Going Rogue
An American Life
by Sarah Palin
Overview
From the Publisher
Sarah Palin grew up in Alaska towns, from Skagway to Wasilla to Anchorage, while her dad taught science and coached high school sports. She and her future husband, Todd Palin, graduated from Wasilla High School in 1982, and she went on to earn her college degree from the School of Journalism at the University of Idaho. Palin served two terms on the Wasilla City Council, then two terms as the city's mayor and manager, and was elected by her peers as president of the Alaska Conference of Mayors. She then chaired the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, and the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission. Palin was elected Alaska's youngest, and first female, governor, serving from 2006 to 2009. While serving her state she was tapped as Senator John McCain's running mate in 2008, becoming the first female Republican vice presidential candidate in our nation's history.
The Palins reside in Wasilla with their five children, including a son in the U.S. Army, and one grandson. They enjoy an extended family throughout Alaska and the Lower 48.
My thoughts
After reading this book, I've become a fan of Sarah Palin. Prior to reading the book, well, I wasn't so sure. She was brilliant in her first speech as a Vice-Presidental candidate, but I wasn't really sure what to believe about everything that happened after that magical night. So many odd things happened; so much political media spin was in action.
I now have a lot of respect for this woman who, despite some public opinion, just doesn't quit! No, really. She doesn't quit! She does the right thing even at the risk of jeopardizing her political career. Sarah answers the charges that were brought against her during the campaign, and she tells "the rest of the story" on those controversial issues that kept cropping up in the weeks leading up to the election. She tosses out a theory about some of the McCain campaign staffers which mirrors a suspicion I'd considered. Overall I thought she did a great job in explaining difficult situations and awkward moments.
We've not seen the last of Sarah Palin, of that I'm sure. Where I was pretty confident that she couldn't be a political contender on the national level in 2010, I'm open to the consideration now. One thing about Sarah Palin - she's tough as nails. She's got a lot of determination and she's a fighter. It's going to be fascinating to see where she goes from here.
Favorite Passage
In Alaska, we don't have big-league professional sports teams or many celebrities (except famous dog mushers), so for many up here politics is just another sport. So even as I covered sports, my interest in public policy and how it affected people continued to grow.
