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…
Voter ID – It started with 10 Nuns in Indiana
This story is the basis of chapter 29 of Greg Palast’s Billionaires & Ballot Bandits: How to Steal an Election in 9 Easy Steps available now in bookstores and on-line. Or for a donation to TheMudflats of $100 (using the donate button at right) get a signed copy by Greg Palast (and if you like I’ll sign it too…). You’re probably asking why am I publishing a story that’s 4 years old – well, Indiana was the testing ground for Voter ID laws. When Indiana was allowed by the Supreme Court to force people to have voter id in the elections…
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…
Open Thread – Brian in Puyallup!
Haven’t seen Brian the Moose around much lately. I thought it was the wind and driving rain that had kept him away, but thanks to Mudflatter Jim, I now know that Brian was actually at the Puyallup Fair, in Washington! It’s one of the ten biggest in the nation. For some reason, he took particular interest in the Photo Salon… As always, feel free to send in your shots of Brian, wherever he may be…
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…
Militia Major Sentenced to Five Years
Another day in court that brings us closer to the end of the Fairbanks militia trial. Today saw the sentencing of militia Major Coleman Barney, and also a status conference with Lonnie and Karen Vernon that left more questions than answers. For those wanting to cut to the chase, Coleman Barney was sentenced to five years in prison, half the time of the ten year sentence the prosecution was seeking, but hardly the house arrest, or time served sought by the defense. How they arrived at the sentence was fascinating, though, and all the details are below. LONNIE AND KAREN…
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…
Romney’s Entitlement Problem
In case you missed it, this week we had “Talk Like a Pirate Day.” The guy who made my coffee took it pretty seriously. He made more sense than the news I was trying to tune out. Guess what, America. Mitt Romney doesn’t like poor people. He says things with his inside voice — when he should really just zip it. He wears bronzer when he goes on Spanish TV. I’m pretty sure brown face won’t help him with the Hispanic demographic. His wife complained, “Stop it! This is hard.” Really, Ann? Is it as hard as having to sell…
“Stop it. This is Hard,” Pouts Ann Romney
“Stop it. This is hard. You want to try it? Get in the ring,” she said. “This is hard and, you know, it’s an important thing that we’re doing right now and it’s an important election and it is time for all Americans to realize how significant this election is and how lucky we are to have someone with Mitt’s qualifications and experience and know-how to be able to have the opportunity to run this country.” So pouteth Ann Romney on Radio Iowa. And Rafalca wept. See, our problem is that we just don’t understand what it’s like to be…