Update 20081221: Various Palin related material at https://www.teamsarah.org/
Update 20081122: At American Thinker, Bob Weir writes:
The other day, as I was watching one of the news channels I had to quickly check my calendar because I had the feeling that I may have only dreamt that the election was over.
The reason for my confusion was that several commentators were still taking shots at Sarah Palin. Here it was, weeks after the woman had left the campaign trail, and the abuse was as strident as it had been throughout her months-long quest for the second spot on the ticket. The man who ran for the first spot on the ticket had shed his bulletproof armor; yet, the woman still needed Secret Service protection.
The continuous assault on Sarah Palin is not so difficult to understand. In fact, it can be summed up thusly: she’s a woman opposed to abortion. You see, when a man says he’s opposed to abortion, women who disagree can accuse him of trying to control a woman’s body and/or simply not understanding how a woman feels about dealing with pregnancy, career achievement and defeating the “good ole boy” network. But, how are they going to justify that to a Sarah Palin, who has raised a family, been elected to the highest office in her state and has gained a reputation as a corruption fighter? And a woman who decided to keep, raise, and love a Down syndrome child, her son Trig….
Recent remarks: Sarah Palin’s Hopeful Culture
NOTE: more recent posting at On Sarah Palin
[Update: There’s a hilarious Saturday Night Live skit with Tina Fey as Palin. Nice to be confident enough for humor …and a more recent skit on NY Times reporting. Well, that got pulled but here’s Sarah Palin live on Saturday Night Live (Oct 18). [Update: John McCain on Saturday Night Live Nov 1]
And a useful article on The Palin Effect at The Weekly Standard (Noemie Emery, September 29, 2008 edition)
From the New York Times:
Her father shot the grizzly bear whose hide is now draped over the sofa in her office. She, too, hunts and fishes. She runs marathons. She delivered her fifth child during her first term as governor. They call her husband, the reigning champion in the annual Iron Dog snowmachine race, First Dude.
There’s a great collage of Sarah Palin related still photos on youtube called America’s Future, with a polar bear subplot: cute but ferocious (you’d think the opposition would have sense enough not to attack the cubs)!
And there’s an article with more pictures at the UK’s Daily Mail
‘Sarah wanted to be a journalist. She wanted to go to university but knew the family budget was slim. So she went in for a beauty contest because it offered money.’
Sarah entered the Miss Wasilla pageant in 1984, which she won wearing a red Crimplene dress she made herself.
The following spring she came second in Miss Alaska, winning a £5,000 scholarship to Idaho University, where she studied journalism.
Sarah eloped with Todd, her childhood sweetheart, in 1988. Her mother said: ‘It was a shock but she did it because she knew we couldn’t afford a big white wedding….
And from an editorial at the Wall Street Journal:
For starters, we’d say Governor Palin’s credentials as an agent of reform exceed Barack Obama’s. Mr. Obama rose through the Chicago Democratic machine without a peep of push-back. Alaska’s politics are deeply inbred and backed by energy-industry money. Mr. Obama slid past the kind of forces that Mrs. Palin took head on.
For biographical facts, the best source is the biograhy at the gov.state.ak.us:
Since taking office, her top priorities have been resource development, education and workforce development, public health and safety, and transportation and infrastructure development. | |
Under her leadership, Alaska invested $5 billion in state savings, overhauled education funding, and implemented the Senior Benefits Program that provides support for low-income older Alaskans. She created Alaska’s Petroleum Systems Integrity Office to provide oversight and maintenance of oil and gas equipment, facilities and infrastructure, and the Climate Change Subcabinet to prepare a climate change strategy for Alaska. During her first legislative session, Governor Palin’s administration passed two major pieces of legislation – an overhaul of the state’s ethics laws and a competitive process to construct a gas pipeline.
Governor Palin is chair of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, a multi-state government agency that promotes the conservation and efficient recovery of domestic oil and natural gas resources while protecting health, safety and the environment. She was recently named chair of the National Governors Association (NGA) Natural Resources Committee, which is charged with pursuing legislation to ensure state needs are considered as federal policy is formulated in the areas of agriculture, energy, environmental protection and natural resource management. Prior to being named to this position, she served as co-chair of this committee. Prior to her election as governor, Palin served two terms on the Wasilla City Council and two terms as the mayor/manager of Wasilla. During her tenure, she reduced property tax levels while increasing services and made Wasilla a business friendly environment, drawing in new industry. |
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She has served as chair of the Alaska Conservation Commission, which regulates Alaska’s most valuable non-renewable resources: oil and gas. She was elected by her peers to serve as president of the Alaska Conference of Mayors. In this role, she worked with local, state and federal officials to promote solutions to the needs of Alaska’s communities. |
and, regarding her personal life, that site continues:
She is married to Todd Palin, who is a lifelong Alaskan, a production operator on the North Slope [and member of the Steelworkers Union, District 12] and a four-time champion of the Iron Dog, the world’s longest snowmachine race. | ||||
Todd and Sarah fish [both for fun and commercially] in Bristol Bay with their children – Track, Bristol, Willow, Piper and Trig. Through Todd’s Yup’ik grandmother, Alaska’s Native heritage plays an important role in their family. Track enlisted in the U.S. Army on Sept. 11, 2007. Prior to taking office, Palin served on numerous boards and commissions throughout the state. She was active in her family’s pursuits – including serving as a sports team mom and school volunteer. She also runs marathons.
Palin is a lifetime member of the NRA and enjoys hunting, fishing, Alaska history, and all that Alaska’s great outdoors has to offer.
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On conservative reaction to McCain’s choosing of Sarah Palin, Nina May
writes:
But the coup de grace, the Kentucky Derby, Wimbledon, Olympic Gold for John McCain was his selection of Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate.
I just happened to be in the Petri dish of political experimentation with almost 300 conservative leaders from around the country who were gathered for a meeting. The speaker was interrupted to pipe in the live feed of the announcement. The discussion in the group for three days before the announcement concerned who the pick would be and what the response would be if it was x, y or z. The responses varied depending upon the possible choice from, “I refuse to vote for that ticket,” to “Is it too late to form a third party?” to, my own which was, “Let’s select a write-in candidate and do a protest vote.” If you have been reading my columns, you know that is what I have been saying.
So, imagine our surprise when not only Sarah Palin was announced as McCain’s VP candidate, but that the whole room erupted in thunderous, standing ovation support. It was as though everyone in the room had a horse in the race and that collective horse made it over the finish line as the clear winner. Women were crying, men were high-fiving, everyone was hugging and celebrating because now . . . they had a ticket they could get behind, they could believe in, and they could enthusiastically support.
Those leaders represent millions of people around the country and several, including me, have since made public announcements that they have switched from an adamant position of not supporting McCain to being excited about the race.
No wonder the trash machines were in the streets within minutes to dump on Governor Palin and declare she was not experienced enough to be Vice President, but they still can’t explain why Barack is experienced enough to be President when his resume totally pales in comparison to hers. Even though she is not running against him, they seem more concerned about her than they are about McCain and for good reason. She is young, dynamic, effective, principled and tough. Several in that group of leaders likened her to Maggie Thatcher, which of course means the liberals, the feminists, the good ol’ boys, will do everything they can to destroy her, but the harder they try, the more entrenched her base will become because we will all see this as a unified attack on us. We will take those attacks personally and fight back in a phalanx of solidarity with a woman who could be destroyed by a hypocritical machine that pretends to want women and blacks to rise to levels of leadership . . . but only if they can be manipulated and exploited by that machine.
google has a 83 minute video at:
of a tightly structured 2006 debate between three candidates for governor of Alaska, focusing on health care issues. There’s also a link so it can be downloaded to ipod.
Speaking of comparisons to past political leaders, Teddy Roosevelt was 42 and had only served two years as governor of New York when he became McKinley’s vice-president. Edmund Morris’ The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt is well worth reading. Of course, Palin does not have the advantage of birth that Teddy had; however, there’s a definite political affinity between them.
Finally, while not about Palin directly, Melanie Phillips’ article in the Spectator is certainly relevant to this contest.
1. Steps on the story of Obama’s speech (and convention), and possibly the bounce coming from them, and wipes them off the news cycle. The Sunday news shows will be all-Palin, all of the time.
2. Sends Republicans into their convention on a huge head of steam.
3. Wipes out the image of McCain as the crotchety elder and brings back that of the fly-boy and gambler, which is much more appealing, and the genuine person.
4. Revs up the base AND excites independents, which no one else in the party, or perhaps in the world, could have accomplished.
5. Puts youth, change, and history on both of the tickets.
6. May detach some young people, especially women.
7. May attach some women pissed off about Hillary.
8. As a pro-life super-achiever, puts feminists in a tizzy.
9. Revives some of the double-edged nature of the Democratic primary, which featured a black vs. a female trail-blazer, and put both sides on notice on sensitivity issues. Democrats used to raising charges of racism against Obama’s critics may face charges of sexism and/or condescension if they try to diss her.
10. Steps on Obama’s claims to have been a reformer, as he reformed nothing (much less the corrupt mare’s nest of Chicago arrangements), while she was a dragon-slayer up in Alaska.
11. As a mother of five, one a Down Syndrome baby, helps her side take on the Democrats on abortion extremism and the Born Alive bill.
12. Reignites the deep and unhealed stresses inside the Democrats, some of whom will now wonder
more loudly than ever why they didn ‘t pick Hillary.
13. Counters Michelle in a way Cindy couldn’t.
14. Counter-intuitively, makes the issue of Obama’s light resume more potent than ever. Her lack of experience is no more than his is. And he’s-to use a term from Alaska, and the Iditarod-their lead dog.
Noemie Emery is a contributing editor to THE WEEKLY STANDARD.
https://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/015/482nfeqo.asp
I’m not too worried about Sarah Palin appealing to anyone. Once people start hearing her, you know, actually pontificating on serious issues her lack of insight will become very apparent. I’m sure Frankenstein’s monster would have been a news-generating event as well for McCain — but the second the monster was asked about his position on Iran and then issued a “Grrrr. Arrrrgggh. Grunt.” the shine would quickly wear off. Obama may have a little less experience than McCain’s 177 years….but at least he has the education and the eloquence to make up for it. Does the Palin? (shakes Magic 8 ball) All Signs Point To No.
Did you listen to her acceptance speech? It’s on youtube, entire and short clips like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjzHT8ojpoU
There must be some appeal: Time reported that in the first 7 hours after announcement, McCain received 3 million dollars in contributions.
Some humor (in the “Chuck Norris…” style):
The Northern Lights are really just the reflection from Sarah Palin’s eyes.
The Russians sold Alaska to America because Sarah Palin would not submit to autocracy.
The Arctic Circle runs through Alaska so the Sun can have some relief from Sarah Palin’s bright glare.
Sarah Palin is allowed first dibs on Alaskan wolfpack kills.
Sarah Palin is so pro-life that she personally hog-tied two reps from Planned Parenthood who came knocking at her door.
It’s not raining in DC. Those are God’s tears of joy that McCain picked Sarah Palin.
Sarah Palin’s hotness is the largest single contributor to melting polar ice caps.
Sarah Palin is the “other” whom Yoda spoke about.
Sarah Palin’s presence in the lower 48 means the Arctic ice cap can finally return.
Sarah Palin fired Jack Bauer because he was too soft in dealing with terrorists.
Sarah Palin’s pageant career ended early so other women could have a chance.
Sarah Palin’s son Track is going to Iraq after the Surge, because a Palin during the Surge would have been unfair.
Sarah Palin wears glasses lest her uncontrollable optic blasts slaughter everyone. (X-Men reference)
Sarah Palin actually has Big Foot in her freezer.
Sarah Palin gave a speech in Texas after her water broke before flying home to Alaska to give birth. (Actually true)
Sarah Palin doesn’t need a gun to hunt. She has been known to throw a bullet through an adult bull elk.
Sarah Palin once spilled coffee on Joe Biden & one of his $400 ties from Pink.
Sarah Palin keeps her hair in a beehive to hide her ninja weaponry.
Sarah Palin will personally open a homemade can of whoopa** on Ahmadinejad, Putin, and Chavez as soon as she’s done making mooseburgers for her kids.
A grizzly bear once tried to stare down Sarah Palin. Once.
Sarah Palin will send Joe Biden a pre-debate cheat sheet. The sheet will have tips on defending against Kung Fu Death Grip.
Sarah Palin became governor because five children left her with too much spare energy.
Sarah Palin will give birth to the man who will lead humanity’s war against the machines. (Terminator reference)
Three of Sarah Palin’s 5 kids came out sideways and she never flinched.
Global Warming doesn’t kill polar bears. Sarah Palin does. Generally with her bare hands.
Sarah Palin was the original “Deadliest Catch.”
Sarah Palin paid her way through school by hunting for Kodiak pelts with a slingshot.
Alaska is the 49th state solely because they knew even in 1959 that Sarah Palin never finishes last.
Chuck Norris wishes he was Sarah Palin trapped in a man’s body.
Sarah Palin got Tom Brady pregnant, and then left him.
Sarah Palin killed and ate the Grizzly Man.
Sarah Palin killed and ate Frank Murkowski.
Sarah Palin once won the Iditarod without any dogs. She simply willed the sled to victory.
Sarah Palin wears half the makeup that John Edwards wears and still looks like twice the woman he does.
Sarah Palin once guided Santa’s sleigh through an Alaskan blizzard with the light from her smile.
Sarah Palin fishes salmon by convincing them it’s in their interest to jump into the boat.
Bob Lonsberry writes:
MCCAIN VP PICK SHOWS BRILLIANCE
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ST. PAUL – I hope Putin was watching.
Because when John McCain is president, the genius and cunning that blindsided the Democrats and the press will be directed squarely at him and anyone else who dares to threaten America.
If selecting a running mate is a candidate’s first presidential decision, John McCain showed that, after a week of the Democrats’ best, amateur hour was over. He caught everyone flatfooted, out maneuvering the Democrats and showed the arrogant press that it didn’t know its head from a hole in the ground.
And it was a perfect choice.
While the news media pulled stuff out of its backside and repeated it with increasing superiority and certainty, creating a conventional wisdom that was all B.S., John McCain moved methodically and secretly to find, screen and select a sleeper candidate who was uniquely qualified to be his vice president.
And Sarah Palin is that.
Unknown to most Republicans Thursday night, she was their hero by Friday noon. While the Democratic convention’s Unity theme was a mind-numbing reminder to its delegates not to slit the party’s political throat, Republicans were galvanized around the party Friday as they learned about the Alaska governor.
And the Obama campaign’s condescending mockery of her selection was another proof of its absolute cluelessness about what Main Street America feels, wants or believes in.
Because you can believe in Sarah Palin.
And the notion that Barack Obama would challenge Sarah Palin as unqualified is an absurdity that makes sense only in the world of self-worship which the Obama campaign has become.
Because Sarah Palin has done something neither Barack Obama nor Joe Biden ever have – she has been the boss. She has held executive positions. She has been the mayor of a city and the governor of a state. The Democratic press may mock the city as a small one and the tenure as governor as brief, but Obama and Biden have no tenure and have led no city.
In fact, their resumes are completely devoid of executive experience. “The Buck Stops Here” has never once been true of them.
Like John McCain, with his years of naval command, Sarah Palin has exercised executive authority. At no point in their lives, in or out of government, have Barack Obama or Joe Biden ever been the boss.
But that’s not the greatest asset of Sarah Palin. Her strength is her normalcy. She is a regular person leading a regular life who got involved in doing something good, and rose in politics because of it, but who stayed a normal person.
She is a person people can relate to and admire. She didn’t go to Princeton or Harvard, she went to the University of Idaho. She didn’t practice law, she worked a commercial fishing boat with her husband. They’ve got five kids, the oldest of whom enlisted in the Army when he got out of high school, and her husband works with his hands.
These are people regular folks can relate to.
She played sports – and can beat Obama at his affected sport, basketball – and kept a house and managed a family budget and went to church. She owns guns and hunts and believe in both God and the right to defend yourself. She’s got the common-sense, boot-straps notion of individual freedom and responsibility that made this country great.
John McCain went to the Last Frontier to bring back a sense of the frontier culture that America needs like a reinvigorating transfusion.
As a conservative, I couldn’t be happier. As a Mitt Romney supporter, I couldn’t have forgotten him faster. As a Republican, I’m glad John McCain has a partner who will, based on ethics and principles, give our hidebound party the swift kick in the seat of the pants that it so sorely needs.
McCain and Palin will spank the Republicans, just like they spanked the Democrats on Friday. Less than 12 hours after his giant spectacle, Barack Obama was off the front page, shoved aside by the selection of Sarah Palin. His big night had no legs, but collapsed in a resounding thud.
He was upstaged, and that’s a bad sign if you’re a celebrity.
As a former commanding officer, John McCain knows what it takes to be a good executive officer, and he knows how to find and hire one. He did that in his Navy career, and he did it again last week.
And he did it all with a clear-eyed focus on what mattered, and without kissing the ring or the backside of the press or the pundits. Barack Obama picked who he had to, John McCain picked who he wanted.
And in so doing, he showed a brilliance and decisiveness that are the hallmarks of true leadership. It was an absolute genius move, and it completely blindsided every body.
Which is why Putin and his ilk ought to mind their Ps and Qs.
Because what John McCain showed America on Friday is exactly the type of leadership it needs.
- by Bob Lonsberry © 2008
Sarah Palin managed a real business, a private fishing business, she was a mayor, and now is governor of Alaska managing 17,000 employees with a 9 billion dollar budget.
In Alaska, she is the CINC for the National Guard there on the border with Russia where Air Guard planes intercept Russian bear aircraft.
She has helped devise and push through the project for the largest natural gas line in the history of the US…taking on entrenched politicians, lobby groups, and large corporations in the process.
I’m very exciited, and couldn’t be happier that McCain chose Palin!
https://loomisnews.wordpress.com/2008/08/31/i-heart-sarah-palin/
Sarah Palin spent four years as a City Council Member for Wasilla, Alaska, six years as Mayor of Wasilla, and two years as Governor of Alaska.
FDR spent just over two years in the New York State Senate, eight years as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and four years as Governor of New York.
Theodore Roosevelt spent some time in the New York State Assembly(?), two years as Governor of New York, two years as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and less than one year as Vice President of the United States.
Woodrow Wilson spent eight years as President of Princeton University and two years as Governor of New Jersey.
Grover Cleveland spent two years as Sheriff of Erie County, two years as Mayor of Buffalo, and two years as Governor of New York.
Great site! Thanks for the mostly unbiased information - Hard to come by these days.
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