|
Sarah Palin: the one that got away
Posted Tuesday, September 2, 2008, at 1:44 PM<< Previous | Read comments | Respond | Email link | Next >>
I got started in this business writing for "The Blot," my school's once-a-semester-now-twice-a-semster magazine. The first piece I wrote was a profile on Amy Huddleston and it turned out well so I volunteered to write another profile on an alumni the next semester after whoever had it originally flaked out. The alumni piece is a pretty big deal for the magazine because not only is it a constant in the ever-changing magazine, but it gets the last page, the Rick Reilly page. My first choice was Jake Scott, a former walk on at Idaho who had just won the Super Bowl with the Colts. I was unable to get a hold of Scott after talking to his cousin, dad, high school football coach, the Colts media relations team and a couple of others. It turns out Payton Manning likes to send his o-line to Hawaii after the season sometimes, making it difficult to track him down. My editor, who scared (and still does) the heck out of me, told me to pick someone else since basically stalking Scott hadn't turned out so well. I decided since Alaska's governor had came out of pretty much no where to become the state's youngest and first female governor and was an Idaho grad with a journalism degree, she'd be a good choice. So I called the Alaska Statehouse and got transferred a few times until I got her press secretary. We played phone tag for a few days until we were able to reach each other and when I pitched her my story, she liked it and said she'd check with the governor. I was told the governor agreed to do the interview and we set up a time for it to occur. Except, she didn't call me at the agreed upon time. So I called the press secretary back a few times until I got her and she apologized and set up another phone interview, this time promising me the governor would call me in between flights the next day. That call didn't happen either and the press secretary stopped returning my calls. With my deadline quickly approaching and not wanting to feel the wrath of my editor, I had to once again pick someone else to write about. I ended up choosing a student advisor who grew up in a bus and stopped going to school in third grade but is now pursuing a master's degree. I also knew exactly where her office was, so I knew tracking her down wouldn't be a problem. The piece came out really well and I had forgotten about the experience until Friday morning when I got a text message telling me McCain had picked a woman to be his VP. I asked who and was told the governor of Alaska. I knew exactly who she was talking about, Sarah Palin. Man, I thought, how cool would it have been to have that story in my portfolio? Especially if she is in fact the first female vice president. Or should something happen to McCain and she becomes the 45th president, wouldn't it be awesome to pull that story out and be like, I interviewed a president or vice president before they got elected? I think so. And it sucks more knowing that I had set up two interviews with her and got stood up both times, so it's not one of those times I can say, "only if I'd...." No, I did all I could do to make it happen, even had it scheduled twice and she left me hanging both times. Palin will forever hold a special place in my heart as the interview that got away from me. As a result, I will forever hold my vote for McCain/Palin until she, or her press secretary, gives me a call. Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
Hot topics Countdown to Twilight(0 ~ 2:47 PM, Nov 17)
If you're going to Moscow this weekend, be warned
What Obama's win doesn't mean
Santa wrote me back and why Palin cost McCain the election
With eight day left, get to know who you are really voting for (and Santa's place in this election)
|
![[Feed icon]](http://www.mountainhomenews.com/images/icons/feed-icon-14x14.png){kind=icon}
What?..........nothing about her unwed pregnant daughter?
Ya know, as much as I don't like McCain, I've gotta give him credit for such a slick move. The Dems have been busy trying to dig up whatever dirt they could on Romney and a few others they THOUGHT he was gonna pick.
They clearly weren't ready for this. She and her husband lead a life that's right out of the pages of the American west. She sold the private jet assigned as a perk to the previous governor so the cost of the plane and its upkeep could be better spent for Alaska's taxpayers.
Her hunting abilities and NRA lifetime membership will draw gun owners everywhere. Being a "blue jeans or pantsuit mother of 5 may well draw a lot of women votes from Hillary supporters who feel angry and betrayed when Hillary was shut out from Obama's ticket.
I think the left is concerned..........very very concerned.................and as for digging up dirt, Joe Biden has 35 years in "Corrupt County, D.C." As with most "career politicians", he has an awful lot of moves, good bad or otherwise, to choose from. Sarah Palin does not.
This is gonna be really interesting, and if the libs are gonna find anything IMPORTANT on her, there're gonna have to step on it, because there's not a lot of time left to play with.
Personally, I think she's the best one on either ticket, and it saddens me that she has McCain for a partner.
Well youd definately get credit for trying. Your intent is well recieved. But who says McCain will win? Id like to see a woman president, but what does she really stand for? Thats the real question.
Well, she stands for the Constitution, something that separates her from everyone ELSE on the 2 tickets.
More importantly, she isn't a longstanding member of the Washington "elite.".............meaning, she doesn't come from the "Corrupt Club" already on Capitol Hill. She's not one of THEM. That would just about be reason enough to support her.
For the record, I'm an oldtime Reagan Republican. I have absolutely no use for John McCain, Obama or Biden, but since he has chosen an actual Reoublican to run with him, I feel a tad bit better about the overall ticket.
I'd rather see a Paul/Palin ticket, or a Romney/Palin ticket, though. But unless the Democrats can do a better job of dirt digging than an unwed 17 year old (which isn't unusual at all today, in most American families), I think they're gonna be in trouble in November, and it will come from 2 major factions:
1. Gun owners. Obama now talks about PROTECTING the 2nd Amendment, (because he needs votes), but HE HAS VOTED for confiscation, complete shutdown of arms manufacturers and ammunition makers. His idea of comprimise is a 500% sales tax on all rifle and handgun ammunition. John McCain tried to get gunshows closed in Arizona and was almost recalled, so he's not much better. Biden too, like most Democrats is an avid and outspoken anti-gunner.................Sarah Palin field dresses her own game and is a lifetime NRA member.
Gun owners will now back the McCain ticket if for no other reason, to make sure she's in the "On-Deck Circle" should something happen to HIM.
And..........number 2. There is fear now within the left that Palin will pull a lot of uncommitted votes from women and other Hillary supporters, who fully expected Obama to choose HER as his running mate. Having a woman in the White House (even as a VP) is as important a statement for some people as having an Afro-American in there for others. I suspect their presence is going to be felt before this is over.
I'm not saying this will do it for McCain, but these are 2 very significant groups of voters who have PROVEN in the past.....as groups we'd better take seriously.