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Sarah from Alaska

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Scott Conroy and Shushannah Walshe, reporters covering Sarah Palin’s vice presidential campaign, give us an account of the popular Alaska governor’s meteoric rise when she was named John McCain’s running mate and the complicated aftermath of that campaign. Sarah from Alaska: The Sudden Rise and Brutal Education of a New Conservative Superstar is a portrait of Sarah Palin and of the American political process.

Guests:

Scott Conroy and Shushannah Walshe,

Comments [30]

Lisa Kaufman from New York, NY

Clarifications: 1)"They" don't work for Fox. One author covered the campaign for CBS, the other covered it for Fox but left the network before writing this book. 2) They are not teenagers, but they are very young reporters who broke many of the stories that Olbermann et al dine out on and are well-respected by their peers. They have worked hard to write a deeply reported and fair book, full of new tidbits and insights on where Palin comes from and why she is the way she is.... and on the campaign itself... a book that should be judged on its own merits.

Nov. 05 2009 04:19 PM
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Steven Rudin from Nassau County, Long Island, NY.

I sure hope we can get rid of that socialist, communist, Marxist, tax and spend liberal community organizer who pals around with terrorists, who target their own country!
Sarah Palin in 2012! She's a real American, like Joe the Plumber, and Josephine the Plumberet. You betcha!
As soon as she figures out what the President actually does, she'll make a great one!

Nov. 04 2009 12:53 AM
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gaetano catelli from downtown manhattan

very fair interview, Lenny.

Nov. 03 2009 09:54 PM
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mozo from nyc

Andrea --

I am guessing you don't get out of Scarsdale often. I've been to Alaska, was in Prudhoe Bay for a few days. "Rugged" doesn't begin to descibe it. It certainly has some interesting types. It is also filled with fugitives, acoholics, people trying to make a living and barely doing it and survivalist nutjobs. A great place to visit, not a great place to stay.

Nov. 03 2009 01:02 PM
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thatgirlinnewyork from manhattan

there's plenty of "variety" here--unless you're just talking about scarsdale.

sarah never led a "rugged" life, unless you think having one's own plane, clothes from neiman marcus, and a choice of several residences "rugged".

Nov. 03 2009 12:56 PM
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Andrea from Scarsdale, NY

"Thank your lucky stars there are not many women like her in the Northeast."

Well, diversity can, in fact, cover quite a range of types. I enjoy a wide variety of people.

Alaska is a rugged place, and it requires a certain type of strength. I find her interesting.

Nov. 03 2009 12:51 PM
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mozo from nyc

Andrea's comments show just how badly many Americans make decisions on the politicians they may vote for.

"...she is a woman I want to know."

I don't feel like I want to know or have any personal relationship my political leaders. As long as THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING is fine with me.

"...I enjoyed seeing her in her role as Governor."

If you feel that being a good governor is akin to being an actor, take a good look at how well the Gov of CA is doing with his role.

There's more to being a political leader than charisma.

Nov. 03 2009 12:49 PM
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thatgirlinnewyork from manhattan

"She's different from many women here in the Northeast, and I enjoyed seeing her in her role as Governor."

as long as she wasn't YOUR governor, perhaps. what did she accomplish on behalf of alaskans?

indeed, many women in the northeast have worked hard in school and their careers to be coherent, of substance, and to help their communities progress. sarah's efforts have been for her own gain, andrea. you may stop drinking the kool-aid.

Nov. 03 2009 12:49 PM
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Lonnie from Brooklyn!!!

That Mantra: "I know what I know what I know what I know"

Dear Lord--that's female logic at it's worst. That's a Politician whose goals have nothing to do with constituents and everything to do with what SHE wants to do. That's a Politician and a Woman who is utterly uninterested in other people who don't agree with her.

That woman is NOT ready for National Politics. It doesn't matter how many policy speeches she gives.

Nov. 03 2009 12:47 PM
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andy from manhattan

the reason she will not pursue any other office besides the presidency is that it would do two things against her...

1) rob her of her "outsider/maverick" status.
(if she is a part of washington, she can't throw stones at washington.)

2) expose her stupidity and inability to function in circumstance she does not have "complete control" over.

personally, i find it disgusting that such an unintelligent, sadly narrow-minded and slow-on-their-feet individual is even considered as a potential presidential candidate. there are dark days ahead if her shadow occupies the oval office.

Nov. 03 2009 12:46 PM
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thomas

Leonard,

Stop interrupting. Believe it or not, I tune in for your guests.

Nov. 03 2009 12:39 PM
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Kat from Financial District

Can we find out what Scott's "gotcha" question was?

Nov. 03 2009 12:37 PM
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Suki from Williamsburg

I enjoyed seeing her in her role as Governor far, far, far away...

Thank your lucky stars there are not many women like her in the Northeast.

Nov. 03 2009 12:36 PM
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Andrea from Scarsdale, NY

Palin's perspective on Reverend Wright was consistent with many Americans. They were very disturbed by Obama's attending a religious service with Wright's message. It was so different from the message one usually receives on Sunday mornings.

Nov. 03 2009 12:34 PM
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Mary Hunt from East Village

What if she and Mike Huckaby got together? They are definitely the most colorful people in the GOP.

Nov. 03 2009 12:33 PM
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Andrea from Scarsdale, NY

Palin wasn't ready for national politics, but I have to admit, she is a woman I would like to know.

She's different from many women here in the Northeast, and I enjoyed seeing her in her role as Governor.

Nov. 03 2009 12:31 PM
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mozo from nyc

"[Ms. Palin]what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."

-- principal from Billy Madison. Pretty much describes how I felt after her quitter speech.

Nov. 03 2009 12:31 PM
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Suki from Williamsburg

George Saunders should have ghost-written Palin's book; it would have been a breeze for him.

Nov. 03 2009 12:28 PM
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Suki from Williamsburg

What a joke. What kind of industrial-strength blinders do Palin supporters wear?

Palin was a joke to every Republican who is not a member of the religious right. Stop lying to yourselves.

Nov. 03 2009 12:26 PM
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Bartholomew from LES

Very interesting that the two reporters themselves admit to being taken by the media and "cult of personality" angle. They mention that she could have charmed national media had they let her go. Well, I know it's not in style to judge on the basis if capability and aptness for office, but to start with as many Palinisms and odd interviews (Couric) as she did makes the stateswoman's mantle unlikely.

Nov. 03 2009 12:25 PM
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mozo from nyc

Hugh, I keep thinking it was The New Yorker and it was a doozy.

Nov. 03 2009 12:25 PM
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thatgirlinnewyork from manhattan

not so amazing that wnyc would seek to be "fair and balanced" on the subject of know-nothing palin. but really, enough of this woman. her fifteen minutes are long over.

Nov. 03 2009 12:23 PM
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anonyme

please do ask eva's question!! thx

Nov. 03 2009 12:22 PM
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mozo from nyc

They worked for FOX. Now it all makes sense.

Nov. 03 2009 12:22 PM
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Hugh Sansom from Brooklyn NY

Didn't The New Yorker or Harper's run a long essay on the selection of Sarah Palin over a year ago? The inside story on the McCain campaign's take on her was withering. McCain alone seemed smitten with her, as was Bill Kristol.

Nov. 03 2009 12:21 PM
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eva

were the reporters surprised to see her disastrous interviews with Charlie Gibson and Katie Couric? was that a whole new side of her?

Nov. 03 2009 12:17 PM
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mozo from nyc

These guys sound like high school kids.

Read Vanity Fair, Salon and The New Yorker for more detailed articles re Palin. Also Matt Taibbi.

Nov. 03 2009 12:16 PM
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anonymous from manhattan

why why why? forget about this woman, already, she's done. i'm turning off the radio now, wish there was some sort of alarm that would alert me when this trash is over...please stop with the palin. please.

Nov. 03 2009 12:15 PM
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Hugh Sansom from Brooklyn NY

What insight could any reporter from Fox possibly provide except further evidence of the rampant bias that fogs everything that might pass for news there?

The burden of proof is on Fox 'journalists' to prove that they are actually capable of honesty or even decency.

Nov. 03 2009 12:10 PM
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Tigersfan from Brooklyn

Have the reporters looked into Gov. Palin's relationship to the successionist Alaska Independence Party? What exactly is her relationship to this group?

Nov. 03 2009 12:07 PM
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