Sarah Palin has a zinger for you. And you. And me. The Alaska governor-turned-Trophy Vice-turned-bulldog with lipstick sent a fiery pot-shot-filled message to the nation and the media with her speech yesterday at the Republican National Convention. I believe it went something like this:
Don't ask about my children and family – even if I parade them on national television. That's private. Don't ask about my record. It's better than Obama's. He was only a Illinois state senator and a U.S. Senator community organizer. I was the mayor of Wasilla, population 6,700. Currently I'm the governor of the great state of Alaska, going on 21 months. And I was a hockey mom. Take that, Vladimir Putin.
Furthermore, I'm just a small town mayor, living with beehive hair. I am a big oil butt-kicking Caribou Barbie who eats earmarks for breakfast. Bridge to Nowhere? Never supported it. Private jets? Who needs 'em? Library books? Who reads 'em? Barack Obama? He's inexperienced. Joe Biden? He's a Beltway insider – pretty much the reason Washington D.C. is broken. Nation, I'm from outside the Beltway. And that's why you're going to vote for me to be the Vice President of the United States of America.
OK, OK. Say what you will about Palin's cheap shots. In reality, the speech was a resounding overture that electrified the Republican base. It had broad populist appeal (think Limbaugh with lipstick) and took the fight to Obama like never before. Palin proved she can hang with the big boys – even as she fights Alaska's "good ol' boys." Network news anchors agreed. "A star was born." Heck, even Times columnist Danny Westneat was convinced. Despite cynicism from some GOP pundits, I think it's clear: McCain might just pull it off, thanks to her.
But enough with the presidential race. Here's a smattering of political news from around the region.
Don't forget about the Washington state governor's race: Yesterday was the last day for results of the Aug. 19 "top-two" primary to be certified by county canvassers. The final tallies will be official on Sept. 9. Here's a look at the current standings. Meanwhile, Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi is raking in the dough, thanks to Palin. ...
Big surprise: The Times reports women voters will be a key constituency in the 8th Congressional District race between Republican Rep. Dave Reichert and Democratic challenger Darcy Burner. ...
Bigger margin: In the battle for Seattle's 36th Legislative District seat, it looks increasingly clear that Democratic candidate Reuven Carlyle will be the front-runner going into the Nov. elections. He leads his Democratic opponent, John Burbank, by 4.4 percent. ...
Strike three: The editorial board at The Seattle Times says the Bellevue teachers' strike is wrong. ...
Strike out: David Goldstein at Horse's Ass pens a letter to Palin, commending her for a fine speech and wondering how the "sexual moralizing" is working out for her family. ...
It's only fair: Stefan Sharkansky at Sound Politics asks an important question: Since the children of vice-presidential candidates are supposedly newsworthy, why isn't more being written about Sen. Joseph Biden's daughter, Ashley Blazer Biden? Ashley Biden was arrested in Chicago in 2002 for 'obstructing a police officer,' which meant: 'Biden blocked the officer's path and made intimidating statements.' The charges were later dismissed in exchange for her public apology to the police. But no recent mentions of this in the mainstream media. Also nowhere reported is Ashley Biden's arrest for marijuana possession in New Orleans while she was a student at Tulane.
