Sarah Palin's Alaska #3 : Salmon Fishing on Bristol Bay

Episode #3 of Sarah Palin's Alaska targets two key areas: Commercial salmon fishing on Bristol Bay and Palin family interactions. The latter, of course, are featured in every episode, but this go-round has a touch of built-in tension. Track Palin, Todd and Sarah's first born child and a veteran of the Iraq War, is shooting to take over the family fishing operation from Todd...and that's not a totally comfortable situation for either father or son.

There's also a family party for Willow's birthday (she turned Sweet Sixteen), not to mention a few 4th of July fireworks and plenty of family interaction with Todd's Yup'ik (Eskimo) grandparents.

On the fishing side, perhaps the "coolest" portions of the program involved processing the Salmon catch. As Sarah stated before the episode aired (paraphrased): If the Left went nuts over watching the Palins bop halibut on the head, watch 'em absolutely lose it when they learn how salmon are harvested!

Sarah did break down once, had to fight back tears after spending time with another child in the extended family--some 10 years older than Trig--who also has Down's syndrome. She was overwhelmed in a good way at seeing what might well be a bit of Trig's own future in his cousin...who loves airplanes.

Turns out that one of the first things Todd ever told Sarah about Trig was that their son would one day go flyng with him.

My three favorite bits of the show, however, were:

1. Watching Piper and Willow Palin's genuine amusement at their family friend's reaction to finding out he had a sunken net...plus Willow's wonderment at not getting the only birthday present she really wanted: A truck.

2. The brief camera shot of a bald eagle. Our national bird likes fish better than any other food, so it makes sense there'd be baldies at Bristol Bay.

3. Sarah's confirmation that her daughter, Bristol Palin, was indeed named for the Palins' longtime sockeye salmon fishing paradise, Bristol Bay.

Aside from the family celebration, Willow celebrated her birthday by working, helping to gut fish. As she noted, none of her friends do stuff like that.

Which brings to mind a couple of thoughts:

1. The Palin kids are blessed indeed. Over the years, people have occasionally asked me what were the greatest things my parents ever did for me. For my Mom, the answer is: She gave me a head start in English (she was a former English teacher) and passed on an absolute lack of racial prejudice. My Dad, though, modeled a willingness to chase one's dreams regardless of any obstacles that might seem to be in the way...and, most importantly, he taught me to work.

Nothing is more important than that.

2. Every working man and working woman in the country would benefit from Sarah Palin's election to the Presidency. Unlike the dues-hogging, corrupt-politicking unions, the Palins really, truly do have the best interest of working people at heart...because at heart they are, themselves, of that class. They don't just talk the talk, but they walk the walk as well...even when that means day after day of grabbing out the guts from fresh-caught salmon. They know to the very marrow of their bones what it takes to meet a payroll, to scramble sufficiently to pay the bills, and--perhaps most crucial of all--what it means to have government get out of your face and off your back.

Run, Sarah, Run!