Between Barack Obama's acceptance speech last night and John McCain's stupefying announcement of his running mate, former Miss Alaska runner-up Sarah Palin¹, today, I'm having a very hard time resisting the urge to turn Fritinancy into a political blog. But this isn't about me, right? It's about you. And us. And change. And hope. And staying the course. And so, my friends, I'll limit myself to a few choice, semi-relevant tidbits:
1. Sarah Palin pronounces "nuclear" the same way George W. Bush does: noo-kyoo-ler.
2. FOX News Channel co-host Steve Doocy suggested this morning, apparently in all seriousness, that Palin does so know about international relations "because she is right up there in Alaska right next door to Russia."
3. Palin's children are named Track, Bristol, Willow, Piper, and--as she took pains to enunciate in her speech in Dayton--"Trig Paxson Van Palin." Jessica asks in an e-mail whether she ever confuses two of the girls and hollers, "Brillo!" And I ask: Do we want someone with such poor judgment in naming to be a heartbeat away from the presidency?
4. Palin is a mighty, mighty pro-lifer, at least when it comes to unborn fetuses. Wearing the skins of already-born animals, however, is another matter. (Hat tip: Ari Herzog.)
5. Back when marijuana was legal in Alaska, Palin tried it. She says she didn't like it. However, it was while stoned that she came up with her children's names. (I made that last sentence up. But still, you have to wonder.)
Update: Andrew Sullivan on the kids' names, via one of his readers in Alaska: "Willow is a town in Alaska and Piper is for an aircraft. Bristol is also for a place in Alaska and Trig is for a family member. Track is named for where he was conceived." Sullivan: "He was conceived on a track? Pray tell some more ..."
Update #2: We can be grateful that while the Palins were casting about for Alaska towns after which to name their offspring, they didn't choose Chicken. As some of you may be aware, the miners who settled the place wanted to name it Ptarmigan, after the state bird, but they couldn't spell it.
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¹ She was voted Miss Congeniality. Now you know who'll play her in the biopic.
Yeah, I've gotta say, that nook-ya-ler thing is a dealbreaker.
Posted by: Namer X | August 29, 2008 at 02:13 PM
Although I normally enjoy your observations, I have to disagree; I think the Alaska governor is a brilliant choice on so many levels.
Posted by: georgia girl | August 29, 2008 at 04:12 PM
Georgia Girl: Could you elaborate on those levels?
Posted by: Tracey Taylor | August 29, 2008 at 05:06 PM
I read my husband the line about Track being named for where he was conceived and retorted, "does she have any children named Pinto?" :)
Posted by: Genie | August 29, 2008 at 08:00 PM
Great language, Nancy. You might have a calling to be a political opinion columnist!
Speaking of pronunciations, I read somewhere that her last name is like PALE-in.
I'd been calling her in my head PAY-lin and was thinking about Eskimo girl talking about fiscal matters.
Posted by: Ari Herzog | August 29, 2008 at 09:47 PM
I watched Gov. Sarah Palin give her acceptance speech tonight, and really it was about what I expected, not awe inspiring, but not bad either. I write my perspective in peoplepowergranny.blogspot.com tonight. Please vote in my poll and let me know what you liked or didn't like about her talk tonight.
Posted by: peoplepowergranny | September 03, 2008 at 09:05 PM
@PeoplePowerGranny: Thanks for visiting and for letting us know about your blog. Keep up the good work.
Posted by: Nancy Friedman | September 04, 2008 at 04:38 PM