Vanessa’s Blog

So. You may have heard by now, but if not, I’ll fill you in: Today, Sunday, is my last day at The Free Press.

I’ll be moving on to a paper in the Chapel Hill area.

To all of you who’ve kept up with my blog, thanks. It’s been a pleasure to write it.

I know my Greene County replacement — single girl Sarah Campbell — will be awesome. She’s already got a blog set up herself.

My crime replacement — Justin Schoenberger — should be pretty good, too.

If you see them out and about, go say hi. They won’t bite. Honest.

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Final on the iPod:

Elton John: I’m Still Standing
John Mayer: Wheel
Scrubs: My Musical: For the Last Time I’m Dominican
Led Zeppelin: THe Wanton Song
Autopilot Off: Clockwork

I think the best political ads — like other ads — are the ones that don’t use politicians. They use real people dealing with real issues.

An ad from Women Against McCain Palin illustrates that perfectly:

I don’t care if you agree with Palin’s pro-life stance, even in cases of incest and rape, this is a powerful ad.

I am not allowed to vote.

As a resident alien of the United States (and someone who is going through the tedious and expensive process of trying to become a citizen), it doesn’t matter how many years I’ve been in the country. It doesn’t matter how much I know about the political system and history of this country.

I’m not going to discuss whether or not I think that’s a good or bad thing because that’s pretty irrelevant.

I am going to say that every American should go out there and exercise their right to vote. But if you haven’t registered, do it quickly; in North Carolina, tomorrow’s your last day.

Also, I guess I did vote in a way:

Heh.

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Oh the iPod:

Foreigner: I Want to Know What Love Is
Squeeze: Tempted
Simon & Garfunkel: The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)
Mat Kearney: Poor Boy
Sufjan Stevens: Jacksonville

Here’s the link I was talking about.  You can view it even if you’re not on Facebook.  Click me.

Sorry about the weird photo layout in the last post.  I’m posting them to an album as we speak, and I’ll link it when I’m done.  That way, you’ll get to see all the photos (or at least the good ones).

The event was definitely interesting. They made a concerted effort to keep people focused and entertained throughout the evening, starting with the live music, to the speeches from all kinds of state Republicans to campaign videos from Pat McCrory, Elizabeth Dole and John McCain.

The speeches were fairly partisan, which makes sense, but I don’t think they would’ve changed the minds of Democrats and Independents who were watching on TV or who happened to be in the audience. I don’t know if that was the purpose, though.  I would think that people who stood in line for hours and hours, at the very least, would be ardent supporters.

State Sen. Jean Preston delivered a fiery speech that garnered some cheers from the crowd, despite the fact that I bet most people there didn’t know who she was. 

State Rep. Louis Pate Jr. delivered a speech that was more policy oriented — never a crowd pleaser. Still, I found his speech interesting for its content, if not its delivery.

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory touted his record as mayor as a way to say the people in Raleigh right now don’t care about us, don’t care about the gang problem taking over small towns all over the state.  That was well received.

Sen. Elizabeth Dole spoke for a good long time, almost as long as Palin herself. She mentioned Reagan — always a crowd pleaser — and how his faith in God pulled him through. Again, well received.

Sen. Richard Burr got people fired up right before Palin herself came out.  His speech was mostly about getting people to keep North Carolina red. 

I just watched the debate, so I’m a little politics’d out, to be honest.  I’ll bring my notes with me tomorrow to work and I’ll write a more in depth analysis. 

So. The Palin event is over. I’m finally home (no thanks to Greenville PD who wouldn’t let traffic go down Greenville Boulevard at all and didn’t think a sign was necessary to warn people to go in ANY OTHER DIRECTION). The story’s in.I haven’t eaten since noon, so I’m going to reheat some leftovers, but then I’ll be back to give my final take on the story and post a bunch more pictures. So you don’t feel all neglected, here’s some pictures I took:   A mom holding a cute kid, who ran around waving those purple and gold pom-poms.  Lipstick wearers for Palin.     The main event, as it were. 

Palin on Ayers:

“He (Barack Obama) didn’t know he had launched his political career in the living room of a terrorist?”

Sarah’s on the stage. They’ve been cheering for 5 minutes straight. No joke. Got some pictures of her. Will post later tonight.

“It looks like Greenville knows a little something about how to turn an underdog into a victor.”

Sen. Richard Burr’s taking the stage. After him, the main event.

MY TAKE: He’s playing up the idea that Gov. Palin is “one of us.” She balances the cares of work and motherhood. She’s a “gun-totin’ woman.”

He’s firing up a crowd that doesn’t really need it. He’s talking about her anti-corruption record, but leaving out, of course, that which doesn’t fit with that record.

Palin’s on the way from the Pitt airport. She should be here soon, as she won’t have to stop at red lights or stop signs, according to Henry Hinton.

I’m having a hard time loading the pictures — hence the links to them — but I’ll try to get some good ones up there tonight when I’m at home and several hundred media reps aren’t trying to use the same internet.

MY TAKE: Sen. Dole’s speech was interesting. She certainly did a good job at firing up the base. She made reference to NY Sen. Chuck Schumer, who helped get Kay Hagan in the Senate race. Here’s what Dole had to say about that:

“He’s trying to buy North Carolina with his New York money, and we’re not going to let that happen.”