Jack & Jill Politics

rikyrah: From HuffPost:

ELITIST??

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/04/cindy-...

Cost of Cindy's Mon. Night Little FROCK - $300,000!!!

Did it LOOK like that??? :>) :>) :>) I think she got taken!! Coulda bought a "knock-off"!! :>) :>)

I'm just sayin' . . . .

rikyrah: Arianna Huffinton UPDATES her VIDEO DIARY:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffingto...

A good comeback would be an ad showing community organizers helping people after Katrina....With the tag Bush and his cronies (show the Bush-McCain cake shot) left you on your own to battle Katrina, it is community organizers that helped you re-build.
The DNC would like to honor community organizers for caring about the common man NOT their own pockets......

Imagine....

Imagine the local judge in your city who has a reputation for "zero-tolerance" for drug pushers getting busted with 2 kilos of cocaine....HYPOCRISY

Imagine the well-respected drug counselor of your community ending up in the ER with a heroin dose.....HYPOCRISY

Imagine the Director of Social Services being indicted for child abuse and neglect...HYPOCRISY

Imagine the well-known pastor in the community being caught engaging in cult-like devil worshipping....HYPOCRISY

Imagine a female Republican politician who feels it is her duty to only approve abstinence-only sex education, while she has a 17-year old pregnant and unmarried daughter....HYPOCRISY

And yet, we cannot talk about it because it's her family, a private matter---even though she wants to pass on her beliefs to govern the private affairs of our families

If people don't not wake up and realize the politicizing of faith by these so-called "family-values Republicans," we will not only have our choices stripped away, we will start to accept this hypocrisy...It's dangerous y'all

OK, one five letter word keeps coming to my my mind over and over again. And no, its not PENIS. If you haven't guessed yet, I'll tell you - it's IRONY! I mean, isn't it a bit ironical that the commentariat et al are showering platitudes in the GOP prop, Sarah Palin, after the delivery of just ONE SPEECH? And, this is after almost 2 years of deriding and belittling Obama that he is just an 'empty suit' who can deliver 'soaring rhetoric' only with the 'use of a teleprompter'?

Man, I'm speechless by the incongruity of this situation.

I think I may have listened to a very different speech from everybody else. Seriously. Sure, she didn't appear to stumble, but please tell me something - what exactly is so brilliant about delivering well-crafted insults in such an amateurish fashion(facial expressions and all, you know, the slight scrunching of the nose etc.)?

What exactly is so brilliant about a speech that is laced with sarcasm, cynicism, and outright lies, but one that falls well short of making a sincere effort to address the concerns of the American people?

What exactly is so brilliant about demeaning the efforts of a man, and many Americans like him, who CHOSE to forfeit a life that guaranteed certain wealth(relative, in order to advocate for his community and improve the lives of the poorest among us?

Does the GOP have any idea what a 'community organizer does? Well, if they don't, I'll be happy to tell 'em. IT IS NOT ONLY MILITARY PEOPLE WHO SERVE THEIR COUNTRY.

Community organizers just don't work in organizing people come election time, you know. As one blogger so succintly stated, "most of them work with people that have fallen behind on their bills and are trying to avoid losing their home; they teach people how to budget; hey fight against pay-day lending and advance income-tax rebates and check cashing joints, and other forms of legalized usury; they rally people against crime and drug trafficking and gun violence in their neighborhoods; they fight to keep local parks open and to open local health clinics for the uninsured; they teach people how to speak English and how to use computers; they do job placement and drug and alcohol counseling; they take care of abused woman and children; they organize to clean up garbage and vacant lots, etc".

Senator Barack Obama, and many like him, sacrifice and FIGHT, EVERYDAY, to make the lives of the down-trodden better. And, because of that, he is a hero. I take umbrage to the belittling of his SACRIFICE and his SERVICE for the common good of this country. This should spark an absolute outrage. But, alas, it is not. I wonder, WHY?

As for the blatant lies that were delivered with such glibness? Bridge to No where? Obama's tax plans? Listen, I DARE the GOP to release Sarah Prop Palin to the press? If she is experienced and 'brilliant'(PUHLEEZE) send her out to the press corps NOW and have her respond to random questions. NO? Yeah, I can see why. I listened to the speech as I did something else last night(actually watched it later), I only turned to look a couple of times. One of those times was as she was reciting the foreign policy lines. The reason that I turned to look is that it was probably the only time I detected uncertainty in her voice. Almost as though she was saying to herself" I cannot f**k this part up; I gotta get this part right". LOL!

Release her to the press corps now, McBush! I dare ya!

T.

I completely agree with what you said...the condescending tone from the RNC was disgustingly repugnant and watching the MSM gush about how brilliant this woman was after one speech but yet for almost two years they have belittled Barack for his oratory skills.

T: You "SAY THAT"!!!! :>)

CO_SIGNING on ALL points!! WELL SAID!!! :>) :>) :>)

"This should spark an absolute outrage. But, alas, it is not. I wonder, WHY? "


Um, because nobody knows what the f*ck a "community organizer" is or does?

I'm not trying to be funny about that, but most people who aren't community organizers or who don't use the services of community organizers don't know what a "community organizer" is. They don't know that the person teaching immigrants how to speak English is a community organizer. They don't know that the local "Citizens Against Crime" group is community organizing. They don't know that the Wasilla Church of God gathering coats for the poor is community organizing. They don't know that the PTA is community organizing.

So the Dem. 527s and PR people need to start focusing on community organizers and community organizing in terms that Joe Doe in Boondocks understands. "Community organizer" needs to be a Dem. talking point, just like "presumptious" and "arrogant" were Rep. talking points.

There needs to be sad faced surburban PTA moms out there saying "Why is Sarah Palin picking on us?"

There needs to be advocates of children out there saying "Why is Sarah Palin picking on us?"

Co-sign

Um, because nobody knows what the f*ck a "community organizer" is or does?

I'm not trying to be funny about that, but most people who aren't community organizers or who don't use the services of community organizers don't know what a "community organizer" is.

And that means that McCain, Palin and their GOP cohorts are out of touch with the regular salt of the earth people that they claim they are so in tune with.

Exactly. So what's needed here is community organizers to get riled up against McPain. There needs to be ads with sad faced surburban white women with bowl hair cuts and Halloween sweaters saying "I'm a member of the PTA. PTA members are community organizers. Why is Sarah Palin picking on us?"

Or a Red Cross volunteer saying "I'm a community organizer. I helped people in New Orleans after Katrina and I'm helping people today after Gustav when the Republicans wouldn't. Why is Sarah Palin picking on me?"

And they need to run those kinds of ads often.

I like attacks on all sides. Obama can be forceful yet polite. The supermarket magazines read by regular folk focus on the dirt. Surrogates use dirt and facts and we should call talk shows and write letters to newspapers. I also hope we have a dirty tricks squad out there. And let us not underestimate the Netroots supporting OBAMA and the fact that his numbers are way up despite the fact that cell phone users are not polled and are overwhelmingly Obama supporters. I feel confident.

Here are your leftist talking points in response to Sarah Palin’s speech. They fall into three main categories:

1. “Look over there!”: Ha, ha, Bristol’s boyfriend is marrying her but he doesn’t really want to! It’s a shotgun wedding!

If you go to some of these sites, it seems like this is all they’ve got. Pathetic, really. Even as mere comedy it doesn’t work.

Cretins like this don’t get links.

2. Sexism (of course): My, that’s a lovely speech she gave — but she didn’t write it!

This is true. As it happens, I have met Matthew Scully, the man who wrote tonight’s speech. He’s a hell of a nice guy. He and I spent an afternoon some weeks back addressing some schoolkids about what we do for a living.

He is a Republican, an environmentalist, and a vegan. He loved the fact that my wife and 8-year-old daughter are both vegetarians on principle. (The boy, by contrast, likes his meat — like Daddy.)

(Why the organizer thought it would be a good idea to couple him (a guy who has written speeches for Presidents and interacted with them on a daily basis) with me (a podunk blogger and a local prosecutor), I have no idea. But I wasn’t complaining. It was fascinating listening to his stories.)

But here’s the thing. Who wrote Joe Biden’s speech?

For some reason, nobody asks this question.

By the way: I fooled you there, didn’t I? You thought I was going to ask: “Who wrote Barack Obama’s speech?” Because for some reason, Our Vice-Presidential nominee keeps getting compared to their Presidential nominee. It’s the weirdest thing, but everyone keeps doing it . . . on both sides of the political spectrum.

But I’m going to be stubborn here, and compare apples to apples — even if I’m comparing a deliciously tart (soon-to-be) Granny Smith with a fur-encrusted, smarmy old Braeburn.

Anyway, do you know who wrote Biden’s speech? I don’t — but I’m fairly confident that Biden didn’t write it, since 1) politicians never write their own speeches, and 2) Biden, of all people, seems to have a special problem coming up with his own words . . .

Ask yourself: why was every talking head tonight emphasizing the fact that Sarah Palin’s speech was written by a speechwriter? I’m happy to see Matt get his props, but it is a little odd, no?

3. Accidental honesty: Peggy Noonan and Mike Murphy talked on a hot mike about how the Palin nomination is a disaster. Here’s how the L.A. Times Top of the Ticket Blog puts it:

Murphy terms the Palin pick “cynical;” Noonan says it means the race is “over” (and presumably not in a favorable way for her party).

Well, yes and no. Or at least, yes and possibly no.

Here’s the thing. They clearly do discuss the fact — and it’s a fact — that Palin is not the Most Qualified Candidate (or even the Most Qualified Woman).

That is, depending on your definition of “Qualified.”

Does Sarah Palin have the best combination of personal qualities and life story to help John McCain win? I think she does.

It reminds me of how, in a narrow sense, Clarence Thomas was not the most “Qualified” Supreme Court nominee, in the sense that people thought Bush Sr. meant when he made that claim. But what if he meant something different? What if he meant: this is the right candidate at the right time — someone who I can count on to be the type of nominee I want him to be; who won’t shift with the prevailing winds; whose principles line up with mine?

In that sense, Clarence Thomas may well have been the Most Qualified Candidate — and he has certainly turned out to be a fine Justice. Some say the best (I still like Nino, but Thomas runs a close second, and sometimes edges Nino out).

Similarly, in a very real sense, I think Sarah Palin was the Most Qualified Candidate in terms of providing the mix of characteristics that John McCain needs to win. She provides energy, excitement, and charisma — and backs it up with strong principles, a Reaganesque optimism, sunny confidence, and unwavering competence.

Some people might call it “cynical” to seek out that mix of attributes — and it appears clear that Murphy (whom I have nothing against; I have also met him, and like him a lot) and Noonan were doing that. Admittedly so.

But this other part — the part where Noonan supposedly says “It’s over” with reference to McCain’s campaign — well, Noonan doesn’t use the word “race” when she says it’s over. And she says that’s not what she meant in context. She gives a detailed explanation here.

Now, the question is: is that explanation 1) spin to cover up an embarrassingly honest opinion — 2) a true account of what she meant? To me it has the ring of truth, but consider this:

I find it veeeerrrrrry strange that the context is missing. That whatever anonymous person provided this diced-up clip to news organizations, apparently deliberately omitted a good deal of the discussion that immediately preceded the “it’s over” comment. Is there a reason for this omission? I suspect there was.

After watching Gov. Palin’s speech tonight, however, I’m not even worried about whether Noonan is trying to cover her tracks or not. I’m more inclined to go along with the response of the McCain camp on this:

“Who cares?”

So those are your talking points. Here’s my conclusion:

I’ve been very pessimistic about this race. I have bets with two people against a McCain victory. I still think I’ll collect. I’m a pessimist. I admire optimists, but I’m not one of them.

But for the first time, folks, I actually think I might not collect on those bets.

For the first time, I actually think we just might win. I’m not saying we will. But we might.

And hey. That’s a good feeling.

The irony is that for months we've been hearing that Obama is a rock star that can only give a good speech and now Palin is being described as a rock star who gave one speech that she didn't write and that didn't include any substantive policy positions. Yet, we didn't hear a meaningful critique and part of the reason is that the bar is so low for her. To hear Mika Brzezinski (sp.) defend the emptiness of her rhetoric with "she has five kids" is truly disheartening and to watch Campbell Brown and Gloria Borger unable to offer a substantive analysis of her speech is mystifying. She didn't mention creationism, abortion, the economy, or anything else besides the constant reiteration of her hockey mom status and her constant disrespect for Obama. The saddest irony is that the party who supposedly puts country first really only cares about winning and has taken no responsibility for the mess we are in, at home or abroad. Judging by the speeches, one would assume that there had been a Democrat in the White House for the last eight years.
The media loved the story because this white woman finally got a chance to put the smart, uppity black guy in his place. She got up to proudly state that he is not one of us and we all know what that means. She disrespected and dismissed this man as someone beneath her notice who wasn't worthy of her even mentioning him by name and not one person on CNN mentioned that fact.
The decision is clear in November and I hope the Dems clearly articulate this point, the future of our nation depends on this election. That is not hyperbole. McCain/Palin represent a worldview that transports this country back to the 1950's and we all have history books and know what that period was like for us. Just as we couldn't imagine 8 years ago that our much vaunted constitutional rights would be systematically eroded by Bush, we must imagine the damage that the right wing extremists at the heart of this ticket could do to us as a nation and more particularly to us as a people. I'm sure that no one missed the absolute silence that greeted Mike Huckabee when he began to talk a little about the historic nature of Obama's candidacy and I didn't miss the disdainful look on the faces of the Republicans in that audience. The Democrats are clearly looking at a big tent philosophy and after last night I'm convinced that the Republicans are looking at the white sheet philosophy.

" For the first time, I actually think we just might win. I’m not saying we will. But we might.

And hey. That’s a good feeling."


Which will promptly be dashed by McCain's boring and dry delivery tonight.

100 points for you!

One good commercial would be to get some mom from Moosejaw with a pregnant daughter of handicapped to let people know Palin cut her support. Obama needs to create pictures. Of course the Klan wing of the Evangelicals were never voting for O. but I am thinking of the unschooled white lady at the 7-11.

GREAT POST craig. everybody go read that

Craig,

glad to see someone express so compellingly the blessing in disguise that Sarah Palin has become to progressives. She's not just firing up their base. She's firing up OUR base.

The 'Pubs threw the gauntlet down last night, making it clear that this is their America and you can't play. It laid bare the real key to this election -- organizing the base and turning out voters.

My hope going forward is that Obama/Biden recognize the red herrings that will be coming fast and furious from McCain/Palen's increasingly desperate campaign. Her lack of qualifications don't matter. It's about keep our base fired up rather than chasing the center. If we keep our base organized and fired up the center will find its way.

Who is in the center? Who are independents?

I'm sure all it would take for Palin to be qualified in your eyes is to have a (D) after her name.......

I actually think she's qualified for what the 'Pubs want her for--to represent the "Left Behind" portion of the party. I, for one, do not the question her qualifications to do that. The question is, will a majority of Americans vote for this wingnut? I know I won't.

One thing we risk, in all the hub-bub over Palin's snarky "speech", is the vainglorious return of ROO-DEE (he's a hero, in case you didn't know) to public life. After hearing the former Mayor's speech (and were you aware that he battled terrorists on the streets of NYC on 9/11?) I am strongly considering leaving my Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (in Columbia, SC) and joining some apocalyptic Christian sect.

Why, you may ask?

Evidently, I got it all wrong. The notion that God's grace shines on us all like the sun--that's so outta here. Because when Rudi Gulliani is championing small towns and taking jabs at sexism--and this is a man whose extramarital affairs are legend in NY of all places for the outright contempt he showed his family--that's GOT to be a sign of the coming apocalypse. Any man who would risk being struck by lightening standing alone on a stage like that has got to be on the side of righteousness, doesn't he?

I said the same thing! This champion of women's rights was dating his current wife while he was still Mayor and married to Donna Hanover. He was even bringing her to Gracie Mansion until his former wife got a court order banning the trollop from being in her house! But oh yeah, 9/11 grants him a pass on all that.

Wasilla: The Meth Capital Of Alaska
04 Sep 2008 09:37 am

More background on the social problems of the home-town of Sarah Palin:

In 2003, authorities uncovered nine meth labs in the area. Last year, the number increased to 42, said Kyle Young, an investigator with the troopers who works with the Mat-Su narcotics team.

Officials with the Office of Children's Services in Wasilla said the problem affects children. The office receives about 40 calls a month from people reporting abuse or neglect involving some aspect of the highly addictive drug...
When authorities surrounded a converted bus housing a meth operation in Big Lake in January, a 13-year-old boy who answered the door bragged that his mom cooked the best meth in the valley, according to the troopers.

During a 2003 bust at a house outside Wasilla, officers discovered five children living inside, all younger than 8 years old.

The calls about meth to children's services in Wasilla accounts for as many as 40 percent of the agency's total monthly child protection calls.

*arches a brow*

Interesting ... the hits keep on coming. Gotta love that apple pie, family values and small town living ... eh?

rikyrah: THANK YOU!!!

And there you are!! :>) :>)

Might there be a NEED for COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS in soooo many areas??? YES!!!

Social Worker, MA Support Groups, church/synagogue/religious institution Support Groups. Foster Parents, Jack-n-Jill facilities [ :>) ], Salvation Army [and similar volunteer groups], YMCA's and volunteers, Soup Kitchens, Homeless Shelters, etc,
UNITE to provide services to affected people!!

COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS UNITE!!! CALL OUT "McAncient" and HIS ELITIST Repugs!!! :>)

We need to start revealing the lies she has been touting about herself and accomplishments back home--home is where her credibility is. Then we dissect her policy.

From now on, when a Democrat says "But what if McCain drops dead on his first day in office?!?!?!" I'm going to say "dude -- don't tease me like that."

I think the best policy with Trolls is to ignore them. Let them post but do not respond. They will eventually leave.

You are right, especially since most of them have nothing unique or interesting to say that hasn't been copied and pasted from elsewhere.

delfinajones: Good POINT!!!! :>) :>)

I just spent the past 30 minutes listening to 3 white women in my office discuss Saracuda. 1 is a strong Republican so I expected her to like the speech, 1 is a Democrat and the other I'm not sure of but she's made favorable remarks about Obama throughout this election season.

All three of them just FLOVED Sarah Palin. Thought she did a good job and was spunky in taking on the men. It was only after they spent 25 minutes raving about Sarah that they said "I wonder what her position on the issues are?"

So this is what we're up against. I suspect many (white) women who are not strong Obama supporters will see Spunky Sarah, see her as a MOM "just like them", ignore the issues, and think she's just swell and be tempted to pull that lever for McCain-Palin in Nov.

Barack and Joe CANNOT come directly at Sarah because Hillary has already pulled the Miss Ann act and Sarah and the GOP have straight up told us they will be pulling the Miss Ann act if she is challenged in any way. This is where female surrogates come in. Claire McCaskill and Kathleen Sebelius better strap on their boots and get ready to attack. The logical attack dog to shut Saracuda down would be Hillary Clinton but as I said last night, Hillary is probably sipping on some Crown Royal and writing out a check to Sarah as we speak.

Town: Good points!!! Co-signing on your COUNTER-STRATEGIES!!! :>)

"I suspect many (white) women. . see her as a MOM 'just like them'. . ."


Therein lies the PROBLEM FOR ME - the Gov. DOES NOT LOOK LIKE ME!!! And my children DID NOT play soccer or hockey!! Son - swimming/diving; daughter - track!! The Gov's VISUAL DOES NOT FIT ME!!

But the "WHITE SEA" - They were eye-to-eye!! :>) :>) "Sun glasses, please!" :>)

LAWD Ha Mercy on the ". . sipping on some Crown Royal. . . " :>) :>) :>)LOL!!

They may have had favorable views of her but did they will vote for McCain because of her.

They may have had favorable views of her but did they say will vote for McCain because of her. That's what I would I like to know.

I think Palin will give the push needed for those leaning towards McCain anyway. She will also attract interest among suburban white women who see her as a "MOM" just like them and will consider voting for her on that basis alone.

As much as we like to say "Once people know the facts blah blah blah", the fact is most people are low information in general and so whatever the narrative is, that's what they believe. Perception is reality. John Kerry found that out the hard way.

The ReThugs have straight up said for the past week:

We will no longer be discussing the issues. The only issue is Obama and his wife being unfit and unworthy of occupying the White House;

If you challenge Sarah Palin in ANY way, we will call you a sexist;

We are going to laugh at and belittle every aspect of Obama's wife. I wouldn't be surprised to see Sarah Palin personally going after Michelle Obama and how she raises Sasha and Malia on the slick tip.

That's Sarah Palin's job and she's going to do it well.

I think we have enough time before the election and enough bad bad items on Palin, that her speech will fade. It is just fresh and new. We need to hit the public with the meth labs, the millions in deficit in her small town and the 62% cut in aid.

Lets have commercials on what community service has done. Remember those commercials a few years ago with Morgan and Susan Sarandon having swum at the Y when they were kids? Lets show community spirit during floods and tornadoes, most white people understand those catastrophes.

Yes, sir. thanks for your commentary. After hearing her speech I realized that McCain made a duplicitously genius pick in Palin. And the MSM was shaking in their boots after the cries of sexism.

Right now the Rethugs have the dramatic momentum. I was very afraid after last's night's speech.

Remember--she didn't write her speech and she was a sportscaster--of course she can follow a teleprompter. I expected she could pull that much off. Now what does O. have up his sleeve?

yeah, he needs to bring the momentum back.

JJ,

It's been one speech, one night. It's not the end of the world. Do you really believe most people are that clueless? I think many people out there don't buy the okey doke ... how could they? This woman is woefully out of her league.

She's on the fringes ... and a bad sitcom.

Attacking community organizers finally proves one thing: REPUBLICANS HATE POOR PEOPLE.

For decades we've heard Republicans rant about how poor people need to pull themselves up by their bootstraps rather than wait for government to give a handout.

But once poor communities start coming together and taking charge of their own destinies, along comes the Republican Party to ridicule their leaders as "not having actual responsibilities."

So this whole thing about personal responsibility was a ruse, after all. They don't hate irresponsible poor people. They hate all poor people.

(I guess I lied that this was my last word on community organizers)

Might I add that Ms. Palin compares her taxpayer-funded job as mayor favorably to community organizers with no "actual responsibilities"? Whatever happened to private citizens seeking private solutions to their own problems? I guess the GOP isn't the party for private solutions any more. They're not the party of ANY solutions anymore.

I like what you say about community organizers, so post again on it if you have more points. Remember, repitition actually works!

:-)

GOP like the democrats aint got a clue and all that jargon about country first Sound like an air freshener

Still can't get over the bitchiness of her tone. As a professional woman, I'm not heartened or encouraged to see one of my own ~ in the broadest sense ~ acting like a high school twit.

What I heard from her was the kind of snotty, biting, meeeoooowwwww bullshit men are always putting us down for.

And that smug little smile after each zinger? Heaven help us, but it reminds me of the biggest idiot in the history of the republic, George Bush, who after he delivers something he thinks particularly cute, pulls back just a bit and smirks.

Please, Lord, no. Not this team, not this time. We cannot survive another four years of these people.

And along the same line, how does the party of big business, the party of lobbyists, the party of I-got-mine-so-fuck-you manage to convince the People that they're populists?

And the hypocrisy???? Good heavens! Her husband's A UNION MAN! And her party thinks unions are Satan's tools!

She talked against lobbyists and yet she hired lobbyists in her little town to bring in something like $27 million ~ a town of 9,000 ~ in (oops!) congressional earmarks and federal monies.

And wait! She gave back $1200 a year to Alaskan taxpayers? Because it was theirs? But meanwhile she has a hired lobbyist in Washington trying to siphon money from the rest of us?

What happened to the up-by-the-bootstraps take-care-of-our-own mentality of the republicans right there?

Of course, all of that succumbs to the urge for easy money and she couldn't resist it any more than the rest of those bastards can. She just lies about it now.

I'm waiting for Obama's response today and to see what the Dems do. We need surrogates out in full force with the facts and then some. Facts only work
with some demographics if they are dessed in colorful anecdotes, stories. Where is Hillary?Palin has used her as a shield.

My final word (today) on Community Organizers before my head explodes from Hate. Wow, are they good at peddling hate!

Anderkoo blog -- includes the full story that taritac wanted to hear, about the McCain supporter who wasn't.

Roland... Roland... Roland...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGWthR7vdfI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHIGk9H8WBk&feat...


Has Obama "chosen" to surround himself with non-Black surrogates? I ask because I keep thinking about how it's the legitimized radical right wing of Republicans that drives the strongest attacks against Democrats and how I know I wouldn't pull any punches attacking Repubs/conservatives.

IMO, nobody knows like Black people know in terms of how to make strong attacks...

The strongest black Obama surrogate has been Michelle Bernard, who is not a Democrat. Everyone else has been very weak. He needs to hire Roland Martin as a surrogate.

Here's a story with comments by people in Alaska who know Sarah.
Key comment:

NO ONE up here that I know - beside “bumper sticker citz” think Sarah is ready for - heck, the Senate, let alone VP or the White House. It’s truly crazy.