Sarah Palin: Just When Ya Think It Can’t Get Any More “Interesting”... Welcome, Neighbor!

Hi, Neighbor! May I Call You "Joe"?

Sarah Palin via Facebook

Spring has sprung in Alaska, and with this beautiful season comes the news today that the Palins have a new neighbor! Welcome, Joe McGinniss!

Yes, that Joe McGinniss. Here he is – about 15 feet away on the neighbor’s rented deck overlooking my children’s play area and my kitchen window. Maybe we’ll welcome him with a homemade blueberry pie tomorrow so he’ll know how friendly Alaskans are.

We found out the good news today. Upon my family’s return this morning from endorsement rallies and speeches in the Lower 48 states, I finally got the chance to tackle my garden and lawn this evening! So, putting on the shorts and tank top to catch that too-brief northern summer sun and placing a giddy Trig in his toddler backpack for a lawn-mowing adventure, I looked up in surprise to see a “new neighbor” overlooking my property just a stone’s throw away. Needless to say, our outdoor adventure ended quickly after Todd went to introduce himself to the stranger who was peering in...

Joe announced to Todd that he’s moved in right next door to us. He’s rented the place for the next five months or so. He moved up all the way from Massachusetts to live right next to us – while he writes a book about me. Knowing of his many other scathing pieces of “journalism” (including the bizarre anti-Palin administration oil development pieces that resulted in my Department of Natural Resources announcing that his work is the most twisted energy-related yellow journalism they’d ever encountered), we’re sure to have a doozey to look forward to with this treasure he’s penning. Wonder what kind of material he’ll gather while overlooking Piper’s bedroom, my little garden, and the family’s swimming hole?

Welcome, Joe! It’ll be a great summer – come borrow a cup of sugar if ever you need some sweetener. And you know what they say about “fences make for good neighbors”? Well, we’ll get started on that tall fence tomorrow, and I’ll try to keep Trig’s squeals down to a quiet giggle so we don’t disturb your peaceful summer. Enjoy!

- Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin: Big Oil: Learning from Alaska's Experience

Sarah Palin via Facebook

Many Americans want a serious discussion about what can be done to finally tackle the Gulf Coast oil spill. Unfortunately, yesterday White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs used his appearance on “Face the Nation” to deflect from the needed discussion about solutions as he suggested that I should “get slightly more informed as to what’s going on in and around oil drilling in this country.”

Mr. Gibb’s comments were in response to something I said last weekend in an interview on “Fox News Sunday.” In the course of discussing the administration’s failure to get to grips with the oil spill, I pointed out that the media was rather silent on asking if there was a connection between the White House’s hands-off response to the spill and the undisputed fact that Barack Obama was BP’s top recipient of both PAC and individual money for the last 20 years. Please note that I never claimed there was a conspiratorial connection; rather, I was saying that it’s odd that so few in the media have asked that question. In fact, I believe Major Garrett is one of the few reporters to pursue the issue. You can be sure that if this were a Republican administration, at the very least the media would be asking that question nonstop.

As for getting “informed” about oil drilling: I’m confident that in the course of my chairmanship of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC) and the U.S.’s Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC), and my work as governor of our nation’s huge oil producing state, I’ve learned enough to be able to say with some certainty that the White House’s response to this crisis leaves something to be desired. I also believe that the White House should spend all of its time finding solutions to the enormous oil gush problem.

The Obama administration claims that it “will not rest until we get this situation under control,” but in practice it’s evident that it must do more to stop a potential environmental disaster from happening. U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen probably summed it up best when he described the Obama Administration’s approach to this crisis as “keeping a close watch” while BP is tackling the problem – at the company’s own pace.

While the Administration watches from the sidelines, the Gulf Coast states face some potential disaster. This raises serious questions. Should it really take nine whole days before the Administration asked the Department of Defense for help in deploying equipment needed for the extreme depth spill site? Why is Governor Jindal still waiting, 35 days later, for material needed to tackle the oil spill to protect the coast’s environment and for federal approval to build offshore sand barriers to protect his state’s coast line? Is it correct that the Coast Guard was initially unwilling to burn off the oil for fear of causing air pollution (which would have been far less harmful than the current water pollution)?

These questions all require answers. In the mean time, let me make a constructive suggestion to help the White House out of its current impasse. They should reach out to the best oil and gas team in the nation and tap into its expertise. I know just the team: Alaska’s Department of Natural Resources, led by Commissioner Tom Irwin. Having worked with Tom and his DNR team as Governor, I can vouch for their expertise and their integrity in dealing with Big Oil and overseeing its developments.

This team’s (and Alaska’s PSIO team’s) expertise on oil spill issues is particularly relevant. We all lived and worked through the Exxon oil spill, and we all committed to the principle that this would never happen again in Alaska’s waters, at least not on our watch. That’s why we created the Petroleum Systems Integrity Office (PSIO) when we saw proof of improper maintenance of oil infrastructure in our state. And that’s why we instituted new oversight and held BP and other oil companies financially accountable for poor maintenance practices. And that’s why we cracked down on unethical and unsound practices by oil companies and their contractors that operate in Alaska. And that’s why I filed a Friend-of-the-Court brief against Exxon’s interests for its decades-old responsibility to compensate victims adversely affected by the Exxon-Valdez oil spill. None of these actions made us popular with oil company management. (In fact, Commissioner Irwin received a message from a North Slope oil company employee that summed up their view of our efforts well: the message told him to “go to hell, but resign first.”) Our relationship with Big Oil may have been perceived as contentious because we always put the interests of Alaskans first.

The White House could do worse than emulate what Alaska did over the years. No, it doesn’t make you popular with Big Oil (my commissioners and I certainly learned that!), and you may see fewer campaign contributions flow your way – but so what? Dealing with the impacts of 35 days of uncontrolled oil flow into pristine waters is more than enough time for the White House to realize they need to tap into expertise, hold BP accountable, and not waste time politicking around such a grave situation.

Taking a tough stand to protect our environment while domestically drilling for much-needed energy sources is the only way the public can trust government and industry to safely work towards energy independence. We need to “Drill, baby, drill” responsibly, safely, and ethically. That’s the way Alaska’s DNR accomplishes its mission in America’s 49th state.

- Sarah Palin

TLC Acquires ‘Sarah Palin’s Alaska’

From the New York Times

Discovery Communications’ TLC cable channel has acquired “Sarah Palin’s Alaska,” a documentary series about the former Alaska governor and her state.

Discovery is expected to announce the acquisition Thursday morning.

The eight-episode travelogue will “reveal Alaska’s powerful beauty as it has never been filmed, and as told by one of the state’s proudest daughters,” Peter Liguori, Discovery’s chief operating officer, said in a statement.

The channel has not yet specified a premiere date for “Sarah Palin’s Alaska,” in part because it has yet to start filming. The title could change.

“Sarah Palin’s Alaska” was shopped around Hollywood this month by Ms. Palin and Mark Burnett, the producer of “Survivor” and other reality shows, who will be the executive producer. The broadcast networks all passed on the series; a person at one of the networks said the nature-oriented series seemed to be a better fit for a company like Discovery, which owns a portfolio of natural history channels.

Discovery decided to direct “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” to TLC, best known for its reality shows about big, small, and unconventional families. TLC gained attention last year for “Jon & Kate Plus 8″ as the marriage of the show’s two stars collapsed.

In a news release about the acquisition, Discovery does not characterize “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” as a reality show, preferring to call it a “documentary series about the remarkable Governor Palin and her home state of Alaska.” The company is acquiring both the United States and overseas rights to the series.

For Ms. Palin, the Republican vice presidential candidate in 2008 who resigned as Alaska’s governor last year, the TV show is another indication that she is gravitating toward television. Two months ago she signed a paid contributor pact with the Fox News Channel.
Ms. Palin’s conservative politics captivate some viewers and alienate others, creating a risk for TLC. The prospect of seeing Ms. Palin tour Alaska’s wild habitats may rile some people who oppose her opinions about climate change. In recent months, she has condemned “the Obama administration’s environmental extremism” and asserted that “we can’t say with assurance that man’s activities cause weather changes.”

Asked whether Ms. Palin would share her views about climate change on the program, a Discovery Communications spokesman said “the deal was just concluded this week and now we begin the development and production.”

“TLC is about strong characters and compelling narratives, and there is absolutely no intention of making a political program whatsoever” the spokesman said.

Eileen O’Neill, the president and general manager of TLC, said in a statement that “TLC is grounded in great storytelling, strong characters, and passionate audiences drawn to extraordinary people doing extraordinary things. We are confident ‘Sarah Palin’s Alaska’ will be another compelling television event.”

Bob Barnett, a prominent Washington literary agent, represented Ms. Palin in her negotiations with Discovery. Mr. Barnett also negotiated a lucrative book deal for Ms. Palin last year.

Honoring Alaska's Olympians

Last month I congratulated one of Alaska's Olympians on making to the Olympics in Vancouver. Sarah has done so also just a few minutes ago via Facebook:

As the opening ceremony of the Vancouver Olympic Games begins tonight, I’d like to join my fellow Alaskans in applauding the hard work and dedication of the seven Olympians from the Last Frontier: Callan Chythlook-Sifsof (the first Alaska Native Olympian) competing in Snowboard Cross; Jeremy Teela and Jay Hakkinen competing in the Biathlon; Kikkan Randall, James Southam, and Holly Brooks competing in Nordic Skiing; and the Mat-Su Valley’s very own Kerry Weiland competing on the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team.

I’ve had the honor of meeting some of these fine athletes with outstanding work ethic. These great Olympians are the pride of Alaska and will bring honor to Team USA!

- Sarah Palin

Sarah calls in to Bob and Mark

The Bob and Mark Show out of Anchorage, Alaska, called up their former Governor to wish her a happy birthday!
http://bobandmark.com/



For more with the BAM show, see here:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=73A47B1A612C20C8

Alaska Steps Forward Towards Energy Security

Nearly an hour and a half ago, Sarah Palin issued the following statement via Facebook:

Congratulations are due Exxon and the State of Alaska’s Department of Natural Resources for completing the first development well at Point Thomson in northern Alaska. This is a huge field full of domestic crude, and it’s time to drill for it!

This week we’ve witnessed great progress toward more energy security for Alaska and our entire nation. What began as hefty trucks and hard working men and women heading up an ice road last year, to the commencement of drilling at Point Thomson, this progress has finally led to Exxon’s announcement today of completion of its first development well to produce oil and gas. Our “tough stance” with big oil and perseverance in insisting that Alaska’s resources be developed instead of warehoused while foreign countries are busy developing their oil and gas reserves has paid off to the benefit of everyone involved.

Drill here, drill now... energy independence is a national security issue that can’t be ignored any longer.

- Sarah Palin

Alaskan Representation in Vancouver

I just read an article on the Anchorage Daily News that talks about a snowboarder from Girdwood, Alaska that will be participating in the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

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Young snowboarder Callan Chythlook-Sifsof of Girdwood squeaked onto the U.S. Olympic team today after a surge of solid performances in the past few weeks. She competes in snowboardcross.

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For the full article, you can go to:
http://www.adn.com/sports/olympics/story/1109539.html

Congratulations Callan Chythlook-Sifsof! I wish you well in Vancouver and may you make this great country proud!