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Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Media / 2008 Nailin' Palin

Posted by Paul Constant on Tue, Mar 17, 2009 at 3:04 PM

This looks to be Portfolio Magazine's first big scoop: Sarah Palin is against the Alaska gas pipeline even though she repeatedly said she was for it during the election.

Barack Obama wants the pipeline. It says so right on the White House website, in the section about energy and the environment: prioritize the construction of the alaska natural gas pipeline. But Obama might not realize that one of the biggest obstacles in its path—all Palin’s rhetoric notwithstanding—is the woman who wants to take the presidency from him in 2012, Governor Sarah “Drill, Baby, Drill” Palin.

As Mike Hawker, the Republican co-chairman of Alaska’s House Finance Committee, told me one night in Juneau not long ago, “The only thing standing in the way of an Alaska gas pipeline is the Sarah Palin administration.”

It's a great story, and any Sarah Palin-bashing reportage is fine with me: It's not too early to plan the attack for 2012.

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Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

I wonder if Palin has ever shoplifted?

If the media never reports it, then it never happened right?

Posted by Red Red Wine on March 17, 2009 at 3:18 PM

Is there a QFC in Wassilla?

Posted by we're outta wine on March 17, 2009 at 3:21 PM

Palin is dreaming.

Posted by Failin' on March 17, 2009 at 3:21 PM

The media just can't get over the fact that she wouldn't give interviews, can it?

Posted by Baconcat on March 17, 2009 at 3:27 PM

This is bogus; this is a huge, huge project, which requires enormous amounts of approvals from FERC and probably the NEB (Canadian equivalent). It will cost billions, which still have to be raised. No specific route has been planned yet, or even any open seasons for shipping contracts. Palin cancelled the old pipeline, which is probably what this dude is talking about, but there's a long list of things that need to be done to complete a pipeline, and her approval, even if it's on the list, isn't the hardest thing to get. Land disputes with Canadian native groups alone could take years and years to settle.

Palin can be attacked for a lot of stupid things, comments, and beliefs, but this isn't one of them. Remember, Alaska has a similar population to Seattle; this guy is the equivalent of a city council member.

Posted by Harv on March 17, 2009 at 3:29 PM

@4, the media doesn't like to give interviews themselves.

Posted by Red Red Wine on March 17, 2009 at 3:30 PM

that is true red red wine. It only happens when the Stranger says it did, otherwise just your imagination

Posted by puppycafe on March 17, 2009 at 3:36 PM

@4,

She gave interviews. She refused to do a press conference.

Posted by keshmeshi on March 17, 2009 at 3:37 PM

I've read one of Joe McGinniss books on Alaska before, and I think he takes a lot of literary liberties with facts and quotations. He has a clear story in mind that he wants to tell, and he's clumsy at citing anyone who disagrees with his view. This article is so shoddy that I don't think it will be difficult for the Palin team to dismantle the attacks.

Posted by Ronan on March 17, 2009 at 3:39 PM

So we're supposed to support Obama he supports government giveaways to oil companies? We're supposed to oppose Palin because she is "definitely not making Exxon happy"?

I think I missed something.

Posted by Trevor on March 17, 2009 at 4:23 PM

Seem unlikely that Ms. Palin would take a position that is against oil industry jobs in her state. Even if Alaskans like her, this would seem to be a straight path out of office for her.

Posted by Westside forever on March 17, 2009 at 4:55 PM

What does Ms Palin think of $8.99 red wines from QFC?

Posted by Just Me on March 18, 2009 at 5:03 AM

4, No, It wasn't Palin refusing to do interviews. It was the McCain campaign, realizing the mistake they made in nominating her because she's just plain stupid, that kept her away from the media. Notice as soon as she was away from the campaign, you couldn't keep her out of the media. And to that, I say, thank Christ! She's the gift that keeps on giving.

Posted by Rob in Baltimore on March 18, 2009 at 7:38 AM

DS: God damn, the commenters are going to harass you unmercifully about this.

ECB: Fuck 'em. If I gave a single shit about what they thought, I'd have changed my ways a long time ago.

Posted by smade on March 18, 2009 at 8:12 AM

#5 I hate to say it, but I agree with you. The natural gas pipeline problems existed before Palin and it's likely they will exist after her. Trying to get all effected sides to agree on a route, how it would be funded, who will build it, who will own the gas coming through it, is going to take time. Blaming Sarah Palin, while satisfying as ever, in this situation, is not entirely fair.

Posted by marsgirl on March 19, 2009 at 12:10 PM