Alaskans Honor Dead As Palin Pulls Diva Card
In January, I spoke with a member of the Alaska Joint Armed Services Committee. He was really excited about the Memorial Day commemoration being planned; The Decoration of Honor Ceremony. Alaska is only the second state to have such a service, and I was honored to be invited.
From the Program: The Alaska Decoration of Honor was created to recognize the Alaskan service members who have been killed in action or in support of combat. The medal is awarded on behalf of the people of the State of Alaska to show our gratitude to the families of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in serving our state and nation.
The USAF Band of the Pacific played. The US Military Color Guard presented flags from all branches of service. The Discovery Theater was packed with families of the last 50 years of Alaska's fallen soldiers. Their loss was palpable. Their pride was present. Their tears were flowing. The Generals were solemn.
Regardless of the branch of military service or what war claimed their lives, the Alaska servicemen and women were honored. Their families were presented with the Alaska Decoration of Honor Medal.
Jon van Zyle, a Vietnam Veteran, local and nationally renowned artist, donated his time and talents in designing the Alaska Decoration of Honor medal. It was stunning.
"It is an honor to be a part of this ceremony," Senator Bill Wielechowski, co-chair on the committee said. "All Alaskans should be proud of the sacrifices that have been made by these men and women in service to our nation."
It was a beautiful ceremony, appreciated by the families -- touched to even be remembered after so many years, even decades for some. Many had traveled from all over the country to be recognized.
Despite several months of notice, the governor didn't commit to be at the ceremony until the morning of the event-hence her conspicuous absence in the program. Before the program went to the printers, the governor had been given a deadline. Silence. Perhaps she was waiting for Greta's call. Governor Palin insisted she be sat on stage and demanded time for a speech. She spoke before the invocation and flag presentation as to not be "off program." It was certainly appropriate for the governor to speak at such a high level ceremony, but her high level maintenance made it difficult for those that planned it.
I talked to a Republican lawmaker earlier today and told her how honored I felt to be there. She commented on the governor's attire. The most somber occasion I have attended, and the governor wore a mini skirt. Neat. Way to comfort the families of fallen soldiers; give them tickets to the "bare legs show." One side of the auditorium was waiting for the"Basic Instinct" shot, Alaska style.
Even Sarah Palin, in full diva regalia, couldn't ruin the day. She just looked cheap.
Senator Wielechowski and Representative Dahlstrom should be proud.
Alaska Politics Blog : Memorial Day news roundup | adn.com
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I work for the Martin Luther King Foundation of Alaska. Every year we organize a free-to-the-public citywide commemorative program at the downtown Performing Arts Center. Every year, the governor gets the very first letter of invitation along with the particulars and the deadline for printing the 28-page program. The last two years, neither her nor her office responded at all. This year, the day before the ceremony we got a call that her communications director, Bill McAllister, wanted to be on the program. We said no because with less than 24-hours to go, we had no room to add anything else. Well, Mr. McAllister ended up just showing up at the ceremony and we graciously let him on stage even though it was a little inconvenient to do so. I have a feeling that it was more his idea than hers. Palin is known as "no-show Sarah", and most of the time, does not respond. Particularly with the African-American community issues (she seriously avoids those) and well, like last year, she doesn't have time to attend and may or may not send a representative. Just more evidence of this type of behavior towards her constituents.... The Auburn, NY parade? She definitely made time for that!
Face it, the only rreason this woman remains in the news is that she and her family are train wrecks and she is therefore fodder for the media. America would be better served if she were to leave public office.
I see London, I see France I see Palins underpants.
I doubt that you seen Sarah's underpants, she had to give them back to the RNC after the election!
Behaving like a spoiled bratty princess rather than a governor, Sarah Palin misrepresented the state, again.
She breaks the law, rules, procedures and protocol then brandishes herself as a maverick. The outfit worn at the Decoration of Honor Ceremony exemplifies her insensitive mavericky ways. There is a time and place for most outfits. But can we really expect anything better from someone who gives an interview just feet away from turkeys being slaughtered in plain sight?
We don't know what thoughts led to her outfit choice but it's evident handlers mishandled her schedule again. Palin takes the time to write a book, why can't she make up her mind on attending a function within a short drive of the per diem cash cow, her home in Wasilla? The excuse of looking after "her people" flooded on the Yukon won't work because no one would believe her. Ask the Natives in Emmonak and other Lower Yukon villages about last winter's economic hardship, freeze and potential famine.
Palin established a reputation of agreeing to attend functions then pulling out or being disinvited for her indecision. The GOP and Bristol's high school disinvited the governor. The coordinators of the Decoration of Honor Ceremony should have disinvited Palin and invited former governors.
Here is another example of a grotesque fashion statement. How quickly she went from designer clothes to outfits that say I am all bling and no class.
http://www.gov.state.ak.us/photos/fairbanksmemorialday02_may252009.jpg
Wait ..... didn't I see those red strappy sandals in a K-Mart ad for $9.97? Stay classy, Palin.
This is not diva attire, this is "hoochy attire", don't get it twisted. And there are no diva's in Alaska most people are themselves and love being that way.
Is Sarah Palin taking fashion tips from Ann Coulter?
Take a walk on the wild side.
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo...
Credit to Lou Reed :)
The photo is so dark, it looks like she doesn't have on anything from the waist down. Talk about making the right-wing-dingers salivate...probably her intention.
Love all of that "family values," rhetoric. Palin's the "Harper Valley PTA" mom who's trying to convince people she's classy, while at the same time making fun of PTA moms.
Good lord, is Sharon Stone now dressing Palin.... along with providing diva lessons? Is Palin so "busy" she couldn't RSVP to such an important ceremony, and then she showed up in the outfit she wore to the bar the night before? Was she winkin' blinkin' and noddin' to folks in the audience - sounds about her mentality. Pathetic.
POLL NUMBERS........POLE NUMBERS??
SARAH'S POLL NUMBERS: DECLINING
SARAH'S POLE NUMBERS: RISING
NUFF SAID!!!
Now that's funny
I've heard laely that this woman often will not commit to attending certain events. Calls and invitations to her office go unanswered. And then she shows up, demands to have speech time and wears something completely inappropriate. Mini skirts are great if you're a high school girl, which is what she obviously thinks she is. I'll never forget the first time I saw her give a speech--that's what she reminded me of--a high school girl. This woman is a joke.
This reporter said it all.
Keep it coming , Shannyn.
It seems as though Sarah is taking the FOX network approach to far. The only thing left for her to do is blonde up her hair !
You're really reaching, Shannyn.
Really, you're bitching about her skirt??????
and yet, conservatives will talk about family values and insist on whom we can legally kiss and whom we can not legally kiss. Hypocrisy much?
her skirt is outrageous. Anyone who has ever been on a stage knows better than to wear a mini skirt on stage, let alone bare-legged. And peep toed shoes are not appropriate for a conservative occasion like Memorial Day.
I guess the conservatives stand for nothing, if they're defending this outrageously inappropriate, tasteless and vulgar outfit to honor our fallen heroes.
Goldwater Said it best
Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party, and they're sure trying to do so, it's going to be a terrible damn problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can't and won't compromise. I know, I've tried to deal with them
And I am even more angry as a legislator who must endure the threats of every religious group who thinks it has some God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the Senate. I am warning them today: I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of "conservatism."
Speech in the US Senate (16 September 1981)
And I am even more angry as a legislator who must endure the threats of every religious group who thinks it has some God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the Senate. I am warning them today: I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of "conservatism."
Speech in the US Senate (16 September 1981)
These New republicans Have no clue what a True Conservative is anymore they have warped the term Conservative to fit their own agenda.
And you are obviously in denial to continue to defend this woman. She is a joke.
Agreed.
THANK YOU SHANNYN!
Yes....someone needs to bring forth anything that Palin does if she is making a complete and utter fool of herself.
She dresses like that one minute, and cries sexist in the next.
She needs to quit trying to look like a 14 year old to bring in that old, white man vote that is turned on by her disgusting wardrobe.
It's not about Palin's skirt per se. It's about her sensibilities, for the lack of a better word.
The British have a term for this syndrome:
"Mutton dressed as lamb."
She's just beyond inappropriate. Blech.
Just me or a bigger chest than usual?
Palin is NOT at the podium in the red dress...She is sitting down with the long bare legs. I'm certainly NOT a prude. I love a great pair of legs as much as the next person...but a mini-skirt at a 50 year ceremony honoring those killed in action??? That's just tacky...
Tacky and Palin fit quite well in a sentence. But tacky doesn't begin to describe her horrible behavior towards the people planning this ceremony. Not committing until the morning of??? What could be a more important event for the governor to be at than the ceremony honoring 50 years of Alaskans who gave their lives in service to their country? Was she waiting for a call from Faux News to fill in as an emergency host Fox & Friends? Just when I think she can't go any lower, she does!!!
...and a mini-skirt on a 45-yo woman is tacky on any occasion. No matter how great her legs are.
I wonder: Is she really in *that* much competition with Bristol and Willow that she feels she has to dress like them and *their* peers?
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