Flashback: In 2006 Debate, Palin Supported ‘Bridge To Nowhere’-Related Earmark
Flashback: In 2006 Debate, Palin Supported ‘Bridge To Nowhere’-Related Earmark
Last night, C-SPAN re-aired the 2006 Alaska gubernatorial debate, in which Sarah Palin expressed her support for an earmark related to the famed “Bridge to Nowhere.”
Congress had already removed earmarked-funding for the Bridge to Nowhere in Ketchikan, Alaska. Despite the fact that the bridge was not going to be built, then-Gov. Frank Murkowski approved the construction of a $24 million gravel “access” road (the Gravina Island Access Highway) that would lead to a nonexistent bridge.
In the 2006 debate, Palin was asked whether she supported this earmark, or whether she would pledge to cancel it as governor. Rather than responding with “thanks but no thanks” to federal funding for this “access” road, Palin said:
I wouldn’t [cancel the project]. I’m not going to stand in the way of progress that our congressional delegation — in the position of strength that they have right now — they’re making those efforts for the state of Alaska to build up our infrastructure. I would not get in the way of progress.
Independent candidate Andrew Halcro responded that he would cancel the project, explaining “this isn’t progress. This is a road to a bridge that will never be built.” Watch it:
In June 2007, Ronald Utt, a fellow at the conservative Heritiage Foundation, offered this recommendation for what Palin should do with the funds:
Gov. Palin could return the money for the gravel “access” road to Washington, perhaps even with a request that the money go to rebuild hurricane-ravaged Louisiana and Mississippi. While Alaska, or any state for that matter, naturally is reluctant to return money to the federal government, doing so is the responsible and ethical thing to do and likely would benefit Alaska in the long run.
Palin did no such thing. To this day, the state of Alaska “is continuing to build a road on Gravina Island to an empty beach where the bridge would have gone — because federal money for the access road, unlike the bridge money, would have otherwise been returned to the federal government.”
Also, CQ notes that there is “a second bridge, more than twice as expensive and just as controversial” as the canceled Bridge to Nowhere in Katchikan. Palin has expressed concern about the project “but hasn’t tried to kill [it] off.”
Read more in The Sarah Palin Digest.
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No one on the right or middle seems to see the irony of this flip flopping over mistakes and greed by republicans in Alaska. Could be anywhere in America. they eat thier own and it’s okie dokey. No wonder we matter so little to them.
September 8th, 2008 at 3:15 pmRepublican party platform:
Lies, lies and more lies.
Oh, yeah - and “drill here, drill now.”
September 8th, 2008 at 3:15 pmGrandma Palin & Great-Great-Great-Great Grandfather McCain ARE
the Bridge to Nowhere.
8 is ENOUGH
September 8th, 2008 at 3:15 pmOh please, oh please, oh please: lots more of this kind of proof, on lots of issues, with lots of lies revealed.
This day will get better.
September 8th, 2008 at 3:16 pmPalin’s a little bit Roseanna Rosannadanna, Emily Litella and Margey from “Fargo.”
September 8th, 2008 at 3:17 pmI know these people, I had relatives that lived in da UP of Michigan and she’s the same DNA.
we’re not the one’s that need the proof…
When the mainstream media starts reporting these things on a regular basis, then I’ll be happy…
September 8th, 2008 at 3:19 pmSarah Palin: McPutz in a skirt. She was in favor of the “Bridge to Nowhere” before she was against it.
September 8th, 2008 at 3:24 pmCountry First - can there be a bigger oxymoron than this Repukian mafia moto?
It should be - Party First - if they wanted to be truthful - but we know how that goes.
She was for the bridge before being against the bridge after being for a twice as expensive bridge before playing a hand of bridge while jumping off a bridge.
One of those statements I can approve - while jumping off a bridge.
Paleface lies and the media gives the forked tongue beast a pass.
September 8th, 2008 at 3:26 pmWorking from home today, so I’ve had the news on all morning. The repubs new line on this one is that she kept the money to build a ferry terminal instead of a bridge. They do think we are stupid.
The other inanity they have been bringing up is that Obama hasn’t fought the dems. The thing they are missing, and I wish either the media or the Obama campaign woud point out, is that change that is good for the country is not necessarily knee-jerk opposition to your own party. The problem here is that the change we need is primarily change from the republican/neo-con policies that are driving this country into the ground… which is what the Obama platform is about, and he doesn’t NEED to fight his party to bring about that change.
And if I have to hear Tucker Tool (Bounds) spout his inane BS one more time I think I will actually throw up. Does he come across as sincere, honest, or even credible to anyone?
September 8th, 2008 at 3:28 pmWhen I was a kid in East Tennessee, there was an Assembly of God Pentacostal “church” just a block from my house. Actually, it used to be a rundown bar, which they bought and made into a church. They would be in there nearly every night raising a ruckus, faith healing, talking in tongues and snakehandling. Every few weeks the ambulance would be there hauling one of the dumbasses out who got bit by a snake. Apparently, their faith healing didn’t extend to snake bites.
My point is, Sarah Palin is an Assembly of God Pentacostal. Good thing for her that there are no snakes in Alaska.
Tell everyone you know about this. I think people should know what knid of freak this woman is.
September 8th, 2008 at 3:29 pmLast week it was brought up regarding a Sports Center palin was behind that has become a money pit. Anyone else have an update on that project?
September 8th, 2008 at 3:33 pmRemember everyone, Republicans haven’t learned that we have this technology called ‘recording devices’.
Note to Republicans. We can record what you say and play it back.
If you need evidence, go watch Jon Steward videos on YouTube.
Karl Rove apparently hasn’t learned about this new technology.
September 8th, 2008 at 3:34 pmAdd to the above that, as Obama pointed out himself, McBushalin has a lobbyist as thier campaign manager, Karl Rove is an adviser, and the rest of his staff are the same people that both sides are complaining about, the McBushalin campaign has a lot of nerve saying that they will be effective agents for change. I really like how the FIRST time McCain used the idea of CHANGE as a platform for his campaign was about a week ago… now that’s a true commitment.
Personally I think McCain’s campaign can be summed up as follows:
POW
POW
Look I can pick a woman
POW
CHANGE CHANGE CHANGE
in other words:
POW
September 8th, 2008 at 3:36 pmME TOO
POW
ME TOO
I posted this because Repubs seem to like WND. Viguerie was a Reagan Revolution Architect. Things will not change under McCain, he will not drain the swamp he bathes in.
September 8th, 2008 at 3:40 pmWatching these repugnance in action brings to mind looking at live well on a fishing boat plenty of flipping and flopping Of course it only matters if it is a democratically running boat
September 8th, 2008 at 3:45 pmIn the video Sarah isn’t challenging the “strong Congressional delegation” that got those hundreds of millions in earmarks for her state. Since then, one member of that delegation has been charged with a crime.
I still don’t understand how she challenged Ted Stevens.
September 8th, 2008 at 3:48 pmI sense a conflict of interest. McCain pledges to veto any pork, but said nothing about moose.
September 8th, 2008 at 3:51 pmFlip-Flop whta’s new.The problem is the Obama campaign has failed to run asingle had denoting McShame or Palin’s no positions.Remember how the Repukes pounded Kerry with commercial about Kerry’s flip-flop,well Obama’s campaign thinks every American voter has a constitutional diploma.
September 8th, 2008 at 3:52 pmBut, but, but. Ah nuts!
By the way that was a sexist question asked of Palin. Everybody knows that talking about bridges is just code words for ‘look she’s a woman’.
September 8th, 2008 at 3:53 pmRepublicans support any initiative that takes the country nowhere.
McCain/Palin ‘08
September 8th, 2008 at 3:53 pmAmerica Goes Nowhere
And she drastically cut funding for a library?
September 8th, 2008 at 3:53 pmshould be a single AD to above post.
September 8th, 2008 at 3:53 pmDutchHenry
The Democrats have always underestimated the stupidity of the American voter. That’s why they always lose.
September 8th, 2008 at 3:55 pmnow there’s something i wouldn’t expect from a waahhhpublican…playing the role of the lying whore.
September 8th, 2008 at 3:55 pmstateofthedivision Says: “I still don’t understand how she challenged Ted Stevens.”
Challenge: 1. “I can get more earmarks than you!”
September 8th, 2008 at 3:58 pm2. “I can steal more than you!”
3. “I can lie more than you!”
4. “I have a prettier ass than you!”
5. “I can use my four above better than you!”
How can McSwampThing drain the swamp when he’s the problem?
September 8th, 2008 at 3:59 pmWhat form will Palin’s god take?
http://www.light-to-dark.com/palin_speaks_to_god.html
September 8th, 2008 at 4:06 pmPerhaps on her tour of Alaska with Chuckie Cheese Gibson, she can hurtle down that road toward the bridge and continue right into the ocean, and actually GO NOWHERE!
September 8th, 2008 at 4:07 pmYou gotta love Joe Biden, but he needs to cut off the compliments to Palin, because she isn’t returning any favors. She is only smart at being stupid. Don’t overrate your opponent, and never give them the aura of legitimacy they don’t deserve. Maybe he’s afraid he’ll be accused by republicans of being too hard on a woman after he promptly wipes the floor with her on Oct. 2.
September 8th, 2008 at 4:11 pmI thought Pentecostal women eren’t allowed to cut their hair or ware makeup. When did that change? Anyone know?
September 8th, 2008 at 4:11 pmWOW! Let’s try that again: I thought Pentecostal women weren’t allowed to cut their hair or wear makeup. When did that change? Anyone know?
September 8th, 2008 at 4:12 pmtexaslady Says:
——————————————————————————–
Last week it was brought up regarding a Sports Center palin was behind that has become a money pit. Anyone else have an update on that project?
Haven’t heard a whisper about this from the MSM. For some reason, the dozens of reporters who flocked to Alaska to investigate Sarah Palin are completely disinterested in Sarah Palin’s public record.
September 8th, 2008 at 4:15 pmBlame Canada Says:
The Democrats have always underestimated the stupidity of the American voter. That’s why they always lose.
Amen to that. Either they can vote with their emotions or they can vote with their pocketbooks. A vote with a concern for the future of democracy in mind would also be nice.
Fixing stupid is always a helluva lot tougher than educating the citizenry. Ignorance trumps learning, that’s the problem that’s creating so much helplessness in the minds of the best and brightest, eager to succeed.
September 8th, 2008 at 4:19 pmStrange that reporters that said they were in Wassilla to investigate and talk with people last week have vanished from the media. And last I heard she didn’t have 90% approval perhaps 60% and was tanking. This from the same news source that compared her to Dan Quayle.
September 8th, 2008 at 4:38 pmBat. Scat. Crazy.
And a pathological, remorseless, liar. That’s a worse combination than booze and guns.
And…
September 8th, 2008 at 5:10 pm1. The Dems don’t “always lose”.
2. Bushco was enabled by a complacent public in 2000 and a frightened, vengeful public in 04.
3. It seems like more people are disgusted by what Bush has done than are afraid of what Obama will do. And I have not met anyone who seems complacent in a long time. I like our chances of outnumbering the hardcore Evangelicons.
Don’t worry about Palin. She will be an expert on the economy if elected by the result of osmosis by standing next to Alan Greenspan according to McCain’s(and FoxNews Doocey) campain council’s logic.
September 8th, 2008 at 5:31 pmMcWars
September 8th, 2008 at 5:44 pmYou are exactly right. Ever time the Obama takes the high road they get burnt. Michael Moorer said it right. Stop complimenting them. I have been calling senators and asking them to insert in their language when they get the oppurtunity to say they McCain is promising to fix the problems that his party has caused the last eight years. Did all of you see when Jon Stewart said that to Mike Huckabee?
Sadly, the media, for the most part, will not be pointing out Republican lies. The example being made of Olbermann will have a chilling effect on all but the most diligent to earlier journalistic goals and ethics. Those who won’t parrot the Party line will face public humiliation or worse.
September 8th, 2008 at 5:57 pmThere is some room for hope. I haven’t seen anyone who makes any pretense of moderation express any great enthusiasm for Ms. Palin. The local Reichradio callers are calling her “screechy” and phony. One of those callers, a farmer who has provided a voice of reason for years, hit the nail on the head when he said, “people don’t like folks with calloused hands to behave like one of the common folks. And they won’t be impressed by her trophy room or helicopter hunting“.
Then we have to remind ourselves that the Jebus/Palin/McSpin campaign has to keep babbling, in one forum or another, for another two months. If observant people are so unimpressed just based on past performance, do they really have a chance of actually drawing new votes to the GOP?
September 8th, 2008 at 6:13 pmOops! That should be “without calloused hands”.
September 8th, 2008 at 6:14 pm.
But will the Democratic Party use this…?
.
September 9th, 2008 at 12:53 amthis is from DEMOCRACYNOW:
Palin: Iraq War is a “Task” from God
In campaign news, a video has emerged of Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin telling ministry students at her former church that the US invasion of Iraq is a task from God.
Sarah Palin: “Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending them out on a task that is from God. That’s what we have to make sure that we’re praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God’s plan. So bless them with your prayers, your prayers of protection over our soldiers.”
During the same address, Palin said the construction of a new oil pipeline in Alaska is God’s will.
Sarah Palin: “I can do my part in doing things like working really, really hard to get a natural gas pipeline, about a $30 billion project that’s going to create a lot of jobs for Alaskans, and we’ll have a lot of energy flowing through here. And pray about that also. I think God’s will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that.”
The video of her speech was originally posted on the Wasilla Assembly of God’s website
September 9th, 2008 at 1:24 amDon’t you love Democracy, and hypocrasy? Goes both ways or have you forgotten? The huge financial mess we are in has been under the ‘watchful’ eyes of as many Dems as Republicans, right? Or did you forget who is the House majority? Obama has been a senator for a couple years now, does he carry any blame? The Dems, more than anyone else, were so inclined to force cheap loans on the banks, at the risk of huge penalties I might add (coercion), to poorly qualified people, people who normally wouldn’t qualify for loans. Eventually, the monster had to come home to roost… and that’s what we are experiencing now. Or, have you forgotten the history behind all this mess? Hypocrits and liars all.
enuf said 4 now…
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:09 pm