Taking To The Streets

MLB is out of town this weekend at a friend’s wedding. We Gchatted this morning before I left for the Alaska Women Reject Palin rally.

“I had a cupcake for breakfast this morning, just in case,” I told him. “When I’m bleeding to death on the lawn at the Loussac, at least I’ll know I had that last moment of pleasure.”

Okay, so maybe I was being a little overdramatic. But after all the buildup to this Alaska Women Reject Palin rally, I really wasn’t sure what to expect. Violence? Bloodshed? Bitter hockey moms clinging to their guns and religion?

Now that it’s over, mostly what I have to say is: Wow. Just — ohmygoodness. Wow.

We really owe Eddie Burke on this one. As I mentioned the other day, I was kind of on the fence about going to the Alaska Women Reject Palin rally today. Then Mr. Burke, a local right-wing radio host, broadcast the names and phone numbers of the organizers and his listeners made some threatening phone calls, and he planned a rally at the same time and place for “traditional families” to get out and show the “socialist, baby-killing maggots” (Side Note: That’s anyone who doesn’t support Sarah Palin for vice-president, apparently; undecided voters be apprised) that their (our) opinions don’t matter to Real Alaskans.

Here’s what we learned today: If you want to get Alaskans out in full force, tell them to stay home. I’ve been to demonstrations before. But I’ve never seen anything like this in Anchorage.



No one got a head count as far as I know, but I’ve heard estimates between 1,000 and 1,500. Which is pretty impressive considering Anchorage’s size. It’s the per capita equivalent of about 44,000 people turning out to protest in NYC. (Side Note: Thanks to Steve at What Do I Know?, whose math is more accurate than mine.) USA Today and CNN were there, too.


By the way, Anchorage? I’m totally impressed with your sign-making prowess.


Even those signs that didn’t necessarily sparkle artistically at least employed clever turn of phrase.


And ingenuity.




There were some Palin supporters there, and they represented themselves fairly well. I only heard about a couple of verbal scuffles, and as far as I know there were no physical altercations. There was one woman early on who was kind of wandering up and down the median screaming at us to “support the troops.” Some women shouted back that they’d support the troops by bringing them home. She didn’t respond. Another woman discoursed with the crowd about why working women love Palin. (Side Note: I’m pretty sure my mom would beg to differ on that.)


These people had a really pretty sign.


Still, though some of the anti-Palin signs weren’t quite as polished, they more than made up for it in moxie.





We were standing around taking in the scene sometime around 12:30, when a terse-looking woman stopped next to us, said “Here comes Eddie Burke. He’s shaking hands,” and moved on to warn the next group.


I only had a second to think about what I’d do if Eddie Burke tried to shake my hand (Side Note: Was this a “be the bigger person” moment, or ought I simply politely decline to shake hands with someone who called me a “baby-killing maggot”?) when he stopped to talk to a reporter — and suddenly we found ourselves on the edge of a media-and-Democrat scrum.



I’m surprised Channel 2 managed to actually get a quote from Burke; the “O-BA-MA!” chanting had to have drowned him out.

Among the people I recognized in the crowd: Childhood classmates, former teachers, parents of friends, friends of parents, co-workers past and present, students, bloggers, Young Lawyers, mentors, friends from church, and Jake Metcalfe, who brought little Margaret to check out her first demonstration.


Among the people I didn’t recognize: State employees who came in disguise because of a rumor going around that the Palin administration was going to be there looking for sheep who’d strayed from the flock.


Among the people I didn’t see but who was apparently there: Maureen effing Dowd. I kid you not.

There was also a small but enthusiastic cadre of voters supporting a better vice-presidential candidate: My mom.




My mom’s campaign has now received coverage in the Washington Post, mostly because the reporter happened to be standing behind Aliza as she shot video of me outlining my mom’s qualifications.

I’ve got to hand it to you, Anchorage: We did good. After Friday night’s staggering performance on “20/20,” which a group of us watched, slackjawed, on TiVo after the Young Professionals for Begich party, our hands clasped over our faces in disbelief, I was feeling kind of down. But you gave me my hope back, Anchorage. You gave a lot of people their hope back. And to the majority of the Palin fans who showed: Thanks for being civil. Even if you were being civil in the course of trying to ruin our party.


(Side Note: Here’s the tough thing about cheering for the other side. When there are fifteen Palin rejectors to every Palin fan, it’s really easy to turn “Go, Sarah, Go!” into “No Sarah, No!” And, unfortunately for McCain supporters, when you’re in a crowd on the side of a busy street, “No-ba-ma!” sounds pretty much just exactly like “O-ba-ma!” No wonder they started to cross the street.)





Dozens more photos over at Flickr, plus this video of the scene, with commentary by Superwife and yours truly:



Update! Lots more rally coverage:

• Aliza’s videos of women of various ages talking about why they came, plus approximately eight zillion photos.
• Writing Raven’s reaction at Alaska Real.
• Phil’s take at Progressive Alaska.
• Superwife’s photos and commentary.
• Celtic Diva’s account.

Epilogue

B-Dice called a few minutes ago to tell me he and McGeez stopped at Taco King after the demonstration.

“Dude,” B-Dice said to McGeez. “Why is everyone looking at me strangely?”

“Because,” McGeez said, “you’re wearing a ‘Maia’s Mom For VP’ sticker.”