Party Before Country: Lisa Murkowski - Footsoldier in the Grand Obstructionist Party - UPDATED - UPDATED AGAIN.

Who in the hell in Congress wouldn't want to pass a bill that creates more jobs for Americans?  A bill to help create jobs for a hurting America seems like it should be a no-brainer, right?  

Even a paltry $15 billion measure to create jobs should get no opposition.

Question:  Who in their right mind would think that making Democrats (and this President in particular) fail is more important than helping American workers?

The GOP, that's who.

Yes, it was a trick question... the "in their right mind" part should have been the giveaway!

Today, in Washington, DC, a procedural vote (called cloture) was held to determine whether or not a Jobs Bill would reach the floor for a vote.   Under current filibuster rules, a bill needs at least 60 votes to end debate, and bring the measure to the floor for a pass/fail vote.

The GOP tried to filibuster the measure, and something very unusual happened:  They failed.

Newly-elected Republican Senator (and former Cosmo centerfold) Scott Brown (R-MA) - whose election the GOP cheered and chortled about because his vote made sure the Democrats no longer had the 60  votes needed to avoid a filibuster - bucked his party and voted for moving the bill to the floor.

The irony is delicious.

Brown was joined by Maine's Republican Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe.  When it comes to procedural votes, Snowe has locked horns with her party before, and both Collins and Snowe have made it clear that they will put party differences aside to create jobs.

Other Republicans joining Brown were Sen. George Voinovich (OH) and Sen. Kit Bond (Mo.), who are both retiring... and therefore have nothing to lose by telling their GOP colleagues to stuff it  - after no doubt getting some concessions from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reed (D-NV) for their "Yea" votes.

So, by a tally of 62-30, the Jobs Bill evaded the dreaded filibuster and is headed to the floor for an up-or-down vote.

Unsurprisingly, Alaska's Mark Begich voted with most of the Democrats to move the bill to the floor.

But... who voted "NO!"?

Why, "Lock-Step Lisa" Murkowski, of course!

Hypocrite that Murkowski is, if and when any jobs created by this measure come home to Alaska, you can bet your ass on one thing:

Lisa will be out there smiling and taking credit for it.

When she does, she should be reminded that she was against jobs before she was for them.

UPDATE:
It should be mentioned that this Jobs Bill was made up entirely of TAX CUTS.
You know, the Number One GOP Talking Point™?
So important that Sarah Palin had it scribbled on her hand?

So, in order to appease her GOP bosses, Senator Lisa is on now officially on the record as being OPPOSED TO TAX CUTS!
You know, because the Democrats thought tax cuts were a good idea.

UPDATE: This morning (2/24), the bill came to the floor, and passed by wide "bipartisan" (snort) 70-28 margin.
Of course, Lisa Murkowski was FOR it this time. 

That way, she can come back home and with a huge smile, claim she created jobs and cut taxes...
even though she opposed a floor vote for the measure in the first place.

Please, Alaskans.
Remember this arrogant duplicity.
Lisa's banking that you won't.

h/t to Bob Cesca.

Carey's Chief of Staff Bannock Carries His Own Philosophy... and ... HUH?

After reading the article in today's Peninsula Clarion, I was left wondering exactly what the hell Mr. Bannock (and perhaps, the reporter) was trying to say.
From the article:

Bannock's ideal political model would essentially extend the assembly's U-shaped table into a circle around the audience. That circle would put Bannock's usual seat in the back of the assembly and his future seat at the table on a nearly level plane.

Think of the spherical globe Atlas holds atop his shoulders. Government, Bannock says, should be like Atlas: hoisting the world up so that it can spin freely (emphasis mine).

 WTF?

 Again, from the article:

As the director of Alaska's Division of Motor Vehicles, Bannock put that into practice. His management style allowed lower-level employees to shape some of the office's operations.

 The article continues...

In that kind of system, a manager's role is devalued and can often be eliminated.

Duane got his wish.

Commissioner Annette Kreitzer fired Bannock in 2007 because the two were "unable to bridge the gulf of differences in management and communication styles," Bannock says.
"I strive to set myself apart from the "business as usual" crowd. Otherwise, what's the point?" Bannock wrote in response to his firing in June 2007. "For me, this was never about a job; this was my chance to change the world."(emphasis mine)

Change the WORLD?
As director of the DMV?

Sheesh.

Have delusions of grandeur much, Duane?

The bottom line comes near the end of the article:

If Bannock realizes his true political ambitions, he will someday represent the Kenai Peninsula in the Alaska State Senate (emphasis mine).

That's what his new job as Dave Carey's Chief of Staff is really about, folks.

Duane "Atlas" Bannock.

Coming soon to a pedestal near you!

Hypocrisy, Thy Name Is Lisa Murkowski.

According to every major economic research firm, the Economic Stimulus Bill worked, producing somewhere between 1.6 and 2.5 million jobs for Americans.

Now, according to Think Progress, 111 Congressional legislators voted against the stimulus package... and are now taking credit for its success.

"Lockstep Lisa" Murkowski is one of them. 

In an article published in the February 9 edition of the Washington Times, her Highness of Hypocrisy™ has no problem whatsoever in  stepping up and accepting the credit for bringing home the bacon, even though she, in concert with her GOP colleagues, refused to lift a finger to raise the pig.

From the article:

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Alaska Republican, called the stimulus "excessive" and voted against it, though she noted that money in the legislation would benefit her state. She, too, wrote to the USDA to support Alaska projects seeking stimulus funds.
"I opposed the stimulus bill as did most of my colleagues in the Republican caucus, but it was passed in Congress and signed into law," she said, when asked about her support for project seeking stimulus funds.
"When constituents come to me asking for support in a competitive application process for funding for broadband expansion, I am happy to support their request. I will always fight to make sure my state gets its fair share of available federal dollars," she added (emphasis mine).

Yeah, right, Lisa.

Even if you opposed the appropriations in the first place. 

Not just once, but twice.

Having your cake and eating it, too.  A standard for the GOP.

h/t to Huffington Post and Think Progress.

Climate vs. Weather: Get a Brain! Morans!

All in all, this has been a pretty mild winter for Alaska.  Southcentral Alaska, for sure.  

We've had a few cold snaps, we've had some chinooks, but overall, not too bad... and now, in mid-February, we seem to be headed for an early spring.  My fingers are crossed on that one.

When I was a kid, I'm pretty sure we had more severe and longer winters than we do now, but that could just be me.  Memories from childhood often get "modified" over time, and one shouldn't place too much stock in anecdotal  information... except that village elders from across Alaska seem to verify my memory.  

Over the course of several decades, things are changing.  That change has not always been good.

I'm not saying global climate change itself is not a natural cycle, but I think it's absolutely stupid to think that in the last 150 years or so, world-wide industrialization and emission of greenhouse gasses hasn't exacerbated the problem.

So, when I hear "experts on everything" like Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Chris Wallace shouting out how the recent snow storms in the eastern and southern US are "proof" that climate change is false, it annoys the hell out of me.

The only thing their statements  "prove" is either their ignorance, or their willful desire to misinform and mislead.  The smart money is on the latter.

There's a huge difference between "climate" and "weather."

This morning, I was listening to a story on National Public Radio (NPR) "Morning Edition" by Christopher Joyce (a correspondent on the science desk at on NPR), and the story gave listeners one of the most succinct and accurate explanations of the difference as I've ever heard:

A storm is part of what scientists classify as weather. Weather is largely influenced by local conditions and changes week to week. It's fickle — fraught with wild ups and downs.

Climate is the long-term trend of atmospheric conditions across large regions, even the whole planet. Changes in climate are slow and measured in decades, not weeks.(emphasis mine)

Can't the talking heads on Fox News  or the right-wing deniers of climate change grasp that concept?  

Of course they can, but it doesn't suit their political agenda to engage in facts.  Making shit up is more their style.

Remember, we're talking about a group of people who are working hard to re-write the history of the G. W. Bush administration, and blame it all President Obama.

Given that, what else could we expect from them?