Sarah Palin, The Mean and Vindictive

The Washington Post has an interesting review of Frank Bailey's book, "Blind Allegiance to Sarah Palin." The Post's article begins:

... In Palin he [Bailey] found a leader who elegantly fused faith and politics. She exuded charm, energy and idealism, and, most important, she inspired trust. Bailey was politically smitten: “In my mind, God had chosen her, and this was His will.”

But God had his own plan for Frank Bailey. The political novice spent nearly four years at Palin’s side only to wind up disillusioned by his “Ronald Reagan in high heels.” In “Blind Allegiance to Sarah Palin,” his political kiss-and-tell based on more than 50,000 Yahoo! account e-mails that he wrote or received as a campaign and administration staffer, Bailey paints a portrait of an erratic, vindictive, unethical politician. Palin emerges as a woman far more interested in power, fame and fortune than in the day-to-day grind of governing. “I am convinced,” Bailey writes, “that her priorities and personality are not only ill suited to head a political party or occupy national office, but would lead to a disaster of, well, biblical proportions.”

Bailey's book promises to be a good read and goes on sale tomorrow. More than anything else, it may paint the best portrait of Sarah Palin, the mean and vindictive. Jeanne Devon and Ken Morris, who co-authored the book with Bailey, have recently written about the book, here, and here.

I hope the book quotes Sarah Palin saying, "I hate this damn job!" The reviewer, Steven Levingston, The Post's non-fiction editor, got the impression that Palin wasn't interested in the "day-to-day grind of governing." But a governor -- or president -- has to be able to handle the executive as well as the ceremonial duties of office. We should never forget that once Wasilla hired a city manager, Palin's mayoralty became a ceremonial post, with the city manager responsible for the day-to-day grind of governing.

Sarah Palin's New Book a Failure

The Washington Post's "Sales of Sarah Palin's book 'America by Heart' are lackluster," confirms what many of us have suspected:

Sarah Palin's magic touch might be fading a bit. ...

... "America by Heart," Palin's new memoir, has logged disappointing receipts since it officially went on sale late last month, publishing sources say. Although the book is second on the New York Times bestseller list this week (behind former president George W. Bush's memoir, "Decision Points") , its publisher, HarperCollins, hasn't ordered a second printing - a sign that sales haven't been overly brisk. ...

Amazon.com's Top 100 list show's Bush's book at #1, but Palin's book at #30. Recently, Palin's book was above #20 on Amazon's list. The book is on the way to the remainder bin.

Palin's PAC, SarahPac, made bulk purchases of the book, which may account for it's place on the Times' bestseller list. Amazon is a large book seller and its ratings may be more reliable.

Update, Dec. 10: Palin's book has slipped from #2 to #5 on the Times' list.

Wasilla's Light

At Gryphen's, there is a story from The National, a newspaper in the United Arab Emirates. In The National's story, about Sarah Palin's book signing in Wasilla, there is a photo of Wasilla's Mocha Moose, during full daylight, and a photo of Jessica's Beehive Beauty Shop in low-light. The National's Mocha Moose photo reminded me of a photo of the Mocha Moose made in low-light by Bill Hess. Seeing The National's photo of Jessica's beauty shop reminded me, too, that there can be some beautiful light in Wasilla.

Here's The National's Mocha Moose photo, where Sarah Palin drives-through:


Here, Bill Hess has made a photo of the Mocha Moose when he visited at another time of day:

As I pulled up to the drive-through at Mocha Moose for my
afternoon coffee break, ...

And, here is the low-light photo of Jessica's Beehive Beauty Shop, where Sarah Palin has had her hair done:

Frank Flavin's photos are from a story about Sarah Palin's book signing, in Wasilla, Alaska.

Bill Hess covered the book signing, too. Bill Hess has seen Russia from Alaska! Bill Hess' blog — Wasilla, Alaska, by 300 ... — can be found on the blogroll.