It's Come To This: Sarah Palin To Address Graduating Class of 26 in Republic, WA

Seattle Weekly ^ | May 30, 2013 | Ellis E. Conklin

[Bratch]

A very persistent Republic High School senior with an odd fascination for Sarah Palin managed to convince the sassy caribou-skinning gal from Wasilla to bring her show – or what little is left of it – to the tiny Eastern Washington town of Republic.

If you haven’t heard, Palin, whose boundless anti-intellectualism can still leave one breathless, will deliver the commencement address to the school’s graduating class of 26 on Saturday afternoon. Each graduate has been given 20 tickets to distribute, which should guarantee that the 700-person capacity gym will be pleasantly stuffed.

Still, to a large extent, Palin’s visit has drawn a rather ho-hum reaction from the 1,073 folks who populate this old gold mining town in Ferry County.

“I haven’t heard much about it all, or anyone really talking about it” says Alice Barnes, bartender at Madonna’s, a bar and grill on Main Street.

“I don’t think there’s that much going on, other than her going to talk at the school. We’ve been left completely out of the loop of this,” sniffs Jim Milner, director of the town’s chamber of commerce. “We’ve been working on our annual Prospector Days celebration next weekend. That will be a lot bigger deal than this.”

Palin’s star-power is barely a glimmer these a days. “We’ve had no requests from anyone in the national media,” notes Republic High principal Shawn Anderson, who’s coordinating the event. Indeed, it’s been a long, strange journey for the one-time governor Alaska who John McCain recklessly plucked out of obscurity to jump-start his moribund campaign in 2008.

Since losing the election, Palin has frittered about: Up and quitting her post as governor, buying a lavish $1.7 million home in Scottsdale, writing a memoir Going Rogue: An American Life, working three years as a paid contributor to FOX, forming her own SarahPAC, and endorsing such mustard gas oozing conservatives as Christine (“I am not a witch” ) O’Donnell.

Occasionally, she’ll speak – for a handsome fee, of course – at various right-wing shindigs where nary a prying reporter is allowed to ask those darn “Gotcha” questions such as “What newspapers do you read?” At a recent meeting of the Conservative Political Action Committee, Palin demonstrated that cheery vulgarity we’ve grown to love her for, “Todd’s got the rifle, I’ve got the rack.”

And now, Palin, the poor darling with presumably with nothing much better to do, other than taking in a some playoff basketball -- she sat courtside at Sunday’s Heat-Pacer’s game – is on to Republic, eager to capture the hearts and minds of 26 graduates.

How did this all come to be?

Seems this 17-year-old kid named Tyler Weyer, the class president, has long held this fixation about Palin. So when the school year began, and fellow seniors began to ponder potential commencement speakers, Weyer, recalls principal Anderson, said, “Hey, what about Sarah Palin?’ And everyone liked the idea.”

Weyer, who plans to attend Wenatchee Community College next fall and transfer to WSU to study political science, typed up a invitation, had it put on school letterhead, and sent it to Palin’s parents.

“He’s a real politician at heart,” says Anderson, “and he’s a conservative. Palin is kind of his idol.”

In early April, when nothing had come of the letter to Palin’s parents, Weyer organized a class picture, with everyone wearing their class sweatshirts and posed behind a banner that read: “We Want You! Governor Palin!” They posted the photo on Facebook.

As the Spokesman Review reports, “As word of the Class of ’13’s efforts spread, people began lobbying Palin directly, via Facebook and other ways. Weyer said that Palin has some relatives living in the Republic area, which might have helped bring their efforts some attention, and Palin herself was born not far away in Sandpoint, where her parents have a long history.

“Whatever it was, something finally broke through. As Weyer put it, ‘the right word got to the right people’...

“On April 18, Weyer and school officials had the phone call with Palin’s representative and learned that Palin would be coming to graduation.”

“It was worth a million dollars to see the look on (Weyer’s) face,’ Anderson said.

Anderson tells Seattle Weekly that Palin’s schedulers have been keeping her travel plans “fairly confidential.”

“She’ll probably fly into Spokane and then driver here (a two-and-a-half hour drive). I know she’s not going to stay overnight. I am hoping, though, that she’ll have a little time to address all the (113 Republic High School) students before the speech, but I don’t know.”

Asked if this was the biggest thing he’s ever seen during his ten years in Republic, Anderson replies, “No, probably the biggest thing was when the Tigers won the state championship in 2003-2004. We were state champs in the 2B Division.”

Later, Anderson adds wistfully, “Do you remember who spoke at your high school graduation? No, I don’t remember either. I just hope this is something they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.”

Certainly, it will be forever cemented in the memory bank of Tyler Weyer, a life-long resident of this wooded hamlet. As for Sarah Palin, surely there will be the realization that it has come to this -- and wasn’t it a long way down.

[onyx]

B T T T ! ! ! ©

[Sarah Barracuda]

even his name sounds stupid..I have a feeling he got the crap beaten out of him in high school..send Todd to his house to pay him a little visit, bet he hides under his bed

[bigfootbob]

This is what passes as wit in Seattle proper. This guy is probably a metrosexual or gay. Not much different between the two. He’s jealous Sarah has Todd’s rifle if you get my drift...

[Slings and Arrows]

What a sad little man.

[ConorMacNessa]

"Anti-Intellectualism?"

I think not! The leftists who so gleefully disparage the intellect of anyone on the Right side of the aisle are the ones who have shut off debate, dumbed-down our society and rejected out of hand the tradition handed down to us - i.e. Western Civilization - which, as interpreted and implemented by the Founding Fathers, and fostered by generations of Patriots, has given freedom and prosperity to millions!

How many more clean and honest patriots will be run through the meat grinder before the American people wake up and see what is being lost?



"Riamh nár dhruid ó sbairn lann!"

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[DTogo]

Probably had flashbacks and a cold sweat while writing this drivel.

[WVKayaker]

I am now living in the Philippines. This morning, I saw the "Sarah Palin's Alaska" Episode where Kate+8 went camping with the Palin clan (I saw it when it first premiered, but love her enough to watch again). It reminds me of this guy.

All talk... no spine!

[kcvl]

Condescending bastard who thinks he is smarter than everyday NORMAL people.

[Frank_2001]

“Boundless anti-intellectualism”??? That just proves she’s SMART! “Intellectuals” think spending money we don’t have will lead to prosperity, and making the IRS the collection agent for socialist health care will mean that 100 year olds will be out running marathons, among other things... And now we ooze mustard gas, in addition to being rabid, fire-breathing snarling attack dogs...What’s next, that conservatives emit nuclear waste?/s;)

[greene66]

I find this whole thing of Palin speaking to a small-town high school graduation so incredibly cool.

[kcvl]

He can’t even get anyone to follow him on Twitter...

https://mobile.twitter.com/ellisconklin1

[RginTN]

Until today I’ve never heard of the Seattle Weekly.

[SMM48]

Is this the guy?

Hey, what's for dinner?

[Timber Rattler]

So what?

Obama Kalamazoo Central High School Graduation speech

[jonrick46]

I wonder if Conklin’s misogyny is a result of some domestic experience? Maybe it was the result of his past experience as Senator Maria Cantwell’s (D-WA) communications director. Maybe Maria rubbed Conklin the wrong way. Yikes!

[2ndDivisionVet]

"Since losing the election, Palin has frittered about: Up and quitting her post as governor, buying a lavish $1.7 million home in Scottsdale, writing a memoir Going Rogue: An American Life, working three years as a paid contributor to FOX, forming her own SarahPAC, and endorsing such mustard gas oozing conservatives as Christine (“I am not a witch” ) O’Donnell."

A) What election did Sarah Palin lose? Oh, you mean the 2008 defeat of John McCain against an overwhelming Chicago/DNC/Black/Union/Youth machine with Dubya's legacy hanging like an albatross around his neck? That election? (B) Wasn't Going Rogue a New York Times bestseller? (C) What does "mustard gas oozing conservative" mean exactly? And wasn't Gov. Palin's endorsement record in 2010 and 2012 much better than anyone else's, including professionals with hundreds of millions of dollars to work with (see Karl Rove) and put people like Rand Paul and Ted Cruz where they are today? Or did I miss something?

[onyx]

Ellis E. Conklin, obviously missing his testicles....LOL.

[exit82]

Shouldn’t be snarky to President No. 45.

[jonrick46]

Yep. That’s him. Could he be gay? Can’t find any marital connections.