Alaska Politics Blog : Palin at the convention

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Erika Bolstad

Erika Bolstad covers Alaska issues, including the congressional delegation, from Washington, D.C., for McClatchy Newspapers. Before joining the bureau in 2007, she spent seven years as a reporter at the Miami Herald, where she covered politics, government and the state legislature. E-mail Erika at ebolstad@adn.com.

Sean Cockerham

Sean Cockerham writes about Alaska state politics. He spent three years based in Juneau for the ADN before joining the Tacoma News-Tribune to write about Washington state politics. He went to Iraq twice for the News Tribune, and previously wrote about Alaska government and politics for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. E-mail Sean at scockerham@adn.com

Kyle Hopkins

Kyle Hopkins covers politics and other stories for the ADN. He covered the 2006 campaign for governor, has blogged extensively about Alaska politics, covered Anchorage city government and was a reporter based in the Mat-Su. He grew up in Southeast Alaska and previously was a reporter at the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and Anchorage Press. E-mail Kyle at khopkins@adn.com

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Palin at the convention

Posted by Alaska_Politics

Posted: August 20, 2008 - 4:58 pm

From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage--

Sarah Palin is going to be a speaker during the second day of the Republican National Convention on Tuesday, Sept. 2. I've got a call into her office asking for details like what time she'll be on.

UPDATE -- (The Associated Press is reporting that Palin said she was told she will be an evening speaker, perhaps closely ahead of Rudy Giuliani's keynote address, which caps the evening.

A convention spokeswoman said the order of speakers has not been determined.)

The theme of the convention the day that Palin speaks will be "Reform."

The themes on the other days are service, prosperity and peace. The remarks on each day supposed to "echo the themes that have been selected" for that day, according the organizers. Check out the full lineup here at the convention web site.

Here's the list of speakers on Sept. 2:

Former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani
Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (Ark.)
Former Gov. Tom Ridge (Pa.)
Gov. Sarah Palin (Alaska)
Gov. Jon Huntsman (Utah)
Rosario Marin, California Secretary of the State and Consumer Services Agency and former Treasurer of the United States
Former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson (Tenn.)
Gov. Linda Lingle (Hawaii)
Former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (Md.)

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12 August 22, 2008 - 9:30am | JakeW

The sound of an exploding sheep- Sis- boom- bah!

The national conventions are little more than pep rallies, and I would suspect that Palin will do OK with this, as it will be extremely scripted for her. Speeches at national conventions, with an automatically approving audience who clap on command, shouldn't prove to be too much of a challenge. Now if she actually had to answer a question (which she seldom seems to do even when asked) or had to deviate off the script, then most discerning minds would see that Palin really hasn't advanced beyond the cheerleader stage and that she's as intellectually challenged as she is ethically challenged.

August 22, 2008 - 9:16pm | Gus_Davis

I think you are correct-

And any rabel rouser that gets behind the ticket line could disrupt any speech she is now probably working her hardest on...

Let's hope it is interesting either way!

11 August 21, 2008 - 11:19am | Oinky

Don't worry

I'm sure the RNC and McCain will be going over Sarah's script thoroughly. She'll be very darling, I'm sure. They realize she doesn't have an original thought in her head, so they'll just let her be eye candy compared to the withered old white guys and the Stepford wives. Any bets on the national reviews using the words "perky" or "refreshing" after Sarah speaks?

August 21, 2008 - 8:10pm | predictable

Accessories...

Do you think she'll ask if she can wear her sash and tiara too?

August 22, 2008 - 12:41am | Gus_Davis

Do you Want her to?

August 22, 2008 - 9:06am | predictable

She's

She's the "Prom Queen".

August 22, 2008 - 9:10am | Gus_Davis

No, She's the Governor.

10 August 20, 2008 - 10:53pm | hey_georgie_girl_98

Gov. Sarah Palin

We'll be watching and hopefully lots of live blogging, too!

9 August 20, 2008 - 10:30pm | heseesall

OH GOODIE...PERHAPS WHILE SHE IS THERE FOR THE SPEECH..

She can ask someone "what a VP actually does!!!!?" Remember that quote from her? Unbelieveable!

Hopin' she does some of her hillbilly talkin', shuckin' and jivin'. How embarrassing.

Pretty soon she will be CRASHIN' AND BURNIN'.

August 20, 2008 - 10:43pm | lecjb

I noticed that too -

that she cannot pronounce "ing."

8 August 20, 2008 - 9:31pm | bobbyc

The question is

will Sarah have an underling fire Frank Bailey while she's gone?

August 22, 2008 - 4:48pm | AK574

More then likely

it has been her motive operandi

7 August 20, 2008 - 8:11pm | dab

Way to GO Gov.

Congratulations--Thats why Alaska Elected you by a landslide.

August 20, 2008 - 8:14pm | AK_Lady

"landslide"?

Not.

6 August 20, 2008 - 8:00pm | LilysDaddy

Let's see,

counting Governor Palin, exactly how many sitting Alaska governors have been invited to speak at either the Republican or Democratic presidential nominating conventions?

Anyone?

August 21, 2008 - 11:16am | pete_moss

She will do well

Sarah will do a good job, she will shine with her looks and what she says and she will wow the public. ya know, it doesnt take much these days, look at our politicians. You are expecting to much.

August 21, 2008 - 8:53am | TheSdog

And after

she speaks it will likely never happen again.

Many people on the national scene like the idea of The Palin. They have no idea of the reality but they will now.

August 20, 2008 - 9:53pm | Emperor

It will look...

...great on her resume when she's out of a job in 2010. Right along side her best selling book.

5 August 20, 2008 - 7:42pm | AK_Lady

Who's gonna be the VP? Who?

Convention Announces Program Themes and Speaker Lineup

August 20, 2008 - 11:38pm | Cartman3_15

Lieberman.

LMAO.

August 21, 2008 - 8:17am | blue_in_AK

As a Democrat, if it were Liebermanm I'd LMAO, too

I wish the Republican party would just take him. We can't stand him anymore. If he were nominated VP, a lot of people's heads would explode, on both sides.

August 21, 2008 - 10:59pm | Cartman3_15

Which is why

it's funny.

Excessive partisanship is killing government of, by, and for the people. A split ticket could invigorate it.

4 August 20, 2008 - 6:19pm | TheSdog

Let us see

if she can give a speech elsewhere and not endanger the life of a baby.

I think she should bring some moose jerky in for McCain. he may want to make sure it from a legally taken moose however.

She may help put a nail in McCain's coffin if allowed a prime time spot. All the better, the Obama Nation must be allowed to bring the country to its knees.

August 20, 2008 - 7:27pm | rfn

Still experiencing

that problem with strong women, it might appear.

Snide remarks will have no effect on the delegates at the convention. If she does badly she will not be alone. If she does well she steps up a notch in national politics. Remember, Obama was a complete nobody until he spoke at the last Democrat convention. In light of his more recent performances, though, I am considering whether he might be 1/2 of a set of twins. His speaking with no tele-prompter in sight has been somewhat less compelling than his last convention appearance. That's unfortunate because whoever is elected this time will never win again and will doom his party to the wilderness for 12 to 16 years. It's his big chance to do the nation a favor!

August 20, 2008 - 7:50pm | TheSdog

Cannot move beyond the Posse triad?

If you disagree with Palin you must be a misogynist, the weakest of the 3 in the triad.

Eddie the Grunt already treated us to the "you must be an oil shill" and "you must be X(where X= Frank, Randy, Andy or any choosen CBC member)" earlier today.

The Palin has been in office a year and all the Posse can do is still defend her with this trio of poor arguments instead of actually defending her decisions in any other light.

August 21, 2008 - 12:08pm | rfn

Really, it's understandable.

Many "macho" males have great difficulty maintaining focus when they are required to function under the direction of women.

There are classes that can help just as there are for managing stress or anger. The triple combination, though, may require intensive team efforts.

Ms. Palin will do very nicely as Secretary of The Interior. If only by peering over her glasses as the oilies spin and twist in hearings. Of course that depends upon McCain being elected...and we know that won't happen as voters think of their health care costs and vote to create a new Obamanation with strictly monitored socialized health care for all!

August 20, 2008 - 10:42pm | Gus_Davis

Don't you figure she will

Don't you figure she will have a patter sheet to do her speech from, and she does not even know what it says or who will be writing it yet. But she will look good doing it is the main concern of the Repubs.

August 20, 2008 - 10:46pm | lecjb

Who wants to take bets

that she'll be wearing red?

August 21, 2008 - 5:22pm | effincloaca

Just so she hides the tree trunks....

...er....legs....

August 22, 2008 - 12:42am | Gus_Davis

Red is probably the odds on

Red is probably the odds on favorite, but who knows. She will have serious handlers and all that "Vogue" advice..

August 20, 2008 - 7:16pm | jacekones

"Let's not blow it..."

My favorite line from her 2008 state of the state speech.

I have no doubt that she has been given a speech writer to "assist her" with the present task at hand. There's too much at stake for the GOP to let one of her cohorts from the valley write this speech. Now, the former television journalist just needs to work on her delivery.

As we all know, "It's cool to be an Alaskan."

August 22, 2008 - 4:53pm | AK574

Not to worry

She will just blame everything that is wrong with the entire Republican Party and the need for reform on Murkowski and then she does not need substance in her speech.

August 21, 2008 - 12:00am | hey_georgie_girl_98

"Let's not blow it..."

...work on her delivery.

Has anyone noticed Senator Obama's posture during television interviews, the head tilting to one side when he's speaking and the smirky-smile? Sen. Obama uses annoying body language to deliver his message.

If Gov. Palin uses good posture and keeps her head straight, looks into the cameras tv viewing audience, I'll feel like I'm transported to the convention.

August 21, 2008 - 12:24am | celtic_diva_ak

Yup...all that pageant training...

...I detected a little Vaseline on the teeth as well...

August 22, 2008 - 12:44am | Gus_Davis

Diva?

You kissed her on the mouth? at the Picnic?

Will it be in the INQUIRER?

August 20, 2008 - 7:53pm | TheSdog

Perhaps

the Obama camp could pay somebody off to mouth the word "bitch" in her line of site and get her to giggle.

Oh baby!

3 August 20, 2008 - 6:17pm | tweedledeetweedledum

Reform? Palin?

What a hippocrite!

August 20, 2008 - 9:33pm | not2green

it depends what she says

State spending and taxes on industry have change a lot under her reforms. If she extolls the virtues of Alaska Redneck Socialism and how it fits into the future of the national GOP, her remarks at the convention could be appropriate.

2 August 20, 2008 - 6:00pm | loflyer21

And all will see

And the nation will see what a horrendous public speaker and political lightweight Gov. Palin really is then ask themselves "Palin for VP? What the hell was I thinking?"

But seriously, what did Palin ever do to earn a speaking role in the GOP Convention? The RNC must be out of their minds.

August 20, 2008 - 6:37pm | not2green

no kidding

I'll be looking to see how many sentences she ends with "also". And, counting them also. Her words will bewilder the nation.

I'm thinking her speaking spot is due to the folks at the RNC wanting to do something that SHOULD be pleasing to The Weekly Standard wing of the GOP and having a sense of humour about. I hope who ever decided to pull the joke is forgiven the indiscretion.

August 20, 2008 - 8:07pm | jacekones

sounds like a drinking game

August 20, 2008 - 7:24pm | lecjb

If as poor a speaker as

GHW Bush could get elected president, then who knows, maybe she still has a shot at veep. It grates on my nerves every time I hear him say "dudn't." What the heck kind of a word is that, anyway? I assume he means to say "doesn't." I don't know how you get "dudn't" out of "doesn't."

August 20, 2008 - 8:10pm | jacekones

Excellent comparison

Way to keep the hope alive for all the veep bloggers!

August 20, 2008 - 9:57pm | Emperor

Yes, she should...

...aspire to reach such lofty heights as the oratory of Bush jr.

1 August 20, 2008 - 5:19pm | rfn

Furthering my belief

that Ms. Palin will be Secretary of The Interior in the first McCain administration (though I think Obama should win because the party that does will be tarred with the depression that's coming and will be out of power for 12 to 16 years).

August 20, 2008 - 5:44pm | bubbaboy

Guess again

Senator McCain, if elected, will choose an individual with a proven track record of strong, more-or-less conservative, PRO-BUSINESS public policy. This is not Gov. Palin's track record. By the time he's putting his Cabinent together, we will still be mired in the thick of Mr. Branchflower's investigation here in Alaska.

While I might have been prone to agree with you six weeks ago, after the "Gateville of 2008," I'm going to have to beg to differ.

(The Gateville of 2008 - ie. Troopergate; Tazergate; Wootengate; Baileygate; Emailgate; Koppgate; Monegangate; $10,000severancegate.....you get the idea)

August 20, 2008 - 5:57pm | rfn

You may be right.

However the very thought of Ms. Palin having control over who gets to drill where is so maddening to the oilies and their henchpersons that it's downright delicious. One of those things one might wish for without really expecting it to happen yet prepared to be delighted in the eventuality.

August 20, 2008 - 5:33pm | jacekones

Didn't you also predict Hil would win the nom?

This is just republican window dressing in an attempt to appear "diverse." They like to trot out women and people of color for the cameras.

August 20, 2008 - 5:55pm | rfn

I didn't say "win".

But I did predict Hillary's name would be on the Democrat line on the ballot in November.

Some of the "buyer's remorse" remarks that have shown up in the national press in the last few days suggest the convention might not turn out exactly as so many believe. Though a Hillary "win" remains an improbability, I would discount it less today than three weeks ago.

I stand by the position that, in order to be elected president, one must be alive and eligible on the day of the election. The eligibility questions seem to have been neatly disposed but there is this long track record of Karma catching up with people who cross Ms. Rodham-Clinton. If in doubt ask Ron Brown or, maybe, Vince Foster.

August 20, 2008 - 7:09pm | jacekones

It's good to know your consistent

I've actually wondered if you'd changed your opinion on that particular subject. Because, it certainly continues to cross my mind.

I also think it's too soon to predict a winner. I'm waiting for the October Surprise.

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