Sarah Palin Attacks Beluga Whales in Favor of Oil Industry

[tex-wyo-dem]

Solidifying her reputation for assaulting endangered species on behalf of Big Oil, this Wednesday Alaska Governor Sarah announced that her state intends to sue the federal government over recent protections granted to the Cook Inlet beluga whale. After petitions and litigation by the Center for Biological Diversity and allies -- and over strong objections from Governor Palin -- last October the National Marine Fisheries Service dubbed the whale officially endangered under the Endangered Species Act, giving the critically imperiled cetacean much-needed protection in the face of proposed offshore oil and gas development in its Cook Inlet habitat, Alaska's most populated and fastest-growing watershed.

Alaska's pending lawsuit over the beluga's protection represents the second time in recent months that Governor Palin's administration has launched a legal attack against a species imminently threatened by oil and gas development -- the first attack, of course, being Alaska's suit to overturn federal protections for the polar bear. The Center is already in court to block Palin's anti-polar bear actions, and we'll do whatever it takes to rescue the beluga from her clutches as well.

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/index.html

San Francisco Chronicle, January 14, 2009
Alaska plans to sue over beluga whale protection
By Mary Pemberson, The Associated Press

Anchorage, Alaska -- The state will sue over increased federal protections for beluga whales in Cook Inlet, officials announced Wednesday.

The white whales were listed last year as endangered under the Endangered Species Act after federal scientists determined the whales were headed toward extinction.

The listing requires the designation of critical habitat for the whales, a recovery plan and a review of all federally funded or permitted activities in Cook Inlet. The city of Anchorage is on Cook Inlet.

The state said Wednesday that it wanted the listing decision withdrawn, adding that it believed state and federal laws apart from the listing were sufficient to protect the whales. The population is stable and beginning to recover, said Denby Lloyd, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

<more at: http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/center/articles/2009/san-francisco-chronicle-01-14-2009.html>

[hamsterjill]

1. I'm sorry...

but this woman really is just a bitch!

[tex-wyo-dem]

3. that's putting it nicely...

I have a few more choice words for her as well.

[Bobbieo]

6. As Betty White puts it - "A crazy bitch"!

[hamsterjill]

8. That's right!

I'd forgotten Betty's eloquence!!! Thanks for reminding me!

Palin is one crazy bitch!

[BlueCaliDem]

2. This woman should have NO power whatsoever. She has no clue how to handle it.

It's almost as if she's some teen high on XTC and oblivious to reality.

What in god's green earth gave the Alaskans the illusion this clown was worthy of leading their state - outside the checks they get from Big Oil, then.

[Chulanowa]

4. Well, she's from Palmer...

So it's pretty much a guarantee there's some sort of chemical damage to her brain.

As a former Alaskan, I can tell you that they'll pretty much vote for anyone who says the following phrase: "State's rights and more drilling!"

Alaskans have this mental image of being the "real" texas, a buynch of rugged individualists who don't take no guff and don't need no feds sniffing at them. There's also the sad fact that Alaska's lattitude really doesn't open the gates for business that DOESN'T involve pillaging the ecology

[riqster]

5. She is upset at the BUSHIES, for not being anti-environmental enough????? nt

[Bobbieo]

7. Unfortunately, my Alaskan Democratic in-laws seem to feel the same way

about Palin as long as they get their oil money.

[juno jones]

9. Perhaps if she doesn't want to abide by federal regulation

her Alaskan federal subsidies, you know the ones they can't seem to live without, could be withheld or directly administered by the feds and not the state.

I think she'd become unpopular real quick-like. Also, too.