Art’s Campaign Diary: Sarah Palin Wows Alaska!
Exclusive Palin video we shot with a tiny FLIP cam in Alaska last week
By Art Harris, The Bald Truth, (c) www.artharris.com, all rights reserved
It was too hot to be gorging on barbecued pork, as the noon day sun beat down on the tarmac at a private jetway across from Dulles National, but there we were snarfing all we could get, the Traveling Press, a pack of hyenas packing laptops and growling for fresh meat, a recipe too delish to ignore…
The only thing missing: Sen. John McCain’s homemade bbq sauce, with ingredients so classified only close friends and family have tasted it.
Ah, yes, remember The Day of The Pig, or pigs wearing lipstick last week, as Sen. Barack Obama flailed away, grasping for new pearls to neutralize his swine in makeup gaffe about Palin?
We were getting ready to board the Palin plane as Sen. McCain and wife Cindy hugged their rising Veep star, and the fetching lipstick pitbull and “First Dude” trotted up the stairs to our plane.
Across the runaway, McCain boarded the Straight Talk Express, and the Palin press corps hunkered down for a 10 hour, one-stop plane ride to her home turf, the wild, wild northwest of Alaska, where men are he-men, and Moose are dead meat when Sarah takes aim, her Dad, Chuck Heath, later tells me.
“She can shoot,” says the retired high school biology teacher whose home in Wallisa boasts wall to wall antlers, among them Big Game killed and dressed by none other than his frontier daughter, one of four kids he trained to survive in the wild. Good training for Alaska winters and tough politics; and Sarah, who grew up to be Gov. Palin, and now the GOP VP nominee.
“We can’t believe all this is happening,” his wife, Sally, told me at a GOP fundraiser at the Best Western on Lake Lucille.
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On board the Palin Express home, her staff makes sure we get no glimpse of her doings on board, protecting her privacy and mystique, sort of like a bride on her wedding day…they pull the curtain tight between her entourage and the press corps.
But senior advisers do wander back to talk about plans to keep her traveling with Sen. McCain and capitalize on her white hot pop cult appeal, as her Japanese eyeglass designer races to keep pace with the run on her hip, $375 lenses that evoke a sort of secretarial sexiness.
(I once interviewed a stripper who donned glasses on stage, and confided she got huge tips from lunchtime execs who said it made her look smart. The big difference: Palin IS smart.)
Whatever, it was part of the Palin magic, and if any journalist had a notion of peaking to see if she was wearing the clear, rectangular spectacles off stage, a dozen Secret Service agents, Glocks holstered but at the ready, were always there to remind us, sitting between her and us—-and us and the galley aft, symbolic seating some felt implied, we’d better sit down, strap in, shut up and maybe we’d get to eat.
For those from the lower 48, it was a research adventure, exploring the curious allure of a mother of five and runner up Miss Alaska (1984) who had upset the political ruling class of Alaska, including her own party, and registers high popularity among the thinly populated state that boasts well under a million residents who shrug, “we call her Sarah.”
The McCain braintrust are counting on that appeal to lasso millions of Walmart Moms; 18 million went for Sen. Hillary Clinton, and Palin has made a direct appeal to them. But no one has yet to pitch a simple question: how many governors have actually given money BACK to their citizens? Palin has.
What I kept hearing were folks who bragged that beyond a $2,000 annual energy dividend check every resident already received, Palin had negotiated another $1,200 payment from Big Oil to help with pricey heating oil for the coming winter months.
For a family of five, that’s $16,000 a year to make sub-zero life easier, not unlike some oil rich Middle Eastern nations that keep their citizens fat and happy with big bucks from all the oil they gouge us for. No wonder she’s popular. “I’m sending my daughter to college this year on all the dividend checks we saved for her, almost $50,000,” said an engineer who sat next to me on Alaska Air.
Reminded me of the Kuwaiti who told me he’d gotten a $200,000 grant to buy a home, like all citizens there where Sheiks actually share the wealth, like Alaska. He caught my shocked stare. “Doesn’t your government do it, too?”
Dude dropped that nugget on me just before I strapped on body armor to hang with the 2nd Marines light armored reconn unit as we crossed into Iraq during the 2003 invasion…Nice to remember what we were fighting for.
So naturally there was chemistry between Palin and her fans at the Anchorage send-off we attended last Saturday, and we got so close, we could smell her perfume, so close we were able to lob a question or two. Nothing too heavy. Who wants to be skunk at the garden party?
“What would you tell hockey Moms?” I asked.
“What would I tell hockey Moms?” she grinned, not missing a beat. “I’m for you, hockey Moms. And baseball Moms! And soccer Moms!”
She said she got energized when she came home to Alaska, sucking up on good vibes and clean air.
So, we give you Palin unfiltered; with more real people talking about her to come…
Check it out here, and let us know how you feel then and now, if your gut reflects the so called polls that suggest popularity slipping…and how you think she’ll do in the upcoming debates against saavy Sen. Joe Biden, who has a few years and a few million miles of extra international travel under his belt.
He’s playing down expectations of a knockout punch, as he should, conjuring humility, playing the politics of expectations. Anyone who knows Palin tells me they’re not counting Sarah out by a long shot.
“Don’t understimate her,” says her Dad.
September 20th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
My neighbor is a hunter and his wife won’t eat his ‘kill.’
He told her, “Those cows don’t even have a chance.”
September 20th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
OMG, are you trying to ‘buy’ a piece of ‘her?’
She’s owned by The Government.
Like a piece of land, no matter how hard you work and how how much you ‘pay’ it’s never enough.
Just like a bridge, who built it?
Nothings fair ‘cept love and taxes….
Can you imagine the reality of ‘Royalty?’
Even if you care for her and spend your life savings…those officials (reminds me of Indian Chiefs) own the clay and sand and dirt…
And Fossil Fuel, I guess.
Can’t beat ‘em join ‘em.
I think that’s Palin’s strategy!!!
September 21st, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Talking of Biden. Some of the focus on Sarah is too take the attention off him.
When will we hear about his son the lobbyist and the millions he got using his daddy?
He may have experience on national security, but boy does he have a horrible record on his positions on national security issues.
His suggestions on Iraq and his positions on Iran, please keep the man as far away from national security issues as possible!
The most important thing that is needed is good judgement, which Sarah and McCain have.
McCain’s advisors are also availabe to Saran, so this nonsens of her not having experience won’t fly.
September 21st, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Art it seems you managed to find some of the 80% who approve of Sarah.
The rest of the Obama media could only find the 20% who dissaprove LOL
September 21st, 2008 at 2:27 pm
One last thing Art before you ban me:
When that call comes at 3:00, I think Obama’s advisors would say to him “America’s chickens are coming home to roost!”
Or perhaps they would say to him “We regret they did not do more”
Scary don’t you think?
Since when does Oprah and Hollywood decide whose gonna be our president.
America go out there and vote and show them what you think of that!
September 21st, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Art your sublte belittling of Sarah does not go unnoticed.
Although I must say you are an excellent writer.
But as I said, I can forgive you anything. At least you stood up for one of the few real man in this US of A, Howard K Stern.
And you guys have to live with yourselves. I am amazed at how this Palin issue is exposing liberals for what they really are.
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:53 pm
sarafina,
I was wondering about your comment about, “…exposing liberals for what they really are.”
I think, they’re mostly young and idealistic…and as good as that is, guess it’s mostly just a dream.
I remember I used to be a Democrat, too!!!
September 22nd, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Great comments, Sarafina!
I wonder if Art will bother to cover the anti-Iran rally today at the UN supporting ISRAEL…you know, the one that disinvited Sarah because Hillary refused to show up.
This is ONE REGISTERED DEM that will vote McCain and that’s that.
September 22nd, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Sarafina,
Are you talking about the FBI investigation into Biden and his son? Isn’t it strange, you don’t hear one word of that. I had mentioned that a while back. Also you don’t hear anymore about John Edwards who denied that baby is his, but he wisked the mother and baby out of the country pronto and nothing more has been said ever since.
It’s so sickening that everyone raced up to Alaska to “dig the dirt” on Sarah. She’s about as clean as any politician can get. If these media yokels want to do the American people a big favor, they can start to bring out the REAL DIRT on these other politicians. But no, they are afraid to do that. They only feel safe hunting down “the weaker” sex, big men that they are. Well, I’ll tell you something, women are by far the stronger sex. We keep proving it over and over.
Can you imagine if Obama gets in, he’ll have the codes to the nukes? Isn’t that really comforting? Yikes!
September 29th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Anyone in Alaska would have 90-95 rating now that they get the free money givaway. The McCain campaign came up with the 80% themselves. There was a anti-Palin rally concerning her CHARGING WOMEN FOR A RAPE KIT. This is not the female we need representing in the USA.
September 30th, 2008 at 2:33 am
Rachelle, that isn’t why Sarah was disinvited.
September 30th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Flander Annapolis
I suppose the male we need representing the USA is the one (Obama) who created an environment conducive for infanticide.
September 30th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Rachelle
It is nice to see you again. I missed your understanding of the Democrats and why they do what they doLOL
September 30th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
I feel sorry sometimes, that perhaps we are too hard on Art.
But since he believes in freedom of speech and has a public blog, I pray he understands. I hate to always apologize, but I also hate to know I may have hurt someone.
Perhaps I should toughen up! Our country cannot afford 1 minute of Obama anywhere near the White House!!
October 1st, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Flander A
What is wrong with the people benefiting from the country’s natural resources, it is about time.
While other politicians would have lined their own pockets, Sarah actually distributed it to the people, talk about CHANGE!
Here is a qoute from the new Pakistani President to Greta on the very same issue (re Palin):
ZARDARI: I think she’s a very interesting lady, and she has a new formula, which is the Alaskan formula which I’ve been trying to tell my people back home, where you can go with the consent of the people and get to the natural resources and make sure that they get a better life from it, and the country benefits from it.
Go Sarah!
October 5th, 2008 at 2:39 am
Sarafina,
You have said nothing to apologize for! You are not being too hard on Art. He should be out there reporting on the really serious things that we have been finding out, but he isn’t. He drank the kool-aid and is in the tank for Obama. It’s the media who are giving this dangerous man a free ride to the White House, that are the ones who should be very ashamed of themselves. They are all falling all over themselves in order to serve him.
This all seems like some horror movie that everyone has changed to zombies and you think you can still get to some one, to save someone, only to find it’s too late, that they have drunk the kool-aid too. It really is frightening.
I’ve been reading that Obama has been snubbing African Americans and some of them are starting to protest. Good for them. Obama isn’t for anyone but Obama. He thinks he is some supreme being and is above everyone and everything. He is one very sick and dangerous puppy.
I’ve never seen anything so unbalanced in my life. I never thought I’d see the day when I’d be watching Fox. CNN and MSNBC are terrible! They do nothing but lie for Obama! Fox is getting more viewers than any of them, because they are the only ones who are trying to get to the truth. Glenn Beck is also not afraid to say what he thinks, but it’s only a matter of time that he’ll be able to do that.
Obama tried to get the NRA commercials off TV. I saw a copy of a letter his people sent to some TV stations threatening to have their license revoked. I saw John Voight today on CNN saying it was criminal to do what the media is doing by being biased and not presenting the facts about both candidates to the public so they can make an informed decision. The interviewer tried to cut him off, but he said, let me say this and proceeded to say it and I was cheering him. John Voight was blackballed by his peers because of being against Obama. I mean you just can’t be against this person, or you have to pay a big price.
October 6th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Joni,
You said if Obama gets in there, he’ll have the code to the nukes. Well, if McCain gets in there, he’ll forget the code to the nukes. LOL
October 7th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Joni, sometimes I think during his visits to Africa, Obama may have been to some witchdoctor. They cast all kinds of spells and can give you all kinds of power, and is still big in Africa.
This obsession with Obama and the free ride he gets, convinces me more that there is some evil powers behind this whole thing.
So those who still believe in the power of prayer should be praying very hard.
October 10th, 2008 at 3:36 am
Wow, I was searching for some ‘Fresh Air’ and never compared this to Santana…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EacQEhrbBQ&feature=related
Yet, they are the only 2 live concerts I’ve ever made it to, except for “The Righteous Brothers.”
I did almost make it to “3 Dog Night” but “The Cars Broke Down” and a real nice policeman rode us out of town, and show’d us how fast ‘his’ car could go, and I was the only one holding…talk about a scared kid…what a nightmare…but it was innocent stuff, nothin’ hard…and my boyfriend at the time was my steady date for goin’ on a year and he was a mennonite and wanted a great big family one day…THAT’S WHAT WAS REALLY SCARY!!!
October 10th, 2008 at 3:39 am
May God Bless This Lady!!!!