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Video: Plucky upstart gets hero’s welcome in Alaska

posted at 12:30 pm on September 11, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Scenes from a homecoming, early this morning in Fairbanks:

NBC/NJ’s Matthew E. Berger reports that Palin couldn’t wait to descend down the stairs from her campaign plane lat night. The plans called for her to wait for the media and staff to leave first, set up, and then allow the doors to open for a grand entrance. But the sight of her family, and several thousand of her Alaskan brethren waiting for her on the tarmac of the Fairbanks airport, was too much. Palin could be heard nearly squealing with delight in the front of the plane at the sight of three of her children at the foot of the stairs, and according to several aides, refused to stay inside the plane.

For all the (often belittling) references to her as a hockey mom and moose-hunter, the key to the public’s fascination with her, I think, is the unexpected flashes of brilliance she shows as a retail politician. No one I know, even among blog readers and grassroots conservatives who have been high on her for months, saw that coming; the assumption was that if McCain picked her, we’d be getting someone young, smart, appealing, with a welcome reputation for ethics and a compelling bio, but probably a bit out of her depth on big stages trying to connect with voters. Watch the first five minutes here and appreciate how expertly she works the crowd. It’s all very colloquial and apparently off-the-cuff, but there’s more artistry than meets the eye. Maybe Charlie Gibson’s right to hope she goes easy on him.

Speaking of which, your exit question: What time should a panicky pessimistic blogger start drinking today to be properly “prepared” for the first segment of Gibson’s interview with her? It won’t air in full until 6:30 ET, but the first clips should start appearing around 4 p.m. on ABC’s website. No time like the present!

Update: Needless to say, the excitement is worth a lot more than buzzworthy clips of people cheering on the news.

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While I’m happy to see Palin join the ticket, I’d really like to see some of her “standard” lines (”candidates who use change to promote their careers and others who use their careers to promote change”) be used less often. – kgs_mvs on September 11, 2008 at 2:59 PM

Don’t forget that we are news and political junkies who follow these things regularly. Her appearances are not targeted to us, but to those who get their news from David Letterman and Jon Stewart.

Many of the people who throng to see her or watch the appearance on television are hearing most of these lines for the first time.

ManlyRash on September 11, 2008 at 3:06 PM

Watched the video. My God! A politician who is a genuine human being! I pray that John McCain and Sarah Palin win the election. Whether or not one agrees with all his views, all her views, they will bring … honor to their Offices.

DavePa on September 11, 2008 at 3:08 PM

Yes, after two weeks you are tiring of that line. How long after Hope and Change, and Yes We Can, did you start complaining of boredom and staleness?

eaglewingz08 on September 11, 2008 at 3:26 PM

I was trying to figure out how many days/weeks (months?) passed between when Sen. Obama announced his bid for the Presidential race (either Jan.16 or 17, 2007) and when he granted his first big media interviews. I didn’t find what I was looking for, but I did find this little nugget in a Washington Post article:

“In the midst of a congressional race, I’m well aware of the potential risk of missing a vote, even if that vote doesn’t wind up making the difference on a particular piece of legislation. But at some point, family has to come first.”

Why isn’t the press asking Sarah Palin if she plans to put her family first instead of the country first, as Sen. Obama has said he would do?

kgs_mvs on September 11, 2008 at 3:38 PM

Ok – DAMN – I am ready to move to ALASKA.

What an American – I love the USA

jake-the-goose on September 11, 2008 at 3:39 PM

Why is it male conservitives respect gov palin. FEMINISM?

TomLawler on September 11, 2008 at 3:54 PM

WHY IS IT THAT THE LEFT CAN DEFINE A WOMEN’S LIFE? A woman should be able to make her own life. Men in the u.s. have never been able to see themselves as bicycles or the women that they love as fish. this the first time in my life that i have seen a true FEMINIST.

TomLawler on September 11, 2008 at 4:08 PM

Many of the people who throng to see her or watch the appearance on television are hearing most of these lines for the first time.

ManlyRash on September 11, 2008 at 3:06 PM

I disagree. I think most people see the new clips. I think she needs to change the wording. Not the message. But everyone is listening, hanging, on every word. To avoid the kind of reaction I have when I hear Obama say Change or Hope…. Gets old.

petunia on September 11, 2008 at 4:08 PM

Why is it male conservitives respect gov palin. FEMINISM?

TomLawler on September 11, 2008 at 3:54 PM

In Sarah, they see a real woman who truly respects her man !!
(for a change)

pambi on September 11, 2008 at 4:32 PM

petunia:

I think the woman knows what she is doing. I would not second guess her.

Terrye on September 11, 2008 at 4:39 PM

The reason Sarah Palin is successful is that normal women, not man-hating feminists, see themselves in her. And when the liberals and media attack her they feel that attack personally.

Politics happened to her, not the other way around. She got ahead by being strong and fair-minded and without kissing the rings of the establishment. The way we’re always told life will turn out if we work hard.

She’s always upbeat, grateful and graceful. She talks normally, acts normally, and her family is imperfect just like the rest of ours.

Boy did Obama and the media make the mistake of going after her personally

Sensible Mom on September 11, 2008 at 4:46 PM

Three obervations:

1. No teleprompter. Very good, almost magical, at extemporaneous speaking, unlike The Lightworker.

2. She’s dropping her g’s like PacMan Jones at a strip club.

3. Has any VP nominee ever used the word “dude” on the stump?

3a. I am head-over-heels for the twangy accent.

Mike D. on September 11, 2008 at 6:02 PM

I foresee a lot of female babies being named Sarah. What a delight this woman is. Genuine, enthusiastic and almost any positive adjective. I pray for her continued success since that gives all of us a chance. I have no HOPE with Obama.

Pat in NC on September 11, 2008 at 6:31 PM

Don’t forget that we are news and political junkies who follow these things regularly. Her appearances are not targeted to us, but to those who get their news from David Letterman and Jon Stewart.

Many of the people who throng to see her or watch the appearance on television are hearing most of these lines for the first time.

ManlyRash on September 11, 2008 at 3:06 PM

I disagree, many of these lines were heard at the RNC. The Dems are beginning to use the repetitiveness as lack of knowledge. I have pleaded for the campaign to just simply mention some policy points which are of her own opinion. Ill tell you tho, this girl after the 2 weeks of bullcrap, is NOT wavering.

malkinmania on September 11, 2008 at 6:35 PM

This is a better lonk, though, because in my CY comment, I linked page 5 of the MSNBC thread.

http://boards.msn.com/MSNBCboards/thread.aspx?threadid=765589&boardsparam=Page%3d1