From Time.com, “Where Palin Made Her Name” by Nathan Thornburgh This is a touching and extremely well written profile of Wasilla, AK and its most famous resident:
It’s Friday night, and there have got to be 500 people packed into the Sluice Box, a beer-soaked clapboard honky-tonk at the Alaska State Fair – the state’s biggest event all year – just down the highway from Governor Sarah Palin’s hometown of Wasilla. The legendary Hobo Jim, Alaska’s official state balladeer, the guy who has opened sessions of the legislature with a song, is onstage, working blue… He plays a Patsy Cline cover. They cheer. He gives shout-outs to the military, then to the great Alaska Railroad. They cheer. He plays the Star-Spangled Banner. They cheer. Then he takes a set break so everyone can step outside to smoke and watch the fireworks pop off above the adjacent field. When the finale comes, a burst of greens sizzlers, they cheer. Back inside: “How many of you’ve seen the Discovery Channel Deadliest Catch? Ice Road Truckers?” Cheer. “We’re getting famous up here!” Huge cheer. “And now our governor’s going to be Vice President!” Roar.
Read the whole thing. Although short, it’s one of the best profile s of Palin and her hometown that you’ll see anywhere.
