A pig roast and a Palin rally – what a week

I have been absent for several weeks – due entirely to having spent the month of August in Denali working for a raft company.  I had hopes to re-start this blog with a few fun stories about our end-of-the-year party, featuring a pig roast and general firecracker debauchery.

Instead, I get to jump back into the blogosphere with a few fun stories from the rally last night welcoming Palin back to Alaska.

In some ways, the two events are not so dissimilar. Both involved being surrounded by Palin-supporters, as well as, a lot of waiting around with various people stoking the fire, followed up by a lot of noise and short-lived bright sparks.

In truth, I enjoy rallies of any kind. The energy of the crowd energizes me and I love to see the passion people whip up amongst themselves about something – anything.  Palin was the starlet last night and I was happy to have the chance to witness it.  And before anyone jumps down my throat for bringing up “pig” and “Palin” in the same blog post, please know that I’m not calling her a pig. I like Palin – but not for this country’s vice president.  Besides, it was the GOP calling her a pig last night:

Even my grandpa noticed it.  He turns 97 at the end of the month and was watching the Palin rally events unfold live on his TV from his room at a Rushville, Neb. assisted living home (he calls is “jail”).  I imagine him sitting in his chair, with his Jack Russell terrier Scottie on the couch nearby, and scanning the crowd for his only Alaskan granddaughter.  He didn’t see me, but when he called he did ask: “what’s the deal with this pig reference?”

I chuckled and explained the Obama comment that’s been swirling the national media.

Clearly, it was an attempt to reclaim the alleged insult from the Obama camp, but somehow I just don’t think it works in the same way that feminists have been able to reclaim “bitch” or “cunt.”  Palin’s description of herself as a “pitbull with lipstick” always makes me chuckle too – maybe because I have a pit mix and many people hate her because of it (especially parents with small children). Besides, my dog would be banned in some big U.S. cities.  And in reality, most people who know pitbulls agree that the only ones that are truly dogs to be afraid of are the ones who are raised to fight.  Is this all really the metaphor we are looking for to describe a candidate for vice president? Weird, if you ask me. Weird.

But whatever, I was proud when my grandpa asked me “so are you still with me? With Obama?” My grandpa, a lifelong Democrat in a red, red state probably never thought he’d be voting for a black man for president… but that is an entirely separate blog post.

Back to last night.

The best line of the night was delivered by the emcee… I’m not sure who he was, but I assumed he was a Fairbanks Republican Party leader.  (Since I am no longer a reporter, I have the luxury of soaking up other details at events like these rather than names).  He pointed out the crowd was full of moose hunters, following it with the punch line: “It is a good night to be a moose in Alaska.”

I thought it was clever.

The emcee then tried to get the crowd riled up with various forms of chanting “Palin-McCain” so that we could all welcome her warmly when her plane landed on the tarmac. In truth, it sounded awkward – the “Mc” in McCain seems to get lost.  When Palin did arrive, this emcee tried to start the chant, but people seemed more interested in just shouting “Say-rah! Say-rah!” I can’t blame them. It sounds much better.

The rally was held in an airport hangar, allowing for a more dramatic arrival by Palin and her family… the welcome home to the beloved leader, now an international starlet, flying in on a giant plane with her name plastered on the side. The weather was nice, the crowd was excited and even though she was late, no one seemed to care.  Here they are waiting:

And here, trying to catch a glimpse:

Me too:

When she did arrive,the Kenny Loggins’ song “Danger Zone” (from Top Gun) was playing in the background.

Notwithstanding the weird choice of song, I have to admit that Palin’s arrival did give me a bit of the chills.  Her story truly is remarkable and being the emotional sap that I am, I can’t help but be drawn to the Cinderella rise.  But the vice presidency (not to mention presidency) is a serious job and not a place for fairy tales.  But it is a good place for inspiration.  Having covered local politics in a few communities, I find it fascinating how many people are out there who want to get involved, but are too intimidated by the system – or somehow think it is more complicated than it really is – to actually jump in the fray.  I hope that what Palin’s story does is inspire others to get out and involved in local politics. So inspirational? Yes. VP ready? I don’t think so.

I do get irritated with conservatives who think that somehow it is “liberal media bias” to blame for wanting to ask questions about her level of experience – and preparedness.  Granted, there is tact in asking such questions, but this country has roughly two months to get to know the views/intentions/knowledge of a woman who could potentially become the most powerful person in the world.  And like young superstar Katie Holmes, Sarah is trapped in a weird world of brainwashing. I want Sarah freed from the grasps of the McCain campaign to speak her mind!  Let her go McCain! Let her go!  Her extreme views on social issues need to be understood. What are her intentions – other than being the diving board upon which McCain hopes to use to jump into the presidency?

Not surprisingly, Palin’s speech was a re-hash of the things that she has already said.  There were lots of cheers when she mentioned drilling for oil. She also made a few jokes, once referencing the bumper sticker that reads something to the effect of “Alaska: where men are men and women win the Iditarod.”  It was a shout out obviously to Susan Butcher, but not in any sort of context that actually made sense.  Besides, I thought that was a little weird, especially considering Fairbanks is the home of Lance Mackey (another wtf moment from last night).  But it got cheers.

Outside the gates of this pretty awesome rally, where the energy and excitement level was high and happy, the protesters with signs were doing their thing.

Now, if it were me – and if I were a Palin supporter – I’d be jazzed up from the event and leave with a smile on my face. I probably wouldn’t even notice the protesters outside.  But as the rally-goers exited, a few comments were tossed out that showed how Alaskans don’t like to back down from a fight – and also don’t know how to be graceful when your team has the clear advantage.

Besides the “fuck you’s” and flip-offs, a few of my favorite snide comments were:

“I hope you don’t ever need any oil” and “shoot polar bears!”

I love Alaskans and think they might rank up there with the “most friendly people in the world.”  But when it comes to speaking their minds, Alaskans are among the meanest I’ve ever met.  I’m not sure how to explain it, but I have felt this ever since I moved to this great state almost two years ago.  Maybe that’s why Palin feels it is OK to call herself a pitbull.

In the end – or at least on Nov. 4 – I guess we’ll find out how that attitude resonates with the rest of the country.

And stay tuned, hopefully my next post will be about my first pig roast.