Palin Faces Challenges Back In Alaska

McCain's Running Mate Returns Home To Tackle State Budget, Natural Gas Pipeline And Fallout From Troopergate

(AP)  Gov. Sarah Palin, heralded by some conservatives as the future of the Republican Party, faces some cold political realities in present-day Alaska.

Within days of the McCain-Palin ticket's defeat earlier this month, the unsuccessful GOP vice presidential nominee capped her tumultuous two months on the campaign trail with a whirlwind series of national media interviews and a headline-grabbing appearance at the Republican Governors Association meeting in Florida.

Now it's back to her day job at the state capital in Juneau.

Palin's state budget proposal is due in a month, with plummeting oil prices slashing Alaska's revenues by billions of dollars.

The 1,700-mile natural gas pipeline she bragged about on the campaign trail - "We began a nearly $40 billion-dollar natural gas pipeline to help lead America to energy independence," she said at the Republican National Convention - is nowhere near being built.

Some hard feelings linger over her administration's initial decision to ignore subpoenas in the investigation of whether she abused her power in firing the public safety commissioner who wouldn't oust her ex-brother-in-law from his job as a state trooper.

"The main focus is going to be on the gas line and on the long-term financial issues," said Democratic state Sen. Bill Wielechowski. "You're going to see really a clampdown on government services."

Uncertain is whether the bipartisanship that existed during Palin's 20 months as governor can survive the heated rhetoric from the presidential campaign and her own political ambitions, with the 44-year-old clearly signaling that she's open to a bid for president in 2012.

The difficult task at hand "provides the governor with a great opportunity to roll up her sleeves and get back to her job," said Kenneth Khachigian, a former adviser to President Ronald Reagan. "She's got four or five election cycles ahead of her where she can do things. She doesn't have to comment on 2012 or 2016. Being a good governor is the best thing she can do right now."

Among the challenges she faces:

THE BUDGET:

Alaska has no income or sales tax, and a huge chunk of its annual revenue - as much as 90 percent - comes from taxes and fees on oil companies. When oil prices soar, as they did this summer, so do the state's coffers: Alaska in the past two years has socked away billions in its already massive savings account.

But that account, the $28 billion Alaska Permanent Fund, sends every Alaskan a dividend each year - this year it was $2,069. So tapping its income to pay for government is considered political suicide, and falling oil prices can put big pressure on state spending.

The governor's chief economist is working on a new revenue forecast, and many lawmakers expect the state to drastically reduce spending on such things as road projects.

THE PIPELINE:

With overwhelming support from Democrats, Palin awarded a license to TransCanada in August to pursue building a pipeline that would carry natural gas from Alaska's North Slope to an existing pipeline network in Alberta.

Although the state granted TransCanada $500 million to plan the pipeline, there's no guarantee it will be built. TransCanada says it won't get financing for the massive project until it has guarantees from oil companies to ship the gas through the pipeline; the oil companies say they won't give such guarantees unless Alaska sets a fixed tax rate on production of the gas, and Palin says she won't approve the rates the oil companies want.

Solving that problem will require not only cooperation from the Legislature, but probably from the oil companies Palin has battled. And her claim to being a national leader on energy issues depends on it.

TROOPERGATE AND THE CAMPAIGN:

The episode - and the media spotlight that resulted from Palin's vice presidential nomination - drew attention to practices that simply can't be ignored.

Palin's administration routinely used private e-mail accounts for state business, circumventing public disclosure laws. "We will undoubtedly address that in some form of legislation," said Democratic Sen. Hollis French, who oversaw the Troopergate investigation.

Lawmakers also said they could hold hearings on, and possibly restrict, Palin's practice of charging the state for her children's travel and taking per diem payments for nights spent in her Wasilla home.

Democratic Rep. Les Gara has - without luck - asked the Alaska State Troopers and the Palin's appointed attorney general to investigate whether the McCain-Palin campaign urged anyone to ignore their subpoenas. Under state law, to "induce a witness to be absent" from an official proceeding to which they've been summoned is second-degree witness tampering.

But even Gara, an outspoken critic of Palin, said he doesn't want such matters preoccupying the government.

"There are much more important things in this state than rehashing Troopergate," Gara said. "We all have to sit down and let bygones be bygones, but it's going to take some conversations."

[jclark7613]

I hope that trashy women get exactly what she deserves. She should have to answer to the courts for all of her shady dealing.

[babooph]

Her main "challenge" is trying to fool her Alaska voters ,now that most see the emperor ripped off the clohes.

[freckster]

She''s smitten by the spotlight now. She''s going to keep her face in front of the camera whether she''s on her book tour or doing a talk show. Her ego is so obviously huge.

[Gary Kempf]

Palin Faces Challenges Back In Alaska, Is her total ignorance one of them????

[stevex47]

She really needs to have a wardrobe malfunction soon to stay in the spotlight. That or do a Playboy spread.

[jsainwi]

I''d like to know, how come only Alaskans get to share in the oil revenues. Isn''t that USA oil and shouldn''t it be shared by all of us Americans, real or otherwise?

[midvale3]

I''''d like to know, how come only Alaskans get to share in the oil revenues. Isn''''t that USA oil and shouldn''''t it be shared by all of us Americans, real or otherwise?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by JSAinWI at 11:21 AM : Nov 18, 2008

Great question, my thought exactly. Doesn''t the revenue from leased land in the lower 48 go to the fed''s?

[rjs1955]

Hey,

Remember Katherine Harris from Florida and her short-lived time in the House of Reps after her role in the 200 election in Florida? Palin will be like her, and just like the folks in Florida got fed up with Katherine and her fako looks, so will they be fed up with Sarah....

[notopennshut]

Now that their governor has been shown up to be such a dungu, I wonder what are Alaskans thinking? Would they return her to the governorship? Or seeing her in her true ignorant form will be cause to look somewhere else? Seems like she is totally unfit for any public office, except for those who know no better.

[dburfears]

Palin is a lightweight. She will cling to the Governor''s Office in Alaska and slowly fade away.

The evangelical fanatics that are 40% of the GOP will attempt to bring her back in 2012, but the American PEOPLE will just say "thanks but no thanks".

[solarrays247-2009]

I''''''''d like to know, how come only Alaskans get to share in the oil revenues. Isn''''''''t that USA oil and shouldn''''''''t it be shared by all of us Americans, real or otherwise?
Posted by JSAinWI at 11:21 AM : Nov 18, 2008


Great question, my thought exactly. Doesn''''t the revenue from leased land in the lower 48 go to the fed''''s?
Posted by midvale3 at 11:34 AM : Nov 18, 2008


Great question!!!

[north1949]

The only people that really come out ahead with the "pipeline to nowhere" are those that own stock in TransCanada. This company will pocket the $500 million whether or not they build the pipeline. They still have to jump through all the Canadian environmental hoops, as well as get permission from
the native Canadian groups that own the land than the pipeline will go through.
BTW, I am a hockey MOTHER with six children, one of them born with handicaps. I hunt (there is a nice buck hanging in the garage just waiting to be butchered) and own firearms (which are only unlocked during hunting season.) Five of my kids not only graduated from high school without getting pregnant or impregnating a girl-friend, but all have now completed university or college. I would never support Gov. Palin or any of her evangelical ilk, as I want my daughters to have a choice over their reproductive destiny. I want my son, a scientist, to be able to work without the restraint of a theocratic
government. Yes, I might have a great deal in common with Gov. Palin as a northern hockey Mother. I am not married to Joe Six-Pack, however, and, Sarah, some of us living north of sixty are agnostic!!

[walt1944-2009]

It has been rumored that the neocon Fascist Nazi Republican Party is banking everything it has on Sarah "Shoppergate, Troopergate" Palin running for the office of Great Emperess in 2012.

To avoid the embarrassing lapses of memory and confusion she exhibited during the last campaign and on media interviews with Katie Couric, the Republican National Committee intends on using its financial clout to send Ms. Moose-Hunter back to college, to Yale no less, where she can get a law degree without using her brains (what there is of them!), get an extensive education in Geography, join the super-secret Skull & Bones and learn the secrets of neocon Fascism and "Ferengi Economics", and rub elbows with the "rich, infamous, and brainless"!

Palin''s "education will be paid for through the generous donations of totally-brainwashed neocon Fascist Nazi Republicans who would rather see a "ditz" in office than someone with any intelligence.

While she is away, the GOP will have her "First Dude", Todd, run Alaska, since he has been doing that anyway, and believing Alaskans wouldn''t know the difference!

SIG HEIL, MY "DADDY" PAID FOR MY DEGREE!!!, BUSH!!!

[grumpas]

Palin is one of the single biggest problems the Republican party faces these days! Religious hacks like her are driving the party into the ground! I personally won''t vote for them again until they lose people like her! And start recognizing the constitution again when it comes to the Separation of Church and State.

[jsainwi]

I think the repugs want a simpleton (Palin) to be president, much like the shrub, so they can manipulate her the same way they do the current simpleton. Have some crazy nazi run the show like Cheney does. Are there restrictions on how many times one can be V.P.?

[midwestkris]

So Sarah taxes the oil companies, who pass their costs on to consumers, and she takes the monies and distributes them to Alaskans, who are not required to work or to produce anything to get their checks.

In other words, she is coming to get "my stuff" and then is redistributing it to Alaskans. So I can''t keep assets I earn because she wants to give them to someone else.

And she has the balls to accuse Obama of Socialism because he would like to bring back a more progressive tax rather than waiting for the wealth to "trickle down"?

[trigs_8]

Alaska has been ripping off the lower 48 on oil prices for years. Palin raises the oil tax so Alaskans can have a rebate check and we pay for it in higher prices. How''s that for trickle down economics?

[colt8881]

Yeah

Sarah is back up in Alaska !

[earache4]

The wicked witch of Wasilla is back! (but where''s Levi?)

[earache4]

What''s the difference between a hockey mom and a pitbull?

Ethics?

[takebackusa]

What''''s the difference between a hockey mom and a pitbull?

Ethics?

Posted by earache4 at 01:09 PM : Nov 18, 2008


The Pit Bull has brains?

[neoconnie]

Does anybody know what channel Sarah Palin is on tonight? I heard there is news about her daughter Trick''s pregnancy.

[earache4]

Poooooor Alaska.....:(

[centerfall94]

Failed: Palin''s shipped back to Alaska, where half the population wants a convicted felon as a senator. She can club a few seals, gut a few moose and get right back down to business - charging her personal expenses and kids travel costs to the morons who make up the Alaskan tax base. Maybe after that she can roll around in the aisle a bit at church, faith heal a few people or speak in tongues.

Alaska: Oklahoma with more snow.

Pathetic.

[thechooch1]

nObama4

Calling people names won''t work here any more than it did during the campaign. Use facts and issues to win your arguments instead of mud slinging.

[mytoosense]

Palin Faces Challenges Back In Alaska

A forgotten clause in the Alaska State Constitution bars the mentally handicapped from holding high office.

Gov. Palin plans to appeal the clause.

[usclimey]

I love you commies with your redistribute the wealth talk.

Posted by nObama4

Why did y''all vote to join the States in the first place. If you''re all there is to show for intelligence up there, no wonder Palin''s you''re governer. Seward overpaid.

[earache4]

A forgotten clause in the Alaska State Constitution bars the mentally handicapped from holding high office.
Gov. Palin plans to appeal the clause.
Posted by mytoosense at 01:27 PM

Chico Marx:

"Hey, you can''t fool me, there''s no such thing as a Sanity Claus!"

[antoniof123]

Posted by nObama4 at 01:03 PM : Nov 18, 2008

Yes that is how it works he was making it simple but in effect that is exactly what she and Alaska have been doing.

Who do you think pays for the oil companies profit. We in the lower 48 if they give to the people there they are charging us in effect taking from one and giving to another.

Go back to the bush.

[heidimt]

nObama4.......Montana is not in a recession. Our state has a surplus at the moment. We just reelected our governor, a democrat. The difference between MT and AK is that neither the citizens nor government participate in the biggest welfare scam in the nation. We don''t hold our hands out for a check that we did absolutely nothing to earn. Your state, the politicians, and ultimately the people that elect them are an embarrassment to the "outside".

[usclimey]

nObama4

Y''know I''m sure Russia would love to have y''all back - as Ms Palin pointed out ad nauseam you''re closer to the Russkies than us anyway, and since we''re communists, you wouldn''t be worse off. If we want to stay at 50 states because of the pretty pattern of stars 50 makes, we''ll just take Puerto Rico instead. Better beaches, warmer and much prettier women. Plus they don''t hunt critters from helicopters. Sounds like a deal to me.

[dagrandma]

Palin Faces Challenges Back in Alaska: Shopping 101, Ethics 100, Beginning Reading. All three would do her a great deal of good.

[imaghast]

"Thanks Gov. Palin! Glad you get to stay and work for us."

Me, too! Looks like common ground between the rabid right and the rest of us! Keep Permafrost Palin as far north of civilization as possible! Also.

[earache4]

Where''s Levi?

[usclimey]

You cant wikipedia Alaska and know what its like to live here, or how the people are. And yes it is different from EVERYWHERE ELSE!

Posted by nObama4

Nice post - didn''t know that about the Romans - I guess that''s why there are so many Roman villas in England! (Also shows the Romans treated their veterans better than the US does). Not heard the expression "fly-over states" either - I''ll have to remember that one. The problem with Ms Palin is not her so much on a personal basis, I''m sure as a neighbor she''s absolutely wonderful; but, come on as a Veep??? Nah!

[biblethumpar]

Has Putin reared his head atop the northern lights lately?

[earache4]

"Palin Faces Challenges Back In Alaska"

Shot gun weddings are tough to plan....

[mikezembill]

And please do not ask for any help from the other 49 states before you have a state sales tax and income tax. If you do this maby w can let bygones be bygones if you are not in jail (where you should be) just get on your broom and ride or was it drill baby drill lets see you drill yourself out of this one SARAH.

[jclark7613]

nObama4 go away and keep your head in the clouds about Sarah Palin. I just hope she finally gets what she deserves. The same thing that Senator Stevens was found....guilty of ethical violation and abuse of power.

[takebackusa]

"Palin Faces Challenges Back In Alaska" Is one of those challenges - "like", learning how to, "like", speak, "like" proper English?

[kittykatty2]

nobamalamaDINGDONG...you pay more for your heating bills because you don''t pay any freaking taxes. Greedy buggers. And, I might add, disguising yourself under another name does you no good at all Ms. Palin...we''d know you anywhere. You''re as dumb as a bag of rocks. nobama my but ttt. You are sarah palin playing on taxpayers dime. The taxpayers from the other 49 states that is.

[noloyalisti]

This empty headed anti-American right wing wacko bimbo would not even be hired to be a file clerk for our company.

[mikezembill]

She looks sick in the photo i think she is coming down with something maby a case of the redas$

[mechengr9]

Palin/Nugent 2012 are you effing kidding me. That will insure another four years of Obama. It''s time to give up the Nobama ***. HE WON!

[midwestkris]

I don''t think she is a demon, nor do I think she was portrayed that way. I see her as ambitious, parochial, reasonably intelligent but not intensely interested in global issues including economics. She appears to be driven by emotion rather than logic.

She has many exemplary qualities that she fervently believes, and whether one agrees with her or not, one can admire her passion. At the same time, she seems more willing to incite passionate response than to encourage reasoned evaluation of issues.

It would appear she has limited ability to consider alternative points of view, and little interest in seeking out differing points of view.

It may be simply the forces of campaigning that made her appear intolerant, or she may be very intolerant of those who have differing ideas.

She does seem to have a very high opinion of herself. That isn''t necessarily a bad thing.

She appears value expediency, and to be willing to say whatever is expected at any given time.

By the way...Moscow is about twice the distance from Alaska than is Washington, DC...over 8,000 miles, so Putin''s presence doesn''t seem to be the issue she might want us to believe.

She may be a pleasant neighbor. If Alaskans beleive she is a good governor, I would not want to second guess them.

But she is not ready for a position as one of the most powerful people in the world.

[mtminds]

Palin is the best thing for Democratic party since sliced bread. Run Palin Run!

[saj210]

I want to know who would purchase Palin''s book????

This woman does not make much sense when she speaks! There is no way I would frustrate myself trying to read anything she writes. A waste of time and money!

[mytoosense]

I want to know who would purchase Palin''''s book????

This woman does not make much sense when she speaks! There is no way I would frustrate myself trying to read anything she writes. A waste of time and money!

Posted by saj210

I''ll bet you a buck Sarah does not write it.
Even if her name is on it.

[mechengr9]

libsh8theUSA
Wow the comedy never ends. You hate smack so much you had to deal some? It''s good that you stay away. Nugent/Palin Palin/Nugent is the reciprocity rule for losing ticket in 2012.

[mechengr9]

libsh8theUSA
Where did you go? back to Faux News?