Not too many things rhyme with Wasilla. Gorilla, mozilla, Godzilla. That’s pretty much it. Vanity Fair takes a most interesting look at Sarah Palin –her grass roots, her rise to power, her brief venture with the McCain campaign, and how it all happened. The article is entitled “It Came from Wasilla.”
Think what you want about Palin. She is a very complex character who reveals what she wants you do know about her. Her best friend and closest advisor is her husband Todd. They make a striking couple. She is an Alaskan. Alaskans aren’t quite like other people. The fact that they are removed from the 48 contiguous states makes them different. Alaska wasn’t a state until 1959. That makes them different.
Most interesting was the section of article about Palin fitting in with the McCain campaign. There were many surprises. Everyone still with the campaign has been very circumspect about what they say. Most information must have come from those no longer working for the Senator. Very few people are quoted. It is an interesting read. Fans of Palin will not like the article. Neither will her enemies. Those with a more neutral point of view will find the article very informative.
The link is above.
[UPDATE: Sarah Palin has just announced she will not run for governor of Alaska in 2010. Speculation is she will be preparing for national politics. She has also said she will transfer power to the Lt. Governor. ]
This thread seems to pick up where the Honduras thread ended up: with a discussion of the war building up between moderate Republicans and ultra-conservatives. Someone was saying that as an ultra-conservative, they’d rather lose elections than allow moderate Republicans to win. This same rift sliced right through the 2008 Presidential ticket as this article reveals. But most knew it. Palin and McCain were odd bedfellows.
Like most Americans, I find Palin to be way to far to the right. Whether this is true for most Republicans remains to be seen. At least the fight between moderate and conservative Republicans will not be as destructive as the old fight between Republicans and Democrats. I just got sick of it all, starting with the Clinton years, and did not get interested in politics again until Obama.
Now days, the war is among Republicans and it’s really fun to watch. The ultra-right makes all kinds of noise, while the moderate Republicans and the Democrats are busy governing. But I hope Sarah Palin finds a way to stay in the headlines until the whole deal is sorted out. Palin is way better looking than most of the ultra-right poster children. She reminds me of that Miss South Carolina contestant and the Miss California girl rolled up into one.
Very interesting article, thanks for posting it – many things in there were interesting reading. Good picture you found to put up too! Indeed, she is a very interesting person, no matter what your opinion of her is.
Definitely a Vanity Fair pic. Not too flattering is it? it took a while to get through the VF article but I felt it was a very interesting one. I hope everyone will have time to read it. It was 6 pages long.
Justin T, I guess the ultras just need to remember where all that money really is. Wall street Republicans will, when the sun sets in the west, run the party. I think they are learning a bad lesson now about what happens when they get the help from their far right friends. It wont last for long though. One more election cycle and the roller coaster ride will be over. Moon Predictions here 😉
What I find amazing about this article is that it was even written. People are still talking about a Governor from Alaska who ran for vice president months ago. I would rather read an article about our current vice president but I suppose that’s just not “sexy”.
“Palin is still the sexiest brand in Republican politics”, when are women going to stand up against this type of reporting when it comes to women in politics? I suppose since she is a Republican it’s okay, god forbid if someone portrays Hillary or Michelle as sexy. Wait a second… Hillary is heinous and Michelle looks like Chris Rock in a dress with over sized dentures, sorry, answered my own question.
When Trig was born, Palin wrote an e-mail letter to friends and relatives, describing the belated news of her pregnancy and detailing Trig’s condition; she wrote the e-mail not in her own name but in God’s, and signed it “Trig’s Creator, Your Heavenly Father.”
The article said that Palin was supposed to go back to Alaska, fill in the gaps on her areas of deficiency and fly under the radar, and be prepared for 2012. She isn’t doing that. Thus, the article. Now come on, how can you act surprised after all the hoopla over Letterman’s comments. Did you really think the lady and her family were on holiday in the Hamptons?
Why would women find it offensive to read “Palin is still the sexiest brand in Republican politics?” I don’t find that offensive. Palin does rely on her sex appeal. Did you see wearing pants suits or parading around in above the knee skirts during the campaign? She is an attractive woman and plays to her assets. Most people in high profile political positions play to their strengths as do the ladies you took a very unflattering swipe at.
What I do find offensive is commenting on Hillary and Michelle’s appearance in the matter that you did. It really doesn’t matter what their political affiliation is nor Palin’s.
Rick, I would be afraid I would get struck my lightning if I wrote something like that. How narcissistic.
I thought Palin was very religious. I am not but I would still have enough of the lessons of youth in my brain to know better than doing something like that.
Yeah – it’s damning. Some people excuse it because she’s a mother, and a woman. A man who did signed a letter as coming from God wouldn’t be taken seriously for higher office.
There are thiongs that I like about Palin, as there are about Jesse Ventura. It’d be nice to shake up the current corrupt political orthodoxy that way. However, we cannot as a nation afford to entrust our highest office to another naive and inexperienced kook as we did with Bush for 8 disasterous years.
Rick, I cannot argue with a word you have said there. Plus, there is also something likable about Jesse Ventura. Not sure what, but he does call it like it is.
I think Palin represents a part of the world I don’t know much about. The people I do know from Alaska I would describe as diamonds in the rough. It just isn’t mainsteam America. (but it should be part of America) Palin is way too conservative and too much a part of the God squad for my tastes–as evidenced by your find in the article.
As a kid, I would have been thrashed for the affrontery and told I was being sacreligious.
Actually, I think that pic’s a pretty good pic of her. She is known for her winking, so why not? She’s pretty good looking actually, in my opinion, so I don’t mind seeing a picture of her winking like that!
I though Palin is very religious too. I did hear before this article that the advice to her was to go back to Alaska, be a good governor and fly low under the radar for the next year or two. She isn’t doing that, for sure.
I agree, a big part of Palin is her sex appeal – there’s no denying that. And I think there’s no denying she uses it to her advantage. Really, she’d be a fool not too! Might as well play up your strengths!
Anyway, as Palin seems to be trying to stay in the spotlight, I think it is fair game for there to be an article on her. It isn’t a very flattering article, and I don’t know that I would call it exactly balanced, but there were some interesting things in there, and certainly some parts – like her preparation for the debate, I had heard before. It might have been a little better if the article focused more on what she’s been up to lately, then rehashing some of that though. I do think the comments about her sexiness are fair game, and I find nothing really objectionable there. I also think the bit about her signing that letter in the name of God is fair game for reporting, since I hadn’t heard about that one, assuming it to be true – which i have no reason not to.
One thing I think the article said well – Alaska is definitely not like any other place in the USA, and Alaskans in general are a lot different than other Americans. It is an entirely different culture – especially due to the remoteness of where they live, and just a totally different way of living. Some relatives of mine took a trip out there, and had a tour guide who said he lives some 90 miles or so from any real civilization. He thinks nothing of hopping in his biplane, on a Friday evening, and flying to the nearest big town to go see a movie! Who ever heard of having to take your private plane to go see a movie on a Friday night? As I said, a whole different lifestyle. This guy also told them in the winter time sometimes the snow is so deep you can’t even see the tops of the telegraph poles! Crazy stuff. I just know I could never live in a place like that, no matter how beautiful it must be.
Jesse Ventura is another interesting politician. I never thought of both of them in the same category, but they are both definitely “outside the norm” of usual politicians. Ventura had the potential of really shaking things up, but I haven’t heard much of him lately.
Remember the whole uproar about Hillary’s cleavage?
And how about those mags and media that show pics of politics’ sexiest men? Just google sexy men and politics. Here’s one of the first hits:
http://www.wowowow.com/entertainment/gray-haired-men-celebrities-clooney-harrison-clinton-blair-brokaw-cooper-318065
I think it goes both ways in politics to a point. Clinton played up his looks, charm, sax and, um, other things, obviously.
Palin plain scares me. She thinks getting pipelines in Alaska is God’s will. As much as I respect people’s beliefs, we don’t need government and church being mixed with politics. Next thing you know, we’re headed for holy wars like some other countries we are rather critical of.
I have to get some time to read the article. Sounds interesting.
I really don’t see Palin running in 2012, and if she does, I don’t see her getting the nomination (she’s our Hillary, way too polarizing). What I think she is to the GOP is a good fund-raiser, and that’s cool, we need those too! I don’t see GWB raising a boat-load of cash for the GOP. I can’t get that deep into the Palin thing…my BS tolerance level is low right now, but I love the whole “Palin is uninformed and inexperienced” thing. My God, it’s amateur-hour in the White House! And the funniest line of the day goes to Justin: “moderate Republicans and Democrats are busy governing”. Is that what the kids are calling it these days? We used to call it “waxing the dolphin”.
It was obvious that she was uninformed and inexperienced the minute she opened her mouth. Not so with any of the other candidates.
As for now, and I do not necessarily share your opinion Slow, but when you are pres, you can surround yourself with those who do know.
I heard much about Palin being a quick study. And she might be. But she seems a reluctant study. One cannot govern the USA as one governs Alaska. Alaska has a population about the size of Prince William County. There simply is no comparison.
Pinko, refresh my memory about Hillary showing cleavage. I simply didn’t know that was ever an issue.
Unlike when Biden opens his mouth…..THEN we really learn stuff!! Or John “my friends” McCain, or even Barack “inflate those tires” Obama. That’s real wisdom flowing outta their pie-holes! I read the article, and its pretty much standard stuff, nothing to get worked up over. Oh, and while I was there I clicked right on over to the beauty page to catch up on mascara dos and don’ts!!! Awesome!!
I’m sick of seeing this photograph when I visit this site. Maybe, an open thread or Happy Birthday America thread?
Is today July 4th? Be patient.
The picture has been up less than 24 hours. Bitching is a sure fired way to make sure it stays for a good long time.
“Ventura had the potential of really shaking things up, but I haven’t heard much of him lately.”
He seems to have given up on politics. Apparently he’s living in rural Mexico. And he loves to talk about 9/11 conspiracy theories, which would make him pretty much unelectable.
He did a long interview on Stern a little while back, there’s a summary at http://www.marksfriggin.com/news09/5-18.htm#tue
He made me laugh with this – old wrestling “heat” dies hard :
“Howard asked Jesse some more about the Hulk Hogan stuff and Jesse told Howard that Hulk was actually charged with a sexual assault in Minnesota. He said that he knows that the chick was telling the truth because she claimed he had a tiny penis and he had seen him and she was right. Jesse said that means that she saw him nude one way or the other so he believed her story. “
….And that’s what I like most about you, Moon!! 🙂
She just resigned. Talk about being at the right place at the right time. Holy cow!
She = Sarah Palin
See the Thread Post.
Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell will take over as Governor of Alaska on July 26.
Her brother gave a phone interview on Fox News.
Democrats are dancing in the streets.
Translation: Ignorance IS Bliss!!
Slow, Who’s on top and who’s on the bottom looking way up?
@Ivan
You seem to think you’ll never be back on the bottom again! Well, I’m not surprised.
Not any time soon.
@Ivan
I don’t know, dude! I think your new Jimmy Carter is four-and-out!
Who’s gonna beat him. Sara Palin, Mark(love sick boy) Sandford, Mitt(Mr. Flip Flop) Romney or perhaps Rush himself. Keep dreaming.
Did you have some psychic ability there MH to post that thread this morning a few hours before the news came out she resigned? Good timing!
That picture doesn’t bother me a bit by the way – I still say she’s pretty good looking all things considered.
Either her resignation is a way of her just concentrating on making a run for 2012, or there’s some other thing going on we are not privy too. Or is she and Sanford hooking up? On second thought, I better not go there.
I don’t see Democrats dancing in the streets over this. Who the heck cares who the governor of Alaska is anyway? If the democrats are overjoyed over this turn of events, I think that’s pretty silly!
Thanks for the update on Ventura Rick. That explains why I haven’t heard much about him. He was an interesting guy when he was governor of Minnesota, and I saw a lot of interviews with him and what he had to say sounded pretty good. It would definitely have been interesting if he made a run at a Senate seat or something like that.
@Ivan
And when we are back on top, can we blame Barack Obama for all of our guy’s mistakes? Enjoy it while it lasts, bud. Oh, and you want to talk about superstars? Let’s talk about Bawney Fwank, Nancy “the CIA lied, but I’m telling the truth” Pelosi, John “my very own airport” Murtha, Arlen “let’s talk flip-flop” Specter, Chuckie Rangel, Chris “friend of Angelo” Dodd, Johnny “Beefcake” Edwards, and Hillary “landing under fire” Clinton.
You libs crack me up.
sigh, Slow, you sound angry. You all had the world by the …well..you had the world for 8 years. Time to give the other guys a chance.
I am just sitting back and watching. It is all high comedy to me. But I am a moderate. That way everyone can hate you.
Gainesville, it seems like I was clairvoyant, doesn’t it!!! It took me several days to finish reading the article. I kept getting interrupted plus I am working this week from home. That article was really an expose.
Party people, from both parties, seem to have no compunction about destroying each other. And if there isn’t another party involved, they will turn it inward.
Funny, I don’t dislike Palin. She is a very interesting person. I couldn’t vote for her (or Huckabee either) because they are simply too conservative for me. But I don’t hate them or wish them ill. I might enjoy a beer with both of them, as long as palin didn’t wink at me.
I think she has a real reason for quitting. Probably a mental breakdown judging by her press conference. Is she tying to compete with Mark Sanford for most embarrassing press conference or what? But she is not saying her real reason. She wants to play the victim and blame David Letterman and Vanity Fair.
http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article2168901.ece
More on Hillary’s cleavage, MH
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/19/AR2007071902668.html
Well, today was a federal and state holiday.;)
No patience here…I’m on VACATION!!!!
I didn’t mean to talk to myself. I meant to quote the Moon!
@ShellyB
Get real, you just are hoping she’s having a mental breakdown. You seem to accuse other people of saying hateful things. Interesting. Your posts are always plenty hateful.
There 2 sea otters out behind her doing whatever sea otters do. Then there were ducks. What a great place to live. I can’t imagine her wanting to leave there.
If she has aspirations for higher office, she sure took a gamble. I think she will run for president. Her followers will continue to love her. Her enemies will continue to be her enemies. I don’t think she is mainstream enough gather up the middle. There could always be a make over though. I think this is the beginning for Ms. Sarah.
Cute rumor, Gainesville Resident. I know you are pulling our legs!
Yes, far be it for me to start such a rumor about Palin!! I just couldn’t pass on that opportunity since it came on the heels of Sanford’s stuff and his possible leaving office.
I agree though – she is an interesting person but for a presidential candidate is too polarizing and too far to the right. I just can’t see her being a serious contender in 2012, unless she makes some huge shift more to the moderate Republican side. Even then, in ways similar to Hillary Clinton, she’s as very polarizing figure and brings a lot of negatives in with her – there’s just too many people who really hate her, just like Hillary.
Alaska is indeed a beautiful state. Everyone I know who has taken a vacation there in the summer has said it was one of their best vacations. I’d like to get there someday. At the same time, no way could I ever live there in the winter time. Even in the summer, things are very remote – it is just a totally different lifestyle. I think it is a nice place to visit for a week or two in the summer, but not a place most people would enjoy living! Since Palin grew up there, I really can’t see her wanting to leave, or being happy in Washington for 4 years, or 6 years as a Senator (there’s been some talk she might be looking at a run at the Senate). I think most people who grew up in Alaska love it there and wouldn’t want to leave it for the totally different lifestyle in the continental USA.
Ihave decided this whole lame duck is a crock. Is she a lame duck or a maverick? How do MOST politicians not running for a consecutive term handle being a ‘lame duck?’ (oh like every single Virginia governor)
She had responsibilities she needed to assume. I think people will see her as a quitter.
Karl Rove was not particularly kind to her. I find that surprising.
If this was an end run, then I fear it will backfire on her.
Having said all that. I hate that she continually had to fool with bogus ethic charges. That reminds me of bogus FOIA requests. Yes, its a citizen’s right to request but why? Both processes cost taxpayer or in Palin’s case, the office holder a fortune when abused.
There is a difference in government transparency and just being being a pain in the ass.
“People, what is going on with governors in this country?
Are we doomed to see them go bonkers one by one, state
by state?”
Gail Collins
(NYT 7-4-2009)
Darn, it sure looks that way.
It sure does look that way. Good grief. Let’s get Tim Kaine out of there fast, while there is still time to save him.
I realize now, in my above post, that I had the wrong sport. I should have said something to the effect of ” if she was going for the fast break, I fear it will backfire on her.? Never use a football term on a basketball player unless they are both.
I do agree that people will not judge Palin too kindly for doing this. So it indeed probably won’t do anything to help her image. I never did consider her a serious contender for 2012 anyway, and I still don’t. She just brings too many negatives to the table, just like Hillary did in 2008.
Gainsville, we are going to have to semi disagree over Hillary. On the one hand, I said for years that I felt she had too many negatives, many of them not her own doing. Turns out, I was right, I am very sorry to say. I think she would have made the best candidate and the best president.
So …that’s why I said ‘semi.’
OK, MH. I have no problem with that – we’ll just agree to “semi-disagree” on this one! My analysis of her as a candidate was she came with too many negatives, and was somewhat unelectable. Although, her against McCain? I have to say she would have stood a chance of winning I think. It was somewhat her bad luck that Obama came along – he was sort of an unstoppable force.
To be fair though – Palin comes with more negatives than Hillary did – I will have to say that. I view Palin as completely unelectable as a presidential candidate, Hillary I view as somewhat unelectable. Palin against Obama though? No way would she stand any sort of chance, unless some major Obama scandal comes about between now and 2012. At least that’s my take on it.
Or are we semi-agreeing to semi-disagree MH?? Now I’m a bit confused… Just kidding! Actually you are right, not all of Hillary’s negatives were her own doing. Palin though – most of them are, although there’s a few things I thought are a little unfair. Anyway, will be most interesting to see what Palin does in the coming months once she leaves the governor’s office. I replayed her speech, and I thought it was most interesting the more I listen to it. I do think she was somewhat feeling some pressure from within her own party perhaps, but decided to try and take an unorthodox approach and try to turn things around. It is interesting and will be interesting to see how it plays out. Again, I just don’t see her as a serious presidential contender unless there’s some super seismic political shift between now and very early 2012. Would have to be VERY early 2012 in my opinion, and maybe more like 2nd half of 2011. Will, it will keep things intresting – I personally don’t mind seeing plenty more news stories about her. She’s easy to look at, and she always has something interesting to say – even if you disagree with a lot of her political views.