Another cub abandoned -- Mama Grizzly skips an appearance

Sarah Palin has given Republican Curt Didier's Washington State senate primary campaign $5000 and taped a robocall for him, but he was expecting much, much more. From The Seattle Times' "Didier's hopes of a Palin visit fading:"

Republican Clint Didier has been trying to get former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to headline political rallies or fund-raising events for him since she endorsed the former NFL player's U.S. Senate candidacy in May.

In June, Didier campaign advisers told POLITICO that Palin described herself as "all in" for Didier. They hoped to schedule two Palin events, one in Eastern Washington and one on the west side.

Last month, when I visited Didier on his farm near Pasco, he said he still expected Palin would do an event for him before the primary. That could have given his underdog campaign a needed boost to get past GOP establishment favorite Dino Rossi and take on Sen. Patty Murray in November.

But with just a few days before primary ballots are counted Aug. 17, a Palin visit isn't looking likely.

Didier had been trying to get Palin to commit to an event Saturday.

But Didier campaign consultant Kathryn Serkes told me via e-mail today that event "looks like a no... we can't wait any longer to plan, so will plan without her."

In an interview Wednesday, Serkes attributed the difficulty to Palin's hectic schedule. "She gave her word and she's doing the best she can. We know that," Serkes said.

Serkes said Palin did agree to record a personal message that Didier can use in statewide robo-calls to voters.

Today? Two days before the count? Palin lends Didier her voice.

When will Mama Grizzly go into hibernation?

Bears hibernate, right? So, when can we expect Mama Grizzly, a.k.a. Sarah Palin, to go into hibernation? She needs the rest. We could use a break.

It turns out there is some debate as to whether grizzly bears actually hibernate. From Wikipedia's Grizzly Bear entry:

In preparation for winter, bears can gain approximately 400 lb (180 kg), during a period of hyperphagia, before going into a state of false hibernation. The bear often waits for a substantial snowstorm before it enters its den, such behaviour lessening the chances that predators will be able to locate the den. The dens themselves are typically located at elevations above 6,000 feet on northern-facing slopes. There is some debate amongst professionals as to whether grizzly bears technically hibernate. Much of the debate revolves around body temperature and the ability of the bears to move around during hibernation on occasion. Grizzly bears have the ability to "partially" recycle their body wastes during this period. In some areas where food is plentiful year round, grizzly bears skip hibernation altogether.

Oh, no. Her food -- she thrives on attention -- hasn't been scarce this year, so Mama Grizzly may not need to hiberate! It's a disappointment, I know. Better luck next year?

The Wikipedia article contains a lot of information about ursus arctos horribilis (latin for horrible arctic bear); for example, its range used to extend into Mexico and the midwest, but is now limited, with the exception of Montana in the lower 48, to western Canada and Alaska.