Posted on 11/01/2008 8:59:41 AM PDT by rintense
Halloween for many adults is a time to be a kid again, albeit sometimes a drunken kid. Who would have thought it would give valuable insight into election 2008, and quite possibly, a big reason for McCain/Palin supporters to believe in victory? No tricks like illegal voter registrations or unrevealed birth certificates, only lots of treats in high fives, photo requests, thumbs ups, and even a few indecent proposals. Where did all this optimism and reason to believe begin? Quite simple- I was Sarah Palin for Halloween.
It all began last weekend at a friend’s Halloween party. Being Sarah Palin was a natural choice for me- we shared identical values and beliefs, a love of sports and knee high boots. Of course, doing a spot on voice impression, quite by accident, sort of made the Halloween choice obvious. So, I grabbed a nice new black suit, which I needed anyway, put the hair up in that oh so naughty librarian style, and headed to the party. It was a small party, but the reactions to being Sarah Palin were overwhelming positive. Party goers wanted to get their pictures with Sarah, most of which were supporters of the McCain/Palin ticket. And the high fives and ‘yes!’ shouts from party goers started to reveal something, either there are a lot of unknown, unpolled McCain/Palin fans out there, or a lot of happy and tipsy Halloween goers. Perhaps both.
But the bigger surprise came on Halloween night as I once again dressed as my alter ego Sarah, and headed out for the big parties. Again, arriving at a friend’s house before we headed to the party, the folks loved Sarah. Lots of high fives and photo requests again. This time, many were willing to talk politics- and many laid it all on the table. It was quite surprising how many admitted they do not trust Barack Hussein Obama. Others said the whole idea of spreading the wealth was, well, I can’t type those words, but you can bet they were not good. Even a few party goers insisted Obama is really a Muslim and is adding that to his long list of lies. In many ways, talking with fellow party goers was like blogging with Republicans and conservatives- but in the flesh.
So we headed to the party at a local popular nightclub in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The crowd was full of various costumes including a lot of Michael Phelps. Guys, a word of advice : unless you have a smokin’ body, you really can’t pull off the Phelps look, let alone parade around in a speedo. But I digress. As I was walking into the bar, the shouts of ‘Sarah!!!’ began. I did my Sarah wave, point and smile, and the revelers loved it. The ladies would tug on my suit coat and say, ‘Oh my God, I love Sarah!’ One woman was dressed as an Eskimo and wanted a picture with Governor Palin. And the guys, well, I’m sure you can imagine as words like, ‘hot’ were oh so common. It was pretty clear that many party goers had Palin fever.
During one of the many hot laps (a term for walking around the bar), I ran into lots of people dressed in political garb. One woman was dressed as Auntie Sam with McCain/Palin stickers and buttons on. Of course, there were a few others who tried to pull of Sarah Palin, but didn’t quite succeed due to wrong glasses, hair, etc. There were even a few John McCains. Yes, even the one, that one, was there. With an entourage of secret service guys wearing ‘Yes We Can’ buttons, a man with an Obama mask made his appearance. The mask thing was quite ironic in my mind since no one really knows the real Barack Obama. It truly was a fitting way to depict the chosen one. The Obama group saw me and the ‘Sarah!’ shouts began along with hand shakes, and more requests for pictures. It was very light-hearted and fun, with the Obama guys quipping that I was going to lose on Tuesday. Of course, Sarah just graciously said, ‘we’ll see… we’re going to win and shock everyone’. The surrounding crowd jumped into the political merriment and agreed with me. One guy asked me what I thought about healthcare and government involvement. My reply was simple: Government is quite often the problem and has no place in healthcare. As I was doing a photo op with Obama, a SWAT team member asked if I was going to win on Tuesday. A ‘you betcha’ reply with a wink was his answer. That, of course, prompted another photo op with the guys dressed as a SWAT team. While the photos were being taken, they whispered in my ear, ‘I’m voting for you on Tuesday.’
At the end of the night, the crowd was asked to vote for best costume. The SWAT guys and Obama were some of the finalists. When the SWAT guys went on stage, the crowd went nuts. And Obama? Completely drowned out with boos. I, of course, found a sinister level of delight in it all. The symbolism was huge. This is Michigan, a blue state that by all accounts, should go to Obama. Yet, this crowd had chosen, and they had not chosen the chosen one. That, along with the overwhelming glee and giddiness my costume evoked, gave me pause to wonder, to hope, and a reason to believe.
There is no science behind my conclusion, no polls to give statistics and numbers, no mainstream media spin. There is only first hand experience with hundreds of 21-50 year old Michiganders. This Tuesday, the country and the world may be in for a shocking upset that even the best sports analogy wouldn’t do justice. What a treat that will be.
Well thanks!
Best. Costume. Ever!
LMAO!
First time I’ve seen that.
This happened to me one Halloween. Back in the day (close to 20 years ago) when I was in really good shape, I went as pro wrestler Randy "Macho Man" Savage. Same height, same weight, same age, looked like him, could do the voice, the whole nine yards. I even got asked for autographs!
BTW, rintense, you do a good Sarah Palin! Hope you have at least another four years to employ this!
Too funny! Now wipe this diet coke off my screen or buy me a new monitor! :)
Super Couric greeting, may I say.
Nam Vet
Thank you for your Halloween story; I hope it is very scary for followers of The One.
Awesome story. We WILL win.
Oops, should have mentioned SMART, too.
Thanks, but its the costume. I’m a jeans and baseball hat kinda gal. :)
Looter guy! great costume, just great!
Good Lord, thanks for the belly laugh! Looter guy is the epitome of the Obama supporter.
Cool!
I was up until really late, and went out to the convenience store for an ice cream bar about 3 o’clock this morning. Talked to the clerk there. He basically said he had thought Obama was going to turn out to be a great candidate, but he’s decided that the big O is a big 0.
awesome pics!!
many I hadn’t seen yet...they encourage me!
thanks!
Thanks... here in central Wisconsin we have our share of Obama signs, (This a huge democrat base... Dammed if I know why.) but more and more McCain/Palin signs have been creeping into the picture. More so than when Bush ran for re-election in 04.
I am optimistic of a McCain victory. I just voted absentee and it felt good to vote for McCain!
Loved reading your story. You make a great Sarah Palin!
You maverick you! ; )
Ya know I never noticed the upside down beer bottle Looter Guy's back pocket.
Love the one finger salute for Katie. Nobody is more deserving. Great costume!
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