Anchorage Daily News

Palin ambition not good for Alaska

Gov. Palin's ambition is hurting Alaska. After championing AGIA and the TransCanada pipeline proposal, she has decided to leave this project, vital to our future, for others to complete. Does anyone else have the force of personality or political good will to finish the job? Are Exxon, Conoco Philips and BP licking their chops at the prospect of taking control of the pipeline process? Who knows?

Gov. Palin also promised open, honest government and when Troopergate became public she said "hold me accountable." When Frank Bailey was caught leaning on trooper Wooten's supervisor, Gov. Palin said she put Mr. Bailey on paid leave so she could force his cooperation with the investigation. Now that Palin has left us to seek national office, she has allowed Bailey to hide behind "executive privilege" even though he claims to have acted on his own. It looks to me like Gov. Palin has abandoned her stated promises and is now taking advice from Karl Rove!

-- John A. Farleigh

Anchorage

Palin's energy expertise needed

I am an Alaskan, a woman and a pilot. I fly coach, like to fish, and drive a beat-up Suburban, yet (amazingly, apparently), those are not the reasons I support Palin in her bid for the vice presidency. One word: energy independence. Palin has the energy expertise necessary to help our country become energy independent. It is a shame that "ANWR" (Alaska National Wildlife Refuge) and "AGIA" (Alaskan Gasline Inducement Act) are not household terms by now.

Let's stop talking about lipstick and focus on the real issues that affect our national security.

-- Mikhael Madello

Anchorage

What of events before divorce?

Why was the child abuse and game violation not a problem for the Palin family until Mike Wooten and Sarah Palin's sister started divorce proceedings?

-- Jim O'Toole

Anchorage

Be wary of McCain reform talk

Recently I'm hearing John McCain, and especially Sarah Palin, repeating a lot of the Democrats' talking points. Isn't that interesting? All of a sudden the Republicans want to reform Washington, build international goodwill and develop renewable energy?

Sounds pretty good coming out of Sarah's mouth, and it's working for them.

But remember George Bush in 2000, the compassionate conservative who was going to work across the aisle, and put a stop to nation-building? That nifty con job brought us eight years of lies, corruption, waste, incompetence, war, deficits and embarrassment.

Don't be duped: John McCain has voted with George Bush 90 percent of the time -- and his campaign staff is chock-full of lobbyists.

His flirtation with reform is one of pure convenience, to be forgotten the minute he gets into office.

Please think very hard before you vote for John McCain on Nov. 4.

-- Steve Fleischman

Anchorage

It's time for old guard to move on

This November Alaskans will be called upon to elect a senator. We have the choice of either voting for the newcomer, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, who will use his time in Washington to improve the lives of all Alaskans, or the out-of-touch incumbent Sen. Ted Stevens.

Begich has had a solid track record as mayor, ending a $33 million budget deficit and creating over 9,000 new jobs. Ted Stevens has been in office for more than 40 years and has little to show for it. His tenure has been riddled with accusations of corruption, which have culminated in his recent federal indictment. Isn't it about time Alaska took a stand against the wayward ethics of the old guard? And elected a senator with a backbone who will actually get things done in Washington?

Mark Begich will fight to improve education and for a comprehensive energy policy, which would not only include the opening of ANWR but also heavy investment in Alaska's rich renewable resources. Alaska is long overdue for a change in Washington and Mark Begich will be the change we need.

-- Iqbal Ahmed

Eagle River

Beware of creeping socialism

The president has little to do with the things that affect you and me on a daily basis. Congress is the body that impacts us most directly, and it is currently controlled by the Democrats.

The Republicans and the Democrats have done more to destroy this country, and our way of life than anyone else. There are other options: Libertarian, Green and Independent parties, just to name a few. We as a nation need to break the lesser-of-two-evils voting mentality that has plagued this country for a hundred years.

The government bailout of the banks is a very scary issue when you think about the fact that government control of the banking system is one of the 10 planks of the Communist Manifesto.

There are a few things that need to happen in order to save our country. Get us out of the U.N., go to a flat tax system and do away with the present graduated income tax system and return our monetary system to the gold standard. Do away with the Federal Reserve. Stop the flow of illegal immigrants into this country. Return our country to the Constitutional Republic it was founded as instead of the creeping socialistic society it has become.

-- Todd Proffitt

Anchorage

Don't attack, find solutions

Abortion, gay marriage and teaching creationism in the schools are NOT the major problems facing the next administration. The economy, energy conservation and supply, the national debt and deficit, 45 million Americans without health insurance as well as developing a foreign policy that restores the respect that other nations used to have for this country are just the beginning of the real problems that face whoever occupies the White House in January. Discussions on finding solutions for these and other issues are what is needed in the ongoing campaign, not negative personal attacks.

-- Peter Jenkins

Eagle River

Mind your own business, McCain

Gov. Palin is now more transparent than ever. Officials from the McCain/Palin campaign are making comments and official statements regarding our state business. This is done obviously in an attempt to control the media, our opinions and the outcome of Troopergate. McCain, keep out of our business. Go back to your campaign trail. This investigation does not need to be controlled by you or your campaign machine. We the people of Alaska will take care of our own business.

-- Jan Bass

Wasilla

Palin just what Washington needs

No one can dispute what Sarah has done for Alaska. From energy rebate to the state jet, she has found many diverse ways of directly helping the people, exactly as she promised she would. Yes, if Gov. Palin makes it to the White House, the Last Frontier will truly miss her.

However, how can we deny this opportunity to our country? Sarah can bring many new facets to our government, and can help lead our country back in the right direction. She has shown through her fulfilling if brief term as governor that she truly puts the people first.

Our great state will miss the fresh face of Palin, but in the overall scheme, Sarah still has our best interests at heart.

-- Jenna Wright

Wasilla

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