I’m not into politics.

For one thing, I just don’t connect entirely with either party’s black and white views.

For another thing, I just don’t entirely trust our government. Blame one too many Matt Damon Hollywood blockbusters, but I think there are just too many conspiracies out there for none of them to be true.

But mostly I’m not into politics — because despite all the mantras, I still don’t believe that my vote counts; that my opinion is loud enough to resonate a difference.

However, in this one particular instance where politics met pop culture, it bled into my world long enough for me to have a small (yet public) opinion. I’m referring specifically to Governor Sarah Palin; symbolically scrutinized here in her interview with Charlie Gibson.

I’ll also note that I’m not into poetry.

To me poetry has the same effect as science fiction or extremely abstract performance art – I feel like I’m too closed-minded to get it. Sometimes I feel like reading poetry is like lying back and looking at the clouds on a calm day. I stare out at the clouds, but the words tend to fly over me, not a hair stirred by the wind.

So now I’ve combined my not into politics with my not into poetry and put together my poetic version of a cliff notes of the Charlie Gibson Sarah Palin interview. Their words; my take.

Meeting Poetry was born out of corporate monotony in a conference room overused for wasting time. Bored by the buzz words, idioms and clichés, I used to entertain myself by crafting my version, court-stenography style on my laptop, of the meeting playing out before me. I would pull out key words or phrases of the conversations, hoping to compile a greater meaning (or not) from the overall notes.

Here is the Meeting Poetry from Charlie Gibson interviewing Sarah Palin:

She says
Alaska is microcosm of U.S.
Same people, same issues – much grander scale
Everyone’s got issues
Wow what a opportunity
Humbling
Not so much frightening
Not so much overwhelming
Great responsibility
Drive to not let people down – not let women down
He says
GOP – party of change?
She says
Sick economy
He says
3 things to change policy?
She says
Economy is weak
Government will play a role
Put government on side of people
Let me tell you what I did
What I did as a City Council Member
I want a sports arena also
He says
You left it with debt
She says
We put government on the side of the people
He says
They got to vote yes or no
She says
You gotta reduce the growth of government
He says
The party of change?
What would you change?
What do you change?
She says
We have to reform oversight
Job loss
Unaffordable healthcare
America’s pocketbook
He says
1,2,3
She says
Reduce taxes
Control taxes
Reform oversight
He says
Break it down
How much smaller
She says
Find efficiencies in every department
Off the table
Get into every division
Next level of bureaucracy
He says
Get specific
She says
Save money
Find efficiencies in every agency
Bureaucracy is not being challenged to find efficiencies
I believe the American people will see efficiencies
Our families can grow and prosper
He says
Promising to reform?
She says
We’re mavericks
I am a Washington outsider, no allegiances
We need someone like that – committed to American people
Their Will
He says
Why is Obama going to raise taxes?
She says
I would argue with whole premise of that
He says
Eliminating earmarks?
Alaska is poster child for earmarks – bridge to nowhere.
She says
We killed that. We killed that. We killed that.
We’ll find a way.
I said thanks but no thanks.
He says
Supported it before you opposed it?
Turned against it only after government pulled the plug?
After national embarrassment to Alaska?
She says
Join him in fighting!
He says
You didn’t say no to congress until they pulled the plug
She says
It was our choice
I said thanks but no thanks
He says
You kept that money.
Is that consistent with a reformer?
She says
I know how to best prioritize federal funds
He says
$155 million in earmarks for Alaska in 2008.
That’s $231 per person in Alaska.
Obama’s Illinois got $22 per person.
She says
We have reduced earmark requests
He says
Money to study mating habit of crabs?
She says
In the light of day
Not closed doors with lobbyists
Not accepted
Earmark abuse will stop
He says
Social issues. Reverse Roe v Wade?
She says
Yes.
She says
It’s a …
Critical issue … a Sensitive issue
He says
Women should not have that choice?
She says
I am pro life
Culture of Life is best for America
She says
We can all agree?
…on the need for fewer abortions
… more adoptions?
… alternatives for women to be empowered to embrace culture of life?
He says
McCain would allow abortion in cases of rape or incest
She says
I would not allow it
He says
Embryonic stem cell research?
McCain supports it
She says
We should not create an embryo and then destroy it for research if there are other options
My personal opinion
My life’s an open book
Creating an embryo and destroying it I don’t support
He says
Homosexuality?
She says
I’m not one to judge
I’m from family … and a community with many members of diverse backgrounds
It’s a choice – I’m not going to judge them
He says
Guns
She says
My life is an open book
She says
I’m a lifetime member of the NRA
It’s inherent in my state for hunting, it’s part of culture here in Alaska
He says
Young gun violence in America is a health issue
She says
Gun violence is …
Caused by people pulling a trigger that wouldn’t followed laws anyway
She says
Take away 2nd amendment rights?
Only bad guys will have guns and not law-abiding citizens
He says
Is it sexist for people to ask?
She says
We had equality
I’m part of that generation
That question is irrelevant
Of course you can Vice President and raise a family
He says
Can you say I have the ability to be President of the United States?
She says
I do Charlie
And when we are sworn in on January 20th
I’m ready.
He says
Did you think no?
She says
I did not
I answered him yes
She says
You can’t blink
You have to be so committed to the mission you’re on
VICTORY ON THE WAR.
I didn’t blink then even
He says
About national security credentials?
Are those sufficient?
She says
But it is about reform of government
About government on the side of the people
He says
Let me speak specifically
About credential?
She says
Energy independence
What I bring
That credential
The know how
Energy independence
Producing domestically
Less reliant on regimes that do not like America
He says
Raise local issues
2 items of serious note
Banning books
She says
Never ban a book
Issue was the policy
He says
Subpoenas to husband
She says
Nothing to hide
Trooper in question did conduct dangerous activities
Did I fire a trooper?
He’s still a trooper
Threats to the first family
She says
We were state champs
How many points I scored
I was a point guard
I was feeding the big guys
In a support role