Sure: Two small states with distinctive indigenous populations telling a very remote and very white landlord in DC that they think they don't need to be told what to do with every square inch of a land they have inhabited in for centuries. If there is something to this, we will continue to see it play out as the Dems start to make noises about breaking the GOP stranglehold on the West.

The explanation given by at least one of your commenters yesterdy is true and always has been-- Senators from Alaska and Hawaii vote together on pork. It goes back to statehood, which only happened when the powers that be from both states decided that the time had come when they would get more money from DC as states than as territories. To maximize the take, they agreed to vote as a bloc. As far back in time as I can remember, there has been at least one member on the Appropriations Committee from at least one of hte states, and he holds the proxies for all four votes.

Dan:

Thanks!

Pleased about the vote, but let's see some Republican emphasis on the conservation front to bring more people behind the entire energy package.

I appreciate the help OPEC has provided with $57.00 a barrel oil but I'm tired of supporting their lifestyle.

Something approaching 95% of Hawaii's electricity generation is oil-fired. Coincidence?

Oil and gasoline prices are murderous in Hawaii. Why did McCain vote against ANWR other than to make me extremely disappointed?

You get used to it. People don't complain any more about paying $2.67 a gallon for gas. At least, not as much as they do about traffic, which tells you something.

Dan is confabulating about 'powers that be.'

I dunno about the Alaska powers, but I know the story about Hawaii (and know some of the actors in person), and that's not how it happened at all.

How it did happen makes for an equally interesting story, though.