The Eight Hundred Word Answer is "Yes"

Discussing Gov. Palin's record, the Washington Post writes:

People are still buzzing about Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin's acceptance speech. But while her style has been minutely analyzed, very little commentary has focused on one of the few substantive claims she made about her brief tenure as governor of Alaska: that she "fought to bring about the largest private-sector infrastructure project in North American history . . . a nearly $40 billion natural gas pipeline to help lead America to energy independence." Is Ms. Palin right about the importance of the pipeline and her role in moving it forward?

They beat around the bush a bit, but over all they give a favorable assessment of her performance.

The oil companies flared off gas on the North Slope for thirty years while multiple layers of Government squabbled amongst themselves and with Industry about a pipeline. Meanwhile, environmental groups and their lawsuits raised the hurdles high. Gov. Palin broke the logjam and got it rolling.

Of course the WP has to end a positive assessment with a snark remark: "Perhaps her Democratic opponent for the governorship in 2006, who campaigned on similar ideas, would have achieved these results. Nevertheless, Ms. Palin actually did." Perhaps in four years they can voice a similar lament about the Obama/Biden ticket. "The Democrats campaigned on World Peace and ending poverty. Nevertheless..."