Palin's Annual Picnic In Hometown Draws Big Crowd

WASILLA, Alaska — More than a thousand people showed up Friday for Gov. Sarah Palin's annual picnic held in her hometown of Wasilla.

Palin, who is resigning and leaves office on Sunday, used the occasion to sign autographs and hand out hot dogs.

The governor – dressed casually in blue jeans and a red sweat shirt that read "Once a patriot, always a patriot" – was mobbed by well-wishers who offered up babies, books, calendars, skateboards and even their hands for autographs. Several longtime picnic-goers said this year's picnic crowd dwarfed last year's.

Fred Kostrick, an 84-year-old World War II veteran from Michigan who attended the event, said he appreciated Palin's support of the military.

"I think she's one hell of a lady," he said. "She's tough, she stands her ground and she's taken a lot of guff – more than I could."

Wes Hammerick of Big Lake, Alaska, relayed his admiration for the governor and his dreams for the future in song.

"In 2012, I'll give you a hint: Alaska's pit bull will be our president," he sang in a tune titled "North to the Future."

At the end of the song, Hammerick shouted: "Sarah Palin for president!"

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A teenage boy replied as loudly, "Obama!"

During the picnic, Palin said she was glad to be in front of her hometown as she kicked off a series of three picnics before she leaves office. Another will be held in Anchorage on Saturday and the third is scheduled for Sunday in Fairbanks, when Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell takes over as governor.

Palin also chastised the media for sometimes ignoring those who defend freedom, telling the crowd that she had attended a memorial service for three soldiers from Alaska a day earlier. Her son, Track, is currently serving in Iraq.

"Never apologize for being Americans," she told the crowd in Wasilla, a city of about 7,000 where Palin once served as mayor.

A man yelled out, "we want you to be our commander in chief!"

Palin has not said what she will do after she leaves office but many have speculated that she will run for president in 2012.

The governor left the event without taking questions from the media, driving off in a blue SUV with her daughter Piper.

Comments

[Mozart123]

Actually Sarah gave her disciples 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish to distribute to the multitudes.

[Lefty83]

Is there even a thousand people in Alaska? They came for the free food!

[CJWebber]

'more than a thousand people...'

hahahahaha

[maxfax]

Is she done yet?

[Wide Stance]

She's going to follow the money and make it sound like she's doing it for the people of Alaska, etc. If she's not in the limelight, her celebrity will suffer and with that her earnings. I don't think we've seen the last of the Quitta.

[fireW]

Done? Certainly not. The allure of the 30 percenters money and adulation is just too great. She had neither the grace nor decency to exit the stage when her 145 minutes were up; why should anyone expect her to sit down/shut up now?

[robbyJ]

The beginning of the article should read-

WASILLA, Alaska — More than a thousand people showed up Friday for Gov. Sarah Palin's annual picnic held in her hometown of Wasilla. To eat and laugh at the incompetent governor who they all meaninglessly voted for.

[vgirl1]

Free food always draws a crowd.

I wonder how many people would have come if there had been no "eats and drinks".

As for 2012, bring her on. We hope the Republicans nominate her as their candidate. The whole world will see even more clearly what emptiness the Republicans are willing to support in the White House and exactly what "Country "first" " means to Republicans.

Remember the previous empty 8 years and where that got us?

[fireW]

Of course her sycophantic supporters would show up for this; anyone who actually has a life would have better things to do and not waste their time.

[1murillo]

I clicked on this story to see what "Big Crowd" means. First sentence, "More than a thousand people....­" Even for a sparce state like AK, 1,000 people is far from big.
Writer, editor, HP, work harder to create better headlines.

[ProChoiceGrandma]

Currently of GREAT interest:
http://palingates.blogspot.com/2009/07/looking-at-arah-palins-legal-fund-from.html

Thomas Daniel, the investigator, did not use the language from the actual Alaska Trust Fund document to make his report, he only used the language from the website, which is different! Sloppy work.
If Daniel’s confidential report had not been leaked, this would have been swept under the rug like many of the other ethics complaints filed against Palin. It certainly makes me wonder how much more we should have known about McCain’s involvement with the infamous Keating 5 scandal and the little slap on the wrist he received.

[ProChoiceGrandma]

Oops, meant Alaska Fund Trust. In other words, her ATM card provided by her adoring minions.

[thinkingwomanmillstone]

OMG, Sarah's once a Patriot, Always a Patriot shirt. Did she resign from New England? or is she just holding out from training camp?

[tipsypaca]

Do they have a basketball team, cause she said she's a great point guard in her fancy departure speech.

[Mozart123]

Yes. The Alaskan Abstinences. They're shooting 100% of the time.

[MountainPenelope]

Extremely poor Alaskans turn out for free food. What's the story?

Who's paying for it? Certainly not Sarah, 'cause we all know she is deeply in debt due to all the "frivilous" ethics complaints against her.

Wonder if the starving island folk she refused to assist during the wintertime were invited?

Adios, sister Sarah. We've seen quite enought of your Jerry Springer wannabee family.

[mlmn08]

Bye, Sarah.....­..

[Ethan Dussault]

Hey Huff Post. Can we keep the focus on Health Care Reform, Iraq and Afghanistan? Does this really need to be the top story?

[Ethan Dussault]

Just like that my iPhone updates to Iraq being the headline.

[PDinCA]

So you're the one controlling the liberal media!

[conservativesscareme]

You don’t have to fool all the people all of the time; you just have to fool enough to get elected.
Gerald Barzan

[Freesia2]

I was just reading some boots on the ground takes on her picnic appearances. It seems she was walking around with a book. "Liberal Tyranny". Out trying to fool some people over the tater salad.

Of course she probably isn't even reading it. (It's Palin after all). The book jacket probably brought out the color of her eyes. Books are so decorative, don't you find?

[Bude]

In the cities, they call it a gaper's block.