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National: NEWSWEEK POLL: Bush Job Approval at All-Time Low - President George W. Bush's standing with the public didn't improve after the State of the Union speech, according to the latest Newsweek Poll, taken in the days following the speech. The president's job approval rating hit an all-time low in the Newsweek Poll at 30 percent. Sixty-one percent of all those polled said they are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the United States at this time; just 30 percent are satisfied.

Sixty-seven percent of those polled believe Bush's decisions about policy in Iraq and other major areas are influenced more by his personal beliefs regardless of the facts, while just 22 percent say his decisions are influenced more by the facts. And 71 percent say Bush will not have enough support over the next two years to make a difference in getting things done in Washington; just 21 percent say he will. The public is split on whether or not Congress is likely (42%) or not likely (48%) to give serious consideration to the proposals Bush made in the State of the Union address about energy, health and other domestic policy.

Fifty-three percent of all those polled say they think history will see Bush as a below average president; 30 percent say average and 14 percent say above average. And 58 percent of all those polled say at this point in time, they personally wish that Bush's presidency was over; 37 percent do not feel that way.

In deciding whether to vote Democratic or Republican in the 2008 presidential election, among registered voters, 31 percent say their view of Bush will be very important; 17 percent say it will be somewhat important and 15 percent say not too important.

Looking ahead to the 2008 presidential election, 49 percent of registered voters say they'd rather see a Democrat elected as our next president in 2008; 28 percent say they'd rather see a Republican, the poll shows. And in potential match-ups, the top candidates still polled very closely among registered voters. With the margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points, some of the match-ups are statistical dead heats.

In a potential match-up between Democrat Hillary Clinton versus Republican John McCain, Clinton beats McCain 50-44 percent, among registered voters. Democrat Barack Obama beats McCain, 48-42 percent and Democrat John Edwards beats McCain 48-44 percent, the poll shows. In match-ups between the Democratic candidates and Rudy Giuliani, the races are even closer: 49 percent chose Clinton v. 46 percent for Giuliani; 47 percent for Obama v. 44 percent for Giuliani; and 46 percent for Edwards v. 47 percent for Giuliani.

Clinton also does well against Republican Mitt Romney: 56 percent v. 37 percent, the poll shows. As do Obama (56% v. 30% for Romney) and Edwards (60% v. 26% for Romney). All results are among registered voters.

In choosing the Democratic presidential candidate, 55 percent of registered Democrats and Democratic leaners say they'd most like to see Clinton nominated; 35 percent say Obama. In a choice between Clinton and Edwards, 62 percent of registered Democrats and Democratic leaners say they'd most like to see Clinton nominated v. 29 percent who'd choose Edwards, the poll shows. If the choice were between Obama and Edwards, 46 percent of registered Democrats and Democratic leaners would choose Obama; 39 percent would choose Edwards. - More...
Wednesday AM - January 31, 2007

National: Fishery Conservation Act Aims To End Overfishing in America by LEA TERHUNE - After recent scientific studies showed world fish stocks could collapse completely by 2048, passage by the U.S. Congress of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act could signal a new direction.

This version of the updated act, signed into law by President Bush January 12th, aims to end overfishing in the United States and combat massive illegal fishing on the high seas. Under the new law, the United States can close its domestic ports to countries whose boats engage in illegal overfishing.

"World fisheries are in as much trouble as they have ever been," Mike Sutton, director of the Center for Future of the Oceans (CFFO) at California's Monterey Bay Aquarium, said. "We're finally beginning to realize we need to take really strong action to safeguard fisheries from overfishing and help them recover."

Scientists and activists alike are encouraged by the law. National Environmental Trust Director Matt Rand said he sees "huge potential to end overfishing" and rebuild depleted fish populations, "but the devil is in the details and implementation of regulations are very important." He emphasized agencies must be "fully funded so we can actually see the law implemented to its fullest extent."

The law sets deadlines for the regional fishery management councils that govern American commercial fishing operations to establish annual quotas. They must end overfishing of currently threatened fish stocks in American waters by 2010 and of all stocks by 2011. It strengthens enforcement of fishing laws and those protecting marine mammals. Individuals who break the law can lose their quota allotments.

The director of the Marine Policy Center at the Wood's Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) in Massachusetts, Andy Solow, agrees that if the law is "implemented in a serious way" it will contribute to rebuilding fish stocks and to sustainable management of harvesting. "I think the reauthorization makes a stronger statement about the need for outside review of science in the management decisions, and that's going to be a good thing," he said.

A big problem has been that regional councils setting harvest quotas include many members who are fishermen. "The fisheries in this country are managed by the user groups, not directly by the government," Sutton said. "That means quotas are going to be set not just on the advice of scientists but by the political judgment of those who sit on the councils." If catches are set too high, species decline. But hopes are that scientific oversight directed by the law will change this. - More...
Wednesday AM - January 31, 2007

Augustine volcano as tsunami generator Augustine volcano viewed from Homer Spit in September 2006. Photo courtesy Tom Harnish and Alaska Volcano Observatory

Alaska: Augustine volcano as tsunami generator By NED ROZELL - On October 6, 1883, someone wrote this entry in the Alaska Commercial Company logbook at a trading post at English Bay, Alaska, about 50 miles northeast of Augustine volcano:

"This morning at 8:15 o'clock, 4 tidal waves flowed with a westerly current, one following the other . . . the sea rising 20 feet above the usual level. At the same time the air became black and (foggy), and it began to thunder . . . it began to rain a finely powdered brimstone ash."

Augustine, which erupted explosively at the beginning of 2006, also erupted in 1883 but with a dramatic difference: part of the mountain tumbled into the sea in a giant landslide. That landslide caused a tsunami that crossed lower Cook Inlet and hit the southernmost Kenai Peninsula.

Because the tsunami happened at low tide in an area with some of the largest tidal ranges on Earth, the 20-foot high wave flooded areas only slightly above the high tide line. Researchers think the damage from the 1883 tsunami was limited: some low-lying shelters flooded, and a few kayaks floated away. - More...
Wednesday - January 31, 2007

Viewpoints Opinions/Letters Basic Rules Jazz and Cabaret Performance By Karen Eakes - Wednesday AM Ketchikan Airporter By Bill Thomas Sr. - Wednesday AM "RECONNECTING TIES" UPDATE By Terrance H. Booth, Sr. - Tuesday AM SS George Washington & SS Denali By Michael Naab - Monday PM RE: SS George Washington By Michael Spence- Monday PM Elected Officials By Charlie Johnson - Monday PM Why is this happing in Ketchikan? By Tracy Lindahl - Monday PM Health Insurance By Alan Lidstone - Sunday PM North American Union By Darlene Hall - Sunday PM Airport Shuttle By Signe Markuson - Sunday PM Ketchikan Taxman By Robert McRoberts - Sunday PM Democracy/Liberty: Surprise to some, old news to others By Iliya Pavlovich - Sunday PM History of Steamships By Pat Bundy - Sunday PM Airport Shuttle Response By John Harrington - Friday PM Tax Increases By Charlotte Tanner - Friday PM 57% property tax increase By Mike Isaac - Friday PM Modest Proposals By Chris Elliott - Thursday PM Shuttle To Airport By Ken Levy - Thursday PM Open Letter to Congressman Young: NO on North American Union By Mike Jones - Thursday PM More on Ketchikan's Property Assessment Increase By Sandy Powers - Wednesday Mural Unveiling & Renovation Celebration By Marty West - Wednesday Full Plate of Issues Will Get 90-Day Test by Rep. John Harris - Wednesday Tax Cap Needed By Dan McQueen - Wednesday Property value increases excessive By Tyrell Rettke - Tuesday Increased Property Taxes By Michael Spence - Tuesday THANK YOU FOR RESPECTING THE PROPERTY OF KETCHIKAN HOT SHOTS PAINTBALL LEAGUE... TRAILER NEEDED! By Bobbie McCreary - Tuesday Read My Lips By Glen Thompson - Monday More Bureaucracy, Less Learning at UAS By Robert D. Warner - Monday Ketchikan Property Tax Assessments By Hunter Davis - Monday Property Tax Hike & the Cruise Ship Tax By Dan McQueen - Monday Thank you By Colette Milam - Monday Proposed container fee from State of Washington By Judith Green - Monday A day to remember JFK By Ken Levy - Monday More Viewpoints/ Letters Publish A Letter MEETINGS The Ketchikan City Council will hold a regular meeting in the City Council Chambers on Thursday, Febuary 1, 2007 at 7:00 pm Download the Agenda & Information Packet (Click on each item on the agenda to download its information packet) Ketchikan Ketchikan Police Report AK Troopers Daily Dispatch Today's Forecast Satellite Today's Weather Images Marine Forecasts Ketchikan Weather Data Current AK Weather Map CLASSIFIEDS Auto-post your ad in the proper category, or email your ad & photos to ads@sitnews.us  CLASSIFIEDS' CATEGORIES Announcements For Sale / Free Stuff Garage Sales Homes / Apts/ Property Pets Wanted Lost & Found Local Services January 2007 S M T W T F S 31 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31       More Front Page Archives

Jason Love: Punctuality - My issues with time started early, when I kept my mom in labor so long that Dr. Rabban finally came after me with tongs.

In grade school, I routinely missed the bus and had to be driven to school -- manually -- by same mother. How, she wondered aloud to the dog, could her son spend 30 minutes playing with floaties in the gutter?

The bus driver called me his "tardy tot" and waited as long as he could. He had fancied me ever since that day I asked who closed the bus doors when the driver got out.

In high school, I grew my hair long and rebelled against the whole "time thing," a horrible approach to curfew. Without a clock, we relied on neighbors for the time:

"Would you quiet down already?! It's two in the morning!" - More...
Wednesday AM - January 31, 2007  

Steve Brewer: Unresolved and feeling bad about it - Broken your New Year's resolutions yet?

Yeah, me too. No matter how determined we are when we start a new year, our resolutions seem to fall by the wayside pretty darn quick.

We vow to exercise every day, then we oversleep or it's raining, or we just don't feel like working out, then another day passes and, heck, there's no going back now.

We say we're going to diet, but someone brings doughnuts to the office and, gulp, down they go, straight to our hips.

We resolve to drop bad habits, only to find ourselves returning to them at the first sign of stress or adversity or simple need.

We promise ourselves that we're going to be better people, less critical of others, friendlier, but some moron cuts us off in traffic or yaks in a movie theater or otherwise misbehaves, and we're forced to shoot him and - dang! - another resolution goes up in smoke. - More...
Wednesday AM - January 31, 2007  

Jay Ambrose: The Democratic quest for another depression - More than anything, it has now become obvious, the Democrats want another Great Depression, the era of their most robust ascendancy, and if the facts won't give them one they will do what Sen. James Webb of Virginia did in his response to President Bush's State of the Union speech: They will invent one out of thin air.

They will tell you, as he did, that the middle class "is losing its place at the table," that wages and salaries are frighteningly low and that our "manufacturing base is being dismantled." About the only thing they leave out is references to breadlines.

Here is something that might surprise you, and would certainly surprise Webb, assuming that he was as sincere as he looked. The middle class has seldom had it so good.

The economic columnist Robert Samuelson has reported that the percentage of families with inflation-adjusted, before-tax incomes of more than $50,000 was 35 percent in 1980, 40 percent in 1990 and 44 percent in 2003. A progressive policy group economist, Stephen Rose, has reported that over a 25-year period ending in 2004, there was a 13 percent increase in adults between 25 and 59 in households with real incomes more than $100,000 and a 14 percent decrease of this age group in households with real incomes of less than $75,000. - More...
Wednesday AM - January 31, 2007  

John M. Crisp: The end of the line for traditional candidates? - Radio talk show host Sean Hannity recently had Ann Coulter on one telephone line and a representative from the Young Democrats of America on another. The Young Democrat was unflustered in the face of a double-teamed attack, and Hannity, in the style of modern talk radio, interrupted often.

Name one, Hannity demanded repeatedly, name just one qualification that Barack Obama has to be president of the United States. The Young Democrat did her best with this tough question. But a good answer might have been that, while his resume is slim, Obama clearly has the only qualifications that the Constitution requires: He's a natural born citizen over 35 years of age who has resided in our nation for 14 years. Otherwise, all he has to do to be president is convince enough voters.

Hannity, of course, already knew that Obama doesn't bring a long list of accomplishments to the race for the presidency. In fact, Obama occasionally pokes self-deprecating fun at himself over his lack of experience. But his feasibility as a candidate in the minds of many people testifies to the fact that we often elect our presidents based not on what they've done, but on who they are. - More...
Wednesday AM - January 31, 2007  

Paul C. Campos: Time for a second look at American health care - Reforming the American health care system will be difficult as long as certain myths about it continue to flourish. Some of these myths include: In America, health care is provided by the market, rather than by the government. In countries where the government pays for health care, people don't have the freedom to choose their own doctor. American health care is expensive because it's of such high quality.

And, by the way, we have "the best health care system in the world."

Let's look at these myths.

- The government doesn't pay for health care.

In fact, in America the government pays more for health care, per person, than any other government in the world, including the governments of countries that provide comprehensive cradle to grave health care for all their citizens. Yet despite this very high level of government spending, nearly one out of six Americans has no health care coverage of any kind. - More...
Wednesday AM - January 31, 2007