The View From ‘Nowhere’

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  • Posted By: Tams9232 @ 10/25/2008 3:12:55 PM

    When i visited Ketchikan in June 2008 I was dismayed I paid $5.00 each way (as a pedestrian) to ride the five minute ferry from the airport to town. I remrked, "why don't they have a bridge?" That was when i heard about the so called, bridge to nowhere. Ketchikan needs a bridge. Get off your duff Palin and support this for your constituants.

    • Posted By: somone with a brain @ 10/25/2008 11:13:18 PM

      Learn how to spell and keep forking over the $5.00; if you can afford to take a vacation you can't begrudge them a little tariff money. Try going to Europe and paying double for everything.

  • Posted By: az_inde @ 10/25/2008 11:12:57 PM

    The Knik Arm Bridge was considered the "bridge to knowhere" not the Gravina Island bridge, which is discussed in this article. The Knik Arm Bridge would have created a shortcut from Anchorage to Wasilla. The funding was connected so they both were dropped.

  • Posted By: cblackgolf @ 10/25/2008 9:07:02 PM

    So I have been to Ketchkikan and I know what is like to have nowhere tto go, and withouth
    So I have been to Ketchican for the "season"and without a bridge it is the only because of the monoply of Ellis airlines tthat we were be able to get out . You deserve a choice and I would like to cast a vote for "the bridge" no matter what Palin touts, I am thinking you need to have a choice and it is up on the lower 48 to speak on your behalf.. CBB


    • Posted By: Beargirl @ 10/25/2008 11:12:29 PM

      liberal crap

  • Posted By: CR46 @ 10/25/2008 11:12:05 PM

    Mr. Mayor your state received the money for the "bridge to nowhere" Ask your Governor what she did with those federal earmark dollars. The rest of the country should not have to help pay for the same bridge twice!!!

  • Posted By: MONALISASMILES @ 10/25/2008 9:08:27 PM

    VERY WELL WRITTEN NOW I UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE SITUATION WITH 'THE BRIDGE TO NOWHERE' , BUT I THINK YOUR GOVERNOR TREATED YOU LIKE THE PROVERBIAL 'UGLY CHILD' AND I AM SO GLAD YOU SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT..

  • Posted By: millions of reasons @ 10/25/2008 3:38:59 PM

    Casylius said it best

    Posted By: casylius @ 10/25/2008 3:23:55 PM
    Comment: The cost of the bridge is $398M. Divide it up to 50 residents of the town, each should get $7.96M per person.
    You do not see what is wrong with it. We can give the town $100M for ferry people for 100 years for free at $1M a year.
    Here we do not even have fund for build new school or buy book. Keep it up the irresponsible spending and we will bankrupt this country. It is shown how irresponsible the Alaskan representatives were - See why Steven is now heading to jail. This was the Republican at work - taking tax money to feed big corporate on "pig" (pork barrel) projects

    • Posted By: somone with a brain @ 10/25/2008 11:11:12 PM

      Oink, oink, I guess Republicans are the only ones who do pork barrel spending? As I recall I think as far back as Reagan he wanted to have line item veto and the Dems cried foul. I think both parties have their hand in the pot; unfortuntately, there's a lot of corruption around but let's share the blame.

  • Posted By: kebber61 @ 10/25/2008 6:10:57 PM

    If this is such a great need why don't the citizens of this town save their oil company kick-backs and pay for it themselves. This bridge is only so that this town can make more money for themselves and will benefit no one else.

  • Posted By: New Yorker @ 10/25/2008 9:26:36 PM

    It is my understanding that the bridge to nowhere is a road that built with earmark money but was not for the bridge. It is also my understanding that your community receives money from the oil companies so you don't pay certain taxes. Why doesn't the community and the oil companies build the bridge that is needed so badly -- you know "spread the wealth around" and it will benefit your community. It seems that if you are not a friend or family member of your govenor nothing will happen. Elect a different govenor and vote Obama

    • Posted By: Beargirl @ 10/25/2008 11:09:30 PM

      Liberal crap.

    • Posted By: not this time @ 10/25/2008 9:43:49 PM

      NEW YORKER I HOPE YOU GOT MY COMMENT !!!!!!

  • Posted By: Wolf Wolfman @ 10/25/2008 6:13:44 PM

    Re: sirjohn72 $10 Billion dollars we spend in Iraq.


    The war was voted on, and passed. The bridge to nowhere was not.

    • Posted By: sirjohn72 @ 10/25/2008 6:32:02 PM

      Would you still have voted on the resolution if you told the truth about why we should have gone into Iraq in the first place, Mr. Bush has mislead the citizens of the US, & the administration has fabricated evidence tha would think that Mr. Hussein are harboring terrorists & has WMD's, all of this were lies. Do your research, don't take my word for it. Again, not willing to spend $10 billion a month in Iraq, but I would be willing to reinvest in our US economy, & yes that would include a "Bridge to No-where" if they needed it.

      • Posted By: Wolf Wolfman @ 10/25/2008 11:09:06 PM

        The law passed. Get over it.

  • Posted By: ChiChocko @ 10/25/2008 3:51:41 PM

    Mayor on your behalf
    It's ok for Hussein to wear $2000.00 dollar Hickey-Freemen suits, For His wife to order Iran Caviar, and not
    One but two Lobster,and a Liter of expensive Champaign. But for a poor Gov. from Alaska, who is not on the
    take, to have some decent clothes while she is Outside!, heaven forbid.

    While were are at it. Its not a bridge to *Nowhere* it was a bridge to an Airport. You know, one of those
    parcels of Land where an airplane can land. Why should we care? Aviation to Alaska is like blood to a human.
    The airport is located in an area where one of the most dangerous Job one can have is taking place. Lucky for the
    logger if the cable snaps cut him in half. No need for an agonizing trip down the mountain side, No waiting for a
    damn ferry to take him to the other side of the mote, so he can be transported to a hospital. Now lets see,will it be
    ANC, SEA, or YVR, who best can sew the leg back on or the Arm back on? While Singletary sits in DCA and spews out Obama crap.

    • Posted By: saraq68 @ 10/25/2008 4:04:08 PM

      The only issue I have with it is that the tax payers paid for those suits. It is a silly waste of money. And the very example of why she should not be elected. She is not change.

      • Posted By: somone with a brain @ 10/25/2008 11:08:44 PM

        Really, I didn't know taxpayers sponsored the GOP. Goes to show what you know. Do Obama and his wife shop at Sears? Everyone likes to take cheap shots at Palin, she's a gutsy lady that has been ridiculed yet she is a woman of substance. Everyone seems to forget she's running for Vice President; let's compare apples to apples, Obama to McCain and you'll see McCain is the best choice to lead our country. He is honest, has integrity, experience and knows what the heck he's doing; Obama's been in the Senate 148 days, and the only organization he's gotten together is Acorn which is under investigation for voter fraud. Yep, guess who's getting all those fraudulent votes?? Your pal Obama; I thnk they should totally disregard all of Ohio's votes since so many pets were represented and so were the homeless people. I know they were voting for the check....too bad they don't have mailboxes to receive them but I'm sure the liberals will figure out a way to get it to them. Perhaps one of the Acorn people could make deliveries.

    • Posted By: mam2263 @ 10/25/2008 5:19:27 PM

      First of all, that story about Mrs. OBAMA ordering cavier, etc. was debuked in the media already. As for Mr. Obama (at least have the class and decency to call him by his proper name) chooses to purchase his own clothing, it is really not an issue. He is an educated, successful man (he does have a law degree and graduated from Ivy League schools) who can obviously afford to dress well. The problem with Governor (see I can address her respectfully also) is that she and her campaign have presented her as an average middle class woman. The fact that the campaign choose to outfit her in designer clothing (she did go along with this),and that high priced makeup and hairstylists were also used, really is the ultimate ripoff of an image. She is presenting herself as one thing and is actually another. She also apparently really took advantage of the system between charging her state expenses to live in her own home and dragging her brood on official business when they were not invited and charging expenses for all of them. This is not in line with the image she tries to project. Think about that and try to address everyone (including people you don't like with respect) it reflects better on you.

    • Posted By: Mosephus @ 10/25/2008 4:25:34 PM

      Chicken Little (ChiChocko), The sky is not falling. You can read and write, but your understanding is limited. You believe everything Rush (Oxycontin) Limbaugh and Sean (I don't believe what I preach) Hannity. You must belong to the splinter group of the GOP, the Know Nothings only instead of Irish Catholics it's Muslims. I know you won't but,check this: http://blogs.takepart.com/2008/10/21/somethings-fishy-over-at-the-waldorf/#more-8581

  • Posted By: MOELYONS @ 10/25/2008 11:08:39 PM

    YOU GO MAYOR KIFFER. I NEVER THOUGHT IT WAS FUNNY WHEN THEY TALKED ABOUT THE BRIDGE TO NOWHERE. WE ARE ALL SOMEWHERE. KEEPING PUSHING AND I WILL BE PULLING FOR YOU.

  • Posted By: bgerard2 @ 10/25/2008 9:32:01 PM

    First of all, to the cretin who is 'speculating' about Sarah Palin's family & her child who has Down's Syndrome. Why don't you worry about the dirt in YOUR OWN closet? Stick a sock in it and spare us your gross ignorance! Secondly - It isn't the responsibility for the rest of the taxpayers in the United States to pay for your bloody bridges or airports. It's time for the socialist programs to end & for Alaska to stand on their own!

  • Posted By: debralg @ 10/25/2008 11:07:12 PM

    Here is a good title for a book if Obama wins: "How the president lied and cheated his way into the presidency." One could add: "with the aid of the disgraceful media.

  • Posted By: jcwestpt03 @ 10/25/2008 11:04:08 PM

    You have a beautiful state, and I think you need the bridge. I merely question the use of earmark spending to fund it, when there are so many other ways to fund it such as bonds or higher PFCs. If a bridge is necessary, find a funding institution to issue a revenue bond. Give investors an opportunity to fund the bridge, and in exchange let those investors have a stake in the bridge and allow them to profit from it. If a bond is unpalatable, increase airport user fees and passenger facility charges to fund the road directly...that way the burden for funding the bridge falls solely on those who would utilize the airport. This is often the case when new roads are constructed to other airports around the country, or when airports are upgraded. Assuming his numbers are correct that 250,000 pass through the airport every year, a PFC increase of 2 dollars annually would yield $500K in 1 year, PFC increase of $4 would yield 1 million in a year, and so on. This could be used to repay bond investors or to fund the construction directly. This could be further increased by adding a 1 dollar increase to the port charges on the 1 million visitors who come on cruise ships. Give investors a chance, or limit the expense to those who would use the facilities. As an example, I am from Memphis, TN... We were in major need of a new airport terminal. We did not expect every taxpayer to fund that....the port authority issued bonds and is in the process of repaying them with income from higher PFC charges. At the same time, as a bondowner, I am able to profit from it, and the burden for funding the improvements lied squarely on users of the airport, not the Memphis or Tennessee taxpayer or federal taxpayer. That stated, Memphis is no shiny example to other places either. I am not saying that bonds or higher PFCs are exactly the right way to go but am merely suggesting them as an alternate to earmarks. I for one would be willing to invest in such a bond, given that government insured bonds are a pretty safe bet these days. If tax money is to be used, give all taxpayers something in return. And give people an opportunity to profit. All Memphis did was get a loan guarantee from the government for the airport improvement. Memphis is not a wealthy place either, but many obviously had a stake in the airport. Fedex and Northwest airlines were probably the largest corporate investors in those government bonds, in addition to the average investor. Would the oil companies hesitate to invest in such bonds in Alaska like Northwest and Fedex did here? Find me a broker and let me invest a little in building the bridge .. A guaranteed tax free return and insured principal is something we could all use nowadays in our portfolios, or wished we had before the stock market tumble in recent weeks.

  • Posted By: AbnRanger1 @ 10/25/2008 9:46:55 PM

    I guess Governor Palin AKA Caribou Bambie had not yet found a way to control that land which would had been developed if the bridge was built. Don't worry, as soon as some cronies, political friends, or even her family gains control of that land a bridge WILL be built, NOT because it would be in the best interst of the citizens of Ketchikan necessarily, but because some politician stands to profit handsomely from development in the island.

  • Posted By: whitewofmother @ 10/25/2008 3:57:12 PM

    Give the people their bridge! This is a fine example of what is in store for the United States if Palin & McCain are elected. The rich are richer and the poor are poorer. Keeping people from advancement when possible and this is something that could help the economy.

    • Posted By: somone with a brain @ 10/25/2008 4:41:49 PM

      The only thing keeping you from advancing is your either stupidity or laziness. In this country you can make something of yourself if you are willing to work hard and have half a brain. Stop waiting for handouts, That's what weakens this nation; people who whine about the rich people being rich but are to darn lazy to pick themselves up and get educated in order to provide for THEMSELVES. What a thought!

      • Posted By: Beargirl @ 10/25/2008 7:44:11 PM

        Its me again and I still agree with you. However, I would like to add the only reason they (liberals) are talking about the "Bridge" is because they have run out of dirt to throw at Palin. If she wins, it will continue, if she loses, all of a sudden it won't be important anymore.

        • Posted By: somone with a brain @ 10/25/2008 11:01:46 PM

          Right they forget that Freddie and thFannie was caused by the liberal democrats forcing banks to give loans to risky people who couldn't afford them. Now they blame the republicans, they want to spend, spend, spend then they cry foul when someone wants to put a stop to them. I'd like to see Pelosi's bank account to see if she knows how to balance her checkbook.

  • Posted By: offduty113 @ 10/25/2008 7:33:43 PM

    I can't believe that the democrats don't see a problem with families on thier 4th and 5th generation on welfare. That's ok I will continue to work my 2 jobs so that they can sit at home and do nothing to benefit society. Keep on collecting!!!!!! your doing a fine job.

    • Posted By: LilBitOfSense @ 10/25/2008 7:59:03 PM

      I do not like 4th or 5th generations on welfare, but if you are PRO-LIFE then we better take care of them when they get here!! I think that is REPUBLICANS!!

      • Posted By: abbankhead @ 10/25/2008 10:59:43 PM

        I don't think anyone likes to have people benefit from generational welfare. But please keep in mind you have people that are dem's and rep's that are on welfare. As I type this, I can't help but think are people on welfare registrated voters for either party? There is more wrong with this country than people on welfare. And just because I say that doesn't make me non-patriotic. We all need to take a step back and take a breathe. No matter what happens this country is going to need to pull together, black and white. We better get to praying for one another.

      • Posted By: somone with a brain @ 10/25/2008 10:42:39 PM

        Oh gee, we either kill the babies or we support the idiots who don't know about contraception. What a stupid choice. How about if people become responsible, keep their pants on and in the event they do get pregnant perhaps they can be responsible and support their own children? Does that sound like too much to ask? Animals take better care of their offspring than some humans, it's a shame. While we're on that topic how about the "God" thing; it's okay to call out to him when we're bombed or in horrible straits but heaven forbid if coaches' get caught praying with thier team prior to a game. The stupidity of this country astounds me; we want it both ways. But gotta love the freedom and dialogue it brings even though most people can't spell worth beans.

  • Posted By: Vote Now @ 10/25/2008 5:30:24 PM

    THE GREAT BUSH DEPRESSION
    I follow an economist named Bob Proctor. He has called the top and bottom of every market crash since the 70s correctly.
    He perfectly predicted the current meltdown and the picture he paints about what will happen next
    is terrifying.He thinks it will be worse then the great depression.
    The banks in the U.S. are going under one after the other. Countrywide ,Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch , Fanny and Freddy Mae ,AIG
    The government took them over because they are bankrupt. Even with the goverment nationalizing hundreds of billions of dollars in debt the stock market is crashing
    the credit markets are frozen and all of us may suffer beyond anything seen in generations
    McCain just like Bush " doesn't understand the economy".
    That not just my opinion its his own words. Not only does he not understand how to fix it but he does not understand how its been broken.
    It is no surprise that he doesn't. The people that make up these securities use quantum mathematical models very few people understand.
    Bush and McCain both can take the credit for this mess since they helped deregulate the laws that were protecting us.
    Bush's economic advisor Phil Graham wrote the deregulation bill that allowed banks to take huge risks with all of our future.
    Now, Phil Graham is the head of McCain's economic policy.He is also McCain's choice for the next secretary of the treasury.
    No one in this country can afford for that to happen. The last time Bush met with his economic advisors was in March. He was the last to know somthing was wrong. Phil Graham had the guts to say that we are in a mental recession after he helped create the worst economy meltdown in our lifetime. Check out this link to the truth http://my.barackobama.com/keatingvideo
    It will take the best and brightest minds in the world to get us out of this nightmare. As bad as Bush has done, McCain would be
    even more destructive because things are in much worse shape. The next president will not inherit a budget surplus like Bush did but a crashing economy and a 11,600,000,000,000 (trillion) dollars deficit. Most of it Bush created and it will take decades to pay it back.
    If you do what you have always done then you will get what you have always got.
    When it comes to policy Bush and McCain are the same 90 percent of the time.
    So why are the polls even close then ?
    Mccains team just said they no longer want to talk about the economy.Instead they would like to spend time talking about obama
    which means running the biggest smear campaign in history.
    They think they can just tell you lies and you wont be smart enough to see through it
    Let's teach him we are smarter than that
    Stand up and hold them accountable
    Bush isn't on the ballot this year but his policies are
    Elect Obama Biden 2008

    • Posted By: sueinmn @ 10/25/2008 5:39:40 PM

      Thank you! So well stated! people are afraid of change and should fear worse, more of the same. We are a country of greed and ignorance. We not only took our own country down but all around the world. Todays economy is so intertangled with the world enomony unlike back in the depression ere. This is serious people and holding onto to your fear of change for "the hope of something better" is just plain ignorance.
      This country will change regardless so you can choose to change with it or just ride along but it will change. For the better or worse is up to us.

      • Posted By: Wolf Wolfman @ 10/25/2008 10:59:32 PM

        I am ignorant, please educate me. I believe that a promise of "spreading the wealth around" is a bad idea for several reasons. Minorities will vote for the "change", but what guarantee do they have after their vote has been "bought"? Our country will be worse off; more like Cuba. Obama wants to spread the wealth of the United States to other countries. Ask yourself, will I be better off under socialism 4 years from now? Obama is allied with socialists, communists, Muslims and criminals. The only two decent associates of Obama that I know of were his grandparents. Obama and Osama have one thing in common, they both had friends that bombed the pentagon.

    • Posted By: Wolf Wolfman @ 10/25/2008 10:30:26 PM

      Could mortgage foreclosures have been any part of the financial crisis?

    • Posted By: Beargirl @ 10/25/2008 5:57:10 PM

      Wow, you do have a issue about repeating yourself. Do you have a 'premature entry key' issue or just an excessive desire to be irritating? Maybey its because you think if you repeat falsehoods often enough you will find some poor idiot that will believe you.

  • Posted By: tool man @ 10/25/2008 10:59:06 PM

    good for you hope you get your beidge America helping American's, so people buy lumber cut in the USA and not cheeper lumber from Russia . lets get Amercia back on track

  • Posted By: jdahunt @ 10/25/2008 4:24:37 PM

    This mayor is a prefect example of what is wrong with America......on a purely political message full of hate and animosity he tries to become another victim. Hey mayor a lot of people in America have been promised things by politians,your big mistake is still believing 30 years later that the rest of America should still pay for your ignorance.

    • Posted By: somone with a brain @ 10/25/2008 10:57:41 PM

      For Cripes sake, why is everything her fault; I suppose your man Obama is "sinless" he has no clue who he hangs with and they're a bunch of racists, cheats, and bombers but you'll vote him in cause he'll give you a pay check. Let's see what promises he can keep if God forbid he is elected. The rich will carry the poor, yeah right that's just what our country was founded on a bunch of lazy people begging for handouts. If you know your history people came here and worked hard to make it what it is today; it's called capitalism and free enterprise. Look to Cuba, and Russia to see examples of what happens when people expect the government to take care of them. They become poor slobs who stand in line for bread and drink vodka all day to forget their troubles. Some of you may be like that already especially the ones who are waiting for the check in the mail. I work hard for my money, am well educated and like to keep my money to spend as I wish. I just want to pay taxes for my military and the idiots who can't work to make a living or pay insurance I don't think I should have to support you. Sorry but that's my feeling; I came from a very impoverished background but worked my way up through lots of education which by the way I paid for through loans which I paid back and guess what??? I MADE it and am living a great life. I travel and have two nice homes and a great family. That's right, that's what and education, faith in God and hard work will get you. I didn't sit around and bemoan the fact that others were rich and I was poor, I got off my butt and got my piece of the pie which I don't want to give to the whiners!! No matter what Obama says, we will all pay for his socialistic policies!

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