# Sarah Palin: Paul Revere warned the British
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-paul-revere-warned-the-british/584369
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [June 5, 2011, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-paul-revere-warned-the-british/584369 "2011-06-05T04:31:38Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 4
### Author:  [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2011, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-paul-revere-warned-the-british/584369/61 "2011-06-06T01:06:35Z")
It sounds like what the NRA might say about Paul Revere’s ride. If they were being even dumber than usual.
---
### Author:  [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2011, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-paul-revere-warned-the-british/584369/62 "2011-06-06T02:02:58Z")
If Palin is claiming that Revere warned “the British” (althought that’s not entirely correct, but never mind - let’s run with that as being the ones that were his enemies) then isn’t she effectively claiming that he was / is a traitor to the cause?
How’s that going to work for her?
---
### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2011, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-paul-revere-warned-the-british/584369/63 "2011-06-06T03:42:10Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#):
>
> It sounds like what the NRA might say about Paul Revere’s ride. If they were being even dumber than usual.
The weird thing is that the actual story fits in quite well with the NRA program. Government forces were marching to confiscate firearms. Revere rode out to warn the Americans that the [del]ATF[/del] British Army was coming to take their guns. Which was a much more effective plan than warning the British that the British were marching.
---
### Author:  [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2011, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-paul-revere-warned-the-british/584369/64 "2011-06-06T04:46:08Z")
I don’t know why people pick on Sarah Palin. Her running mate, Senate foreign policy expert John McCain, could [never remember which Arab factions were Sunni and which Shi’ite](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/08/john-mccain-repeats-al-qa_n_95624.html), something far more relevant to the issues of the day than Paul Revere’s ride.
Recalling that in the 2000 election election many voters said in so many words that they chose G.W. Bush because he was less intellectual than Gore, don’t you think Palin might have average or even above average intelligence and is only pretending to be a moron?
---
### Author:  [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2011, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-paul-revere-warned-the-british/584369/65 "2011-06-06T05:43:20Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#):
>
> Paul Revere fired ‘the shot heard round the world’ while he was ringing the Liberty Bell.
>
> He was also a staunch supporter of the Cherokee people.
And George Washington [surprised the British.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df7kUedWwn8)
---
### Author:  [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2011, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-paul-revere-warned-the-british/584369/66 "2011-06-06T06:11:47Z")
> [@septimus](#):
>
> I don’t know why people pick on Sarah Palin. Her running mate, Senate foreign policy expert John McCain, could [never remember which Arab factions were Sunni and which Shi’ite](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/08/john-mccain-repeats-al-qa_n_95624.html), something far more relevant to the issues of the day than Paul Revere’s ride.
>
> Recalling that in the 2000 election election many voters said in so many words that they chose G.W. Bush because he was less intellectual than Gore, don’t you think Palin might have average or even above average intelligence and is only pretending to be a moron?
Who is more foolish? The fool? Or the fool who follows him?
---
### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2011, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-paul-revere-warned-the-british/584369/67 "2011-06-06T06:18:02Z")
A Revolutionary War “gotcha” question: How many future presidents do you see in this [picture](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/95/Washington_Crossing_the_Delaware_by_Emanuel_Leutze,_MMA-NYC,_1851.jpg)?
Answer:Two. The guy in the middle is, of course, General George Washington. But the guy holding the flag is Lt James Monroe.
---
### Author:  [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2011, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-paul-revere-warned-the-british/584369/68 "2011-06-06T08:55:46Z")
> [@williambaskerville](#):
>
> I’m in Ireland. I asked my wife, and 20 y/o college student son, who Paul Revere was, and they both pretty much knew the correct story.
Born and bred in the antipodes. About as far from the US as it’s possible to be. I know who Paul Revere was and what he did.
---
### Author:  [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2011, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-paul-revere-warned-the-british/584369/69 "2011-06-06T10:53:56Z")
So now, Palin fans are trying to add her interpretation on events into the Revere Wiki page: [Palin's fans rewrite wiki history of Paul Revere](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/05/982391/-Palins-fans-rewrite-wiki-history-of-Paul-Revere?via=siderec)
---
### Author:  [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2011, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-paul-revere-warned-the-british/584369/70 "2011-06-06T12:46:46Z")
> [@Ca3799](#):
>
> So now, Palin fans are trying to add her interpretation on events into the Revere Wiki page: [Palin's fans rewrite wiki history of Paul Revere](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/05/982391/-Palins-fans-rewrite-wiki-history-of-Paul-Revere?via=siderec)
Just went to Revere wiki page, and it looks like they’ve shut down the editing function for it.
---
### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2011, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-paul-revere-warned-the-british/584369/71 "2011-06-06T12:54:56Z")
> [@joebuck20](#):
>
> Just went to Revere wiki page, and it looks like they’ve shut down the editing function for it.
Of course they did. You wouldn’t want the truth to get out, you betcha.
---
### Author:  [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2011, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-paul-revere-warned-the-british/584369/72 "2011-06-06T13:48:52Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> … than Private Tommy Atkins had to claim he owned his musket.
Just wanted to acknowledge the Kipling shout-out.
---
### Author:  [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2011, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-paul-revere-warned-the-british/584369/73 "2011-06-06T14:41:58Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#):
>
> Well done! 🙂
Hi Praise, Sir, but I must admit yours was first & better. I’m just waiting for other Dopers to pick up the gauntlet for the rest of the tracks.
After all, “Lady For The Rich Man” hasn’t been done yet… 😉
> [@runner pat](#):
>
> **Count Blucher, Johnny L.A.** , you guys going to put out a CD or will it be available online?
“I’d like to say thank you on behalf of the Board and ourselves, and I hope we’ve passed the audition”.
---
### Author:  [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2011, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-paul-revere-warned-the-british/584369/74 "2011-06-06T14:49:40Z")
> [@Bricker](#):
>
> Just wanted to acknowledge the Kipling shout-out.
Ooh… [Pte. Atkins](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Atkins) had been serving for a long time before Kipling was even born. Still is, for that matter.
---
### Author:  [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2011, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-paul-revere-warned-the-british/584369/75 "2011-06-06T15:04:25Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> Just to avoid any confusion, the “shot heard round the world” was fired at Lexington. But nobody is sure who fired that first shot.
>
> But one person who definitely didn’t was Paul Revere, who had been captured several hours earlier and was in British custody at the time of the battle.
He was close enough to Lexington to hear the “whoosh” of battle!
---
### Author:  [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2011, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-paul-revere-warned-the-british/584369/76 "2011-06-06T15:29:13Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#):
>
> Hi Praise, Sir, but I must admit yours was first & better. I’m just waiting for other Dopers to pick up the gauntlet for the rest of the tracks.
I’ve got the melody down for a little ditty I’m calling “B.J. Way,” but I’m having trouble with the parody lyrics.
---
### Author:  [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2011, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-paul-revere-warned-the-british/584369/77 "2011-06-06T16:08:49Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> The Province of Massachusetts Bay was part of the British Empire in 1774 and the provincial militia was part of the British Army.
I’m not sure that the latter part was generally accepted.
---
### Author:  [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2011, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-paul-revere-warned-the-british/584369/78 "2011-06-06T16:14:52Z")
I see Sarah’s logic: 2 lanterns obviously meant the second amendment so naturally Revere would be tellin’ the British that you ain’t takin’ our guns away.
---
### Author:  [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2011, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-paul-revere-warned-the-british/584369/79 "2011-06-06T16:26:44Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> A Revolutionary War “gotcha” question: How many future presidents do you see in this [picture](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/95/Washington_Crossing_the_Delaware_by_Emanuel_Leutze,_MMA-NYC,_1851.jpg)?
And a “gotcha” answer:
Zero. Those are _past_ presidents, not future ones.
---
### Author:  [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2011, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-paul-revere-warned-the-british/584369/80 "2011-06-06T16:26:57Z")
Heh. I was just looking at the newly spun Paul Revere page. Revere (as was mentioned upthread) was captured by the Redcoats pretty early on, questioned and immediately spilled his guts about everything he knew (no John McCain was he). The Palin tards have now tried to spin it that Revere was warning them that they (the Lobsterbacks) were in danger:
> [@](#):
>
> Revere was questioned by the British officers and told them of the army’s movement from Boston, and that British army troops might be in some danger if they approached Lexington, because of the large number of hostile militia gathered there.[21] He and other captives taken by the patrol were then escorted east toward Lexington, until the sound of musket fire from the town center alarmed the patrolmen. Revere explained to them that it was probably an arriving militia company that had fired a volley upon its arrival.
So basically they’ve turned singing like a canary to the enemy into some kind of noble, selfless act of “warning.”
[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-paul-revere-warned-the-british/584369.md?page=3)
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarah-palin-paul-revere-warned-the-british/584369.md?page=5)