The View From ‘Nowhere’

Dave Kiffer is a Democrat that is running against represenative Don Young He is a freelance writer. I'm sure he must be an Obama supporter.

Hello,
I did not have time to read everyones comments but have read quite a few. It seems that the majority of what I have read are not happy about the bridge and Palin is taking a beating for this. I have to say in my eyes that Palin is the esccape goat for you as she was not governor when that $ for the bridge did get passed through and nor was she in the Senate. She however happended to get elected into office after it had been passed. I'm not sure if it is true or not as I did not hear it with my own ears that Gov. Palin prior to being elected was for the bridge and then changed her mind and was not for the bridge. What I thought I heard from her was not that she was 'not' for the bridge but that she was 'not' for the money that was ear marked to be paying for it. She never did say 'No' to the brige she said that if the bridge was built we (I took that as Alaskans) would do this on our own (meaning that she was not for the ear marked $$ that was funded). Perhaps she realized the majority of the people she talked to localy were not for the bridge, or that with all the huge crewships and the hundred of float planes that also use the same strip of ocean to take off and land in (not to mention the fishing industry both commercial and sport in addition to personal boats) the bridge is going to have to be how high?? and the trafic on the water will be inhibited by how much?? I see it as a disaster waiting to happen. Which also brings up a question...how much will the maintance cost be for this? As Ketchikan has tons of rain in addition ocean water (salt) so that mean higher amount of corosion, has anyone looked into the maintanance cost $$$$ ? Seem to me you could beef up that ferry ride that takes you across the channel to the airport or to Ketchikan far less than what the bridge and the maintance would cost and be a heck of a lot more affordable. There are other Island in the U.S. that do communte this way and it works....so could you not just incorporate at a much lower cost then it would be to put the bridge in to up your ferry system that is already working? People could still get to and from the airport, their house, their job, a business. I didn't really get a feel that the majority of Ketchikan is for that brige. It just so happened to have some voiceteress people that spoke up about it. I think if you were to dived that $$$ that was designated for the bridge to locals you would probable never hear a complaint about having to use the airporter ferry system that does currently only leave every half hr from each direction (during the winter) or every 15 min (during the summer) to take you on the 3-5min ride across the channel. From what I can recall the bridge has been shot down by the majority of the locals but there seems to be a few that want to keep pressing the issue. In the end about all the Palin stuff (to say it nicely) it really comes down to that she was not part of this whole bridge $$ being appropriated, however

Well mayor, maybe you should hold your governor accountable for this. She helped politicize it. Now, you don't have a bridge do you.

So because I'm not going to vote for a communist it makes me a racist perhaps your a racist for not voting for a white guy. Everyone has this opinion that if they don't vote for a black communist then they are racist. People need to stop thinking about what other people think and think about what is right. And if this makes me Racist then I would be proud to wear the WHITE HOOD OF FREEDOM

Personally I think that all Earmarks, Pork barrel projects or what ever name our esteemed representatives will next think of to call them should be outlawed. If a project can???t stand by itself it doesn???t need to be considered. There are scores of toll bridges around the world that support and maintain themselves.

This guy is no suvivalist, he is a user of the system. I sat next to him on a Delta flight from DFW to Anchorage in 1st class an he was more s*** faced than me. He was returning from a mayors conference in Florida in which the state with Fedral matching funds paid for his whole trip. He ended up in 1st class on that specific flight out of his own pocked. All this guy talked about was getting stoned and what a great pleasure it was being able to walk on the beach and piss in tha Atlantic Ocean

This mayor Kiffer is a total joke. I sat next to this guy on a Delta flight form DFW to Anchorage, 1st class, he was returning from a mayor/conference somewhere on the east coast. The flight was delayed for DFW but we had already borded and were seated. In the 1 hour delay Delta kept on feeding us drinks and this guy was already s***faced when we sat down so he added fuel to the fire. He practically bragged about going on a fully funded (state/federal) boondogal, smoking pot, partying, and laying to claim that he stood on the beach and pissed in the Atlantic Ocean. If he reads this I hope replies back because that shows you the mentality of the voters in Ketchikan to keep putting this guy back in office. He is nothing but a user of the system, not a contributer to anything.

Dear Mayor Kiffer,

After looking at views from Google Maps Satellite and seeing your town of Ketchikan, Alaska. I do beleive that the price for the bridge is to Expensive. Instead you should build a tunnel to Somewhere. Like the one from France to England. I think they call it the Chunnel (because of the metric system or something like that ) any who, if you build it I will gladly be the first to donate my time labor or money.

Stay safe,
Pat

i agree with wolf wolfman. except the obama osama comment. as much as i dislike obama i have to say that's obviously not true, though by the sound of his name you wouldn't know it. but i'm sure how we got to this but;
obama is socialist. or communist if you will. look at his veiws. spread the wealth. that's the start of all communist systems. it is a good idea, but never ever works out. it simply doesn't work. and it's certainly not suitable for the united states of america. people, not working, making money off of their laziness and inabillity to lift a finger for him/herself and him/her's family. it's ridiculous. that's what will happen. one man goes to work, works a 57 hour week. (i know a man like this) and one day, may make just as much as the lazy, ignorant man who refuses to pay his child support nor his bills. doesn't work, doesn't do anything, but still makes money for his LAZINESS. it's ludacrious. if barack hussein obama is elected as president i don't know what will happen. other than a huge decrease in our nations work force, because they don't need to because they'll be getting money for not working!!??? ridiculous! obviously nothing will get done. lazy people. nothing being done to increase the potential of our nation. also how does barack have any experience to do this job? on xm radio a host asked "give me one thing barack obama has done in his career to qualify himself to be the president?" out of everyone that called in (obviously only obama supporters called in) not one had an answer. "change change change. he's gonna change this he's gonna change that." but not a single person could say what he has done. he simply has a huge lack of experience. not to say the palin doesn't. but still. thankyou, connor

If I recall correctly Senator Obama briefly touched on earmarks in the 2nd Debate saying something about it's miniscule portion of the budget. Earmarks can be good things.

I sure do hope McCain does NOT get elected. Anyone that advocates the kind of reckless spending demonstrated by his running mate coupled with his terroristic tactics utilized throughout his campaign is certainly not someone I want to represent my country to the world. If Obama were elected it shows the world that this country is exactly what we have always said it was. If McCain is elected it proves to the world that this country is exactly what they have always said it was. McCain pushed my vote aside when he enlisted Palin, arguably the least informed and possibly the most bigoted, hypocritical candidate ever. Not to mention the fact that McCain did everything possible to incite fear and hatred with his negative campaign. If any harm should come to Obama it will surely be a result of the hatred and distrust dispensed by our war hero John McCain and he should be held personally responsible. This alone makes him unworthy of the office. Some hero he turned out to be. I agree, build your own bridge, you pay for it.

It's against federal law to threaten to shoot a vice-presidential candidate so I'd hold off until the bimbo once again becomes just a governer with large hooters. Don't go after her while she's huntin' moose or baby ducks, though. She'd shoot back sure as hell. As a politician you know that promises and needs of voters mean nothing while publicity means everything so here you are seeking the national spotlight. Maybe you can rent canoes to nowhere.

And yet, the actual bridge to nowhere was actually built! About time the real story comes out!

I grew up in Ketchikan. Living there for 21 years, I had to take the ferry to the airport many times, it was never a big deal. But, this isn't a matter of the rich visiting their cottages, or of people dodging the law. I am disappointed that anyone would lash out to perfect strangers with such vicious claims in fact. The airport is the only way out of town, this is incredibly important if you want to seek a second opinion for your medical needs, or if you want to come home for Thanksgiving weekend. Really, I couldn't care less if the bridge comes, in fact, its been promised for many years, and nothing makes me think it will happen anytime soon. But- I hope that you do not use this as a platform to insult Alaskans, and I really hope that you don't instantly assume that it reflects what we ALL want, or think, or believe.