Bark's off the birch for Palin in hometown

[n2doc]

Wasilla, Alaska --
Sarah Palin may be raking in $100,000-plus speaking fees in Lower 48 hotspots like Turlock -- as rumor has it -- but back in her Alaska hometown of Wasilla, the bloom is off the rose.

The Associated Press

Or in her case, the bark is off the birch, which is one of main trees surrounding her spacious estate on the shore of Lucille Lake, which right now looks about as winter-bleak as her reputation in the ol' hometown. Compared to her glory days, at least.

Across the highway from Palin's house, the giddy gung-ho spirit that filled the Mug-Shot Saloon's conservative clientele back when their local gal was running for vice president has turned into sheepish shakes of the head and cluckings of the tongue. She had the bar hoisting glasses and cheering as she carved national renown for Alaska on the 2008 campaign trail, but when she came back many thought she never really came back. At least in a fully engaged way.

When she abandoned the governor's post last summer and hit the cash-laden speaker's circuit, that tore it.

"She took an oath, and she broke it," growled lifetime Wasilla man Jeff Laub, 51, gripping a Miller in his left hand as he leaned against a wall in the Mug-Shot. "Anyone who puts her hand on the Bible and swears an oath ought to keep it. That's that. "She's not getting my vote again."



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