2007 Best & Worst Political Moves

The Worst Political Moves of 2007:

10: Mayoral Candidate Dan Sullivan declares Anchorage is a city in decay.

After spending the last nine years on the Anchorage Assembly, including a stint as Chairman what a thing to say. If things are really this bad, where has he been while the ship was taking on water, re-arranging the deck chairs?  

9: DNR Commissioner Tom Irwin and his September press conference blasting BP.

One week after BP President Doug Suttles publicly criticized the governors proposed oil tax hike, Irwin hastily organized a press conference to blast BP's response to a small fire on the North Slope. The non event was so politically transparent that even the State Fire Marshall was shaking his head. A follow up state investigation concluded BP did everything right.

8: Bait and switch budgeting by the Palin administration.

In 2007, Palin proposed to much fanfare cutting the operating budget $150 million by finding efficiencies. They found none and cut nothing. Instead the governor signed the highest operating budget in history. 

7: Bait and switch budgeting, the sequel.

This month Governor Palin announced her new budget and claims to be restricting agency spending to 1% general fund growth. However the governor is asking for a 250% increase in her own personal budget from $17 million to $45 million and permission to hire 42 additional staff.

6: Congressman Don Young attacking the Anchorage Daily News.

This really did nothing more than raise more questions about all of the ethics allegations that have yet to be proven against Congressman Young. Take a cue from former Anchorage Glacier Pilots super fan C.B. Davis: "Keep the ball low, and the devil will get him sho".

5: Local businessman Bob Gillam and his relentless bankrolling of the anti-pebble mine ads.

A title wave of toxins? Assured destruction of everything west of Wasilla? Give us a break. How about if we at least respect due process? After all it is was designated as a state mining area long before Gillam built his luxury lodge in the area. 

4: AGIA.

Seven months of hype and the application process generated one viable applicant and even they admit they can't do it without the producers. How long does this charade continue until the Palin Administration admits they were wrong and sits down with the producers to negotiate fiscal terms on a natural gas pipeline?

3: Matanuska Maid.

What can you say? Seven months ago Governor Palin rallied with Valley farmers after the Creamery Board voted to shut Mat Maid down.  We can't let the cows die or the milk be spilled into the fields and we need to save the farmers. Seven months later, Mat Maid is much deeper in debt, no potential buyers for the assets, multiple lawsuits by former executives of Mat Maid and the farmers are still asking for state help or face killing their cows or spilling milk into their fields. What was the purpose again for keeping Mat Maid open?

2: ACES.

How can a CEO announce plans for a $700 million tax hike and assure investors that it won't hurt the economy and then sign a tax hike for over twice that amount and say the same thing? The new tax structure was based on faulty economic modeling with outdated cost inputs from 2002. This one will hurt the economy sooner rather than later in more ways than one.

1: The Corrupt Bastards Club, especially Pete Kott.

After years of flying above the law, Allen and associates crash and burn and take down with them the economic well being of Alaska. Thanks for nothing and enjoy the New Year behind bars. Hey Pete,  thanks for the car rental tax and be sure and send us a post card from prison. First a tip; watch the movie "Office Space" for insight  and humor on how to survive in federal prison after being found guilty of white collar crime.

The Best Political Moves of 2007:

10: Anchorage City Manager Dennis LeBlanc leaves the public sector for the private sector.

Anchorage loses one of the best city managers we've ever had and CH2MHill gains a top notch executive. Twice the salary and he doesn't have to spend the next year fighting with a half dozen people who think they're going to be the next Mayor of Anchorage.

9: Former Governor Tony Knowles speech to the Alaska Resource Development Council.

Funny, informative and makes you nostalgic for the good old days when  a governor understood that being an owner state doesn't mean much if you can't get what you own to market.
http://www.akrdc.org/membership/events/breakfast/0708/knowles.html

8: State Representative Ralph Samuels votes against AGIA.

The only legislator who voted against the plan, saying on the house floor that it would not deliver Alaska a natural gas pipeline. It should be no mystery why this guy is considered the most knowledgeable lawmaker on oil & gas issues.

7: United States Senator Ted Stevens holds a local hearing on climate change and coastal erosion in rural Alaska.

Not only did Uncle Ted bring up his colleague Democratic Senator Mary Landreaux from Louisiana, but he put on a masterful hearing. It was classic Ted Stevens; sharp, on point and demanding answers from bureaucrats that should have had some.

6: Governor Sarah Palin's world media tour 2007.

Strike a pose for Vogue, chat with Charlie Rose, featured in Newsweek. The amount of earned media that Alaska has received would cost millions in advertising dollars. If just one person reading Vogue skips buying a pair of Jimmy Choos or Manolos and books a cruise or a flight to Anchorage instead, the economy wins.

5: The Alaska Federation of Natives issues a resolution opposing the anti-mining initiatives.

Anti-Pebble activists are taking their battle to the streets by over simplifying the impacts that their initiative would on Alaska's mining industry. Meanwhile, the impacts could be devastating to Alaska's Native Corporations, many of whom are heavily invested in mining opportunities. At their Fairbanks convention, AFN takes a stand that is good for Alaska's economy.

 4: The Anchorage School District gives Superintendent Carol Comeau an 11% raise.

She deserved more, especially considering she refused the last raise that was offered to her because she was concerned about tight budgets. In any other state in a similar size district she'd be bringing home much more. After watching what she has done managing a school district that is rapidly changing, it has been nothing short of amazing.

3: Governor Palin hires Rhonda McBride to consult on rural Alaska issues.

Rural Alaska is in desperate need of someone who can articulate the problems and solutions for their communities. McBride is not only an award winning reporter covering rural issues, but is well respected and brings with her tremendous insight and experience. Excellent choice governor!

2: The parting predictions of the former management of Matanuska Maid and the Creamery Board that Governor Palin fired.

They predicted the cost of producing milk would continue to skyrocket, the cost of producing milk continued to skyrocket. They predicted record losses if the dairy was kept open, record losses occurred after they kept the dairy open. They predicted the dairy couldn't survive and would incur more debt in the process, the dairy didn't survive and now has debts in the millions. Mac Carter, Rhonda Boyles, Joe Van Treek, Terry Clark et al. you are owed a public apology from a number of people including Governor Palin and Creamery Board Chair Kristen Cole.

1.) ConocoPhillips submits a natural gas pipeline proposal

They couldn't submit an application under the flawed AGIA concept so Conoco submits its own 115 page proposal to provide Alaskans with a real opportunity to get a natural gas pipeline. They have the gas, they have the relationship with the producers to bring them to the table and they have the financial ability. Three critical things that no AGIA bidder possesses. It's the door to the pipeline Governor Palin, for the future of Alaska please open it and walk into the light.