Palin in Asheville? You betcha

According to a brief announcement on the Buncombe County Republican Party’s Web site, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the GOP’s vice-presidential candidate, will visit Asheville this Sunday, Oct. 26, for a rally at the Asheville Civic Center.

Tickets to the rally are free, but are limited to two per person. In Asheville, tickets can be picked up today (Friday, Oct. 24), between 4 and 8 p.m. at the Republicans’ Victory ‘08 Headquarters (16 Regent Park Blvd.). They will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Information on obtaining electronic tickets, as well as other WNC ticket locations, is available on the McCain/Palin campaign Web site.

According to that site, doors at the Civic Center will open at 4 p.m. on Sunday, and attendees must arrive by 6 p.m. For security reasons, both bags and signs will not be permitted into the rally.

— Jon Elliston, managing editor

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About Jon Elliston
Former Mountain Xpress managing editor Jon Elliston is the senior editor at WNC magazine.

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69 thoughts on “Palin in Asheville? You betcha

  1. dave marks

    I’m getting tickets. I am a Joe Sixpack who would love to see Sarah in person…dontchaknow.

  2. Jacquie

    What? So you say Sarah came to Asheville and an Obama Rally came to HER???? Is this a Halloween prank? What if we all go dressed up like Sarah Palin in an Obama T-shirt???

  3. Jacquie

    So about 30 people so far are going to the civic center dressed as “sarah palin the obama supporter” if you care to join us put on your glasses, put your hair up and do your best Alaskan accent. Sunday Sarah hearts Obama in Asheville! Spread the word. This is a fun non-violent way to express our support for Obama! Let’s see how many Sarah’s we can have waving flags and signs supporting OBAMA!!

  4. dave marks

    Jacquie, looks like you didn’t read all of the article, or worse yet, didn’t understand the content because you are drunk on Obama koolaide. -:) a joke hon.

    Signs are not allowed for security reasons. I would think t-shirts will also be considered signs. So when you get turned away at the door, slip on down to Malaprop’s and y’all can cry in your lattes together.

  5. Dionysis

    “Signs are not allowed for security reasons. I would think t-shirts will also be considered signs.”

    No surprise here; many in the GOP consider free [removed]at least political expression during a campaign) as contrary to their own security.

  6. G Dass

    Sarah Palin is like bad animation. She’s a CARTOON character! She really is THAT Shallow. It’s all so pathetic that I just can’t stop laughing. Luckily laughing is easy, because her and Pappi are way down in the poles and they’ll never win – THAT’s the bottom line. This nightmare will be over soon – but not before we all get to have a little fun at the Civic Center on Sunday. See you there!

  7. dave

    It would be great to see the national media cover the “Obama rally that came ot Palin”

  8. Dionysis

    Hmmm, I wonder why the word ‘speech’ was “removed” from my previous post? Is the word ‘speech’ violative of Mtx guidelines?

  9. Jon Elliston

    Dionysis, no one on our end tampered with your post — we put it up the way it appeared in our system. I have no idea how that happened.

    Jon Elliston
    Mountain Xpress

  10. Reality Check

    The left’s protest techniques get more and more creative. Shouting down and physical distraction get more press than discussing issues.

  11. Trey

    I am almost positive I’ve seen this chick working at the Pink Pony down in Atlanta.

  12. bobaloo

    No surprise here; many in the GOP consider free [removed]at least political expression during a campaign) as contrary to their own security.

    I know, good thing the Obama campaign allowed all those signs into the rally.
    Oh, wait, no they didn’t.

  13. Dionysis

    Dionysis, no one on our end tampered with your post—we put it up the way it appeared in our system. I have no idea how that happened.

    Jon Elliston
    Mountain Xpress

    I believe you, but it does leave a real mystery. I re-read the original text and the word ‘speech’ was in the posting. Beats me.

  14. Dionysis

    “I know, good thing the Obama campaign allowed all those signs into the rally.
    Oh, wait, no they didn’t.”

    Too bad they didn’t seize all of those dangerous tee-shirts, but Caribou Barbie will probably be more, er, ‘safety’ conscious.

  15. dave marks

    Dionysis: “No surprise here; many in the GOP consider free [removed]at least political expression during a campaign) as contrary to their own security.”

    Considering the rabid hatred of many on the left for clear-thinking conservatives, we have to be. In fact, the local Republican HQ was forced to hire a security guard because of the Obama leftists that want to stifle free speech.

    You have to come to the Republican HQ to get the tickets in person. We can spell an Obama kool-aid drinker from a block away. So those that want to disrupt her appearance, good luck on getting tickets.

    And the hypocrisy of the left is just so plain. Y’all are the ones who are supposedly in favor of breaking the glass ceiling. Yet you vilify Sarah Palin at every chance to get. Just another example of your intolerance of folks who have views that differ from your own.

  16. Jason Sandford

    The Mountain Xpress plans full coverage of the Palin visit. Check back at http://www.mountainx.com for Twitter feeds Sunday evening, as well as news updates and photo galleries. We’ll have more coverage in Wednesday’s print edition, as well.

  17. 1. I attended the recent James Taylor concert for Obama even though I do not support Obama. I enjoyed the concert and was happy to hear Obama supporters make their pitches, relish their joys, and express their political speech. That concert was a peaceful and reasonable assembly of sympathizers who suffered no taunting from me or anyone else who might have disagreed with them. Those who are planning to disrupt the Palin rally with uncivil, juvenile, mocking and hostile displays should take a lesson in respect. Learn adulthood before it’s too late.

    2. Tickets for the rally can be downloaded for free here: http://snipr.com/4odd5

    3. I am voting third party. http://votethirdparty.us/

  18. dave

    “The left’s protest techniques get more and more creative. Shouting down and physical distraction get more press than discussing issues.”

    True. Probably even more true for McCain/Palin, though. I have yet to even hear what McCain is promoting, other than he believes Obama to be a Terrorist, and Palin thinks there are parts of America that are more “real” than other parts.

    I wonder-Does this validate Asheville as being “real” America, now?

  19. zen

    I believe Palin will make or break her own campaign. I wouldn’t mind seeing her, but the thought of all those conservatives would tighten my hindparts.

    And i agree with timPeck – lets not be juvenile. She doesn’t need much help making herself look silly. Besides, everyone is capable of change. Even those believing they are part of it.

  20. shadmarsh

    If you’re not American enough to get tickets, I believe I can fairly accurately recreate her stump speech for you, here it goes:

    God…blah blah blah…Maverick…blah blah blah…coupl’a Mavericks…blah blah blah…Socialism…blah blah blah…pals around with terrorists…blah blah blah…coupl’a Mavericks…blah blah blah…Change…blah blah blah…Maverick…blah blah blah…God Bless America!

  21. Ken Hanke

    I wouldn’t mind seeing her, but the thought of all those conservatives would tighten my hindparts.

    My doctor won’t allow me to be in a group of conservatives for any length of time, though, honestly, I can’t imagine any reason that could make me want to go see this woman in the first place.

  22. travelah

    If Ms. Palin were a liberal, the same folks critical and mocking her would be swooning over her … that’s a fact. Were it not a sad reflection of the leftist character, it would be funny.

  23. dave marks

    LOL, several of the remarks among by supposedly tolerant liberals just proves my point. zen & ken, why get so upset around conservatives? Look within. Perhaps you both have some issues with mommy and daddy and you project those feelings of incompletion on conservatives.

    Travelah. how true, how true.

    Good post timpeck. I was at the concert too and it was pleasant. But while waiting to buy tickets last Friday, I heard several juvenile remarks about McCain and Palin from the liberals waiting to buy tickets. Put-downs and sneering snide remarks about conservatives roll so easy out of the mouths of these liberals. Contrast this to the conversations I hear from conservatives about Obama. Almost always it has to do about disagreement with ISSUES, not personal attacks. Of all my liberals friends, I rarely hear any talk about issues. It’s almost always a personal attack on the conservative. Go figure.

  24. Carrie

    Travelah: I would not “swoon” over any VP candidate. Also, I criticize her because she is unqualified and has been, admittedly so, thrust into a situation where she is not prepared. She is ridiculous. Not as a person, but as a VP nominee. Also, it seems, she is a bad governor of 9,000.

    Don’t blame the media. They are what they are on both sides. Blame McCain for irresponsibly picking her as a running mate.

  25. Drifter

    I wonder if Sarah will screen each attendee to see if they are “real americans”, white, christian conservative, and heterosexuals need only enter the civic center.

  26. PatD

    Tina rocks. what? … it’s not Tina coming to our ‘Real American’ town? It’s going to be that Alaskan dingbat Tina Fey impersonator? darn y’all …

  27. PatD

    Hey, maybe she is just here to donate some of her fine clothes to our local shelters.

  28. travelah

    Carrie, she is as qualified to be VP as your Obama is to be Prez.
    Ms Palin’s clothing is not hers to give away just as Ms Fey’s clothes belong to the company she works for.

  29. PatD

    Yeah…. Anyone able to read newspapers, I mean ‘all of them’, must be qualified to be VP. Let’s face it, dumber than Dubya is not possible so… you go girl.

  30. Ken Hanke

    Carrie, she is as qualified to be VP as your Obama is to be Prez.

    Based on your apparent views of Obama’s qualifications, you seem to have just admitted that she’s not qualified at all.

  31. PatD

    ‘reflection of the leftist character’ by the great Travelah
    I could not help pondering a bit on that one.

    It sounds like such a bad thing to have … a leftist character.
    One can only hope to be spared of such creepy condition of the mind.

    I hear people, so unlucky to have developed this condition, tend to have this awful open and critical mind.
    They question stuff that, let’s be honest, never needs to be questioned and they have this tendency to be tolerant.
    Imagine having to live in a world full of leftist characters who think it is wrong to push good moral family values down the throat of others.
    How else can the good folks, living under god, teach those heathens the right way?
    What would become of such a world?
    Them intellectuals and communists and atheists and whatever-ists, not to mention them homosexuals, would ruin the good American Family.

  32. Reality Check

    “Can’t stand to be in the room full of conservatives” … we all interact just fine at the store, dinner parties, downtown, work and tons of other places without having any idea of one another’s political beliefs. I think what you guys really mean is that you don’t want to go to a political rally of a side you don’t support? That is certainly reasonable.

    I’m an indep and hate to see the polarization of our society by the sensory overload of information that modern govt, radio, tv and the internet is creating. Years from now, historians will look at this period and see that it was way too much information way too fast and that it damaged our society. Political discourse is one thing, totally hating fellow countrymen and women for their beliefs is another.

  33. bobaloo

    they have this tendency to be tolerant.

    Unless of course it’s a Conservative viewpoint. The language in the rest of your post betrays your disdain for Conservative ideology.

    I would remind anyone that plans on protesting that, in the eyes of everyone you would hope to influence, you are representative of your candidate.

  34. Ken Hanke

    Unless of course it’s a Conservative viewpoint.

    That said, would you make a case that the conservative viewpoint is tolerant? I’m certainly hard-pressed to see any evidence of it.

  35. PatD

    The language in the rest of your post betrays your disdain for Conservative ideology.

    Disdain? Nah, I love narrow minded people.

    Tolerance, of course, has its limits.
    Mine stops when the other side starts pushing their so called ‘good moral values’ on me.

  36. Jacquie

    Oh no, no one was ever planning on going inside the rally! I would not want to add to the attendance count. All the Palin look alike supporters will be OUTSIDE the venue! I cannot subject myself to that shrill voice for any amount of time. Oh and now there are over 50 coming!

  37. nuvue

    Think it would be okay if I brought a sign from Bele Chere that has a guy with his brains all over the street? I think it was anti alcohol consumption…
    I may be wrong but Sarah seems to believe “that side of america” is okay. So she may like the sign portrayed at her speech.

  38. bobaloo

    That said, would you make a case that the conservative viewpoint is tolerant?

    I would say that in some cases, certainly, in other cases, no. Believe it or not, the “conservative viewpoint” is not all-encompassed by Sarah Palin.
    I believe that can be said concerning any range of beliefs and that the more extreme one gets with their respective ideologies the more one would have a tendency towards a type of fascism.
    I know plenty of conservatives that do not fit the stereotypical mold of, say, Sean Hannity.
    I also know plenty of liberals that would love, love to see the Hannity types silenced in some shape, way or form.
    I have little love for either one of the extremes, from Coulter to Kos.

  39. dave

    Since I am voting for Ron Paul, am I allowed to criticize Palin and her obvious lack of intelligence, without travelah and RC claiming i’m a “typical extreme leftist?

    There is nothing “Conservative” about McCain orPalin.

  40. H.Poore

    I fellsorry for all the sick people with all the nasty comments??? Tell all the tree hugger; Bye

  41. shadmarsh

    I fellsorry for all the sick people with all the nasty comments??? Tell all the tree hugger; Bye

    anyone care to translate this into English?

  42. Jim Shura

    Oh Shad. Clearly it means that it has it’s precious and won’t give it up. Not now; not ever.

  43. dave marks

    Drifter, what Palin means by “real” Americans is basically the folks of what the east coast elite call “flyover country”. Has nothing to do with religion, race, gender, or any other intolerant view you project on her and other conservatives. It has to do with hard working family people who care about community, country, God. These folks come in all colors and even some of them are democrats. Big city dwelling east coasters may make fun of these “real Americans”, but they are the real backbone of America. Artsy-lefty “cool” big city people often deride their own country and it’s traditions. Thereby, they are often not real Americans. A pity. I’ve got tickets to see Sarah tomorrow night and I’m going to enjoy!

  44. shadmarsh

    Uh dave, uh aren’t you doing the same thing that you accuse all these so-called artsy-lefty types?

    But if what you say is true, you should get in contact with some of those Al-queda types who decided to kill a bunch of those east coast city dwellers, and let them know that those they killed weren’t “real Americans”…pretty absurd eh? know you know how you sound.

  45. PatD

    So glad Dave Marks knows what Palin actually means.
    What a relief.
    At least someone here who can make sense of her blabla-talking points.
    Here we are, all thinking she is a phony, lying, power hungry, egotistical, extreme right wing religious nut while, in truth, she just knows all about ‘real people and real Americans’.

    phew …. almost missed the true essence of Sarah Palin. Thank you for the enlightenment.

  46. joeboy

    dear lord,

    i bet the protesters will out number the palin supporters. i for one will relish in doing my best to piss off the conservative right

  47. zen

    Dave Marks: Artsy-lefty “cool” big city people often deride their own country and it’s traditions. Thereby, they are often not real Americans. A pity. (text slanted to the right for emphasis)

    Exactly where in the laws of our great land does questioning, finding humor in or even feeling embarassed for our country make us ‘false’ Americans? I say the false Americans are the ones who drink the American Kool-Aid without question. It must be pretty easy to confuse “Americans” with “sheep” if you’re blissfully unencumbered by the thought process.

    And the major reason that i wouldn’t want to be in a roomful of conservatives is that according to a Gallup poll, half of conservatives (50%) say they own guns, compared to 38% of moderates and just 33% of liberals. And chances are both sides will have strong opinions.

  48. dave marks

    PatD: “At least someone here who can make sense of her blabla-talking points.
    Here we are, all thinking she is a phony, lying, power hungry, egotistical, extreme right wing religious nut while, in truth, she just knows all about ‘real people and real Americans’.”

    Thank you PatD for making my point so well that lefty-artsy liberal types are intolerant at best, hatemonger at worse. Just because of a person’s beliefs being different. Geez. Don’t you see she is a “babe”? And intelligent to boot?

    zen: “Exactly where in the laws of our great land does questioning, finding humor in or even feeling embarassed for our country make us ‘false’ Americans? I say the false Americans are the ones who drink the American Kool-Aid without question. It must be pretty easy to confuse “Americans” with “sheep” if you’re blissfully unencumbered by the thought process. And the major reason that i wouldn’t want to be in a roomful of conservatives is that according to a Gallup poll, half of conservatives (50%) say they own guns, compared to 38% of moderates and just 33% of liberals. And chances are both sides will have strong opinions.”

    zen, you are the one who is blissfully devoid of the thought process. You react from emotion and intransigent political views by prejudging conservatives. It takes all kinds to make the world go by. I’ll take the hard working family folk of THIS area and the rest of “flyover country” any day over the freedom-leech whiners on the left.

    God bless Sarah Palin for being tough, yet feminine at the same time. She is pretty, smart, and courageous. She is whacking away at the glass ceiling all the time ignoring the hateful intolerance from the left.

  49. Ken Hanke

    Years from now, historians will look at this period and see that it was way too much information way too fast and that it damaged our society.

    Now, you’ve said something I can actually agree with. The problem is that this is something I don’t see getting better, only worse.

  50. Ken Hanke

    I would say that in some cases, certainly, in other cases, no. Believe it or not, the “conservative viewpoint” is not all-encompassed by Sarah Palin.

    I’d concede that point, but in this case we do seem to be dealing with a lot of people who are clearly in the Palin column.

    I have little love for either one of the extremes, from Coulter to Kos.

    I can pretty much agree with this, too. I know a number of liberals I find fully as tiresome as any hardline conservative. At the end of the day, however, I have more sympathy and commonality with the wigged-out leftists.

  51. PatD

    Dave Marks
    I say cheers and enjoy your ‘Babe’.
    Beauty, of course, is in the eyes of the beholder.
    (not even sure what her (arguably) good looks have to do with anything but hey, knock yourself out)
    As for her intelligence, I consider that a pointless discussion.

    Just so that I can get my mind around this.
    If one tries to be liberal open minded, supports a secular society while opposing religious right-wing government infiltration, believes in factual science based theories, feels sorry (and is a little scared) for the uneducated and intolerant masses still rallying behind mclown and co after putting that other idiot in the White House for 8 years …. then one is an artsy/lefty intolerant hatemonger?
    Just asking.

  52. G Das

    It’s hilarious to me to hear people say they want to “discuss the issues”. When Pappi picked Barbi, he made it clear that (at least for him) it was NOT going to be about issues. Barbi wasn’t picked for the purpose of debating issues – let’s face it.

  53. dave (not dave marks)

    There is nothing “Conservative” about McCain orPalin.

    How so?

    PatD-“How not?” might be a good response. She left Wassilla in debt by 20 million dollars.McCain supported a trillion dollar bailout, etc. These are not “Conservative” practices. The only thing “conservative” about them is their so-called ‘social-conservatism’, which is a serious contradiction in terms coming from big-spending republicans.

  54. dave

    I’m tired of so-called ‘social conservative” fascists who get away with calling themselves “Conservatives”.

  55. Reality Check

    Pappi and Barbi – nice discussion of the issues. You certainly know how to lead by example. Maybe you should post on TOPIX.

    I’ll reiterate one point I read earlier – regarding the Barbi comments. If a Democrat with the exact same level of experience as Palin was getting blasted with the sexist diatribes that are avalanching from her opposition, there would be riots in the streets. Blood in the water .. screams about the typical sexist conservatives. The fake paint is coming off the liberal wagon, they’re not for equal rights and dignity towards women, they just want what they want. Why not admit it?

    Hillary Clinton has ton’s more experience than both Palin and Obama and she got the same treatment. MSNBC, Air America and the other liberal outlets piled sexism all over Hillary. Again … its looking like the real colors are showing.

  56. shadmarsh

    If you’re not American enough to get tickets, I believe I can fairly accurately recreate her stump speech for you, here it goes:

    God…blah blah blah…Maverick…blah blah blah…coupl’a Mavericks…blah blah blah…Socialism…blah blah blah…pals around with terrorists…blah blah blah…coupl’a Mavericks…blah blah blah…Change…blah blah blah…Maverick…blah blah blah…God Bless America!

    Nailed it!

  57. dave marks

    Even though I had tickets, I was unable to go because of a bad cold. But a friend went and called me to tell all about it. He said he waited 4 hours to get in, then had to stand before the stage, but was close up. He said Sarah was great. And that about 10,000 folks turned out. I am happy she had such a good turnout here and I think it is a sign that McCain will win this part of North Carolina.

    God bless the USA, and God bless us one and all, regardless of party affiliation.

  58. PatD

    aw chucks … you missed the hot lipstick chick. bummer :-)

    I seriously doubt it was 10K and I was there the entire time. (on the good side of course).

    Gotta give it to you goppers.
    The ship is taking water, it’s going down but …. all together and ever positive :-)
    Love it.

    You sure you don’t want your god to also bless all those people in other countries?

  59. Ken Hanke

    Even though I had tickets, I was unable to go because of a bad cold

    This the same bad cold that was supposedly keeping you from going to the James Taylor concert you offered to give away your tickets to (then later said you attended)? You ought to visit the doctor.

  60. dave

    “You ought to visit the doctor. ”

    What kind of Dr. is the real question.

    :-)

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