Dennis Zaki Blog - AlaskaReport

The annual Governor’s Picnic was held yesterday in Anchorage. Here’s a few pictures.

Governor Sarah Palin and her son Trig Van Palin

Todd Palin and daughter Piper

Sarah and Piper

Todd and Trig

Bristol Palin

Tasty Burgers

Tasty KTUU reporter Layla Santiago

Ray Metcalfe’s bus. You too can hop on Ray’s bus for a three hour tour around Anchorage and hear Ray talk about Mark Begich and his real estate deals.

FBI special agent Mary Beth Kepner investigating Republican crime political corruption in Alaska. I asked her if the FBI would have a booth at the Don Young picnic next month, she just laughed. Wouldn’t that be a great photo op?

In the past two years of covering Alaska governor Sarah Palin I’ve never seen her mad before. She was glaring at somebody during the Governor’s Picnic in Wasilla Friday night. My guess is Corrupt Bastard CEO/apologist Lyda Green. I heard she was at the picnic to throw a wet blanket on everything.

The governors office sent this release out before the presser:

Governor Sarah Palin today joined Senator Ted Stevens in publicly discussing energy initiatives currently under way on the state and federal levels to alleviate the financial burden on Alaskans and provide for immediate and long-term relief.

“The Senator and I are working closely together in addressing the needs of our current energy crisis,” said Governor Sarah Palin. “We wholeheartedly support the Senator’s four-pronged approach that relies on domestic energy development coupled with alternative energy development, conservation, and legislation that protects Alaskans from anti-development litigation and protects all Americans from the impact of unchecked market speculation.”

Over the course of the last few months, the Governor has unveiled a multi-phase statewide energy plan that puts Alaskans first and mirrors the Senator’s efforts on the national level. The Governor’s plan includes a statewide energy coordinator and contains three major components: immediate short-term relief through energy rebates and state gas tax suspension; intermediate steps, which include the development of reliable energy alternatives as well as a possible bullet line for transporting North Slope natural gas to Southcentral; and then the long-term plan, which includes the overland gas pipeline to the Lower 48 that maximizes jobs for Alaskans, gas for Alaskans, and revenue for Alaskans.

“This synergistic relationship with the state and federal governments working hand-in-hand during this delicate time is welcomed and necessary, and the Senator and I look forward to combining our efforts to help Alaskans work through this energy crisis,” the Governor said. “Additionally, Alaska has always played an important role in providing reliable domestic energy to the Lower 48, and we will continue to be a part of the nation’s energy solution as they look to us for assistance.”

After Ted laid out his energy plan, I pitched a question that I have been dying to get an answer to from both of them. I asked Ted and Sarah about a federal study that showed that even if Alaska’s ANWR is opened, gas prices would only drop 2 cents - and it would take 15 years for that to happen. Ted snapped and said NY Senator Chuck Schumer was to blame for the “stupid” study and that it wasn’t true.

UPDATED

From the “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire” department.

A political blog called Wizbang says that John McCain’s VP search has lead to Alaska governor Sarah Palin.

A tipster sent us word that John McCain’s VP advance man Arthur Culvahouse has been spotted in Juneau, Alaska. There’s only one reason he would be there - to meet with Alaska Governor Sarah Palin about the Vice President position.

Thomas Cheplick at The American Spectator makes the case that she’s probably the only VP cadidate who can balance the ticket against Obama. She’s also a potential magnet for disaffected Hillary Clinton voters, many of whom are just looking for a reason not to vote for Obama.

How is Palin’s anti-abortion stance going to mesh with McCain’s pro-abortion stance? He was for it before he was against it.

UPDATED: 6:14 pm
A reporter asked during an AGIA presser this afternoon. “Are you interested in being the vice-president?” Palin smiled and said, “I’m interested in getting a gasline!”

I asked Sarah after the press conference about Arthur Culvahouse and if she had spoken to him. She said “Who?” She told me she’s never heard of him. When I asked Sarah about the quotes by John McCain himself that he is clueless when it comes to economics, she told me that she was confused why he thought it was fine for the natural gasline to be built, but not ANWR.

Governor Sarah Palin will announce details of a short-term energy plan in Anchorage on Thursday. The plan will provide assistance to Alaskans struggling with the current high cost of energy.

The chatter is that she’ll resurrect the $600 “energy rebate” that was pitched in the legislature earlier this year. Or something along those lines.

I’m sure Bill McAllister is thrilled. Can’t wait to hear what he says “Off Camera” about that.

From KTUU:

Gov. Sarah Palin has announced the Alaska Legislature will be called into an additional special session this summer.

The second special session will focus exclusively on an energy relief package for Alaskans.

Department of Revenue Commissioner Patrick Galvin says the plan, and the timing of the session, will be announced Thursday.

Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich and Governor Sarah Palin will be at the senior center in Anchorage this morning for a ceremonial signing of some bills affecting seniors. I’ll be there for pictures of the two of them. That has to drive Lyda Green up the wall. Consorting with the enemy and all.