Last Images from Denver

The to-do about Palin delayed some of our last day's posting in Denver, so I'm including some of the more random, but interesting (to me!), bits from the time we were there.

I think the funnier one is the James Bond Guy (also known as Alex. This picture is actually from Celtic Diva.) He is with the non-profit The Israel Project, and despite there being a few million people in Denver, tens of thousands for the convention, and sort of disimilar reasons (and therefore schedules) for attending the convention, we Alaskan bloggers kept running into this English activist.

You may have seen him on earlier posts, because I got a lot of e-mails (mostly from the women readers) about him.

In any case, he was kind of the "Where's Waldo" fun while we were down there. Our events were not complete without first finding out where he was.

If I run into him in Anchorage, I'm going to start talking in code though. James Bond can really be anywhere...

Our hosts, Eric and Kim, took us out to the Garden of the Gods on our last full day. We saw quite a bit of wildlife, actually, though I think the wildlife in Colorado is much better at camoflauge than in Alaska. The rams, deer and coyotes we saw kept alluding us in broad daylight. The moose here in Anchorage don't blend in so well against the street lamps and strip malls.





My third picture of food is the most beautiful picture. This "Colorado style" pizza was totally unlike any pizza I've had, and you turn the crust into dessert by dripping honey on it.

Of note (not important note, just "note") is this was "Beau Jo's" pizza in Denver - and just two days earlier we listened as "Beau" Biden introduced "Joe" Biden in Denver.

Coincidence? Or pizza conspiracy?

We'll found out soon enough.



The Garden of the Gods really was beautiful, though the red rocks wierd me out just a little. Like a Mars landing, only really hot and random deer running around.

It also had a GREAT gift shop, with lots of Native made art that was agony to walk by and not run out the door with.

But boy, when I get a spare $9,000...











Morrigan was cracking me up with her picture taking, especially following Eric and Kim's cats around.

She was taking pictures to share with her classmates when she got back. I mean, this girl experienced a convention, got to see the first black president be nominated, and met all sorts of people.

As we headed to the airport, we were talking about the good pictures we got. Morrigan:

"Yeah, I have a lot of pictures of the cats."







We saw several rock climbers around the garden.


















A bit Mars-like.


















This school group really got everyone in the mood after the eternity of a line to get in. It was like a reward for surviving the line, and the heat.


I made sure it was not just Alaska heat wimpy-ism that I was dying in the heat. I asked a family from California if this was hot to them, and they confirmed that I could feel like I was roasting without sacrificing the tough Alaskan attitude.






I think this guy would have gotten more money had he not looked like he had burnt to a crisp right there on the sidewalk. It was surely a feat of the most supreme stamina to stand still for hours to look like a statue in million degree heat, but he kind of reminded everyone how hot it was.














The flip side of this is a hand-written "Stay Positive" message. These were handed out to the million-man line by a bunch of young kids. The reverse, which is what cracked me up, reminded us, "It's a sign."














We had the sort of clown car feeling when Morrigan and I made our connecting train to the stadium. The door opened, and there were people packed in so much that people were hanging out. Enough people got off that Morrigan and I could cram in, but we were literally pressed against the glass door, using all the powers of our tippy toes to stay in a safe place.

Go Obama! Love, Alaska.

In the trading button business (a favorite pastime of the delegates,) the "Alaskans for Obama" buttons were a hot commodity.

We feel you, man.

The Alaskan delegates, complete with the good ol' "field of blue."

And yes, they even sang the song!

All but one of the Native delegates from Alaska.

You are here.

Or at least, Alaska was here.

The homing signal for Alaska.

His recorder playing wasn't that impressive, but three guesses why his hat was full of money?

Yep, me too. The only street performer of the many I passed that paused to listen and throw some money at.

A smart, smart man.

And look who else made an appearance!

The confused look and lack of pace was due to our lemming-like following of the people in front of us. The people in front of us were doing the same, and the people in front of them, and so on, and so on. Nobody actually knew where they were headed. In fact, just after we finally made it through this bottle neck, nearly a quarter of the crowd abruptly turned around and started heading the other way.

Morrigan and I somehow found ourself walking through grass, shrubs, trees, and then by a creek. In downtown Denver. In the dark. With wierd noises all around us that could have been crickets and frogs, but also could have been man-eating beasts of enormous stature.

We were literally walking for about an hour, and it slowly was dawning on a lot of people that nobody really knew where they were going. With rail stations shut down, streets and even interstates blocked off, even the Denver-ites didn't all know where to go.

At some point we regained our sanity and stopped. We considered camping out until daylight, but our wonderful hosts, with a bit more sense than I was feeling at the moment, rescued us.

Palin-ed Out (And when did every man, woman and child getting over $3,000 not become the biggest news?)

At work, at home, in the store, on the news, in my e-mail - I need a break from Ms. Palin.

It's not likely to happen though. More and more the e-mails I am getting are from people down south who still feel as if they don't know who she is. It is hard, actually, to step in their shoes. We have been hearing about Palin and feeling the effects of her decisions for years - first as mayor, then as governor. I can only imagine the people of the Mat-Su Valley are more Sarah-ed out.

I thought this article from the Washington Post came out at a pretty ironic time. Despite McCain's "I'm so non-partisan" speech, it seems he could not have made a more partisan pick.

Of course, every Alaskan is talking about the VP pick - and not a single one of them saw it coming. There's a great cartoon in the Juneau Empire that shows the shock of the pick.

In fact, this was the first time I've seen the PFD announcement completely overshadowed, and with a record-breaker amount and early payout, too!

For those of you oustide of Alaska that don't know about the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend, (and who haven't seen the Simpson's movie!) each and every qualified Alaskan (pretty much if you applied, have lived here at least one full calendar year, and aren't in prison) will be getting just over $2,000 next week. This is an annual thing, and this is the most we've ever gotten.

On top of that, Ms. Palin is giving us an extra $1,200 as an energy subsidy, so just under $3,300 each. Some lawmakers tried to oppose it for about two second for a shameless act of pandering, but you can imagine how well that went over with... well, just about every man, woman and child in Alaska.

I don't pretend to be above the fray on this one. Despite the fact that the State will get most of it anyways for The Eternal Student Loan Debt, it will be nice to be able to pay for gas and not pass out from the bill. Well, I might pass out still, but I'll have a bit of a cushion. The stimulus check I received ironically went to help fund my way to the Democratic National Convention (which I view as the absolute best way to help stimulate the economy! No more Bush!)

I'll take the $1,200 no problem, especially since my 3% raise this year meant I was paying about 12% more in taxes (Announcement: I am officially out of the "poverty" bracket now) and will actually be spending it on energy costs. I've heard of big screen TV plans, but the only way that's going to happen is if the big screen TV will also gas up my car.

I've gotten a few emails about my "betrayal" of the money - like I must agree with and support Palin to receive the check. Uh... no, then the pandering is not pandering so much as buying my vote and support. I don't even agree with her on the way the payout went down!

I do think there were better ways to go about this. First of all, Palin once again did not address the great disparity between Rural Alaska and urban Alaska. Even after visiting Barrow, it didn't change her view. It is hard to describe the differences in Rural and urban costs in a way that can really be understood by people who have not traveled to Rural Alaska. You cannot just truck a bunch of gas to most of these remote places - for much of the year they receive no shipments at all. I can only say the costs are much, MUCH higher. Seriously, I'm talking $14 gallons of milk and $8 gallons of gas.

$1,2oo WILL help the families here in Anchorage quite a bit, and other more urban areas. Especially families that are receiving 4, 5, 6 checks. But another ADN article: "ISER estimates that the median annual cost of power and heating costs for an Anchorage family is about $2,400, compared to about $4,100 for midsize towns and cities and $6,600 for remote rural villages."

This does not include the increased cost of food and goods, only the direct power and heating costs. In the same article, they discuss not wanting to pit Rural against urban again, because ""I think the argument's going to come up that people live in rural Alaska by choice," he said. "

Right, let's all move to the city. Because that's been proven to work out so well. I moved to the city with my parents as a child, and would love to go back, but see no feasible options of opportunity or cost. Moving back to Southeast is my next go-see. As it is, there is already a mass exodus from the villages. Nearly half of Native people in Alaska do not live in the villages, for many the place of their ancestors. I expect that very, very soon we will see that the majority of Native people will live in cities.

There was a meeting about a month ago in which leaders of the Native corporations addressed this issue. They were upset with lawmakers for slashing the $1,200 from Palin's proposal to $500 - but the truth is that the fund is so flush the State could afford to go up to $13,000 per person. But I think instead of a direct payout of over $10,000, they need to go and see just who is hurting the most and help them. It's going to be 40 below in many of these communities in a matter of months, and $1,200 won't get them through the whole winter. Some families are paying over $3,000 PER MONTH.

Rural Alaskans aren't the only ones feeling it, though. In Denver last week, Celtic Diva and I experienced actual pain at going through the grocery store. There were so many items - especially fresh items, that were literally double the price in Alaska as Denver. And nobody could sanely explain to me why the gas is so much lower (we're talking by a dollar) at the Conoco station in Denver, than next to the Conoco headquarters here in Alaska. You know, where the oil comes from. I know all about the refinery deal, I know lawmakers are talking about (launched?) an investigation into the disparity, but I have little hope of it really making a difference. Living in Alaska just plain costs a whole lot more money.

I was actually surveyed on this payout, and answered that I would happily accept $600 instead of $1,200, if the other half of the $1,200 was going to long-term solutions, and a good chunk of what they aren't paying out goes to looking at real immediate and permanent solutions for Rural Alaska. Next winter doesn't look to be any cheaper.

Community Organizers

Guiliani and Palin took Obama to task last night for his college job, and just-after-college job - Community Organizer - a job which Palin doesn't view as having "real responsibilities."

Some other community organizers:

The Alaska Native Brotherhood and Alaska Native Sisterhood

ANB was formed in 1912 to address Native rights in Alaska. It is an organization still active today.

Elizabeth Peratrovich

Elizabeth and her husband Roy were just two of many members of the Native community to stand up to injustice, and fight for civil rights in Alaska. Elizabeth is still honored each year with a state holiday in Alaska.







Cesar Chavez



Arizona's own labor and civil rights leader - first a farm worker, than a farm workers leader.








Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.



Paid the ultimate price for what he, and so many others, organized in the American community.



Countless men and women throughout the centuries have been community organizers, and only in the last century were they sometimes given a title. Their responsibility is great, made much more so because they must motivate people, by the very definition of their job, to change the status quo. It's not a job where you come in, make sure the budgets are balanced, hire and fire whom you want, and leave to the next guy. Community organizers come in so many times to address what politicians won't.

What is interesting about the Guiliani/Palin attack on the jobs Obama had during and just after college - mainly getting a community to help itself, to be stronger - is what came out, from Fred Thompson - chosen to speak by the McCain campaign! - in the convention about what McCain was doing during his own academy years:

"In high school and the Naval Academy, John earned a reputation as a troublemaker. But as John points out, he wasn't just a troublemaker; he was the leader of the troublemakers.

Although -- although loaded with demerits, like his father, John was
principled even in rebellion. He never violated the honor code.

However, in flight school in Pensacola, he did drive a Corvette and
date a girl who worked in a bar as a exotic dancer under the name of 'Marie, the
Flame of Florida.'"

Umm....

Okay, I'm not sure why anyone would think those were selling points, not to mention throwing attention to how McCain barely scraped through the academy. Seriously, having had Bush this long, why does anyone think low intelligence in a President is even remotely funny anymore? Is this the "laugh so you don't cry" part?

During college, Obama picked up responsibility before he'd even graduated from Harvard magna cum laude, learning the ropes at organizing whole communities of people, before moving on to politics.

During the Naval academy, McCain was a self-proclaimed "troublemaker" who liked fast cars and loose women, and even after his genuinly heroic stand as a POW, still couldn't give up either.
Call me boring, but I'll take the nerdy, responsible guy over the adulterous, educationally underachieving guy any day.

Wow - Palin mentions the phrase "Yup'ik Eskimo" - and a few questions answered

Too bad it was for great political gain. I already have e-mails asking, once again, about her support for Native issues.

But I can only comment on her lack of them.

Who's playing the "race" card now? I would expect a candidate that has actually done something for Native people to establish their record of that - but to just throw out the "I'm married to an Eskimo" defense is pretty cheap. After McCain has accused Obama of playing the race card, I would think he would discourage such tactics - silly me.

Fortunately, most of the Alaska Native/American Indian/Native American/First Nations/Indigenous (we have too many dang names!) people that have e-mailed me are out for an informed vote, not a "jump on the 'who can be related to the most minorities'" band wagon. I have actually been pretty proud of the Lower 48 Native population reaction, like this Indian Country article.

It shows the Republican side - ''John McCain has a strong record of working with the tribes, and Gov. Palin will be a strong partner in his mission of reforming Washington.''

Uhhh... right.

This includes the letter she wrote Rural voters in Alaska. Not really impressed with the fact that all her action towards Alaska Native issues during her campaign was focused in a letter, or that the only mentions it can come up with for her support is the same superficial, photo-op-y stuff when it is convenient, such as, "Also of note, the governor proclaimed June 10-13, 2007 as ''National Congress of American Indians Days'' in recognition of a conference held by NCAI in Anchorage."

I would like to know if Sarah, after this cold campaign message that Native langauges should be "treasured" and "held close to our hearts" has ensured her part-Yup'ik children know as much of the Yup'ik langauge as I do - a Tlingit/Athabascan who learned only enough Yup'ik to converse with one-year old children. My guess is pretty bleak on that note - and our languages are in too much trouble to be given only empty words back to win an election.

The article also brushed on subjects of concern to many Native people in Alaska about Palin, including the now-infamous firing of Walt Monegan:

Palin also concerned some Indians in July when she abruptly fired Walt
Monegan, the first Alaska Native public safety commissioner in the state. The
governor said she wanted to take the Department of Public Safety in a different
direction, but a Republican rival said Monegan was fired because he refused to
take action against state trooper Mike Wooten, who was recently divorced from
Palin's younger sister.

Really, the idea that Monegan was someone who was finally really addressing the issues in Rural Alaska with extremely high rates of abuse, violence, child neglect, and that he was let go for such petty reasons is the bigger concern.

Holly Miowak Stebing, the Inupiaq woman chosen to meet Obama last week at the convention, was interviewd in this RezNet article (Go Holly! She is pictured above in the picture from Celtic Diva's blog) The NCAI director was encouraged about the ticket because Palin has (getting a little dejavu in here) attended their events and notes "that her husband has Native ties" and that will help.

Seriously, if I here one more silly defense like that...

Former (Inupiaq) Alaska state representative and Holly did a good job stating reasons to be concerned about a supposed benefit for Native people if Palin were elected:

Degnan also criticized Palin for failing to allow Native Alaskan
representation on the Alaska Coastal Management Program — an
organization that protects the state's coasts.

Alaskan
Republican Party officials did not return phone calls and e-mails.

While she understands Sarah Palin has only served as governor
for two years, Stebing is disappointed she hasn't done more to improve the lives
of Native Alaskans, many of whom live in remote, poverty-stricken areas. They
are places where some are so poor they lack running water and sewage and must
carry out their human waste in large pails called "honey buckets."

Stebing hopes whoever wins in November will address the dire
needs of rural Alaskan Natives.

"That we have that here in
Alaska really bothers me," she said. "This is the 21st century."

Go Holly!

I have been getting some e-mails that are asking me to address some issues that I already have -please see my previous posts from this month and late August about Palin and Native issues as well.

I can address a few though:

Bridge to Nowhere - this one is actually been done in the mainstream- that Palin was for it until she saw how unpopular it was becoming - but there are a few notes here. Including that she still built a "road to nowhere" after the project failed, and kept the federal money left over.

I was asked more about this - if it really was a "bridge to nowhere."

The name of it was a great ploy on the part of the dissenters. It was actually a bridge to the airport in Ketchikan. Having been in and out of Ketchikan many times in my life, the bridge would have been nice, yes. The transportation situation in Alaska isn't well understood by many except Alaskans, and getting from Anchorage to Ketchikan is a bit of an all-day endeavor (I would visit my relatives much more often if this wasn't the case.) I've heard many stories about someone who has missed the ferry and so missed their flight, waiting in sight of the plane taking off.

Was a bridge totally neccessary? That's for people with a much stronger grasp of fiscal spending to go over and over. I know there have been much more frivolous spending on much less practical items. As someone who frequents the airport and Ketchikan - yeah, it would have been nice to do without the ferry any time you want to visit Ketchikan. Please keep in mind that the ONLY way to get to Ketchikan - besides a boat - is the airport and ferry. There is no road connection to anywhere, the case for much of Alaska. But then, it's an inconvenience, not a life and death sort of thing. Not that that's where the money went instead...

The search for Palin supporting Native issues

Finally, in my searching, I have found something "positive" about regarding Alaska Natives people and Sarah Palin. During her campaign to become governor, I was frustrated to hear again and again, when I would bring up concern about her lack of attention to Native issues, "But her husband is Alaska Native!"

This was the refrain, with nothing to back it up. I've finally found a supportive article about Palin and Native issues. Unfortunately, it's more of the same:

"Sarah Palin on Native people"

The letter is written to address the "rumor circulating that Sarah Palin is against Native people." But, once again, the only support that comes out is, "Her husband Todd is a Yupik Eskimo from Dillingham." No policies, no record of support for Native issues, nothing but a quick hello and a photo-op.

Unfortunately, this holds about as much weight as the defense used when people defend their prejudice by saying, "But I have black friends!" It only has meaning when there is action behind it.

Sarah is not a supporter of Alaska Native people, issues or culture. Even in her "official issue statements" as she ran for governor, there is plenty of opportunity to address Alaska Native issues. But the closest she gets, in subsistence, is to point out that she is raising her children in the "Alaska culture" by going hunting and fishing. Huge opportunity lost.

In contrast, nearly every other candidate or incumbent for pretty much every major office in Alaska has at least a small part devoted to Alaska Native issues, or mentions the Alaska Native plan on individual issues.

But our governor has not.

I would love to support someone with a possibility of having the president's ear, to be able to remind him that there are Alaska Native and American Indian people and issues that need to be looked at. Unfortunately, Sarah Palin has shown she will not be that person, whether she was elected or not.

Ode to the Boys in Blue... and Black... and Khaki

One of the markedly different things about the Denver convention last week, as compared to other big events, was the sheer amount of force apparent in the streets. A lot of bloggers commented on this, and some Denver people were calling it "overkill." This picture beside is a good example of what was present on nearly every street corner.

Yet I have my own fondness for these guys, and you better believe we felt safe. Despite predictions and the huge warehouse they had prepared for arrests, there was only something like 12 arrests, and the protests were relatively peaceful.

I've been hearing a lot again about the "overkill" and now forcefulness of the police because of the Minneapolis arrests, teargassing and flash-bang grenades used on crowds. I don't know what's going on in Minneapolis, but in Denver the police couldn't have been better. They were professional and courteous, even to those asking for pictures, and we talked to many that were very helpful. Police from all over Colorado were brought in, not to mention Secret Service and who knows who else, and the convention couldn't have been safer.

In light of this, I give the "Denver Boys in Blue Awards."

No, they don't really win anything...

...it's just a bunch of pictures really..


Ones Who Made You Think Most About Assasinations

The snipers/lookouts on top of the boxes over Invesco Field during the last day of the convention. I found out later I wasn't the only one that kept watching these guys, especially when they were lugging their big guns around...









Worst Gig

The guys on the railings over Invesco Field. It was HOT out there. Cloudless sky and something like 500 degrees (okay, I'm from Alaska,) these guys baked.









Freakiest Single Moment
(Followed closely by the Funniest Single Moment)

When the boys were called in for this left-behind backpack. It wasn't freaky until the guy alerted him to something they actually found. Those of us at the Light Rail Station when they found this suddenly went, "Oh... maybe we shouldn't be so close..."

Until they actually pulled out the "discovery." Let's just say there's a possibility this may have been Snoop Dogg's backpack...






Most Socially Conscious

This guy from the Green Sunday concert. He kept picking up stray beer bottles and the like and bringing them to the recycling bin. Appropriate for the venue...



Would like to know where he got his shiner though.











Happiest Cops

For whatever reason, the cops on the motorcycles really liked their gig. Better than horses, bicycles or by foot, I guess.









Creepiest

These vans were just everywhere, and you thought they were just vans until a dozen cops piled out. They could come from anywhere...







Most Exhausting to Watch

The bicycle cops traveled in big packs, and one night as I walked along this long outside "mall," I think they must have passed by me a dozen times, nearly mowing over people at least half as many times. I began to doubt they were patrolling, and believe they may actually just have been training for the 2012 Olympics in London.







Most Impressive

They knew they looked cool.

These guys in fully decked out enforcer gear held onto big SUV's with lights going, swooping around the protest marches.

I think they're the reason the protestors were moving at a ridiculously fast pace.







Most Photographed

Who doesn't like horsies? They tried ignoring all the cameras shoved in their faces, but I think the horses got a complex by the end of it. Good thing Pac Sun outfitted them first...








Hottest Cops (literally)

These guys had to be roasting. The few I got near had sweat pouring down the little bit of face they had showing. They were NOT moving quickly as they patrolled around.

Most Fun to Watch

These guys were either Secret Service or two security gaurds on a power trip. They stood outside this hair salon forever, denying people trying to get in, like this couple. Whenever someone would come up to talk to them, the other would turn around. Don't know the policy on that, but they had to deny a whole lot of people.

I still want to know who was in the salon...

Biggest "Ah Ha" Moment

As we were trying to get inside this hotel to get media credentials, this troop of mounted police officers stood out there forever - hours. We even went inside, got the credentials, bought some stuff, came out to wait, and they were still there, just seeming to wait, not watching what all the other police were watching.

It wasn't for quite a while that the protestors came by, and they went into action. Very slow action, but we finally got why they were stationed there. Mostly to just add the parade-like feeling.


Good job Denver (and Colorado) police forces! The next time I need a police force thousands strong for a big bash I'm throwing, I'll remember your number (it's still 911, right?)

Okay, stupid joke. But thanks anyways.

Palin, Palin, Palin

As much as I've tried, the onslaught of Palin cannot be ignored today. With the lack of information about her from the rest of the U.S., to the "down the political rabbit hole" soap opera-ness that continues about her candidacy, I've been getting e-mail after e-mail about Palin, Palin and Palin. I was able to debrief with my family about Obama, and the amazing experience of being able to participate in the Democratic National Convention - of which more posts will be devoted to over the week - but for the most part, people want more info about Palin.

Celtic Diva had shared the news of Bristol's pregancy a few weeks ago - before we'd left for the Democratic Convention in any case. At the time, I was feeling bad for her because it would mean a few days of attention in the Alaskan news. One of my reaction's when Palin was chosen as the VP pick, just four very long days ago, was, "Holy crap, she's really going to put her daughter through that?"

The issues about the effectiveness of "abstinence only," the hypocrisy of the McCain campaign now shouting "families are none of your business," the lack of real vetting (or judgement) by the McCain in vetting Palin - I'm sure all of this will be done ad nauseum.

But the concern for me as an American and an Alaskan - and an Alaska Native woman - is Palin's extreme lack of credentials to be a VP or President, her lack of attention on anything to do with Alaska Native/American Indian issues, and the absence of any kind of plan or attention to Rural Alaska, not to mention the hostility she tends to show to Southeast Alaska - an entire region.

I was grateful to Grassroots Science for sending me a link to a site with Palin's take on issues. The Palin Web site is not available - it shoots directly to the McCain Web site (a little funny when you consider Biden's site is still up.) I have found that most Alaska politicians have a section on Alaska Native issues, or, like Mark Begich's site, instead mention the specific Alaska Native issues within others. Even Ted Stevens and Don Youn, whom I don't support, have sections on Alaska Native issues.

With nearly 20% of the population in Alaska being Alaska Native - and more than a few communities being almost entirely Alaska Native - this attention to the issues is more than just a small section of people you should look at - it's a large and neccessary section of people that are your constituents.

THERE IS NOT ONE MENTION OF THE PHRASE "ALASKA NATIVE" IN PALIN'S OFFICIAL ISSUE STATEMENTS. Not one.

Despite the fact that we are here in great numbers, despite the fact that these issues are important, despite the fact that Palin's own children and husband are Alaska Native people themselves, Palin has completely ignored these issues. In all the research I've been doing, the only things I can find are convenient photo-ops and superficial appearances.

It is not just her stated issues that show her lack of interest in Alaska Native and American Indian issues - her brief governorship has been a practice in ignoring Alaska Native issues. As mayor of Wasilla, the Alaska Native issues were a much smaller voice, and easier to ignore. But as governor of some 100,000 Alaska Native people - roughly 1/6 to 1/5 of her constituents - she cannot continue to ignore the population.

I have seen so many interviews now with McCain spokesman who are asked very simple but direct questions about Palin and cannot answer them. "Is Sarah Palin the most qualified person McCain could have chosen?" "What foreign policy experience does Sarah Palin have?"

I am convinced that a talking point they are given by the McCain campaign is that if they are asked these kind of questions by newspeople who won't accept their dodge (which they are) is to then cry "I'm offended!" by their "attack on women?" Seriously, I've watched this happen four times now. It's insulting to women that to question Palin's qualifications is to demean women. I was glad, at least, that on Larry King a woman was there to put a stop to the McCain woman's "are you saying women can't be qualified" defense when she couldn't answer the question, "Is Palin the most qualified candidate?"

If you want to see what I'm talking about, check out one of these YouTube CNN clips - the question about her foreign policy experience starts about 3:15 in, and the McCain man just cannot, no matter what, answer the question, and after a failed attempt to put forward her "head of the Alaska National Gaurd" as a qualification, resorts to saying Campbell Brown shouldn't "belittle" Palin's decisions - unfortunately he was asked point blank to name one decision she made, and couldn't.

"Auntie Raven" sent me this column, a good look into what some Alaskan reactions have been to the Palin pick.