Getting to know Sarah Palin

I talked to friends in Alaska last night and the feeling I get is Palin is generally well regarded in the state and along with some actual tears of joy that some mentioned, people are pulling for her to succeed. Alaska is a small place where people that make a name for themselves are referred to on a first name basis like neighbors, even if you don't know them personally. That said it is often hard to picture someone you know doing something that seems incredible but Alaska is a place where doing the incredible is something of a way of life. Growing up in that environment gives Palin an edge that outsiders really can't grasp and may underestimate.

In a state where the motto is "We don't care how they do it outside", outside meaning the lower 48 states, the outside press is digging for anything newsworthy about the candidate. Some of the accusations would seem absurd to Alaskans. One article I read this morning was amazed that no one from the McCain camp went to the office of the local paper "The Frontiersman" to check articles written about the candidate, failing to mention that "The Frontiersman" is not exactly the NY Times of the North Country. Until recently it has been a twice weekly, small town paper, published in Palmer while the "Anchorage Daily News" has to be considered the paper of record for south central Alaska.

One indication that the McCain choice has been so effective is the apparent tightening of the sphincters of the loony left. The resulting lack of oxygen has made them spew crazy and vile accusations about Palin and her family. They are attacking a kid that is 16 years old and a downs syndrome baby. How do you justify that? "She brought it up they are fair game" B as in B... and S as in S....! The supposed swiftboating of Kerry and the political tactics of Rove which they are not shy about lambasting pale in comparison to this. They truly are unhinged and I hope that these stories get some air time outside of the blog-o-sphere so the rest of the world can see who Barry is hangin with.

However, the question of experience is one that will become center stage over the next few weeks. Much of the electorate doesn't really take actual experience into account, but you do have to exude leadership (or "hope" if your audience is particularly gullible). If she can remain gaff free and come across as serious and knowledgeable she will succeed. How does the experience question really stack up between Palin and Obama? See chart here.

On the lighter side.

Sarah Palin’s finishing move in the VP debate will be pulling Biden’s still beating heart from his chest & taking a bite.

Sarah Palin will pry your Klondike bar from your cold dead fingers.

Sarah Palin doesn’t need a gun to hunt. She has been known to throw a bullet through an adult bull elk.

Sarah Palin was kicked off Survivor for killing a man and eating his entrails.

Sarah Palin makes Andrew Sullivan regret some key life choices.

Sarah Palin wears glasses lest her uncontrollable optic blasts slaughter everyone.

Sarah Palin’s son is going to Iraq after the Surge, because a Palin during the Surge would have been unfair.

Salmon Submissions:

Sarah Palin eats bald eagle for lunch because they taste better than spotted owl.

Sarah Palin aways brings a knife to a gun fight and WINS!

If something like this has shown up for Barry I'm not aware of it. Even the late night talk shows seem at a loss to put a human face on him. Since parody is the highest form of flattery certainly there is something in his persona that would lead to some lighthearted ribbing or is it too much like making fun of the short bus?