Anchorage Daily News

'Fun' doesn't equal VP material

I agree with Mr. Bob Lester that Sarah Palin is extremely likeable and fun. That doesn't make her a good candidate for vice president.

The last time Americans voted for someone we "liked," we elected a man who might be an awesome person to have a beer with but had absolutely no interest in or ability to lead our country. Now we are a country at war, in dire financial straits, and quickly losing any worldwide respect we might have once had as a strong, just, democratic nation. All because people voted for someone they want to have as a neighbor.

I understand that life is more fun with Palin. But at what cost?

-- Jessie Salway

Anchorage

Palin gives the lie to the idea that only experts are qualified to lead

Sarah Palin seems to bring out the worst in some people. Sarcasm is used instead of analysis; personal attacks substitute for response. It may be because she is happy and successful, and unhappy, disgruntled people just hate her for it.

But it may be she threatens our security blanket. We hold tight to the notion that there are "experts" who are superior to "regular" people. We rely on them to tell us what to do, and know them by their elite degrees and pedigrees. But if Sarah Palin from Wasilla is talented enough to be vice president, then those experts so many of us have been fawning over all our lives aren't as all-powerful, all-knowing and all-important as we've believed.

If "regular" people can take on "expert" roles, then we may have to learn to rely on ourselves more. We'll have to develop some common sense and engage in hard work, and not just follow where elites would take us.

Like the little boy in The Emperor's New Clothes, Sarah Palin is pointing out that the emperor is naked, and sure as heck isn't endowed with some special powers. But, pointing this out makes a whole lotta people nervous and, apparently, even angry.

-- Joann Grimes

Anchorage

Cartoonist a reliable bright spot

Many, many thanks to Peter Dunlap-Shohl for his years of fine work at the ADN. His talent and wit are world-class, and have brightened my morning more times than I can count. He displays that rare set of skills required for an editorial cartoonist: originality, sharp observation, and the ability to cut through appearances to the truth underneath, all while being absurd and funny. Bravo!

-- Carol Lambert

Anchorage

ADN's reaction to BP executive's comments were way off the mark

Your Sept. 27 editorial castigating BP's Gary Boubel's comments at the recent World Affairs Council luncheon regarding tax stability for the Alaska gas line is misinformed and overreaching. I attended the luncheon ,and Mr. Boubel was specifically not discussing the various Alaska gas line projects and the effect of recent tax policy on their prospects of success; he was discussing his experience on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) in Russia. His point was that when oligarchs like Putin "change the game" and try to appropriate wealth by ignoring the rule of law after significant investment by international oil and gas partners, bad things happen. In this case, the Russians are delaying expansion of CPC until they gain greater control and push out their development partners.

Your parsing of Mr. Boubel's home mortgage analogy missed his point entirely; that is that investors need to know what the deal is going in before making a decision to green-light a project. Unless you intended to connect the Alaskan state government's taxation policy with the illegal tactics of Russian oligarchs, your editorial overreached, and you should be better informed and less provincial on the political levers that others use with pipeline developments.

-- Dave Norton

Anchorage

Editor's note: The writer is a former state oil and gas commissioner and currently is a consultant to oil industry clients.

US citizens blessed by being able to choose leaders by ballot

Since being granted citizenship in 1988, I have always valued my status as an American. If you were born in the U.S., it might be something you take for granted. But as someone born on foreign soil, being a certified citizen of the greatest country on Earth is an honor I cherish more and more each day.

But with that honor comes responsibilities. One of those responsibilities and privileges is voting. Having the power to change your leadership with ballots instead of bullets is truly a wonderful blessing.

And what an election this is shaping up to be! What a great time to be in this country!

It wasn't that long ago that neither blacks nor women were even allowed to vote. Now we have a woman who could occupy the second most-powerful position in this land, and an African American who could be the leader of the free world.

We are on the edge of history, and I for one don't plan to let it pass me by as though I were sitting on my porch watching the parade go past my door. I will cast my vote and be a part of history.

And then regardless of who wins, I will do my best to make this country, state and city better places to be by being an active participant. I won't be just another grumpy, curmudgeon complaining about "those darn politicians" but who didn't even bother to vote.

Your grandkids will read about this historic election, and wonder how you voted and why. I hope you are paying close enough attention so that you can tell them what the country was like back in 2008 -- and how you did your part to try to make it better.

-- Kyong Hollen

Fairbanks

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