Sarah from Alaska – A Sneak Peek
There’s a sneak peek published now of one of the dozen or so books about Sarah Palin due to hit the shelves in the coming months. This one, with the unfortunate titleSarah from Alaska was written by Scott Conroy and Shushannah Walshe, and recounts the inside scoop of Palin’s VP candidacy. Here are some of my favorite parts.
In the middle of the room where hundreds upon hundreds of five-by-seven-inch note cards were spread out in two-foot-high stacks. Palin had been locked in there for hours, cramming for her debate against Joe Biden. The biggest test of the campaign was less than a week away. [snip]
On the heels of the first round of Katie Couric interviews, her margin for error was nonexistent. Joe Lieberman, a veteran of a previous vice presidential debate, had been brought in to give Palin an idea of what to expect.
Two foot high stacks of index cards? That’s a lot of cramming! I wonder if that’s where they discovered she thought Africa was a country? Maybe that was in the basic geography stack. And I also wonder if some member of the janitorial staff found a little index card that had fluttered under the table that said, “What do you read?” on one side, and “The New York Times, The Economist, The Anchorage Daily News and Le Monde” on the other side.
Oh, and thanks Joe. You’re the only reason I’m glad that Al Gore didn’t win. Well…. he did win, but you know what I mean.
Palin approached a small group of aides and made a pitch to start bringing up on the campaign trail Barack Obama’s ties to his controversial former preacher, Jeremiah Wright. John McCain wanted desperately to become the nation’s next president, but not at the expense of facing the inevitable accusations of racial exploitation if he made Wright an issue. She knew quite well about the decree that he had months earlier laid out to everyone involved in the campaign: no one was to touch the controversy. Still, Palin could not understand why she should be held to the rule
Oh, rules schmules. Those are for other people! Well, if she wasn’t allowed to bring up Jeremiah Wright, then I guess the “pallin’ around with terrorists” thing would just have to do.
“I just don’t want to go back to Alaska,” she said in an offhanded comment that would later seem prescient.
(My state collectively raises a frosty eyebrow) Oh, reeeeeally….. Well, I suppose if that were to happen, horror of horrors, she’d just have to…. oh, I dunno…. quit or something.
But here’s the kicker. Remember that speech that she wanted to deliver on election night? The one she kept asking to give and McCain kept saying no, and then she’d ask again, and he’d say no, and then she’d stomp her foot and ask again and finally he said, NO!!! That one? Well, guess what? We get to read it. And not only that speech, but the one (Gold help us) that she would have jumped up and down and asked to read if they had won. (involuntary shudder)
The text in full is at The Daily Beast, but here are some snippets for those of you who may have delicate constitutions and fell uncertain about being able to digest the whole thing. Do note, however, that the whole Alaska meme takes on a new flavor when the cameras are rolling.
NUGGEST FROM THE VICTORY SPEECH
We were ready, in defeat, to return to a place and a life we love. And I said to my husband Todd that it’s not a step down when he’s no longer Alaska’s “First Dude.” He will now be the first guy ever to become the “Second Dude.”
Had it gone the other way tonight, we would not have returned in sorrow to the great State of Alaska. We would have carried with us memories that are forever, and joyful experiences that do not depend on victory.
How could I ever forget a boy like Charlie, a fine young man we met at a rally in Florida who has Down Syndrome? Charlie and I swapped email addresses, and the last time he replied he said, “By the way, please don’t call me ‘darlin’—it’s not tough enough.” So, tonight, a special shout-out to you, Chuck…darlin.’
NUGGETS FROM THE CONCESSION SPEECH
As for my own family, well, it’s been quite a journey these past 69 days. And we are ready to return to a place and a life we love. I told my husband Todd to look at the upside: Now, at least, he can clear his schedule, and get ready for championship title number five in the Iron Dog snow machine race!
But far from returning to the great State of Alaska with any sense of sorrow, we will carry with us the best of memories… and joyful experiences that do not depend on victory.
America has made her choice. As for me, my convictions, my loyalties, and my hopes for this country remain the same. Now it is time for us go our way, neither bitter nor vanquished, but instead confident in the knowledge that there will be another day… and we may gather once more… and find new strength… and rise to fight again. Thank you all. May God protect, guide, and bless America!
It looks like the book might be a pretty interesting read. But I do have to admit, the full title makes me laugh a little. Sarah from Alaska – The Sudden Rise and Brutal Education of a New Conservative Superstar.
So… (rubbing temples really hard)… the lesson is that….when you….(chewing on pencil and looking at ceiling)…. volunteer to take a really important job, you…. um …. (deep breath)… need to know what you’re doing? Am I right? Whew. Yeah, that’s a pretty brutal lesson, alright.
•“If [Obama] governs America with the skill and grace we have often seen in him, and the greatness of which he is capable, we’re gonna be just fine.” Makes one wonder where exactly her head is,was.
The thing about Africa is actually not true. It was a prank by a faux reporter, trying to see if any of the networks actually fact-check before repeating made-up stuff. Apparently they don’t. The beauty of the prank, and the reason why it worked, was that it sounded totally plausible, that Palin wouldn’t know that Africa is a continent, not a country.
First she calls him every name under the sun (snark) then comes out with something like this.Though we all may think it is true it is hard to think after all she has said and done what she really thinks.
This is all so ‘you can’t make this stuff up’ ish. How do we get the worms back in the can? Saw a comment somewhere about ‘a lie with a capital Palin.’ Works for me.
Should i read this book?
Are you going to read it AKM?
If you do and say its good i will give it a try.
I want to read this book. Sounds interesting.
“Second Dude?’ blah.
As for NOT returning to Alaska in sorrow, she practically dragged her lip on the ground trying not to cry. That photo of her with it sticking out is hilarious.
Another thing.. the boy Charlie (she calls a young man) wrote “By the way, please don’t call me ‘darlin’—it’s not tough enough.” SO, Palin was going to do a shout out to this young man and still call him… darlin’.
Classic Palin, lack of respect for someone else’s wishes.
When is the book coming out?
The only smart thing McCain did, was not subject us to her concession speech. The TV channels (except Fox) would have cut away anyway, to cover the historic Chicago celebration of the first African-American President.
so far, 160 pages into the 283 page book – it is boring. The excerpts above — so far — are the most interesting. I am not unbiased, and feared her candidacy and never had anything but concern for our nation should the McCain/Palin ticket prevail.
I find that the authors constantly praise, excuse, defend, justify her actions. There are endless pages of highschool basketball detail, dull anecdotes and descriptions. It appears that the authors were at a very long arms reach from the candidate. The details in the book, up through page 160 are mostly old news. Save your money. Really, the above passages that have been released as excerpts are the most interesting.
Perhaps the last 120 pages will be interesting. Will let you all know.
The “Charlie” bit [from her (thank-God-it-she-didn't-get-to-deliver-it!) proposed Victory speech] made me want to throw up. How quintessentially S’arah; how nauseatingly S’arah. Ewwwww. beth.
–And I betcha she has an emoticon on the page, too, also, indicating she should wink at Charlie at that point of her delivery, too. And also.–
@mxm:
Thanks for taking one for the team. I salute you with my Fat Tire *clink*
In White House Vs. Fox News War Of Words, Who Gets Your Vote?
This article with the poll was sent to me by a dear sweet elderly Republican lady who is a huge fan of Fox News. I voted and you may want to check it out also.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2009/10/in_white_house_vs_fox_news_war.html
adreamarace you should send this back to her it may give her food for thought
http://www.relfe.com/media_can_legally_lie.html about faux noise and how they can embellish about any news they want to.Fox claims not to be a news station but an infotainment station only
*
I live in alaska I am a union officer, I have had to work with SP from the start .with sarah the learning curve is always vertical . At one meeting we were about to take off all our shoes and do a sock puppet theater to hold her attention . and explain the point so she might understand .
Oh no, Flex! Too, too funny!!
@flex gunship pailn
…had to work with SP from the start .with sarah the learning curve is always vertical . At one meeting we were about to take off all our shoes and do a sock puppet theater to hold her attention…
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lol…so, can you gather up a bunch of your pals with similar inside knowledge and write yourselves a factual book??? …before 2012!???!! much obliged
Oooh, that’s good stuff Flex! Share more please! Hee hee…
14 Lainey Says:
November 3rd, 2009 at 10:48 PM
@flex gunship pailn
…had to work with SP from the start .with sarah the learning curve is always vertical . At one meeting we were about to take off all our shoes and do a sock puppet theater to hold her attention…
——————–
lol…so, can you gather up a bunch of your pals with similar inside knowledge and write yourselves a factual book??? …before 2012!???!! much obliged
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sock Puppets for Stharah” on YouTube would be inspiring as well as educational for the 20% Club.
And a big humor hit for the rest of us.
“Oh, and thanks Joe. You’re the only reason I’m glad that Al Gore didn’t win. Well…. he did win, but you know what I mean.”
LOL
LOL AKM @ the “janitor finds dropped index card” bit.
Adreamarace should also send the friend some of the Jon Stewart &/or HuffPo pieces/video on Faux’ lies.
Sock Puppets? what fun!
I occasionally judge competitive speech at the high school level. I’ve seen better rhetoric out of fifteen-year-olds. There is literally nothing good I can think of to say about those speeches. Other than the fact that we didn’t have to hear either of them delivered.
Also, it seems that her speechwriter doesn’t know the difference between the country Colombia and Obama’s alma mater, Columbia University.
I’m not surprised to find some glowing bits of praise for Obama in her concession speech. Do you all remember the picture of her at the Alfalfa dinner, approaching Obama with a huge smile on her face, just radiating confident assurance that she was going to charm the hell out of him?
Once it was clear that he had won the election, and held the power of that office, of course she was ready to make a 180 degree turn from painting him as a scary bad guy to trying to see if she could smooth over her nasty rallies and make nice.
I think that one of the reasons she has risen so quickly to power is the ability to “turn on a dime” from an convincing display of warmth and charm to a cold ruthlessness once a person is no longer useful to her.
@flex, that was hilarious. Vertical learning curve….perfect!
@mxm: Thanks for the heads up and for taking one for the team.
As far as Palin’s praise of Obama in that speech. The next few days, she was back to saying he palled around with terrorists. I think it was when was on Larry King after the election and was still talking campaign stump speech trash and brought it up again.
She is a narcissist, but I really, really, really can’t believe she thought that she would be giving a victory speech. Unbelievable.
Only 69 days? It felt more like a century having to listen that screeching whine and deer in the headlights look when asked a question she was unable to follow or answer.
Only 69 days and we are left with having to deal with her for the rest of a lifetime.
From the moment she was tapped to suck in the Hillary voters this woman had designs on the ultimate role of being president. And I doubt she has given up that dream as yet. We are stuck with her forever in one form or another.
Thanks so much, John McCain. This is all your fault.
I am waiting for some people in Alaska who are still covering for Palin to get a wake up call and realize that they have been duped.
She wanted to leave Alaska via a direct path to the White House, and when that didn’t happen………….she quit.
When will they stop hiding her emails from the public, and covering for her financial disclosure omissions,etc.
I want to shake them and say, Wake up people, she isn’t taking you with her on her joy ride. She dumps everyone who is no longer useful to her. As soon as she is outta-there—she will no longer remember your name, let alone that you covered for her.
She is like the mean high school girl who gets the plain girl (or guy) to do her homework with the promise that they will be her new BFF. But, she dumps them as soon as she gets what she wants.
Sarah Palin is a fraud, always has been and always will be. There is not one shred of truth in her being.
“I just don’t want to go back to Alaska” – oh honey, we ALL knew that without being told. You saw the bright lights, heard the crowd call your name and couldn’t resist the siren call of fame, fame, fame.
Here’s my advice to Sarah Palin: learn a lesson from those sailors that listened to the siren call – their ships were dashed on the rocks. Keep this up and you’ll end up just like Kate Gosselin. Oh wait…
@trisha
…She wanted to leave Alaska via a direct path to the White House, and when that didn’t happen………….she quit…
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AFTER she abused her power and AFTER she got her free house!
Dowl: to get worms back into can, you have to get dirty, really get your hands dirty. I was pretty close there for a while wanting to try. But it’s about to rain and all the worms are going to drown. We now just need a shovel!
I do believe that she may have written those speeches herself. Pre ghost writer days. You can tell because they are so juvenile. Read on Huff that the McCain people we so afraid that she was going to deliver that speech they dimmed the lights on her & her family as the crowd was leaving. She is really something else. Thanks AKM & mxm for reading two books I won’t have to. I’m sure the high school basketball part must be fascinating.
To John McCain – thank you, thank you, thank you for not allowing her to speak. We applaud you thinking of what would be best for your country! OMG, at least a person wrote both speaches for her instead of letting her ramble on and on like she did when she quit.
Sarah’s speach is very well written.
So one of McCain’s empolyees who was assigned to Sarah, wrote her speeches and then probably passed the word along to the boss what was Ms Sarah had in mind.
One big reason McCain didn’t want the race card in his campaign was his own family’s back ground as slave owners.
There is still a family owned plantation, but now there is an interracial family reunion every year. With the descendants of owner and slaves and their various inter mixing have largelt reconciled.
John McCain has never been to the reunion.
I read about this during the campaign bu have no idea on what site I came across it.
Lainey, so true….so true.
Did Palin think it was a good thing to embarass that child on National TV (on election night when the world is watching). Especially since he asked her not to call him darlin’. Did she think that was funny? She is cruel.
But, if you look up NPD, you will see that it says people with this disorder have no empathy. It’s perfectly fitting.
NPD, defined as “a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and a lack of empathy.”[1]
Good grief, are those speech snippets for real? Hysterical and sad, all at the same time. And she has a journalism degree? U of Idaho (and the other 3-4 colleges she attended) must be so embarrassed.
Thanks for not making me read the whole speech AKM. Sarah has real talent. That excerpt made my ears bleed AND my stomach turn at the same time.
According to Sarah from Alaska, the speeches were written by her speech writer, Matthew Scully. Sarah worked with Matt to edit the speeches to that the were in her voice.
I just have to share with you all this comment I seen at another sight. Warning do not be taking a drink when you read.
I was hoping we had heard the last of Sarah and the Wasilla Chillbillies but I guess she’s a bit like herpes…we got ‘er for life!
Andrew Halcrow has a piece on the Frank Bailey book to come. Interesting.
The authors of ‘Sarah from Alaska’ will be interviewed on the Alan Colmes radio show on *swallows* Fox News Radio tonight 11/04/09…