Palin: Why PNWER Matters

While Mary Katharine Ham does a very good job of inferring why at least some, if not all of the silly charges being thrown at Palin are probably false - one of the best bits of information to support that case against charges of Palin not being familiar with NAFTA is her official role as a delegateto the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) - look it up - more importantly, look it up in the context of NAFTA and Palin. You'll find Palin listed on this document, for instance.

PNWER, in a practical sense, is an outgrowth of NAFTA. It would be impossible for Palin to play any role as regards PNWER without knowing full well what the intent and practice of NAFTA is. The Far Right even came out against Palin 'cause they just knew she was all about that evil sooper-secret sovereignty-shattering project CANAMEX don't ya' know.

– As Alaska’s Governor, Palin is a delegate to PNWER (Pacific NorthWest Economic Region). PNWER is a public-private partnership including elected officials and private sector representatives from Alaska, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Montana, and Canada (Alberta, Yukon, British Columbia) “PNWER is an international collaboration on economic structures” (AK Rep. Coghill). Among it’s many areas of focus, PNWER works to “advance CANAMEX” — a “seamless” continental intermodal trade and transportation corridor (a main artery in what has been referred to in the past as the NAFTA Superhighway system).

PNWER is also involved with the WA-BC Enhanced Driver’s License for Washington State and British Columbia. The license “will be accepted by Department of Homeland Security at any land or sea port in North America ­ including Mexico.”
(NOTE: Enhanced/Secure Driver’s License initiatives and REAL ID are basically the same: a national ID with the holder’s information (including biometric) in an international data information-sharing system).

Comments

[steve]

It seems like every time I read this blog the same few retarded lefties are hurling feces like monkeys at a zoo. Amazing how they keep arguing that Palin is stupid and incompetent but they completely rely on falsehoods to make their case.

[Lincoln]

My God, can all you Palin bashers just go fuck yourselves to death? Seriously.

[Todd]

"Well jharp, first of all, the land is owned by the Alaskan people, hence the profits from drilling on their land goes to them, as Governor Palin negotiated. Second, the oil companies are not taking money out of the pocket from person A and giving it to person B under the guise of "economic justice". Please, save your pathetic analogy for the other twonks you hang out with.

Posted by: StevefromMKE | Friday, November 07, 2008 at 06:51 PM"
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So, Steve....does that mean you support a windfall oil tax by the US Government on the basis "the land is owned by the American people, hence the profits from drilling on their land goes to them."

And therefore, does this make you a socialist? Sure sounds like it to me according to everything that was said by the McCain campaign during this election.

[Todd]

"Todd,

Please share with me when you figure out the right wing brain.

$150,000 Neiman Marcus shopping spree at republican donor's expense?

She's one of us. Common folk who like to shoot.

While Governor, supports a windfall profits tax and even redistribution of the wealth created for all Alaskans?

Obama is a socialist.

Go figure.

Posted by: jharp | Friday, November 07, 2008 at 05:57 PM"
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I'll never be able to figure out the right wing brain, jharp. I keep putting up fact-based posts with plenty of links to back up what I say, and I never get any reasonable responses. I do get a lot of offers to have sex with myself, however. I wonder why that is, that people won't back up their thought process with real reasons. I highly recommend anger management programs for a lot of these rabid republicans.

[StevefromMKE]

I will jharp...have fun clinging to Jimmy Carter 2.0 in 2012. He's not getting a 2nd term.

[StevefromMKE]

"So, Steve....does that mean you support a windfall oil tax by the US Government on the basis "the land is owned by the American people, hence the profits from drilling on their land goes to them."

And therefore, does this make you a socialist? Sure sounds like it to me according to everything that was said by the McCain campaign during this election."

Never said I supported it, just the facts. 50% of the revenues go back to Alaska and it's people. Oil is dirty business, literally and is the prime income for the state of Alaska. The old deal setup by Murkowski screwed over Alaskans.

And jdouche overlooks the fact that Alaska isn't taking money from "rich" Alaskans and giving it to poorer Alaskans who didn't earn it. That's the hallmark of Obama type socialism.

[jharp]

And jdouche overlooks the fact that Alaska isn't taking money from "rich" Alaskans and giving it to poorer Alaskans who didn't earn it. That's the hallmark of Obama type socialism.

Posted by: StevefromMKE | Friday, November 07, 2008 at 09:01 PM

I assume you were referring to me.

Alaska is taking money from "rich" companies that do business in Alaska and distributing equally to all Alaskans who didn't earn it.

Socialism. And Palin supported it and continues to support it.

[Andrew the Noisy]

And with jharp's harping dies the idea that lefties are better versed in political theory or ideological nuance. Not that the fig leaf was fooling too many people.

Payment to the owners of land for profits derived from resources therein is socialist HOW exactly? This is precisely what every publicly-traded company does every quarter. It's socialism only if you assume that money from the government to the taxpayers always means socialism, in which case, you don't know what socialism is.

And winning an election in a landslide is a Personal Accomplishment, not a Public Accomplishment, which even you are not dense enough to perceive was what Steve was asking for. Warren Harding won in a landslide, too. He may also have been black, if the rumors are true. Now name any of the significant legislative or executive acts of his presidency.

[StevefromMKE]

jharp, you dumbass, your definition of socialism is so flawed, just like your President elect. Have fun defending Jimmy Carter 2 and his idiot Vice President.

One term and done. Just a fart in the wind.

[whatever]

The Alaskan tax on oil and the "Windfall profits tax" they want to impose on oil companies are two different things. First of all, though the Alaskan law has been around for 20 years, I know Palin supports it (though I've seen plenty of people imply she somehow invented it).

The first is Alaskan law that declares that all Alaskans own a share of the oil in the state, and so are entitled to a percentage of profit made off that oil. The law says that the oil in Alaska is the property of Alaskans. The money is split and goes directly back.

The second is the declaration that oil companies should be taxed for making excessive profits off of the BUSINESS of oil, not just to Americans but in general, wherever they do business. The revenues from this tax would then be distributed however the federal government sees fit. Much of the oil doesn't even come from the US, and besides it's not even argued based on that but on "obscene" profits, so the argument above about the Fed using the same logic for a windfall tax doesn't follow. Here it's not a question of reimbursement for property, it's simply taxing a business for making a lot of money.

The first is reimbursement for property used, the second is taxing a business for being profitable. The first is a direct reimbursement, the second is just the government taking the money and using it however they see fit.

I'm sure the Alaskan who doesn't want to participate can't just say "No you can't take my bit of oil", and you could probably try to hang an argument around that, but to try to conflate the Alaskan law and the Federal government's desire for a windfall tax seems to me to be mistaken.

Why not tax Apple for making obscene profits on iPods and iPhones?

[Doug]

You guys are all wrong about Obama. After the convention he turned the Temple into a homeless shelter / community center. Not only that, it's a paragon of green technology. It's heated by unicorn farts and lit by rainbows! All hail Obama!

[jharp]

Posted by: Andrew the Noisy | Friday, November 07, 2008 at 10:45 PM

Andrew,

It is the right wing jackasses who object to a windfall profits tax.

It is Governor Palin who stumped on being against them. And yet supports them.

I'm neutral on it.

I have offered my example to counter the wingnuts accusing Obama of being a socialist for raising taxes on those who make over 250K from 35% to 39%.

Get it?

[tkindred]

You guys who are trying to encourage the ultra conservatives not to support Palin should stop. We want them to support her because the type of people who relate to Palin are diminishing as the American society progresses. Her thinking is already kind of outdated already. And on a global scale she is a complete joke. By the time she runs in 2012 there will be even more people that thinks she is wacked.

[tkindred]

I should add, Palin is like the antithesis of Obama. Obama attracted the progressive thinkers and the younger voters. Think about it, that same group will be larger in number come 2012 because there will be more youth behind them. Remember when it was ok to use the "N" word when referring to blacks and now it is considered politically incorrect? Cowboy and Indian movies where they made the white man look so great and the Indians look like fools? Or the war movies where they had all those derogatory terms for Asians? You don't see that anymore. Now you see mixed marriages, etc. That is progression. America is becoming less hillbilly. Even in the rural areas. Who would imagine a black man being president 15 or 20 years ago. Palin is kind of stuck in the past. Obama is the future. The hillbilly type (Joe Sixpack) is a dying bread. Come 2012 Palin supporters will be even fewer. So when Palin says stupid stuff like "the Real America" she is going to lose support by those who are not stuck in the past.