I worked the polls yesterday with a Palinite. Never met one before.

[Ruby the Liberal]

Sweet lady. Typical/stereotypical R - former missionary, homeschooling mom of 3. She was from out of town and knew she was volunteering in a predominately Dem district (inner city).

She was manning the Republican table and I was manning the Dem. Light turnout, so we were chatting most of the time. She spent about 15 minutes telling me all about The Sarah's book. My mind was boggled, but it was interesting to actually hear from a Palinite about what is so attractive about her. My fellow poll worker was enamored with the "they are but 2 sides of the same coin" thing. I told her that we on the other side of the aisle were just as frustrated, and although we have diametrically opposite solutions, it sounds like no one is happy with the status quo. Was interesting to have that opportunity to hear from that side.

At one point, a hispanic man came to vote. He didn't speak any English and I speak very little Spanish. She was fluent and came over to help. He told her he wanted to vote for the Democrats, so she asked me for one of our flyers and went down the list of my candidates, pronouncing each name, gave him the flyer and showed him where to go vote. I thanked her for her assistance and she just smiled at me and said that she was there to help with what people needed and it was more important that they have the opportunity to vote than anything. Props to her on that.

It was a SLOW day (about 6-8 people an hour) and it could have been a lot worse if there was animosity, but I enjoyed talking with her.

On the good side, 10 of our 11 candidates won last night. Always a good feeling. :)

[livetohike]

1. Sounds like a great experience and thank you for serving

I also worked yesterday and we only had 56 voters (very rural area and 3:1 Republican), but everyone who came in to vote sat down to talk and the day went by fast :-).

[JaneQPublic]

2. It would do our country well if both sides saw each other's humanity. (nt)

[HappyMe]

3. You got that right. nt

[Lucinda]

5. +1

[salin]

7. +1+1

absolutely correct!

[KrazyinKS]

4. Lots of Palinites living here

Boy are there a lot of them living here. It's crazy, they can not see through her at all. They think she is smart and would make a good president. You can't even have a rational discussion with them. I would move, but I am too broke.

[Lucinda]

6. I have Republican friends who are very much the same way

Glad you had an interesting day and great election results!

[freeplessinseattle]

8. I have a Palinite friend from Alaska

she said she had always voted D (tho she rarely votes) but Sarah, oh Wonderful Sarah...

My friend really believes that the Great Sarah is anti establishment and cares about regular. She even thinks she's not a "real politician" because she had a sign in her office that said "I am not a politician".

sigh. This friend also has some pretty wonky ideas about life in general though so I just chalk it up to being isolated and underinformed, but even my mom bought the whole "aw shucks I'm just regular folk trying to help regular folk" act. aaaagh!

[SheilaT]

9. That's a really good story, and it's exactly

the way it should go at any polling place.

I've worked as a poll observer a couple of times, for a Democratic candidate in a highly Republican precinct. I did not disclose who I was observing for, and had many friendly and non-politcal discussions throughout the day.