Tonight NPR did a report on Anne Kilkenny, the Wasilla, AK, housewife who wrote the email about Sarah Palin that's gone viral. The NPR report refused to relate any of Kilkenny's substantive statements, other than saying they were critical, merely told the story of how the email came about, and the national response it's drawn. This is weakkneed, NPR should at least have noted that Kilkenny first locked horns with Palin when Mayor Palin tried to censor the library. The reason the email's getting around is it is so beautifully written, straightforward and factual. It is simply the best character portrait we've yet seen of Sarah Palin, from someone who knows her. At last we are getting some of the psychological depth that I had been hoping for.
The things that leap out:
Palin is a truly devoted hunter, and a political operator. She has no ideas at all, apart from a basic conservative program. She grapples on to ideas that will get her attention and funding. She opposed listing the polar bear as an endangered species, has doubted whether global warming is melting the ice cap. She is extremely wily and secretive. She refused to endorse her own mother-in-law when she ran for office. Kilkenny says the greatest political risk Palin took was taking on the head of a state oil and gas commission, on which she served, for ethical violations, and Kilkenny says Palin did it because she didn't want to do all the traveling the job required and wanted to quit. Men have voted for her because she's a babe (just what my chimney sweep told me this morning). No one knew she was pregnant for 7 months, and yes it's her baby, says Kilkenny. Makes me wonder whether she was thinking of other possible choices?
Just asked my wife whether Palin is going to be in our lives for the next 30 years. She shook her head, No. Hope she's right.
