"When I read the other reviewers' comments that this book was a unbiased reporting of what Sarah had done, I wanted to read it. This book clearly addresses and identifies the corruption in the Alaskan Government and the oil industry before Sarah became Governor. Sarah was the reformer that helped stop this abuse as she fought for the Alaskan people.
While the mainstream media continually tries to portray her as "stupid," this book shows you the intelligence and guts she had to take on some of the most powerful people in Alaskan Government and BP, ConocoPhillips, and ExxonMobil. She accomplished a lot in the short time she was Governor.
Since the book is about "Big Oil," there is a lot of information on oil and oil production. While I wasn't that interested in the oil information, I knew I needed to read it so I could understand the challenge Sarah took on to end the corruption. The previous administration fired people who would not look the other way and allow the corruption to go on. Others "ethical" officials resigned their offices over these firings. They are referred to by the Alaskan people and the authors of the book as "The Magnificent Seven." Sarah hired most, if not all, back after she was elected.
The book went to press late last year(2008), before the almost year long smear campaign of the mainstream media had taken its toll. Near the end of the book, Stefan Milkowski, a freelance reporter living in Fairbanks who writes about climate change and energy issues makes this statement about what he predicts would happen when Sarah returns home. "It's kind of like somebody going to the big leagues and then coming back home," he said. "She wouldn't suffer." Unfortunately, he didn't realize the maliciousness of the "big league" press, and others who see Sarah as standing in the way of their own personal or political gain."
*PING*
‘She’s pro-development, not pro industry. She’ll tell you, ‘My boss is the people of Alaska.’
* Dan Seamount, one of two commissioners who served with Sarah Palin in 2003 and early 2004 on the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, had the following to say about Palin.
‘She s smart, a quick study. Her adversaries biggest mistake is underestimating her intelligence, her understanding of issues. And she uses their arrogance against them.’
She's smart, a quick study.
Her adversaries biggest mistake is underestimating her intelligence, her understanding of issues. And she uses their arrogance against them.'
I like Sarah Palin so my comments do not reflect any ill will towards her. I am not read this book so I do not know the specifics of her dealings with the oil industry. My comments reflect my general dislike of the energy situation in Alaska.
Alaska has two major problems with its resources. First, the federal government imposes Draconian restrictions on development of Alaska’s resources. I understand that Alaskans resent the overbearing restrictions. These restrictions have prevented development of large parts of Alaska’s resources. Second, the state of Alaska has imposed a monopoly on development of the resources not under federal control. This monopoly with a populist theme of joint ownership increases prices to the remainder of the country. I also think that the monopoly decreases development of Alaska’s resources because the monopoly charges exorbiant rates for usage of the resources.
Ideally, the federal government should loosen its grip on Alaska’s resources and mineral rights should be auctioned. Alaskans would still derive enormous benefits through employment and reasonable taxation levels (not the current onerous monopoly taxation rates).
Bookmark bump!