aardvarkcola

How does it feel to have Sarah Palin so close to the American vice-presidency?

“A little scary,” said Alaska radio broadcaster Shannyn Moore, in a telephone interview this morning with Nancy Wilson of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).

Moore noted the story previous to her interview on the program was on Vice-president Dick Cheney’s visiting Azerbaijan, Georgia and the Ukraine, following the Russian invasion of Georgia. Moore said she believed Palin wouldn’t be up to speed on the issue to do that task.

How did Palin do in her acceptance speech before the Republican National Convention?

Very well, said Moore, adding she was familiar with Palin’s speaking style.

“That wasn’t her,” she said, adding she believed Palin had extensive voice coaching before the speech that speech writers had done for her. Moore said only on a few occasions did some of Palin’s own style come out.

Moore, who has interviewed Palin on several occasions, told Wilson she has much in common with Palin, as an Alaskan, a hunter and teachers as parents, but adds she knows Palin’s record.

Palin’s harshest critics are in her own party, said Moore, adding that Palin’s 80 per cent approval rating is in large part due to giving more oil royalties to Alaskan citizens, citing a typical response to be, “She’s doing a great job. I just received a $1,200 cheque from her.”

Some issues Moore touched on: Alaska under Palin suing the federal government to take polar bears off the endangered species list. A huge issue in Alaska was the recent vote on what was called Ballot Measure 4, on stronger environmental standards to protect the Bristol Bay salmon fishery, reportedly the largest in North America. Stronger environmental standards might have killed the proposed Pebble Mine, which will be, if built, the largest open pit mine in North America. (Interestingly, the mine has a Canadian connection, with shares of Northern Dynasty rising 20 per cent after the vote to narrowly kill the stronger environmental measures.) Moore said Palin supported the mine proponents.

“She is very, very pro-business,” Moore said.

Moore also told Wilson Palin took debt-free Wasilla Alaska to about $20 million in debt when she left after two terms.

Moore’s blog, Just a Girl from Homer, is found here.

Thank you for reading Aardvarkcola