Sarah From Alaska : The Sudden Rise and Brutal Education of a New Conservative Superstar

A year after a vice presidential campaign that remains as consequential as it was controversial, Sarah Palin is still the most dynamic yet polarizing Republican in America. Now Scott Conroy and Shushannah Walshe draw on their experiences as embedded reporters on Palin's campaign, exclusive on-scene coverage of Palin's post-election struggles in Alaska, and revealing interviews with former McCain/Palin staffers, top political minds, and Palin's family, friends, and foes in Alaska to tell the remarkable behind-the-scenes story of her improbable rise -- and its complicated aftermath. The result is a fair and fascinating portrait of Sarah Palin and of the American political process.Sarah from Alaska illuminates both the talents that helped make Palin a superstar and the traits that became liabilities under the intense pressures of a divisive national campaign. It reveals in riveting detail how Palin's vice presidential campaign became as dysfunctional as it was secretive, explores the circumstances behind her triumphs and baffling missteps, and provides new context for understanding her values, her political successes in Alaska, and her abrupt resignation from the governorship. "It's easy to turn Sarah Palin into a caricature of either a heroic everywoman or ridiculous dolt," the authors say, "but the truth is that she is more complex than either her most passionate defenders or harshest critics give her credit for." Palin remains ambitious and enormously popular among social conservatives, and her future will be intrinsically interwoven with that of the Republican Party as it struggles to redefine itself and recapture the necessary margin for national political victory in the next decade. That makes Sarah from Alaska essential reading for anyone interested in American politics. A year after a vice presidential campaign that remains as consequential as it was controversial, Sarah Palin is still the most dynamic yet polarizing Republican in America. Now Scott Conroy and Shushannah Walshe draw on their experiences as embedded reporters on Palins campaign, exclusive on-scene coverage of Palins post-election struggles in Alaska, and revealing interviews with former McCain/Palin staffers, top political minds, and Palins family, friends, and foes in Alaska to tell the remarkable behind-the-scenes story of her improbable riseand its complicated aftermath. The result is a fair and fascinating portrait of Sarah Palin and of the American political process. Sarah from Alaska illuminates both the talents that helped make Palin a superstar and the traits that became liabilities under the intense pressures of a divisive national campaign. It reveals in riveting detail how Palins vice presidential campaign became as dysfunctional as it was secretive, explores the circumstances behind her triumphs and baffling missteps, and provides new context for understanding her values, her political successes in Alaska, and her abrupt resignation from the governorship. Its easy to turn Sarah Palin into a caricature of either a heroic everywoman or ridiculous dolt, the authors say, but the truth is that she is more complex than either her most passionate defenders or harshest critics give her credit for. Palin remains ambitious and enormously popular among social conservatives, and her future will be intrinsically interwoven with that of the Republican Party as it struggles to redefine itself and recapture the necessary margin for national political victory in the next decade. That makes Sarah from Alaska essential reading for anyone interested in American politics. Reveals In Riveting Detail How Palin's Vice Presidential Campaign Became As Dysfunctional As It Was Secretive, Explores The Circumstances Behind Her Triumphs And Baffling Missteps, And Provides New Context For Understanding Her Values, Her Political Successes In Alaska, And Her Abrupt Resignation From The Governorship. Introduction: Lights Out -- Frozen Paths -- Seeing Red -- Honeymoon In Juneau -- Sharp Elbows -- Plucked -- The Iron Curtain -- Taking The Reins -- The Final Limp -- Can't Let Go -- Only In Alaska -- Alaska Outgrown -- The Next Chapter. Scott Conroy And Shushannah Walshe. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 285-292) And Index. Presents the behind-the-scenes story of vice presidential campaign of Sarah Palin. This book investigates its ramifications inside the Republican Party and for both Palin's and America's political future. Describes the life and career of the Alaskan governor, from her early life and education to her political career and her Vice-Presidential candidacy in the 2008 Presidential election.