Sarah's Palin Project: Part One

Today, during AP Government class, I was quite stunned to learn that 2008 Republican Vice-President nominee Sarah Palin is going to be in Columbia on Friday.  Not only in Columbia, but approximately three minutes down the road from my residence.  Apparently, Books-a-Million is hosting a book signing for her latest book, America by Heart: Reflections on Family, Faith, and Flag.  I was bouncing in my desk all day at school, waiting for 3:33 PM to finally arrive so I could zoom to BAM and find out the specifics.

First of all, you should know that I'm not a huge Palin follower.  I think she's an extremely classy person (notice I said person, not woman) who is devoted to (mostly) solid values--and of course I love her style and spunk.  We agree on a lot and we also disagree on a lot.  So she's just like any other politician, right?

Wrong.  What is it about her that makes conservatives swoon and liberals tremble?

I'm determined to find out.  

And so at approximately 11:28 AM on December 1, 2010, the mission I will label as "Sarah's Palin Project" was born.

What is the SPP?  Well, let me explain.  I will meet Governor Palin in the book signing line, let her sign my copy of America by Heart, and hopefully get a picture with her (although that is highly doubtful because of her security regulations).  But instead of just shaking her hand and leaving, I am going to leave a letter with her.

This letter will have my heart poured out into it.  Basically, I'm going to express to her how it feels to grow up in such trying times in America and my deep-rooted fears for the future of our nation.  It won't be a partisan statement; I'm going to express disgust at both sides of the political spectrum--yes, even the Tea Party, who is currently her biggest supporter.  This won't be a letter that grovels at her feet--because honestly, I don't agree with her enough to do that.  This will be a letter of sincerity and hope for change (but not "Change We Can Believe In").

And I'm going to see if I get a reply.

I'll admit that it's a long-shot, considering she's a family woman who races between states every week (and still manages to look gorgeous and put-together while she does it). But I'll post my letter to her here, and if she replies, then I will post her letter on the blog.

Of course, this is an extremely short-notice project.  But my journalistic instincts are screaming at me.  This is an opportunity for a real story, even if it is only discussing how kind or unkind Governor Palin is at the book-signing.

So, Step One of Sarah's Palin Project:
(excuse the primitive pictures; I was using an iPhone and was trying to be inconspicuous as I took pictures of total strangers)

1.) Go to Books-a-Million and stand in line for five minutes to buy the book.

45 degrees outside, yet the Palin admirers wait...

2.) Go stand in another line for two and half hours to swap your receipt for a wristband.

 At least we found some heat...

 

Might as well start reading the book since we're here for two and a half hours...

 

 Se-cur-i-ty! Se-cur-i-ty! This dude needs to go!

3.) Collect your rewards...

No, I haven't read the book yet, but I can't resist a cheesy photo op.

The golden ticket  

4.) Write the letter and wait...and wait...and wait...

 This should be a fun and interesting project...the letter to Governor Palin will be posted as soon as it is finished.