Reply #8: People here are pissed off at the oil companies right now.

[Blue_In_AK]

You may not be aware that we have many, many, many corruption cases going on up here regarding undue influence by the Big Oil companies (as channeled through oil field service company VECO) on our legislative process -- most particularly on the oil profits tax that was passed last year. It was because of that big mess that our new governor Sarah Palin was able to so soundly defeat Frank Murkowski and all the other more "establishment" Republicans (and "establishment" Democrat, Tony Knowles) that ran for governor in 2006. She is definitely a "new school" Republican.

Sarah ran on an ethics/open government platform, and is proposing completely throwing out the oil tax that was passed last year. She has called the legislature back for a special session to discuss a "do-over" raising the tax because the scheme that was passed last year didn't provide the revenue to the state that was promised. The oil companies are furious with her, but she has an 85-90 percent approval rating with "the people," so I think she's winning this fight - at least for now.

While Sarah is a social conservative, she doesn't cram her personal views down people's throats, which is a nice thing. Last year a lot of her supporters also supported Diane Benson because she too places ethics as her top priority.

Alaskans are a feisty bunch, and we're tired of "politics as usual." The vast majority of voters here are Independents and a lot of progressive ideas appeal to them. For all our "Republicanness," we do have legalized marijuana, same-sex benefits for state employees, legal abortions, and no death penalty.