Sunday, December 14, 2008

Attaboy Saxby!  GOP Winning Streak Continues

by W. T. Howes

It looks like Governor Palin’s trip to Georgia was worth the effort.  The first major vote since the re-election of Senator Saxby Chambliss was Friday’s vote in the United States Senate to invoke cloture and move the automaker “bailout” for a vote before the full Senate.  To pass, there must be sixty votes in favor of a motion to invoke cloture.  In this case, the cloture motion failed 52-35.  Senator Chambliss was one of the courageous Republicans who voted “no”.  The current version of the “bailout” bill failed - at least for now.  With the election of Chambliss and two Congressmen in special elections in Louisiana, and now the stopping of this bill, the Republicans have put together a little winning streak.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Trans Canada Pipeline Takes Important Step Forward

by W. T. Howes

Governor Palin is back doing the bidding of the people of Alaska.  Last Friday, she formally signed the issued license to TransCanada Pipelines the license authorized by the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act of 2008 and earned by TransCanada.  The delivery of the license is an important step forward in the construction of a pipeline that will help move the nation toward energy independence.  The map to the left shows how the pipeline will connect to the North American distribution network upon completion.  (Source:  TransCanada.com)

At the top of the world, there exists a huge reserve of natural gas that will help make America more energy independent.  Making more natural gas from Alaska’s North Slope available to the Lower 48 was long a dream in Alaska, but one that never seemed to get action.  Never, that is, until the former Mayor of Wasilla assumed the governor’s seat.

The signature initiative of Sarah’s first term is the Trans Canda Pipeline.  This year, under Sarah’s leadership, the Alaska Legislature passed the Alaska Pipeline Inducement Act.  On December 5, Sarah signed the license granting to TransCanada Pipelines the right to build the pipeline.  The license carries with it a $500,000,000 grant from the Alaska Permanent Fund.

According to TransCanada’s website:

“Wholly owned subsidiaries of TransCanada Corporation are developing the Alaska Pipeline Project, which will move natural gas from Alaska to North American markets. The project will stretch approximately 1,715 miles (2,760 kms) from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska through the Yukon territory and northeastern British Columbia to the BC/Alberta border near Boundary Lake, and will include new build and certain existing infrastructure within Alberta. TransCanada Alaska Company, LLC is responsible for designing and constructing the portion located in Alaska, while Foothills Pipe Lines Ltd. is responsible for the project from the Alaska/Yukon border to market connections in Alberta.”

The pipeline is a worthy investment for Alaska.  It uses capital from the Permanent Fund to increase Alaska’s productive power, which in turn will enhance the state’s ability to produce revenue for the Permanent Fund.  It benefits the people of Alaska by producing more energy revenue.  It benefits the people of the United States by helping to stop the flow of oil and gas money to the Middle East. 

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Palin in Philly:  Obama’s “Catch-22”?

by W. T. Howes

The image of a very popular governor and possible 2012 rival hangs over the President-elect as he establishes a professional relationship with her.  BHO is in a Catch-22.  On one hand, he has an obligation to work with her on the natural gas pipeline project.  On the other, if he helps make it a success, does he hand a potential rival an accomplishment?

Back before he disappeared off the face of the political map, Joe Biden declared that Barack Obama was a “new type of intelligence”.  It is an article of faith among liberals that the President-elect is very, very intelligent.  People of all stripes agree that he is highly talented.  BHO will need all of his vaunted intellect to solve the political Catch-22 that is Sarah Palin.

Today, 40 of the nation’s governors and governors-elect will join BHO at Independence Hall in Philadelphia for an economic summit.  Many prominent governors will arrive in Philly with their hats in hand.  Many states have structural deficits as as the result of decades of overindulgence in Great Society programs.  Big government social programs have become unsustainable.  Instead of cutting their budgets and payrolls, some of these governors - like New Jersey’s Jon Corzine - are going to lobby the President-elect for their own bailout.

Governor Palin does not come to Philadelphia with an unsustainable budget.  With Alaska’s fiscal house in order, she is free to lobby for the pipeline.  The proposed pipeline would parallel the route of the existing trans-Alaska oil pipeline to a point south of Fairbanks. It would then follow the Alaska Highway, continuing through northern British Columbia to link with the Alberta Hub on TransCanada’s pipeline grid in northwestern Alberta. The Alaska section would be approximately 750 miles in length, with six compressor stations at start-up and at least five natural gas delivery points in Alaska. The Canadian section to Alberta would be approximately 965 miles, with ten compressor stations at start-up and eight intermediate delivery points in the Yukon. 

Sarah was the irresistable force in Alaska that moved the pipeline project through the legislature and through the bidding process.  The pipeline is a signature accomplishment for her.  If it continues to succeed, then it will be a signature accomplishment if she runs for president.  So whither Obama?

The pipeline will help the nation move toward energy independence in an environmentally responsible manner.  BHO has promised to move the nation toward energy independence.  BHO has promised a more perfect union in which he works across party lines to accomplish things for the American people.  Will he help?  If he does not, he breaks major campaign promises in a very palpable way, in which case he would be exposed on the 2012 campaign trail.  If he does help, he may be helping to create a resume for a 2012 rival.  If BHO is truly a new type of intelligence, he will figure it out.

For Governor Palin, it is a no-lose opportunity to use her new found fame to benefit her constituents, the people of Alaska.