What the locals are saying about Gov. Sarah Palin

Jim Nabors as "Gomer Pyle" popular 1960's TV Show Gomer Pyle - USMC

Valley Trash T-Shirt from Wasilla, Alaska.

Gov. Sarah Palin and Husband Todd, holding thier son Trig Paxson Van Palin

Gov. Palin on the cover of Alaska, Feb, 2008 issue

Protest photo for actors being replaced by computer generated imaging (CGI) and artificial intelligence.

Well, all I could think of is a quote the great comedian, singer and actor, Jim Nabors playing his character, Gomer Pyle, "Surprise!, Surprise!, Surprise!," when I heard the news of Gov. Palin's nomination as McCain running mate.

Since the announcement I did some reading on what the local papers and bloggers think of their newly elected governor.

Here is a short list of what I have found:

Sarah Palin is very popular as the newly elected Governor with an 87% approval rating. However, in recent weeks the Anchorage Daily News, the main Alaskan newspaper of record, seems to feel the honeymoon was ending with Palin and her people. This maybe why she took the VP nomination.

As governor, she has led the fight for a new pipeline being built across the state. The question however was not, "to build or not to build," more so, who would build the pipeline. The day she was nominated for Vice President was also the day she signed the bill awarding the contract to TransCanada using Alaska state tax dollar subsidies. This story is not yet been discussed by the national press however, I believe that once the national and international press begin to look into her record.

"Troopergate," a hot topic already in the blogosphere is also heating up on the local level. I don't believe the national press has tried to interview any of the characters involved in this story, however, I do believe the McCain campaign is already prepared to handle this issue.

"Babygate," this story is actually more interesting to me than Troopergate, however, I believe the mainstream press will most likely stay away from this story. However, it is ripe for the Tabloid press, poperatzy, and shows like TMZ. This could be the story that everyone is thinking about, but nobody is talking about because of the completely bizarre accusations. Certainly the high schoolers and college folks will be rapped up in this soap opera because it involves Plain's 16 year old daughter Bristol.

"Husband Todd," he seems to be a nice enough person that no one talks bad about however, he is basically a lobbyist and has been for quite some time. His connections to big oil will probably been examined very closely and a popular topic for several stories, specifically stories regarding what is really going on in ANWR and the North Slope.

The forth story related to the previous three stories is Gov. Palin's campaign platform of "open and transparent" government which she has seemingly decided now to abandon. Other miner hits that may make into the headlines:

"Proud to be Valley Trash!" This headline is a reference to the Governor's hometown of Wasilla, AK. Gov. Palin apparently was seen wearing a T-shirt with this slogan on it. I am not so sure why she was wearing the T-Shirt but I think it has something to do with Wasilla's upscale mostly white population living outside of Anchorage. The Wasilla Chamber of Commerce features the fact that the town has one of the most educated populations in the country. That generally means to me the town is a hoity toity suburb enclave of the state's power elite (which may or may not be true). There is also a beer called Valley Trash Blonde Ale. This only national significance to this story is that it will be a hook to claim Gov. Palin is out-of-touch with real America as is John McCain, because she lives in an isolated elite community that pretends they are middle class like everyone else.

Fiscal irresponsibility debate. This seems to be an interesting issue among the locals because the general feeling is that Gov. Palin was lucky as a local mayor, who cut real estate taxes while expanding the town budget and spending enormously. Alaska as a state benefits greatly from high oil prices and this is seen why she was able to do this. The fear is however, if oil prices drop sharply, the government may get into trouble. Never the less, she is being accused of acting like a big government conservative. Gov. Palin and the Alaska National Guard. Palin is essentially being accused of age discrimination policy with the National Guard which has made her a target of ridicule of conservative talk show host and political hack, Andrew Halco.

Well, that is about all I have found out from the locals up there in the Great White North about Sarah Palin. Please feel free to add your comments.

P.S. I have not found any references to her being abducted by space aliens or spending time in a communist brain washing facility but there is a rumor that she is the last Cylon.

13 Votes
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2.6

{"commentId":2669286,"authorDomain":"l-j-evans"}

gigispen

From what I've read about and heard from SP, my gut reaction is -- Can you say SCOTT MCCLELLAN???

A perfectly nice; politically unsophisticated person who will be totally unaware of a plethora of secret agendas being advanced all around her.

Hopefully she'll fare better than Scott did...or GB as well for that matter. I still think that GB's basically a nice guy who listened to a lot of bad advice...

Absolutely. Yup. Yup. It's the TEAM that matters ...

{"commentId":2669286,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"l-j-evans"}

3 votes

#1 - Sun Aug 31, 2008 12:43 PM EDT

{"commentId":2669574,"authorDomain":"melonhead"}

Two points:

1. I would think that should there be a McCain presidency, and should he get seriously ill, the pressure on her to resign would be enormous. She was trotted out to appease the far-right religious element. She is a vote-getting gambit, impossible to take seriously as the "heartbeat away."

2. No on seems to have brought this up: what was a four month old premature baby doing in public? The kid was used as a prop during her introduction with no regard to his health. What I glean from her beauty queen background is that she knows how to impress an audience; that big smile, the perkiness, the baby, and the Earl Scheib makeup was pageantry, plain and simple. All we need now is the famous Miss America disclaimer: "Should our president be unable to fulfill his duties. . ." [here they draw closer and beam at each other] "the first runner-up" [a gasp, maybe a little anticipatory jumping up and down] "will become. . ." [the mind reels at the thought.]

{"commentId":2669574,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"melonhead"}

6 votes

#2 - Sun Aug 31, 2008 1:18 PM EDT

{"commentId":2669662,"authorDomain":"uncleandy"}

I think that is true, Sarah Palin's political star is rising and I think her nomination is a "win-win" for her career.

Doing the math, if McCain becomes president, there will be a lot of extra scrutiny on her because everyone will be waiting for McCain to keel over at any second. McCain himself will most likely delegate much of his work to her and the republicans will support her tremendously because they will want to put her on the top of the ticket in 2012.

If McCain loses, she will go back to being Governor and the republicans will groom her to run in 2012 anyway. As far Hillary supporters are concerned, everyone seems to think that they can replace Hillary with a look-a-like and the Hillary people will run right over to that campaign. That is the silliest nonsense I have ever seen. Just because person X or Y (Male or Female) likes Hillary does not have anything to do with her gender. Hillary supporters like her because of the fact they just like her and think she is smart enough to run the country better than anyone else. It is as simple as that. Putting Gov. Palin in a pant suit does not make her an automatic Hillary solution.

As far as my republican friends are concerned, they are pulling for Romney to be the VP, some almost sure of it. That fact that McCain pulled Palin's name out of the hat really took them by surprise. Frankly, they are just as worried as anyone about the economy and that issue alone is not considered McCain's strong suit. Romney was the most likely person to fix it for the republicans and I believe a lot of republicans still feel that way. That is why McCain did not get the bump in the polls he should have received from his announcement.

{"commentId":2669662,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"uncleandy"}

6 votes

#2.1 - Sun Aug 31, 2008 1:28 PM EDT

{"commentId":2669979,"authorDomain":"arcanebliss"}

arcanebliss

Well, the trolls are in full force at the moment. I was just emailed this picture... Yeah, I had the same reaction.

{"commentId":2669979,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"arcanebliss"}

7 votes

#2.2 - Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:01 PM EDT

{"commentId":2670059,"authorDomain":"zydor"}

Zydor

As far Hillary supporters are concerned, everyone seems to think that they can replace Hillary with a look-a-like and the Hillary people will run right over to that campaign.

Not a chance, one is pro-life, the other pro-choice. There would be blood letting, far from getting together to support her.

{"commentId":2670059,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"zydor"}

5 votes

#2.3 - Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:09 PM EDT

{"commentId":2670123,"authorDomain":"uncleandy"}

Hey, did Dick Cheney take that Picture on his last hunting trip?

{"commentId":2670123,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"uncleandy"}

3 votes

#2.4 - Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:16 PM EDT

{"commentId":2670327,"authorDomain":"uncleandy"}

Hey, Guns, Beer and bikinis and young men smoking, its good to be governor.

{"commentId":2670327,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"uncleandy"}

4 votes

#2.5 - Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:37 PM EDT

{"commentId":2670345,"authorDomain":"uncleandy"}

Sarah Palin is pro-life judging from the picture Arcanebliss posted in 2.2

The good life I would say.

{"commentId":2670345,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"uncleandy"}

3 votes

#2.6 - Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:39 PM EDT

{"commentId":2671479,"authorDomain":"melonhead"}

Hey, did Dick Cheney take that Picture on his last hunting trip?

Don't think so; nobody's wounded.

{"commentId":2671479,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"melonhead"}

2 votes

#2.7 - Sun Aug 31, 2008 4:34 PM EDT

{"commentId":2671538,"authorDomain":"holysandal"}

Holysandal

Good life? I think that's a Miller High Life.

{"commentId":2671538,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"holysandal"}

1 vote

#2.8 - Sun Aug 31, 2008 4:40 PM EDT

{"commentId":2673357,"authorDomain":"uncleandy"}

Well one thing is for sure, as President, she will make sure all our children can smoke, drink, and be merry with firearms.

{"commentId":2673357,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"uncleandy"}

3 votes

#2.9 - Sun Aug 31, 2008 7:36 PM EDT

{"commentId":2684274,"authorDomain":"concernedalaskan"}

There is no way she would resign...are you kidding?
She thinks she is qualified. She thinks she is doing God's work.
Mc Cain thinks we are winning the war. Bush thinks the economy is improving. She believes she is correct and will surround herself and the Supreme Court with unqualified extremists. God help us all!
And God Bless America!

{"commentId":2684274,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"concernedalaskan"}

1 vote

#2.10 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 5:39 PM EDT

{"commentId":2687935,"authorDomain":"uncleandy"}

I don't think the Republicans are that dumb.

The problem with Gov. Palin is not the Democrats, it is the Republicans. The Rep. Party has already written off this election cycle. They are rebuilding. They cannot have something like this set them back. She is becoming a liability more and more every day.

{"commentId":2687935,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"uncleandy"}

2 votes

#2.11 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 10:45 PM EDT

{"commentId":2669750,"authorDomain":"uncleandy"}

You also have to consider that the Republican Party is still star struck with her at the moment.

McCain now is already talking about cutting the Republican Convention short because of Hurricane Gustav which really makes no difference because no one was going to cover it anyway. Sorry Saint Paul, MN, I know that really sucks for you and all the hard work you put into throwing this shindig.

Bush, Cheney and all of the governors and congress people from the South have said they are not going either, because of the Hurricane. That means most of the lobbyist will not attend, because there won't be anyone there to lobby. I don't know how sincere they are being but my feeling is the weather is just an excuse to not be associated with anybody or anything that has the stigma of the Bush administration and the Republican Party on it.

{"commentId":2669750,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"uncleandy"}

1 vote

#3 - Sun Aug 31, 2008 1:37 PM EDT

{"commentId":2670610,"authorDomain":"fenced"}

fenced

Sweet! Republican party screwed New Orleans during a hurricane and now New Orleans gets to screw the Republican party!

On the serious side, I'm curious about something. The GOP Convention schedule shows Palin as a speaker (not a vp nominee) on Tuesday. On Wednesday the party nominates their VP selection but her name isn't mentioned. She also isn't mentioned as a speaker on the last day. You'd think they would update their schedule. Or do they have another surprise in store? Can Palin be rejected by the party as nominee for vp? I may not understand the procedure well since I've never really followed a presidential election this close before. If that's the case, forgive my ignorance.

{"commentId":2670610,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"fenced"}

3 votes

#4 - Sun Aug 31, 2008 3:04 PM EDT

{"commentId":2670750,"authorDomain":"concernedalaskan"}

Wasilla is far from an elite community!!!!
Please check it out on citydata.com!!!
Wasilla High School has a 30% dropout rate and growing! That is high school people!
Less than 15% have a bachelor's degree.
I am a transplant of 10 years and this place is 10 years behind the rest of America!
Look at our candidates for local office....right wing nut? You are in!
We have over 100 listings for churches in the phone book, just in this small area...can't serve more than 20,000 people and that does not count those on the way into Anchorage.
All the educated people live in Anchorage or small liberal towns scattered about.
Her education and experience, even if you include her PTA involvement, for God's sake does not even begin to compare. We need Obama's intellect and intelligence to lead his judgements for the country and the world.

{"commentId":2670750,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"concernedalaskan"}

4 votes

#5 - Sun Aug 31, 2008 3:18 PM EDT

{"commentId":2670818,"authorDomain":"uncleandy"}

Well, that is why I started this thread. I was reading what the Chamber of Commerce had on the Wasillla website.

What also peak my interest, and maybe you can help understand, what does the "Proud to be Valley Trash" campaign all about?

{"commentId":2670818,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"uncleandy"}

#5.1 - Sun Aug 31, 2008 3:24 PM EDT

{"commentId":2684391,"authorDomain":"concernedalaskan"}

Ben Stevens (Ted Stevens' son) made a reference to "valley trash" in a campaign.
In her run for Governor, after being a mayor of hillbilly Wasilla, excuse me.... Sarah Palin referred to herself as "valley trash standing in the middle of nowhere" as she campaigned on the importance of the bridge to nowhere while in Ketchican....
She promised the people of Gravina to support the bridge and as we text, they are spending lots and lots of money building a road to an empty beach instead of sending the money back to the federal government. Sad, huh?
You can find a front page story of this in Sunday's paper of The Anchorage Daily News.
I am sure there are a number of articles in the local papers with quotes and film clips that the Mc Cain camp has never bothered to investigate.
Hope this helps shed some light.

{"commentId":2684391,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"concernedalaskan"}

1 vote

#5.2 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 5:47 PM EDT

{"commentId":2687974,"authorDomain":"uncleandy"}

Thanks for the inside story. I just feel bad for the people in Alaska. We have feckless politicians here in Florida as well, but for the most part, most of the politicians in Central Florida are okay and look about for the interest of everyone. Of course, there are exceptions however, those people do not last very long.

{"commentId":2687974,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"uncleandy"}

#5.3 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 10:48 PM EDT

{"commentId":2688495,"authorDomain":"concernedalaskan"}

I believe it is not over.
Ben Stevens will be next to be indicted. His name came up on numerous FBI tapes during other bribery investigations that sent other Alaskan politicians to prison.

{"commentId":2688495,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"concernedalaskan"}

#5.4 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 11:25 PM EDT

{"commentId":2671466,"authorDomain":"melonhead"}

uncle— andy, apropos of nothing, you might want to put an underscoreor hyphen in your name - all day long I was was wondering who "unclean dy" was, to say nothing of why. ;)

{"commentId":2671466,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"melonhead"}

1 vote

#6 - Sun Aug 31, 2008 4:32 PM EDT

{"commentId":2673427,"authorDomain":"uncleandy"}

Urbane, i have discussed this before and the general feelings were to leave my screen name as it is. Thanks for thinking of me though.

{"commentId":2673427,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"uncleandy"}

#6.1 - Sun Aug 31, 2008 7:43 PM EDT

{"commentId":2676195,"authorDomain":"melonhead"}

s'OK - hadn't run across the discussion before. reminds me of an old a"Herman" cartoon - something about an incompetent sign painter - he painted "Key Pout."

{"commentId":2676195,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"melonhead"}

#6.2 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 12:18 AM EDT

{"commentId":2705021,"authorDomain":"bfbell"}

BB-375952

The picture posted by ARCANEBLIS is a doctored pictured, it is not Sarah Palin's body, just her head. He should have checked it out before he posted it. I find this outrageous and shouldn't be allowed. Go to snopes.com and see for yourself......

{"commentId":2705021,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"bfbell"}

#7 - Tue Sep 2, 2008 7:26 PM EDT

{"commentId":2705102,"authorDomain":"arcanebliss"}

arcanebliss

BB, I addressed the fact that a troll emailed me that picture. Did you not read?

{"commentId":2705102,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"arcanebliss"}

1 vote

#7.1 - Tue Sep 2, 2008 7:29 PM EDT

{"commentId":2705226,"authorDomain":"bfbell"}

BB-375952

I still don't think it is right for you to post it.

{"commentId":2705226,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"bfbell"}

#7.2 - Tue Sep 2, 2008 7:35 PM EDT

{"commentId":2707345,"authorDomain":"uncleandy"}

Well my friends, a great American once said, if you shove a microscope far enough up someone anal canal, you will find feces. I feel greatly that is what the Republicans want to find. She is not who they were looking for, good or ill, however, it is the fact of the matter.

As we speak, the Republicans are doing everything at their disposal to put Sarah Palin to rest. For everyone else, look out, because Romney is their guy.

{"commentId":2707345,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"uncleandy"}

2 votes

#7.3 - Tue Sep 2, 2008 9:26 PM EDT

{"commentId":2709137,"authorDomain":"bfbell"}

BB-375952

Well, there is no signs of it at the Convention.

I would have been for Romney had he been selected by John McCain, so that would not be the worst thing that could happen.

Leiberman is giving a great speech now about John McCain, and praising Sarah Palin. So a lot has got to happen to pull off what you are describing.

{"commentId":2709137,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"bfbell"}

#7.4 - Tue Sep 2, 2008 10:52 PM EDT

{"commentId":2707319,"authorDomain":"akcdj"}

akcdj

I am yet another concerned Alaskan, but one who is concerned as to why "Concerned Alaskan" remains as a resident of my state. I find the idea that all the intelligent people live in Anchorage a foolish and foolhardy thing to say. And the comment about all of Governor Palins experience added up not comparing to that of Senator Obama is simply ignorant. Do the math. She was in office before Obama, while he was actually "organizing communities" I believe they call it. I could go on, but why. If you don't research the facts behind your opinions, you are simply not worth the time. This state has been my home for 40 years, and I have a lot of respect for other Alaskans. I don't consider Concerned Alaskan a true Alaskan.

{"commentId":2707319,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"akcdj"}

1 vote

#8 - Tue Sep 2, 2008 9:24 PM EDT

{"commentId":2713845,"authorDomain":"concernedalaskan"}

I remain in this state because of the fact that there is 1 person per square mile, and I can find solitude when I want it. It is the place. As an American, I can live where I choose. I have only stated facts that you can check yourself according to statistics gathered from the census.
I did not make up the fact that 40% of students don't ever finish high school. I also did not make up the fact that more than 85% of the population in Wasilla did not go on to college. It is a simple statistic that is fact. There are universities in Anchorage and Fairbanks, so it is logical that more of the population would have furthered their education. You are correct, I should have said "more" of the people instead of "all" of the people. The number is increasing. I did support my data and you can find the information from testing data that school districts are required to report. Go to school review sites and it is all right there and also on citydata.com.
The reporter referred to Wasilla as an "elite" community. It is not. For example, the people of Wasilla often elect those to the school board who do not value education enough to get one themselves. It is easy to see the disproportional number of churches in the area. Open your phone book. Take the population and divide by the number of churches. I have plenty of respect for many Alaskans, however, I do not respect the parent who does not instill the importance of such a basic education and provide support for their children. I believe it is a civic duty. If you don't plan to walk your dog, don't get one. If you don't plan on raising your children, don't have any. I think it is great that you have been here 40 years. I am sure there are many experiences you have had that others may have missed, but the fact that this place is very different from the lower 48 is not an outrageous statement to make.
Sit back and enjoy the show. With the nation looking on her record, I am hopeful her history will come to light. She tried to fire the Wasilla librarian of many years as well as the police chief as mayor of Wasilla. She wanted to institute censorship in our library for material she did not approve of. In the end the police chief lost his job, but the librarian prevailed. Sound familiar? She also has ties to Ted Stevens who is the biggest "good ole' boy" of all . We have had 8 years of abuse of power by the Bush administration and this is not what we need to get America on the right track. And yes, that is only my opinion.

{"commentId":2713845,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"concernedalaskan"}

#8.1 - Wed Sep 3, 2008 4:30 AM EDT

{"commentId":2715779,"authorDomain":"uncleandy"}

Hey concerned Alaskan, if you had to guess, how many paramedics do you think Wasilla has?

{"commentId":2715779,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"uncleandy"}

1 vote

#8.2 - Wed Sep 3, 2008 9:34 AM EDT

{"commentId":2723958,"authorDomain":"concernedalaskan"}

Mat-Su site says 62 responders...not sure how many are classified as paramedics

{"commentId":2723958,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"concernedalaskan"}

#9 - Wed Sep 3, 2008 2:40 PM EDT

{"commentId":2751165,"authorDomain":"uncleandy"}

Thanks for the response. I was wondering because training paramedics is very expensive and one of the most difficult challenges to maintain in a small community. It is also very telling of the priorities of a local government.

{"commentId":2751165,"threadId":"344866","contentId":"1809178","authorDomain":"uncleandy"}

1 vote

#9.1 - Thu Sep 4, 2008 10:47 AM EDT

{"commentId":2760947,"authorDomain":"concernedalaskan"}