WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama lost the Alaska vote Tuesday in a landslide and Gov. Sean Parnell has been openly hostile toward him, but now the state’s leaders have no choice than to accept that a majority of the rest of the nation wants Obama as president.
More than 60 percent of Alaska is federal land, and the decisions Obama makes over the next four years are going to shape the development of the state.
In Alaska, where Republicans control the governor’s office and both houses of the Legislature, Parnell recently declared to Congress that Obama “waged a war on American jobs” and has an agenda to stop development of Alaska’s oil and gas resources.
Yet Obama has dismissed the objections of environmentalists and supported Shell Alaska’s efforts to become the first company in two decades to drill for oil in the Arctic waters off Alaska. His economic stimulus program also delivered far more federal dollars per-capita to Alaska than to any other state.
Ethan Berkowitz, the former Democratic minority leader of the state House, argues it’s time for Alaskan leaders to tone down the rhetoric about Obama.
“We need to work with him instead of trying to undermine him. And I think that the tone out of Juneau, particularly from the governor’s office, has been one of overt hostility in an effort to be a Republican team player,” Berkowitz said in an interview. “It’s time to move past that kind of partisanship and move towards what is really good for Alaska.”
Parnell responded that he’ll work with Obama where there’s common ground.
“But where the federal government tries to lock up Alaska with new regulations or adverse interpretations of the law, or where it otherwise smothers Alaskans’ opportunities, we will challenge the federal government in court,” he said.
Obama received just 41 percent of the vote in Alaska. Republican Rep. Don Young, Alaska’s lone member of the U.S. House of Representatives since 1973, was re-elected the same night with 65 percent of the vote.
Young had nothing good to say about Obama after the election, putting out a statement that the president has governed from the far left while in office.
“Alaska, in particular, has felt the brunt of these far-left policies, especially when it comes to developing our God-given resources,” Young said.
Obama has a big decision ahead on offshore Arctic drilling. He allowed Shell to drill in Alaska’s waters this year but not deep enough to hit oil, because the company’s spill containment barge wasn’t ready. Shell hopes now to get permission to drill into oil-bearing zones.
Alaska’s leaders have complained about how long it has taken to allow Arctic offshore drilling. And the Norwegian company Statoil said this summer that it was delaying its offshore Arctic plans because of concerns about the regulatory challenges faced by Shell.
But Shell seems satisfied, at least lately.
“On the permitting front, what we experienced in the last 18 months, as a result of the White House working group, is a model of how offshore permitting could and should work – not streamlined, just accountable and efficient,” said Shell Alaska vice president Pete Slaiby.
The Obama administration’s proposed offshore oil leasing program includes a pair of potential new sales in the Alaska Arctic, starting in 2016.
“We are committed to moving forward with leasing offshore Alaska, and scheduling those sales later in the program allows for further development of scientific information on the oil and gas resource potential in these areas and further study of potential impacts to the environment,” Deputy Interior Secretary David Hayes said as the plan was announced.
Environmentalists and some members of Congress from the Lower 48 are lobbying Obama to halt the Arctic leasing. They say the president hasn’t made the case that drilling in the environmentally sensitive region is safe. But Alaskan leaders say the environmental standards for Arctic drilling are the strongest in the world and Obama should not delay the sales for four years or more.
Obama also is clashing with Alaskans over drilling in the vast National Petroleum-Reserve Alaska on the North Slope. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has proposed to prohibit oil development on about half the reserve. He said sensitive wildlife habitat needs to be protected. But Alaska officials say Salazar’s proposal is too restrictive and could close off the route for a pipeline to carry offshore oil in the future.
The Obama administration also is weighing what to do about the proposed Pebble mine, which would be the world’s largest open pit mine. The Environmental Protection Agency said the mine would harm habitat in a region with the richest remaining salmon runs in the world. The EPA did a hotly disputed draft study of the mine at the request of tribal groups and Bristol Bay Native Corp.
Alaskans also are watching what Obama decides on allowing the export of natural gas to foreign countries. His administration delayed a report on the issue until after the election. The report focuses on Lower 48 gas, but Alaska is talking about its own massive export project.
“When that report comes the administration is going to have to look at what its policy is going to be on exports,” said Larry Persily, federal coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects. “More immediately for the Lower 48, but also overall.”
Comments (57)
Add commentGet over it
Obama won a decisive victory. The republican party is heading toward its own 'fiscal cliff' due to it's inability to adapt to changing demographics in the nation and its hijacking by the far-right crazies. Odds look good that republican power will continue to shrink in the country.
For Alaska to be so far out of step with the rest of the nation, while being so reliant on the federal government, is a dangerous thing. A belligerent Sean Parnell doesn't help. Remember when Obama flew through the state and Parnell wouldn't even meet him at the airport? Petty and disrespectful, for no political gain.
The rest of the country is going in one direction. Our state is going in the other. They're bigger than we are...
Parnell will get my vote
This is among several reasons why I respect and admire gov. Parnell. I hope he continues to snub Obama. This attitude too will propell him to a great victory over Mark Begich when he takes back Ted Stevens senate seat.
Parnell?
Mr. 2 billion give-away? Anti-Denali kid-care? Believes giving any more money to schools struggling with funding is "the big give-away?" Calls a special session that he knows will fail? Wants to destroy the bi-partisan coalition. Yeah, he's a classy guy that Parnell....
Pres. Obama won the election
Pres. Obama won the election in Juneau 2 to 1 the district includes Petersburg, Skagway,
http://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/12GENR/data/sovc/hd32.pdf
It was:
Pres. Obama: 4221
Romney: 2214
Alaska used to be a
Parnell says Obama “waged a war on American jobs”.
This is pure fucdukingbulshitcrapola! Parnell.
What would one expect?
Of course obama won Juneau, and lost statewide. Juneau runs on government revenue, one should not bite the hand that feeds it! Too bad this hand can also backhand.
The quote from Shell in this
The quote from Shell in this article
" On the permitting front, what we experienced in the last 18 months, as a result of the White House working group, is a model of how offshore permitting could and should work – not streamlined, just accountable and efficient,” said Shell Alaska vice president Pete Slaiby."
,and the fact that the US has become the #2 oil producing country in the world under Obama, shows that Young and Parnell are partisan extremists.
Saudi Arabia has recently pledged to become a nation powered by 100% renewable energy in the near future, and keep oil reserves in the ground for the long term. It's sad to see the US being left behind in the world because of backward thinking leaders at the state and federal level.
Parnell is out of step
Thank goodness Juneau voted correctly on this one. Parnell has a week to institute insurance exchanges. We're in with Obamacare and need to join up.
Oil Lobbyist Sean Parnell is
Oil Lobbyist Sean Parnell is going to do what he can to sell out our states resources to industry under the guise of job creation.
Sean Parnell is arrogant obstructionist, obstructionists are not leaders and they have no business holding any public office. These people are the real job killers in this country.
Alaskans need to watch the legislature and vote out the Reps that side with Parnell
Amusing . . .
Always amuses me when Alaskan's rail against the "intrustion of the federal government" considering "the U.S. government spent $17,762 for every man, woman and child in Alaska in 2010, putting the state at No. 1 for per capita federal expenditures — 69.8 percent above the national average,” according to the summary written by economist Neal Fried in the February 2012 edition of the state publication, Alaska Economic Trends.
Enjoy the PFD!
Parnell's thinking is right up there with
Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.....detached from reality.
He (McConnell) has already indicated that he and his minions, will continue to obstruct for the next four years.
Mitch, Sean, if you actually had the people's (outside those that fund your thinking) mandate, your candidate would have taken the White House, and you Mitch, would soon be getting announced as the new majority leader in the Senate.
That wasn't the case, so give it a rest already....and get with the program. You have four years to help get this country turned around, and you won't accomplish a thing if you continue to act like a sore loser and a bully .
Lattie
Once again you are 50% wrong. All you have to do is look at the Red and Blue maps. There is alot more red isn't there? Yes, Obama won, but only because of the big population centers. I also will point out that the House of Representatives is still controlled by the Republicans. Alaska is not out of step with rural America, and I thank the stars for that!
The Oil industry as kept our
The Oil industry as kept our country from moving forward and developing a new energy policy for the 21 century.
The oil industry & their Reps are blocking efforts to reform our energy policy.
Who pays for this YOU DO.
Its the Tax Payers that will foot the 100 billions each year to clean-up and rebuild cities destroyed by these new mega storms caused by the oil industry.
Obstructions are the weak link they are causing our country to slip further and further behind .
Sorry denny
...about your party's loss. Yup, they won more acreage. But lost by every other measure.
Colorado and Nevada are now solid blue states. In 2016 Florida will be a blue state. Texas & Arizona will be swing states. Republicans will control the deep south and Utah/Wyoming/Idaho.
But I encourage you to stick to your guns. Demand that the republican party swing even harder to the right. Dig in against immigration and choice. Fight any whiff of gay marriage rights. By all means don't let the wealthiest pay any more taxes. And continue to insist that we spend more on our military than the next 15 countries (many of them allies) combined.
Do all that, but please don't suck the rest of us down the black hole you're headed towards, OK?
And denny...
You know the reason why many republican house members survived this election. For the same reason Don did - seniority.
If Alaskans could start fresh, Don would be out on his rear. Same for many other states that have their own versions of Don. A lot of the new tea party reps did get tossed because they had no seniority to protect them.
Dems made significant gains in the House. By 2016 the repubs are at serious risk of losing it. Maybe by 2014 if they'd only double down on their current positions.
Alaska’s leaders have
" Alaska’s leaders have complained about how long it has taken to allow Arctic offshore drilling"
Folks, Arctic offshore drilling (OCS) Royalties go straight to the Federal Treasury so why in the world should we be putting our coast line, our fisheries, our way of life at risk?
We have to vote these Reps. out of office, they are not working for Alaskans they are working for oil.
Most of Alaska is Federal
Most of Alaska is Federal land, Federal land is public land.
But Parnell, Don Young, many of our Reps. want to hand over our public land to private industry for pennies on the dollar.
Private industry gets richer while the public gets stuck paying 100s of billions each year for the clean up costs. What about our deficit? Cleanup costs get added to the deficit.
Private industry should pay the billions in clean up cost, not tax payers. They are the ones causing the mega storms.
CEOs make multi million dollar salary each year.
What kind of raise have you got in the last 5 years?
PO'd White Guys on the Decline
By gerrymandering the Repubs will still win house seats in the states where you can buy a Confederate flag at any gas station. The Repubs should have had control of the senate if they didn't trot out a buch of loons like Akins, Mourdock,O'Donnell,Angle. and others
Hillary in 2016
George Will On Electoral Collage
According to Mr Will.
"Critics of the Electoral College say it makes some people’s votes more powerful than others’. This is true.
"So what? "
"Do critics want to abolish the Senate that also serves as a check on the House as well? Delaware, the least populous state in 1789, understandably was the first to ratify the Constitution with its equal representation of states in the Senate: Virginia, the most populous, had 11 times more voters. Today Wyoming’s senators’ votes can cancel those of California’s senators, who represent 69 times more people."
"If that offends you, so does America’s constitutional federalism. "
"The electoral vote system, like the Constitution it serves, was not devised by, and should not be revised by, simple-minded majoritarians. "
what happen with respect
Parnell he is your hos nobody she disrespect our president its so wrong grow up Mr Parnell we all need to work together as a country. This upsets me on how the President is disrespect.
While Republicans hung onto
While Republicans hung onto control of the House of Representatives after Tuesday's election, Democratic candidates across the U.S. received more total votes than Republican candidates did.
Wake up call for Republicans, your days are numbered.
whst happen to respect
Parnell he is hour boss. He disrespect. Our President its so wrong gwow up Mr Parnell we all need to work together as a country This upsets me on how the President is disrespected. If it was anyone else they would get fired.
Obama did not loose the Alaska Vote
The Electoral College system was established in Article II of the Constitution and amended by the 12th Amendment in 1804.
I would like to get rid of this electoral Collge once and for all for Alaska.
LM
1. did you read the election results for Alaska?
2. get rid of electoral college and Alaska would be no better than a colony. Sure, what is 3 votes? But have you considered that if there was no e-college, then candidates would only go to the key population centers? Why bother with the midwest? Why bother with the whole south when all you need is a lock on Miami, Atlanta, and Raleigh?
3. I'm guessing you get it now. The electoral college keeps candidates from selling the interests of the state in favor of the wants of the cities.
Speaking of maps dennyh.
Did Florida ever get around to announcing the winner of their electoral votes....or are they still counting hanging chads?
I would call a 332 to 206 electoral spread, or given the benefit of the doubt, 303 to 235 a pretty convincing trouncing. The republican ideal couldn't carry the states it needed to win the election....period. But you go ahead and see it how you will.
You just go ahead and keep veering right if that's your conviction, but the rest of the country will be moving on without you, as it will with those who continue to veer left.
Lattie
You sound like you watch way to much Rachel Maddow. I will make a bet with you that the Republican party will come roaring back, especially when at the end of this four years the economy is still in the doldrums because of liberal economics. I wish I could spend my way out of debt. Obama is an empty suit, and it is going to take you 8 years to realize that. How sad!
ima49er
Would you like to take the bet?
wrote this in 2008
excerpt of a piece i wrote after 2008 election concerning the stimulus plan. will be interesting to see if it will have relevance in 2012.
"Being in the opposition party in a time of national crisis is difficult enough, but being the opposition party and also the party primarily responsible for the crisis presents a very perplexing conundrum. I am referring to the Republicans of course. The present administration has unenviable task of cleaning up the Republican mess created by 8 years of hyper tax-cuts, deregulation, borrowing and, above all, SPENDING. If President Obamas’ efforts are successful the only constituents the Republicans will have left are bible thumpers, rednecks, and Joe the Plumber. The Republicans know this and is why they want the stimulus and Obama to fail. The Republican Parties’ immediate survival depends on Obamas’ failure and consequent worsening of our economy. Ensuring the failure requires the shrinking of the stimulus package under the guise of wasteful spending and proclaiming the disastrous and ineffective policy of more tax-cuts to boost the economy.
The best strategy for the Republicans is to call Obamas’ bluff and call for the massive increase in the plan and take ownership of the plan in the process. It would show the American people that the Republicans got the message and are willing to provide bold leadership rather than sacrifice American jobs and prosperity for the survival of a tired and worn out ideology. But bold leadership requires bold leaders with the intellectual capacity to match. Right now the Republican Party is in effect being lead by a talk-radio host with a high school education and a drug addiction problem. I have stated before, the Republican Party, to survive, must jettison its populist and nationalistic wing and somehow finds its way back to its intellectual conservative foundations. Otherwise it will always be party first, country second, and we will all suffer."
All Presidents are empty suits dennyh
I just prefer there to be at least a whisper of cognitive thought, from my President.
Don't you think it telling, that Romney/ Ryan failed to carry Michigan, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin....but Obama/ Biden carried Hawaii, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Delaware....you know, where common sense would dictate the voters "local knowledge" of the candidates.
I'm not a gambler in that sense dennyh, but if I were, I'd give you odds.
@ Rough Cut
I'm reminded of something my father once said about someone that makes comments like yours.
I don't remember the exact wording, but it's something we all have, and the implication being, yours is made of paper.