Juneau-It: August 2006

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Senator Ted Stevens Internet Tubes

Alaska Senator Ted Stevens - Chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation - was roasted in July for his (mis) conception of the internet. Part of that committee’s duties are regulation of the internet.

Like any high ranking recent Republican politico he defended himself by saying, “The internet is what I say it is!”

And, what he said it was that the internet was a ‘series of tubes’ and sometimes the tubes get all packed and filled up with movies & Porn and it delays things. He gave as an example that some of his emails took five days to get to him.

Sadly - at least for Ted Stevens’ - some of his internet tube have now ruptured and are profusely leaking. Blogs are pouring out of them all over:

For some reason Senator Stevens was dead set against politicians being accountable for anything and tried to block legislation seeking to shine a light on who does what and to whom on public spending by political leaders.

Monday, August 28, 2006

Alaskans Protecting 'Our" Economy

An cruise ship industry group formed to defeat a ballot issue imposing a $50 per passenger “head tax” appearing on Alaska’s primary ballot on August 22, 2006.

APOE induced many tourism oriented businesses and individuals to sign on as ‘supporters’ against the measure. However, NWCSA provided well over 99% of the nearly $2 million funds for the campaign while less than $10,000 came from actual contributors in Alaska.

Many state and local Chambers of Commerce joined voices in the effort however. Some people found they had 'joined' when they didn't realize it.

Presenting themselves as “Alaskans” to the public, APOE hired a PR firm headquartered in Oregon who used slick mail outs, daily TV spots, newspaper ads and a scare tactics to try to defeat the measure.

Nonetheless, in spite of the industry efforts to defeat it, the measure passed with approximately 52% of the vote.

All large cruise ships entering Alaskan waters are foreign (non-US) flagged vessel owned by foreign corporations and crewed by foreign nationals. As a result they are immune to most US or Alaska taxation and operate under international rules and the relaxed regulations of their countries of registry, usually Liberia or other country of convenience.

Since the passing of the ballot issue, APOE's web site has disappeared from public view

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Semper Fidelis

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Our Emperor Has No Clothes

We had a primary election in Alaska the other day. Our Republican governor, Frank Murkowski lost big time. I am happily encouraged by the pragmatism and wisdom of Alaska’s voters in throwing him out of office. From his start as governor, Murkowski went out of his way to prove he did not have the interests of the people of Alaska in mind - and that truth took hold with the public with a vengeance. One local wag suggested that Murkowski wasn’t just rejected, he got the “get-out-of-town-right-now card” which isn’t far from the mark.

Murkowski has been Alaska’s governor since 2002 when he returned from a 22 year career as Alaska’s senator to run for governor of the state. He was accurately called the 800# gorilla back then and easily blew into office with almost 60% of the popular vote - though a large number of those votes are now suspect because of Diebold voting machine problems and irregularities. But, last Tuesday this man polled less than 20% of the vote in the Republican primary and was easily and badly beaten by both of his Republican opponents.

From the start Murkowski treated the governorship as his imperial birthright and exercised dictatorial powers on matters state in Alaska. He threw his 800# gorilla weight around belligerently and alienated people everywhere in the state, including obviously most of his own Republican Party. He appointed his own daughter over far better qualified candidates to fill his vacant senate seat. That was his right as the new governor and he took the fullest personal advantage of it. During his tenure Murkowski was considered the “second worst governor” in the country behind Republican Bob Taft of Ohio who somehow ranked even worse.

He was implacably bound and determined to have his own state purchased jet airplane to flit around in and did so over the objections of almost everyone including the US Homeland Security Department, the Alaska State Legislature and Alaskan public opinion. That one contrary in-you-face-act out of the many while in office became the most iconic and defining feature of his tenure. Of course it also turns out that he has used the jet for personal and campaign reasons too, and that has now become a separate new matter of issue.

Lisa w/father Frank Murkowski on her appointment as Alaska's senator

Almost anything Murkowski did while in office was for some special interest or other - including his own regarding the jet. Now, instead of retiring in grace and warmed by public respect & adulation, Murkowski will go out sulking and quarrelsome and resoundingly rejected by Alaskans. His political career will inevitably slide into the ignominy it so richly deserves. His memory will be just a disagreeably dirty spot on the book of the State of Alaska’s history in the future.

I wish I could be more sympathetic, but it is just not in me. He probably won’t go to jail for his sins but he sure ought to, for truly, this ‘Emperor Now Has No Clothes”. Now at last Alaska’s people may look forward to a choice between two worthy moderates, either of whom might actually work for the interests of all Alaskans. Frank Murkowski - Dead Freaking Last! How sweet it is!

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Open Letter to Juneau District School Board

To the City & Borough of Juneau District School Board:

Earlier Juneau District School Board President Phyllis Carlson told the public that the board’s “Bong Hits For Jesus” lawsuit appeal won’t cost any additional money. If that is so then why is the board now making a fresh appeal for funds?

Thus far the school board’s actions have only succeeded in making a folk hero and poster child out of Joseph Frederick. At the same time Juneau is being made out to be rigidly intransigent and inanely regressive across our country. The School Board has now made “Bong Hits for Jesus” a rallying cry in the nation for marijuana for heavens sakes! It has also become a "cause célèbe" for Free Speech around the world. There are thousands of references to it on the internet. And, you must have seen all the bumper stickers now plastered around town with the parody: “Bong Hits for Murkowski”.

Really, I’d consider all that pretty darned counterproductive to your stated purpose for continuing this lawsuit!

This issue has ALREADY cost Juneau a lot of money. What are the attorney costs so far? Staff costs? Board member costs? Meeting space costs? Administrative costs? The fact that the board is now seeking additional funding is a pretty good indicator that costs so far haven’t been inconsequential. No doubt this school board might prefer to keep this information confidential. However, I intend to make a request for the numbers in a letter to the superintendent under the public’s right to know “all the facts about our schools . . . .”

The sad irony is that you are virtually certain to LOSE THIS RIDICULOUS FIGHT . . . and what shall you say to our community then?

Thank you (Board Member) Margo Waring for maintaining a reasonable approach to this matter.

/S/

“The First Amendment is often inconvenient. But that is besides the point. Inconvenience does not absolve the government of its obligation to tolerate speech.”

- US Associate Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy

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