Now that TLC is paying Sarah Palin 2 million dollars to do a travelogue style show called "Sarah Palin's Alaska," I figured it might be interesting to see some of the things Sarah Palin actually did for Alaska... a (by no means exhaustive) list appears below the fold
- Signed legislation "creating" a natural gas pipeline through Alaska and Canada and into the United states... putting up 500 million of the states money as pledge for this project. Of course, this pipeline, even IF created (and there are legal challenges coming from Canadian native peoples) won't serve any local Alaskan customers. Also, due to the bidding guidelines set up by the governor, only one company made a bid that met requirements, thereby winning, and that company had improper ties to her administration.
- Declared it legal to hunt wolves from the air, and in fact offered a bounty to the pilots and shooters involved. Of course, a state judge later ruled she had no authority to create bounties in this fashion, but who cares when you're the governor?
- Fired State Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan over "performance related issues." Such issues included - seeking funding for a multi-million dollar sexual assault initiative and "not being a team player on budget issues." Of course it had nothing to do with all the pressure she put on him, and he resisted, to fire a state trooper involved in a custody battle with Palin's sister - allegations that she initially denied but later admitted, ""I do now have to tell Alaskans that such pressure could have been perceived to exist."
- Tried to sue the federal government to get polar bears delisted as an endangered species. Why? To help her friends in the natural gas and oil industries. Way to go, TLC.
- Rigorously opposes stem cell research, an issue which certainly does wonders for Alaskans with genetic diseases or other ailments which could be cured or treated under this amazing science.
Add more, people... I'd like to make this list a little better. And then I'd like to forward it to TLC, who seems to think that Sarah Palin is a good person to speak for the wonder and natural beauty of a state she has disrespected and despoiled.
UPDATE FROM COMMENTS
tacklelady points out that Sarah Palin's own son, Trig, a child born with down's syndrome, is just one of those many Alaskans who may benefit from stem cell research.
Also, Jonze brings up a good question... what of her stance on ANWR drilling? ANWR.org provides the answer.