President Obama visits Alaska and gives our troops a shot in the arm

by: Celtic Diva

Fri Nov 13, 2009 at 12:32:40 PM AKST

First, and the most important news as far as I'm concerned, I wrote on Veteran's Day that Mo Bailey received tickets from Senator Lisa Murkowski so that he and Ann could attend the event.  Sure enough, there he was in the DV section (in military terms, that means Distinguished Visitor)!  It seems that he received a call from another member of Obama's communications team who told him where he should be sitting to be on "the rope line"...where the President would come out to shake hands.  My understanding after the fact is that many of the DVs were slated to meet with Obama as well.  However, our President decided to cancel those meetings because he spent extra time with people who needed him more...the troops who had just returned from combat and the families of those soldiers who didn't make it back.

So, Mo got to shake the hand of the President and he was glowing afterwards!  

Regarding the venue itself, Hanger One, I'd never seen it looking so good for a Presidential visit.  I was part of the entertainment for George HW Bush when he came to visit (I was in the Martin Luther King Citywide Choir...and I sang a solo after he arrived.  Yes, you sense a little pride as I write about that!) and I attended as a Federal grunt when the Clintons came, which is when I got to shake our future Secretary of State's hand.  For President Obama's visit, it looked like they'd put in some serious extra effort to make the place look 'presidential' and less like a huge tin can.

Our local media and the soldier techies

The traveling White House Press Corps

AKM (also known as "Jeanne") and Rishi, Asst. Program Mgr for KBYR

Kyle Hopkins of the Anchorage Daily News interviews Mayor Begich and Julie Hasquet

Brad from popular music station KFAT

Use the media rush to try to find the top of the President's head as he shakes hands.

Of course, there was media...everywhere.  It was especially cool to see all of my media friends and the excitement many of them had at their first time seeing President Obama in person!  Of course, one of the really fun parts was that AKM, Shannyn and I all rode together to the event...the three witches in the same car!  (No, we didn't ride brooms.)  I guess it was kind of off-putting for some people to see the three of us together.  (I didn't get a good picture of Shannyn...she was running around with her camera guys and should have some excellent footage for her next show!  If you look in the first picture of the media on the riser, you can see her in the back.)

An awesome singer from the Air Force Band leading the Star Spangled Banner before President Obama's entrance

President Obama is flanked by Major General William Troy, Commander, U.S. Army Alaska
and Colonel Mark Camerer, Vice Commander of the 3rd Wing, Elmendorf AFB

During the President's speech, there were two profound moments for me:  

1) When a service member from the audience said "Love you" and the President said, "I love you back."  I'm fairly certain that call-and-response has NEVER happened with any other president when speaking to the troops in Alaska.  It also got a special mention on Elmendorf's website, which seems particularly enthusiastic about his visit.  

2) One of the biggest cheers the President received was after his comment: "I will never hesitate to use force to protect America, but I won't risk your lives unless it is absolutely necessary."  President Obama had to pause for cheers after the first part of the comment...using force to protect America.  However, by far the biggest cheer came after the second part, telling them he wouldn't send them unless it was absolutely necessary.

I believe there are some right-wing chicken-hawks who need to take note of that.  Combat troops and their families who have made those sacrifices understand the difference.

I found this interesting take on his comments in an AP article on the President's pending decision regarding troop levels in Afghanistan:

Obama himself injected another variable on his way to Asia on Thursday. He told troops at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska that he won't send troops into harm's way without the support they need to succeed - including "public support back home." Polling shows most Americans oppose a troop increase.

I think it's important to know, for anyone who was not at Elmendorf, that I saw in many of those soldiers yesterday true passion and emotion for our President...not something that happens frequently or is given lightly.  I overheard conversations between service members, family, etc...about how thrilled they were to be there.  After a number of the newly-returned-from-combat soldiers got to meet and spend time with President Obama, they came out into the audience just prior to his speech.  Several of them were clearly overwhelmed when the President came out, restraining themselves in front of their peers.

Applause generated by President Obama for Senator Begich (standing in the audience,
bottom right) for all of his hard work to benefit the active duty soldiers and veterans

Vince Beltrami (Pres. of Alaska AFL-CIO) and AKM

The Berkowitzes

I made Julie Hasquet (Sen Begich's Communications Director) smile

While there were a number of VIPs attending, the vast majority were from the Democratic side.  However, I was surprised to see very few of our Legislators from either side of the aisle there at all, though I have no idea about the ticket situation or availability.  You can see a number of the VIPs above, but one I couldn't seem to get a good picture of was Republican Nancy Dahlstrom, always a class-act, with children in tow.

Mayor Sullivan, who originally rejected the passes he was offered then, after
much pressure, decided to show up after all.

Reverend Alonzo Patterson, Pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church...the head of the
Martin Luther King Committee in Alaska.  He also testified in 1993 AGAINST LGBT equality
in housing and employment.  His son, Rev. Jr., carried-on that sad tradition
in front of the Assembly in 2009.  Not very MLK-ish...

However, what was more obvious were the people who were not there.

--Senator Lisa Murkowski, who at least sent a "welcome":

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On his first visit to Alaska, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, sends her warm welcome to President Barack Obama:  

"I am pleased to see that our Commander in Chief, President Obama, is visiting Alaska today and spending time with the brave men and women of Alaska's military. I send my warm welcome to him as he visits our state for the first time and experiences Alaska's beauty and people. Due to a previous commitment, I will be unable to welcome the President in person, but I know Alaska's military families are honored that our Commander in Chief will acknowledge their service in person. President Obama has promised us that this refueling stop and visit will not 'count' as a full visit to Alaska and we look forward to welcoming the entire first family to Alaska in the future. "

--Rep. Don Young, who gave his tickets to Ethan Berkowitz.

--Governor Parnell, was DOWN THE STREET AT THE CAPTAIN COOK for a speech that only lasted one hour at a conference that was going on for 3 or 4 days.  For all of those folks who seem to think that Parnell might be an OK Governor because "at least he's better than Palin," this blow-off of President Obama is a good indication of his true colors.

--Lt. Governor Campbell was in Sitka.

Of everyone, Governor Parnell's absence while a few blocks away smacked the most of a blatantly arrogant snub.  The Governor needs to understand that it was noticed, noted and he can expect to hear about it again in the future from his Alaskan constituents.  

I'll venture a guess the same can be said of the White House.
 

The Needs of Alaska's National Guard are Beyond Politics

by: Bobby Muller Veterans For America

Mon Oct 20, 2008 at 16:46:11 PM AKDT

Today, I am honored to have Bobby Muller submit a diary to Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis. He is a legend in the veterans community, having founded Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) in 1978 and Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (later renamed Veterans for America) in 1980. His achievements are too extensive to list here, but can be read on his bio at the VFA website. - promoted by Celtic Diva)



Veterans For America has long been focused on issues surrounding our National Guard soldiers and assessing the problems that they face when returning home from Afghanistan and Iraq. Through VFA's nonpartisan National Guard efforts, the group has conducted reports and examined National Guard units on a state-by-state basis to determine their needs and analyze the issues they face.

On Wednesday, VFA released its most recent report that takes a look at the Alaska Army National Guard. The report has garnered plenty of media attention and The Minnesota Independent provided its own look at the report:

The latest iteration of this formula comes to us by way of Lt. Gen. Craig Campbell, commissioner of the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, who groaned yesterday that a Veterans for America report constitutes a political "ambush" of the governor. Campbell described the preliminary report - which focuses largely on post-deployment problems, especially vets' insufficient access to health care - as "poorly written, lacking substantiation of allegations and basically filled with plain incorrect information." Veterans for America points out that it had begun its review of Alaska's National Guard more than a year ago, long before Palin became a national figure.

As indicated by The Minnesota Independent, this review was started over a year ago - long before most of America outside of Alaska knew who Sarah Palin was. The goal of this report isn't political. The goal of this report isn't to target a now-prominent political figure. The goal of this report was to address the needs of the Alaska National Guard and determine what is required to address those needs.  

Gov. Palin doesn't deserve a pass. Palin has touted since her entry into the presidential race that she headed the Alaskan National Guard. If that is what she wishes to tout, then she should be able to answer questions and address the problems facing her state's National Guard soldiers.  

But the issues with the Alaska National Guard are bigger than one person. These issues impact many soldiers returning home from deployments (and, at times, multiple deployments). Troops that are deployed face many obstacles in post-deployment life. Right now, the programs and systems aren't in place to address these obstacles. VFA concluded in the report that the United States should not deploy National Guard soldiers from Alaska any longer until these problems are remedied.  

With Alaska at the forefront thanks to Gov. Palin's notoriety, this is a time where we can really address how we are letting our National Guard fall through the cracks. Trying to pass off a sincere attempt to address the urgent needs of our soldiers returning home from multiple deployments as politics is a great disservice to our troops and veterans who face post-deployment obstacles upon their return and lack the necessary programs and systems to deal with these issues.  

I'd rather see the needs our National Guard met, even if it means suffering accusations of 'playing politics', than to not see them met at all. Again, these issues are bigger than Gov. Palin. This affects many National Guard troops and their families. These issues must be addressed before Alaska fails to provide the necessary services to those who have honorably and bravely served their country.  

Veterans of America is proud to sponsor the Our Troops Newsladder, a new tool to find the top news and articles in the progressive community by, about and for our troops.  

From Writing Raven--Two reasons on 9/11 to remain partisan

by: Celtic Diva

Wed Sep 10, 2008 at 12:00:00 PM AKDT

With about an hour left until it is September 11 once again, and trying to come out of the political freak-out that's happening on all sides right now, my parents reminded me of two of the main reasons why this election is so important. They are both very directly related to Alaska Native culture, issues, and people. They are both very directly related to the huge issues happening in American right now.

They are both my cousins.

The oldest of these cousins is trying to figure out all he needs to take care of before he heads off on his third tour in Iraq with the Marines. He will leave his young son once again to fight a war I am still grasping at straws to understand - or at least understand its justification. Why are we still in Iraq, and why does my cousin have to go again?