Palin and the pipeline - another lie

Sarah Palin is, as we have come to realize, is severely truth-challenged. Her lies relative to the "bridge to nowhere" are now part of her baggage, but Americablog points out another, perhaps more important lie, which she fed to her adoring fans at the Republican Convention.

Palin said: "I fought to bring about the largest private-sector infrastructure project in North American history. [Wow, that's really impressive!] And when that deal was struck, we began a nearly forty billion dollar natural gas pipeline to help lead America to energy independence. [Again, very impressive!] That pipeline, when the last section is laid and its valves are opened, will lead America one step farther away from dependence on dangerous foreign powers that do not have our interests at heart."

[Don't you just love the fear tactic: "...dependence on dangerous foreign powers." Actually, one of the most dangerous is Exxon-Mobil.]

This speech could have been written by Karl Rove.

Here's the truth - from Joe Sudbay at Americablog:

"Palin implies that construction has begun on a major natural gas pipeline from the top of Alaska into Canada. That is not correct.

"In fact, no building has begun and actual construction is years away, if it ever happens. This summer the Alaska Legislature, at Palin's request, passed a bill under which the state will issue a 'license' to a Canadian energy company, TransCanada Corp., and pay it up to $500 million as an incentive to someday build this enormous project, which Alaska politicians have long sought with little success. The license is not a contruction contract, and federal energy regulators have not yet approved the project.

"Palin also puts the price tag for the project at $40 billion, an exaggeration. This is roughly $10 billion more than most cost estimates industry players and consultants have made to date."


Okay. So, it's a dream of Ms. Palins. She did not make that clear. Everyone thought she was a hero for bringing energy independence to the good ol' U.S. of A. Everyone thought we'd soon be free of those "dangerous foreign powers."

Another question: With all the talk about jobs departing this country for foreign lands, why in god's name would Palin strike a deal with a Canadian company to maybe, someday, build this pipeline?

Maybe there are no American companies that are capable to handling this type of project. Maybe. But I don't think so.

Perhaps Ms. Palin should buy back her jet. She's flying on a wing and a prayer and she's gonna crash one of these days. You can only lie so long until you're caught. The American people seem to have finally caught on to the fact that the Bush administration was built on lies from the very beginning. It may take a while, Ms. Palin, but your time will come.