An Alaskan Speaks

I had a great discussion the other day with a highly intelligent supporter/friend from Sewanee about Sarah Palin and the politics of war and government. I got to know him during my run for Mayor earlier this year, when I was campaigning to replace the small town, corrupt Mayor that had dug our little town into a financial juggernaut over the past 16+ years.

He was concerned about my support of a person he knew to be a caustic politician who took no prisoners in her rise to power...then this letter came into my inbox.

This one is for you Lyle!

Subject: Who is Sarah

Dear Eddie, (Eddie was a friend from Texas who inquired about Sarah Palin)

Fishing is good here at Wildman and I rarely have time for politics, but
many of our friends are asking us "Who is Sarah Palin?" Of course, as
Alaskans, Kathy and I are extremely proud of her. We just want to let you
know that Sarah "Barracuda" Palin is a straight shooting, hard charging,
get it done gal. She knows when to listen, how to analyze the facts and
how to make a decision, then implement the plan. She doesn't do a poll
before jumping in with both feet like too many of the Washington types.
She has little legislative experience because she has always held the
EXECUTIVE position; in private life, as mayor of Anchorage's largest
bedroom community or more recently as Governor of our State. She is a
smart, attractive home grown Alaska girl with excellent moral and family
values. She can see what needs to be done and does not hesitate to get
it done.

One of our State's major problems is that its Capital is in Juneau, 500
miles from the nearest road and 800 air miles from the population base
which is Anchorage, Wasilla and Fairbanks. Our legislature and most of
the State government is in Juneau and they ALL behave like a bunch of
freshmen in a college town. It has been this way since Statehood in
1959. When Sarah moved to Juneau, so did accountability and
responsibility When the oil revenue started flown and a barrel of North
Slope Crude hit $23.00, these people began spending money like drunken
sailors. You can only imagine what was happenings when oil hit $100.00 a
barrel, about the time Sarah took command. My wife Kathy has first-hand
experience with this fiasco, as her father and also her ex-husband were
Alaska Legislators who served in Juneau as Senators, Senate President, or
members of the State House for a combined period spanning nearly three
decades.

About the time Sarah took the HELM as Governor of Alaska, about half of
the State legislature was in the pocket of big oil companies or
contractors doing big projects for Native Corporations around Alaska, all
funded by State oil revenue. Alaska government was nothing but a good
old boys club riding the perpetual wave of prosperity. This filtered
down from the legislature, through the Department of Natural Resources,
Department of Labor and even spilled in to the Public Safety who are
supposed to "preserve and protect".

When Sarah walked into the Governor's Mansion, she promptly dismissed
the State Trooper detachment assigned to Governor and had her and her
husband's gun case brought in from Wasilla. Then, she got rid of the
former Governor's STATE Jet and told legislators that there were no more
free rides, they would have to fly Alaska Airlines, just like her and her
family if they wanted to travel. Next came the nut cutting (the
Barracuda part) the heads that rolled were too numerous to name, but when
Sarah finished cleaning house, a number of our legislators ended up in
jail for on corruption charges, or tendered their resignations along with
numerous department heads and those who have been riding the gravy train
for way too long, AND THEN SHE HAD LUNCH. By the end of the day, Sarah
Palin had saved the people of Alaska millions and has not yet slowed
down.

She has truly brought CHANGE to Juneau. I personally know several
persons in the private sector in Alaska, that hold her in high esteem.
She surrounds herself with smart people, many from my hometown of
Anchorage, she listens to them but makes her own decisions. Sarah Palin
is a no B.S. politician. It is refreshing that there is such a thing
anymore. You want to talk about CHANGE? You should see a before and
after picture of the State government in Alaska. That's CHANGE! Sarah
will bring a number of things to the election. I am sure she will appeal
many voters who my otherwise could have gone the other direction on
election day. The conservative block will not be for Barack. We have
their vote. We need what Sarah will bring, first to the election and
second, what she will bring to Washington D.C. McCain has been advised
well, Let's just hope the American people can get the straight scoop on
her in the weeks ahead. This is just the opinion of one Alaska Bush Pilot
and Guide, who pays attention to national politics, watches the news and
is deathly afraid of the direction our nation is headed. I guarantee
that if Sarah gets a chance to dig her spurs into the flanks of the
liberal Washington types, they will know that she is in the saddle.

Butch King

Pilot/Guide

Butch & Kathy King
Proprietors
Wildman Lake Lodge
www.wildmanlodge.com