Free Republic

It appears that the story is being mischaracterized. We've heard that what Governor Palin is pitching to television executives is not a "reality show" but rather more of a "Planet Earth" style documentary showcasing Alaska's resources, people, history, and splendor. If the project comes to fruition, it will not be an Alaskan version of the Osbournes. The show will be more "PBS/Ken Burns" instead of "MTV/The Osbournes". This sounds like it's another opportunity for Governor Palin to promote Alaska -- which is, of course, one of the promises she made when she stepped down from the governorship. The star of...

31 December 2009 “LIKE DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN” SNIPPET: “There is overlap in space if not in time between NW 253 bomber Abdulmutallab and various unsavory characters and websites. Perhaps it’s just a case of like-minded people moving through similar places at similar times in their lives, but then again, maybe Abdulmutallab came into contact with some of these people, particularly in what appears to be his critical period of radicalization in London circa 2005-2007. At this point all I have are suspicions and some interesting data points to share.”

The Nigerian accused of trying to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner had his suicide mission personally blessed in Yemen by Anwar al-Awlaki, the same Muslim imam suspected of radicalizing the Fort Hood shooting suspect, a U.S. intelligence source has told The Washington Times. The intelligence official, who is familiar with the FBI's interrogation of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, said the bombing suspect has boasted of his jihad training during interrogation by the FBI and has said it included final exhortations by Mr. al-Awlaki. "It was Awlaki who indoctrinated him," the official said. "He was told, 'You are going to be the...

From Erika Bolstad in Washington D.C. -- Remember back to September, when Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was a newly minted vice-presidential candidate and she was asked by ABC's Charlie Gibson about drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and her split with her running mate, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.? At the time, she told Gibson: "We'll agree to disagree, but I'm gonna keep pushing that, and I think, eventually, we're all gonna come together on that one." Apparently Palin wasn't persuasive enough

This link leads to an amazing Al-Jezeera interview with author Anwar Malek who asserts that Arab society has failed by every measure (militarily, economicaly, moraly etc.). The author vigorously disputes another guest on the show by arguing thatArabs do not have a single military victory in modern history - they have only defeats dressed up as victories. He mocks the assertion that the Arabs created the number zero by asking "What did the Arabs every do with it?" He is a stone cold realist and he states the painful facts so boldly that I fear for his life.

NICE audio interview Lars has posted at his website. Worth the listen. Two quotes: "Alaskans want to see Anwar developed" "What we [Alaska] need if for congress to unlock our lands!"

Leadership: When it comes to giving relief at the pump by drilling for more oil, this is truly a "do-nothing" Democratic Congress. President Bush should give 'em hell like Harry Truman did. Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution states that the president "may, on extraordinary occasions, convene both houses" of Congress. On more than two dozen occasions in our history, presidents have done just that, forcing the Senate and House of Representatives to meet on extraordinary matters of defense or economic peril. Sixty years ago this month, President Truman called such a special session to shame into action what...

There's a reason Republican Sen. John McCain, President Bush and even Republican Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida all abruptly endorsed plans to expand offshore drilling last week - and it's not just $4-a-gallon gasoline. In an election year when Republicans are bracing to lose seats in Congress and major issues from Iraq to the economy appear to favor the Democrats, the GOP is betting that an aggressive push to drill for new domestic energy will be their ticket to success in November."Energy is actually a huge opportunity for Republicans," said Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., who chairs the Senate Republicans' re-election...

Video of McCain, then Palin. John McCain says he opposes drilling in ANWAR, but supports states' right to drill where they want. He is going to have to contend with future Republican heavyweight, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska. She want to drill in her state. What say you Johnny Mac?

Sen. John McCain said this week he would not drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for the same reason he "would not drill in the Grand Canyon ... I believe this area should be kept pristine." Pristine means unspoiled, virginal, in an original state. One wonders how pristine the Grand Canyon can be if it has roughly 5 million visitors every year, rafting, hiking, picnicking and riding mules up one side and down the other. Campfires, RVs and motels that do not conjure the word "virginal" ring around large swaths of it. This isn't to say that the Grand...

TO: John McCain and the RNC, Your latest solicitation for our money has a lot of “I want…” statements in it. Merely saying “I want…” does NOT impress me and won’t get the job done! I would like to hear some “I WILL…” AND MEAN IT ! If you want our money, and our vote, then “WE WANT” some ACTION from the RNC and John McCain! GET YOU HEAD OUT AND PAY ATTENTION…. WE ARE SERIOUS AMERICAN CITIZENS THAT VOTE! We WANT an absolute, unequivocal, commitment that we WILL DRILL HERE, DRILL NOW, AND PAY LESS! The stupidity of sitting...

Senate rejects ANWR drilling Erika Bolstad Modified: May 13th, 2008 03:27 PM WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Senate rejected a Republican energy plan that promised to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration, an option that was part of an overall package to increase domestic energy development.

WASHINGTON, DC, May 9 -- US Senate Democrats presented their legislative response to record high oil prices on May 7, introducing their energy bill 6 days after Republicans introduced theirs. The primary difference between the two measures was apparent in their titles. Republicans called their bill the American Energy Production Act. Democrats named theirs the Consumer-First Energy Act of 2008 and incorporated provisions similar to several in HR 5351, which the House passed by 236 to 182 votes on Feb. 27 largely along party lines. Those provisions include moving $17 billion in financial incentives from major oil companies to alternative...

JOHN MCCAIN A Potent Issue, With Less Contrast Than Would Be Ideal Gas prices get even higher, ensuring that oil and energy will be dominant issues in the campaign this summer. GatewayPundit has some great maps showing areas that are off-limits to offshore drilling. He writes, "Which party blocked drilling in ANWR?— Democrat", which is accurate, but we ought to note that (sigh) McCain opposes drilling in ANWR as well. McCain also describes himself as a "federalist" on offshore drilling (even though one poll suggested 75 percent of Alaskans support ANWR drilling) and a "let the locals decide" policy sounds...

I am hoping someone here can help me with this question abnout oil from Alaska. This past weekend we had a visit from my wifes very Liberal Grandparents. The of course rode me on the evil Republicans causing mass suffering worldwide. When the topic got to the price of gasoline, I quickly brought up that Democrat's and tree huggers should support us drilling in Anwar. I was quickly told to learn my history, because the oil drilled in Alaska goes to Japan because Reagan was a crook blah blah blah... So whats the real story about oil from Alaska? A...

Polar Bears Potential ESA Listing Called ‘Regulatory Monster’ For the second time in the past three months, the EPW Committee conducted a hearing on the decision to list the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The potential listing of the polar bear under ESA is being promoted by many activists as a way to save the bear. Today’s hearing also focused on the Department of the Interior’s failure to meet its court-ordered and statutory deadlines for making a listing decision and the subsequent lawsuit brought by environmental groups. FACT: Worldwide polar bear population numbers are at or...

Oil prices will stay at current high levels for the rest of this year due to speculation and geopolitical tensions, Algerian state media on Monday reported OPEC President Chakib Khelil as saying. Prices could retreat in 2009 with a recovery of the U.S. dollar in foreign exchange markets following the election of a new U.S. president, and as fundamentals reassert themselves as major market forces, he was reported as saying by government newspaper El Moudjahid and state news agency APS. "Just like the current surge in oil markets, the (world economic) crisis, will last until the end of the year,"...

Should we use ethanol for fuel? Certainly. Should we use corn to make that ethanol? Certainly not. Sure, we want to get over our need for foreign oil. Sure, we want to find a renewable fuel for our vehicles. Sure, ethanol could work just fine. But don’t make it from corn. Here’s what I’m talking about. The president and a bunch of powerful people in Congress have been working over recent years to hold up corn-based ethanol as the answer to our future energy-supply needs. When he talks about it, the president says corn-based ethanol is our only hope of...

Drilling in Anwar was voted down by McCain.