The American Spectator

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No Questions Asked

10.3.08 @ 12:01AM

(Page 3 of 5)

Thanks. We who live in Alaska appreciate that the truth is getting out about our Governor. She is a very accomplished and smart woman who gets things done.
-- Helen Buckwalter

I find it ironic that a writer who lives in Leesburg Virginia somehow thinks he has an insight into Alaskan foreign policy. Has Mr. Lucier ever actually been to Alaska? If he had visited our great state perhaps he would have gotten some key points right. First --Russian jets have not actually entered US airspace; when jets were scrambled in Feb. the Russian jets were still 500 miles form the coast of Alaska. Second -- the jets were scrambled from Elmendorf AFB -- not the National Guard. Palin played no role in the event; she was informed shortly afterwards of the incident -- but so were the rest of us via newspapers and television. To claim she played a role shows the lack of insight regarding the role the US Air Force vs. the National Guard.

Likewise Mr. Lucier overplays Alaska's role as an economic power. Alaska differs from the rest of the US in three distinct ways:

1. Demographics: We have a population of 625,000; we're 75% white and 80% Christian -- we have less than 5% African-American and around 20% native. In other words -- we're tiny and in no way representative of the multi-cultural country that the rest of America is. Furthermore we have the lowest population density -- 1.1 person / sq. mile.

2. Taxes & Dividends: We have no state income tax... and we tax the oil companies quite a bit thus providing us with a surplus (which is then distributed back to us) -- so in this way we differ greatly from every other state out there. Other states have no income tax -- but no other state gives out a dividend.

3. Federal Money: AK is a very young state (we turn 50 in Jan.) and the only way our economy has been allowed to grow is through government funding. We've gotten billions of your tax money over the years -- much of it goes to federal programs (like defense, the coast guard and parks) -- but quite a bit goes towards infrastructure. We're unique in that we have this giant budget surplus due to oil -- yet also get a huge federal injection of cash every year.

These 3 factors make AK very unique in regards to government -- and no other state (much less a nation) could function under the above circumstances without intense federal oversight. Thus any politician has a rather skewed view of policy and I would argue that these circumstances render politicians out of touch on a national level. If you want proof of this look at the current Steven's trial and read about Young's ethical problems with such bills as the Bridge to Nowhere and Coconut road (Young is also under investigation for bribes and unreported gifts).

I love my state and I encourage you to come visit; but to say that our removal from the rest of America somehow qualifies our legislators as foreign policy experts and economic powerhouse requires quite a spin.
-- William Finley
Anchorage, Alaska

Mr. Lucier writes: "They (Democrats) had to shore up a nominee (Obama) whose only foreign policy experience to date had been to interfere in the elections in Kenya on behalf of his cousin, Raila Odinga."

How unfair of Mr. Lucier to completely overlook Obama's foreign aid experience. Somebody's sending that dollar each month to George.

As to Russia's designs on Alaska, I say let them have it -- maybe they'll sell us some of the oil.

I'm more concerned about foreign policy toward our southern neighbors. Sarah Palin has a funny accent and I don't trust it. She doesn't sound like Jimmy Carter, Michael Dukakis, Bill Clinton, or any other foreign policy expert that the Democrats have put up. I hope someone asks her about Central America. If she says knicker-OGG-wuh, I'll vote for her. If I hear knee-her-AW-wuh, I'm going with the Constitution Party.
-- Dan Martin
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Nice try at defending Governor Sarah Palin on her foreign policy experience. Another attempt to rationalize Senator John McCain's choice as a Vice-President on the GOP ticket. The Russians may fly over parts of Alaska, but your story has trouble starting its engine to persuade anyone with common sense. But, thank you for your opinion and attempt at justification for the choice of Governor Sarah Palin. May the best candidates be elected in November for the sake of the American people who deserve great leadership in this time of need.
-- John Basmajian

An additional foreign policy factor missed is that because of the personnel shortages within the American military, the one land based Strategic Missile Defense installation which is in Alaska is manned by the Alaskan National Guard. I do not know how the Alaskan State Command Authority ASCA meshes with the National Command Authority NCA but unless the constitution has been repealed they have to mesh in some fashion.
-- Gregory Franke

IT'S A RELIGION FOR SEC. PAULSON, TOO
Re: Robert Stacy McCain's The Bible Vs. the Bailout:

Letter to the Editor

topics:
Taxes, Foreign Policy, Education, John McCain, Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, Hank Paulson, Bill Clinton, Mainstream Media, Television, Economics, Business, Religion, Constitution, Law, Military, Russia, NATO, Africa, Socialism, Communism, Conservatism, Energy, Alaska, Oil