At the Wasilla Coffee Party Event

Just as Progressive Alaska covered the first Wasilla Tea Party event, on April 15th, 2008, I went to check out and possibly participate in the first Wasilla Coffee Party event, held this morning at the fairly new, and very cozy Metro Cafe, on Lucille Street, just below Spruce.

There were a dozen people there, which was OK for very, very short notice. I filed an internet report on the meeting at the Coffee Party national site.

I'll just make a couple of observations, then I have to go shopping:

1) All three major Wasilla Tea Party events were held at public venues - Wasilla Lake Park and Wasilla Wonderland. Both venues are there only because of tax money and earmarks. Wonderland Park was created on public land, but using volunteer hours and donations from hundreds of, mostly liberal, progressive and moderate Wasilla and Mat-Su residents.

The irony of people so vehemently denouncing government, while enjoying the benefits of what governments create was lost on most attendees, as it was by the people who attended their events around the USA, also mostly held on government-supported or -owned properties.

2) The Wasilla Coffee Party got its start by showing up at a locally-owned, new business. We spent a lot of our money there. Instead of railing against government, we sought to find ways to support non-partisan, community building efforts, and supported a new, Wasilla-based, positive business enterprise.

Anne Kilkenny upbraided me for telling a joke at Sarah Palin's expense. And rightly so, Anne.

Some of the attendees:

Progressive Mat-Su Valley icon, Carolyn Covington, laughing at one of many funny statements made:

Anne Kilkenney, far left, and Bill Hess, far right: