My Governor Embarrasses Me

When I was in high school, I stuttered but wanted to be on the debate team. I was not very good initially because I had a speech impairment and it exacerbated and got worse and I forgot things. Keep in mind that I was 15. By the end of the semester, I'd improved and learned to answer questions and keep a cool head. I was never very good because I liked the audience working with me and laughing. Sometimes I would pull Sarah routines as a joke, but they were not yet Sarah routines. I'd pretend to stall, not understand questions, etc. and have a little fun a time or two, but I'd not do it the entire time and I could still win on certain points, although I took it as a matter of personal pride when I lost a debate and still walked out with best speaker! Our governor isn't joking and she seems consistently dumbed-down. She doesn't know how to debate or answer questions.

Paul Begala has ten rules for winning a debate right here. I especially like what he says about wit. What he didn't say is that the reason humor goes far is that it makes people feel good. People will repeat a funny story or anecdote even if it is against their own person because it is something that makes them smile. He also speaks of creating moments-- the media will play and replay them. Sarah is not creating moments of intelligent ideas.

Sarah does not want to be pinned down by answers. Watching her interview with Katie Couric is downright painful.

She is failing on questions you know she has to have been prepared to answer. Katie has got be one of the easiest people to talk to. Watch her answer about the economy! She is going "round in circles 'til she's very, very dizzy" and she's got me grabbing my desk to stabilize myself! Why is she giving Tina Fey so much ammo? What is up with how she speaks? Her voice is getting grating. Has she always spoken like this? It seems like it's gotten worse.

Is this a plot by the Republicans-- of which party I was very much involved with for all of my adult life up to this point-- to keep the focus on them and not on the Democrats? Even though Sarah is terrible, imitation is still the best form of flattery. Indifference would kill the ticket.

Welcome to the latest edition of the WWF: the 2008 Political Race (Where is John Edwards? He wouldn't be like this!)

I am disgusted with our governor, Sarah Palin. I cannot vote for her. Two years ago my family walked with her in parades and happily supported her, and she was so classy! There was a cat fight going on between Andy Halcro, Frank Murkowski, and John Binkely. I didn't like Frank because he was a dope-- he had the attitude of my massage teacher, "You won't like what I am doing but it's good for you." and he really shouldn't have done what he did, then run again. John Binkley looked inbred and used cheesy slogans and I hated his fliers in the mail-- and he sent a lot of them-- with his pictures! Ahhhh! I liked Andrew Halcro-- he was a businessman and would have been fascinating, like Lee Iacoccoa. You couldn't avoid loving Sarah though-- they'd slam her and she would respond with thanks because they'd supported her in the past. She was a ray of sunshine. (Oh-- with this post slamming her, if she saw it would she thank me for having supported her in the past? "Sorry, Sar, that was before I knew you just like it was with the others but we didn't listen to them!") When she ran in the general against Tony Knowels*, he was also classy.

Now the race has gotten bad with comments. She came out in her acceptance speech saying that she was a pit bull with lipstick and slammed the Democrats and belittled Obama. Excuse me, but that is the job of the media and bloggers. She is not acting without reproach. Sarah Palin is as dirty as the rest. I don't care if she is on a new level: excrement rises.

She is letting her fucking glasses and hair style be a talking point of the campaign, her hair style, and they are not talking issues. The Sarah Palin that I thought I knew would have never stood for that BS 2 years ago.

This woman has no connection to the working poor: she cut Denali Kid Care as governor! I know women who earn $15 an hour and are single moms (and there are plenty of single dads, too!) who need this. She made some cuts that hurt a lot of people. To save $15,000 a year which is not very much money, as mayor she made it so that rape victims would be charged for the post rape exam! The powers that were said that their insurance would be billed, but insurance gets billed and the policy owner pays the 20% co-payment. When I file with insurance I always get papers back clarifying the nature of the complaint. I cannot imagine!

There is a question as to whether or not Barack Obama made a remark about Sarah being a pig. Who gives a sh-- if he did call her one? She is with the big playahs now. Get over it! Barack isn't as classy as I'd like him to be, but John Edwards is out so we can expect nothing too wonderful.

Here's how I see it. John Edwards, a prince of a man who called a War on Poverty, had his political career shot when it was discovered that he had an affair when his wife had cancer. Why? I don't think it's fine and dandy to have affairs, but he was under great stress and I think that he needed the affection of his filming lady. I live in a high stress environment-- his message was also important to his wife who covered it up with him. If my husband screwed around on me, I'd not blame him. We have insane lives and I know it would probably seem great to him if someone started giving him affection when I am so strung out with the kids. How was John Edwards feeling? (I envision a slippery slope where he fell into it, on the road, calling home and needing support and his wife needing to talk of her chemo and needing his help. There is his film chick offering a back rub-- oh yeah. Sh-- happens. The only thing-- if you want to screw around, make sure a vasectomy works!) I would rather have a VP who can play ball, who understands the people and maybe fools around on his wife with one person than a VP whose "look" is more important than issues, who lives as a person who doesn't really need a second income and doesn't understand the struggles of a normal person.

I talk to my Fundie friends and they say the same things. Several have said that this is the will of God. God is consistent! It's Satan who comes as an angel then changes-- get it straight already. Last night one of my friends told me that Obama is Muslim-- he also said that Sarah's actions are the will of God. Change God and Allah and what did he sound like?

I am very, very sad to have seen this happen to her. I liked her and thought that she was great, but she's just like the rest.

Celtic Diva has a great story on what former guv, Tony Knowles and Ketchikan mayor Bob Einstein have to say about Sarah. She is as liberal as they come, but she is also careful about what she says and puts in her blog.


*Several years ago, Tony Knowles came to a picnic in my area. My family-- husband and I think seven kids at the time, our dog and the stoller, were all adorned in Republican pins and stickers. He ate a hotdog with us and we talked about his plans when Irealized how we were decked out. I stood up and motioned for everyone to take off their vests and TK noticed this and laughed. Did we think he'd not noticed this? I was laughing at myself at this point and he said, "Just remember that if my opponent wins (she would win, it was Lisa Murkowski, in spite of being daughter of Frank) I still represent you and my door will be open to you!" I just loved him! I think I voted for him because of that. He was also a chef and a businessman. He had been guv before. . . once he had lost an election and I went to his restaurant the next day with my parents not knowing that he owned it. He was there bright and early, "Would you like some Knowles Rolls?" My dad teased him, "These are real winners!"

Interviews with ~My Good Friend John Hernandez~ about Sarah Palin

John Hernandez is a long time friend of my family and was a sportscaster in Anchorage in 1988 and he hired Sarah as an intern. Some terrible politics went on at the station and he had this sit with him for two decades wondering what would have happened because he really thought that Sarah would have been great, then about a month ago we hooked up at Facebook and started talking. (He's in California now.) I don't think that Sarah has a bigger fan than John!

Checkout his interview with Brandon Howse!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtwR5seALXo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWi6dDDuAyA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWi6dDDuAyA

A Modern Formula for Republican Politics: Planned or Mere Coincidence?

Ropi & Non-Americans: You cannot care about this. Be back this weekend and I promise that I will write about something else. I am presently sick of the drama surrounding her.

I think that the Great Political Machine has adapted to American Pop Culture and that they are following a time honored formula for keeping the country focused on them. It's like a Republican Movie Formula. Someone else can flesh this out better, but I am a busy person and I don't have much time to write about something that I am annoyed that I am caught up in. Please feel free to send me a note by leaving a message and I will put a link in this article for your post.

The leading movies needed 1) a young inexperienced characters with flaws that help them become better, 2) a wise omniscient character who is earth-bound unless he or she is not, 3) eye candy for the ladies, 4) characters that walk along side the young'un, 5) something to distract the audience and it helps to be annoying. They have to defeat something depicted as scary for which if not defeated all hell will break loose to the destruction of the known world.

Read on!

What They Seek

Republican Political Race: The Residency in the White House (power)

Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Get The Powerful Ring destroyed

Star Wars: Destroy the Dark Side

Wizard of Oz: Get to Oz

Harry Potter: Destroy Voldermort

The Wise Old Adviser:

Political Political Race: John McCain

Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Gandalf

Star Wars: Obi Wan, Yoda

Wizard of Oz: Good Witch

Harry Potter: Dumbledore

The Nemesis

Republican Political Race: Obama

Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Sauron

Star Wars: Darth Vader

Wizard of Oz: Wicked Witch

Harry Potter: Voldermort

Young Inexperienced Star

Republican Political Race: Sarah Palin (Got that, Obama? Don't fall into the trap of calling MY GUV inexperienced! It's a trap!)

Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Frodo or Bilbo

Star Wars: Luke Skywalker

Wizard of Oz: Dorothy

Harry Potter: Harry Potter

Side Kicks that Go 'Round with Them:

Republican Political Race: The Immediate Family of Sarah Palin

Lord of the Rings Trilogy: SamWise

Star Wars: Han Solo, Princess Leah

Wizard of Oz: TinMan, Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow

Harry Potter: Ron, Herimone

Annoying Distraction that Plays Critical Role in Success of Inexperienced Star:

Republican Political Race: Pregnant Daughter and Boyfriend (In the state election this was Sean Parnell when she ran for governor.)

Lord of the Rings: Golum, Merry & Pippin

Star Wars: Jar-Jar Binks, C3PO and R2D2 (I'm not dissing R2D2)

Wizard of Oz: To-To, Munchkins

Harry Potter: Malfoy Jr.

Handsome Stallion-- Eye Candy to attract female viewers

Republican Political Race: Either Todd Palin or Levi Johnston-- could we have them both there for the femmes who otherwise are not persuaded to vote for Sarah or McC?

Lord of the Rings: Legolas, Aragorn

Star Wars: Han Solo

Wizard of Oz: not sure

Harry Potter: Luscious Malfoy

Great Quote of Show

Republican Political Race: I hope it's not Sarah's 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling remark. It will probably be Sarah's 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling remark.

Lord of the Rings: "I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you!" (Sam to Frodo) Sam also said that some things are worth fighting for, as Frodo wanted to give up. I can't find it but I cry when it's said.

Star Wars: "No, I am your father." (Darth Vader to Luke Skywalker)

Wizard of Oz: "Close your eyes and tap your heels together three times and think: There's no place like home." (Good Witch to Dorothy.)

Harry Potter: "If you want to know what a man's like, see how he treats his inferiors, not his equals." Sirius Black

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is what I have so far-- please expand on this! In each movie they travel all over the place and fight battles-- this is what the parties do. The comparisons are many and it would be silly if no one has tapped in on this movie formula that we are used to. I am not crazy about movies so it won't go over well with me.

Here is a decent article on the governor's accomplishments.

Too Much Hype

Our governor was nominated to VP on Friday and I am sick of it already. I'm not sick of her-- I like her. I am sick of so many people having something negative to say.

There is a former senate president and speaker of the house who I have always admired whose name I won't say here. She has always been nice to me. She likes things to go her way and she doesn't like the Guv. For the longest time I thought that she and the guv had a public fight for the sake of the press; it would not bode well if they got along as they both held powerful jobs and lived just a couple of miles from each other. The press is always creating hype over who is getting what and they are like my kids when they have been stuck inside for too long because of the rain. If our already rapidly growing area gets "more," the press blames the politicians for swinging deals, pretending that more infrastructure is not needed to support our area! I'd always wanted to get them both in a kareoke bar to sing, I've Got Friends in Low Places.

The former speaker of the house has been quoted as saying that the guv wasn't ready to be the governor, let alone vice president. This is petty. I talked to my brother as I'd written an editorial about the scandal in our legislature that has been going on for the past two years and I had him look it over. He's in news and he said, "That bullsh-- is over. Those people are long forgotten and you mentioning them is like you bringing up your trivia on Flemmish art. They are the Old Guard and they are done, even [the youngish guy.] They will never make an impact in our state again, they are Chess pieces that are kicked off the board." A long career serving her people and she's past history. She makes the paper for slamming our governor and she is suddenly an expert on her. They are with the same party and have similar values!

The people who tear the governor down make me think of Proverbs 14:1: Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. They don't just offer criticism, they jeer her as if they delight in finding/inventing her shortcomings. The last place the gov should be getting this is from her home state.

Bloggers are slamming her with sarcasm. Are they jealous of her? This is not constructive criticism. My brother said that a lot of people put a lot of money into the campaigns and they are furious when people don't see things their way. (I will never donate so much that it takes away from my fun; as it is, I donate $5 & $10 here and there.) Why can't it just be fun to go out and cheer everyone on even if you don't agree with them? The winners that you don't support will also represent you.

There is one person who I honest-to-God cannot stand and it's personal-- it goes back 20 years. I still see him and wave. He did ask me to donate and I told him my maiden name and said, "You f---ed my parents over. [He knew what I was talking about.] I don't like you and I will only give you money if you loose." I asked him if he wins if he will still represent me and he said that he will and that he'll listen to my concerns. He wanted to shake hands and I'd not, so he gave me a side hug, instead and told me that he liked me anyway and that I didn't know the whole story. I gave him a cheesy smile and said he could count on me if he lost. We both laughed and he reiterated that I could count on him if he won. I almost hope he wins to see if he will be nice to me.

"We need a mover and a shaker, not a shake n' baker!"

So everyone has heard! Alaska's governor Sarah Palin has been chosen by John McCain to join him in the race tot he White House. One of my asshole conservative friends who supported John Binkley over her said, "We need a mover and a shaker, not a shake n' baker!" This person said that Sarah should stay home and be a wife and mother. Fuck that. Her parents and in-laws are very supportive of her and she is the first to state that she couldn't do it without her supportive family.

I can tell everyone that she is very down to earth. I have met her-- everyone in The Valley has met her if they have wanted to. My children and I have marched with her in parades. The first time I met her, I'd not been in the Valley for long. I had a sick baby on my shoulder and I was in the store. This nice lady who was ahead of me in the check-out line handed me a tissue and we started talking and she found out that I was new and she asked how I liked being here. It was very benign, and she seemed nice. A year or so later I got an invitation to her birthday party where she was accepting donations. I didn't think much of the picture; I just thought it was nice take my daughters to go see this young looking woman who was running for something. I was pleasantly amused when I saw her and commented on where we'd met and she said we were being moms-- her being mayor meant nothing when I had a sick baby with a runny little nose on my shoulder. (My coat was snotty. That she even got near enough to hand me a tissue speaks volumes of her! Germs avoid her!)

Her children seem unspoiled. Her daughter Bristol wore a t-shirt that said something about her mom running and to vote for her. My kids said they'd do the same for me. When I was growing up in South Anchorage, I knew a lot of children of political people who would have never done that. Her husband is a handsome guy-- I melted looking at a picture of him, Sarah and Baby Van Palin right after he was born. They knew that he had Down Syndrome not long after he'd been conceived-- it's one thing to be pro-life and anti-abortion, but it's another to have a baby with high needs who will grow into an adult with unique needs. (Having seen him, one would understand that he's not one to be sent back! Precious little person! Starshine saw his picture and kissed her finger and touched my monitor screen where his pretty little lips were!)

I kept thinking that McCain would come out at the end and say, "Psych!" and tell us that she isn't running, but she is! I do hope that she wins.

Sarah is an inspiration. My dad died around the time she got elected. Unable to save my dad from cancer, I promised him that I'd finish college and be a doctor. I asked my husband about me finishing school and he said that if Sarah Palin could have four kids and be governor, that surely I could finish college. We've just been talking about me going to Vermont for a low residency master's degree-- as in 24 hours ago. This morning he called me and was laughing saying that it looks like I can with her being able to do DC. . .

I am grateful for what she is giving up to serve her state and her country-- and for what her children and family are giving up, too. She/they may never be without a security detail, there will be few spontaneous camping trips and life as they once knew it will never return. We dream of a life like what she is going in to, but in return for her influence and power, she is giving up something that we Alaskans take for granted.