Palin shows the nation the real Sarah

Dear Sarah:

A quick note to say you did the Mat-Su Valley and your hometown proud. You did pretty well in the vice presidential debate last night. You made some strong remarks, and after looking a bit shaky at the outset (and we can understand being nervous), you settled down to present to the world the same confident, comfortable Sarah we’ve known and voted for.

We can tell you’ve boned up on some of the myriad of subjects that you’ve had to cram on since accepting the VP nomination. There just isn’t a lot of reason for the governor of Alaska to be able to pronounce the names of  a whole cast of world leaders. Studying the votes of Sen. John McCain for the last three decades alone would keep you busy night and day for the past month.

We were glad to see your strength emerge and pleased to hear your voice. We took heart when you mentioned your family, your friends and your hometown:

“We need a little reality from Wasilla Main Street in Washington, D.C.”

That was a bit of balm after not mentioning you always read the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman in that CBS interview with Katie Couric. That breeze we felt here in the Valley may have been the collective exhale of Republicans everywhere as you showed poise and grit in facing a skilled political opponent.

Having said that, we hope you can take some advice from some people who, no matter our political stance, want you to reflect well on Alaska.

1. Limit the use of the word “maverick.”

2. Repeat your message, but use your own voice. When you stop being yourself and saying your own words, it shows.

3. Keep up the “shout outs” to third-graders at an Anchorage elementary or elsewhere. It makes you real. But don’t overuse them.

3. Deliver your message your way, with your style, wearing what you like to wear. Tell the handlers to back off. The American public fell in love with the Sarah style, not the GOP-revised Sarah.

4. When you start to lose your center, call home. Talk to the folks. Talk to your siblings. Chat with your friends. Keep reading all those newspapers.

There’s a month to go in this race, and the spotlight will continue to be on Alaska’s governor and former mayor of Wasilla. Give Americans the real Sarah Palin.

Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman