalism degree, and she isn''''t even the "beauty queen" some think she is, she''''s a loser. Obama was an admired and accomplished academian, while simultaneously working in the state senate.

Palin doesn''''t have the smarts or experience to begin to keep up with Obama. I know how much the ''''cons despise people that aren''''t idiots, but what can you do when you''''ve bought into being anti-education.
Posted by actornaught at 12:46 PM : Sep 11, 2008
========================

Translation....Keep the little lady, barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen and let the men handle the real work.

Or, in actor boys case, I suspect he simply hates females in general.

He prefer short men with flat enough head to set his glass of FumeBlanc on.

ROTFLMGTBO!!

[actornaught]

Sarah Palin is as qualified as Obama to lead this nation.If I had to trust someone to cover my back.I would pick Palin.
Posted by mr2258

Palin''s stint as mayor did NOT have the governmental experience of Obama''s community work, she took 6 years & 6 schools to get one journalism degree, and she isn''t even the "beauty queen" some think she is, she''s a loser. Obama was an admired and accomplished academian, while simultaneously working in the state senate.

Palin doesn''t have the smarts or experience to begin to keep up with Obama. I know how much the ''cons despise people that aren''t idiots, but what can you do when you''ve bought into being anti-education.