After Generations, CNN Suddenly Discovers That 'Alaska Families Struggle to Survive'

After Generations, CNN Suddenly Discovers That 'Alaska Families Struggle to Survive'

By Warner Todd Huston (Bio | Archive)
February 10, 2009 - 05:35 ET

The winter in Alaska has been a particularly harsh one this year. The early winter piled on top of economic hard times has caused some troubles for native people and those that live in remote areas in Alaska. But this is not a new tale of woe, it IS Alaska, after all. While nothing to entirely dismiss, one wonders, why CNN suddenly found this story so compelling? Could it be that they want to portray Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as just as harsh as the winter?

Native peoples and their neighbors in Alaska have been surviving for generations in the same manner. They hunt, fish, and store foods in the summer to survive the harshness of winter, and since becoming a state, they marshal their money to buy fuel and other items brought to them by American ingenuity. Not an easy life, but a life they are used to nonetheless. It hasn't really changed much for a long time in that remote part of the world. Yet, despite the sameness of it all, suddenly CNN finds Alaskans are "struggling to survive."

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The story starts out dolefully recounting how, "thousands of villagers in rural Alaska are struggling to survive, forced to choose between keeping their families warm and keeping their stomachs full, residents say." It goes on to state that money is tight and that "harvested nuts and berries, small game animals, and dried fish are the only things keeping some from starving."

The story tells of how expensive things are and how the early winter and bad fish harvest of last year are causing hardship to befall the folks near Emmonak, Alaska. Yes, it does sound tough. But then CNN says this:

These residents and their ancestors have lived for hundreds of years in the Yukon Delta, which Emmonak resident Cindy Beans describes as something out of National Geographic.

Here is the thing that CNN isn't really telling the reader: You live in a wilderness and sometimes things are hard. Duh! These folks have been doing this for "hundreds of years" and have survived as a people just fine -- though with the occasional tough times as all people that live off the land must contend with from time to time. Nature is a harsh mistress, to be sure.

So, why are we getting this tale of woe that is not really news? Why, because these people need a bailout and that dastardly Sarah Palin isn't helping, that's why!

Many of the tribal leaders said they are begging the state and federal governments to do something to help.

And is the help coming? No because that darn Palin is mean.

Alaska has given many residents $1,200 energy rebate checks, but residents say it barely helps them with one month's heating costs. Aid agencies, including the Red Cross, aren't an option right now -- the Alaska Red Cross said they couldn't help unless a disaster is declared.

But the state hasn't declared an emergency yet, and it can't because of a state statute that requires the average income levels in the villages to drop below $26,500 -- regardless of the cost of living.

So, what about Palin?

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's office said the state is trying to find a way to free up government help.

She only "said" they are trying this, huh?

Certainly it is tough up there. Not only are we in bad economic times, but that area of the country has had a harsh winter and apparently a bad fall, last. Of course this has happened many times in the past and for people that live in like situations it will happen again. It is most certainly news locally. But is this a national story that needs CNN's attention? Is this a story that demands top billing on CNN's U.S. News page?

We also get a strong hint of how CNN wants to push this story when looking at the main U.S. news page (at the time of this writing). There we see the headline, "In rural Alaska, families struggle to survive," followed by a short blurb which is underscored by a video link that appears at the bottom of the highlighted piece. Here is the caption of the video link:

Watch how families feel about Palin's response.

That darn, mean ol' Palin.

Clearly what CNN wants the viewer to take away is that Palin is not helping. It isn't about the "families," It's about Palin.

(Photo credit: thealaskastandard.com)

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They'd have an easier time

February 10, 2009 - 06:22 ET by eaglewingz08

They'd have an easier time surviving if libsocialist democraps would let them drill baby drill in ANWR. Oh, that can't be mentioned, it would freak out the audience, no doubt.

Why didn't they just make

February 10, 2009 - 06:28 ET by motherbelt

Why didn't they just make the headline:

Palin Failing As Alaska Governor

Alaska Deteriorating Under Palin

I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson

I was thinking...

February 10, 2009 - 06:30 ET by Warner Todd Huston

I was thinking more like "Palin Brings Harsh Winter to Struggling Alaskans."

This is kind of like the

February 10, 2009 - 07:02 ET by motherbelt

This is kind of like the "homeless" problem that they are so concerned about when a Republican is President.

In 2000, Mark Helperin said:

"If George W. Bush becomes president, the armies of the homeless, hundreds
of thousands strong, will once again be used to illustrate the opposition's
arguments about welfare, the economy, and taxation."

Here they come again. Granted, a Democrat is President, but the problem is still blamed on Bush and is a situation that Obama "found" and now has to remedy. Only now every little thing will be hailed as salvation for the homeless and the "working poor."

I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson

Not blamed on Bush, MB

February 10, 2009 - 09:14 ET by Scout Finch

For the next four years, "Alaska + Bad = Palin" will be the meme from the MSM.

I've lived in Alaska since 56

February 10, 2009 - 07:40 ET by Army Brat

They're gathering nuts? Um...I don't recall ever eating any gathered nuts up here. We do have nuts, but they usually drive Subarus covered in leftist bumper stickers and are members of PETA or Sierra Club. And we don't gather or eat them. ( Lots of "Sierra Club Sucks" bumper stickers up here.) Berries yeah...Lots of different berries.

Most of the stuff is the food they have been harvesting for thousands of years. It's called subsistence.

They take Geese, Ducks, Moose, Caribou, Salmon, Whales, furs...all the things they have taken for thousands of years. They are far from starving. Alaskans take care of their own... Ones life quite often depends upon ones neighbor up here.

The abundance or lack of these items is not the issue although a poor salmon run didn't help one bit. Pollock fishing is what we blame for the lack of salmon. We're hoping that there will be a ban on Pollock fishing in this coming year in the Arctic. If the salmon run significantly increases, (it varies quite a bit form year to year.) then we may have some proof of our theory.

The problem arises when trying to heat a modern home in 50 below at times, with 80 mile an hour winds on heating oil that costs 7 or 8 bucks a gallon.

The stuff was barged in in the summer, when the price was outta sight. Now, although fuel oil is around 2.15 a gallon in Anchorage retail right now, they're still paying for the fuel that was 4.50 a gallon wholesale this past summer. Add shipping and profit...

Food costs, for regular groceries are quite high, and have been. Particularly if one buys in the Bush. Many people have their food bought by companies that shop at Sams Club or Costco in Anchorage on their behalf and then package and carry the stuff to the Post Office, which ships at a special rate, which I believe is heavily subsidized by the P.O.

This is not a sudden turn of events. This problem is one that has been faced by at least the last 3 Governors. It's been going on for decades and is finally reaching a point where we Alaskans are wondering how/if we can continue to subsidize these villages.

The old way of life just doesn't provide for all the trappings associated with modern life. Jobs are few and far between in villages of 200 people as you can imagine.

Ultimately...and it makes me sad to say this, some of these villages must be abandoned. Some are threatened by the sea, as erosion takes its toll. At least one has been moved more than once at no small cost...including the Graveyard.

Oh crap...I just got a look at the temp. It's 15 below and I need to get some fire wood in for the wood stove.

Oh..and...My Governor kicks ass.

Happy Trails...

Good for you, AB,

February 10, 2009 - 08:08 ET by Indiana Joe

I pretty much suspected and envisioned the things you say here. This is pretty much frontier land, right out at the edge of our precious "civilization." And folks like CNN are just shocked and appalled that these poor people don't have a Starbucks, regular bus service, or even any malls with a decent shoe-store! ;^)

I'm sure most of these villages are populated by people who want to maintain their traditional way of life. It's not easy, it's never been easy I'm sure, but it's been that way for generations. It's obvious that the whole concept of self-sufficiency and pride in one's traditions is foreign to the CNN weenies.

Just know that we can expect more of this from now until 2012, at least. Your governor scared the crap out of the left, came closer to derailing their "Chosen One" than they ever thought possible, and they're determined to not be blind-sided by her again!

So, now we know what happened to Karl Rove's Weather Machine; he gave it to Sarah Palin, to use on Alaskans!

"Meet the new boss, same as the old boss..." - The Who

Army Brat:

February 10, 2009 - 17:47 ET by j. frank wilson

It sounds good, but people living in Alaska have not been shooting Caribou for "thousands of years" - unless they swam across the Bering Straits to do it. Caribou are not native to Alaska. Please see below...

Then we can plunder the ANWR

February 10, 2009 - 17:49 ET by BD

Then we can plunder the ANWR at will. Thank you!

Plunder...wow...I guess that means "drill for oil".

February 11, 2009 - 03:00 ET by Army Brat

You clearly have no concept of what a vast area ANWR is. (Here in Alaska we don't call it "the" ANWR...just ANWR.)

You have the development of Natural Resouces by the American people confused with "plunder".

See...the word plunder means, sacking, stealing, despoiling, the indiscriminate taking of goods by force.

I guess that makes those that harvest any of natures abundance, "thieves." That would include the Native people up here that take Caribou, Moose, create artwork from Baleen and Ivory "thieves".

That is the very view that keeps the price of gasoline, which I'm willing to bet fuels your car, as high as it is, and causes tht US to be dependent on countries that call us enemy.

Because of folks that hold radical views regarding the development of natural resouces, (those that refer to this process as "plunder"), the price of Gold, Silver, Copper, Oil and many other commodities shall remain high. Particularly under the guidance of the short sighted BO.

We have a company that wants to open a mine up here...the Pebble Mine. The gold reserves are HUGE. It will be like the peak of the construction of the pipeline, only it will last for decades. (Oh...that also was supposed to destroy the Caribou herds and destroy the land. Never happened. Caribou populations went up, not down.)

Anti-development groups are fighting tooth and nail to stop Pebble and all other mining in Alaska. Very few of these groups are based in Alaska. From what I've seen of the ads, the majority of the Native population support the mine. This may be just my impression, but the number of Native groups that are showing their support for the mine seems to vastly ounumber the ones against it. At least the vote we had allows the project to go forward.

There are many tribes besides Eskimo...Inupiat, Tlingit, Tyonek, Aleut, Gwich'n people and a whole bunch more.

I understand from friends in the lower 48 that see these ads, that ANWR is presented in ads "defending ANWR" as a Mountainous area with waterfalls and in one ad at least...Elk. Sorry, no Elk in Alaska...particularly not in the giant mosquito and biting fly infested swamp that is ANWR. (When it's not a virtually lifeless frozen swamp.) Tough to have a waterfall when the land is flat. no moutains there. Pristine beauty? To whom? Just more MSM BS.

ANWR is 19 million acres. Drilling there will affect about 2,000 acres or 01%. Wow...that's "plunder" on a HUGE scale...in some small minds.

Here's a link that will give you some idea of what a tiny area we're talking about.

http://www.snopes.co...

Good graphics there.

Did you know that Alaska is the easternmost state? The Aleutian Chain crosses over the divide between the eastern and western hemispheres. Have your kid nail their Geography teacher on that one. That makes Alaska the furthest east, west and and of course northernmost state in the union...as well as being over twice the size of Texas.

Plunder...how typical. I see bumper stickers up here that read, "Yankee Go Home", and "Secede or Succumb". This comes of uninformed people trying to stop the rape of the land when they don't know what the hell they're talking about.

Happy Trails...

Hey, I was just aking a

February 11, 2009 - 14:23 ET by BD

Hey, I was just aking a swipe at him for fun. :)

→ Good point

February 10, 2009 - 17:53 ET by Cool Arrow

I did not know that.

So the wolf population is too high because an outside source of plentiful food was introduced.

This explains why the wolf population needs to be regularly thinned.

Wonder how Juddly feels about rabbits in Australia?

When Liberals raise the bar, expect The Limbo

Cool Arrow...

February 11, 2009 - 04:11 ET by Army Brat

I assume you are referring to frank wilsons bogus iformation. Scroll down for some accurate info regarding Caribou in Alaska and skip franks crap.

IMHO, the wolf population is always what it is supposed to be. Nature sees to that. Caribou population goes up, so does the predator population, and of course the opposite holds true.

Problems arise when man attempts to intervene and impose his will on a system that is far to complicated to understad in its entirety. The populaitons involved and the vastness of the land, prevent real damage being done, and quite often turns out well.

There is a Native story about the appearance ot the Wolf.

The Caribou grew in number. Thier numbers grew and grew until there was sickness in the herds.

The people asked the Raven for a knife to cut the sickness from the herd. The Raven gave them the Wolf.

The Wolves doan come around here on accounta my Mastiffs.In fact, the only tracks I see are from a Fox that crosses my propery whilst hunting.

Happy Trails...

Army Brat & Dan teh Man Duh:

February 11, 2009 - 11:30 ET by j. frank wilson

My, what rare pleasure to hear from both of you. I stand in awe of your knowledge and wisdom.

Actually, the lack thereof.

Gov. Palin pushed through a windfall profits tax on oil companies. The higher the price of oil, the more they pay. State taxes are deducted as business expenses in the calculation of net income for Federal income tax purposes. The proceeds from this windfall profits tax are distributed directly to the good citizens of Alaska and we in the remaining 49 subsidize it.

Those are facts. You may spin to your little hearts' content, but it won't change the facts.

I am not surprised that so many NewsBusters don't know the story of Captain Mike Healy - he having been an African-American, and all...You could check out

http://bcm.bc.edu/issues/summer_2003/ft_passing.html

or any of the other readily available accounts of his adventures and exploits - including purchasing Caribou in Siberia and bringing them to the good people of the Yukon who were starving to death.. His heart was almost broken when he came upon whole villages that died from lack of food - and he decided to do something about it.

Gee - I missed that Disney movie. Which one was it again?

There is so much to learn.

Now all of you just run along and do your homework. Try not to use crayons this time...

PS: AB - Obviously at least half your handle is correct.

Fwanky, How nice to twist

February 11, 2009 - 12:47 ET by Scuba Dude

Fwanky,

How nice to twist history, Jackson brought "REINDEER" into Alaska, not Caribou.

http://www.uaf.edu/news/featured/04/reindeer/history.html

And please note the first line (emphasis mine):

"By the late 1880s, there were reports of starving Alaska Native populations in western Alaska due to the decimation of marine mammals from the whaling industry and scarce numbers of caribou."

So please take your spin elsewhere, you are no match for the folk at NB.

Bubbles:

February 11, 2009 - 13:05 ET by j. frank wilson

Thank you! I stand corrected.

Now, about the Socialists' windfall profits tax on oil companies...

You're wrong again frank. Do you hear that alot? Bet you do.

February 11, 2009 - 03:57 ET by Army Brat

In fact, show me the word "shooting" anywhere in my post.Kinda tough to shoot critters for thousands of years, when firearms were introduced to the Native people here only recently, historicaly speaking.

Indeed...they have been "harvesting", which apparently to some means, "shooting", Caribou for as long as they have been on the continent together. Caribou, not Reindeer, (Reindeer are domesticated Caribou.) have been in Alaska for about 1.5 million years. See below frank...heh...

So nice to be able to edit my post, removing my admission to making a mistake i actually didn' make! I took someones word for the 300 year figure I posted earlier.

I spoke with some natives today, and I was right. No nuts harvested in Alaska, cause there aren't any. (Except as I noted earlier.) Why don't you correct CNN on that one frank?

That's funny! You haven't gotten anything right in this thread except perhaps your name. Where do you get your "facts"?

Do some research before you start posting. You'll look less foolish.

( I need to heed my own advice.)

It seems that the folks in Emmonak failed to order fuel this year in time and didn't pay their bill from last year. This from a Native. I'll be checking in to that further. She indicated that loss to theft is a major issue as well.

Reminds me of a poster I saw in a construction office..."Poor planning on your part does not necessarily constitue an emergency on my part."

Ahhh...I feel better now...

Happy Trails...

Sarah Palin...President of the United States

February 11, 2009 - 04:13 ET by Army Brat

I really like the sound of that.

Happy Trails...

Sarah Palin

February 11, 2009 - 06:14 ET by Sergeant ROCK

I know of at least one person here whose head will explode at the mere suggestion of such a thing.

"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason

Bolton/KEYES 2012

Shall we see

February 11, 2009 - 14:13 ET by general company

if we can make it pop?

"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg

Absense of Global Warming

February 10, 2009 - 07:09 ET by ThisnThat

Did I hear it right? Did CNN just complain about the lack of Global Warming, and its consequences in Alaska? If temperatures begin to rise, will CNN lead the celebration, and point out all the good things that happen with Global Warming?

Or is this just another example liberal 5-second memories, and total lack of ability to string more than two items together in their feeble minds?

___________________________________

The challenge is to follow a consistent plan despite inconsistent prices - Sarah Palin, State of the State of Alaska speech

Permanent Fund

February 10, 2009 - 08:06 ET by allanf

Don't all Alaskan's receive income from the permanent fund?

Indeed they do.

February 10, 2009 - 15:42 ET by Army Brat

There was an extra 1200 thrown in for the high cost of fuel, by the Governor...that went to every man, woman and child that was here for the previous year...a little over 3 grand per person. For a family of 8...nice little chunk o' change.

Happy Trails...

AB... I know about that,

February 10, 2009 - 15:57 ET by bigtimer

AB...

I know about that, was one of the few times I wished I still resided there...lol.

I do remember the cost of gas in Ak. along with other things to-boot, unless you lived in a larger city like Anchorage.

Would have been nice to get the good old Dividend last year though...dang it all.

Btw...has Redoubt doubted again?

I was living there in Seward when she semi-blew about 20 years ago...nice coating of ash for a while...everywhere.

St. Helens was the same way even in Pierce, Id. you had to have a bandanna over the mouth at times...we didn't have cable or radio then, we didn't know what had happened, thought maybe we were attacked somehow....lol.

It's still rumblin'

February 11, 2009 - 04:18 ET by Army Brat

I have tarps and dust masks and everything else one needs to survive in general, standing by.

Here's a link if you want to keep track...

http://www.avo.alask...

Happy Trails...

Army Brat:

February 10, 2009 - 17:44 ET by j. frank wilson

Those checks were the proceeds from the oil companies windfall profits tax pushed through by Gov. Palin. Of course, since she is a Republican, the right wingnutz refuse to call this "Socialism..."

And it is subsidized by the citizens of the other 49 states because those companies deduct the cost of the tax from their income - and pay less Federal corporate tax as a result.

Those checks were the

February 10, 2009 - 23:22 ET by Dan The Man 2

Those checks were the proceeds from the oil companies windfall profits tax pushed through by Gov. Palin

The proceeds are from a renogciation with the oil companies for a greater share of teh profits. The citizens of Alaska own the oil and any profits are shared with Alaskan and its citizens. The renegotiated share is still in place and has not changed as if there was a "windfall" clause.

The share of profits is not a tax, if it was then it would not be deducted. It can be deducted because it is a cost of doing business.

Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.

Thanks Dan...

February 11, 2009 - 03:07 ET by Army Brat

Saved me the trouble.

Happy Trails...

Alaska's Socialist Tax on Oil Company's "Windfall" Profits

February 11, 2009 - 11:46 ET by j. frank wilson

Here is an excellent explanation of the captioned subject:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008103325_alaskatax07.html

Define "windfall

February 11, 2009 - 11:55 ET by bassndude

Define "windfall profits".

Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!

bassndude

February 11, 2009 - 12:03 ET by j. frank wilson

I'm sure you can manage to read this excellent article for yourself...Or, as suggested elsewhere on this Post, head for the library and get some badly needed help...

I did Frank, see

February 11, 2009 - 12:05 ET by bassndude

I did Frank, see below.

Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!

It appears as tho Miss

February 11, 2009 - 12:04 ET by bassndude

It appears as tho Miss Ángel González did not do her home work, and is writing an article in ignorance of what constitutes a "tax", let alone a "windfall tax". Of course, what would you expect from Seattle? A strong hold of the greens and bleeding hearts. What Alaska recives is not a tax. Alaska is paid for its oil. The same as I am. I recive a check every 3 months. It is not a tax I collect, it is a share of the oil and natural gas profits that come from the property.

Are we surrounded by morons?!?

Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!

fishboy:

February 11, 2009 - 16:44 ET by j. frank wilson

The state of Alaska collects money from the oil companies, the higher the price of oil the higher the fee (the assumption clearly being the oil companies will be making more money as their costs are basically fixed) - but it is not a "tax."

Because you don't call it a tax I'm sure the oil companies are more than happy to pay it. Oh, wait, they aren't - because it the cash still comes out of their revenue stream.

You have managed to define a distinction without a difference.

And you call other people morons?

Wow!

PS: Here's another raving liberal:

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/rpt/2008-R-0532.htm

I believe we can all agree on one thing: Gov. Palin ought to be the GOP's nominee for President in 2012! And 2016! 2020! 2024! Keep running her out there every four years until she needs a walker...

Hey frankie boy...it is

February 11, 2009 - 16:53 ET by bassndude

oops.

Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!

Hey frankie boy...it is

February 11, 2009 - 16:52 ET by bassndude

Hey frankie boy...it is called royalties...it is deductable on their cash flow and their income statements. In other words, they are not taxed on this money, and it is deductable off their income statements. This is a dollar for dollar write off. further more, this money collected by the State of Alaska is not put into their coffers, rather it is distributed to the land owners. And my royalties are not a fixed price per 1000 cf of gas, nor barrel of oil, but a percentage of such. So it rises and falls with the price of oil and gas. Its good for me and better for Alaska. That way you dont have to keep going back to negotitate.

Its good that you come here for your education.

Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!

Fish Boy:

February 11, 2009 - 20:20 ET by j. frank wilson

So it's a tax. The price of gas goes up, the payments to the State of Alaska go up.

Calling it a "royalty payment" doesn't change it. Your rizzarazz about "deductible on their cash flow and income statements" is an obvious attempt to sound like you know what you are talking about. Transparent? I would say so.

→ Not a tax Frank

February 11, 2009 - 20:25 ET by Cool Arrow

If you will honestly tell us who owns the oil underneath Alaska, you might have a little lightbulb pop on over your head. (albeit fluorescent and faint)

When Liberals raise the bar, expect The Limbo

Tax? No, more adequate to

February 11, 2009 - 23:18 ET by BD

Tax? No, more adequate to say a say of a commodity via lease via a percentage of sale.

Frank, are you really so

February 12, 2009 - 09:23 ET by bassndude

Frank, are you really so pig headed that your going to keep calling royalties a "tax"? Seeing as I recive royalties from Conoco, how do you suppose I was given the power to "tax" the oil company? How did I get that power? Who gave it to me? Why are you being insipid?

Lets see, Websters sayes a tax is:

1: to assess or determine judicially the amount of (costs in a court action)2: to levy a tax on.

Royalty is:

5 a: a share of the product or profit reserved by the grantor especially of an oil or mining lease.

We are surrounded by Franks!

Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!

What's funny bassndude is..

February 12, 2009 - 09:39 ET by Sergeant ROCK

.. that from his argument you'd think that he would be against taxes, right? I don't think that's the case with any liberal. Here we have an example of not defending their position on a subject (taxes in this case), but inventing a position that's contradictory and assigning it to the opposition.

This reminds me of a quote:

"A liberal is a man too broad-minded to take his own side in a quarrel."

- Robert Frost

"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason

Bolton/KEYES 2012

j frank

February 11, 2009 - 23:17 ET by Army Brat

The Alaska Permanent Fund was established in 1976.

Get some help will you?

Happy Trails...

Same ole same ole

February 12, 2009 - 08:59 ET by Sergeant ROCK

Liberals are always hijacking threads with their diversionary tactics. So, Jerry Seinfeld is receiving a 'tax' and not a royalty, for every DVD of his show that is sold? Is that how it works?

What an idiot.

"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason

Bolton/KEYES 2012

Good morning Frank

February 12, 2009 - 09:10 ET by cocodrie

Since when is it socialism yo sell a produce and give the proceeds to the owners of the product? Jesus Loves You

Does Ashley Judd know?

February 10, 2009 - 08:16 ET by Red Jeep

Does Ashley Judd know about the poor people of Alaska killing and eating animals? Maybe she'll send them millions of dollars so they don't have to eat animals. Have a telethon...

Maybe Ashley should ask

February 10, 2009 - 08:47 ET by Seashell

Maybe Ashley should ask Obama to raise money for these people since he is such a good fundraiser. In fact, why have a stimulus package. Obama can just ask the people of the world to donate to us. Surely all those that donated before will do so again and this time no limits! Obama only has to ask and it will be done.

...and suggest they grow

February 10, 2009 - 08:49 ET by tater

...and suggest they grow crops and turn vegeterian in Alaska, since you know the climate can support vegetables.

www.theholyrosary.org

"There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we can not resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary." -Sister Lucia

Is there no end to this PDS??

February 10, 2009 - 08:55 ET by Sergeant ROCK

Liberals would have you believe that they are neither obsessed with Palin or view her as a potential threat, but then cannot help themselves by attacking Palin almost every day.

"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason

Bolton/KEYES 2012

and where is Pop Tech?

February 10, 2009 - 11:03 ET by SQL_Sam

It is a Palin story isnt it?

Let's hope

February 10, 2009 - 11:21 ET by Warner Todd Huston

Let's hope the day nurse took his Internet time away from him!

Palin?!?!?!?

February 10, 2009 - 17:46 ET by Sergeant ROCK

AAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHH!!!

I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason

Bolton/KEYES 2012

up next

February 10, 2009 - 09:03 ET by candance

CNN will show a piece on how many people in southside Chicago are suffering...

But acts of kindness and generosity must be free and voluntary; no man has a right to compel another to follow his conscience. This is a concern which lies between a man and his God.

-Richard Fuhrman, pro slave advocate, 1823

Oh, no, Candance. South Side of Chicago doesn't suffer

February 10, 2009 - 09:21 ET by Scout Finch

They have what's called "community organizers" there. Community organizers serve to "give power to truth" or some such nonsense. Whatever it is, since it launched the political career of Dear Leader Obama, the South Side of Chicago is wonderful.

Hey, CNN, here's a place a

February 10, 2009 - 09:09 ET by Hunter12

Hey, CNN, here's a place a little closer to home that you missed. 90% of the area, and especially the most impoverished places, are under the control of (gasp) Democrat governors. These lazy SOBs need get off their rears and do something about it.

In Appalachia, severe poverty and desolation is paired with the necessity for careful cultural sensitivity. Many Appalachian people fear that the birth of a new modernized Appalachia will lead to a death of their traditional values and heritage. Because of the isolation of the region, Appalachian people have been unable to catch up to the modernization that lowlanders have achieved. In the 1960s, many people in Appalachia had a standard of living comparable to third world countries.

In 1960, 219 counties in the 13-state Appalachian Region were considered economically distressed. Now that list has been cut in half, to 108 counties, but these are "hard-core" pockets of poverty, seemingly impervious to all efforts at improving their lot. [I think these governors need to get out there and try harder.]

Nevertheless, after 40 years poverty remains undefeated in Appalachia. Martin County, Kentucky, the site of Johnson’s 1964 speech, is currently ranked as "distressed" by the ARC. (Distressed is the worst ranking.) The per capita income in Martin County is $10,650, and 37% of its residents live below the poverty line.

When are these Democrat bums going to do something about this awful condition of abject poverty?

"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill

Fairness Doctrine?

February 10, 2009 - 09:15 ET by Sergeant ROCK

Wasn't Obama's first stop in the democRAT-held county with the highest unemployment in the country? But CNN felt compelled to go to Alaska??

"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason

Bolton/KEYES 2012

I think it's funny that

February 10, 2009 - 09:34 ET by Hunter12

I think it's funny that they are scared to death of this woman. They search for little ways to tear her down. This latest is an attack on her compassion and governing ability. CNN didn't look at the logistics and cost of getting aid to these areas. That would give her credit for vital skills. Can't have that. Instead they probably fly a big crew up to some village and pick the one guy who's sitting on his rear end during the work day and ask him what he thinks of the Governor. He wants hand-outs and more aid. Go out and ask the people fishing, sealing, and other types of work to survive and they'd probably tell CNN to get stuffed. You have to work to live the way you want to. Can't put that on the air. I hope CNN keeps this up. It keeps Governor Palin in the public eye and we get that picture at the top of the blog. We have brains, beauty, and common sense waiting in the wings. The libs are freaking out.

"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill

PDS & CNN

February 10, 2009 - 09:48 ET by Sergeant ROCK

I just hope she can increase her value as a future candidate in her present role as governor.

"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason

Bolton/KEYES 2012

I'd love to see her run for

February 10, 2009 - 10:21 ET by Hunter12

I'd love to see her run for senator next year. Let Lisa Murkowski be governor for a couple of years and then she can appoint herself back to the senate seat when Sarah becomes president. Win-win. I think we have a precedent for someone using a senate seat as a simple stepping stone to the presidency.

"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill

listen hunter

February 10, 2009 - 09:25 ET by candance

The reaction to the ice storm in Kentucky has shown us people in Appalachia don't matter. Those bitter white people who cling to their guns and religion are not enlightened enough deserve to live.

When white people live below poverty it's okay. When minorities live below poverty it's because some right wing politician hates them.

But acts of kindness and generosity must be free and voluntary; no man has a right to compel another to follow his conscience. This is a concern which lies between a man and his God.

-Richard Fuhrman, pro slave advocate, 1823

Candance, I don't think

February 10, 2009 - 10:06 ET by Hunter12

Candance, I don't think that the lack of aid to Kentucky is a racial issue. It's more that there is no one there screaming for aid and blaming a Republican president that it isn't forecoming. You can't blame the current president, don't even think it. If the MSM could somehow make a connection to the Bush administration, you would see reporters out there with microphones and cameras in the faces of anyone willing to spew that garbage out. In an effort to get that aid into the area, I like to point out to ABC, NBC, and CBS that the rank and file FEMA people are probably all still Bush appointees or people hired by Bush appointees. Obviously they're incompetent and President Bush should be held accountable for these idiots who can't deliver the needed aid. The next problem you will have is finding someone who will go on camera and whine for the aid while blaming the Bush administration for not being there. The people of this region are more used to fending for themselves and doing for each other. It's only in those areas where people have been grafted to the government teat that you will find people living in the path of a deadly storm, watching the water rise around them, and waiting for someone to come and save them. Most of us would have been gone well before the wind picked up. When the final numbers are tallied and the cost of the ice storm clean-up and the lack of federal aid, maybe then someone will ask President Obama why FEMA wasn't there and there was no diaster relief. Don't hold your breath.

"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill

I guess CNN doesn't consider

February 10, 2009 - 09:14 ET by billb

I guess CNN doesn't consider them NATIVE AMERICANS.

This is so transparent that

February 10, 2009 - 09:43 ET by midnight cowboy

This is so transparent that the moonbats in the MSM are deathly afraid that Palin can get traction, and once the electorate sees the actual connectability of the real Sarah, the genie would be out of the bottle, never to return. This is why they have to Jap her at every turn in the road. It's ironic that they say she's a female Dan Quayle but they didn't stay on offense with Quayle after he left the office of VP in '88, and had plans to run in '92.

Sarah if you plan to run, have your playbook ready on taking out the MSM.

Ugh...I feel sick!

February 10, 2009 - 09:51 ET by Flying_Flynn

This is clearly a poor attempt to attack Gov. Palin! If I knew these "journalists" could get away with such poor writing, I would have gone into journalism and made a fortune!

Flying Flynn

CLEARLY, a journalistic hit piece on Palin

February 10, 2009 - 11:27 ET by gopcongress

Without a doubt, the entire theme of the story is to create a theme of incompetence and villainy in Palin's presence in the political arena. Rahm Emmanuel knows damn well how conservative the country is, and his staff will do everything they can to ratchet up the hate in the mainstream media and orchestrate the political hits on her as much as they can in the next two years.

CNN is treading into dangerous territory.

February 10, 2009 - 11:56 ET by mizflame98

By posting this propoganda piece on Alaskans trying to survive a harsh winter, they are unknowingly debunking global warming. Oh what a conundrum.

"Not to be a republican at twenty is proof of want of heart; to be one at thirty is proof of want of head." - Francois Guisot

But Mizflame, The fact that

February 10, 2009 - 12:34 ET by Scuba Dude

But Mizflame,

The fact that Alaska is having a harsh winter IS proof of global warming, dontcha know? : )

I truly hope all this attacking of Gov. Palin blows up in their faces.

Alaska familes struggle to survive

February 10, 2009 - 15:49 ET by sargex1

Alaskan families will be OK thats what they do. But to all you bleeding heart, liberal, commie, cry-babys answer me this. How is it the liberal media hasn't reported the fact that 1 million african americans were able to enter Washington DC for Presidential Inaugeration in one days time and 200 thousand were unable to flee New Orleans with four days advance warning. Just something wrong with blaming Republicans for Democrate incomptance.

Alaska familes struggle to survive

February 10, 2009 - 15:49 ET by sargex1

"Hundreds of years?"

February 10, 2009 - 17:40 ET by j. frank wilson

Not exactly. Whole villages were starving to death until a US Government employee - without study or permission - introduced Siberian raindeer to Alaska. Suddenly the local folks had a new food source that over the next hundred years or so has saved tens of thousands of lives.

Federal government intervention at its finest!

I think you'll find that Caribou have been in Alaska over

February 11, 2009 - 03:39 ET by Army Brat

A million years....

The caribou is an ancient relative of the deer that may have originated in northeastern Asia or northwestern North America. The earliest fossils of caribou date back 1.5 million years and were found at Fort Selkirk, Yukon.
During the last ice age, when most of North America was covered by thick sheets of ice, parts of what is now the Yukon and Alaska remained icefree.This refuge, or refugium, was called Beringia. The animals and plants that lived here escaped the glacial onslaught. Caribou were present at the time of Beringia and ranged the same areas as the woolly mammoth, steppe bison, camel and giant beaver. Many of these exotic animals did not outlast the cold climate, but some of the Beringian animals that did
survive include caribou, moose, muskox and grizzly bears.

Damn...once again I've made a mistake, I was right when I thought I was wrong.

I found this information with one search on the first page. Jeez...

Reindeer are domesticated Caribou, there are 8 sub-species of Caribou...

Happy Trails...

Oh Deer

February 11, 2009 - 06:24 ET by Jack Bauer

Let's just analyze your idiotic statement and its wrong-headed conclusion in which you manage to contradict yourself in consecutive paragraphs. (No sweat for you, though.)

1. "A US government employee -- without study or permission"

2. "Federal government intervention at its finest."

So it was actually an individual acting on his own who made a difference, and not the "government." Yet you manage to confuse the two.

"Doublethink means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them"
George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four

Though I have to admit to being "dubious" as to the veracity of this Disney-sounding tale. Was there not a landlink between Alaska and Siberia, in the past? Maybe they walked?

Alternatively how many "Reindeer" were "imported, and did they fly in? Unless it was thousands, how did they manage to breed so prodigiously so that they could feed so many people.

Wouldn't they all get slaughtered and eaten first year? What with people "starving" and all?

"I am NOT a tax crook!"
Thomas Milhous Daschle

J. Frank

February 11, 2009 - 09:04 ET by bassndude

I have heard you espouse alot of fairy tales in the past. But this one, this really takes the cake. Seems to me, they have been hunting caribou in Alaska long before our goverment ever had Alaska. As a matter of fact, historicaly, the Caribou have been there for centuries.

There is a building in your town, somewhere...its called a library. You should visit, sometime.

Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!

They hunt, fish, and store

February 11, 2009 - 08:22 ET by Free Stinker

They hunt, fish, and store foods in the summer to survive the harshness of winter

That is right! They hunt for *food*!

Someone should point this out to Uber-moron Ashley Judd, the dolt who thinks it's better for wolves to feed on Caribou and Moose rather than people hunting them for food

"Gov. Palin has been subjected to one of the most massive and dishonest pile-on smear attacks in the history of liberal media." -- Lowell Ponte