Media “big game” hunting in Alaska violated Fish & Game rules

On Alaska’s www.wildlife.alaska.gov web site Governor Sarah Palin’s welcome message reads: “As you embark on your hunt this year, please help preserve Alaska’s hunting heritage by practicing safe, respectful and responsible hunting techniques…” The message goes on to read: “Every hunter is responsible for knowing the current regulations and bag limits, which may change from year to year.”

As I read the Alaska general hunting restrictions there are specific seasons based on parts of the country and game being hunted. Sarah Palin has been game for reporters virtually nonstop from August 30th until today.

While the Alaska Dept of Fish and Wildlife mention hunting big game with a muzzle loader equipped with a scope they overlooked hunting with a laptop and cell phone which are surely more powerful weapons as confirmed by the latest news.

They also state “you must be in possession of a resident or no resident hunting license and appropriate harvest ticket, permits and locking tag for all restricted weapon hunts.”

While these regulations include big game, such as brown and black bears to Caribou and Moose, I could not find any reference to hunting elected officials. Further, governor Palin has been in the gun sites of reporters since being named as the running mate for presidential candidate John McCain on August 30th of 2008.

This post is not an apology on her behalf. Investigative reporters need to be consistent in digging up dirt on candidates and elected officials representing all political parties. However, they surely went over the top dragging in the Palin children. Trying to protect them from further scrutiny may be a major factor in her decision to step down later this month.

I recall accounts of Jenna and Barbara, president Bush’s twin daughters “and their attempts to buy alcohol.” The report follows to characterize the media coverage saying “it was inevitable. It was inevitable because there is absolutely no case for wide public scrutiny of two 19-year-olds who did not themselves choose to run for office, have not sought to cash in on their father’s fame, and seem inclined to preserve their privacy. The question of whether journalists should cover the children of politicians is often miscast. The choice to minimize coverage is often said to be a way of “protecting” the politicians. Let’s see if the media places Sasha and Malia under the same powerful microscope while they live at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

In reading another Juice post you find reference to multiple charges, most of which were dismissed while other are still open.  Perhaps I am mistaken but the allegations against governor Palin fail the test of the phrase in the Constitution at Art. II Sec. 4, “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”

Given time, and through the use of technology, we will find every skeleton in your closet.

My sense is that you do not step down as governor of a state if you have any aspirations of running for a spot on the top or bottom of a ticket for the White House in 2012.

Juice readers. Notice I purposely have avoided any discussion about her qualifications which are an entirely different issue as addressed by others.

About Larry Gilbert