Trump's vision of $40 oil would be a disaster for Alaska

In the idiotic slogan sweepstakes, the Alaska Republican Party has a solid entry with “American oil from Alaskan soil,” facing stiff competition from “Energy Dominance,” “The Road to Energy Dominance Runs through Alaska” and “Drill Baby Drill.”

The latest survey of oil firms by the Dallas Federal Reserve includes comments from oil executives that should worry anyone who quotes an idiotic slogan during what Gov. Mike Dunleavy says is the “Golden Age of Alaska.”

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Dermot Cole Comments
Assembly incumbents Haney, Rotermund called for shutting down rec facilities

The other day I wrote here about how Fairbanks assembly candidates Barbara Haney and Brett Rotermund tried to shut down the Carlson Center this year, claiming that the borough can’t afford to keep it.

Haney and Rotermund also voted to shut down the Mary Siah Recreation Center in a spring budget meeting, following the lead of assembly member Tammie Wilson, who is not on the ballot this year.

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Dermot Cole Comments
Alaska's federal delegation needs to stand up for the rule of law

Retired University of Alaska Anchorage economist Gunnar Knapp says it better than I have in a great column published by the Anchorage Daily News—the main job of Alaska’s Congressional delegation at the moment is not the time-honored practice of getting as much money as possible and promoting resource development.

He wrote this before the news broke about Tom Homan and the $50,000 bag of cash or the accidental message from Donald Trump ordering his attorney general to prosecute Trump’s political enemies.

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Dermot Cole Comments
If you want the Carlson Center to survive, vote for Patrick Roach instead of Barbara Haney

Patrick Roach, 49, is running against Barbara Haney for a seat on the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly.

Roach, who has lived in Alaska for 30 years, is a former teacher who became a lawyer 7 years ago and works as a public defender.

With him on the assembly, I expect that we will not have to endure a repeat of Haney’s arguments this year that the borough should close the Carlson Center.

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Dermot Cole Comments