Alaskans Cringe After Month of Listening to Palin

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated Press

Alaskans cringe after month of listening to Palin

By Matt Volz
Associated Press Writer / October 2, 2008

ANCHORAGE, Alaska—Alaskans' two-year honeymoon with Gov. Sarah Palin may have ended around the time the Republican vice presidential candidate started saying that she told Congress "thanks but no thanks" on the Bridge to Nowhere.

The line brought cheers on the campaign trail but drew winces back home among those who knew Palin had supported the $400 million Ketchikan bridge and only turned against it after Washington backed off its financing. "I think people went a little bit like Homer Simpson -- 'D'oh!'" said Ivan Moore, a pollster who has tracked a drop in Palin's popularity in Alaska since she was named Republican presidential candidate John McCain's running mate on Aug. 29. Most people in Alaska are staunch defenders of Palin and say that she has represented the state well during a month in the national spotlight. They are proud of how she has handled herself in her rapid ascent from small-town mayor to Alaska governor to vice presidential nominee.

But they now cringe when Palin opens her mouth. Most are surprised at how their usually confident governor has foundered in interviews, giving rambling answers that, like the Bridge to Nowhere line, either go against their own recollections or end up lampooned in "Saturday Night Live" skits and by the hosts of late-night talk shows.

On the eve of Thursday's vice presidential debate, they wondered whether the former beauty pageant contestant will once more look like she's in over her head or if she can acquit herself against one of the most proficient debaters in the Senate, Democratic nominee Joe Biden. "I'm very hopeful that she doesn't embarrass us worse than she already has," said Mark Barnhill, a 53-year-old building inspector from Anchorage. "A lot of the mistakes she's made are plain old rookie mistakes and I don't expect to see much from her other than more of that."

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/10/02/alaskans_cringe_after_month_of_listening_to_palin/?rss_id=Boston.com%20--%20Latest%20news

[sattahipdeep]

1. They are proud? James Dobson Texas-based legal arm

The legislators suing to stop the investigation are also being represented by the Liberty Legal Institute, the Texas-based legal arm of the Free Market Foundation, which is associated with evangelical leader James Dobson's Focus on the Family and lists its guiding principles as limited government and promotion of Judeo-Christian values.

By SEAN COCKERHAM
Published: October 2nd, 2008

http://www.adn.com/troopergate/story/543414.html

[qanda]

2. "I'm very hopeful that she doesn't embarrass us worse than she already has,"

A hope that John McCain and the Republicans share.

[krkaufman]

9. That guy expressed what I was thinking ...

... that Palin may be embarrassing Alaskans, and somewhat rightly so. (A little like Minnesotans could be embarrassed by having voted for Jesse the Body.)

I'm beginning to wonder if Palin's jumping onto the McCain ticket may have effectively killed her political future. Had she remained in Alaska, she might have had another few years as governor under her belt, and a chance to get up-to-speed on national issues. Unless something drastic happens between now and Nov. 4th, the McCain/Palin ticket is going down and Palin's performance is a big part of the reason why. And it's going to be hard for her to overcome this first impression she's left with the American public.

[Justice]

15. I believe it has killed her political future.

[gratuitous]

11. Isn't that a great campaign slogan?

I'm guessing McThuselah's campaign will adopt it soon: "McCain/Palin: They couldn't possibly be more embarrassing than they've already been, can they?"

[Gap Spanner]

3. In over her head

When is she going to realize that she's way over her head on the national stage? Sure, as a small town mayor, she did okay. And in a small state where people all carry guns and think voting for a beauty queen with a gun is just fine she fit right in.

But her confidence is gone as she realizes that Alaska is not the same as Washington, or the rest of the country.

Every time I'm in Anchorage I am reminded that the world is divided into two halves, 'Alaska' and 'Outside.'

Welcome 'Outside' Sarah - methinks it's a bit colder here than you're used to.

[SammyWinstonJack]

4. bu$h was in over his head, still is, as a matter of fact.

[Kali]

10. twice!

:scared: by all logic that idiot would never have been pres. THAT is what scares me about mcsame and tundra barbie.

[smb]

5. How About Some Soothing Music?

http://www.youtube.com/v/r0OZ9W2K_z0

[stlsaxman]

13. she spoiled her embrasure when she smiled for the camera between lines...

i'd bet she does the same when she stops to look up at Todd.

:evilgrin:

[AlexDeLarge]

6. It's AP, the wire service version of Faux News

"Most people in Alaska are staunch defenders of Palin and say that she has represented the state well during a month in the national spotlight."

"Most people", wonder if that means it's like the "split" Obama/McSame impromptu poll done by the Faux News commentator in this link:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/01/the-fox-news-ethos-summar_n_130969.html

[LynnTheDem]

7. Ya luv her coz she's "just like you"...and then you realize...

WOW you are some dumb idiot!

And that's just kinda embarrassing, you betcha.

[Bhaisahab]

14. heh heh!

nice :)

[riona]

8. I'll take a wait and see attitude

I'm waiting to see if the voters will see (or care about) the difference between experience and memorization. W's reelection was an eye opener for me. Clearly too many voters have a convoluted idea of what makes a good leader. Apparently, intelligence and elitism are now synonymous so that's pretty much ignored as a qualification. However, the perception of "being one of us" is near the top of the list. I won't even go into the other absurd reasons.

[OakCliffDem]

12. Alaskans hope she gets elected, so they can get rid of her. n/t