My Palin Encounter

What first struck me about Sarah Palin is that she is a tiny woman. Slim and athletic but also small in stature. There is something about her though, that makes her seem bigger than life. A kind of radiant energy that draws you in, that kind of welcomes you.

I had waited all afternoon the day before and all night in freezing temperatures with about 400 of my newest friends just to get a 10 or 15 second audience with the latest star on the GOP circuit and to get my two copies of "Going Rogue" signed.

The wait or buildup to Sarah's arrival was exciting. Folks from all over the country assembled in the Borders parking lot.

Nichole, drove in from Kansas to meet her cousin, Stephanie who flew in from Utah to join us in Springfield. Nichole and Stephanie were both passionate and well informed. They had numerous media interviews throughout the event. They were great! Joel and his father, Bob, came up from Arkansas. Bob had some information to pass on to Sarah and he and Joel were first in line. Linda and I camped out side by side. Linda, a precious Godly woman whose joy and conviction was a testimony to everyone around her.

Jim and Deb drove their daughter, Mindy from Kansas City to Springfield. Mindy had asked for "Going Rogue" for Christmas. They did one better and accompanied her to the book signing. They allowed me to join them for dinner along with Deb's sister Lori. They were so sweet and friendly.

All night long folks arrived and a tent city began to emerge in the parking lot. They sat around fire pits (until the security guards shut them down) and enjoyed each others fellowship like a big winter camping trip. It was peaceful and although it was freezing cold no one complained. We were all of one kindred spirit.

TGI Fridays, which was next door allowed us all to use their restrooms until they closed at 1:30am. They even brought us coffee and hot chocolate several times throughout the night. Great food, great folks! One of the supporters worked at Beautyfirst a few doors down, she graciously unlocked the doors of her business to allow us to use their restrooms. The manager of Borders, Gary Selby , came in at 5:00am, even though the store did not open until 7:00am. He opened their doors early to allow us to use their restroom and to warm up. He was very concerned about our welfare and I can't say enough about his kindness. I love living in the Ozarks!! People here are so nice!!

At seven a.m., they allowed the first 100 or so of us in to wait in line. It was in the warm bookstore that the fatigue finally hit us. Some even fell asleep on the floor but when Sarah finally arrived, we were all at attention.

I was among the first to get my books signed. My exchange with Sarah Palin went like this:

ME: Hi Sarah! We are praying for you.
SARAH PALIN: Thank you for that covering. What is your name?
(extending her hand to me)
ME: I'm Patty.
(accepting her hand. She has a very firm handshake.)
SARAH PALIN: Are you from around here?
ME: Yes, I live near here.
SARAH PALIN: This is a beautiful place.
ME: It really is a wonderful place to live.
SARAH PALIN: Thank you for coming
ME: Thank you.

I walked away, wishing I had used my 10 seconds to say something more profound, when a hand was thrust in my direction. "Hi, I'm Sarah's Dad," I shook his hand and looked up into the friendly, smiling face of Chuck Heath. I told him I was happy to meet him. I wanted to say that he had raised a remarkable daughter but another enthusiastic hand was offered. "And I'm aunt Katie!," the very attractive woman said. I told her it was nice to meet her and I meant it.

As I rounded the corner, I joined the giddy group that made it through the line. They excitedly related their conversations with Sarah like they had just met a rock star. As I exited the bookstore, I gave thumbs up to those still in line outside as it was evident that they were going to get their books signed. I was happy to see that my friend, Robbie was close to the entrance. That meant she would get in, too.

I found out later that Sarah stayed more than one hour later than expected and signed every one's books.

I thanked God as I drove home for the new friends I had met, and for Sarah Palin and her family. I prayed for their safety. I thought especially about the brief exchange I shared with Sarah Palin. I thought it curious that she asked my name. I heard she asks everyone for their name. It isn't like she'll ever see me again. If I ever do get a chance to see her, she will not remember me, "Patty, from the book signing, right?". Why would she bother? Just to move along a conversation with a awe struck supporter? Just to be nice?

It then hit me, like a great secret revealed. By asking my name, Sarah Palin conveyed to me that she saw me as a person, a person whose name mattered, not merely a number or a voter or a fan. A God created individual who was important in the grander scheme of things.

This is the magic of Sarah Palin. Think I am reading too much into her question?
Well, I guess you had to be there...

Waiting for Sarah

This is what the KY3 political reporter, David Cantonese blogged about me after he and I had a little (friendly) debate in front of the Springfield, Missouri Borders the night before the Sarah Palin Book signing:


Dixon, a middle-aged Nixa wife and mother of a daughter, who sat in line over night at Borders bookstore, explained that she'd be willing to bet on Palin -- flaws and all -- over other pols, because she's, well . . . ordinary.

Dixon relishes the unlikely rise of a woman who is living the dream: An ambitious thirst for a public career balanced with full family obligations. Oh, and the killer looks don't hurt either.

In her speech before thousands at College of the Ozarks Wednesday night, Palin herself touted her ordinary beginnings, "born far from Washington and Wall Street."

In chatting with Palin supporters, over and over they pointed to her personal story before mentioning any of her policy positions. That's what separates Sarah.

She wasn't Ivy League material. She took five years to finish a 4-year degree. She began modestly as a city councilwoman. She built a big family. She took on the boys club, rose to prominence quickly. Maybe too quickly. So what if she flubbed the Katie Couric interview? It's normal to be nervous. Do we really want the best interviewer? Look at where the speechifying Barack Obama has gotten us. And of course, being female is a plus.

This was the repeated reply from the Palinistas, mostly middle-aged women who believe the former Alaska Governor is not only a real-time example of what their daughters can accomplish, but what they would have liked to, if they had "the barracuda's" hunger, spunk and timing.

Palin has the sizzle and some natural talent that adds the spark.

A striking woman who speaks plainly, carries an accent that sounds comfortable in the Midwest and delivers raw political blows against anything establishment with a wink and a nod translates into big crowds.

"Only dead fish go with the flow," Palin said to cheers.

But as she builds a growing movement, seizes on her popularity and contemplates a 2012 presidential run, she's also undeniably in the middle of a rehabilitation tour.

Her message at College of the Ozarks, a speech closed to the media, was essentially three-pronged: 1) An attack on the mainstream media that she believed has maligned her and her family. 2) A defense of her decision to quit her Governorship mid-term parlayed into her anti-establishment message of carrying the torch of service without a title. 3) A blistering critique of the current administration's policies from big government spending to "apologizing" to foreign countries.

The rant against the "lame-stream" media was expected. At least five times, Palin pounded the press for "spinning my record."

She stressed she wasn't whining, but then blamed unsustainable attacks from her political opponents for pushing her out of the Governorship.

"Calling the audible has worked for my state," said Palin, in a sentence that some might interpret as saying Alaska's in better shape now that she's gone.

Palin's 50-minute speech was dubbed as a talk about citizenship and patriotism, but it undoubtedly ventured into politics.

She seemed to rouse the Keeter gymnasium with a call to action, but specific policy positions were glaringly absent.

She blamed the economic crisis on "misplaced government interference," but offered no alternative to the massive economic stimulus package. She called the doubling of the deficit "irresponsible and immoral," but steered clear of details on how to reign it in. She mocked "Washington leadership" for apologizing to foreign countries and then proclaimed "we need to be proud to be Americans," as if the current administration is not.

Palin is not a candidate yet and her supporters will argue, convincingly perhaps, that it's too early for hard and firm positions.

There is something real and compelling about Palin's story, but substance is what tripped her up during the 2008 campaign and it's what will continue to be under the magnifying glass going forward.

Ironically, she may end up with the same problem Obama had to combat.

Sure, she can deliver a heck of a speech and fill an auditorium. But then what?

Dixon, a genuine woman who acknowledged she enjoyed our spirited discussion on Palin, even stopped short of saying the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee is qualified for the top spot.

For her, it's more a visceral feeling from the gut.

"She's human and that's what we like," she said.


My response to his response:

I would disagree with the assessment that Palin's appeal is "mostly middle aged woman." She has a great deal of support from men of all ages and young people- young women especially.
Palin's support is truly grassroots.
We admire her for being an "ordinary" wife and mother who took on the local and state establishment to rise to a national profile. She did not do this with the help of the national media but by her facebook posts and shaking hands with people in the seemingly unimportant small town America. Yeah it's true politicians show up at small town fairs during election years but then it's back to Washington to hang with the kind of folks that they identify with.
We identify with Sarah because she identifies with us.
We are tired of the experts, the insiders, the elite deciding what is best for folks in Fargo or Kingman or Harrisburg.
I admire Sarah for choosing to meet the people rather than to "meet the press."
We personally admire Palin for recognizing the wisdom that exists in an Iowa corn field, or a mine in Nevada or in a assembly plant in Michigan, or that assembles every night around a dinner table. I admire her for understanding that all power and wisdom does not originate in Washington (or Hollywood -God forbid) or that there is a real world outside the hallowed halls of the Ivy League schools.
David, you have said that you believe Sarah will never be the GOP nominee in 2012. You may be right. But conventional wisdom would not have bet that a ragtag bunch of farmers and merchants could have taken on the strongest military power in the world and form a new nation that would one day become the most powerful and prosperous nation on earth.
Funny what ordinary people can do when they don't listen to the experts who insist on what they can't do.
10:38 AM

Original Thanksgiving Proclamation

Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863
By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.

I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln