Alaska National Guard Members Face Accusations of Sexual Misconduct

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Photo Credit: The National Guard/flickrA dozen members of the Alaska National Guard face charges of sexual misconduct in what members of the guard call a severe problem in the ranks.

Five were members of the guard’s recruiting unit and are alleged to have committed the offenses against potential recruits, new recruits, subordinates and others.

Two of those recruiters also allegedly threatened the National Guard investigator and one was arrested last month after being accused of saying he was going to blow up a building on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage.

The investigations come as current and former members of the Alaska National Guard, including chaplains, have said there is a serious sexual assault and harassment problem that needs to be dealt with.

The Alaska guard said it has a dozen sexual misconduct investigations, most of which are now complete. The investigations are followed by internal board hearings to weigh the evidence and decide whether the soldiers should be forced out of the service.

Read more this story HERE.

Is Alaska Republican Party Platform Being Hijacked?

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photo credit: donkeyhoteyAnchorage, AK – Restoring Liberty received word last week of an effort underway to convene a series of closed-door invitation-only meetings intended to rewrite the Alaska Republican Party Platform in order to make it “reasonable-sounding to the average voter.”

Multiple conservative leaders in Anchorage have voiced concern over the secret meetings they believe are designed to purge the platform of social conservative values.

New information lends the appearance of a coordinated effort with acting State Chair Peter Goldberg and RNC representative Mike Shirley who were carbon copied on an email outlining the agenda for the “platform workshops.”

Such a move is sure to raise tensions ahead of the Juneau Convention scheduled for early May.

Many are already upset that the left-leaning State Central Committee voted to hold the State Convention off the road system for the second time in the last four years, presumably to block participation from more conservative areas of the state. The trip to Juneau is cost prohibitive for many.

The 2008 and 2012 Conventions on the road system ended poorly for party boss Randy Ruedrich and his “moderate” friends. After narrowly escaping majority opposition led by Joe Miller and former Governor Sarah Palin who sought to remove him as party chair in 2008, Ruedrich shut down the 2012 Convention prematurely in order to avert a rules change that would have done exactly that.

A subsequent reconvene granted at the parliamentarian’s insistence that the party comply with Robert’s Rules was also shut down when the former party chair took to the public airwaves and the press to discourage participation in order to block a quorum.

Coming on the heels of media reports linking US Senate candidate Dan Sullivan to a left-leaning cabal of outside billionaires seeking to remake the Republican Party by offering amnesty to millions of illegal aliens and pushing the door open for acceptance of gay marriage, more traditional Republicans are understandably nervous.

In the email forwarded to Restoring Liberty, failed 2012 party chair candidate Bruce Schulte opined that “our platform should not be an Albatross hung around the neck of every Republican regardless of the office they seek or the makeup of their constituency.”

It also outlined a list of objectives for the re-write: including, to “make the platform more inclusive of different perspectives [and] demographics . . . more positive . . . Alaska-centric . . . [and] to avoid alienating too many people.”

Attachments were provided to guide the process, inclusive of Republican platforms from Alaska, Utah and New Mexico, as well as those of the Alaska Democrat and Libertarian platforms.

Restoring Liberty was not invited, nor are we privy to who was blind copied on the email.

Alaska: No Evidence Barbour Killed Here

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Photo Credit: WNEPAlaskan authorities say there’s no evidence to back up a 19-year-old Pennsylvania woman’s claim that one of the countless killings she carried out was in their state.

Miranda Barbour told a newspaper reporter over the weekend that she killed so many people across so many states in the last six years that she lost count. She told the Daily Item newspaper in Sunbury, Pa., that the killings spanned from Alaska to North Carolina.

However, Alaska State Troopers said Tuesday Barbour’s claims don’t bear out — at least in their state.

“At this time the Alaska State Troopers are not aware of any information — beyond Barbour’s comments quoted in the press — or evidence that would implicate Barbour with a homicide committed in Alaska,” a statement from the agency said.

The agency said it has been in contact with Pennsylvania authorities.

Read more this story HERE.

Alaska Republican Party Meltdown Continues

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Anchorage, AK – Saturday’s meeting of the Alaska Republican Party Central Committee at the Millennium Hotel was marked by more unrest as an elected officer from District 10 was escorted off the premises by police.

Unbeknownst to Daniel Palmer, who was elected at his last District Convention as a member of the Central Committee, Chairman Peter Goldberg reportedly dissolved his district by fiat on Friday before the meeting convened on Saturday.

Apparently the Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary had vacated their positions.

In a subsequent email, Goldberg maintained that “the Rules give me the authority and mandate that the district should be declared unorganized.”

Palmer maintains he was never contacted, saying he only found out when he arrived. Party policy has always been that any registered Republican may attend as a guest if the requisite fee is paid.

The rub came in when Mr. Palmer decided to record the meeting. According to witnesses, the Central Committee subsequently voted through a temporary measure that would disallow the meeting to be taped.

One member compared the heavy-handed approach of the Central Committee Leadership to “Gestapo tactics.”

When Palmer refused to turn off his video camera, party officials called the APD and prevailed upon Hotel Security to trespass Mr. Palmer, who was subsequently escorted out by Anchorage Police.

Chairman Goldberg has warned Mr. Palmer, “If you come to another meeting with your recording equipment and the body of the membership does not want you to use it, and if you refuse to comply with that directive, you will again be removed.”

It’s hard to imagine what information is so sensitive as to warrant this level of secrecy. Palmer maintains that he is only trying to serve the people who elected him, and he feels recording the meetings is the most effective way to keep them informed.

The incident highlights the deep fissures within the party precipitated by the 2010 Write-In campaign of Senator Lisa Murkowski waged against the party nominee, and exacerbated by the Central Committee’s ouster of duly elected leadership after the Ron Paul contingent won the top leadership posts at the 2012 party convention.

Mr. Palmer says his district is mobilizing for an emergency meeting to redress the situation.

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Explosive Device Found at Anchorage Airport Said to be for Avalanches

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Photo Credit: Wonderlane/flickrThe employer of a man whose carry-on bag was found to contain a small explosive device at the Anchorage airport said Monday he was carrying avalanche-control equipment.

The device triggered an hour-long shutdown of security screening at the airport Sunday afternoon.

A statement issued Monday by ConocoPhillips Alaska said the device was for avalanche control and there was no ill will intended.

Conoco spokeswoman Amy Burnett told The Anchorage Daily News (https://bit.ly/1eJKOuv ) she could not release any personal information about the passenger or say if he faces any criminal charges.

Shared Services, a co-venture between Conoco and BP, transports more than 20,000 employees and contract workers between Anchorage, Fairbanks and the North Slope every month, Burnett said.

Read more from this story HERE.

Senator Mark Begich Trying to Fool Alaskans about His Recent Anti-gun Actions — GOA Holding the Senator’s Feet to the Fire

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Photo Credit: GunOwner.orgQUESTION: How do you tell when an anti-gun politician is lying?

ANSWER: His lips are moving.

On February 10, GOA alerted Alaskans to Democrat Senator Mark Begich’s role in defeating the Rand Paul pro-gun amendment that would have allowed individuals to carry firearms in Post Offices.

But rather than just admit his complicity in helping to kill the pro-gun amendment, Senator Begich is trying to fool Alaskans into thinking that he was the hero who saved the day.

However, these claims couldn’t be further from the truth.

Read more from this story HERE.

Alaska-Based Paratroopers Head to Thailand for Cobra Gold

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Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jason Epperson Paratroopers from U.S. Army Alaska’s 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, are preparing to trade Alaska’s winter weather for the warmth of Thailand – for a few days at least – when they take part in exercise Cobra Gold 2014.

Cobra Gold officially kicked off Feb. 11, but the Spartan Brigade paratroopers will join in by flying nonstop this week on five Air Force and Air National Guard C-17 Globemaster III transports to complete a strategic airborne insertion at Lop Buri Airfield, Thailand, to assist with humanitarian assistance and disaster relief portions of the training.

Once on the ground, the soldiers will conduct combined ground operations with partner forces.

“What 4-25 brings to the table is unmatched throughout the Asia-Pacific region. We can quickly mass a large force to accomplish any mission that requires decisive action, from combat with a near-peer threat to humanitarian aid and disaster relief,” said Army Col. Matthew McFarlane, the brigade commander, who will jump into Thailand with his unit. “That this brigade can be wheels-up within mere hours to respond to a humanitarian crisis now versus later is a testament to the strategic reach that 4-25 gives to the [U.S. Pacific Command] commander.”

Cobra Gold is an annual multinational and multiservice exercise developed by the Thai and U.S. militaries. Cobra Gold 14 will consist of a command post exercise, humanitarian and civil assistance projects and a field training exercise. Now in its 33rd iteration, the exercise is designed to advance regional security by exercising a robust multinational force from nations sharing common goals and security commitments in the Asia-Pacific region.

Read more from this story HERE.

Miller Calls Out Begich for Promoting IRS Tyranny

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Photo by Joshua DoubekJoe Miller called out Mark Begich today for the Senator’s support of new IRS rules that would grant the agency even more power to shut down the political speech and the political involvement of tea party and other conservative groups.

“After all we have learned about the egregious acts by the IRS against Americans’ First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, that Mark Begich would come out in support of granting the agency even more power to target political groups demonstrates he is no longer willing to offer even the pretext of protecting the rights of all Alaskans,” said Miller.

While President Obama initially labeled the IRS targeting of tea party and other conservative groups as “outrageous and unacceptable,” in a recent interview he stated there was not “a smidgen of corruption” found in the actions of the agency. However, the public learned that the subsequent DOJ investigation of the IRS is being conducted by a high-dollar campaign contributor to the President. Apparently, there is no known public record of any of the targeted tea party groups being interviewed in this supposed months long “investigation.”

“If Mark Begich is willing to not only condone, but advocate the use of the IRS in this capacity, he has shown he does not want to represent all Alaskans and no longer deserves to hold his office,” said Miller.

Miller concluded, “We have to ask ourselves, what kind of nation do we want to be? One in which the President unilaterally changes laws and uses executive agencies to spy on Americans and to shut down political speech, or one in which our constitutional liberties are secure and all are free to engage equally in the political debate? We must protect against this abuse of power, whether it is exercised against the political right or left.”

Miller Blasts Begich, Big-Government Republicans for Surrender on Debt Ceiling

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Photo Credit: APMark Begich and the Washington Establishment claimed victory after yesterday’s vote to raise the debt ceiling blocked a filibuster attempt by Senator Ted Cruz, who was hoping to gain some spending concessions in exchange for more debt authorization. 

“In the face our staggering national debt, it is simply unconscionable that Mark Begich and his big government friends continue to play politics with our future,” Miller said. “Washington is declaring victory, but unfortunately this is a zero-sum game. For Washington to win, America must lose.”

Some in the mainstream press are describing the bipartisan Senate vote to kick the can down the road until after the mid-term elections as part of the Republican Establishment’s war on the Tea Party. 

CNN quoted New York Senator Chuck Schumer as stating that the vote was a sign that “the American political world is moving in our direction. Republicans are trying to put Tea Party politics in the rear view mirror.”

Senate Republican leadership, along with senior Senator Lisa Murkowski who called the deal “a good outcome,” voted to allow Democrats to raise the debt ceiling while opposing final passage.

“Alaskans are sick and tired of this kind of duplicity,” Miller continued. “There’s a reason my Republican opponents have the blessing of the Washington Establishment. While they will criticize Mark Begich all day long for a vote like this, they’ll never take on the party bosses. Mr. Begich needs to be replaced, but the last thing we need in Washington is another feckless Republican.”

Joe Miller is a husband, father, combat veteran, businessman, and advocate for constitutional liberty, who believes in limited government, the Right to life, individual rights, private property, and free markets.

Miller: Begich Voted for Cutting Veterans’ Pay, Twice, Before He Voted Against It

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Photo Credit: SenateDemocratsJoe Miller praised both houses of Congress today for voting to restore the cut to veterans’ pay enacted last month with the passage of the Omnibus spending bill, which implemented part of the Murray-Ryan budget agreement. He also noted Senator Mark Begich’s reversal on the issue, during this election year. Miller previously came out in strong opposition to the Murray-Ryan agreement and called on Senator Begich and the rest of the Alaska delegation to vote against it.

“I am very pleased that Congress has corrected the most egregious part of the Murray-Ryan budget agreement. It was unfathomable to me how Congress could vote to increase spending by $63 billion over ten years, while breaching trust with our veterans and voting to cut their pay by $6 billion,” said Miller. “I am glad Senator Begich finally saw the error in his ways, having voted twice for the cut to veterans’ pay before voting against it.”

Miller was the only candidate for the U.S. Senate in Alaska who came out publicly in opposition to the Murray-Ryan budget.