Alaska's Exports Values Drop: A Primer for Palin on the Baltics (Continued)

On a couple previous threads I talked about how Palin should send an invite to the leaders of the Baltics and establish trade with them.

In today's ADN we see that exports have dropped.

The top export is seafood. Last year the state exported $1.8 billion in seafood, down 9 percent. Europe is a growing market for Alaska seafood. Ten years ago Europe got less than 5 percent of the exports. Last year it got about 25 percent, the state said.

To fill the void, Palin should seriously send an invite to the leaders of the Baltics and work on trade. As I said before, Riga is centralized to the Baltics and has infrastructure to accommodate the trade.

Seafood and one industry in Alaska that could grow with trade with the Baltics is the good ole' brewing business.

Latvians love their beer as do the rest of people of the Baltics.

And Alaska makes some of the best Ale that can be found here.

Remember the old Mat Maid building on Benson? How hard would it be for an entrepreneur to convert that building from making milk to beer if the market was big enough.

The good Governor needs to think Baltics when it comes to expanding trade.

Note to the GOP Bigwigs: Obama's Shattered Dreams

Pictures of the Day: The Obama/Democrat Bail Out

H/T czabe

Click on images for larger view

Talking About Palin: Shannyn Moore is Having a Bad Hair Day On MSNBC

Shannyn, next time you get interviewed by the dumbass Olbermann, get hair tips from him.

Olbermann forgot, Palin has staff that talk to the committees in hearings. He must have been busy looking for fruit flies in his olives.

Olbermann, did you ask Shannyn if she took the check that Palin got for her? Didn't think so.

And what is Fagan doing scouring the net and posting videos from whacked out Cheney conspiracy websites on the Alaska Standard to make a point against Palin?

Fagan do yourself a favor, take care of the family and quit blogging. You are being an ass.

Taliban Chief Vows 'Amazing' Attack on Washington 'Soon'

Taliban Chief Vows 'Amazing' Attack on Washington 'Soon'

"Soon we will launch an attack in Washington that will amaze everyone in the world," Mehsud told The Associated Press by phone.

Related thread/topics
Are the Taliban South of the Border as in Texas Border

Expert: Hamas, Hizbullah cells may be active in Mexico

Hizbullah’s Mexican-US Drug Connection

Senator Bert Stedman Takes a Cheap Shot at the Palin Administration

Today, the Senate finance committee chaired by Senator Stedman, heard testimony from the Palin administration on Senate Bill 96

An Act relating to nonpayment of child support; relating to certain judicial and administrative orders for medical support of a child; relating to periodic review and adjustment of child support orders; relating to relief from administrative child support orders; relating to child support arrearages; relating to medical support of a child and the Alaska Native family assistance program; amending Rule 90.3, Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure; and providing for an effective date.

Just a brief background on the agency that this piece of legislation falls under. The law falls under the Child Support Enforcement Division (CSED) that receives 65% of its funding from the federal government.

This agency would not survive if it were not for the federal dollars that support this agency and because of this support, there are strings attached.

During the testimony, the Palin staffer brought up the fact that there is 17 million dollars hanging out there and that the Act and the passage of it was needed to receive the federal dollars.

Now this money is not part of the federal stimulus package and the federal dollars are being used to keep the agency a float. This is not a new state agency or program created by the stimulus package.

It is an existing agency/program that has been funded for years and quite frankly, under Stedman's time in office.

In response to the Palin staffer talking about the strings attached, Stedman through a very crass suggestion, tried to make it seem that Palin was being hypocritical on the matter of the stimulus monies and the monies for CSED.

It was a cheap shot by Stedman.

One, CSED is already an existing agency that was built on federal mandates and the change in the law does not create a new agency or add new employees that cost the state money down the road.

It is a provisional change in the statutes that for the most part is already in effect.

Moreover, in discussion on the bill, the fact was brought up that a non-custodial parent who is ordered to pay money for medical care of their child, the money is not guaranteed by the law that the money will go to the care.

The money goes directly to the custodial parent and there is no provision in the law to make sure the custodial parent uses the money for medical services.

Instead of taking cheap shots, maybe Stedman should conduct hearings on how many custodial parents use the money to buy drugs and alcohol and leave the child in a state of medical neglect.

There was no concern on his part about this fact. None.

Dueling Pens at the Alaska Standard: Looks Like Fagan has Slapped the Cheek of R.A. Mansour of Conservatives for Palin

This will be interesting...

Dan Fagan's PDS Induced Vision of Sarah Palin

On to bigger and better things

I must admit when I saw the title of Dan's story pop up on my website, I thought, is he giving up radio?

All I have to say is Dan when you said "conservatives who previously had supported her out of fear were no longer afraid", which conservatives in the Legislature? Name the ones who will vote against her by increasing the stimulus monies.

Is that what you mean they are no longer afraid?

When it Comes to Religion, Governor Palin can Learn A Lot From Playing the Sidelines

First, there was John McCain riding shotgun with Juan Hernandez in Mexico. And what did they do? They take a political photo-op at the Shrine of the Virgen de Guadalupe and anger Mexicans because the Mexicans see it as a political stunt.

Then you have this from Our Lady of Washington

A day before receiving the Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s highest honor –the “Margaret Sanger Award” – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton paid a visit to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, leaving a bouquet of white flowers “on behalf of the American people,” and asking the basilica’s rector, “Who painted it?”

In response to Clinton’s question, basilica rector Msgr. Diego Monroy responded, “God!” The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was miraculously imprinted by Mary on the cloak of St. Juan Diego in 1531.

It takes two baby, it takes two.



You would think the brilliant duo would understand the Mexicans when it comes to the Virgen de Guadalupe since they are always trying to get their vote. Evidently they don't know, to Mexicans, the miracle is a very serious matter and they don't take mocking the shrine or ignorance to the miracle lightly.

From Russia With Love: A Primer For Palin on the Baltics (Update: Video Of President Medvedev Flying in Fighter Bomber)

This is a follow up to a previous thread where I briefly talked about Dick Morris' comments on Palin going to Eastern Europe.

Morris raised a topic on Eastern Europe and that Palin should visit. I disagree at this time.

Governor Palin should look very carefully at what takes place at the G20 meeting and I believe we will see at the G20 meeting, how weak a president we have in Barack Obama.

Pay attention to Russia and their leaders. Pay attention to how Russia is trying to drive a wedge between the Baltics and the E.U. and they are trying to do it through economic ties.

I have watched Latvia grow and change over time and I see some problems with what is happening now. Latvia and the rest of the Baltics have tried to maintain their independence while trying to grow economically. In 2004, once Lativa joined the E.U., the country has a history of fighting with the E.U. over their constitution.

The reason? Gay marriage.

RIGA (Reuters) - Latvian lawmakers blocked same-sex marriages by changing the Baltic state's constitution on Thursday, infuriating gay rights activists who said they may take their case to the European Court of Human Rights.

Ex-Soviet Latvia, which joined the European Union last year, sees itself as a progressive democracy enjoying one of Europe's fastest growing economies. But many people retain conservative views about the family and gay rights.

(...)

Latvia's parliament passed the amendment easily, with 65 votes for, six against and nine abstentions, a result that drew applause from some lawmakers.

"This is not against gays. It is supporting traditional families," said lawmaker Oskars Kastens of the First Party, a ruling-coalition party that proposed the amendment.

"Looking at trends in Europe we are against liberalization of the idea of family. It is the same in both Lithuania and Poland."

Latvian gay rights activists immediately denounced the decision, saying it was discriminatory and ran counter to a European trend toward recognizing same sex marriages.

The same has happened with the other countries in the Baltics

Alaska and Latvia have a common theme in that both constitutions have amendments in them defining marriage between a man and a woman.

However, that sentiment is found within the Russian orthodox church and as such, gay marriage will not see any legalization in Russia. The patriarch of the Russian orthodox church will help it not see legalization.

Given this and the fact that the economies in Latvia and the Baltics are tanking, sentiment towards the E.U. is one of growing distrust among the Russian population that live in Latvia and frustration with the Latvian citizens.

This is Palin's primer.

When you look back on Russian history and how the Baltics and Japan are involved in Russian history, Governor Palin does not have to look very far to see the Russian history, because it is here in Alaska.

Russians in Alaska 1732-1867, by Lydia Black, offers up a picture of how Russia was then. And how Russia built trade with the Baltics, Japan and Alaska.

Two different regions in the world; one holding an importance with Alaska for the moment and that being Japan. The other, the Baltics having no importance for the moment but is a region that holds a trade culture that should be developed.

During the gubernatorial primaries, Governor Palin had ex Governor Hickel on her campaign and Hickel is a big fan of Russia.

I'm not.

Hickel has been a big proponent of the LNG out of Valdez and the group AGPA has been a champion behind the development. I have written extensively on the topic of the LNG facility and I have written on the impact Russia's development of the Sakhalin fields would have on natural gas shipments to Japan and how the LNG facility in Valdez would not be able to compete with Russia.

Palin took the proper course when she focused on the proposed pipeline through Canada instead of the LNG facility. And for that, she paid a price by receiving criticism from Hickel and the AGPA crowd.

There is a lesson here for Governor Palin.

Russians look years out and Americans look days out when it comes to economic development. And that is why you see Russia laying claim over the resources in the Arctic waters and willing to spend capital to protect it.

You could say, Russians have developed a mental attitude that makes them pretty damn good chess players. Because the have more than a couple of 100 years of history lessons, while the United States has only a couple of hundred years of history.

And because of that, Russia holds the resources and the natural gas that fuels a lot of the European Union's economy.

So given this, how can Governor Palin play a role in all of this? First to geography.

Air Distance Calculator

Anchorage to Riga Latvia 3351.53 air miles

Anchorage to Tokyo Japan 3496.30 air miles

Riga, Latvia has developed private companies that deal with imports and the warehouses that go along with it. Riga's location is set where it can be distribution point.

It is close enough in air miles to develop trade. Alaska has developed its trade with Japan and a large part of it, has come from the LNG facility in the Kenai.

But as I said, competition with Russia on Japan over natural gas shipments will be great. And with the declining gas development in Cook Inlet and environmental lawsuits based on beluga whales, the facility is in jeopardy.

So Alaska needs to play like Russia and look years out, instead of days, and develop strategies on developing trade with the Baltics.

Governor Palin would be wise to send an invite to the leaders of the Baltics and discuss the many trade options that Alaska can offer to their countries.

Because Alaska could be the gateway for trade to the region and the traders are all along the west coast of the United States.

Update: Here is a helmet president, let's go for a ride.

Press Release: Anonymous *** Tin Foil Alert On Palin Advisor ***

We have moved from anonymous bloggers attacking Palin, to people sending out press releases with no contact.

Contrary to Palin advisor, Scientology PACs exist

Monday, 30 March 2009, 12:48 pm
Press Release: Anonymous

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, March 27, 2009

You know, when it comes to attacking Palin, the world to the left of center has gone completely bonkers.

Moreover, who in the hell came up with a site called scoop that has press releases with an anonymous contact. How can you contact them to snoop around on the "scoop" to see if it is really a scoop?

Get your tin foil ready on this press release.

Senator McCain on the GOP is like a Cardinal who Helped Usher in Vatican II

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Listening to McCain on how the GOP has to change is definitely an indication that this guy has no clue and he is in campaign mode.

The GOP has always welcomed diversity. But not at the cost of changing its values. When you change your beliefs for popularity, you fail.

The Catholic Church is a prime example when it changed to the Vatican II. It has reaped what it has sown and the press has played this to their advantage.

The press will love you when you soften the stance and when that stance is soften and it has a negative effect on the Church, the press will blame the Church.

Moreover, McCain loves the limelight, proof was when he pointed to his endorsements by the press like the New York Times when he debated Romney.

Life Imitating Art: Mike "Snoops" Doogan gets his Blogger (Update)

The buzz on the blogs is how Mike "snoops" Doogan got his blogger.

First, Doogan is an old hand at the gumshoe footwork.

There was Lost Angel, Capital Offense and Skeleton Lake. The question is; will there be a future Nik Kane novel titled Mudflats?

Doogan writes:

The identity of the person who writes the liberal Democratic Mudflats blog has been secret since the blog began, protected by the Anchorage Daily News,among others. My own theory about the public process is you can say what you want, as long as you are willing to stand behind it using your real name. So I was interested to learn that the woman who writes the blog is Anchorage resident Jeanne Devon.

(cue sound of screams)

How is the stuck on stupid statements blogger feeling since she has been caught red handed by the gumshoe Doogan?

(cue a string of violins)

As I sit here writing, there is a strange mixture of wind, snow and volcanic ash swirling around outside my windows. It’s tempting to yell, “The sky is falling!” and at times it has felt that way. If you had told me last week that a State Legislator would send me a threatening email telling me he was going to out me, and reveal my real identity on his official legislative newsletter, I’d have thought to myself, “Never in a million years would someone be so foolhardy.” But once again I have overestimated the common sense of Rep. Mike Doogan. And here we are.

I have to admit this has taken a bit of getting used to. I’m not one to crave the spotlight, and I generally enjoy my boring little life. So, I’m needing a little time to regroup. Thank you all for the understanding, and indulging this naturally private and introverted blogger who normally posts pretty frequently. Public figures choose a public life. Private citizens don’t necessarily choose that. The possibility is always there for a pseudonymous blogger to become public, but we’d like to think that this would be at the time and in the manner of that person’s choosing….without the unwanted help of a State Representative, who is, after all, supposed to be working for us.

Sorry Jeanne, you ain't a private citizen when you are publicly slinging mud and getting press for it.

Moreover, it would be interesting to hear you call in and voice your opinion to legislators and when they say state your name, the word Mudflats comes over the speaker. Or when you write a letter to the editor, try using Mudflats.

Save your story for a future story in Marvel comics on masked hero bloggers that come to save the day for Obama.

Did Doogan do the right thing? You betcha... When people start throwing mud like this blogger has done and then hides behind an anonymous name, this shows the true character of the person.

When Palin talked about the issue of anonymous bloggers, who was out there biting at her heels? Anonymous bloggers like Mudflats. Now that she has been "outed" by Doogan, she will have her real name standing behind her stupid statements.

She has nothing to fear but fear of putting out lies, rumors and stupid statements.

Update: After reading some of the commentary on the Alaska Dispatch on first amendment rights, dissent and tyranny.

Save it, this blogger could argue, Mudflats abused that right by throwing B.S. that was false, done with malicious intent and was enabled by the press.

When lies are allowed to be published in the press as truth, anarchy takes hold and tyranny exists within that right.

Limitation is the essence of liberty, for as soon as liberty is complete, it dies in anarchy.
Will Durant (1885-1981)

Mount Redoubt Eruption Images: Simply Amazing

Bretwood Higman / groundtruthtrekking.org via AVO


1000 words

Palin Should Look to The Baltics on Trade Relations and Learn a Lesson on McCain

H/T C4P

Dick Morris in an interview with Greta Van Susteren on Palin's speech at the Lincoln Dinner in Alaska.



Two things stand out. One, his comments on ex el presidente Fox and two, Palin travelling to Eastern Europe.

First to el presidente Fox. Juan Hernandez as Morris, worked for Fox and Juan Hernandez was on McCain's team. Before McCain picked Palin, I had talked about how Palin and Romney would be well advised to stay away from McCain.

The reason was Juan Hernandez. This is the guy that brought McCain down to Mexico to visit the Shrine of the Virgen de Guadelupe. I know for a fact that the visit was viewed as McCain making a mockery of the shrine.

The history of Hernandez and Fox mocking the Virgen de Guadelupe was done before when Fox while campaigning, wore a piece of garment of the Virgin.

Mexicans pay high respect to the Virgin and as such, McCain didn't make any gains.

What this had shown to me about McCain is; there seems to be a underlying insensitivity to religion. Thus I believe a reason for Palin's comment on praying before the debate with Biden.

Frankly, I feel staffers for McCain may have held a position that made Palin uncomfortable. And there is nothing in the way Palin described the story to show animosity for McCain. However, I do. Here is why.


Mexico's Fox touts EU-like integration for the Americas

Fox also delivered a message of hope — hope that someday Canada, the United States and Mexico, indeed the rest of Latin America, would function like the European Union.

“It's an extremely successful model,” said Fox, whose wife, Marta Sahagún, accompanied him. “My vision is to speed up the process of further integration.”

Fox was in town to address the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute's Future Leaders Conference, held at the UTSA Main Campus. He received four rousing standing ovations from the crowd, many of them student business majors.

The event was hosted by the University of Texas at San Antonio's College of Business.

Fox acknowledged the difficulty of establishing a European Union-like structure in the Americas, given those who'd oppose it. But Fox said, “Hope is back again,” referring to the new U.S. president and the United States' “capacity to fight for ideals.”

(...)

Fox also spoke of Mexico's war against drug cartels and its impact on “perhaps the most dynamic border in the world.” He reiterated comments made by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton this week, in which she said “insatiable” U.S. drug consumption drives the war.

Indeed, Fox conceded that more of his own citizens are engaging in drug use as cartels look for new markets.

McCain surrounded himself with lousy people. The only exception was Palin.

Next Morris talks about travelling to Eastern Europe. No.

Palin should take up establishing trade ties with the Baltics. Her own Attorney General Talis Colberg's roots go back to Lativa and there is a lesson to be learned in the people of the Baltics and that is they are fighters.

The Baltics are small enough that Alaska has something to offer. One is tourism. The Baltics have gone to a a Visa Waiver system and people from Latvia and Estonia can travel to the U.S. without the visa.

Travel for both trade and tourism can be accomplished over the pole reducing time and Fairbanks could be the destination.

As Russia continues to nudge in on Alaska, Palin would be wise to query her ex A.G. Talis Colberg on his family history. She will find small nations made up of a people who love their independence from Russia and the European Union.

For foreign policy experience, that is where she should start.

Showdown at the AK Corral: Will Sheriff Palin Shoot Holes in the Stimulus Package With her Veto Six Shooter?

It is official, the State House took a vote on the resolution that finalized the formalities on getting stimulus monies from the federal government.

A vote on the stimulus package was done in committee a few weeks past. The only no vote then, was Rep. Kelly.

This vote is the formal vote on the House resolution and everyone knew this was coming.

Here you have the "Cowboys" Mike (eagle eye)Hawker leading his pack of Cowboy legislators taking money from the bank, while his posse made up of members like Mike (the snoops)Doogan are whooping it up saying "it's free money."

And what about gang member Les (is more)Gara saying "I just don’t find comments like that helpful, we’ve been accepting federal money since statehood, nobody has called it a bribe”.

Gara, how about just calling it "taking" money from the federal government that takes it from us in the form of taxes.

Some may call taxes a way to "contribute" as Clinton did when he was president. And some may call it a "con" (kän) to swindle or trick into and "tribute" (tri-(ˌ)byüt) any forced payment. Some may go as so far to call paying taxes patriotic.

And then some may call it just plain stealing. This should make you wonder what Treasury Geithner was thinking.

Anyway, the House is at odds with Palin (not sure why, since the house members don't know what they are voting for) on the matter and the Senate will be next to vote.

This raises an interesting question on if Hollis French will play one of Palin's deputies or join Mike (eagle eye)Hawker's gang? In case you missed a short statement by French, he did say that there may be a constitutional issue at hand.

He's right and if I were Governor for a day, I would take French up on his feelings especially when you have him agreeing there may be a constitutional issue.

The ultimate question is; will Sheriff Palin bring her big dawg Deputy Wayne (W.A.R.) Anthony Ross to the court house doors, or bring out the six shooter veto pen and lay claim to being the fastest draw on the line-item veto in the land?

Stay tuned, this should get interesting....

Moveon.org Should be Sued for its False Advertising on Begich

In a perfect world it would be nice if you could once, sue an organization for being deceptive.

Begich lies about about reading the entire stimulus package. Then votes on the package and it has the amendment in the stimulus bill that inserts the bonuses.

Then a bill is being worked out in the Senate that would tax the bonuses. However, the news is; the bonuses will be paid back by AIG employees and according to the news:

Despite the high popularity surrounding a House bill that would tax 90 percent of the AIG bonuses — a Rasmussen Reports poll found 57 percent of the nation supported the proposal — Barack Obama defended his reluctant to support a bill he felt was unconstitutional.

On an interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes” Sunday, Mr. Obama said, “Let’s see if there are ways of doing this that are both legal, that are constitutional, that uphold our basic principles of fairness,” adding he did not want to “govern out of anger.”

Makes you wonder what bill Moveon.org is talking about....

Who is Better Looking? Palin or McCain

According to the poll, it's Meghan McCain.

Next, what is it with the MILF acronym being used by women writers who should leave the snickers and the fantasy to young men in their puberty?

And how is Bonnie Fuller's headline indicating 40 year old women are hotter than their younger counterpart supported by the polls on the website.

I can understand how Palin is losing out to Meghan. The Huffington Post aka Gaborington Post has a bunch of Palin haters that frequent the site and offer their support to the site.

Quick Poll
Who's Hotter?
Sarah Palin 48.83%

Meghan McCain 51.17%

And I can understand how Michelle Obama is losing to Beyoncé. The truth is polling true.

Quick Poll
Who's Hotter?

Michelle Obama 41.45%

Beyoncé 58.55%

That's two that don't support her contention that "It's official! Age is irrelevant."

How about Demi Moore? How much has she spent on correcting that "age is irrelevant" remark.

Quick Poll
Who's Hotter?
Demi Moore 39.23%

Megan Fox 60.77%

Granted, overall the 40 year old women won. But at what cost?

And last, I am thinking why am I even writing this other than to see if it was true.

Sarah Palin Proves She’s No George Bush

John Ziegler

Back in January, when the media firestorm over my “Media Malpractice” interview with Governor Sarah Palin erupted, I wrote on this website that it was my belief that she was no George W. Bush. I can now say with even greater certainty that I was absolutely correct in that assertion.

Exclusive: Because of Ashley Judd's Actions Towards Palin's Wolf Kill Policy, Moose are Seeking Medical Help (Update Video: End the Senseless Killing)

Because of Ashley Judd's commercial on Palin and wolf killing, there has been an epidemic of moose with nervous breakdowns and wolf bites trying to get medical help.

The poor moose. It seems that she can't get any help because of Obama's stimulus plan and proposed universal health care system..

Update: It's time to end the senseless killing, moose aren't covered under Obama's universal health care.

Come Hell or High Water: When it Comes To Palin and the Stimulus Bill, the Legislature Will do Damn Well it Wants When it Comes to Spending Money

How is that for a title.

Long? It is. And it is as long as long winded legislators are when it comes to talking about all the “free money” that Alaska will lose if we don’t take all of the federal dollars.

First there was Representative Doogan talking about how “Un-Alaskan” it was to not take the “free money”.

He is my Rep. so I will go easy on him. Mike, it is not free money and what is this talk about Un-Alaskan if we don’t take the federal money. You aren’t going a little AIP (Alaska Independence Party) on us are you?

Be careful, you may wind up on the most wanted list of left wing bloggers.

Then there is Rep. Hawker. He’s the one that likes to complain about how high Palin’s budget is, but wanted to increase state spending by adding on other projects that would eat up 32 million on some Whittier project.

He is also the guy that lead the charge on education funding and increased it because some phony legislative audit that was done by a task force said we had to.

Well let’s take figures of the just past Anchorage School Budget. It will now cost the State of Alaska, the property owners of Anchorage and the federal government, 759 million dollars to teach kids in Anchorage and have at least a third of the kids fail when they reach high school.

Now how well is that money being spent? Let’s do a comparison with the FY 2006-2007 budget to the FY 2009-2010.


FY 2006-2007 numbers.

North Star Elementary School.

Enrollment was projected at 381 students. The cost per student was $12,000.00. The cost to operate the school was projected at $2,296,450.00. This was for everything from salaries to TERS and PERS, to the pencils, books and paper. Everything to include the heating, lighting and refuse.The generated income that is earmarked for the school is $4,576,000.00. minus-$2,296,450.00 going to costs to run the school. $2,279,550.00 is not going into the classroom.

Northwood Elementary School

It had a projected enrollment of 335 students. At $12,000.00 per student, the money earmarked for the school is $4,020,000.00.

$4,020,000.00-$1,962,382.00 costs to run the school---------------$2,057,618.00 not going into the classroom.

Willowcrest Elementary School

It had a projected enrollment of 364 students. At $12,000.00 per student, the money earmarked for the school is $4,368,000.00.
$4,368,000.00-$2,068,636.00 costs to run the school---------------$2,299,364.00 not going into the classroom.

Stellar school

It had a projected enrollment of 272 students. At $12,000.00 per student, the money earmarked for the school was $3,264,000.00. $3,264,000.00-$1,546,521.00 costs to run the school---------------$1,717,479.00 not going into the classroom.


Central Middle School of Science

It had a projected enrollment of 646 students. At $12,000.00 per student, the money earmarked for the school was $7,752,000.
$7,752,000.00-$3,902,699.00 costs to run the school-----------------$3,849,301.00 not going into the classroom.

That is less than 49 % of dollars making it into the classroom. However, the ASD stated that 8.77% of the budget is spent on pupil transportation and operations and maintenance. So you have about 49% of the money going to these schools and then 8.77%of the budget covering the costs of transportation and maintenance.

That was a total 57.77% of the school budget going to running the school, transporting the kids and maintaining the schools. Add another 13% for debt reimbursement and 2.3% for food services, then you have 73% of the budget going to the total package to run a school in the ASD.

Now what is FY 2009-2010?

First, the enrollment is projected at 48,548 students at a cost of $15,634.00 averaged per student. So when you look at each school, you take the student enrollment of the individual school and times it by the 15 thousand and you come up with the earmark figure of monies that go to the student.

The question is, how much of the money is budgeted into the classroom, transportation of the student, and to feed the student.

Here are the figures from the Anchorage School District for FY 2009-2010.

North Star Elementary

It has a projected enrollment of 403 students at $15,634.00. The earmark monies for the school based on the student population is $6,316136.00 The cost of salaries, employee benefits, purchased services, supplies, materials and capital outlay is $3,108,198.00

Northwood ABC

It has a projected enrollment of 314 students at $15,634.00. The earmark monies for the school based on the student population is $4,909,076.00. The cost of salaries, employee benefits, purchased services, supplies, materials and capital outlay is $2,708,327.00.

Willowcrest

It has a projected enrollment of 356 students at $15,634.00. The earmark monies for the school based on the student population is $5,565,704.00. The cost of salaries, employee benefits, purchased services, supplies, materials and capital outlay is $2,829,652.00

Stellar

It has a projected enrollment of 292 students at $15,634.00. The earmark monies for the school based on the student population is $4,565,128.00. The cost of salaries, employee benefits, purchased services, supplies, materials and capital outlay is $2,089,831.00

Central Middle School of Science

It has a projected enrollment of 598 students at $15,634.00. The earmark monies for the school based on the student population is $9,349,132.00. The cost of salaries, employee benefits, purchased services, supplies, materials and capital outlay is $4,776,114.00

As you can see, about half of the monies that go to teach a student finds its way into the classroom. And basically, nothing has changed from FY 2006-2007 to FY 2009-2010.

I can go into any school district in the United States and find the same results.

Moreover, special education is the "poster student" of those who want to increase funding and actually use it to destroy Palin.

The fact is, the monies that are designated for the student are put into a general fund and never find it being fully used for the student.

The school district has a figure of 1407 students who need the highest level of services out of 9,500 students who are considered to be special education students.

The figure of 48,458 includes all of the students.

The question today is the same question I had asked two years ago when I ran against Mike Doogan. So where is the rest of the money going?

CNN via AOL: Palin Goes After Media at GOP Dinner (Update Polls Galore With This One)

Palin Goes After Media at GOP Dinner

In a little-noticed speech to a GOP dinner in Alaska last week, Palin riffed for nearly an hour on a variety of topics — including her relationship with former McCain staffers, the Bush administration's anti-terror efforts, and actress Ashley Judd.

But the Alaska governor returned multiple times to the "unprecedented level of media slant" that she witnessed during her two-months on the Republican ticket with John McCain.

(...)

Later in the speech, she told a story about praying for strength before last October's Vice Presidential debate with Joe Biden in St. Louis.

"So I'm looking around for somebody to pray with, I just need maybe a little help, maybe a little extra," she said. "And the McCain campaign, love 'em, you know, they're a lot of people around me, but nobody I could find that I wanted to hold hands with and pray." As the crowd laughed, Palin grinned and said she meant no disrespect to the McCain campaign. She said she ultimately prayed with her daughter Piper.

Overall the article wasn't too bad for CNN.

Update:

Interesting take here:

How has your impression of Palin changed since the election?
It has gotten worse 38%
It has gotten better 33%
It has stayed the same 29%
Total Votes: 13,648

What do you think of Palin's remarks about the media?
I agree with them 58%
I disagree with them 37%
I have mixed feelings 5%
Total Votes: 13,254

I am going to have to call Jason to see if he has pictures of the event.

This Picture Will Certainly make The Palin Haters go Bonkers

You know the big fuss about the Arctic Cat gear and Celtic Diva filing a frivolous complaint.

The Alaska National Guard is a sponsor to the Iron Dog and has their logo on the machines. This is a rubbing it in on the Palin hater bloggers thread.

This should drive the Diva nuts and the other Palin haters...




I know of at least one Palin hater that may be going nuts on Fagan's Alaska Standard. Now I have been called creepy for cutting and pasting comments of unknown bloggers, but assinine comments deserve the reward of a cut and paste.

Sometimes I have to wonder...
Submitted by KarenJ on Wed, 03/25/2009 - 4:46pm.
....how dense one has to be to become a fan of Sarah Palin.

tomlamb, I suppose it never occurred to you that a lot of the racers in the Iron Dog might actually be MEMBERS of the Alaska National Guard, did it? That there might be a symbiotic relationship between skilled helicopter pilots and heavy equipment operators and snowmachine operators? That they might assist each other in times that the ANG is called on, like volcanoes erupting, or in dangerous conditions during a high stakes race like the Iron Dog?

Yeah, I can see a benefit in that relationship, to a great extent.

I would guess it's voluntary, too. You know, like, no money or snowsuits or donated equipment permanently changing hands? Or military equipment, either, 'cuz that'd be illegal/unethical too.

This doesn't take the Gov's OK, either. This is under the purview of the ANG and the Iron Dog organizers.

reply Flag as offensive

More photos..

Scientology is the official religion of the Alaska National Guard



And of course, a group shot of a conflict in interest according to the Diva.



And as a gentle reminder, don't forget to vote in the poll to the top left margin, if Palin violated an ethics law. I am going to leave it up for 6 days.

It's a Kwazy Life Poll: Did Palin Violate the Ethics Law by Wearing an Arctic Cat Jacket? (Update: AOL: Democrat Wanting Palin to Take It All Off )

Wait what is that on the side of those Arctic Cat machines from 2008? Is that a National Guard logo? Where was the outrage then?



I wonder if Todd got something for that advertisement....

Fagan is being a dumbass on the topic as usual, at the Alaska Standard..

Update: H/T C4p

Megyn Kelly on the Ethics Complaint

Update:

Alaska Democrat Wants Sarah Palin to Take it All Off

Palin responds in the ADN article, but let me save some time:This is weak frakkin' sauce if I've ever tasted it, and it only serves to marginalize legitimate opposition to Sarah Palin.

She's on the clock 24/7, so is she supposed to cut the logos off of all of her clothes, and walk around wearing what amounts to a glorified doily?

There are lots of good reasons to oppose Sarah Palin on the substance. Complaints like this serve only to help her lump all criticism into this wingnut category.

You know its getting bad when the wingnuts are killing their own wingnuts.

Update:

Piper, Todd, Sarah and National Guard Members

Greta and Alaska National Guard Members

Update: This should make the PDS'ers flip out...From the Alaska National Guard website

Palin #24 on the List of the World's Most Beautiful Female Politcians

The List

The most beautiful female politicians are:

1 - Luciana Leon, 30, Peru

2 - Mercedes Aráoz 47, Peru

3 - Sara Latife Ruiz Chavez, 32, Mexico

4 - Mara Carfagna, 32, Italy

5 - Yuri Fujikawa, 27, Japan

6 - Anna-Maria Galojan, 26, Estonia

7 - Toireasa Ferris, 29, Ireland

8 - Yuliya Tymoshenko, 48, Ukraine

9 - Eunice Olsen, 31, Singapore

10 - Cayetana Álvarez, 34, Spain

11 - Vera Lischka, 31, Austria

12 - Alina Kabaev, 26, Russia

13 - Gabriela Cueva, 29, Mexico

14 - Orly Levy, 35, Israel

15 - Cristina Dia, 50, Mexico

16 - Tsepeli Nikolet, 28, Greece

17 - Marianne Thiem, 36, The Netherlands

18 - Carme Chacó, 37, Spain

19 - Pnina Rosenblum, 53, Israel

20 - Bibiana Aíd, 31, Spain

21 - Tanja Karpel, 38, Finland

22 - Julia Anastasia Bon, 23, Germany

23 - Ruhama Avraha, 44, Israel

24 - Sarah Palin, 44, United States

25 - Stefania Prestigiacom, 43, Italy

26 - Sofia Larse, 36, Sweden

27 - Angelina Sondak, 32, Indonesia

28 - Cristina Fernández de Kirchne, 56, Argentina

29 - Katrín Gunnarsdótti, 43, Iceland

30 - Soraya Sáen, 37, Spain

31 - Anastasia Michael, 33, Israel

32 - Stephanie Herseth, 38, United States

33 - Mónica Lorente Ramó, 38, Spain

34 - Hillary Clinton, 61, United States

35 - Melissa Park, 42, Australia

36 - Ségolène Roya, 55, France

37 - Jiang Y, 44, China

38 - Freya Van den Bossch, 34, Belgium

39 - Nebahat Albayra, 40, The Netherlands

40 - Kirsten Gillibran, 43, United States

41 - Eva Glawischni, 39, Austria

42 - Sabine Herol, 27, France

43 - Hillevi Larsso, 34, Sweden

44 - Hillevi Larsso, 46, Iceland

45 - Piia-Noora Kaupp, 33, Finland

46 - Sabine Bätzin, 34, German

47 - Isabel dos Santo, Angola

48 - Penny Won, 40, Australia

49 - Kate Elli, 32, Australia

50 - Melissa Lee, New Zealand

51 - Marcela Guerra Castill, Mexico

52 - Delsa Solórzano, Venezuela

53 - Natalie Rickl, 33, Sweden

54 - Malalai Joy, 31, Afghanistan

Baby Come Back: Obama Throws His Telepromter Under The Bus

Tsk, Tsk, never try to upstage the president by trying to stay out in front, on the stage...

Just ask Biden...How many times do you see these two together?



Barack's teleprompter should have known that and have known ahead of time, what happened at the White House press conference.

First to Obama's teleprompter...

Is it splitsville or just a split screen.

Relationships can be a nasty thing....And just sitting around waiting to be taken to the big event.. Well, eventually that screen time will just be a memory and everyone will forget who the brains are, behind that big screen.

Anyway, during emergencies when things begin to fall apart, a football game or a basketball game can come in handy on the big screen. The big guy can switch right in the middle of tough questions and start talking about the game.

H/T Butasforme

Obama throws his teleprompter under the bus—Now uses two large 42′ plasma TVs



One wonders though, will Obama be singing the blues later?

Obama's Halo Is Dropping (Update)

Below is an image on AOL with the headline: Obama Issues Stark Warning on Economy




AFP / Getty Images

Below is a picture with a Zogby poll showing Obama at 50% approval rating



Photo by AP

A big Ooops
It's nice to have a president who people actually like

President Barack Obama continues to get the rock star treatment wherever he goes. His approval ratings are still way up, and he made a recent appearance on Jay Leno.

His celebrity status has some of his critics all riled up over the exposure he's getting. It's going to his head, they say. And why isn't he sitting in the Oval office trying to fix the economy?

Those are the haters, who wish they could be as popular. It's eating them up that Obama has a knack for connecting with people. He's not afraid to get up close and personal, and doesn't shy away from the spotlight. He's a man comfortable in his skin.

What does Obama think about the article?

New Images of Mt. Redoubt Eruption and Ash Fallout

images



Massive flooding in Drift Valley from the eruption of Redoubt Volcano.
Picture Date: March 23, 2009
Image Creator: McGimsey, Game;
Image courtesy of AVO/USGS.
Please cite the photographer and the Alaska Volcano Observatory / U.S. Geological Survey when using this image.




Photos of the flooding in Drift Valley and tephra deposits from the eruption of Redoubt Volcano. [more detailed caption to follow]
Picture Date: March 23, 2009
Image Creator: McGimsey, Game;
Image courtesy of AVO/USGS.
Please cite the photographer and the Alaska Volcano Observatory / U.S. Geological Survey when using this image.



Photos of the flooding in Drift Valley and tephra deposits from the eruption of Redoubt Volcano. [more detailed caption to follow]
Picture Date: March 23, 2009
Image Creator: McGimsey, Game;
Image courtesy of AVO/USGS.
Please cite the photographer and the Alaska Volcano Observatory / U.S. Geological Survey when using this image.




Photos of the flooding in Drift Valley and tephra deposits from the eruption of Redoubt Volcano. [more detailed caption to follow]
Picture Date: March 23, 2009
Image Creator: Read, Cyrus;
Image courtesy of AVO/USGS.
Please cite the photographer and the Alaska Volcano Observatory / U.S. Geological Survey when using this image.

Obama's First 100 Days in Office: "I Screwed Up"

"I screwed up. I’ve got to own up to my mistake."

I screwed up

The new US President, who has been commander-in-chief and resident at the White House for just over a week, was photographed from the gardens of the White House on Tuesday. Mr Obama was trying to return to the Oval Office after meeting House and Senate Republicans.

Instead of heading straight for the door, Mr Obama showed his unfamiliarity with his new-found surroundings and aimed for a door-length paned window.

Geithner-Obama Economics: A Joke That's Not Funny



I screwed up

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama on Tuesday abruptly abandoned his nomination fight for Tom Daschle and a second major appointee who failed to pay all their taxes, telling NBC News: "I screwed up."

I screwed up

Barack Obama's pick as Commerce Secretary, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, has withdrawn his name after a new political scandal erupted in his home state.

I screwed up

WASHINGTON – Ron Kirk's excess deductions for basketball tickets and failure to report speaking fees as income have cost him $10,000 in back taxes, a Senate committee disclosed Monday, in the latest IRS-related embarrassment for an Obama Cabinet pick.

The problems are the first indication of potential trouble for Kirk's nomination to be U.S. trade representative, though White House officials and key senators called the errors minor and predicted the former Dallas mayor will be confirmed by the Senate.

I screwed up

Budget czar nominee Nancy Killefer withdrew her nomination, also over a personal tax issue.

I screwed up

"As president, Obama will not sign any nonemergency bill without giving the American public an opportunity to review and comment on the White House Web site for five days."

Well, the president broke that promise barely a week after taking office when he signed the Lilly Ledbetter Bill dealing with equal pay for men and women.

A good bill, and certainly one that could have survived a five-day comment period. So, maybe the White House folks just forgot?

But then there is Congress and the Stimulus Bill. How fast could you get through it?

I screwed up

March 19 (Bloomberg) -- Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd said the Obama administration asked him to insert a provision in last month’s $787 billion economic- stimulus legislation that had the effect of authorizing American International Group Inc.’s bonuses.

I screwed up

(CNSNews.com) - On Wednesday, only two days after he lifted President Bush’s executive order banning federal funding of stem cell research that requires the destruction of human embryos, President Barack Obama signed a law that explicilty bans federal funding of any "research in which a human embryo or embryos are destroyed, discarded, or knowingly subjected to risk of injury or death."

The provision was buried in the 465-page omnibus appropriations bill that Obama signed Wednesday. Known as the Dickey-Wicker amendment, it has been included in the annual appropriations bill for the Department of Health and Human Services every fiscal year since 1996.

I screwed up

White House aides indicated that President Obama will sign a $410 billion spending bill, even though it contains thousands of special projects or earmarks. The AP reports the White House "on Sunday downplayed massive deficit spending and President Barack Obama's pledge not to sign legislation laden with billions in earmarks amid Republican criticism that he was recanting on a key campaign promise."

I screwed up

WASHINGTON (AP) President Barack Obama says the U.S. hasn't done a good job sorting out who should be released from the Guantanamo Bay detention center in Cuba. On CBS' "60 Minutes" airing tomorrow, Obama says some of the people released from the facility have rejoined terrorist groups.

I screwed up

President Obama, in a CBS News interview for "60 Minutes," fired back at Dick Cheney over the former vice president's claim that plans to close Guantanamo will make America less safe.

"How many terrorists have actually been brought to justice under the philosophy that is being promoted by Vice President Cheney?" Obama said in the interview, according to experts released Saturday. "It hasn't made us safer. What it has been is a great advertisement for anti-American sentiment."

I screwed up

Gordon Brown has been unable to watch a set of DVDs given to him by Barack Obama ... because they only work in America.

The Prime Minister had been given the set of 25 American movies by the President as a gift on his recent visit to Washington.

But now it looks like he should have watched them while he was over there, because when he tried to watch the movies back at Number 10, his DVD player just said 'Wrong Region."

I screwed up

It seemed like a harmless remark.

In an appearance Thursday night on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," President Barack Obama made a joke about his lackluster bowling skills by saying: "It was like Special Olympics or something."

But the comment caused an immediate stir in Washington and around the nation.

Evelyn Wood's Reading Between the Lines: Obama a man of Broken Promises

Poll of change: Obama’s job approval slipping to ‘50-50

50-50- Change you can Believe in...

Thar she blows: Mt Redoubt Eruption (Update FAA Webcams)

Mt Redoubt Eruption Twitter

Update:

FAA Webcams of Lake Clark Pass, Merrill Pass and Puntilla Lake.

4km plume prediction

6km plume prediction

8km plume prediction

GOES Satellite Pic Alaska

Skew-T data

Kenai Radar

850 mb

700 mb

500 mb

6hr prog on 24,000 ft winds

Hmmmmmmmmmmm, 50,000 ft plume and winds at 24,000 sw heading......



NWS has an advisory for TKA and no advisory for ANC? Pretty ballsy of them. If that upper low is slighty to the north east of what is progged and the weak ridge axis tilts, Anc could see some light ash...

The susitna valley

SUSITNA VALLEY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...TALKEETNA...WILLOW...CANTWELL
1133 PM AKDT SUN MAR 22 2009

...ASHFALL ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM AKDT MONDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED AN ASHFALL ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM AKDT MONDAY.

REDOUBT VOLCANO AT 60.5N 152.7W HAS ERUPTED AT AROUND 1040 PM AKDT. VOLCANIC ASH IS FALLING AND IS EXPECTED TO REACH THE SURFACE ACROSS THE SUSITNA VALLEY. PRELIMINARY INDICATIONS ARE THAT ASHFALL WILL BE VERY LIGHT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

AN ASHFALL ADVISORY MEANS THAT ASH WILL BE DEPOSITED IN THE ADVISORY AREA. PEOPLE IN AREAS OF ASHFALL SHOULD SEAL WINDOWS AND DOORS. PROTECT ELECTRONICS AND COVER AIR INTAKES AND OPEN WATER SUPPLIES. MINIMIZE DRIVING. LISTEN TO YOUR RADIO STATION FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION.

Weather observation points near Mt Redoubt

Skwentna Observations

Talkeetna Observations

Elemendorf/ANC Observations

Will NASA send its aircraft to Alaska like they did in 1991?

Related thread on NASA and volcanoes in Alaska

Update: Advisory

WWAK71 PAFC 231040
NPWAER

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
240 AM AKDT MON MAR 23 2009

AKZ145-231600-
/X.EXT.PAFC.AF.Y.0001.000000T0000Z-090323T1600Z/
SUSITNA VALLEY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...TALKEETNA...WILLOW...CANTWELL
240 AM AKDT MON MAR 23 2009

...ASHFALL ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM AKDT THIS MORNING...

THE ASHFALL ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM AKDT THIS MORNING.

REDOUBT VOLCANO AT 60.5N 152.7W HAS ERUPTED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE NIGHT. LIGHT ASHFALL HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED AT SKWENTNA. LIGHT ASHFALL IS POSSIBLE THROUGHOUT THE SUSITNA VALLEY THIS MORNING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

AN ASHFALL ADVISORY MEANS THAT ASH WILL BE DEPOSITED IN THE ADVISORY AREA. PEOPLE IN AREAS OF ASHFALL SHOULD SEAL WINDOWS AND DOORS. PROTECT ELECTRONICS AND COVER AIR INTAKES AND OPEN WATER SUPPLIES. MINIMIZE DRIVING. LISTEN TO YOUR RADIO STATION FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION.

The Duplicitous Nature of Super Dave: Murkowski Good Palin Bad at the Lincoln Dinner

Super Dave aka Dave Stieren is like a broken clock.

He's right two times a day. The only problem is, when he looks at the broken clock, he can't tell day from night.

Now Dave has been known to criticise the Governor quite frequently, and when it comes to Murkowski, well he gives her a pass. Thus the night and day problem.

Dave criticises the Governor on abortion..... While giving Murkowski a pass on it.

When it comes to dinners, Dave must of been confusing Murkowski with someone else when it comes to conservatism.

Dave remember SCHIP? And remember the omnibus bill? Murkowsi Yea..... That's just two issues.

One person gave a speech with clarity, purpose, and direction. Someone else, for lack of a better descriptor, chewed republicans out.

Dave tell us, who gave a speech with clarity, direction and purpose?

How is Murkowski on just one issue?

Abortion

Voted NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP. But she did vote to increase it.

Voted NO on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions.

Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines.

Rated 50% by the NRLC, indicating a mixed record on abortion.

Did she include that in her speech?

Dave like I said, a broken clock is right two times during the 24hr period. Trouble is, you are having trouble telling if it is A.M. or P.M.

And yes you deserve a "motherly" talking to, when you are a bad conservative...

Getting Censored by the Anchorage Daily News

I have to laugh at the ADN and the monitors of the ADN. They have a way about them and they love the hell out of Mike Doogan who is not too bright when it comes to being a Legislator.

On today's ADN, they ran an article called Protesters tell Palin to take stimulus funds

I wrote a response to the article.

Their system is not the best when it comes to allowing yourself to edit so I wrote another one where I corrected the statement with "to not accept" to clarify the point with a correction. It was there and it's gone now.

tlamb775 wrote on 03/21/2009 10:34:21 PM:
To my Rep. Mike Doogan. Since when is it un-Alaskan to accept federal dollars that are not free as you like to think they are.

In case you haven't noticed it's called a deficit. CBO: US deficit ballooning to record $1.7 trillion. Who is going to pay back the government for all of that FREE Money.

And to or newly elected Senator... Are you having a reading comprehension problem?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlcUVu7NTIA

From page H1412 of the Final Stimulus Bill, �SEC. 111. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE: You know the part that gave the bonuses to AIG. The bill you read... You signed it. And it looks like Dodd is losing because of it.

Next, blogger Diogenes had this to say:

Diogenes_lamp wrote on 03/21/2009 10:44:24 PM:
Hey Lamb, didn't Doogan crush you in an election? Didn't Bush and Cheney dig this economic hole we are in? I think Palin has been getting help in making all her wrong decisions, she is not smart enough to be as stupid as she seems.

Now how many of you would think I would let an opportunity to go by without responding? I did and the ADN pulled both and then put Diogenes back up.

I reminded Diogenes that one, yes Doogan did beat me in the general election and two, he had to get about 90 grand to do it and have an army of door knockers to do it.

During the primary however, I knew for a fact Doogan's campaign manager and staffers were concerned when they saw I had gotten more votes overall then Doogan did.

They enlisted Eric Croft and Hollis French. And I was just one guy with about $3000.00 to spend on the entire campaign.

In the past, the response of the ADN is comical when it came to Doogan. Sheila Toomey from the ear.

Alors darlings

Subject: FW: The World According To Doogan
Date: 6/19/2006 11:45:52 AM Alaskan Standard Time
From: SToomey@adn.com
To: Tlamb775@aol.com

Sent from the internet (details)


What am I missing here? This is from 1997 -- nine years ago when we didn't have a shooting gang problem. Now we do. So, what's the point?


-----Original Message-----
From: Tlamb775@aol.com [mailto:Tlamb775@aol.com]
Sent: Saturday, June 17, 2006 11:44 PM
To: Macknicki, Kathleen; Pesznecker, Katie; Demer, Lisa
Subject: The World According To Doogan

Toomey missed the point that Doogan didn't think we had a gang problem and I pointed out in 1998 I did. Later I ran a commercial on Doogan being against the longevity bonus and it being at odds with Palin's statement that she wanted to reinstate it.

Prior to the primary, I had posted this: Plugging Away

Now being a celebrity and an ADN columnist (I almost forgot he was an ADN columnist) has its good and its bad. The bad thing for Mike is that most visitors to this blog are now looking at entries on this site titled "The World According to Doogan."

Trust me.

And since I know it will be a "love fest" between the ADN and Mike, I'll just have to exercise my First Amendment rights.

I will be looking at running radio ads once or twice a day five days a week.

The ads will sound like this:

(My voice)

The following message is brought to you and paid for by the Committee to Elect Thomas Lamb.

(Robin's voice)

Alor's darlings this is Sheila Clue-me from the Alaska Ear Lobe.

Darlings, it seems that the lovable Mike Doogan while pooh poohing the Governor on cutting the longevity bonus, endorsed cutting the longevity bonus himself.

Will Mike Doogan do a flip-flop while courting those senior earwigs who lost their longevity bonus? Earwigs would like to know.

More to come in the World According to Doogan at www.thomaslamb.com.....................


I figure if the ADN can play the game, so can I. (smile)

The Mp3 commercial version...I changed it from ear lobe to ear ache.



After the primary, the editors called me a "Hobby Horse rider". However, once Doogan was elected, he changed on the issue. And to give credit, he did the right thing.

I had a good laugh on that one. Anyway, the ADN is taking out most of the pro-Palin comments on this article.

Let them, they will soon be bankrupt anyway. Overtime, I have seen this paper become less effective at changing public sentiment other than to cancel subscriptions.

Will Senator Chris Dodd FAIL on AIG? Will the NE State Become RED

Dodd says he's pressing to keep seat

The Senate Banking Committee chairman has attracted a top-tier challenger in former Rep. Rob Simmons (R-Conn.), who has taken shots at Dodd for his ties to AIG. A Quinnipiac poll released earlier this month showed Simmons with a small, 43-42 percent lead over Dodd.

68% Say Bailout Money Is Going To Those Who Caused The Economic Crisis

Of course. Ask Senator Dodd about that one....

Rep. Mike Doogan Thinks the Stimulus Money is Free

Great, my Rep is saying the federal money is free.

From Rep. Mike Doogan's constituent e-mail on Friday:

Saying No to Federal Money is Un-Alaskan

Gov. Sarah Palin threw everybody a curve by rejecting a third of the federal stimulus money our Uncle Sam wants to give us. Turning down free federal money. Whodda thunk it?

This sparked some grumbling about how Palin’s presidential ambitions -- right-wing Republicans are bound to love her rejecting money from that arch-Satan, Barack Obama – are depriving Alaska schoolchildren and the unemployed of money that will help them.

That’s not the end of it, though. The legislature can still accept the money by passing a resolution doing so.

That’s not the end of it, though. Once the state gets the money, it goes right into the regular appropriations process, which means Palin can veto it.

That’s not the end of it, though. A three-quarters vote of each House can override her veto.

Stay tuned.

Mike, the money isn't free. That's why we are looking at a debt. Get that in your brain. It's not free, unless you don't pay federal taxes.

CBO: US deficit ballooning to record $1.7 trillion

The US budget deficit is turning a deeper shade of red.

On Friday, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said this year’s budget deficit is now nearly $1.7 trillion, more than $400 billion larger than it forecast two months ago. Next year’s deficit will be nearly $1.1 trillion, $430 billion more than its prior forecast. And that doesn’t count President Obama’s budget plans to cut taxes and increase spending.

Although the deepening recession is partly to blame for the increase, the nonpartisan CBO says the increases are largely due to the sharp rise in spending (think fiscal stimulus package) and the higher cost of saving the financial system.

Meanwhile you will see headlines like this in Alaska Cook Inlet producer files for bankruptcy

Senator Begich: You sir are a Liar. (Update with video of Begich Lying)

On the Eddie Burke show, Eddie had asked Begich numerous times if he had read the stimulus package. Begich had said yes he did.

I am checking to see if the interview is available.


Update: H/T C4p

Unintentionally Funny: Senator Begich Describes the Stimulus

Update: Well here we have the liar on tape.... "I looked at it, I read it, you know, it's not complicated"



From the mouths of liars.....

Begich Joins Senators Asking AIG to Give Back Bonuses

U.S. Sen. Mark Begich today joined Senate Democrats in sending a letter to the Chairman and CEO of American International Group (AIG) telling the company to give back multi-million dollar bonus payments or Congress will take action to impose severe tax penalties on the payments.

“The actions by AIG executives to use money designed to get the company back on its feet for executive bonuses is outrageous and incredibly selfish,” Sen. Begich said. “Alaskans and other Americans work hard every day without the benefit of bailouts and bonuses. The fact that AIG is rewarding the same employees that were involved in the meltdown that led to the company needing taxpayer bailout funds is reprehensible.”

Senator Begich, I thought you said the stimulus bill wasn't that complicated. Better yet, maybe you did read it and just got caught lying along with the other Dimwits.

Make this one go viral

HIGH IMPACT - Thanks to our stimulus spending bill search engine and browser, we discovered that Obama granted AIG a free legal pass to give high bonuses because of the following stipulation in Obama’s stimulus bill he personally orchestrated and signed into law:

From page H1412 of the Final Stimulus Bill, “SEC. 111. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE:

“(iii) The prohibition required under clause (i) shall not be construed to prohibit any bonus payment required to be paid pursuant to a writte employment contract executed on or before February 11, 2009, as such valid employment contracts are determined by the Secretary or the designee of the Secretary.”


This amendment provides an exception for contractually obligated bonuses agreed on before Feb. 11, 2009, which exempts the very AIG bonuses Obama is condemning every single chance he gets. The amendment is in the final version and is law.

Paper Terrorism: Palin's Legal Debts Pile Up

Think again about entering politics. It is truly a full contact sport.

Palin also faced a small claims case in Washington, D.C., that was dismissed when the plaintiff didn't show up for a hearing.

In all, Palin said, there have been 10 ethics complaints, counting Troopergate, though she did not provide a list. State ethics complaints are confidential unless a public accusation is filed or the accused person agrees in writing to make to make it public. State officials said they could not discuss any pending ethics cases.

Out of the 10 complaints, Palin said six have been dismissed, one had "concluded," and three are pending.

Last month, with Van Flein as her lawyer, she settled an ethics complaint over her children's travel by agreeing to repay the state for an estimated 10 trips. She said Friday that debt is still under review by the state.

Activists who have brought complaints against Palin said they don't consider their efforts frivolous.

(...)

Andree McLeod, who has filed four ethics complaints against Palin and top aides, and made a number of public records requests, says she's doing exactly what Palin expects. When Palin was sworn in as governor in December 2006, McLeod recalled, she said "Alaskans, hold me accountable; and right backatcha. I'll expect a lot from you too."

"I'm unambiguously, steadfastly and doggedly holding Palin accountable," McLeod said in a statement. Her most recent complaint, filed this week, accuses Palin of using state resources to post a campaign message on the state Web site, and using her state spokesman to address confusion caused by her political action committee.

Andree, do you remember our conversation about the job offer? You are now coming across in your own words, as someone who has an axe to grind about not getting a job. The complaints now look frivolous.

No smoking gun. It's time to re-examine yourself and what you are trying to accomplish.

Will Obama be Shining Palin's Shoes in 2012

A Quick Limbo Poll for Obama



Watch out for the racist speak in comments.

I'm sure some will somehow think the song is racist too, but these are the same people who thought this was okay.








Here are the facts on Shoe Shine Politics.

Broadly speaking, there are two kinds of societies: those where you can get a shoe shine and those where you can’t.

France falls into the latter category. Search Paris high and low for a seat to kick back and se faire cirer les bottes: you’ll search in vain.

There’s something about the idea of having someone stooped at the feet of a client applying polish to his or her boots that rubs the Gallic egalitarian spirit the wrong way. It’s just not what 1789 was about.

In the United States, of course, it’s a different story. Unlike humor, which is in short supply, or banned, a shoe shine is freely available at U.S. airports. Walk a few Manhattan or Chicago blocks and someone will be there to make your shoes gleam.

(...)

So, do I prefer shoe-shine or no-shine societies? I favor the former because they give freer rein to the human spirit, but of course I’d like some attributes of the shine-free world, especially universal health care. That’s doable while avoiding the entitlement-excess that sent France into its protracted doze.

Does this make Cohen a racist while being a socialist?




Sounds like he wants to keep the man or boy down in his place shining shoes....

And meanwhile, Politico is talking about this poll as being serious?

And Josh Painter is calling it B.S.

My bet is on it being B.S.

Fixed Pie Live Blogging at the Lincoln Dinner with Governor Palin as Keynote Speaker (Palin Updates)

Just got in and found this from the Fixed Pie


Twitter Jason and El general good job...

For further updates, check out the guys' website.

Don't forget to check back tomorrow and the next day for pictures of the event! 2 minutes ago from web sorry for the wait.

we're still here... just prioritizing going on. 4 minutes ago from web

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I dont know the way to success. But i know the path to failure. Trying to please everyone. less than 20 seconds ago from web

I ask piper to pray with me and ask got to win this debate. Piper says, "that would be cheating" haha. Yay for god. 1 minute ago from web

Piper- On the night against biden. During prayer. (i grab piper to hold hands during prayer. no one else in the mccain campaign)2 minutes ago from web

El General- Sienna won in 2OT. Amazing! So anyone following on the blog should check some of our posts out, let us know what you think 9 minutes ago from

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Granted it was the valley... Haha on building codes. Even then in 92. I said it's a city issue. not state. not federal. half a minute ago from web ...

And we are left with the bill. Downturn. We must not move backwards!2 minutes ago from web

On Alaska Stimulus. We took the infrastructure. Sent back the funds to expand government. What happens when the fed dollars are gone?...3 minutes ago from web

There are strings for every dollar. We must be solvent through vigilance.
4 minutes ago from web

I thank Lisa and Don. I cannot say the same from our junior senator Begich 5 minutes ago from web

I dont want to be a slave to washington. We are to be enticed by an "economic stimulus" that is borrowed. we cannot let this go on...6 minutes ago from web

... we must develop Alaska! 7 minutes ago from web

Lincoln abolished slavery, and now we are to be slaves of the federal govt. We cannot let them take this from us. no more foreign oil... 7 minutes ago from web

A baby. Not fetal material. A blessing not a burden. The life, not the joke. Esteemed sages, not little statistics. 9 minutes ago from web

Divided we will fail. We must be the party of ideas, NOT constituents!
10 minutes ago from web

We must be guided by principle, and not by the polls." 10 minutes ago from web

Lincoln second inaugural- The great speech. "Equal fervor for differences. these prayers must be answered... how we react will define us... 11 minutes ago from web

We are sewards folly, but we have shown our majesty and shown our place. strong resource. Strong leadership. 12 minutes ago from web

the difference between D's and R's in Alaska is the drive. My admistration is diverse, but not divided (all of these have been palin quotes)13 minutes ago from web

we eat our own, the gop is said to be...14 minutes ago from web

Competition. I like that. Haha. She used a sunny quote!16 minutes ago from web

Bold colors. We must prevail. Every district. 16 minutes ago from web

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"If i were to answer or read every bad thing, this shop would have been closed long ago... Family sticks together." a quote from Lincoln half a minute ago from web

"My son overseas, my husband on the slope developing resources. We are family strong, no matter the fight."1 minute ago from web

She takes the stage!!!-------"Good to be home, here in my own clothes." Palins words from now until further notice.2 minutes ago from web

The intro to Palin- "Two score and 5 years ago, Chuck and Sally Heath..." Haha so good.3 minutes ago from web