Anchorage Daily News

McGuire should be disciplined

By her own admission, state Sen. Lesil McGuire interfered with a flight crew by refusing to stop using her Blackberry after ignoring the usual instructions to stop, consequently causing the pilot to delay takeoff.

If she was traveling from Juneau at the state’s expense, she caused this disturbance and embarrassment while acting in her capacity as a state senator: She needs to be disciplined by the Senate. In the federal government, an employee causing such a disturbance while traveling on official business would find their future official duty travel opportunities curtailed and face consequences.

— Thomas B. Petersen

Anchorage

What’s happened to Sarah Palin?

Can somebody please explain why John McCain’s campaign is involved in our state’s business? Why did his spokesman announce that our governor “likely” won’t be cooperating in the Troopergate investigation after all, despite her assurances otherwise? Isn’t Palin still the governor? Doesn’t she have her own staff? Does this mean it’s now the state of Alaska vs. John McCain’s presidential aspirations?

More importantly, why are Alaskans putting up with this unconscionable meddling? In other circumstances, you’d hope the governor would be the one to protest such cynical, self-serving interference by a presidential candidate of any party. That would be the action of a reforming, transparent, accountable governor, anyway. Apparently that governor is long gone. And, as she told Charlie Gibson last week, she didn’t even hesitate when McCain invited her on board. Never looked back. Didn’t even tidy up. I wonder if she’ll feel a little sheepish when she comes back.

Republican Sen. Charlie Huggins is the real hero after voting with the Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee to approve subpoenas. His beautifully simple premise: “Let’s just get the facts on the table, the sooner the better.”

Yes, let’s do, and before Nov. 4. The rest of the country deserves to know the truth now too. Or maybe that’s exactly what John McCain is afraid of?

— Sherry Simpson

Anchorage

This pit bull is out of control

For over 30 years Walt Monegan was a good cop, police chief, and Commissioner of Public Safety.

To see Sarah Palin and her underlings smear the record of a fine public servant and good man is evidence that the governor has sold her soul to the demigods of attack politics in her quest for the vice-presidency. Is this the type of leadership Alaskans want in Washington or Juneau?

The problem with pit bulls is that they sometimes attack people that get in their way.

— Jerry Hupp Anchorage

Not all Alaskans sold on Palin

There’s a lot of hype about “all” Alaskans loving Sarah Palin. Did all the 51.7% of Alaska voters who did not vote for her during the 2006 election for governor convert to “Palin lovers?” The “Reject Palin” rally on Sept. 13 proved otherwise. Hats off to the women who organized the peaceful “Reject Palin” rally in spite of receiving threats.

Do your homework and vote wisely.

— Blanche Tinius

Eagle River

America needs political change

I am a 31-year-old registered Independent Alaska woman. I have suffered through a chronic illness with treatments including medically induced menopause, four surgeries and a medically necessary abortion.

I am a college educated, employable, intelligent woman who has faced 10 years of medical procedures that have left me financially and spiritually destitute.

I am unable to work a full-time job because of chronic pain. Needless to say, without a full-time job, health insurance is a non-issue.

I cannot express in words how dire a state I feel our country is in. For the first time in my life, I believe there is a candidate with an honest desire to lift up those in America who no longer have a voice. We have the chance to invest in alternative energy, to fundamentally rebuild our schools and to give the possibility of health to those of us too sick and poor to shout loud enough.

As Alaskans and Americans, I beg you to take an honest look at the last eight years. Are you really better off? Isn’t Obama/Biden the better choice?

— Amory Lelake

Anchorage

Investigation was compromised

Sen. Hollis French had conferred with investigator Steve Branchflower, behind closed doors, concerning the subpoenas for the investigation of the governor. Sen. French even went so far as to remove a name from the list of subpoenas Mr. Branchflower was requesting. He then chaired the meeting and voted to issue the subpoenas.

The pre-hearing meeting between Steve Branchflower and Hollis French has compromised the integrity of the investigation. We can no longer be assured that it is independent and being conducted at arm’s length from the political process. The only reasonable thing to do now is to bring the current investigation to an end.

If the legislature feels an investigation is still warranted, then a new investigator needs to be appointed and all members of the legislature need to step away until the investigation is complete.

— John L Hemmelgarn

Anchorage

Palin has what country needs

Sarah Palin is a first-class woman and a genuine conservative. She has cut pork barrel spending in Alaska and is prepared to do the same in Washington. We as Americans realize that the solution to our country’s needs is not more of the same: experienced pick-pocketing government bureaucrats. What we ought to have is a woman who knows what Americans want: fewer taxes, smaller government and the preservation of our freedoms.

Palin has what it takes to get all this done and lead this nation. She has a passionate will and a fine character, she believes as we believe, she has the same dreams, the same aspirations, she is America!

— Jesse Parent

Wasilla

Palin wrong on oil production

In Gov. Sarah Palin’s recent ABC interview with Charles Gibson, she boldly claimed that Alaska “produces nearly 20 percent of the U.S. domestic supply of energy.”

Like so many Alaskans, she greatly exaggerates the national significance of Alaska oil production for political reasons.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Agency, Alaska actually produces less than 5 percent of all crude oil consumed by the nation as a whole. Imports account for more than 65 percent of U.S. oil consumption. So even if opening ANWR or new discoveries doubled or tripled Alaska’s oil production levels, well over half of the nation’s oil would still be imported.

Given that petroleum makes up 39 percent of the nation’s total energy use (from all sources), and including present levels of natural gas production, Alaska’s total contribution to the national energy pie is well under five percent.

But saying 20 percent instead of 5 percent certainly sounds more impressive on the campaign trail.

— Brian Yanity

Anchorage

It’s time to arrest the elders

The slaughter of the caribou in northwest Alaska is a black eye to all the Alaskans. That’s not subsistence, it’s a crime. And now to say the troopers are at a stand still? If it was me, I would be arresting the so called elders for obstruction of justice. Then maybe some heads would roll and justice would be carried out.

— Jon Seymore

Wasilla

Action needed on caribou killings

Enough already. The Daily News and a group of legislators — Lyda Green, Hollis French and a minority of others — have beat the Palin “troopergate” scandal long enough.

If the legislature needs to investigate anything it should be the recent senseless slaughter of caribou. One of Alaska’s greatest natural resources was desecrated by a group and nothing has been done. No more stories of outrage written, not a foot note of punishment, no ID of the killers. Alaskans should be up in arms.

— Julie Jensen-Zarr

Anchorage

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