In Juneau, Alaska, we are at the height of the tourist season. Judging by the overwhelming preponderance of questions and comments they make about Palin: "Where does she live?", "Will we see her?", "We just love her", "She's a breath of fresh air", "I voted for her - and I'll do it again", on and on and on, cruiseship tourists are either part of the great ignorami or they are indicative of Americans at large. (Although, come to think of it, some of these questioners are not even American)

I keep my demeanor unruffled as I answer questions but it ain't always easy.