Strange headline, huh? Well, it might as well be true with the current political events transpiring across America this week. Right now, President Barack Obama and Sarah Palin are riding around in large buses going from town to town in an effort to reach out to ordinary Americans and convince them that their plan for our future is the best.

Both Obama and Palin are vilified by the opposite side and treated as abnormal creatures from another planet. The traditional liberal media doesn’t know how to handle Sarah Palin, mostly because she doesn’t fit into the normal political box. She is running for president but isn’t at the same time. She shows up at events unannounced and will leave the media behind as she speaks to hundreds and thousands of supporters.

President Obama, on the other hand, is derided by the conservative talk radio crowd every hour of the day because they don’t understand how he continues to move forward with his agenda while growing segments of the population are against his agenda.

The reason both of these politicians drive the other side wild is precisely why they are popular. Barah O’Palin doesn’t need to be blessed by the traditional party bosses. Barack Obama won the presidency despite Hilary Clinton being supported completely by the old Democratic Guard, and Palin, despite being the vice presidential candidate three years ago, is often looked down upon by the old boys of the Republican Party.

The reason? Palin and Obama are able to reach out and touch their supporters in ways the old stiff types can’t. It takes more time for the old political party bosses to call a meeting to discuss an issue than it takes for Barack or Sarah to tweet a major campaign statement that reaches millions in seconds. Both Barack and Sarah can maintain enough excitement among their supporters to remain relevant and drive the media machine in the direction they want it. For as much as the media bashes O’Palin, they will stop an entire news cycle to report the latest moves or comments by O’Palin.

Some party pundits say Sarah Palin can’t win. Many Republican strategists say Obama can’t win. While I am not going to give my political opinion of either, I am not willing to say these two are finished. Each of them can raise millions, excite crowds larger than a party convention, and move public opinion with a wink, nod, or tweet. Stay tuned to the next stop on the bus tour of Barah O’Palin.

The last bite…

Sunday night, I had dinner with my childhood best friend that I had not seen since I was 8 years old. It had been 17 years since we last spoke, but it seemed like only a few days once the conversation started. The meal was good, but the company was great! The only part of the meal, from Gordon Biersch, worth mentioning was the crabmeat and brie appetizer served on crostinis. I give reconnecting with a childhood friend at dinner 5 (out of 5) crumbs!

Buddy Boe, a resident of Garyville, owns a public relations and program management company and is well known on the local political (and food) scenes. His column appears Wednesdays in L’Observateur.