Palin sends letter to Harry Reid: Start drilling in ANWR
posted at 8:48 pm on June 23, 2008 by Allahpundit
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No, it won’t provide short-term relief, a point Palin is astute enough in her letter to concede but Maverick, to his peril, is not. But so what? The name of the game is long-term planning: Petroleum isn’t going away anytime soon so let’s get cracking on exploiting what we have as a parallel track to developing alternatives. It’s not either/or, a point McCain’s new energy ad strives to make clear.
I don’t know if she sent the letter at his behest or on her own initiative, but if you’re a charismatic young governor looking to use a hot button to raise your profile, there are worse moves you can make than this.
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The democrats have been blocking new oil for the last 30 years on the basis that it would “not be available” right away…. what makes anyone think they’ll stop now
Canadian Imperialist Running Dog on June 23, 2008 at 8:50 PM
hey palin, whats up? i will be in anchorage aug 2nd, hit me up girl.
custer on June 23, 2008 at 8:53 PM
Is it just me or does anyone else think of the “naughty librarian” when you see pictures of her? :)
ThePrez on June 23, 2008 at 8:54 PM
“President Palin” has a ring to it. Lets dump the senile old coot and run her this year.
flenser on June 23, 2008 at 8:54 PM
Yay….yet another issue the left will find themselves on the wrong side of~
bridgetown on June 23, 2008 at 8:55 PM
Trust no man who is able to resist when Sarah Palin says “start drilling”.
Lee on June 23, 2008 at 8:58 PM
Slap yourself, dude. Five kids. Five.
Jaibones on June 23, 2008 at 8:58 PM
HOT!
SouthernGent on June 23, 2008 at 8:58 PM
John McCain: take notice!
If you happen to “go cold” while in office, she’d be a force to reckon with.
newton on June 23, 2008 at 8:58 PM
Manbearhug!
Purple Fury on June 23, 2008 at 8:58 PM
Yeah, we are going to stop using oil………
A partial list of products made from Petroleum (144 of 6000 items)
Idiots………
Drill Here. Drill Now. Pay Less.
Seven Percent Solution on June 23, 2008 at 8:59 PM
I love her ideas so much, I wanna have sex with ‘em!
grtflmark on June 23, 2008 at 8:59 PM
Dude.
**
Palin 2012?
amerpundit on June 23, 2008 at 9:00 PM
And how many acres of “pristine” forest burned in Cali today?
Idiot, asinine watermelons (you know, green on the outside, red on the inside) will be the death of us all. The death of us all I tell you!
VolMagic on June 23, 2008 at 9:00 PM
It wouldn’t provide short-term relief in a big way, but it might put somewhat of a brake on price rises if the USA showed itself serious about pursuing oil and natural gas.
I’m not an economist, but – isn’t the view that the oil price increases are caused by out-of-control speculation inconsistent with the view that an aggressive US policy of oil and natural gas resource development would provide no near-term relief? If the price increases are mostly because of speculation, wouldn’t that speculation be dampened by the prospect of the US’s developing a lot of new oil and natural gas resources?
ForNow on June 23, 2008 at 9:00 PM
They might not, but pressure to open up the oil fields may make them crack, or it serves as a handy political bludgeon if they don’t. The public is finally moving against the Democrats(and McCain’s, I know, redundancy alert!) refusal to drill now. The financial pain is making it difficult for the media, Democrats and populists to maintain the effect of their demagoguery now.
doubleplusundead on June 23, 2008 at 9:00 PM
Isn’t that a bit of a strawman argument, though? Who is claiming that it is a short term argument?
DaveS on June 23, 2008 at 9:00 PM
Good for her!
Weight of Glory on June 23, 2008 at 9:02 PM
Sic ‘em, Palin!
Tony737 on June 23, 2008 at 9:02 PM
Link to the actual letter:
Purple Fury on June 23, 2008 at 9:03 PM
“Dude”, yourself — What did you think I meant? Get your mind out of the gutter!
Lee on June 23, 2008 at 9:03 PM
Weird. HA ate my link.
Purple Fury on June 23, 2008 at 9:03 PM
Thread put to bed … lol.
She’s cute.
silverfox on June 23, 2008 at 9:03 PM
I like her.
WisCon on June 23, 2008 at 9:04 PM
i think if we started drilling tomorrow, we would see an immediate effect
i mean isnt the market very psychological? if someone in the mid east says something along the lines of “ill kill you,” the market reacts immediately in a negative way.
cant the same line of thinking apply? if the world sees the americans drilling their own oil sources, wouldnt there be an immediate effect on prices?
blatantblue on June 23, 2008 at 9:06 PM
Heh. I’m an AofSHQ moron; I can’t help myself!
amerpundit on June 23, 2008 at 9:07 PM
In the spirit of Chris Matthews…I have a tingle in my legs.
Dingbat63 on June 23, 2008 at 9:10 PM
Really smart move on Governor Palin’s part.
She’s getting her name out there, associated with an important issue we (the GOP) need to get press on. And it gives a chance for the general public to react to her — if the reaction’s sufficiently positive, it should raise her stock in the VP-stakes.
ClintACK on June 23, 2008 at 9:11 PM
Like building your house, Senator Reid. One 2X4 at a time and before too long you can sheetrock it. Next thing you know you are picking out the drapes.
Limerick on June 23, 2008 at 9:12 PM
I know Jindal mania is the rage, but I’ve got Palin mania.
Spirit of 1776 on June 23, 2008 at 9:12 PM
Huh? It may strive, but it fails miserably. Wind, solar, biofuels? That’s worked out really well, hasn’t it.
Buy Danish on June 23, 2008 at 9:13 PM
Palin or McCain or someone should get on TV with a map of Alaska showing the size of ANWR. Then they should show the little tiny dot of area that would be disturbed by drilling and exploration. If Americans were able to see and understand how miniscule an area of wilderness will be disturbed, they would find it more than reasonable and demand drilling start tomorrow. The Dims and the enviromental nuts would have to then explain what’s all the fuss over a dot of land.
Mallard T. Drake on June 23, 2008 at 9:13 PM
Palin 2012!
petefrt on June 23, 2008 at 9:14 PM
If you go back to the front page and position it just right, you can see two Sarah Palin photos and one Shrillary photo at the same time. Try and tell me that conservative women aren’t hotter than libs.
Mallard T. Drake on June 23, 2008 at 9:16 PM
It would be a bitch-slapping of Rovian proportions.
Purple Fury on June 23, 2008 at 9:18 PM
Palin 2008!
flenser on June 23, 2008 at 9:19 PM
She’s married with 5 kids. Leave her alone and focus on her policies. With her as a potential Prez in 2012, we could get the GOP back conservative.
Palin/Jindal 2012!
infidelpride on June 23, 2008 at 9:20 PM
A bit of perspective on size:
Texas: 268,000 sq miles
Alaska: 663,000 sq miles
Proposed ANWR drilling area, 20,000 acres (31 sq miles)
Dallas/Ft Worth Airport, 18,700 acres. (29 sq miles)
Limerick on June 23, 2008 at 9:21 PM
CHOOSE PALIN ASAP!!
MCCain, come to your senses and choose this woman as your VP. She is appreciative of the right to life, promotes drilling, is a lifetime member of the NRA, has a son in the military, and is fiscally conservative.
jencab on June 23, 2008 at 9:24 PM
I hope the Reid’s of the world respond to her letter. Then the real fun will start as she eats these chumps for breakfast.
To repeat, McCain needs to get his butt on a plane and do a town hall on the moonscape they call the coastal plane. The coastal plane while in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is not god’s green acre. People need to be educated on this–including McCain.
some pics
http://www.anwr.org/Latest-News/Photo-Gallery.php
patrick neid on June 23, 2008 at 9:25 PM
It will be interesting how McCain (and his flunky Grahamnesty), as well as Obama, respond to this. None of them has ever been to ANWR, as far as I can tell.
They’re going to look for a way to say she doesn’t know what she’d talking about, but they do, yet there is no way to say that.
Wethal on June 23, 2008 at 9:26 PM
Well as in the line,from the movie,Guns of Naverone,
“Its a dirty job,and someone has got to do It”!
It is interesting how Republican woman such as Palin,
want drilling now,drill tomorrow and drill till the oil
starts flowing!
And Liberal women,the enviromentalists,don’t won’t any
drilling,not now,not ever,even going as far as, if their
was a drilling project on the go,they would be screaming
to stop,just pull it out now,the drilling apparatus,of
course! Haha.—————————————–:)
canopfor on June 23, 2008 at 9:26 PM
Speaking of hot conservative women… I finally got around to update my Favorite Blogs at my blog site and had to look up MKH’s (Mary Katharine Ham) new blog spot. It is: http://www.examiner.com/blogs-421-hamblog
and she is starting to post videos at: http://youtube.com/user/dcexaminer
Just in case you want to keep up with her.
WildBillK on June 23, 2008 at 9:30 PM
Right on the money on the R versus D female comparison.
I’m from Washington state. See what we are forced to call Guv:
http://www.governor.wa.gov/
And that’s retouched and pancaked.
platypus on June 23, 2008 at 9:31 PM
She has solid conservative credentials, and her family would be the hottest 1st family in history.
http://tizona.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/sarah_palin_02.jpg
gmoonster on June 23, 2008 at 9:32 PM
Drilling area: 0.00004% of the State.
0.0004% of Harry Reid’s salary = $6.77
Limerick on June 23, 2008 at 9:35 PM
This should be a campaign pic
http://tinyurl.com/58qpjp
patrick neid on June 23, 2008 at 9:35 PM
His motto begins with REFORM!
Unless he’s reforming his ubertard tendencies,
WTF immigration!
maverick muse on June 23, 2008 at 9:36 PM
Limerick on June 23, 2008 at 9:21 PM
Thank you for that.
bridgetown on June 23, 2008 at 9:36 PM
Actually they’re talking only 2,000 acres of surface area.
Hollowpoint on June 23, 2008 at 9:37 PM
Yeah, because running a 2 year governor is a great idea.
Squid Shark on June 23, 2008 at 9:40 PM
MY FRIENDS!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
mylegsareswollen on June 23, 2008 at 9:40 PM
Getting herself up on the national stage now…. See what America thinks of her as a dry run before something more grand comes around?
Hog Wild on June 23, 2008 at 9:40 PM
Maybe I’m particularly grumpy tonight, but why do we need a comprehensive energy policy to develop alternative energy? What does this have to do with Congress?
What need is for Congress to get out of the way, not devise yet another grand plan. This is a question of making what is forbidden legal, not satisfying Quixotic dreams.
For this reason I am not as enthused as the rest of you by Palin’s letter. Let’s cut to the chase, open up ANWR and deal with these other pipe dreams later.
Kinda like building the goddamned fence.
Buy Danish on June 23, 2008 at 9:40 PM
Exactly right. Winning issue for the GOP. McCain/Palin should beat the Dems over the head repeatedly with this issue.
dedalus on June 23, 2008 at 9:42 PM
Palin for President. or Vice President.
McCain is like 99 so the odds of him making it thru 4 years are not so good. Palin would make a great first women president. Go Alaska. Home of the free!
unseen on June 23, 2008 at 9:43 PM
http://palinforvp.blogspot.com/
Just in case any are interested.
Limerick on June 23, 2008 at 9:45 PM
Buy Danish on June 23, 2008 at 9:40 PM
the dirty little secret is that alternative energy even at these prices for oil is still above the market price pof oil. therefore gov aid for alternitives is needed to kick start that ave. But I agree the drilling should start tommorrow.
The bums in Congress will get an earful over the 4th. Let’s hope its enough to move some of the bluedog dems and start a revolt of the leadership in COngress.
If I was an incumbant No matter which party I belonged to I would be worried for my job right about now. This issue will not go away.
unseen on June 23, 2008 at 9:46 PM
Absolutely.
Nothing will dampen speculator enthusiasm faster than increased supply or decreased demand.
BacaDog on June 23, 2008 at 9:47 PM
The more Republicans can club dems over this, the better.
I hope they don’t let Obama’s “I’m all in favor of high gas prices, just not so fast” quote go down the memory hole.
Iblis on June 23, 2008 at 9:48 PM
I vote “her own initiative”. She’s been pushing this for a while.
Either way…. Palin is soooooooooooo hot.
RightWinged on June 23, 2008 at 9:51 PM
Just say drill.
winemkr on June 23, 2008 at 9:52 PM
The Dhimmicrats say: We can’t drill our way out of this.
The farmer says: We can’t plant our way out of this food shortage!
Great logic!
Mojave Mark on June 23, 2008 at 9:52 PM
QFE
chasdal on June 23, 2008 at 9:53 PM
Gotta love her. Don’t know very much about this gal, however, won’t take very much to fall for her!
byteshredder on June 23, 2008 at 9:57 PM
Now if Feinstein, Boxer, Pelosi, Clinton, or McKinney were governor of Alaska I wonder if they would publish a statement like this:
PETA would be camped out in their living rooms for a month of Sundays.
Office of the Governor
Halfway down that page…..she practices what she preaches.
Limerick on June 23, 2008 at 9:58 PM
I’ve got her on Facebook…heh heh heh.
AP might not want to be my friend, but I’m sure she’s cuter anyway. :)
I’d love to see a real conservative woman move up in the ranks, so to speak. The being a woman must certainly be secondary to the real conservative part, but I’m thinking McCain could do worse.
Drill, baby, drill.
Bob's Kid on June 23, 2008 at 10:00 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3jnbiHAMuY
Sarah Palin on Glenn Beck Segment starts at about 4:20 in.
Chakra Hammer on June 23, 2008 at 10:05 PM
Very hot! Kind of a hot librarian
waitinglusting to let her hair hang out.Dreaming…
trs on June 23, 2008 at 10:06 PM
My point is that we don’t need all these alternatives right now. It’s like the immigration bill – we need to secure the border first. These comprehensive bills are behemoths and invariably cause more problems than they solve, and for that reason I’m not jumping up and down with joy over her letter.
Buy Danish on June 23, 2008 at 10:07 PM
Thanks, I didn’t know all that.
Hey, McC, get on board.
TheCulturalist on June 23, 2008 at 10:13 PM
+1
Anyway..
drill more, drill here, drill now.
and refine too..
not to mention more power plants..
Nuclear..
DaveC on June 23, 2008 at 10:17 PM
My God, where did this incredible woman come from and how have the Republicans kept her so well hidden until now?
pilamaye on June 23, 2008 at 10:23 PM
Trust no man who is able to resist when Sarah Palin says “start drilling”.
YOWZA!!!!
Does it sound like somebody trying to raise her profile for a VP slot?
RWLA on June 23, 2008 at 10:25 PM
Man, she’s a freakin’ h0ttie!
Tim Burton on June 23, 2008 at 10:26 PM
Just makes her that much more attractive that she can squeeze out five puppies and still look like that. While being governor.
And with five kids, she’s obviously very…amorous.
What is she, 24 or 25?
misterpeasea on June 23, 2008 at 10:26 PM
Comment of the day.
Just go ahead and shut this thread down; it’s done.
misterpeasea on June 23, 2008 at 10:28 PM
Halfway down the page…
Limerick on June 23,2008 at 9:58PM.
Limerick: That is awesome,a few days or even a couple
of weeks hunting for returning Alaskan Troops
will/or would be very beneficial!
Its not necessarily about hunting,but relaxation
and recuperation,a nice hot cup of tea,or coffee
with just you,nature,your thoughts,and the birds
chirping!:)
canopfor on June 23, 2008 at 10:37 PM
I love a woman with intelligence and guts! (That’s why I love the boss (MM) and my wife…Not necessarily in that order.) :)
Vntnrse on June 23, 2008 at 10:39 PM
I find it interesting that Gov. Palin’s letter is addressed to Harry Reid, with cc’s to the relevant executive branch officials (and Alaska’s Congressional delegation), yet for some reason Gov. Palin forgot to cc the Speaker of the House?
Where is Pelosi on the cc list?
slackmac on June 23, 2008 at 10:41 PM
heh… from the announcement that Allah linked (not the letter itself):
Evidently Speaker Pelosi does not rate as a “key member of Congress”
I think Ms. Palin has the measure of things in DC.
slackmac on June 23, 2008 at 10:45 PM
Palin for Vice President!
Then sit back,and watch the Lefty MSM go
into a twizzy,with Hilrod out,ooooooooh
this would be wild fire burning across
the lefty blogsphere,with a KOS meltdown!
Just think of all the Liberal conspiracy
nuts coming out,well HilRods out,and those
crafty Republican’s had a Vice President
picked all along,and a women at that!
Oh,this would be a juicy distraction for
Liberal’s!
Okay,call up the RNC,Palin for VP,done! haha:)
canopfor on June 23, 2008 at 10:48 PM
John is crazy if he even knows about energy
tblot on June 23, 2008 at 10:48 PM
Palin is too hot, but so what? She’s so hot. Okay, I’ve expressed myself.
She’s been cleaning up Alaska politics after excessive nepotism. That fits with McCain’s agenda real nicely. She might get us Oregon and even — dare I say it? — California!
She’s got more experience than Silky Pony, and is a thousand times prettier. Her smile makes John Edwards’s look like the Crypt-Keeper’s.
ForNow on June 23, 2008 at 10:54 PM
If McCain waits until Obama announces his pick (who I’m betting is a woman) the Palin’s stock with the voters will plummet. It will look like a copy-cat trick. If he is going to pick Palin he needs to act now, before Barry leaks his short list.
Limerick on June 23, 2008 at 10:54 PM
At the townhall today in Fresno, I asked Sen. McCain two questions:
“Besides ’securing the borders,’ what lessons did you learn from comprehensive immigration reform?”
and
“Would you consider Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as a Vice-Presidential candidate?”
and here’s his response to me (the redhead with glasses) at the beginning of Town Hall, Part Five: http://www.fresnobee.com/updates/story/685737.html
MB007 on June 23, 2008 at 10:57 PM
Limerick.
Proposed drilling footprint 2000 acres = 3.1 square miles.
Anwar 30,000 square miles =19,049,236 acres.
Anwar is the size of the state of Maine.
dhunter on June 23, 2008 at 10:59 PM
Well from that answer he didn’t seem enthusiastic about Palin. The ’she has a future in the party’ and ‘very popular in her state’ sounded like a no to me.
Limerick on June 23, 2008 at 11:04 PM
Palin for V.P. Obamanation surely would not dare diss another woman
and shes’ got more brains than McCain!
dhunter on June 23, 2008 at 11:05 PM
It’s embarrassing that the apparently the most interesing thing about her is that she looks like a hot librarian. Kind of disappointing.
melda on June 23, 2008 at 11:10 PM
I used the pessimistic figure of the Anchorage paper. It included a road network to the slope, pipeline footprint, support area, etc.
Obviously it is still a microscopic area compared to the whole reserve.
Limerick on June 23, 2008 at 11:12 PM
That’s what I got out of the first bunch of comments, anyway.
melda on June 23, 2008 at 11:12 PM
Really…
Pro life
Pro gun
Small government
Attack corruption
Low taxes
Pro drilling
Pro war
Disappointing….how?
Limerick on June 23, 2008 at 11:13 PM
Limerick, I realized how that seemed, so I clarified.
melda on June 23, 2008 at 11:17 PM
Got it. Went over my head but I understand now.
Limerick on June 23, 2008 at 11:18 PM
Forget the VP slot, can I get her instead of McCain?
dominigan on June 23, 2008 at 11:18 PM
Don’t be so sure that a demonstration of intent to drill in ANWR wouldn’t have a sudden and significant impact on oil prices.
Much of the upward pressure on prices is caused by the futures market in petroleum. Isn’t it likely or at least possible that a signal from Congress of an intent to act to increase the future supply would take some of the starch out of the petroleum futures market and hence oil prices?
CalFed on June 23, 2008 at 11:33 PM
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