Rethinking Manifest Destiny
Monday, October 8, is Columbus Day – a day that celebrates Columbus’ “discovery of the New World” in 1492. As this momentous event set off a wave of conquest, imperialism, cultural and environmental devastation, and empire building that continues today, this seems a good time to reflect on this tragic history, and discuss a better way forward for 21st century humanity. In today’s clamor to develop our final frontiers, such as the Arctic, the deep sea, and even outer space, it’s easy to hear echoes of voices from centuries past calling for the westward expansion of “civilization” as a…
Bell’s Firm Got $1 Million+ from BP
Well, well, well. Ask not for whom Mr. Bell shills – he shills for BP. We practically needed the jaws of life to pry the truth out of candidate Bob Bell, but it has finally been liberated from the mangled wreck of his financial “disclosure” forms. If you remember from the other day, Mr. Bell decided first that he didn’t want to tell us who gave his engineering firm money. Then APOC told him he had to not only disclose who, but how much. Then he disclosed who, but NOT how much. Apparently it became more uncomfortable for Mr. Bell…
Bob Bell’s Oily Non-Disclosure
Oh, my. Remember Bob Bell? The muskox poachin’, campaign finance violatin’ State Senate candidate running against Hollis French? Well, he decided a while back that he was above the financial disclosure laws that applied to all those other candidates. And then a citizen complaint was filed against him with the Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC). And APOC gave him the bad news that yes, the law actually applied to him, no matter how super-special he thinks he is. So, what’s he doing now? Stonewalling. Yes, Mr. Bell continues to violate Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC) disclosure laws by failing to…
Church Chat! Get out and Vote, Mat-Su!
. It’s a little more than a month until the general election in November, but for the Mat-Su Borough, election day is also tomorrow! I saw this message from Michelle Church and I asked her if I could repost it here. I hope all you Mat-Su folks remember to get out and vote tomorrow. The results will hinge on a very few votes, so turnout will make the difference. ************************************ The woman’s shoulders shook and her hands clenched. Her ragged voice broke as she testified to the Assembly about a land use conflict. I sat there in the audience chairs…
Oyster Roundup!
~Thick and fast they came at last, and more, and more, and more! Here are a half dozen quick, slurpable stories to say farewell to the week. *************************** Quote of the Week: “He makes Michelle Bachmann sound like a hippie.” -Sen. Claire McCaskill on Todd Akin Awesome New Website – Captain Zero v. Senate Heroes! The latest administration plan to give away $2 billion in no strings attached money to oil companies will eventually bankrupt the state of Alaska. The bipartisan state senate coalition has said no dice. Bipartisanship that puts Alaska first is the firewall. Herding …the…
Help! Help! We Can’t Find Sarah Palin!
Exxon has had some challenges in Alaska in the past. Remember that whole oil spill thing? Well, that was no walk in the park. Exxon and their legal help (including now-Governor Sean Parnell) had a devil of a time with those annoying fishermen. But finally, they ruled the day, and the Supreme Court whittled down the original $5 billion settlement to a mere $500 million owed to those whose livelihoods were damaged by the spill. And if more than 20 years of fighting feisty fishermen wasn’t enough, now they actually have to try to find all those people to whom…
Best Event/Worst Event!
We’re all buried in invitations to fundraisers and political events this time of year. The fact that 59 of 60 legislative seats are up for election this cycle due to redistricting, makes it even more confusing to sort it all out. But here’s a complete no-brainer for best/worst events for the week. Let’s start with best. You can spend a Friday evening with the amazing Pete Petersen who is running for re-election on Anchorage’s East Side. He’ll be there with the equally amazing Tom Begich to delight you with an evening of yummy food, yummy music, and yummy company. Now,…
Treadwell Oversees & Meddles in Elections
‘Tis the season of the robocall. We all get them at some point – reminding us about a fundraiser, or from a candidate seeking our vote. Occasionally a candidate will get someone to call on his or her behalf. It’s usually not the sitting Lieutenant Governor. Yes boys and girls, if you live in the Valley, you may have gotten a robocall from Lite Gov Mead Treadwell singing the praises of local Tea Party types Larry Devilbiss for Mayor and Ron Arvin for Borough Assembly. Here’s what one of them said: “This is Mead Treadwell. The Mat-Su Borough has made…
Pebble Buys Signature Thugs (UPDATED)
*THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH NEW INFORMATION. SEE BELOW! Ahhh. Take a nice deep sniff and enjoy the smell of desperation and deceit. It seems to be wafting over from the Pebble Parntnership. You see, when you’re a consortium of foreign mining companies with crappy track records and nobody likes you, or the idea of your giant open pit copper mine at the headwaters of the world’s largest wild salmon fishery in Bristol Bay, you start having to resort to all kinds of things. The latest bit of skulduggery they’ve pulled out of their hat is to activate their…
Hundreds Turn Out for “It’s Our Oil” Rally
Almost 200 people turned out in Anchorage, and also a great crowd in Fairbanks for the “It’s Our Oil” rally on Saturday. These folks speak for Alaskans who are sick of getting ripped off at the pump, and are sick of being told that it will take a $20 BILLION giveaway to oil companies in order to get more oil in the pipeline. Alaskans who are tired of hearing politicians from both sides of the aisle in the pocket of Big Oil trying to sell the same song and dance every year without requiring increased production. Oil companies make hundreds…