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Undertoad · 09-09-2008, 07:04 PM

I have now investigated the thing. I bring you, my gentlereaders, the Truth. A Truth that even the nation's top newspapers have not divined. And I shall tell it in a pompous style, even though it is merely my best guess.

You see, it wasn't really about the Ketchikan "Bridge to Nowhere" bridge. It was actually about an entirely different bridge, still waiting to be built, called the Knik Arm.

This bridge had more political support. It had been planned since the 50s, and would expand the commute radius of the city of Anchorage.

Sarah Palin initially supported all projects because it would get them the money for the Knik Arm bridge. That's the one she really wanted. And the reason we know this is simple, once you turn the problem on its edge. Because the "Bridge to Nowhere" would support 50 voters, while the Knik Arm would support half the Alaskan population.

In this Google Maps capture I have added the proposed Knik Arm bridge in bright unmistakable red. You can see what it could do for them: growth up the other side of the bay.

Notice too that Palin's own homestead, Wasilla, stood to gain.

Knik Arm bridge advocacy website

So the people of Alaska really want the one bridge, fought for as much funding as possible and then - once she won the Governor's office and the funding was secured, she said - oops, no money left for Ketchikan, too bad so sad. She made early statements in favor of Ketchikan, but those were a signal to her voters that Knik Arm would be fought for. Like asking for $20 when you know you definitely want $10.

Now you could say, and some have said, that if you really wanted $10 you should have given back the other $10, if you actually got $20. She kept the $20 and put it into the projects she wanted, including Knik Arm.

And that's how to win the hearts of Alaskan voters... who, at the end of this drama, applauded deeply and awarded her an 86% approval rating.

09-09-2008, 07:04 PM	#24
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	I have now investigated the thing. I bring you, my gentlereaders, the Truth. A Truth that even the nation's top newspapers have not divined. And I shall tell it in a pompous style, even though it is merely my best guess. You see, it wasn't really about the Ketchikan "Bridge to Nowhere" bridge. It was actually about an entirely different bridge, still waiting to be built, called the Knik Arm. This bridge had more political support. It had been planned since the 50s, and would expand the commute radius of the city of Anchorage. Sarah Palin initially supported all projects because it would get them the money for the Knik Arm bridge. That's the one she really wanted. And the reason we know this is simple, once you turn the problem on its edge. Because the "Bridge to Nowhere" would support 50 voters, while the Knik Arm would support half the Alaskan population. In this Google Maps capture I have added the proposed Knik Arm bridge in bright unmistakable red. You can see what it could do for them: growth up the other side of the bay. Notice too that Palin's own homestead, Wasilla, stood to gain. Knik Arm bridge advocacy website So the people of Alaska really want the one bridge, fought for as much funding as possible and then - once she won the Governor's office and the funding was secured, she said - oops, no money left for Ketchikan, too bad so sad. She made early statements in favor of Ketchikan, but those were a signal to her voters that Knik Arm would be fought for. Like asking for $20 when you know you definitely want $10. Now you could say, and some have said, that if you really wanted $10 you should have given back the other $10, if you actually got $20. She kept the $20 and put it into the projects she wanted, including Knik Arm. And that's how to win the hearts of Alaskan voters... who, at the end of this drama, applauded deeply and awarded her an 86% approval rating.