Best bipartisan buddies: Sarah Palin and Barack Obama

While most everyone was watching the attempted bipartisanship on Capitol Hill this week, some of it broke out successfully in an unlikely place elsewhere.

It seems that Alaska Republican Gov. Sarah Palin, the unsuccessful GOP VP nominee, was worried that the Army was going to cut off pensions to the state's old-timers long-retired from the Alaska Territorial Guard. So she sat down and wrote a letter to the new big guy himself, Democratic President Barack Obama, who's vowed to take extra special care of veterans.

And the largest state's small congressional delegation got involved too.

And, what do you know? According to the ever-vigiliant Sarah Palin for President blog, the Army suddenly decided it didn't really need to cut off those payments after all

It found a special fund to pay them, while Sens. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican, and Mark Begich, a Democrat, together shepherd the proper authorizing legislation through Congress.

Amazing when it works.

And speaking of Sarah and Barack, this weekend they're both attending the off-the-record black tie dinner of the Alfalfa Club, one of those fraternity-like get-togethers that Washingtonians schedule throughout the year to convince themselves of their eliteness. Palin, who as The Ticket reported, formed her own SarahPAC this week, says she's attending to pitch the interests of Alaska.

And?

According to Paul Bedard over at Washington Whispers, Palin's presence in D.C. has sparked an interview bidding war between CNN's Larry King, who's had seven wives and almost as many heart attacks, and ABC's George Stephanopoulos, who hasn't.

--Andrew Malcolm

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Photo credit: Vogue

Comments

[Alexandra]

Does Palin really think that wearing a wolf-fur collar is attractive? Then on the other hand this is the woman who thinks that shooting wolves from helicopters is "sportsmen-like" and that giving interviews with a turkey being slaughtered in the background is good PR. It's nice that she was concerned about Alaskan veterans. It would also be nice if she was a bit more responsive to the Alaskan natives in the Yukon area who are now needing food drops to survive because they can't afford both heat and food. Read it on www.themudflats.net

[Susan Kelp]

Sarah Palin concerns are geniune about the veterans. I feel she is marketing herself for the future bid for President. She does not want anyone to forget her her name, especially living so far away in Alaska. She is a beautiful country woman with good values. She should wait three years, then write that book!

[RIP GOP 1008]

Please please please please let the Republican party decide to have Sarah Palin run as their presidential candidate. Barak Obama had HOPE as his catchword. Sarah can use HOPELESS as her catchword.

[Brad]

I find it interesting the introduction to the article "the unsuccessful GOP VP nominee". Why not the Governor of Alaska or the first female GOP VP nominee, I don't remember Geraldine Ferraro continually being introduced as the failed Dem VP nominee, but rather the first woman in history nominated to run as VP for either party.

[saint]

Alexandra - Palin does not shoot wolves from helicopters. And any shooting of wolves that is done in Alaska is done as part of herd management for caribou and the like, because Alaskans depend on those herds for food. And I will but money on that Palin has only ever shot for food not sport. And I'll put money on that that photo was part for a Vogue photo shoot.

For the love of Mike, what is wrong with you and Americans like you Alexandra? Can't get some simple facts into your brains? Or are you all just bigots?

[john gary simpson]

And Susan, what are YOU doing for those starving Alaskans?

[carol]

Palin has always been for energy independence and will support Obama in this endeavor. Of course, this would be good for Alaska as well as America.

[John Skookum]

Alexandra, dear, the reason they shoot wolves in Alaska is because they prey on the moose, deer, and caribou that so many Alaskans depend on for their food-- especially Alaskan Natives. They can't go to the Whole Foods Market on the next block like you can. This has been long standing Alaskan policy under Republican and Democratic governors alike. If they had shot a few more wolves, maybe they wouldn't need to be air dropping food to the native villages now. I realize that for some people, any reason to be hateful towards Sarah Palin will do, but at least try not to contradict yourself in the space of one paragraph. And your faux concern for the Alaskan Natives wears thin next to Sarah, who actually married a Native and is now working hard on wolves and all their other concerns.

[Leslie Ford]

Taken from the noted blog above in article

Dear Mr. President:

It was with great concern that I learned of the recent decision by the Department of Defense to rescind the program that currently provides retirement payments to veterans of Alaska's Territorial Guard (ATG). This unfortunate decision was made without any notice to those affected and will cost a group of elderly Alaska veterans a significant portion of their retirement income at a time when the cost of living, particularly in rural Alaska, is substantially higher than in the rest of the United States.

In 2004, Congress fully vetted this issue and decided that service in the ATG was the same as military service. This is the right and proper way to honor these brave individuals who answered the call of duty during times of great national peril.

Prior to World War II, Alaska's territorial Governor was authorized by Congress to organize a two-branch military response organization - the organized National Guard, and the ATG, which would mobilize to help defend Alaskans in the event of an invasion. An estimated 6,600 men and women, mostly Alaska Indians, Eskimos, and Aleuts, responded to that calL Instead of hunting, trapping and fishing, they patrolled rural Alaska and served as the eyes and ears of the Army for more than five years without pay and benefits.

It took our nation almost 60 years to have these defenders of our territory honored for their time in the ATG, and for their service to be counted the same as federal military service. While most died waiting for their recognition, some have survived to receive their honorable discharge from the United States Army.

Now they are being told, again, that their ATG service is not worthy of federal recognition, and that is not right.

These people are our heroes.

The stellar service of these mostly rural, mostly Native, soldiers is to Alaska today what the service of the militia at Lexington and Concord was to New England.

I urge you to remember all that these valiant members of the ATG sacrificed while defending this country and ask that you reconsider this decision and immediately reinstate the retirement benefits that Congress already recognized in 2004 and that these heroes have certainly earned.

Thank you for considering my views.

Sincerely,
Sarah Palin

[Leslie Ford]

Alexandria,

Do you really think that your comments exude a greater intellect than Palin has shown in her MANY elected positions serving the people of her state?

Your comment was stupid and hateful...along the lines of the celebutards that have influenced so many Americans...the most uneducated influential folks in America.

[Matt]

Alexandra, no one in Alaska thinks shooting wolves from airplanes is "sportsman" like. It is a method for decreasing the mortality rate of moose calves. Wolves in Alaska are at unprecedented levels and predator control is being conducted (successfully) to increase moose population. That increase in population is not yet at desired levels but it has allowed the department of fish and game to open a second harvest in the areas you mention that are in need of food. We manage our fish and game with our minds not our hearts. By the way our polar bear population is up 500% from 30 years ago and caribou herds along the trans-Alaska pipeline have doubled since construction started in 1974. Science is a awesome tool when its used properly.

[Victor T]

Hey Alexandra:

The helicopter shooting of wolves was "predator control". Do you know what that is?

A lot of ignorant people parrot ignorant things.

[kennyvii]

She's trying to do all the right things both for the state of Alaska and for a future presidential/v.pres. bid. I wish her well.

[steve rodriguez]

Sarah Paln is intelligent, pro life, loves God and pays her taxes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!