Begich F%$^ed Us!

About a year ago when U.S. Senator from Alaska Mark Begich went on the warpath, any Alaskan with any sense of intelligence would have realized that “payback” is tough this sort of behavior. See, when the Air Force brass were told to cut costs, Eielson Air Force Base was in the cross-hairs. Not for a total “BRAC” closure, but some cut-backs were eminent. There was nothing suspicious about this “bad news” hitting the outskirts of Fairbanks, as this is Tea-Pansy country and didn't that faction want “less” government in their neighborhoods? But that had nothing to do with what was coming down. And it was “bad news” happening all over the nation – tightening of the belt was coming to a civilian place of employment near you! Now the military brass are not known to carry grudges until such time they are targeted, and that is where Begich went wrong. See, when the brass decided it was in the best interest of America's future interest to reduce some of the military spending in Alaska, Begich had a conniption fit and wanted answers! And when the “Little Troll” went roaming the halls of Congress on a “mission” missing manners, he made a fool of himself! There were no answers, the brass where following what the Commander-in-Chief told them too do, following orders ring a bell? But Mark was trying to get blood out-of-a-turnip and went postal with road rage and when he was still not convinced that the brass were telling him the truth or being honest, Begich bent over the cliff and hit a “new” low for someone that is supposed to be a “statesmen”. Yes, Begich flew-the-coup, low and behold he started to threaten the brass by holding hostage some honorable men in uniform up for promotions. This was very unbecoming a U.S. Senator and would have dire consequences, as this type of hostage taking finds no friends – especially in the military ranks! And those “dire consequences” have come true and are now starting to hit home. The Air Force announced today that the annual “Red Flag” worrier games have been postponed, due “budgetary constraints”. Dear Begich, you screwed things up big time! These annual games placed Eielson and Alaska on the radar, as still a viable training and combined exercise arena. But not this year, after many years wherein Eielson held this invitational, a world renowned exercise. And once the “loot” is cut, a return is impossible! Now when Begich went postal with road rage, I tried in vain to get the Senate Ethics panel to intervene. Look, like it or not, holding a military promotion hostage, it was “Treasonous” in my book. But my complaint went without merit because there is no such thing anymore as an “ethics” violation – as Congress changed all the rules in their favor! So this is why we see this kind of behavior “condoned”, as there exists no “penalty”. But let's face the facts. You do not hold hostage a military man's promotion, especially upon an individual that has given his career time for this country's freedom and had nothing to do with the decision upon cutbacks at Eielson. So here we have it. When the economy is limping along, we need anything and everything, even if a temporary handout. The money that will now go missing from the postponing of these war games will be easily worth $millions$ in lost opportunities. Temper tantrums get you nowhere except detention. And that is what we have here in Alaska, we have been sent to detention and the military is finding friendlier skies to play war games. Like Begich became the schoolyard bully, so just find another playground. Thanks Mark, hope you are happy now! And we must realize this dreaded fact. There is a reason that Eielson is on the “chopping” block and it is only a matter of time before we see the lights out on that long runway that parallels the Richardson. Herein is where it gets really nasty. The power plant at Eielson is aging and has never been able to secure an air quality permit, not from the state and now the permit is before the Environmental Protection Agency. Now since we know where MoanaLisa MurCowpie stands with respect to “No” respect upon this agency, well I doubt we will ever see a permit and the coal burning plant can operate under a “permit shield” for only so much time – basically it has limits when it pollutes! So when the permit went up for renewal a few years ago and looked like it also was in dire straits, the permit application included building a new power plant, a modern day coal burner that would meet all of the air quality requirements and allow Eielson to remain open and part of the military's arsenal of “fast & furious” runways. That inclusion of a “new” power plant allowed for the “permit shield” to ward off any EPA fines. And the money, in tune to $280-Million was earmarked, to build a new plant which would have created many construction jobs – something needed in the interior. But when the cost of coal was reconsidered, the price that Joe Uselessbelli charges along with the rip-off for transportation costs from the “Federally” subsidized Alaska Rail Road, guess what? Yes due the fact that the lower-48 realized cost saving of 5% in delivered coal contracts to similar military bases – which amounts to $millions$ in savings to the U.S. Taxpayers – well here in Alaska the “Greed Monster” came out of hiding and escalated the cost of delivered coal a mind boggling 14% - only here in Alaska! And in most recent coal contracts negotiated here in the state between the miltary and Uselessbelli, only a “One” year contract was allowed due the fact that Joe refuses to be an American and help out. It all comes down to economics. We have interests in this state that are not at all interested in helping out. The price of coal, the price of the rail, it reeks of greed and now we see the consequences. In fact, we must watch out, as when the military looks at the budget and where and when to cut, energy is one of the number one contenders that will throw a base on the chopping block. And now that Begich has pissed off the brass, we may be on the short end of things. And just recently in a survey by the brass, Ft. Wainwright was listed as the Number 1 for training opportunities, but when it came to sustainability, due the cost of you guessed it - Joe Uselessbelli's coal and the rail costs – this base was last on the list! Shooting ourselves in the foot? Maybe that is why we are starting to limp along!