Palin Cancels California Visit

Women of all ages readied songs and signs in the San Francisco Bay area this week in preparation for a visit by VP candidate Sarah Palin. "Palin, Taking us Back to the 1950's and Beyond" was one slogan the Raging Grannies bandied about as some dusted off their vintage circa 1950 vintage hats; others readied a look they call "more indicative of Palin's view of where women belong" and sewed 1850's drudgery inspired costumes.

CodePink members, having recently starred as endangered animals outside the Republican National Convention, encouraged activists to come dressed as polar bears and other animals Palin exhibits no love for. Based on email activity activists predict that thousands would have shown up to demonstrate at Palin's Santa Clara appearance and an untold number in Los Angeles. Labor organizers, pro-choice supporters, and Democratic clubs were making transportation plans to whisk angry anti-Palin women and men to demonstrate against Palin's pro-war, anti-woman stance at the fundraisers.

The Raging Grannies have chapters throughout the US at the ready to demonstrate at other Palin appearances. East and West coast Grannies put their graying heads together this week composing songs to express their shock at Palin's candidacy. "Our songs are about issues, not about her hair-do", said Granny Gail Sredanovic. A member of the Raging Grannies Action League, Granny Gail revised a song written years ago by the original founding Grannies, the Victoria, British Columbia Raging Grannies. Titled *The Palin Rapture" it humorously reflects what many people are concerned about--that the VP candidate's religious beliefs affect her ability to make decisions about the environment, poverty and US security.

To the tune of "I've Been Working on the Railroad"

She is waiting for the rapture
To lift her up to heaven
Any day now there'll be lift off
At twenty past eleven
First we'll see the Angel Gabriel
And then the chariots will come
But only for the true beleivers
Not us other scum
Who cares about Global warming
Poverty or War?
Palin can't plan for the future--
When she won't be around any more!

At last check-in Granny Gail was making ever-so-slight revisions to a parody of the tune *Davy Crockett" written by Rochester, New York Raging Granny, Vicki Ryder. Like many other Raging Grannies across America, Vicki expressed that McCain's pick of Palin to capture the votes of women is "just plain foolish".

CHORUS:
Sarah, Sarah Palin,
She don’t speak for me!

> Sarah Palin is McCain’s pick,
> He helped her rise to the top real quick.
> He picked a woman because he thought
> The votes of women were easily bought.

CHORUS

> Sarah says abstinENCE is the way
> To keep that baby stork at bay.
> She’s turning back the clock on women’s rights.
> The thought of her as VP gives us a fright.

CHORUS

> Sarah packs a gun and she kills moose.
> With our constitution she plays loose.
> She wants creationism in our schools,
> McCain must think we’re nothing but fools!

CHORUS

>SHE'S AN EXTREMIST, SHE'S a tool,
> She thinks her God is makin’ the rules.
> But Sarah, listen! We’ll be frank:
> Women say: “Thanks but no thanks!”

CHORUS