Sarah Palin’s recent speech at CSU, Stanislaus has received a great deal of media attention, although not necessarily for reasons she might be thrilled about. A Turlock, California newspaper, though, is giving her some good press, and in the interest of fairness it seems like a good opportunity to address Palin’s sense of humor.

From The Turlock Journal:

After a brief introduction from University President Hamid Shirvani, who termed Palin a “great American,” she took the stage to chants of “Sarah” and a standing ovation.

“I’ve got my water, do I have my straws? I want my straws,” Palin said as she took the stage, acknowledging the leaked rough draft of her contract found by two CSU Stanislaus students amid shredded documents in a university Dumpster. That contract required the university to provide Palin with “bendable straws.”

You know, Palin has taken a lot of flak over the straw demand. To be fair, though, I think we all have particulars about how we drink. If I order a beer in a restaurant, for example, the frosted glass they bring out just sits on the table because I prefer my cervezas straight from the bottle. I also drink my soda out of an aluminum can, and I have to admit that for several years I insisted on using a straw. When I’d go to the store with friends and they’d run in to grab a drink, they’d say, “Coke in a can with a straw, right, Katie?” Damn straight. So yeah, if I was powerful enough to command a six figure speaking fee, I’d probably ask for straws. And Coke in a can. And beer in a bottle.

Palin continued in this humorous vein:

Palin said she was happy the foundation stuck with her through the controversy, though, because California has always been a special place to her. It’s Reagan country, she said.

Palin quickly delved into thanking the local community for hosting her with great hospitality. She said she appreciated meeting local farmers, who taught her a thing or two about pronunciation.

“I’ll never call an almond an almond again,” Palin joked

The speech wasn’t without a focus on issues though, particularly in the area of civics.

The remainder of Palin’s speech centered on the topic of civic education for America’s next generation, a problem she singled out as the biggest challenge facing the country.

“My biggest fear is that we’re not passing on what it means to be an American to the next generation,” Palin said.

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