The morning after.
The Palin speech.
I like her, I really, really like her! I liked the speech - it was an excellent performance - but now she has to go through the inquisition by the press and voters. And in case you are wondering - that usually involves questions and statements churchy people don’t like to hear. Politics brings out the ugly in everyone. If you watched the RNC speeches - you know how nasty it can get - and the “booing” - how irritating was that?
Sarah Palin reminds me of a woman I once worked with, Barb was her name - sort of a hockey mom who also worked, and set high goals for herself. Barb was divorced, had two children, smoked dope at one time, went hunting with her boyfriend, with whom she also lived - she wore glasses - and attended a non-denominational church. She is now president of a huge company - big, big company. I lost touch with her of course, after she ascended the stairway to success…
So, anyway, Sarah Palin reminds me of my friend Barb - she is a normal woman from a common background, like many average American women who attended college.
Now my East-side St. Paul friends - who now live in the suburbs (just like a lot of other St. Ambrose parishioners) - they have a different opinion. You first have to understand that we were all raised Democrats - it is in our bones. Just looking at a Republican makes us want to lunge and beat the crap out of them - not really - but we do have visceral reactions that we have learned to control. Anyway - it is hard for people like us - no matter how well educated we are, or how far out in the suburbs we live, or what mega church we attend - Novus Ordo Catholic or non-denominational, to get that gut feeling out of our system.
Yeah, so a poll of my lifelong friends concerning Sarah Palin came up with these results:
1) So what’s the deal with her daughter being pregnant?
2) She believes the war in Iraq is God’s will.
3) If she has a kid with Downs Syndrome - why isn’t she home with him? Pro-life means for life - doesn’t it?
4) McCain may not make it through if he is elected - so how can she take over the presidency?
5) Would she start a nuclear war with Iran… because it is God’s will and Islam is evil?
6) Who the hell is she?
I know - I know! The questions all sound pretty much like what I’ve been asking myself. My friends warmed my heart… You see, writing this blog, and reading some others, and especially the comments people leave, got me thinking - Maybe I am nuts. But my friends reassured me that I haven’t forgotten who I am - and that I don’t know who you are.
So yeah - I like Sarah a lot. I liked her from the start. But when you are from the East-side of St. Paul, you grow up tough, and you ask questions, and you never trust politicians or churchy types. Never.
Two months before the election - there is still time to decide.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:12 am
I have a similar reaction to GOP types most times as your friends do, but I like Gov. Palin too. I just wish she wasn’t a Republican! Which makes no sense whatever, because I’m a Canadian and can’t vote! But whatever, she’s much more appealing than Hillary Clinton — and I hope she continues the refreshing honesty and simplicity that marked her speech last night. You go, Sarah! And her family is beautiful, especially the littlest guy — I just wanted to hug him, and his slightly older sister! After the pomposity of Obama and Co., the genuineness of the Palin family (including her parents) is truly different. It’s gonna be an interesting couple of months — hold on to your hats, folks!
September 4th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Patricia - I agree - Sarah Palin’s family is beautiful - very inspiring. I loved the littlest one as well, it was “pass the baby” night at the RNC.
It is easy to see the difference between Obama and his abortion advocacy and the McCain/Palin ticket pro-life, pro-family, pro-normal platform. It is tempting to call it the difference between good and evil, and I suppose it is.
It will be an interesting 2 months however - and probably agonizing.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Terry you wrote:
Now my East-side St. Paul friends - who now live in the suburbs (just like a lot of other St. Ambrose parishioners) - they have a different opinion. You first have to understand that we were all raised Democrats - it is in our bones. Just looking at a Republican makes us want to lunge and beat the crap out of them - not really - but we do have visceral reactions that we have learned to control.
I just loved that statement about politcs in St. Paul. I grew up in the more conservative end of St. Paul which is now so uber liberal. Being a republican in St. Paul is such a losing cause.
Vote early and often. I have Chicago bloods in veins!
Kate
September 4th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Tina “Yummy” Fey: grrrrrrrrrrr:0)
I think spending the next few months living under the microscope will reveal more details about Palin’s character, as well her conduct as an administrator. I think highly of her, and her appeal might actually have surpassed John McCain’s popularity.
I really want to see her in the White House.
It’s wrong for people to criticize her for supposedly not focusing all her attention on her disabled infant son due to the V.P.’s job demands, and subsequent implication of hypocrisy between being pro-life and full-time diplomat. I would remind those critics that she does have a man by her side who hopefully doesn’t have to be told to get off his butt and help with the kids and other miscellaneous responsibilities. What professional, paying occupation will he have if she’s the bread winner in the family? Sit around and drink beer? I think not.
Help with the kids, Todd!
Don’t I sound like a feminist?? YUCK!
September 4th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Actually, I think that Sarah has tremendous support from her husband and family - and soon she will have a new son-in-law to help too. I like the littlest girl, smoothing the baby’s hair with her saliva - that was cute.
September 4th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
WHY
GOD
MADE
LIPSTICK
or
Palin-”pit-bull” Red
If I cry
The whole day long,
They say that I
Must be more strong.
If I’m hard
And I am strong,
They say that
That, is very wrong.
And if I birth
Till I am poor,
I must be stu —
pid, that’s for sure.
And making money,
Saving cash?
They say that I
Am much too brash.
Then if I laugh,
When I am witty,
I am crude,
It is a pity.
And if I pout
And look quite sour,
I’m a stubborn,
Sullen, dour.
When confessing,
Stutter, halt…
Yes, you guessed,
It’s all my fault.
If life throws me
An awful curve,
It is a pain
That I deserve.
So makeup on
Oh, yes, it goes.
Perfumed head
To perfumed toes.
‘Cause lipstick’s red,
And red, rouge paint,
Will make ya what…
Ya think you ain’t!
(possibly a vice-president ;-)her thinking is more Catholic than Biden’s or Pelosi’s!!)
September 4th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
” …I like the littlest girl, smoothing the baby’s hair with her saliva…” -T.N.
My son cracked up laughing with that one. He thought it was great …
September 4th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
I like her, too. I’ve never said that about a politician before. And yeah…she’s a politician. But I DO think she’s real, and I think being from Alaska has “preserved” her and made her tough, both. It’s kept her real.
And her family will keep her real.
What I DON’T like is the double standard being applied ONLY to her.
I saw someone in a blog today criticize Republicans, saying if she was Democrat, the conservatives would be tearing her daughter apart, and her, for being pregnant. But I disagree; I think that most R’s and convervatives would simply say that the 17 year old is a kid, she sinned, and thank God she’s having the baby…just what they’re sying now. And they’d let it go, if they even addressed it at all.
One thing I will say about Obama himself…he’s kept his criticism for Palin herself, not her family. I can’t stand Obama and shudder to think of him as our President, at least he’s got more class than his followers as a whole and the media.
September 4th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Hey Terry, thanks for the chance to think on this. The questions again and for what ever it’s worth my answers:
1) So what’s the deal with her daughter being pregnant?
Why does this matter? They are supporting life and that is not synonymous with winking at sin unlike the Dems who say a little pill saves all ill.
2) She believes the war in Iraq is God’s will.
I missed that, verbatim that is. I’d be happy to see our Canadians stop dying for America’s war though.
3) If she has a kid with Downs Syndrome - why isn’t she home with him? Pro-life means for life - doesn’t it?
If she was a man running for VP would anyone even ask that question? Seems sexist.
4) McCain may not make it through if he is elected - so how can she take over the presidency?
Time will tell won’t it? Can she do worse than the megalOmaniac?
5) Would she start a nuclear war with Iran… because it is God’s will and Islam is evil?
She actually has brain cells and has proven to be able to use them thus far.
6) Who the hell is she?
Who the hell is Obama? We already know more about her than him.
Like Patricia I am Canadian and can’t vote in your election Terry but if I could I would and I know where the vote would go.
September 4th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Owen - just between you and me - I’m listening to John McCain as I write this…
Let me tell you! - This country has never had two people more qualified or deserving of executive office than John McCain and Sarah Palin.
(I never fit in anywhere - LOL!)