Witty signs and shouts of praise for Obama came from the revelers. And although those passing by were generally cordial, a few one-finger salutes and derogatory comments were hurled from those motoring past on the Parks Highway at the intersection of Crusey Street.
Patti Fisher, a Wasilla resident who helped organize the rally, said she wanted to make clear the event was not an anti-Gov. Sarah Palin showing.
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Using 21st century connectivity, Fisher said she began e-mailing friends about the planned corner rally, which eventually blossomed into a mass e-mail announcement.
As a light drizzle fell and the breath of sign wavers could be seen in the air, recent developments in the so-called “Troopergate” investigation were a big topic of conversation.
“I think they’re stonewalling,” Fisher said of the McCain-Palin ticket. “They’re foundering the judicial process in Alaska.”
Down the rally line, Willow resident Steve Charles, chair of the Willow Trails Committee, held a sign reading, “Mushers for Obama.”
During a recent symposium in Willow, nearly 55 mushers from the area threw their support behind Obama, Charles said. He added he had nothing but respect for Palin until the McCain-Palin campaign began challenging the Troopergate investigation.
“I think Troopergate is telling us a lot about the kind of person Palin is,” Charles said.
Palin initially said she welcomed a legislative investigation into whether she acted improperly or used her position as governor to have Trooper Mike Wooten fired. Wooten is the governor’s former brother-in-law and is in a custody battle with Palin’s sister. Her cooperative stance changed after McCain tapped Palin as his running mate Aug. 29.
It’s not surprising a group of Obama supporters would offer little support for Palin while she’s on the McCain ticket, which is why Wasilla resident Chris Lee stopped by the rally.
“I can’t understand these signs that say, ‘veterans for Obama,’” Lee said. “Obama’s never been in a war, McCain has.”
Lee, wearing his McCain-Palin T-shirt, said Palin has given the Republican base a significant boost. She’d make a fine addition should McCain win the presidency, Lee said.
Lee’s daughter, Kate Casqueira, said Palin is popular with her because she relates more easily to “normal” people.
Having, and talking about, the trials and tribulations her own family goes through is what endears Palin to voters, Casquiera said.
“Palin has real people problems we can relate to,” she said.
Although Lee didn’t speak as confidently when addressing the possibility of Palin some day becoming president, he didn’t mince words when talking about her governorship.
“I don’t know what she’d be like as president,” he said. “But she’s a damn good governor.”
Contact Michael Rovito at Michael.rovito@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.


Comments
100 comment(s)Drool Bucket 4 JP wrote on Oct 14, 2008 2:01 PM:
McCain must be thinking: where are the people who supported me in 2000? You know, those people stood upright and didn't drag their knuckles on the ground? You know, the ones who thought somewhat intelligently? "
jp wrote on Oct 5, 2008 7:47 PM:
Obama Crowd Draws Flies ! "
T wrote on Oct 1, 2008 12:22 PM:
LostintheUS wrote on Oct 1, 2008 8:17 AM:
Pontius Pilate was a governor.
You can put lipstick on an albatross, but it's still an albatross. "
Sharon wrote on Sep 30, 2008 7:15 PM:
T to jp wrote on Sep 30, 2008 1:07 PM:
Prayfully, Obama will not EVER be a part of it as a president of this country! "
jp to T wrote on Sep 29, 2008 10:16 PM:
oh! and where is Obamas plan for all this economic stability right now? has he come up with anything?
i thought not, you can't put wall street on welfare, or a socialised health care program! "
Autumn wrote on Sep 29, 2008 10:11 PM:
T wrote on Sep 29, 2008 4:13 PM:
jp wrote on Sep 29, 2008 1:33 PM:
website wrote on Sep 29, 2008 10:47 AM:
cw wrote on Sep 28, 2008 9:05 PM:
Outsider wrote on Sep 28, 2008 5:05 PM:
Brianne wrote on Sep 28, 2008 9:27 AM:
Kwaayesnama wrote on Sep 27, 2008 6:57 PM:
We have a man at the top of the ticket that was in the bottom of his class intellectually.
And the person that is 1/2 a breath away from the presidency attended 5 colleges before she was able to pull together enough credits to receive her diploma from the University of Idaho. They might have a piece of paper but do they have the intellighence to lead this nation in the hard times ahead? I don’t belive so. "
Fred Agree wrote on Sep 27, 2008 11:22 AM:
and more woman than he'jj ever have !! "
Builder wrote on Sep 27, 2008 7:56 AM:
road kill wrote on Sep 26, 2008 9:30 PM:
Ha ha wrote on Sep 25, 2008 10:20 PM:
Wake up wrote on Sep 25, 2008 9:59 PM:
wasilla resident wrote on Sep 25, 2008 6:22 PM:
To Karin Byars wrote on Sep 25, 2008 6:21 PM:
And to Ak-veteran--Do you have a job? "
Vally Trash wrote on Sep 25, 2008 4:32 PM:
Tamara Smid wrote on Sep 25, 2008 2:48 PM:
We need somebody without a McCain temper
and a Bush mentality to lead us out of our current hole.
Obama/Biden will do that. "
Bushs fault Really wrote on Sep 25, 2008 12:56 PM:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/26884852#26884852 "
Karin Byars wrote on Sep 25, 2008 12:17 PM:
Palmer Resident wrote on Sep 25, 2008 9:51 AM:
AKVeteran wrote on Sep 25, 2008 7:35 AM:
LOL wrote on Sep 25, 2008 6:57 AM:
No sense of humor wrote on Sep 25, 2008 6:45 AM:
Wasilla residents wrote on Sep 25, 2008 6:36 AM:
Audreen wrote on Sep 24, 2008 10:40 PM:
While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.
God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home. "
gino wrote on Sep 24, 2008 10:22 PM:
AKVeteran wrote on Sep 24, 2008 2:33 PM:
Palmer Resident wrote on Sep 24, 2008 2:23 PM:
Get Real wrote on Sep 24, 2008 1:10 PM:
Karin Byars wrote on Sep 24, 2008 9:23 AM:
Good luck, my heart goes out to you.
P.S. The editor must be blind, if most of the contributions above got past him/her. They certainly are not 'thoughtful' contributions. They are rantings by thugs that qualify to be terroristic threats and are designed to intimidate voters. Shame on you, Frontiersman. "
veteran wrote on Sep 24, 2008 12:23 AM:
road kill wrote on Sep 23, 2008 8:09 PM:
I will vote for McCainPalin wrote on Sep 23, 2008 7:22 PM:
Do I vote for the Obama/Biden Marxist ticket with wealth redistribution(tax) schemes? Who prefers to lose wars and coddle our enemies? Who want to disarm me? Obama with a wife who just recently became proud to be an American.
Or do I vote for the old maverick war hero guy with real guts? Who is now and always has been a proud American. McCain/Palin may not be perfect, but they are right on the issues that matter most to me. Like they say, North(and west) to the Future. "
AKVeteran wrote on Sep 23, 2008 4:29 PM:
I have seen so many hateful, angry comments by McCain/Palin (or is it Palin/McCain?) supporters here, but not so many by the Obama supporters. It just goes to show the kind of "good Christians" that support what passes for the Republican candidates. Likewise, there were a lot of middle fingers on display by the drivers that passed by last Friday. If this is an indication of the level of intelligence and maturity of McPain supporters, you deserve each other. "
Wasilla Resident - one of the 60-70 at Sept. 19 rally wrote on Sep 23, 2008 4:18 PM:
Obama won 75% of the vote in the Alaska presidential primary Super Tues. Feb 5th, 2008. Thousands attended record-breaking caucuses that day. As for me, I sat in Wasilla High School Gym with my jaw dropped to the floor. As a multiethnic of African American-Native American-Anglo American ancestry I had to rethink sterotypes I held of my community. Way to go my fellow Obama-Biden supporters. Each of you make it easy to forget the rude gestures & the 19th and 20th century racist remarks issued from a few passing motorists. "
road kill wrote on Sep 23, 2008 3:18 PM:
jp wrote on Sep 23, 2008 8:14 AM:
and for voting him into office? not me.
when this campaign first started, i recall the media asking people "what do you think about Barrack Obama?" and their reply was "i hope they catch him"
how quickly we turn, when the media hypes us all up, and one sides the whole campaign. "
MassLisa wrote on Sep 23, 2008 1:47 AM:
I hate what this country has become by way of unnecessary and hateful divisions. We need thoughtful, intelligent people like Barack Obama. "
Bert in Juneau wrote on Sep 22, 2008 11:35 PM:
Audreen wrote on Sep 22, 2008 10:40 PM:
Sad Republican wrote on Sep 22, 2008 8:59 PM:
Hey True Alaskan wrote on Sep 22, 2008 8:02 PM:
Me wrote on Sep 22, 2008 7:16 PM:
True Alaskan wrote on Sep 22, 2008 5:25 PM:
Sarah Palin is our governor, and a very GOOD one at that!!! Shame on any Alaskan putting her down!!!! Go back to the lower 48!!!!! "
JEANETTE wrote on Sep 22, 2008 4:59 PM:
USN Retired wrote on Sep 22, 2008 4:20 PM:
And just think how great your retirement would be right now if McCain and Bush would have been able to privatize your retirement accounts.
As a veteran I want a president who will only send our military into harms way when it is needed. "
Christina wrote on Sep 22, 2008 4:18 PM:
my head explodes everything I read these reasons for liking her "
davefromqueens wrote on Sep 22, 2008 2:53 PM:
In 6 years she turned a surplus into a $20 million dollar debt, her anti-environmental policies destroyed the town's lake but she did spend $50,000 of resident's money redecorating her mayor's office and another $24,000 on a brand new SUV. Her management style turned off so many people.
The Palins are bullies, simply small town mafiosa. "
wasilla resident wrote on Sep 22, 2008 1:40 PM:
Marian Michlig wrote on Sep 22, 2008 1:16 PM:
ss wrote on Sep 22, 2008 1:06 PM:
And Lee...just because McCain was a POW does not mean vets should vote for him. Did you know he voted against every bill that tried to find out what happened to all the remaining POW's? Maybe that will give you a clue. I know a few that aren't voting for him because of it. "
tom baker wrote on Sep 22, 2008 12:59 PM:
Y'all votin' fer grampa Ted again, too? "
Patti wrote on Sep 22, 2008 11:41 AM:
j. lowe wrote on Sep 22, 2008 11:11 AM:
Contributions from soldiers overseas are donating to Obama by a ratio of 6 to 1 and have been since the beginning of last year.
Once I knew that fact, then I was fully able to support Obama in the field of foreign affairs.
Thanks for your time,
j. lowe "
Dynahog wrote on Sep 22, 2008 9:59 AM:
FROSTY THE SNOW MAN NEWS ITEM
In Florida yesterday, Sarah Palin drew a crowd of 60,000 at a retirement center. The largest crowd they ever had.
A REAL NEWS ITEM "
You Are Too Much wrote on Sep 22, 2008 9:16 AM:
Brenda wrote on Sep 22, 2008 6:02 AM:
Dan wrote on Sep 22, 2008 4:18 AM:
Its time for America to vote for the future and frankly I feel a sense of dread that so many Americans were following Obama where it has been repeatedly shown that there are other powers in play. "
Annie M wrote on Sep 22, 2008 1:23 AM:
The other three candidates have faced the media, and they are often not nice to any of them. But they don't expect special treatment. Her refusal to cooperate with "Troopergate", is very disturbing. This investigation was started before she accepted the nomination. From where I stand who's the tainted one? "
Ann M. Oregon wrote on Sep 22, 2008 12:51 AM:
If she refuses to move her family to the capital why are the taxpayers of Alaska paying to fly her family back and forth? If she gets elected as Vice President, are the American taxpayers expected to fly Todd and the children and the grandchildren and the boyfriends back and forth from Washington to Wasilla every time they get the urge? "
Ann M. Oregon wrote on Sep 22, 2008 12:39 AM:
Ann Oregon wrote on Sep 22, 2008 12:27 AM:
Can anyone explain who is taking care of Trig while both of his parents are off on the campaign trail. And why her seven year old is being carted along on the campaign trail. Perhaps a publicity stunt "
60 is a crowd wrote on Sep 21, 2008 8:39 PM:
teatwo wrote on Sep 21, 2008 7:27 PM:
teatwo wrote on Sep 21, 2008 7:25 PM:
swf49forObama wrote on Sep 21, 2008 7:01 PM:
" ... that America has learned the right lessons from the Japanese internments during World War II, and that I will stand with them should the political winds shift in an ugly direction." [Page 260-261]
OBAMA/BIDEN '08! "
chicagopearl wrote on Sep 21, 2008 7:00 PM:
We in Illinois are intimately familiar with Obama's voting record (the lack thereof). We have no idea what he really stands for. He votes present on all controversial issues.
He didn't even beat an opponent to get where he is. He used Chicago-style Slash and Burn politics. He had his opponent removed from the ballot.
I bet Sarah Palin will be more difficult to get rid of though. Kudos to Sarah and all tough Alaskans. "
swf49forObama wrote on Sep 21, 2008 6:56 PM:
"... not all my conversations in immigrant communities follow this easy pattern. In the wake of 9/11, my meetings with Arab and Pakistani Americans, ... have a more urgent quality, for the stories of detentions and FBI questioning and hard stares from neighbors have shaken their sense of security and belonging. They have been reminded that the history of immigration in this country has a dark underbelly; they need specific assurances that their citizenship really means something, that America has learned the right lessons from the Japanese internments during World War II, "
swf49forObama wrote on Sep 21, 2008 6:45 PM:
OBAMA/BIDEN '08! "
Palmer Resident wrote on Sep 21, 2008 6:19 PM:
Ak resident wrote on Sep 21, 2008 6:02 PM:
Just the Facts wrote on Sep 21, 2008 4:51 PM:
To A Roman wrote on Sep 21, 2008 4:35 PM:
A friend wrote on Sep 21, 2008 4:31 PM:
NoMcSame/McBarbie! "
Voter wrote on Sep 21, 2008 1:02 PM:
Will wrote on Sep 21, 2008 12:32 PM:
Karin Byars wrote on Sep 21, 2008 12:02 PM:
I am glad 60 people had the nerve to get on the street and act American, y'all ARE American,like it or not. "
Frozentech wrote on Sep 21, 2008 11:49 AM:
Paul wrote on Sep 21, 2008 11:13 AM:
Soon there will be snow and you can "ice em". I love America. "
A. Roman wrote on Sep 21, 2008 11:13 AM:
Topper wrote on Sep 21, 2008 10:55 AM:
jp wrote on Sep 21, 2008 10:21 AM:
Publius wrote on Sep 21, 2008 9:24 AM:
May all Americans, especially Alaskans, honor the service that so few have rendered to the benefit of so many by keeping the rhetoric civil and decent. Freedom of speech is sacred ground. "
SET wrote on Sep 21, 2008 9:16 AM:
Alaskan asks wrote on Sep 21, 2008 9:12 AM:
Cheryl wrote on Sep 21, 2008 8:51 AM:
>
>"I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in
>an ugly direction."
SOME STILL DON"T GET IT DO THEY? "
kday wrote on Sep 21, 2008 8:25 AM:
Bush's personal vendetta with Iraq and his desire for oil money and control were his only reasons for bombing Iraq. Iraq had absolutely NOTHING to do with 911.
Generally Obama will use his brains and diplomacy to run this country and our relationships with other countries rather than guns/brawn. He will use force only when necessary. "
kday wrote on Sep 21, 2008 7:36 AM:
A McCain/Palin win would put women back in the early 19th century and drag our entire nation into more despair under the leadership of more republican liars. "
They are big fat hypocrites... wrote on Sep 21, 2008 7:03 AM:
Concerned resident wrote on Sep 21, 2008 1:18 AM:
Tasha wrote on Sep 20, 2008 11:01 PM:
Love a parade wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:59 PM:
A crowd wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:57 PM: