"Sarah Palin will co-host Tuesday. She'll reveal a different side of her than you've seen before."While we've become used to seeing the 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate in the role of political analyst, this will indeed be something different. Sounds like must-see TV. 7:00am Eastern Time / 6:00am Central.
What have proved to be problems for the top three candidates wouldn't have been problems for Palin. For starters, she has none of Newt Gingrich's intellectual hubris. There's no way Palin would have promised to put a mine on the moon or suggest arresting judges who make decisions that are too liberal. Her conservatism is far more domestic and down-to-Earth.In his Palin profile of last May, Stanley tried to explain the former Alaska governor's appeal to everyday Americans as a cultural phenomenon:
She's also more disciplined than Santorum. Although we'll probably be talking about them into the next century, Palin's only two serious public gaffes in 2008 happened when she was unable to name a newspaper and was stumped by the Bush doctrine, both slips a product of ignorance. Santorum, on the other hand, is guilty of knowing his own mind all too well, offering unwelcome opinions on everything from the evils of hard-core pornography to the racial politics of the Trayvon Martin tragedy.
Compare the response Palin gave to questions about her attitude toward evolution -- "I think it should be taught as an accepted principle, and I say that also as the daughter of a schoolteacher" -- with Santorum's claim that Satan ... has attacked America.
It's Palin who seems to have a better sense of the limited role that faith should play in politics and a better idea of when to keep her mouth shut. Moreover, she would never tell a journalist that he was talking "bull***t," even if she did congratulate Rick Santorum for doing so. Contrary to the media narrative, even at her most accident-prone, Palin has always been a classy, well-choreographed performer.
Lacking the foibles of Gingrich and Santorum, Palin would have been a far more effective anti-Romney candidate because her strengths accentuated Romney's weaknesses. Romney is known as the Etch A Sketch candidate; Palin is aggressively authentic. Romney is seen by many as a moneyed elitist; Palin is the conservative class warrior, happy to slam the "crony capitalism" that benefits both big labor and big business. Romney's limitations have been revealed, one by one, in the course of the primary campaign; Palin was well-vetted by the press in 2008 and has nothing left to say or do that would surprise us.
Love her or loathe her, we all know who Palin is. Her weaknesses, being old news, wouldn't have dominated the primary narrative like Bain Capital or Seamus the dog, made famous by his terrifying ride atop Romney's car. Palin would have spent the past three months attacking her opponents. Then she would have turned her guns on the president.
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She connects with people in a way that has nothing to do with words; it is all about nods and winks and an intimate gaze. Some of it is about hitting applause lines; some of it is about evoking feelings through noise and visuals. The media is tone deaf to this stuff because it can’t be communicated second-hand or explained through punditry. It is borderline mystical.It is that uncanny ability that the Mana Grizzly has to connect with an American middle class struggling in the Obama economy, observes Stanley, that makes her the antithesis of Mitt Romney, whose perceived lack of compassion and authenticity denies him the enthusiasm the eventual GOP nominee will need from voters to unseat the president. We last saw this cultural connection expressed during the 2010 midterm elections, but were not likely to see it again, he predicts, until the 2016 election cycle.
Just this week we learned that liberal activist Jane Fonda has been cast to portray First Lady Nancy Reagan. Since 2000, Jane Fonda has donated $72,000 to Democrat campaigns and leftist PACs, a sure indicator of the left-wing spin there is to come.I look at the far Left’s assault on Wisconsin and I say, “Are you kidding?” As an outsider (albeit an admitted Green Bay fan with family roots in Chippewa Falls), I join millions of Americans watching the political shenanigans in Wisconsin. I am torn between just chuckling at these radical liberal yahoos trying to oust an intelligent administration that is fulfilling its promises, or raising a fist in disgust at people sitting on their thumbs while Governor Walker and Lt. Governor Kleefisch get thrown to the wolves.- JP
Wisconsin, you deserve better than this!
You’re the “Forward” state – part of the breadbasket that feeds America. Deep woods, pristine waters, esteemed academic institutions, and shining cities reside alongside the dairy farms dotting your picturesque landscape carved out by generations of hard working Americans. In their honor, and to assist the other 49 states, please continue to go forward; don’t let 80 million political dollars – from outside special interests – convince you to go backward toward debt, high taxes, unemployment, and shuttered industry.
You don’t have to let those millions of outside dollars flooding your state destroy the records and reputations of your Governor and Lt. Governor, nor should the political dollars dictate your state’s destiny. You have a choice: Retreat, or fight for the positive reform you elected in 2010.
Governor Walker has left the far Left unhinged, so he’s had to amass a war chest to fend off the lies and dirty dealings in the capitol; and, thankfully, it’s predicted he’ll survive his recall.
But the recall fight that is just as important is Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch’s. Please click this link to help her.
She’s being thrown beyond the wolf pack – she’s also under the GOP establishment’s bus because this Tea Party “Mama Grizzly” beat the establishment candidate when she got elected. (And dang, it’s uncomfortable under that chassis!) Rebecca must be thinking, “With friends like these, who needs enemies?” Worse than seeing radical Leftists attack and make things up about a Conservative female opponent is when supporters on the Right sit on their thumbs and act as if there’s nothing they can do to help. Come on! When all else fails you can at least tell the truth! Tell other voters why you supported Rebecca in the first place. Explain her campaign promises and how she has stuck to them and – surprising in today’s political world – is actually fulfilling them. She promised to help balance the budget, cut taxes, build a sound fiscal environment, and provide job opportunities for all Wisconsin residents – not only our union brothers and sisters. She’s setting an example for every other state in the union because responsible state and local governments will be the entities that defend our Republic at a time when there is less and less reason to believe our big centralized federal government will address its self-perpetuated economic problems.
The far Left has targeted Lt. Governor Kleefisch in particular because they know she’s been busy working and hasn’t raised anywhere near the money Governor Walker has to weather his recall. And get this: they are hoping to keep her off the same ballot as Governor Walker, and instead they would love to put her on a ballot during a Democratic primary in order to give her the worst voter turn out possible. It’s viscous. She’s in the fight of her political life for doing nothing more than what she and Governor Walker were elected to do. If Wisconsin sees either of these two go down in defeat, it will have a chilling effect on any public servant having the guts to do what’s right.
This country’s future won’t shine exceptionally as that “City on a Hill” if we cower, refusing to stand up to the radical Left’s intimidation tactics. Their drive towards more government control with selfish demands to incur more debt and halt efforts to rein in unsustainable spending is seen clearly in Wisconsin. One thing for which grassroots independents, conservatives, and blue dog Democrats should be counted on is to take a stand and rush in to help people secure our future by helping those like Rebecca Kleefisch when they need it the most. Now is one of those times.
Michelle Malkin points out that President Obama knows Wisconsin is ground zero in the Left’s battle against limited government. And, as Michelle writes: “If they can chill fiscal responsibility and free market-based reforms in Wisconsin, they can chill it everywhere.” Concerned Americans, don’t let them snuff out this Mama Grizzly’s successful efforts to fight for what is right.
Grand Old Badger State: you are America’s blessed 30th state. Your natural and human resources abound. Even your state motto promises a vision of “Forward.” So, as the eyes of America focus on you, raise your voice in support of your state’s good destiny!
“On, Wisconsin! Champion of the right,
'Forward', our motto – God will give thee might!”
- Sarah Palin
I found a great book that would be a neat Easter basket addition for grown-up revelers who enjoy reading as much as eating those solid chocolate bunnies and Peeps we’ll thieve from the kids’ baskets on April 8.The governor also included a nice Easter photo with her post.
Todd Starnes boldly wrote “Dispatches From Bitter America: A Gun Toting, Chicken Eating, Son of a Baptist’s Culture War Stories,” and it couldn’t be more timely. It’s especially relevant because Todd lays out in detail the Obama Administration’s war on religious liberty. In addition to covering the state of the union in general, Todd writes about how the government is turning traditional holidays into politically correct secular celebrations – complete with renaming the White House’s traditional Easter egg hunt to a “Spring Egg” hunt instead.
Much of our nation’s exceptional foundation is rooted in our Judeo-Christian heritage. Many Americans grew up with fond memories of traditional holidays. As we approach the upcoming Easter celebration, we can reflect on this special time of year’s true meaning and the significance the Easter message provides for our country. It’s a message of true hope – real hope – and strong faith. This faith tradition is something many Americans wish to pass on to our children, and there’s nothing “bitter” about this special element of American culture. Understandably, people of faith feel under siege today from the culture as encroaching attacks on our religious liberties attempt to erode our foundation. Todd sheds light on this and other “fundamental transformation” acts using homespun humor and Twainesque irony.
So, from the White House Christmas tree celebrating a dictator by displaying a Mao Zedong ornament, to intolerant characters bashing the Boy Scouts and burning bibles, many of us are asking, “What’s next?” You can get answers and encouragement all at once by reading Todd’s new book.
Despite President Obama’s claim in San Francisco that working-class Americans “bitterly cling” to guns or religion out of frustration, the truth is we cling to God not because we’re “bitter” but because there’s nothing better. And as for “clinging” to our Second Amendment rights and, in fact, to all of our constitutionally protected liberties…well, you betcha', we do cling to them proudly.
I recommend Todd’s book for Easter – along with lots of chocolate and marshmallows.
- Sarah Palin
The governor also included a nice Easter photo with her post.Whoever chooses to merely dismiss the significance of today’s exchange between our President and Russia’s President should have their intelligence and patriotism questioned. Let this exchange be a warning to voters: President Obama will have “more flexibility” to weaken us if he’s re-elected in November. He was caught speaking candidly to Russian President Dmitri Medvedev before a “hot mic” today (and surely one must believe he didn’t know the mics were still on; surely he’s not so audacious as to purposefully broadcast his intentions), as reported by ABC’s Jake Tapper. Here’s the exchange:
President Obama: On all these issues, but particularly missile defense, this, this can be solved but it’s important for him to give me space.
President Medvedev: Yeah, I understand. I understand your message about space. Space for you…
President Obama: This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility.
President Medvedev: I understand. I will transmit this information to Vladimir.
Let’s consider what this “flexibility” might mean. We know that he has repeatedly conceded to foreign demands and backed down on missile defense. I pointed this out as Governor of Alaska when he proposed reducing Alaska’s missile defense system capabilities. I explained then that the President’s proposed military cuts would diminish Alaska’s opportunity to defend the union with our strategic location’s defense infrastructure. We also know that in 2009, as part of his “reset” with Russia, President Obama turned his back on our Eastern European allies by abandoning past promises for a missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic.
We can’t know for certain what this newly revealed “flexibility” means, but considering President Obama’s past actions, be sure it won’t involve a position of strength for America and our allies. Russia has been thwarting us on one issue after another, including the rushed-through New START Treaty that many of us questioned after Obama insisted America ratify it first, then allow Russia to sit on it – unratified on their end – until it suited that foreign power’s needs.
Meanwhile, North Korea is planning another long-range missile launch, and the United States and our allies are still vulnerable to the threat of ballistic missiles. Our president has done nothing to alleviate this vulnerability; in fact, he’s done just the opposite. He has consistently taken a position of weakness and naïve trust in Putin’s Russia. Consider that one-sided New START Treaty as an example of this. Or consider those cuts to Alaska’s missile defense system, which leaves us much more vulnerable in the face of a nuclear North Korea. Now consider the state of our national defense under a President who whispers to a foreign power that he needs even “more flexibility” to weaken us further.
- Sarah Palin
Two fellow Alaskan women, Kirsten Powers and Penny Lee, penned a letter to the New York Times calling out misogynist attacks on women in public life.- JP
They included this interesting aside: “Coincidentally we both hail from Alaska — where women are treated as equals — so perhaps our threshold for this kind of behavior is less than here in the Lower 48.”
As an Alaskan woman, I completely agree. Women up here do not tolerate the sexist stereotyping and behavior.
Up here, I’m constantly around commercial fishermen who curse like sailors, oil field workers with hardcore blue collar work ethics, tattooed-up soldiers serving on our military bases, long-haul truck drivers, motorheads, hunters and sport fishermen; and yet I don’t know anyone who talks about women the way these misogynists on TV do with their degrading comments, which includes comments mocking those with special needs.
I grew up hunting, fishing, playing sports, plowing snow, and chopping wood just like the guys. My parents raised my sisters and me to never consider gender an unequal element in anything. (In fact, today is my Dad’s birthday, and I want to give him a shout out because as a science teacher and track coach, he treated all of his students and athletes equally with respect and encouragement.) My daughters have participated on football, hockey, and wrestling teams just like the guys. We even dress like the guys at times (or they, like us) in warm camo hoodies and Carharts. It’s accepted up here because the environment is rugged and real, and our Alaskan elements are a great equalizer.
Women and men are equals in every way in the Last Frontier, and real men are not threatened by strong women. Real men don’t insult women with gross sexist comments meant to demean and objectify them.
These misogynists wouldn’t know how real men behave. I cannot imagine them working on my commercial fishing skiff in Bristol Bay, or driving our trucks to haul gear out to a remote cabin, or fueling up the float plane, or even having a tinge of grease under their fingernails which symbolizes the hard work needed to fuel the nation’s economy. And yet these are all things average Alaskan women do everyday. If these misogynists said one of their disgusting comments up here in person to an “Alaskan chick,” they would have to replace their veneered teeth.
I personally do not seek an apology from these narrow-minded men. With a full family and productive “to-do” list everyday, I just don’t have time for them. But I do feel sorry for them and for their obvious need to compensate for something that’s missing in their own lives, which compels them to belittle others in order to feel big. And I feel sorry for our culture for having to listen to them. America deserves better. I applaud Kirsten and Penny for taking a stand when too many feminists don’t speak up when the attacks are directed at their conservative sisters. And unfortunately too many men, like our president, will only defend certain women, not all women.
- Sarah Palin
The talk of a brokered convention never seems to die down and one interesting finding on this poll was that Sarah Palin is far more popular than any of the actual Republican candidates in the race. Her net favorability is +48, with 68% of voters rating her favorably to only 20% with a negative opinion. That compares favorably to +29 for Santorum, +19 for Romney, and -26 for Paul.Which begs the question: In the case of an open convention, who might put her name into nomination for president to the delegates?
Palin is someone GOP delegates might be able to unify around in the case of a hopelessly deadlocked convention. She is seen positively by Gingrich voters (85/7), Santorum supporters (80/10), and Romney ones (57/27) alike. That's a contrast to Romney who is disliked by both Santorum (38/48) and Gingrich (32/54) voters and Santorum who is disliked by Romney (38/48) voters and only seen narrowly favorably by Gingrich (46/42) backers.
After Bristol sent the post in, Nancy put it up shortly after midnight on Sunday night.Expect another demonstration of Palin Power Wednesday when Public Policy Polling releases the results of its latest national GOP survey, showing that "Republicans like Sarah Palin more than any of their actual candidates."
Nancy tweeted it to her few hundred followers (she and I have a rather pathetic contest for twitter followers; right now I’m barely in the lead with a whopping 776), and Bristol facebooked it. Within hours, it had been shared 8,000 times. Already it was taking off.
Then Sarah Palin tweeted.
Patheos’s server promptly melted down. One of the most-trafficked religious sites on the web, its server still spontaneously combusted. A small mushroom cloud was spotted over the server farm. Eleven additional servers had to be brought online to handle the traffic flow, and by the end of the day, 8,000 shares had turned into more than 85,000 (update: 100,000), and the story of Bristol’s challenge to the president had been reported not just in the political and mainstream media but also in the Hollywood media as well. Thousands of tweets, and tens of thousands more Facebook shares from Fox to the Huffington Post to the Hollywood Reporter took the post well beyond the familiar and comfortable enclaves of the conservative blogosphere.
That, in essence, is Palin power. No other name in the conservative movement can instantly break through the wall of separation between conservative punditry and popular culture. Bristol powerfully and concisely told the truth — and reached an audience so large it resides only in most pundits’ wildest dreams.
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Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin joined the pre-race festivities Sunday at BMS and received a loud cheer when she was introduced.Here are a few photos:
Palin, who was attending her second straight NASCAR race after an appearance in Las Vegas last week, gave brief welcome remarks to the crowd as one of a number of speakers prior to the Food City 500.
“God bless NASCAR,” Palin said.
Dear President Obama,
You don’t know my telephone number, but I hope your staff is busy trying to find it. Ever since you called Sandra Fluke after Rush Limbaugh called her a slut, I figured I might be next. You explained to reporters you called her because you were thinking of your two daughters, Malia and Sasha. After all, you didn’t want them to think it was okay for men to treat them that way:
“One of the things I want them to do as they get older is engage in issues they care about, even ones I may not agree with them on,” you said. “I want them to be able to speak their mind in a civil and thoughtful way. And I don’t want them attacked or called horrible names because they’re being good citizens.”
And I totally agree your kids should be able to speak their minds and engage the culture. I look forward to seeing what good things Malia and Sasha end up doing with their lives.
But here’s why I’m a little surprised my phone hasn’t rung. Your $1,000,000 donor Bill Maher has said reprehensible things about my family. He’s made fun of my brother because of his Down’s Syndrome. He’s said I was “f—-d so hard a baby fell out.” (In a classy move, he did this while his producers put up the cover of my book, which tells about the forgiveness and redemption I’ve found in God after my past – very public — mistakes.)
If Maher talked about Malia and Sasha that way, you’d return his dirty money and the Secret Service would probably have to restrain you. After all, I’ve always felt you understood my plight more than most because your mom was a teenager. That’s why you stood up for me when you were campaigning against Sen. McCain and my mom — you said vicious attacks on me should be off limits.
Yet I wonder if the Presidency has changed you. Now that you’re in office, it seems you’re only willing to defend certain women. You’re only willing to take a moral stand when you know your liberal supporters will stand behind you.
But…
What if you did something radical and wildly unpopular with your base and took a stand against the denigration of all women… even if they’re just single moms? Even if they’re Republicans?
I’m not expecting your SuperPAC to return the money. You’re going to need every dime to hang on to your presidency. I’m not even really expecting a call. But would it be too much to expect a little consistency? After all, you’re President of all Americans, not just the liberals.
Two of the leading conservatives of our times were in the forefront of the news this past week. One was the man for all seasons, conservative crusader and new media mogul Andrew Breitbart who, at 43, passed from this world much too soon. The other is the conservative political star Sarah Palin, who is featured in an awful and completely manipulated new liberal hit piece focused on her Vice Presidential campaign. Both are larger than life figures whom I do not claim to know but have had the pleasure of hanging around with for a brief, shining moment in time.Cross-posted at US for Palin
This past summer, I went to Pella, Iowa to assist in the premiere event for the Palin documentary, “The Undefeated.” The small, Midwest Dutch-German town and its old historic opera house had been chosen as an ideal spot to launch the acclaimed documentary film because it was just that: small and Midwestern. Some forty miles east of Des Moines, Pella is also over 1,000 miles from Washington, D.C. and New York and even farther from L.A. and San Francisco. When you visit Pella, words like heartland, friendly, homespun, simple, clean and safe come to mind, making it an ideal and comfortable setting for this uncomplicated, small-town girl to view a film about her own personal accomplishments – not such a comfortable prospect itself.
The event went off as scheduled, and the large and polite Iowa crowds gathered along the ropes to see the hope of a generation. As only Palin would, the former Governor did not just sign shirts and hats and smile for photos. Sarah from Alaska engaged each and every person who had stood patiently and politely for hours just to get a glimpse of her. She was not “working the crowd” for the photographers or as a cursory obligation; she was getting to know each and every person like they were her neighbors. I think that is how she feels when she is with a crowd of folks. She has known them all her life, and just because she is just now meeting them for the first time, that is no reason to be standoffish or in a hurry. Sarah Palin, the mom, the wife, the neighbor and the small-town girl, talked to each and every one in a real and personal way. She talked to the kids and would address the group, not just one representative. She would point out how she liked something they had on or the way they did their hair or a sign they had made for the day. She did the same with the adults, especially the women who obviously worshipped her. She was THEIR girl and she was just like them - cut from the same working-class cloth that is the fabric of our nation. They shared her spunk and tenacity as well as her good heart and motherly concern. She was their high school buddy, a pretty tomboy turned beautiful, a loving mom and wife turned warrior, an organic local activist turned political giant.
One pretty young girl along the ropes started crying when Palin approached her. Upon seeing her state, Palin said, “Are you okay?” The girl looked at Palin and said, “You changed my life.” Palin queried how, and the young college student began a story. “I was in my teens and I got pregnant and I was not going to keep the baby. I had nothing going for me, and then I saw you and how you handled Bristol and how you handled your Trig. It just made me realize it was going to be okay.” With the crowds tugging at her, Palin engaged woman-to-woman, mom-to-mom, friend-to-friend. At that point, Palin could have moved on, but she did not. She asked the young mom another most important, personal question, “How are you doing?” The girl said she was great and so proud that she was now in college and raising her baby and doing fine, and she was so proud of her accomplishments. Palin told her how great that was and there is nothing you can’t do, and they hugged and only then did a satisfied Sarah Palin move on.
I am sure it was not the first time any political figure had gotten in the weeds in a crowd, but as I stood close by for the three-hour marathon, I was impressed by how incredibly genuine and hopeful she was. Even when her body man, Todd, would whisper in her ear, “Honey, we have to move on,” Sarah would quietly turn and say, “I think we have a little more time,” and with that he would look at me and smile. It was not the first or last time he would hear this. And she would continue on until the sun set and every person who came to Pella that day got their moment with their friend who was running for nothing and asking for less.
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There is a new street art poster that’s being emailed around and will no doubt eventually be spotted on a street corner near you. It’s a gritty black and white image of Andrew Breitbart looking both battle-worn and ever vigilant with the caption: “BREITBART IS HERE.”Cross-posted at US for Palin
Those three words express the instant connection many of us feel for our fallen friend. They express our identification with him, and our need to continue his fight for the good of our republic.
With the death of Breitbart, the conservative movement didn’t just lose a General – we lost an entire Special Forces Division. But he didn’t leave us without the tools and the knowledge we need to fight. This website – Breitbart 2.0 – is the culmination of his study of the technology and aesthetics of new media. The team Breitbart assembled under the leadership of Steve Bannon, Larry Solov, and Joel Pollak will advance his mission with courage and integrity.
Breitbart’s most immediate mission was the belated vetting of Barack Obama. This obviously is an issue very near and dear to my heart.
During the ’08 campaign, the same media that reported breathlessly about an old used tanning bed I purchased to get some sun during the dark Alaskan winter, couldn’t be bothered to investigate Barack Obama’s associations, statements or even his voting record as a state senator. Suntans and what I wore on the campaign trail were more important than Obama’s political background. Unbelievable.
But when you come to think of it, the media didn’t investigate either of our actual political records very closely.
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- JPPlease click here to listen to Mark Levin’s excellent comments at the Reagan Library last week about his great new book “Ameritopia.” His wisdom is needed now more than ever.
Consider, for example, the news today about the Congressional Budget Office’s report on Obamacare. Remember when President Obama promised us that under Obamacare if you like your current health care coverage you can keep it? Well, that turns out to be another “you lie” moment. According to the CBO’s new report, as many as 20 million Americans could lose their employer-provided health insurance because of Obamacare.
Couple this latest revelation with the news that Obamacare’s estimated ten year cost is now double the original projection and the fact that Obamacare puts an unelected panel of faceless bureaucrats in charge of cutting Medicare spending to keep costs down (i.e. making life and death rationing decisions about your coverage – decisions which will make it more likely that doctors and hospitals will simply decide not to provide certain procedures because Medicare won’t cover them or will pay too little for them).
Taken all together, you will see that everything we told you about this “mother of all unfunded mandates” is true. If we let Obamacare stand, it will ultimately bankrupt us and rob us of our liberty in a hundred different ways. Repealing Obamacare must be a central theme of the coming election just as it was during the 2010 midterms.
But step back for a moment and ask yourself how our great republic got to this situation where Obamacare was even proposed. Ask how our brave troops fighting so far from home could find themselves in a war that seems so unfocused and without end. How did we get so far removed from our foundational belief in limited Constitutional governance and the great maxim of “Peace Through Strength”? Listen to Mark Levin and read his “Ameritopia” to open your eyes about the roots of the problems we face today.
- Sarah Palin
Related: Sarah Palin Punches BackThe far Left continues to believe American voters are not smart enough to grasp the diversionary tactics it employs to distract us from the issues our President just doesn’t want to talk about – issues that affect us all every day and must be addressed.
Exhibit A in these diversionary tactics is an absurd new attack ad President Obama has released taking my comments out of context. I’m not running for any office, but I’m more than happy to accept the dubious honor of being Barack Obama’s “enemy of the week” if that includes the opportunity to debate him on the issues Americans are actually concerned about. (Remember when I said you don’t need a title to make a difference?)
Just off the top of my head, a few of these concerning issues include: a debt crisis that has us hurdling towards a Greek-style collapse, entitlement programs going bankrupt, a credit downgrade for the first time in our history, a government takeover of the health care industry that makes care more expensive and puts a rationing panel of faceless bureaucrats between you and your doctor (aka a “death panel”), $4 and $5 gas at the pump exacerbated by an anti-drilling agenda that rejects good paying energy sector jobs and makes us more dependent on dangerous foreign regimes, a war in Afghanistan that seems unfocused and unending, a global presidential apology tour that’s made us look feeble and ridiculous, a housing market in the tank, the longest streak of high unemployment since World War II, private-sector job creators and industry strangled by burdensome regulations and an out-of-control Obama EPA, an attack on the Constitutional protection of religious liberty, an attack on private industry in right-to-work states, crony capitalism run amok in an administration in bed with their favored cronies to the detriment of genuine free market capitalism, green energy pay-to-play kickbacks to Obama campaign donors, and a Justice Department still stonewalling on a bungled operation that armed violent Mexican drug lords and led to the deaths of hundreds of innocent people.
I’m sure I missed a few things, but the list is just for starters. Along with millions of others, I’m willing and free to discuss these issues with the President anywhere, anytime; and I’m sure any of the four patriots currently running for the GOP nomination would also welcome the opportunity to talk about the problems everyday Americans face due to the abject failure of our current administration’s politics. The President will dismiss all of these problems by saying, “Well, uh, ‘change isn’t easy.’” But considering that candidate Obama promised to turn back the waters and heal the planet, the American people had at least a reasonable expectation that, at the bare minimum, he wouldn’t bankrupt our country.
This latest ad is quite odd, but also quite telling. It shows that our President sure seems fearful of discussing the economy, energy prices, and all the other problems people need addressed. And intended or not, now that his ad opens up the discussion of Barack Obama’s radical past associations and the radical philosophy that shaped his ideas about his promised “fundamental transformation” of our country, I welcome the media to join ordinary Americans in finally vetting Barack Obama. The media failed to do so in 2008 to the detriment of us all. Maybe this time around they can do their job.
They might start by noting the President’s heavily edited attack ad. Breitbart’s Ben Shapiro helps them out in this piece. Please read it all.
- Sarah Palin
Tonight at 9p ET, Sarah Palin says, “It must be anybody but Obama,” but does anyone really have a chance against the president? Don’t miss the former governor’s can’t-miss political insight on Hannity.
Tune in for the full interview on Hannity — Tonight at 9p/ 12a ET.
Tuesday night, Palin was on Fox Business Network, where she told Neil Cavuto she would do anything to help with the country, but she knows there is so much time until we will get a nominee for the Republican party, therefore she cannot do anything quite yet.
During the interview, they discussed what she would do if a candidate were to ask her to run as the vice presidential candidate, she responded, “It would take a pretty ballsy candidate to ask me to run for VP after seeing what I and my family, my reputation, my administration went through in ’08 when I ran for the VP slot, but then again I would do whatever I could to help.” Take a look at the full interview.
Despite HBO's best efforts, we have all seen the movie Game Change. We the dialogue, locations and participants are invented or rendered unrecognizable for dramatic effect. HBO and its surrogates continue to argue that they spoke to 25 sources. None of them are on the record nor is their level of "involvement" in the campaign disclosed. Not one source is on the record in either the book or in the movie and it is clear why. The authors of the book never even traveled on the campaign with Governor Palin. We call on HBO to add the fiction disclaimer.Related:
Tim Crawford
Jason Recher
Randy Scheunemann
Meg Stapleton
Tom Van Flein
Doug McMarlin
Andy Davis
8:20 p.m. ET - Appearing on CNN after voting at a caucus site in Wasilla, Alaska, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said she hopes the Republican race continues with more debates but she would not say for whom she voted.Cross-posted at US for Palin
8:22 p.m. ET - Asked if she would consider running for president in 2016, Palin said she "would seriously consider anything I can do to help our coutnry."
"Anything in this life is possible," the former 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate said.
8:25 p.m. ET - What would she do if her name was put in contention at the Republican convention?
"Anything is possible and I don't close any doors that would perhaps be open out there," Palin said. "My plan is to be at that convention."
8:26 p.m. ET - @PaulBegala: Sarah Palin just lights up the screen, esp when @CNN asks her if she might run in 2016. How many Repubs think she'd whip this lame field?
8:29 p.m. ET - @DanaBashCNN: Wow. Sarah Palin just told CNN in Alaska shes not closing the door to jumping in if there's a brokered convention. #CNNElections
Every American should be alarmed at Barack Obama’s priorities, which are illustrated starkly and astonishingly in his cuts to national defense. Those of us with family members in the military, especially, cannot help but be shocked and disappointed by the Commander in Chief’s decision to cut our troops and the benefits they have earned. It’s amazing when you consider all the government waste and the fact that the compensation and benefits of politicians (including the President) only increase, never decrease.
In a recent newsletter, Congressman Allen West points out:The Obama administration’s proposed defense budget calls for military families and retirees to pay sharply more for their healthcare, while leaving unionized civilian defense workers’ benefits untouched. As well, we are looking at cutting close to 130,000 uniformed troops, but cutting only 7,000 Department of Defense civilians.Congressman West is right. This is “despicable.” Instead of reforming our insolvent entitlement programs (which the President’s own debt commission recommended) and instead of taking a cleaver to all the waste, fraud, and abuse of our tax dollars perpetrated and perpetuated by the crony capitalism of the permanent political class in DC, this administration makes our brave men and women in uniform bear the brunt of our deficit woes. It’s shameful. The President’s actions are shameful!
In addition, the Obama administration is looking to create a BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) commission to examine changing the military retirement system. If you do the analysis, you find that less than one percent of the American adult population draws a retirement from serving in the United States Military. The idea of taking out the United States economy budget woes on our military is despicable.
The most alarming points about the healthcare plan include:
- Increases between 30 percent to 78 percent in TRICARE annual premiums for the first year. After that, the plan would impose five-year increases ranging from 94 percent to 345 percent. That's more than three times current levels....
- The new plan also hits active duty personnel by increasing co-payments for pharmaceuticals and eliminating incentives for using generic drugs.
- Veterans will also be hit with a new annual fee for the TRICARE for Life program, on top of the monthly premiums already being paid. In addition, some benefits will become “means-tested,” making them similar to the welfare system than as a benefit for Military service.
For all his talk about slashing troops in the name of making the military “more efficient,” I believe Barack Obama will find these numbers will fall on their own. I predict our troops will cut their own numbers by not voluntarily enlisting at the levels we’ve previously seen or by getting out of the service as quickly as possible because of their Commander in Chief’s lack of support and lack of a clear mission for them.
After watching the administration “tsk-tsking” the conditions our brave men and women in uniform fight through everyday and listening to the apologizing for our troops’ actions in war zones, I stand amazed and impressed at our military personnel's loyalty to the office of the Commander in Chief. I understand and am thankful for that loyalty. They deserve better. They watch the President’s complacency as the media seems to forget our fallen by choosing to give more ink and airtime to a phone call the President makes to praise a 30-year-old college student’s “courage” in publicly speaking about her birth control desires than they’ve given to any of our recent soldiers’ ultimate courage and sacrifice on battlefields far from home. Has he made as great an effort to personally encourage the families of the fallen? His priorities are skewed.
For our courageous men and women in uniform and for the security of our nation, November can’t come soon enough.
- Sarah Palin
The show, "Bristol Palin: Life's a Tripp," was picked up for 10 half-hour episodes and will offer an insight into the life of the 21-year-old mother as she raises her 3-year-old son, Tripp. The network said the show will also focus on her relationship with her parents, Sarah and Todd Palin, and her siblings.Lifetime is part of the A&E family of television networks. This is the second proposed series to focus on the eldest Palin daughter. The BIO channel had picked up a reality show which would have also featured Bristol's friend and fellow "DWTS" contestant Kyle Massey, but the network dropped it in November .
"From the first moment she was thrust into the public eye, Bristol and her son have been the subjects of a huge amount of curiosity and misunderstanding," said Rob Sharenow, executive vice president of programming for Lifetime Networks, in a news release Wednesday. "This show will reveal the real Bristol Palin and her journey as a daughter, mother and a young woman making her way in the world."
We are all stunned and saddened by the news of Andrew Breitbart’s passing. Andrew was a warrior who stood on the side of what was right. He defended what was right. He defended the defenseless.
It is so sad to consider his four young children who have lost their dad. All our prayers are with his family now. May God comfort his wife and children.
Many of us will have life-long memories of our work or encounters with Andrew. May we draw on those to help forward the cause of fighting for what is right. For me, just one of those memories was in Pella, Iowa, last year after the premier of “The Undefeated.” Andrew held court in the restaurant at the local hotel talking about his favorite topic: how “culture is upstream of politics” and how conservatives must be unafraid to fight the leftwing media, cultural, and political establishments. The loss of his voice in this fight will be deeply felt, but thankfully his work lives on at his “Bigs,” and thank God for his inspiration and leadership.
God bless you, Andrew. Rest in peace, friend. We will continue the fight.
- Sarah Palin
