ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP)— Gov. Sarah Palin's signature accomplishment _ a
contract to build a 1,715-mile pipeline to bring natural gas from Alaska
to the Lower 48 _ emerged from a flawed bidding process that narrowed
the field to a company with ties to her administration, an Associated
Press investigation shows.

Beginning at the Republican National Convention in August, the
McCain-Palin ticket has touted the pipeline as an example of how it
would help America achieve energy independence.

"We're building a nearly $40 billion natural gas pipeline, which is
North America's largest and most expensive infrastructure project ever,
to flow those sources of energy into hungry markets," Palin said during
the Oct. 2 vice presidential debate.

Despite Palin's boast of a smart and fair bidding process, the AP found
that her team crafted terms that favored only a few independent pipeline
companies and ultimately benefited the winner, TransCanada Corp.

And contrary to the ballyhoo, there's no guarantee the pipeline will
ever be built; at a minimum, any project is years away, as TransCanada
must first overcome major financial and regulatory hurdles.

In interviews and a review of records, the AP found:

_Instead of creating a process that would attract many potential
builders, Palin slanted the terms away from an important group _ the
global energy giants that own the rights to the gas.

_Despite promises and legal guidance not to talk directly with potential
bidders, Palin had meetings or phone calls with nearly every major
candidate, including TransCanada.

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It just gets worse every day for the lipsticked piglet.