EDITED AND UPDATED POST. There were so many things flying around the MSM and the innernets for several days that I kept tinkering with this post to try to keep up with them. On later reflection I’m just leaving the bare bones here:
The reason for this post is to point you to a terrific blog called Mudflats: Tiptoeing through the muck of Alaskan politics. The blogger is an Alaskan, “a citizen who is paying attention.” He has deep coverage about McCain’s desperation Veep pick, the lovely erstwhile mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, one Sarah Palin. This picture is the “muckboots” on his blog; they were too cute not to share.
I hadn’t read his blog when I posted my “Tell me it’s a joke” plea below, but he writes that Alaskans were asking “Is this a joke?” when they heard the news. His first post after the news broke - “Sarah Palin? McCain’s Next Trophy Girl?” – is worth reading in full.y.
And there’s a hilarious list of reactions from Alaskans to the August Surprise.
Plus, below the fold you can read this about her “executive experience” as mayor of Wasilla.
Before her meteoric rise to political success as governor, just two short years ago Sarah Palin was the mayor of Wasilla. . . . Wasilla is the heart of the Alaska “Bible belt” and Sarah was raised amongst the tribe that believes creationism should be taught in our public schools, homosexuality is a sin, and life begins at conception. She’s a gun-toting, hang ‘em high conservative. . . . There is no doubt that McCain again is making a strategic choice to appeal to a particular demographic – fundamentalist right-wing gun-owning Christians. And Republican bloggers are already gushing about how she has ‘more executive experience’ than Obama does! Above is a picture of lovely downtown Wasilla, for those of you unfamiliar with the area. Behind the Mug-Shot Saloon (the first bar I visited when I moved to Alaska long ago) is a little strip mall. There are street signs in Wasilla with bullet holes in them. Wasilla has a population of about 5500 people, and 1979 occupied housing units. This is where your potential Vice President was two short years ago. Can you imagine her negotiating a nuclear non-proliferation treaty? Discussing foreign policy? Understanding non-Alaskan issues? Frankly, I don’t even know if she’s ever been out of the country. She may ‘get’ Alaska, but there are only a half a million people here. Don’t get me wrong….I love Alaska with all my heart. I’m just saying.
Wasilla has 1979 occupied housing units? Well, dayum! I’m on the Board of Managers of my condo homeowners’ association, and we have 437 housing units. Guess I’m on my way to being “qualified by experience” to be Vice President of the United States. Who knew?
