Guest post by Kathleen
The new Sarah Palin meme is, I am much busier and do much more work than anyone else, especially those who live in or work in the political beltway and who are way too preoccupied with imposing their Government plans on you little men what with all their strategery and stuff. That’s also Sarah’s answer to Charles Krauthammer’s assessment that she needs to get down to work – she insists that she is working. So there, Mr Hammer, take that. Ghost penning semi autobiographies combined with elements of commonsense is too Presidential and hard work, so shove your rigid policy homework whatnot where you want, Sarah is not for turning or learning. She will continue talking up a storm from home, in front of her big, new fireplace which looks oh so Presidential and grandiose.
Social media such as Facebook and Twitter will also remain Sarah’s favourite communication method for getting across her message that she’s a worker not a shirker and that she does not play golf, although Timothy Crawford has confirmed that she is leaning towards the lamestream in a good old boys attempt of backslapping goodwill. Get along to go along much Sarah? Is this a flip-flop decision on her part? It seems that it is as according to Sarah any compromise is a flip-flop, as she recently explained in her interview with Robin Roberts on ABC. So it's Sarah Palin herself who "flip-flopped", abandoning her mantra that one should "talk through Fox News."
Social media such as Facebook and Twitter will also remain Sarah’s favourite communication method for getting across her message that she’s a worker not a shirker and that she does not play golf, although Timothy Crawford has confirmed that she is leaning towards the lamestream in a good old boys attempt of backslapping goodwill. Get along to go along much Sarah? Is this a flip-flop decision on her part? It seems that it is as according to Sarah any compromise is a flip-flop, as she recently explained in her interview with Robin Roberts on ABC. So it's Sarah Palin herself who "flip-flopped", abandoning her mantra that one should "talk through Fox News."
We shouldn’t forget that Sarah’s creative work of fiction regarding lying, stupidity and cowardice, otherwise known as America by Heart, is still for sale and that yesterday she met and spoke with her favourite patriots (or so she believes) as she touted her wares at the Costco in Anchorage. Gryphen (click for story) and an unknown woman wearing a rather fetching "Worst Governor Ever" t-shirt were not granted an audience but thrown out of Costco instead. Palingates has video and observations from the Costco signing, and an additional report from another reader might follow.
We had our own "boots on the ground" yesterday at the book signing in Anchorage for Palingates, and this is the report from our reader:
"I arrived at the Costco on Dimond Blvd in Anchorage, AK at just before 11 am and not a soul in the line outside... Inside, I was met by a security guard with a gun. Once I was past him there was the table with Sarah's books on it...not one person was looking at them. At the back of the store I would estimate just a little over 200 people. Shoppers were agitated she was there a week before Christmas...trying to get their shopping done. One lady was over heard saying, "Why doesn't she hawk her book at Barnes and Noble?" One guy got irritated when he could not get to the area he wanted...he asked me.."What is going on in here today?" I just said two words..."Sarah Palin". He rolled his eyes and said "She is a C _ _ T!" Wow! I also overheard two ladies complaining that at least 60 parking spaces had been blocked off on one of the busiest shopping days for Costco and they had to park all the way over at Toys R Us. When I left at noon, they still had that area blocked off even though there obviously was not going to be a line.
I saw Chuck, Sr. first.....you would have thought it was his book signing. He had his chest all puffed up like a peacock. People were taking photos with a continual warning to "Keep moving folks, keep moving." People in line had to take off their coats to put in big plastic bins. There was one more armed security person back there. Todd sat at table with Sarah signing books as well. Piper and Uncle Chuck, Jr. mingled there for a while but then spent the next 20 minutes "grazing" their way through Costco...hitting every single sample food kiosk. Piper never once cracked a smile and was wearing loads of black mascara. She looked utterly bored to death, as did Uncle Chuck.
Picture credit: Anchorage Daily News
Sarah did not take off her heavy yellow coat. For book signings in the lower 48, she usually is dressed up...not this one. She did not seem to be in her usual hyper mood when she does these book signings. She seemed tentative and tired. I did not hear her screech once.
All in all, in a town of 300,000 , I would say this was a "non event."
For those wondering.....NO, I did not buy a book!"
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However, our brilliant reader not only wrote a report - but also made a video clip from the event for us! :-)
See how the masses storm into Costco and ravage the place, desperately trying to catch a glimpse of the future US president in her yellow...attire! ;-)
Speaking of shiny objects: The White House has a web page dedicated to the Christmas holidays at the White House. You can take an interactive holiday tour of the White House, send Christmas greetings to servicemen and women serving overseas, checkout videos showing the preparations for decorating the numerous White House Christmas trees (I’m decorating ours tonight) and my favourite, this video of Michelle Obama reading ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas during her visit to The Children’s National Medical Center.
Michelle’s special wish for Christmas has already been granted, the signing of a law to make school lunches more healthy – guess which well known heckler doesn’t support that aim?
More early Christmas gifts were given as gay and lesbian military troops are finally recognised as real Americans with the repeal of "Don’t Ask Don’t Tell" yesterday when the “Senate voted 65-31 to end the policy which banned gay and lesbian service members from serving openly in the military.” It’s good to know that a minority group in the USA has obtained some rights under the Constitution.
Michelle’s special wish for Christmas has already been granted, the signing of a law to make school lunches more healthy – guess which well known heckler doesn’t support that aim?
More early Christmas gifts were given as gay and lesbian military troops are finally recognised as real Americans with the repeal of "Don’t Ask Don’t Tell" yesterday when the “Senate voted 65-31 to end the policy which banned gay and lesbian service members from serving openly in the military.” It’s good to know that a minority group in the USA has obtained some rights under the Constitution.
Andrew Sullivan weighs in with very thoughtful commentary and puts forward the view that acceptance into the American mainstream is critical if gays and lesbians are to overcome any lingering legal and personal discrimination they face. He writes “By removing the bar on military service and the bar on marriage, the gay rights movement is, slowly, increasingly, making America more whole and the gay rights movement obsolete.” I concur and will place his book, "Virtually Normal", which expounds his analysis of current gay and lesbian politics, on my reading list.
I’d like to continue the holiday theme with 2 Christmas holiday recipes – one from the White House and one from our reader Heidi3 courtesy of her German Great-Grandma.
From the White House:
Apple Cake with Maple Glaze
I’d like to continue the holiday theme with 2 Christmas holiday recipes – one from the White House and one from our reader Heidi3 courtesy of her German Great-Grandma.
From the White House:
Apple Cake with Maple Glaze
First the Apple Cake. Ingredients:
• 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup grated apples (Granny Smith or Golden)
• 3/4 cup canola or safflower oil
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar (tightly packed)
• 1/2 cup honey (local if possible)
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup grated apples (Granny Smith or Golden)
• 3/4 cup canola or safflower oil
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar (tightly packed)
• 1/2 cup honey (local if possible)
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350°. Grease one 10 inch cake pan and place parchment paper on the bottom.
Combine oil, brown sugar, honey, vanilla, and eggs in the bowl of an electric mixer – a handheld mixer can be used as well. In a separate bowl, sift dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Add half of sifted dry ingredients into the liquid mixture, and mix on a low speed. Once everything is combined, add the grated apples and the remainder of the dry ingredients. Finish mixing by hand, and pour into greased cake mold.
Bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Take out of the oven and let cool before unmolding.
Preheat the oven to 350°. Grease one 10 inch cake pan and place parchment paper on the bottom.
Combine oil, brown sugar, honey, vanilla, and eggs in the bowl of an electric mixer – a handheld mixer can be used as well. In a separate bowl, sift dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Add half of sifted dry ingredients into the liquid mixture, and mix on a low speed. Once everything is combined, add the grated apples and the remainder of the dry ingredients. Finish mixing by hand, and pour into greased cake mold.
Bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Take out of the oven and let cool before unmolding.
Then the Maple Glaze. Ingredients:
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/3 cup confectioner's sugar
• 1/3 cup confectioner's sugar
Instructions:
Once cake is in the oven, mix together maple syrup and confectioner’s sugar over low heat until combined. Then increase heat and boil for 30 seconds. Set aside on the stovetop, but off the heat. Pour over cake once it is finished baking and on the serving dish.
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The second recipe comes to us from Heidi3 and is a very traditional one from Germany:
Once cake is in the oven, mix together maple syrup and confectioner’s sugar over low heat until combined. Then increase heat and boil for 30 seconds. Set aside on the stovetop, but off the heat. Pour over cake once it is finished baking and on the serving dish.
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The second recipe comes to us from Heidi3 and is a very traditional one from Germany:
Lebkuchen Cookies - yield approx. 10 dozen.
1 cup clover honey (any light honey is fine). You will need to buy two 8 oz. jars, because this 1 cup is a dry cup measure.
1 cup light molasses ("Grandma's Light Unsulfured" is best)
2 eggs
2 cups light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup sour cream
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda (fresh! - this is the only leavening)
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 to 2 teaspoons salt
5 cups (and as much as 7 cups) sifted unbleached all-purpose white flour
Note: This needs to be an extrememly stiff dough, so keep adding flour, but no more than 7 cups total. Any more will make the cookies "tough".
1/2 cup blanched slivered almonds, pre-dried in oven, but not toasted
1/2 cup walnut pieces
1/2 cup mixed candied fruit (important: pick out the red cherries first)
Blanched almond halves for cookie top decoration:
Buy a 4 oz. package of unblanched whole almonds. Boil a pot of water, and when boiling, remove from heat and immediagtely put in the almonds. Let sit 1/2 hour (no longer, or the skins will stain the white almonds). "Pinch" the almonds from their skins. Let dry 1/2 hour, then they should fall into halves easily.
Instructions: (Blanching the almond halves and some steps below can be done in advance)
Fine grind together: The 1/2 cup very dry slivered almonds, 1/2 cup walnut pieces, and the 1/2 cup candied fruit.
Measure honey, molasses and brown sugar into a medium pot, and over a low heat, warm enough to melt sugar, and make sure no lumps are left. Let mixture cool 1/2 hour.
Beat eggs a bit, then add eggs, sour cream, and ground candied fruit/nut mixture to the honey-molasses-sugar mixture. Pour into very large bowl.
Measure out 5 cups flour before sifting. Add soda, spices and salt, and sift together 2-3 times to ensure equal distribution. In very large bowl, stir flour into honey mixture, adding flour as needed to get a very stiff dough. Cover bowl and refrigerate overnight.
Roll out small portions of dough using floured sleeve over rolling pin, on a floured pastry cloth. Keep rest of dough refrigerated. Roll to 1/4" - 3/8" thick. Using a cardboard cutting pattern, cut out 1-1/2" x 2-1/2" cookies. Press blanched almond half, flat side down, into center of each cookie top.
Using a very lightly greased cookie sheet (or parchment paper, but truthfully I've never tried the paper before), bake 7-8 minutes at 350 degrees. Over-greasing the sheet will lead to unwanted crispy edges. It's best to bake only one sheet of cookies at a time.
Yield: Approximately 10 dozen soft, chewy cookies
MERRY CHRISTMAS From "Heidi3's German Great-Grandma!
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UPDATE:
Our friend, well-known Palin critic Sondra Tompkins was also at the book signing and took some great pictures for Palingates - here are some of them, with Sondra's own captions. Just to clarify: The report above and the video clip was produced by another reader from Alaska.
Her Travesty has her tongue thing going on again. I did notice it seems to only appear when men are around. Coincidence?
"Coat check" for 30 seconds with Her Travesty. Somehow I think she enjoys the fact that folks have to be stripped of their "freedoms" to be seen with her, a kind of sadistic pleasure.
"Do you love your freedoms?" Yes, as long as they are secured and no where near Her Travesty.
I think the Palin and Heath families have perfected the art of how to be paranoid about everyone and anyone. Chuck's checking me out here.
Todd opens books for Her Travesty. Good boy Todd! I did notice neither of them wear wedding bands.
Loads and loads of makeup on Her Travesty. And her neck is covered up!! She reads Palingates!! Hahaha!
Sarah's Down Syndrome cousin signing books!
He's hugging Chuck, who appeared less than pleased at this moment.
The picture-taking stage.
A view of the picture stage to the left and Her Travesty to the right. That's the "comfortable distance."
This is when I began winking at Todd--for fun! ;-)
+++UPDATE 2:
We are confused now, because Sarah Palin's "cousin Matthew" clearly is a much smaller child and looks very different from the Down Syndrome child in the pictures above - see this clip from Sarah's reality show:
Screenshot with Matthew on the left:
So what is going on here again?
This comment by Gryphen, who was kicked out by Palin (again), raises even more questions:
I forgot to mention that as I was led out of the book signing area, they left me next to a young adult male with Down syndrome. I did not get the young man's name (I was still kind of wondering about my book) but he asked me if I had gotten my book signed, and when I replied that I got kicked out, he suddenly stiffened up and said "I am Sarah's cousin, and I am the real thing!" I have no idea what he meant by that, so I just nodded my head and said "Oookay, that's nice." After that he kind of turned away from me like I was radioactive or something.
Then the handler brought my book and I left to retrieve my coat, which they had confiscated from all of us before we were allowed close to the "brittle one."
We are dealing with the Palins here, you know...(sigh).
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Update by Kathleen
Thanks to a reader we have a photo of Palin with E -- the young man who is afflicted by Down Syndrome who was signing books at the Costco book signing. I have added the photo to the top of the blog post. Our information is that E is a blood relation of the Palins.
PLEASE RE-TWEET:
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