Sarah's Full-Court Press

SFCP: Thanks for the Memories

2009-07-05T23:03:00.002-04:00

As of today, I'll no longer be updating this blog. It's been a fun and entertaining ride. Time's gotten away from me. I'll be looking elsewhere, toward a new and exciting future, exclusively contributing to Conservatives4Palin.

Thanks for everything, guys.

UPDATED: C4P's Retire Palin's Legal Debt Webathon

2009-06-15T00:01:00.001-04:00

Hello all! We're on day 3 of the webathon, and still need your help!

Conservatives4Palin will run a webathon to help retire Gov. Palin's legal debt this week, June 15-22.

Here is the current look at the banner photo giving full instruction on how to donate to Palin's fund, the Alaska Fund Trust, and to email Conservatives4Palin at editor@conservatives4palin.com.

Here's a video from Seth Adam Smith to help kick off the webathon.

Go to Conservatives4Palin.com for more information and the full story.

Warning: Gov. Palin's Authenticity May Cause Onset of PDS

2009-04-19T22:53:00.002-04:00

Say it ain't so, Newt!

(h/t Hot Air)

Remember when former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said this in defense of Governor Palin during the Republican National Convention last September?

Newt laid the proverbial smackdown on that dejected MSNBC reporter, leaving even Keith Olbermann shaking in his "big and tall" tailored suit.

Immediately after the election, Gingrich then went on to say to Fox News' Greta Van Susteren of Gov. Palin that "She'll be a force for a long time;" "She clearly has a nationwide constituency, she's intelligent, she's articulate;" "She's going to wear very well on the American people..." here:

Watch Newt defend the Governor here, here, and here.

However, just a couple weeks after the election, Newt's tone and overall rhetoric regarding Gov. Palin began to shift as evidenced here on Face the Nation:

To what can this shift in opinion from the former Speaker regarding the Governor be attributed? Sadly it's just politics as usual, folks. Simple as that.

The rhetoric shift can be partially attributed to a politician simply seeking to boost his credentials, pocketbook, and favorability ratings amongst the public. Just take a look at the events to which both Governor Palin and Newt Gingrich have been invited this year (of which we have knowledge): CPAC 2009 and the NRCC/NRSC fundraiser.

As previously reported at C4P here and here, Gov. Palin had only been invited to CPAC; she at no point indicated she would attend. For whom did this crack open the door of opportunity politically? Why, I'll be darned...Newt Gingrich, of course!

Oh, and since da 'Cuda also chose not to attend the NRCC/NRSC fundraiser this coming summer, guess who was chosen to fill in for her? That's right. It's Newt doggone it! Surprise! (Find extensive C4P coverage of this here and here.) As our own R. A. Mansour elaborated, the NRCC/NRSC dinner truly could have had a "contender," but they behaved a bit impatiently, much like a child searching for Christmas presents in his parent's closet (What? Hasn't everyone?), spoiling the fun for everyone - not to mention the considerable amount of potential cash and attention Gov. Palin would have undoubtedly drawn to the event. Yes, RAM. I concur. This really is yet another "epic fail" on the part of the GOP.

So now you're probably asking yourself, "Gee, what's Newt said recently that's got this contributor all fired up? It's not like he snubbed Governor Palin on Leno or anything."

You're right. No snub on national television due to a creeping senility or just out of sheer spite, but let's just say Newt may be thinking about his political future in this piece from Christianity Today:

Who do you see as the emerging leaders in the Republican Party: Bobby Jindal, Sarah Palin?

Bobby Jindal is certainly brilliant and has a great future. Tim Pawlenty has a great future. There are a lot of people who are terrific. The fact is, I think that you can look at [governor of South Carolina] Mark Sanford, Paul Ryan in the House, [California congressman] Kevin McCarthy, or Eric Cantor [in the House]. I just think we're likely to have a dramatic resurgence. We have two great candidates in Ohio, John Kasich for governor and Rob Portman for the Senate, who are likely to be very, very effective.

Do you see any women emerging in the GOP leadership?

I would start, frankly, with Linda Lingle in Hawaii, who was a terrific governor who got re-elected in very difficult circumstances. You have Kay Bailey Hutchinson running for the governorship of Texas. If she wins that, she will automatically be a national figure because she'll be the governor of the second largest state.

You didn't mention Sarah Palin.

Sarah Palin has an obvious role if she wants it. The question for her has to be, are she and her family willing to go through another couple of years of the kind of media coverage that they currently get? Is she willing to do the kind of development of national issues and development of a national profile that would be required? She is a celebrity in her own right. She is probably the most successful figure in the party right now, and she's a formidable figure. I think to go from there to becoming a national leader would take a significant amount of work.

Woah. So let me get this straight. Newt Gingrich has gone from believing Sarah Palin is "...a force for a long time..."; "...having a nationwide constituency..."; "...best known Republican governor in the country today..." after the election to now snubbing her outright in interviews. Please, spare us the "is her family willing to go through another couple of years of the kind of media coverage that they currently get?" argument. How come this does not apply to any other of the names mentioned? What about Bobby Jindal's family? This issue is obviously a red herring, leading us away from the root of the problem.

Notice how Newt cannot control his "politicking" by resorting to last ditch efforts such as mentioning the names of other GOP women prior to Governor Palin like Gov. Linda "Does my lei look good?" Lingle and even Sen. Kay Bailey "I don't know Palin" Hutchison.

Don't misunderstand. I think the former Speaker has done much for the GOP (in the 1990s) and in terms of educating the folks of the need to "drill here, drill now", but his sudden throwing of Gov. Palin under the bus is wrong, and we ordinary barbarians should stand up and fight. Come on, Mr. Speaker. We thought you were a team player.

If Gov. Lingle or Sen. Hutchison were so much more qualified or experienced to be John McCain's VP pick than Gov. Palin, why didn't Sen. McCain choose one of them? Conservatives should have been so much more at ease with them in the #2 spot, right? Isn't that what you're saying, Mr. Speaker? First of all, how are either of these women more qualified than Sarah Palin? Lingle was elected to her first term in 2002, (formerly Mayor of Maui County...sound like anyone we know?) and Hutchison has been a Senator for 16 years (Is it getting difficult to control your enthusiasm yet?). I bet those campaign rallies would have been so much more intense and exciting than a rally with the Governor from Alaska headlining (that accent drives me bananas, anyway). I bet those rallies would have gone just like this:

For this Sen. McCain is due a major thanks. He chose a real, authentic, genuine, and honest politician for that #2 slot. "An honest politician, really?" You're probably thinking it sounds like an oxymoron. It's not, and Governor Sarah Palin proves that time and again.

For example, just look at the Vanderburgh County Right to Life Banquet Governor Palin attended last Thursday. Why did she go? It's a cause that is near and dear to her heart, especially due to her Christian faith and her own personal struggles with coming to grips about her own son, Trig, being born with Down's Syndrome. The Right to Life folks even offered to put on a fundraiser for Gov. Palin's SarahPAC, to which she said "thanks, but no thanks."

Those who witnessed the incredibly heartfelt and revealing speech by Gov. Palin last Thursday know that she truly is that "Storm" from the North, as Michael Steele introduced her as. She has that X-factor that no other current GOP name has - what you see is what you get.

Thomas Langhorne from the Evansville Courier writes:

Overflow crowd saw Sarah, not candidate.

Nick Hermann, chairman of the Vanderburgh County Republican Party, said Palin's personal magnetism, which Mack likened to Obama's, is also a key to her appeal.

The Right to Life banquet marked the fourth time Hermann has seen Palin in person, including the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., and two 2008 campaign speeches in Indiana.

"She has great stage presence, but she also works the crowd well," Hermann said. "It's unusual to have both. (Former GOP presidential candidate) Mike Huckabee, for instance, works the crowd well but doesn't have the stage presence."

[...]

But he said Palin has an "Every Woman" appeal and a personal authenticity that could prove to be considerable political assets on the road to 2012.

"The Right to Life banquet (at which Palin teared up over her baby son who was born with Down syndrome and spoke openly of her teenage daughter's pregnancy) was the first time I've seen her really open up and talk about her story, her feelings," he said. "Sometimes, politicians seem too perfect. She really connected with people."

It was a sentiment expressed over and over again by people who met Palin while she was in Evansville, including several young servers at Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano who waited on the Alaska governor at Friday's private breakfast event hosted by S.M.I.L.E. on Down syndrome.

"It didn't even feel like you were in front of somebody that was famous," said server Chrissy Heffernan. "It felt like you were in front of somebody that you've known forever. She was just very nice, very personable, very personable."

Goedde, who headed up a detail of about 20 city and county law enforcement officers who volunteered or were compensated by Right to Life to guard Palin, said he made a point of watching the Alaska governor's interactions with people.

"I thought, 'I'm going to watch and see if there's ever a sign that this is all a put-on,'" he said. "I never saw it. Never once did I see her say or do anything that made her look less than sincere, like rolling her eyes when no one was looking.

[...]

"She was just like a hometown girl from Evansville, Ind., coming home after making good."

[...]

Goedde marveled at Palin's ability to remember the first names of people she met and to connect with each of the law enforcement officers who protected her.

"People looked up to her almost in a rock star way, but it was also with respect, not just 'Oh, Sarah, Sarah,'" he said. "I don't know any other way to say it, but this lady is the real deal."

Palin made a similar impression on Nina Fuller, who shared a private breakfast with her and about a half-dozen other people Friday morning before the larger event at Biaggi's.

"There was not a political word in the conversation," said Fuller, executive director of S.M.I.L.E.

"Gov. Palin is now a good friend of mine, and her name is Sarah."

It can be deduced that people really, really like Governor Palin. They aren't as attracted to the more "standoffish" types like Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney or those who may lack a bit in the stage presence area like Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal, or Tim Pawlenty. This isn't an attack on their personalities - it's factual. So, it seems logical the the GOP and its leaders would want to embrace a rising star in its party like Gov. Palin. Why don't they? What's the deal? Aren't they only hurting themselves by leaving her out to dry?

The answer to this question is simple. It comes with the price of human nature. Newt Gingrich obviously has his own political interests in mind for the upcoming 2012 campaign. This can be the only explanation of his "leveling of the playing field" to not include Gov. Palin in his responses to questions about GOP leadership. Why would he want to place himself in the path of "the Storm" anyway? She'd be too much of an obstacle, so best to get her out of the path first.

Want to know what the good news is out of all of this nonsense? Each time the Governor of Alaska is beaten and bruised, whether it be dealing with the legislative issues at home or the lack of support from many of the "intellectuals" in the conservative movement, she comes back stronger than ever. She has the personality type to continue sprinting up and down a basketball court despite having a stress-fractured ankle (yes, it's a true story).

Sorry to break the news to you, Mr. Speaker and all the other folks in the GOP who may be suffering from any potential form PDS (Palin Derangement Syndrome), but Sarah Palin wasn't called the Barracuda in high school for nothing. Despite all the hatred towards her faith, the "tabloidization" of her family, the false lack of experience and lack of intelligence claims, Governor Sarah Palin won't "crawl up in the corner and quiver" as my Business Policy professor would say to those students who aren't prepared for class. She's ready for a fight. A fight to stand up for her faith, her family, and her state; a fight to appeal and relate to the "Joe the Plumbers" of this great nation that keep this country running every day; a fight to prove that Americans aren't just looking for someone who talks a good talk but has a proven track record of walking the walk, no matter what the political or personal consequences may be.

This is why millions of Americans love Governor Sarah Palin, and this is why we here at C4P continue to stand up and fight for her every day. It is, after all, the logical thing to do.

Cross-posted at Conservatives4Palin

Want Video of Gov. Palin's Right to Life speech?

2009-04-17T09:33:00.002-04:00

Go to Conservatives4Palin!

Worst. Flight. Ever.

2009-04-11T21:22:00.002-04:00

It was just supposed to be a happy little trip to visit family on Easter...

I drove 2 hours to Greensboro, NC yesterday after my class to catch a flight to Atlanta departing at 4:30 pm, then continuing on to Hunstville, AL to visit relatives for Easter weekend.

As soon as I arrived to the airport (I'd checked in online 24 hours prior being the savvy traveler I am), I was informed by the Delta ticket agent that my flight had been delayed up to 5:45 pm. She didn't give me an explanation why. So I made my way down to the gate, and I waited. My plane to leave Atlanta was due to depart at 7:10 pm, so I'd miss the connection. I went to the nice ticket agent lady named Elaine, and she promptly me put me on the 8:08 pm flight out of Atlanta so I'd be good to go.

30-45 min later, a man comes on saying the plane has a broken panel, and that it can be quickly fixed once the part is available. The part came around 6:15 ish along with another plane full of people from Atlanta, and the mechanics went to fix the problem. The update from the desk was that it'd be another HOUR before the mechanics could even update us. Haha, right? No.

So, by this time I'd have missed the flight in ATL at 8, so I get re booked to another plane leaving earlier to Atlanta and the last flight leaving to Hunstville out of Atlanta, so I looked to be in the clear.

God had another plan. The thunderstorms and tornadoes in Atlanta had temporarily grounded all flights to and from so we were stuck. I got a pizza and chilled out when all the sudden the gate agent came on "We must board now, we have a very narrow window so everyone needs to go quickly!" So we're excited, we get on board, they close the door, pull back from the gate, and by this time everyone's clapping and laughing thinking all's well because we had been cleared...

But wait...we're not cleared. Captain comes on and says we need to wait because Atlanta had grounded flights again. Then we would be updated in 30 minutes...Nope, we'd lost our spot to depart...so what else could happen? Well, our pilot informed us the crew had to be switched because they'd gone over the regulated time by the FAA, so then we had to wait another 30 min to pull into the gate and another 30 min to get a different crew all while sitting on board the aircraft the we got on around 7:15 ish...

Enter lovely Elaine, she was so nice to check everyone's ticket and see if they'd get to their connecting flights. My flight? It'd been delayed to a 12:30 am departure so I was in the clear. Phew...No more problems, right? Can we go now?

As all this is transpiring on the plane, this 31 year old dude ends up sitting next to me. He won't make much conversation at first and is obsessed with looking at Facebook on his blackberry even when he was told to turn it off for flying. He began to talk when all the aviation world was falling apart before us. He made small talk at first then began his idea of flirting by making jokes about holding hands with me and "hey, be careful not to rest your head on me if you fall asleep! Haha!" Ok, whatever Mr. Forrest. Yes, I know his last name because lovely Elaine had helped him in finding him another connecting flight. Anywho...

After the crew change, we waited until about 11 pm to finally get cleared to leave NC. Hallelujah! Woo! Before this was announced, a man in the row in front of me began cursing at our sweet male flight attendant, blaming him something out of his control obviously. He began taking Jesus' name in vain and the whole shebang... not good... a woman chimed in "It's Good Friday for crying out loud!" Why was he so irritated? On top of the lengthy delays, a Delta agent had come thru the cabin with free liquor cards. Yes, I said free liquor cards! Why not drink it up folks? What could possibly go wrong with a bunch of upset people drinking? Smart move, lady (forgot her name...).

So, we finally take off, everyone claps, and it's a relief. Once we can turn on our electronic devices, Mr. F (as I will now refer to him) next to me begins to tease me about everything and won't stop. He mumbled a lot and had a deep voice and wouldn't speak up, and I often had to ask Mr. F to repeat himself, and, much to my dismay, this didn't dissuade him from speaking to me non-stop. I'd try to just chill out and listen to my iPod, but no, he didn't let me. "You're not really asleep!" "Come on let's do something fun!" He switches our iPod earphones so we're playing music for each other. Yes, it's awkwardly bizarre, especially when he played me all songs about the birds and the bees like "Girls, girls, girls" or many a Babyface song or other fitting R&B tunes suited for that sort of things. I was trying to play him the most non-sexual songs like"Cotton-Eyed Joe" or "Don't Stop Believin"...Ugh... The entire time he'd talk to me, he'd find a way to graze his hands or his legs against mine. Then he proceeded to show me his "modeling" photos on his iPod Touch. Are you kidding me? "Yeah, look at that one." He has no shirt on in the photo. "Wow, is that like a whole Abercrombie thing you got going on or...?" "Haha. I didn't like it. There's no depth to modeling." Wow, yeah, thanks for the tip, Mr. F. SICK! He just wouldn't ever let up. That was until he found out that the time was later than he thought. My iPod said it was 10:45 so he thought he'd make his connection...my iPod wasn't on daylight savings...then he found out he'd missed his plane. He didn't speak to me after that. GOOD!

So, we pull up to the gate after a lengthy taxi in Atlanta (15 minutes at least), and I look across at this girl I met who was also on the same flight to AL as me...let's call her Bon Qui Qui. Bon Qui Qui and I had to JET to our connection because it was leaving in 10 min, and Atlanta is not a small airport so we had to run. She stops outside our little plane to ask the dude on the ground about gate changes. I'm thinking "Um...I gotta go...RUN!" So I'm crankin it as fast I can up into the terminal with slow people in front of me, finally I break into a sprint looking for a stinkin' Gate Info screen! Come on! Where is it? Finally after a good 25 yards I found that my flight to Alabama had been CANCELED. I've never had a cancellation in my life. It must have been canceled while we were up at 30000 feet. I look on the screen and see another flight to Hunstville leaving at 12:45! That gave me 20 min! "I can do it!" I sprint to the train to C concourse, and just make it before the doors close so I felt awesome, like I was in a movie. As the train pulled away, this little Indian man in front of me wasn't ready, and he basically fell in slow motion backwards onto me. Hilarious. I jet off the train to C-45, and it was about a good 3 minute sprint. I looked like a fool, but I didn't care. I get there, there's people sitting around, and I ask "Hey, are y'all going to Huntsville?" "Yeah, the plane keeps being delayed." No agent is at the gate. Hello? I look to my right and see a long line with over 50 people in it. I ask the girl in front of me what the line's for. A Delta employee says there's these machines that when you scan your boarding pass of the canceled flight, you're automatically re booked, and you get whatever the receipt printed for you says. The agents at the huge desk are for hotel reservations only, and the phones are for rescheduling flights for another day. Yes, it's scary. So I go to the scanner, praying I've been booked on an early flight out. My flight? The next morning at 11:11 am. WHAT? No freaking way. To borrow from George Costanza, "Julie is gettin' upset!"

In all this I'm calling my dad and uncle who's picking me up at the airport updating them to the situation.
It's insane. I feel like crying my eyes out. I'm tired. I'm angry. I almost got to the point where I didn't care anymore.

As I'm talking to my dad on the phone I see a Delta agent come out of the gate's jetway. I think "where the heck have you been the last 30 minutes?" I get up to the desk at the gate, first in line. He makes a PA announcement: "We're now boarding flight 5249 to Hunstville." I think that I'm totally not going to make it on board with all the people filing past me to get on. Then a woman, who looked completely worn out, came up and said that she'd originally been booked on this flight, but she was switched to the later one that got canceled (same boat as me). I had to find proof I was supposed to be on this flight. The agent back in NC TOOK that e-ticket from me and gave me revised itinerary, so I felt like crying because I had no proof. Then it hit me! My luggage sticker was on my 1st e-ticket! It has the flight # on it! Yes! I tell the agent what happened, and boom, there's my boarding pass. I got on the plane.

Then I made my way down the ramp, literally skipping along in happiness and saying "Praise God, praise God, praise God!"

Here's the kicker: Bon Qui Qui beat me on the plane. I get on, she's chattin' it up on her cell phone. She's 2 rows in front of me. I wave as I file past her. "How did she get on this plane before me? I RAN my guts out to get here! What?" Who knew the short, slow gal would beat me on the plane.

Isn't it ironic? Don'tcha think?

I didn't get my bag when I landed... it came about 10 hours later. :-)

Palin Article Hit Piece

2009-04-10T17:14:00.002-04:00

JR, contributor at our sister blog Conservatives4Palin, has informed me that the article I previously addressed is indeed an attack piece. He's right. The article is not objective whatsoever with the author being blatant in his interviews of mostly all enemies of Sarah Palin. He claims that the only reason the gas pipeline Governor Palin wants to build hasn't yet been constructed is due to her own political ambitions. Not true sir.

Check what Conservatives4Palin has to say here.

Live from the Greensboro Airport!

2009-04-10T16:44:00.001-04:00

So I am sitting here looking out the window on a gloomy day in North Carolina, waiting to board my very delayed flight to visit relatives on this Easter weekend and thought I best pick up some light reading. I was browsing the local newstand when BOOM there's a magazine with Governor Sarah Palin on the cover! I thought that it would be something scandalous or gossipy about her daughter or the whole clothing debacle, but to my surprise, it was nothing of the sort. It is the Cuda on the cover of Conde Nast Portfolio, which I assume is a business magazine? I will let you know what comes of this reading experience soon. Until then...Palin on a business magazine? Take that Mitt! Haha.

Palin: Build Up Missle Defense

2009-04-07T00:09:00.002-04:00

h/t Carlos

Governor Palin Stresses Need for Strong Missile Defense Capability

April 6, 2009, Juneau, Alaska – Responding to the missile test by North Korea, Governor Sarah Palin today reaffirmed Alaska’s commitment to protecting America from rogue nation missile attacks.

“I am deeply concerned with North Korea’s development and testing program which has clear potential of impacting Alaska, a sovereign state of the United States, with a potentially nuclear armed warhead,” Governor Palin said. “I can’t emphasize enough how important it is that we continue to develop and perfect the global missile defense network. Alaska’s strategic location and the system in place here have proven invaluable in defending the nation.”

Governor Palin stressed the importance of Fort Greely and the need for continued funding for the Missile Defense Agency. The governor is firmly against U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates’ proposed $1.4 billion reduction of the Missile Defense Agency. Greely’s isolated location in Alaska as well as its strategic location in the Pacific allows for maximum security and development of the country’s only ground-based missile defense complex.

“Our early opposition to reduced funding for the Missile Defense Agency is proving to be well-founded during this turbulent time,” Governor Palin said. “I continue to support the development and implementation of a defensive missile shield based in Alaska. We are strategically placed to defend the critical assets of the United States and our allies in the Pacific Theater.”

Governor Palin also requested stimulus funding for the Kodiak Launch Complex. The Kodiak Launch Complex is a commercial rocket launch facility for sub-orbital and orbital space launch vehicles owned and operated by the Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation, a public corporation of the State of Alaska.

Carrie Gets the Hardware...Again!

2009-04-06T17:09:00.005-04:00

She's got "it"

And she even won the coveted Entertainer of the Year! A feat not accomplished by another female since the Dixie Chicks in 2000.

Carrie also won Female Vocalist of the Year for the 3rd straight year - only Reba has won it 4 times in a row.

In her FVOTY acceptance speech she said, "It is my belief that country music makes the world a better place, and I'm so glad to be a part of country music. All the glory, all the goodness, and all the praise goes to God."

Watch this entire clip! Matthew McConaughey presents the award after this hilarious story, which Carrie addresses in her acceptance speech:

Pat Bowlen's Letter to Bronco Country

2009-04-03T15:50:00.003-04:00

Let me explain...

Dear Broncos Fan,

I am writing this letter today because I feel compelled to give our community and our fans an explanation regarding the Jay Cutler situation.

One of my directives to Josh McDaniels upon his hiring was that he consider everything possible to return the Broncos to the level which you and I both expect, and this certainly includes making a fair evaluation of every opportunity presented to us which might improve the team. He and General Manager Brian Xanders have had my complete support throughout, and they have it now. It is important that you know that at all times we represented ourselves to Jay with honesty and integrity.

I assure you both Josh and I made repeated attempts to reach out to Jay, and I can not speak for him as to why he chose to limit his response. Ultimately, given his unwillingness to speak with either of us directly in the last 12 days- at the same time his agent clearly stating to us Jay's intentions- it became very apparent to me personally that he no longer wanted to play for the Denver Broncos. As such, we elected to trade him.

Understand this: it remains about team. Our franchise has gone to the Super Bowl six times, with three different coaches and with many different players. It has never been about one player, and it never will be. Coach McDaniels shares this vision, and everyone in the organization—players, coaches and staff—must understand and accept this unconditionally. If anyone does not, that person will not be a part of this franchise.

I am extremely proud of our franchise, its accomplishments, and the region and fans that we represent. We have an illustrious history, one which we are all anxious to add to, and if someone does not wish to be with us as we head in this direction, then we will move on, and move forward.

Over 96% of our season ticket holders have chosen to renew their tickets for the 2009 season. This is once again a compelling statement of support and trust by the greatest fans in the NFL, and I assure you my only goal is and always will be to compete at the highest championship level.

The Denver Broncos will move forward in 2009 as one team, united with the most loyal and passionate fan base in football, towards the only goal we will ever pursue.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for your understanding and continued support.

Sincerely,

Pat Bowlen

BREAKING: McCain Endorses Palin for 2012 Presidential Bid

2009-04-01T13:56:00.002-04:00

April fools. Sorry. ;)

Here's a video from VidSweet to pump Palin supporters up for 2012:

Humorous Video of the Day

2009-03-25T18:15:00.001-04:00

Brought to you by the one and only Ellen DeGeneres.

Yeah, I may not agree with the lifestyle she chooses, but she's hilarious. Love her show.

Here's a clip I've seen before over a year ago.

It's 88 year old viewer Gladys Hardy talking to Ellen. Priceless:

Ballin' Seawolves Meet Gov. Palin

2009-03-25T01:17:00.001-04:00

It was Barracuda...

The University of Alaska at Anchorage (UAA) Lady Seawolves are on their way to the NCAA Division II Final Four, in San Antonio. Great job, Lady Seawolves, on proudly representing the great state of Alaska to the Lower 48.

What brought on this exciting victory for the Seawolves, you ask? Well, I believe it can partly be attributed to the warm hospitality (including delicious sandwiches) and encouraging words (including autographs and posing for photos) from the good Governor herself, Sarah Palin.

According to an ADN article posted a couple days ago, as the Lady Seawolves were laid over in Juneau 8 hours en route to Anchorage from the West Region Tournament in Seattle, they were privileged enough to be graciously hosted by Gov. Palin and daughter Piper in the Governor's mansion:

"It was an unbelievable experience," coach Tim Moser said. "She walked in and she was really cordial, really down to earth, and she said some really great things about what athletics taught her.

"She talked about when she won the state tournament and talked about the self-discipline that it takes to be a part of a team. I thought she had some great things to say."

Moser said it took some time for his players to loosen up around the former vice-presidential candidate. "I think some of our kids were a little star-struck," he said. "And I was too."

Congratulations again to the UAA Lady Seawolves on their Final Four berth.

Be sure to catch the Seawolves play Minnesota State Wednesday, March 25 at 7 p.m. EST(that's 3 p.m. Alaskan time). Via GoSeawolves.com:

The UAA-MSU semifinal matchup will be aired live in Anchorage on two stations – KCFT (GCI cable 19) and ESPNU (GCI 134). Radio coverage will be provided on AM-1080 KUDO and streamed on GoSeawolves.com. The UAA Student Union will be airing the game live, downstairs near Subway.

Cross posted at Conservatives for Palin.

Gov. Palin Loves Girl Scouts...

2009-03-17T02:21:00.003-04:00

...and their cookies.

As reported earlier at the Juneau Empire, Governor Palin helped out some Juneau-area Girl Scouts at a local Fred Meyer store (it's like Wal-Mart, just better) over the weekend. A couple weeks prior, the Girl Scouts had been robbed of about $800 of their earnings at the Fred Meyer loaction. The awesome manager gladly replaced the lost dollars for thr girls, and Governor Palin helped to bring in nearly $4000 worth of cookies sold!

Thanks, Guv!

H/T to alexraye for the video tip:

UPDATED: Gov. Palin to Address GOP Dinner in June:

2009-03-16T19:13:00.006-04:00

Ka-ching!

H/T to the best blog evah, Conservatives For Palin

via APObama:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will deliver the keynote address at a dinner sponsored by the House and Senate Republican campaign committees.

Palin, the party's 2008 nominee for vice president, will address the annual Senate-House Dinner June 8 at the Washington Convention Center.

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, called Palin one of the GOP's most popular and recognizable faces and a proven leader who "represents a breath of fresh air from the business-as-usual crowd in Washington."

The GOP is seeking to rebuild after losing ground in the House and Senate and losing the White House in 2008.

Alrighty then. This is very, very good news indeed that someone in the GOP gets that they need a person with the charisma and the record to make a difference.

Governor Palin is a fundraising machine. After John McCain named her as his running mate, the campaign raised over $4 million online in one day. Yes, that is a fact. The previous highest total had never eclipsed $1 million online...ever.

Sarah Palin can also draw a crowd, as evidenced in her rallies where the attendance was usually at least at 20,000. Like at the Richmond, VA rally I attended.

If she can deliver an electrifying and enlightening speech, maybe she can convince some of the naysayers who say she's not "intelligent" enough to lead a party, or a country for that matter.

As for 2012, I say, Run, Sarah, Run!

UPDATE: Maybe she's not speaking after all?

Like, OMG, Meghan McCain...Shut Up!

2009-03-13T13:55:00.003-04:00

Laura Ingraham's take on her radio show about Meghan's "reaching out" to moderates via MSNBC (caution: This will make you laugh...hard):

Exit question: Anyone else find it extremely disturbing that Rachel Maddow follows Meghan McCain on Twitter?

Sarah Palin: Just Like a Circus

2009-03-10T21:38:00.001-04:00

All-new video from Alex Raye:

Gov. Palin's Difficult Court Appointment

2009-03-06T23:56:00.004-05:00

Dilemma

Or is it? Folks, you CAN rest assured. Sarah Palin isn't compromising what she believes in whatsoever. It is the process by which these appointments go that is the tough road to hoe.

In fact, SarahPAC via Palin's Facebook page has this update in regards to her AK State Supreme Court:

Gov. Palin is totally pro-life. Always has been. Always will be. She believes in a culture of life from cradle to grave. Her choice for Supreme Court judge was made in accordance with Alaska law. She chose the person most qualified from the names sent to her. The Governor's choice has a record of fairness. That is important as the courts sort out some very thorny issues. Governor Palin's choices were either a liberal or an independent. She went with the independent. And as the following article reflects - this selection process is flawed.

The good folks at my sister blog, Conservatives For Palin, have it all covered here.

Uh...The TelObrampter Chronicles...Um...Part I

2009-03-05T18:25:00.009-05:00

The prompter...uh...really helps...uh...my Messiah status...

Guess who doesn't know how to live without a teleprompter? The...uh...One? You guessed it.

Most of us already knew this was coming. It's great that a "drive-by" media outlet finally picked up on it.

via Politico:

President Barack Obama doesn’t go anywhere without his TelePrompter.

The textbook-sized panes of glass holding the president’s prepared remarks follow him wherever he speaks.

Resting on top of a tall, narrow pole, they flank his podium during speeches in the White House’s stately parlors. They stood next to him on the floor of a manufacturing plant in Indiana as he pitched his economic stimulus plan. They traveled to the Department of Transportation this week and were in the Capitol Rotunda last month when he paid tribute to Abraham Lincoln in six-minute prepared remarks.

Obama’s reliance on the teleprompter is unusual — not only because he is famous for his oratory, but because no other president has used one so consistently and at so many events, large and small.

Really no surprise here, folks. He couldn't give an extemporaneous speech to save his life.

After the teleprompter malfunctioned a few times last summer and Obama delivered some less-than-soaring speeches, reports surfaced that he was training to wean himself off of the device while on vacation in Hawaii. But no such luck...

“It’s just something presidents haven’t done,” said Martha Joynt Kumar, a presidential historian who has held court in the White House since December 1975. “It’s jarring to the eye. In a way, it stands in the middle between the audience and the president because his eye is on the teleprompter.”

Just how much of a crutch the teleprompter has become for Obama was on sharp display during his latest commerce secretary announcement. The president spoke from a teleprompter in the ornate Indian Treaty Room for a few minutes. Then Gov. Gary Locke stepped to the podium and pulled out a piece of paper for reference.

Ok, that's not awkward or unprofessional at all, President Obama. How would people react if Sarah Palin or another Republican had endured the same circumstance?

The president’s teleprompter also elicited some uncomfortable laughter after he announced Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as his choice for Health and Human Services secretary. “Kathy,” Obama said, turning the podium over to Sebelius, who waited at the microphone for an awkward few seconds while the teleprompters were lowered to the floor and the television cameras rolled.

Obama has relied on a teleprompter through even the shortest announcements and when repeating the same lines on his economic stimulus plan that he's been saying for months — whereas past presidents have mostly worked off of notes on the podium except during major speeches, such as the State of the Union.

It's like the President doesn't retain anything he's said time and again. How can this be? I think it's because he doesn't really mean what he's saying, or else he wouldn't need the crutch of a prompter to remind him what he wants to say. If you know and believe in something (large, national speeches aside), it shouldn't be that difficult to do so without the use of a prompter.

The man couldn't even announce cabinet picks without the contraption. How the heck do we expect him to lead the United States of America?

The White House says Obama’s point of reference is insignificant.

"Whether one uses note cards or a teleprompter, the American people are a lot more concerned about the plans relayed than the method of delivery. This is not always true of the media," said Bill Burton, deputy press secretary.

Not so sure Bill's right on this one. I find the teleprompter very distracting if I see it, and I don't like it when politicians don't look into the lens of the camera at the American people, but rather methodically gaze from left to right.

Here's a photo of the Sarah Palin rally I attended in Richmond last year. As you can see, the stupid prompter was in my view the whole time. Annoying? Yes.

Can Sarah Palin pull off a wail of a speech without a prompter? Definitely (as evidenced at the RNC when her prompter supposedly failed on occasion):

In a break from his routine, Obama did not use a teleprompter during his pre-Inauguration speech at a factory in Bedford Heights, Ohio — and his delivery seemed to suffer. He paused too long at parts. He accentuated the wrong words. And overall he sounded hesitant and halting as he spoke from the prepared remarks on the podium...

But be it extra precaution, style or a mental crutch, Obama has shown in the past that he needs the teleprompter. And while he still has his prepared remarks placed on the podium in a leather folder, the White House has shown no sign of trying to wean him off of it.

Wow. Yes, it is a mental crutch. No question about it. We've all seen what it looks and sounds like when Obama has no prompter...it goes something like this:

Or this:

h/t to Ed Morrisey at Hot Air

Avs Trade Leopold

2009-03-04T21:38:00.003-05:00

Thank goodness for that

(Photo: Daylife.com)

Look, no offense to Jordan Leopold (D), but he just wasn't worth the hefty price tag. The Avs got two more d-men and a draft pick out of the deal... Are more in the works? I hope so.

via ESPN:

A BETTER FIT?
Defenseman Jordan Leopold started his pro career with the Flames in the 2002-03 season. He got traded to Colorado in 2006, but didn't fare as well there.

With Flames With Avs

Seasons 3 3

Goals 15 13

Assists 52 25

Points 67 38

+/- -1 -9

	With Flames	With Avs
Seasons	3	3
Goals	15	13
Assists	52	25
Points	67	38
+/-	-1	-9

In the meantime, the Avs are currently playing the Red Wings on Versus. Check it out online at Yahoo! Sports for a live video stream of the game from the Mile High City.

Potential 2012 GOP Candidate of the Day

2009-03-03T14:28:00.004-05:00

Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) of Louisiana.

After a less-than-stellar GOP response to the "Obama Show", Bobby Jindal excelled on Larry King "Almost Dead."

Here's what went down (via Hot Air):

Palin Supports Parental Consent Legislation

2009-03-02T21:16:00.006-05:00

Scroll down for video of press conference

Palin Pushes Parental Consent Legislation Joined by Rep. Coghill and Sen. Olson

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 09-39

Governor Palin Pushes Parental Consent Legislation

February 26, 2009, Juneau, Alaska – Governor Sarah Palin today was joined by Representative John Coghill, Senator Donny Olson and other lawmakers who offered their support for legislation that would require parental notice and consent before a minor can have an abortion. The governor stressed the broad support for the family-oriented bill. “The most important thing at stake is the right of Alaska’s children to receive the support and input of their parents as they face a life-changing decision,” Governor Palin said. “Certainly, if we are a society that mandates parental consent before our daughters get their ears pierced, or even take a Tylenol tablet at school, I would think that there would be support both for parents to have to give consent and be informed anyway before such an invasive procedure of an abortion would be performed on our underage daughters. I found it appalling that this issue could not pass last year in the 25th Alaska Legislature. Now, Alaska families have an opportunity for parents to finally have this right to help their children in this 26th Alaska Legislature.”

The House last year approved a parental consent bill that would allow parents to intervene in their teenage daughter having an abortion. The measure would have revised the parental consent bill the legislature approved in 1997 and that the Alaska Supreme Court eventually declared unconstitutional on a 3-2 vote. The measure failed in the Senate. Governor Palin and legislative supporters are optimistic new legislation could survive a legal challenge because many states have adopted similar legislation to Alaska’s bill.

Video of press conference w/ Gov. Palin:

Rush Limbaugh Rocks the House at CPAC

2009-03-02T00:54:00.004-05:00

He should do this every year. *Sighs*

Paul Harvey...Good Day

2009-03-01T00:25:00.005-05:00

Thanks for giving us the 'rest of the story'

Photo: AP

Radio legend Paul Harvey has died at the age of 90. I fondly remember going to school as my mom drove and Mr. Harvey would come on. Most of the time I couldn't stand it, but I learned to appreciate it as I actually understood the importance of what he was communicating to millions of listeners around the country.

He had a way of being sarcastic that one could truly appreciate. He showed how common sense, a strong work ethic, and a good education were cornerstones in American life. He was so simple in his message, yet that message sent deep undulations throughout radio land.

Paul Harvey truly epitomized what it meant to be successful and live the American dream. He loved his job. He probably didn't even view it as such. His heart was in it forever.

So thanks, Mr. Harvey. You are gone but certainly not forgotten.

This is why we loved him:

This Just In: CNN Poll is on Crack

2009-02-27T15:51:00.007-05:00

Surely you jest.

via Allahpundit at Hot Air:

The margin of error’s 4.5 percent so in effect the result’s no different from their poll of Republicans and independents in December, which Huck won by two points. But here’s a twist: While Huckabee did better with Republican women three months ago, the tide has suddenly turned.

While the CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll doesn’t indicate a clear frontrunner, it does suggest there’s a gender gap among rank and file Republicans.

“Among GOP men, the same pattern emerges — no clear advantage for Palin, Huckabee or Romney. But among Republican women, it’s a different story. Palin has a 10-point edge among Republican women, winning 32 percent support among them to 22 percent for Huckabee and 20 percent for Romney,” adds Holland. “With the sampling error, that’s not enough to say for sure that Palin is in the lead, but it does indicate that if the primaries were held tomorrow, Palin would have a good chance of being the favorite among GOP women.”
Any theories as to why? Bristol’s been in the news lately, so maybe there’s some sort of identification with Palin as mother stemming from that? I’m stumped. Exit question: Think with me here for a minute. If The One gets the economy on track by 2011 and it looks like he’s waltzing towards reelection, wouldn’t Huckabee actually be a good pick for the nomination? Granted, he’s white, southern, and evangelical, none of which screams “big tent,” but he’s also charming, media savvy, good on race, and comfortable with middle-class economic messaging in a way that Romney, say, isn’t. In other words, he might help boost the party’s image, which isn’t a bad consolation prize in a year you’re destined to lose. Plus, getting crushed in 2012 means he’s an also-ran in 2016, when the GOP would have a real chance again. Second look at Huck as sacrificial lamb?

Well, I don't think this CNN poll is anywhere close to being legit (as I believe Sarah is the top choice among most Republicans hands down), but it is definitely a good sign that Sarah's gained the lead on Huckster after he was leading this poll overall and among women in December. Will this prove to be helpful or hurtful to Sarah if she does indeed gain the 'front runner' status?

I think Sarah likes being the 'underdog' as she explained to ESPN:

Retro Palin Ad of the Month

2009-02-25T19:04:00.001-05:00

Palin: What Do You People Want From Me?

2009-02-24T21:12:00.003-05:00

Want a bagel? Buy it yourself!

Regarding the per diem and travel expense issues, Thomas Van Flein, counsel to the Governor Palin, has released a statement on the voluntary agreement between the Governor and the Personnel Board.

He states 4 key points:

(1) The Independent Counsel found no ethics violation, and no violation of the law.

(2) Independent Counsel did conclude that the law needs clarification and has referred the matter to the AG (attorney general) to write some regulations regarding travel.

(3) The Governor and Independent Counsel mutually agreed that some trips should be reimbursed to the state, not because of any violation of the law, but to comport with what we think the law will be and the new standard that will likely apply. The Governor is in fact complying with a standard that yet to be created, demonstrating her commitment to ethics.

(4) The Governor relied on experienced staff members for advice on protocol travel. The rules have been changing and there will be another change once the AG writes new regulations. The travel decisions here were all made in good faith. That is one of the reasons no law was violated.

What else do these people want from Sarah? Buy your own bagels!

Tiger's Back!

2009-02-24T19:15:00.003-05:00

Swing, baby, swing

(Photo: Daylife.com)

via ESPN:

MARANA, Ariz. -- Tiger Woods sent an ominous warning to his rivals on Tuesday by saying his short game was better than ever after being sidelined for eight months due to reconstructive knee surgery.

The top-ranked player in the world, who defends his WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship title this week, has not played competitive golf since winning the U.S. Open in June.

"My short game has gotten a little bit better," Woods said in a news conference after playing his first practice round at Dove Mountain's Ritz-Carlton Golf Club.

"I've got more shots than before just because I've spent so much time on it, chipping and playing all the different shots around the greens.

"Some I had forgotten I had over the years. I kind of remembered how to hit them again, which was nice."

Woods, who defied stabbing knee pain and a double stress fracture of his left tibia to win last year's U.S. Open, expects to be a little nervous for his first-round match on Wednesday.

"The day I'm not nervous is the day I quit," said the 14-time major champion, who launches his title defense against Australian Brendan Jones, ranked No. 64.

"Nerves are great. That means you care. I take great pride in what I do.

"Of course I'll be nervous. That's the greatest thing about it, just to feel that rush."

Woods also felt a little uncertain about how his game would stand up to the rigors of match play golf on a layout measuring 7,833 yards off the back tees.

"Tournament-ready is just having rounds under your belt, but I haven't had that for a while," Woods said.

"I've played one tournament in 10 months [since the Masters in April]. I've had plenty of rounds and I've simulated tournaments the best I possibly can but it's hard to get the adrenaline up to where it's going to be tomorrow."

Although Woods experienced several periods of extreme frustration during his rehabilitation, he was delighted to have a strong left knee for the first time in a decade.

"Both legs have been stronger than they ever have been," he said. "Stability is something I haven't had in years so it's nice to make a swing and not have my bones move.

"I had a lack of ACL for a number of years and, no matter what I did, it was always moving. So I would try and hit into my left side but the more I did that, the more it would move.

"Hence one of the reasons why you saw me jumping off the ball was to get off that leg," he said of his swing in recent seasons. "It's nice to be able to hit into it for the first time.

"As far as my golf swing I'm doing the same things I've been trying to do but now I have a leg I can do it on."

Woods, arguably the greatest player of all time, said he always knew he would return to the game after his third knee surgery in the last five years.

"There was no doubt I'd get back," he added.

"Discouragement, yeah, there was plenty of that, especially the first few months.

"Anyone who's ever been through an ACL reconstruction, they'll attest to it. It's not a whole lot of fun. You start feeling pretty normal probably around five months and here I am at eight months out."

I've had ACL reconstruction (basketball) too, Mr. Woods, and I agree. It's no picnic, and I believe your leg is never the same, but what do I know. I don't have time to go lift weights and train everyday.

Glad to have you back, Tiger. I know I'll be tuning in just to see you tee off. No pressure.

Kate Wins!

2009-02-23T14:45:00.004-05:00

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

So what if she won for a film where she plays a Nazi? She's versatile.

After 6 nominations, you deserve it. So great job to you, Ms. Winslet. Your hard work into every part you play really does pay off. Cherish it. You are one of the greatest actresses of our generation. Hands down.

Lovin' the Gov from the Magnolia State

2009-02-22T18:32:00.005-05:00

One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three...

Haley Barbour rocks. 'Nuff said.

Via Hot Air from CNN:

It's no coincidence President Obama has traveled to key swing states to push his massive stimulus measure, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said Sunday.

Barbour, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee, said Obama's recent travel is an indication that the new president is already running for reelection.

"He's going to those places for a reason," Barbour said on CNN's State of the Union. "I mean David Axelrod, who's his campaign consultant/manager/guru really is one of the brightest, most capable people in American politics. And so this is what we've become accustomed to, the perpetual campaign."

In the last few weeks, the president has visited Florida, Ohio, Indiana, Virginia, and Colorado — all states that voted Republican in the 2004 presidential election but flipped to the Democrat's side in 2008. Obama has also visited Arizona — the home state of his former rival, Sen. John McCain, and a state he'd like to turn blue in 2012.

The White House has said the president specifically visited those states because they are among the hardest hit by the nations sputtering economy and home foreclosure crisis.

Well, I think all of this was certainly inevitable. Good to see GOP Govs like Barbour stepping up to the plate to tell it like it really is to Americans.

Try as he may to steal these "battleground states", but I believe Obama will not be as successful with any of these states as he was in 2008. It was a Democrat year, and he still had some trouble down the home stretch.

2012's a whole new ball game. Bring it on.

Democrat Governor Goofs on Palin...Fails

2009-02-21T00:24:00.002-05:00

Whine, baby, whine

Well, folks, some people just can't help themselves can they? Especially when it comes to anything related to the Governor of Alaska.

In an "epic fail" of an attempt to soak up some of the "halo effect" and undeniable limelight that surrounds Sarah Palin, Montana Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer fell flat on Friday. He wasn't too pleased that Governor Palin will not be there to join him at the Natural Resource Committee's discussion on energy this weekend at the National Governors Association meeting in Washington. Governor Palin is chairwoman and Governor Schweitzer is vice chair of the committee:

Palin, however, did not publicly commit about attending the NGA conference.

Her office announced Thursday that her travel to western Alaska coupled with her work on budget amendments and "economic stimulus certification requirements" would prevent her from attending this weekend's NGA meeting, which includes not only the energy policy discussion but also a Sunday black tie dinner at the White House and a Monday governors-only meeting with President Barack Obama.

Here's what Schweitzer said today in response to Governor Palin's non-attendance:

"I don't know where she's going to be. You'll be stuck with me," Schweitzer told ABC News. "There will be no glamour, certainly no snappy dressing. I brought my best two pairs of jeans. There's a little bit of a horse s**t stain by the knee. But I've been washing that stuff out."

I think some may interpret this as being a slim swipe at Governor Palin, just because Schweitzer thinks he is too cool for school with his dirty jeans. He is a rancher, after all.

Nevertheless, I still think Governor Palin takes the cake when it comes to "frontier" status. Like in this photo for instance:

The Governor from the Big Sky State also just couldn't help but make a crack at the wardrobe fiasco surrounding Palin, brought to you by the incompetent folks at the RNC. Thanks again, RNC.

"I don’t have any party buying me clothes," said Schweitzer, referring to the more than $150,000 that the Republican Party shelled out for the Palin family's wardrobe last year. "My wife buys my clothes at Costco."

Goodness gracious, sir. Please, if you're going to make a joke about Sarah Palin, the least you can do is come up with some original material.

Cross posted at Conservatives for Palin

Ziegler on the Hatin' Palin Disorder

2009-02-20T15:47:00.003-05:00

Appreciate ya, John!

Found this article via a poster on Gov. Palin's Official Facebook page.

From NewsBusters:

[On why the media went after Sarah Palin] Well, because she was going to be much more of a threat. They only, they only really waste their ammunition on, on people they see as a threat. They don't on people that they don't see as that big a deal. I think very much like the primary season was a perfect storm, I think what happened with Sarah Palin was a perfect storm because you have a situation where the conservative movement isn't energized. You have a brand new person who is extremely engaging, incredibly charismatic, very attractive, hits a grand slam home run in her convention speech, the polls go through the roof, the McCain-Palin team is now winning. So now you have the media in a situation where their guy is being threatened, his election's being threatened. And the other thing that happened which I think is an important part with regard to the news media. Joe Scarborough of all people really nailed this, and we used this in my film. You know, those first few days of the convention, they tried to destroy her. I mean, they pulled out all the stops. I mean, the bogus story about her affair, the ridiculous story about her not giving birth to Trig, you know, all sorts of lies about her background. There was talk that she was going to be another Eagleton and be kicked off the ticket. And then she hits this grand slam and the media looked like a bunch of idiots.

[On why women in the media hate Palin] The last thing that they want, you know, because a lot of these, a lot of women in the media are career women who have given up families, and under this delusion that they can have it all, and they haven't been able to achieve that, and here's a woman who seemingly does have it all. I mean, she's, she's to the extreme. And still able to look great doing it. I mean, it, it really triggered I think a visceral reaction in a lot of mostly women.

The Katie Couric interview was used to destroy Sarah Palin's credibility with the independent voters that had been so drawn to her in that first couple of weeks after her announcement as the vice presidential nominee...From my interview with Sarah Palin, one of the more interesting revelations was that Sarah Palin very early on in that interview realized that she was in enemy territory and that Katie Couric did not have her best interest at heart. And the reason why she realized this was that Katie Couric kept on coming back at her time and time again on the issue of abortion. It wasn't just a clarification question. It was clearly an attempt to play a game of gotcha. Just get Sarah Palin to say something extreme on the issue of abortion. We all know where Katie Couric and 99.99 percent of women in the media stand on that issue. And so at that point, I think that Sarah Palin started to feel as if, and I think she acknowledged this, she started to feel as if she was in a game, she started to shut down, she started to become skeptical if not paranoid about every single question, and I think that directly led to for instance the non-answer to the "What do you read" question, which has been totally misunderstood and misrepresented. And I think it led to a hesitancy on a whole series of other questions 'cause now all of a sudden she has to second and third guess everything she's going to say before she says it because she knows, she knows that, that she is in a situation where there are trapdoors everywhere.

Enjoy the Ride

2009-02-20T13:53:00.002-05:00

Tribute video made by EmilyRossumFanForLife:

This Is Really Getting Tiresome...

2009-02-18T22:51:00.004-05:00

Don't be hatin...

Some people just can't help but watch Governor Palin like a hawk, even folks on the "right"...

via Conservatives for Palin:

Carlos alerted me to this, from the The Corner at NRO:

Ramesh, I'm sure you've shown your cards somewhere on this matter, so at the risk of asking an ignorant question, do you think our lady up north is worth conservative embrace? Your post hints that you might. If so, what exactly has she done as governor to warrant this affection? As far as I know, her main accomplishments up there are two-fold. First, she taxed and regulated the oil companies out of virtually all remaining marginal plays in Alaska and then crowed endlessly on the campaign trail about how she faced-down the "special interests." Then, she signed into law a stunning array of renewable energy subsidies that would be the envy of any blue-stater.

Sure, she delivers a great speech (not sure if she can write one though). But has she done anything to warrant this love she gets from some quarters on the Right besides her demonstrable ability to play the Merle Haggard card against the cultural Left?

Click here to read more

Gov. Palin: Hey, Obama. You Should Veto the Stimulus!

2009-02-17T14:38:00.004-05:00

That's what 'Cuda would do

H/T: JR at Conservatives for Palin

From last night's "On the Record" w/ Greta Van Susteren:

The Palins Go "On the Record" Tonight

2009-02-16T18:10:00.006-05:00

Yes, that's exactly how Greta Van Susteren would say it too.

H/T: Ramrocks at Conservatives for Palin (our sister site)

Watch "On the Record" with Greta Van Susteren tonight at 10 EST on Fox News Channel for an interview with Governor Palin and family. A special portion of the program will include an interview with Bristol Palin, new mother of a bouncing baby boy.

Tune in to see what Bristol has to say in response to all the cases of PDS (Palin Derangement Syndrome) out there. Who knows what other shennanigans will happen with Piper around too... Love it!

Gov. Palin's Lincoln Day Speech

2009-02-15T15:13:00.003-05:00

H/T: Ramrocks at Conservatives for Palin

Going 'Rogue'...

'Cuda gave a fantastic speech this weekend in Fairbanks for the Lincoln Day Dinner by Alaska Republicans. She was on fire with the jokes as well... going rogue, baby.

Governor shares lessons from ‘Honest Abe,’ boasts Alaskans’ work ethic:

In keeping with the Lincoln Bicentennial theme, Gov. Sarah Palin was introduced with a revised, Alaska version of the Gettysburg Address at Saturday night’s Lincoln Day Dinner hosted by Fairbanks Republican Women.

“Two score and five years ago,” intoned moderator Ralph Seekins to a capacity crowd in the Edgewater Room at the Princess Riverside Lodge, instantly perking up the ears of people familiar with the real address.

And as Seekins humorously transposed the words to fit the Republican governor, the crowd responded with laughter and applause.

“That all women can do what they set their minds to, whether it be running for governor, the vice presidency or field dressing a caribou. ...

“Few will remember what we ate here but never what she said here, or some, in the media what she wears here.”

And Palin exhibited her Alaska fashion sense, sporting a tan smoke ring — a circular scarf delicately knitted in Eskimo motifs from fine qiviut, the underwool of Arctic musk ox.

“And that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from Alaska.”

The Alaska rendition was recited in good humor, for earlier in the evening, Abraham Lincoln’s famous speech made at the Gettysburg, Pa., battlefield was recited eloquently from memory by Glenn Hackney...

...She joked that for some people it was the first sign of her “going rogue” by hosting the Palin/Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell inauguration in Fairbanks and not Juneau.

She also thanked Fairbanksans for their support and respect for the military and the good training her son Track, a member of the Stryker Brigade deployed to Iraq, received at Fort Wainwright.

During her recent vice-presidential stump across the nation, Palin said she felt many people “misunderstood the uniqueness of Alaska,” its pioneering spirit, its residents’ work ethic and ruggedness.

She asked the audience to help get the message out that Alaska is a good, positive state where people work hard, enjoy the great outdoors and support family values.

Palin also mentioned media confusion about predator control in Alaska.

She said she responded to a FOX newscaster’s questions Saturday with, “For me, I eat, therefore I hunt.”

Then she added for the Fairbanks crowd, “That’s the way we roll in Alaska.”

Republican Representative of the Day: Aaron Schock

2009-02-13T15:33:00.006-05:00

The Representative from 18th District of Illinois

from Wikipedia:

Prior to his election, Schock was a school board member in Illinois and later president of the board. Schock was the youngest member of the Illinois House of Representatives and has assumed this position again as the youngest member of the U.S. House in the 111th Congress. Schock is also the first member of the United States Congress born in the 1980s.

Hot Air has Schock featured today as he questions the stimulus:

Just another inspirational story of a hard-working American. You can pursue and live your dreams. It can happen, and you can make a difference in the country.

Visit Congressman Schock's web site here to see what he's all about.

Joaquin Phoenix on Letterman: What. Just. Happened?

2009-02-12T15:02:00.002-05:00

UPDATE: Looks like the video's been removed by CBS... dang it.

Hilarious. Poor guy. Crack is whack? Yes.

h/t Hot Air

Updated: Palin's Presser in Juneau

2009-02-11T20:23:00.005-05:00

Cross-posted at Conservatives For Palin

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Happy Birthday, Governor Palin!

2009-02-11T11:37:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday to You!

And many happy returns to you, Governor, as God continues to bless you and your family!

Exit question: Is it any coincidence that Sarah Palin shares the same birthday month as Ronald Reagan, Abraham Lincoln and George Washington? I think not. :)

Not Surprising: Disenfranchised McDonalds's Worker Wants Obama to Give Him a Raise

2009-02-10T16:53:00.009-05:00

Oh gracious God thank you so much!

H/T to the great Rush Limbaugh for playing this on his show today.

This is a joke, right? How exactly did this guy get into college? The American public is misinformed and uneducated. That's how Obama got elected in the first place. What a shame.

Exit question: Will this disenfranchised worker receive the glorious cash pot he's been waiting for while frying those potatoes? Tune into the next episode of Ellen / Oprah / Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to find out.

Oh and this is what Sarah Palin thinks about this whole thing (sarcasm included):

Wait, this is a joke, right?

Obama Gets a Boo Boo

2009-02-09T15:39:00.003-05:00

This is just a shame. Hope the Messiah's ego isn't too terribly injured:

h/t Hot Air

The First Dude and the Iron Dog

2009-02-08T20:01:00.004-05:00

...2 decades and 5 kids later, he's still my guy...

The annual Iron Dog race has once again gotten underway up in the Last Frontier. You can look up Todd Palin and Scott Davis Team 22 and track them via GPS here. Yeah, it's pretty high tech, dude.

Here's a photo of Governor Palin and Piper sending off the First Dude:

Palin Goes Rogue: A Satire Video

2009-02-07T23:06:00.001-05:00

Hilarious video on Youtube. Must watch:

Uncle Jay Explains Exactly What Congress Actually Does

2009-02-06T21:23:00.002-05:00

The Meaning of Sarah Palin

2009-02-06T14:54:00.003-05:00

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/printarticle.cfm/the-meaning-of-sarah-palin-14674

This new article from Commentary Magazine is perhaps the best analysis I've ever read on Sarah Palin - it expresses so well a lot of the overall thoughts I have on her candidacy. In short, it was a mixed bag.

It's worth noting that no one else on the planet could have energized the candidacy of 72 year-old John McCain like she did. No one. The Republican party needed Sarah, but they needed a version of her who was a lot more prepared than the one we saw with Katie Couric.

Money quote: "A successful conservative reformism has to draw on cultural populism, but it has also to draw on a worldview, on ideas about society and government, and on a policy agenda. This would make it more intellectual, but not necessarily less populist."

Side issue: I am not certain I agree that Republicans harbor an "economic elitism"... if this is true, then one should distinguish between Republicans and true conservatism. Free-market economics is beneficial to all classes and sectors of society.

Your thoughts?

(by the way, thanks Julie for allowing me to post on your blog!)

Sarah Palin: A Closer Look

2009-02-05T23:53:00.004-05:00

Great compilation video brought to you by a videographer with the McCain... ahem Palin... campaign.

Watch in HQ for the best effect.

H/T to ramrocks at Conservatives for Palin.

Sarah's Message from SarahPAC

2009-02-04T19:02:00.006-05:00

Appreciate ya!

In the first mass e-mail I've received from SarahPAC, Sarah Palin thanks everyone for joining!

It was very exciting to read this e-mail, indeed:

Dear Supporter,

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for joining SarahPAC. What a week it has been! Thanks to supporters like you we have had a fabulous start.

I want you to know that I have been truly touched by your notes of support and encouragement and look forward to working with you all in the future to advance our shared ideas and goals. These are just a few of the touching notes I've received from you:

Don from Juneau, AK: "I joined the PAC, and I'm willing to help in any way I can. I firmly believe you are exactly what this country needs, more so now than ever. Go Sarah!"

Cindy from St. Louis, MO: "My husband and I signed up for the PAC this morning. We are thrilled and behind you 100%! We will help any way we can."

Dee from Nashville, TN: "Be courageous! Be strong! Be bold! Don't quit. Thanks for all you've done, there are many of us praying for you daily!"

As a nation, we face serious challenges ahead. Our country is far too dependent on foreign sources of energy. Greed and corruption have broken the public's faith in our economic system.

By speaking out, proposing new policies, and working together, I believe we can ensure that America's best days are ahead of us. And this is what we will accomplish together through SarahPAC.

That is why I hope you will continue to support SarahPAC by encouraging your friends, family, and colleagues to visit our website, www.SarahPAC.com to sign up for updates. With your help, I'll be able to speak out. And you know I will speak for you.

Please stay tuned for more information and updates- I'll be in touch with you soon about more ways to help our PAC.

With an Alaskan heart,

Sarah

P.S. I'm counting on you to spread the word to your friends about SarahPAC. Please tell them to sign up for email updates at www.SarahPAC.com and visit my official Facebook page to share your thoughts and comments. Thank you!

Sarah Barracuda Shows Her Teeth

2009-02-03T19:51:00.003-05:00

Take that!

H/T: Conservatives For Palin

Governor Palin Releases Statement on Defenders of Wildlife Campaign

February 3, 2009, Juneau, Alaska – Governor Sarah Palin released the following statement today in response to attacks by the Defenders of Wildlife:

“It is reprehensible and hypocritical that the Defenders of Wildlife would use Alaska and my administration as a fundraising tool to deceive Americans into parting with their hard-earned money.

“The ad campaign by this extreme fringe group, as Alaskans have witnessed over the last several years, distorts the facts about Alaska’s wildlife management programs. Alaskans depend on wildlife for food and cultural practices which can’t be sustained when predators are allowed to decimate moose and caribou populations. Our predator control programs are scientific and successful at protecting vulnerable wildlife. These audacious fundraising attempts misrepresent what goes on in Alaska, and I encourage people to learn the facts about Alaska’s positive record of managing wildlife for abundance.

“Shame on the Defenders of Wildlife for twisting the truth in an effort to raise funds from innocent and hard-pressed Americans struggling with these rough economic times.”

Palin RGA Ad

2009-02-02T22:59:00.001-05:00

New to me, looks like it's from her run as Governor in 06:

Photo and Quote of the Day

2009-02-02T20:28:00.002-05:00

via Hot Air:

This shouldn't be awkward at all...

About the Alfafa Dinner:

Unlike Obama, Palin did not get a chance to speak but, rest assured, she had a presence. During schmooze breaks between courses, about as many well-wishers tested Washington's stodgy etiquette by lining up like overgrown Miley Cyrus fans to shake her hand as lined up to bask in the Obama aura.

Sarah's Super Bowl Shoutout

2009-02-01T16:38:00.004-05:00

Supportin' our troops

Thrilla from Wasilla Says 'Drill, Baby, Drilla'

2009-02-01T13:12:00.004-05:00

Drill, baby, drill and mine, baby, mine!

H/T to Carlos!

I posted on this last night in the post below...

I thought it was important and vital to post it again.

Governor Palin writes in her op-ed for the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

If we don't move now to enact a comprehensive energy policy that includes domestic oil and gas production, including ANWR, we will look back someday and regret that we failed to perceive a critical crossroads in the history of America. It's not overly dramatic to say our nation's future depends on the decisions made by the federal government over the next few months.

Polls show a majority of Americans now support responsible energy development in Alaska. Unfortunately, some disingenuous special-interest groups are still fighting the public will in Congress.

Americans, please contact Congress and ask that all options stay on the table as we formulate our needed energy plan. Remind politicians about their promises to increase domestic oil and gas production.

Read the rest of Governor Palin's own words here.

UPDATED: Palin, the 'Porkulus' Bill, and Alaska

2009-01-31T23:59:00.007-05:00

...government is not the answer...

...but government can help with energy challenges.

This is what Governor Sarah Palin shared with her legislators and constituents at the 2009 State of the State of Address in Juneau last week.

Many people, including myself and others who support the governor, have questioned the reasoning behind supposedly "lobbying" for Alaska's "fair share" in the now infamous stimulus package as state as stated in this article via Fox News. It says:

The 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, planned to meet in Washington this weekend with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and other senators to press for her state's share of the package.

Is this really the full story? It's by AP Obama after all. This is the only instance they even care to mention the governor at all. Seems to me like they are really trying to nit pick at something they can potentially trap her on in the future.

On January 12, Gov. Palin issued a statement on "how not to spend" - if you will - of the stimulus bill. In it she said:

“As I wrote to our congressional delegation on January 7, our administration recognizes that President-elect Obama and the congressional leadership of both parties favor the use of formulas to ensure fairness among the states and to avoid the earmark abuses of the past,” Gov. Palin said. “We also have to be mindful about the effect of the stimulus package on the national debt and the future economic health of the country. We won’t achieve long-term stability if we continue borrowing massive sums from foreign countries and remain dependent on foreign sources of oil and gas.”

Why would she ask for huge amounts of funds after saying time and again she would not? Also, it was stated what exactly any money from the package would go towards, as any CEO of a State would:

The governor has recommended five specific projects for the stimulus package, all of them in accordance with previous guidelines requiring that any individual spending requests must be in the national interest. Those projects are infrastructure upgrades to accommodate the natural gas pipeline, which will bring clean fuel to Lower 48 markets, and the Kodiak Launch Facility, which is important for the nation’s defense. While the latest comments in D.C. suggest that no earmarks will be accepted, the governor is hopeful that the extraordinary nature of these national-interest projects will allow their inclusion.

Okay. She's not building a bridge to nowhere. We've been through that. She's doing what any good governor would. The more I ponder on this, the more I believe she is merely doing her work.

Why would AP Obama single her out as the one lobbying for her fair share? Because it's Sarah Palin - she must be destroyed no matter what moves she makes.

When the governor's trip to D.C. was announced this week, it was stated via the office of the governor that she would be in the nation's capital to continue discussions concerning the president’s stimulus package and Alaska dollars. The Alaska Legislature is working on a joint resolution urging the Obama Administration to pass a fair stimulus package, a point Governor Palin will stress while in the nation’s capital.

In this official statement from Palin's office, it was stated that: These non-partisan and high-profile events provide Governor Palin with the perfect opportunity to speak further about not only Alaska’s needs, but how Alaska should be allowed to develop its natural resources in order to contribute to America’s quest toward energy independence.

Here's what the Governor said regarding her latest activities, including her trip to Washington while speaking to the press outside the Juneau mansion earlier this week:

I firmly believe that the governor wants to serve the people of Alaska to the best of her ability. She loves her state. She doesn't want to run it into the ground like California, Michigan or many other states now finding themselves in a deep recession of their own. She's not the Governator. She's the Barracuda. She knows better. She's giving Alaska the infrastructure it needs to make America safer and less dependent on foreign sources of energy.

UPDATED: Governor Palin had an op-ed piece in the Minneapolis - St. Paul Tribune yesterday explaining the urgency with which the government needs to act in order for Alaska to pursue such projects as drilling in ANWR, opening up the gas pipline(s) in planning, and help to strengthen America's position for energy independence which she's fought so hard for. This directly coincides with why she needs to ensure Alaska gets what it needs for the safety and future prosperity of our nation.

She writes:

Washington politicians should be horrified as we become increasingly dependent on these insecure, foreign sources while our U.S. petrodollars finance activities that harm America and our economic and military interests around the world.

If we don't move now to enact a comprehensive energy policy that includes domestic oil and gas production, including ANWR, we will look back someday and regret that we failed to perceive a critical crossroads in the history of America. It's not overly dramatic to say our nation's future depends on the decisions made by the federal government over the next few months.

Good Week for Sarahcuda

2009-01-30T23:25:00.003-05:00

Guess who's having the best week ever?

Yep. It's Sarah Palin. Da 'Cuda has given her annual State of the State Address (I am aware that was technically over a week ago, but I digress), set up SarahPAC, been invited to and attend the Alfalfa Dinner in DC to potentially network and spread the good word of the state of Alaska to those in the beltway, and has seen her approval ratings increase. Oh, and Michael Steele was elected RNC Chairman, and he is fully supportive of Sarah Palin. All in all, this week's been a great one for Governor Sarah Palin.

Messiah and Hockey Mom Shall Dine Together

2009-01-29T15:10:00.007-05:00

I really hope they have moose chili!

So I just came across this via Drudge. Here's an excerpt:

In what could be a preview of the 2012 presidential race, Sarah Palin and Barack Obama will share a stage together this Saturday night in Washington, Politico has learned.

The Alaska governor and former GOP vice presidential nominee, making her first trip to the nation’s capital since the election, will join the president at the Alfalfa Dinner, a venerable gathering of the city’s political elite.

The president is scheduled to address the black tie crowd at the Capital Hilton. Palin spokesman Bill McAllister said in an email that Palin would be speaking at the dinner.
...

It’s a light-hearted affair, with political types playfully roasting themselves and one another.

The dinner is put on by the Alfalfa Club, an exclusive list of about 200 movers and shakers whose only purpose is to throw the annual dinner on the last Saturday of January. The name is honor of a plant known to do anything for a drink.

If this whole Alfalfa dinner goes the Cuda's way, big things may be in store for her:

And aside from the real thing, club members always nominate a mock candidate for the highest office in the land. The “nominee” is then required to give an acceptance speech.

Should Palin be this year’s lucky nominee, she’ll be in good company: Three honorees have actually gone on to actually become president – Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush.

Sarah Palin: Alaska's Biggest News Story Video

2009-01-28T20:57:00.002-05:00

I ran across this on Youtube. I had never seen it before. It's fantastic:

"Retro" Palin For Governor Ad

2009-01-28T20:34:00.001-05:00

This is awesome:

One Step at a Time: SarahPAC

2009-01-27T22:41:00.005-05:00

My PAC's better than your PAC...

She's done it, folks! Governor Sarah Palin has set up her own political action committee. It's name - SarahPAC. The site is simple currently, providing a brief mission and vision statement, a link to donate, and a link to sign up for updates via e-mail, which I've already done.

To be honest, this completely caught me off guard as I thought the good Governor's official PAC wouldn't be set up until 2010, but hey, I couldn't have been more pleasantly surprised when I woke up to read the good news over at Conservatives For Palin, our joint blogger site. I really couldn't have asked for a better surprise to an otherwise dismal, rainy, and cold day. So, congratulations to the Governor for "gettin' er done."

Here's the mission statement of SarahPAC:

Dedicated to building America's future, supporting fresh ideas and candidates who share our vision for reform and innovation.

SarahPAC believes America's best days are ahead. Our country, founded on conservative principles and the fight for freedom, must confront the challenges of the 21st century with integrity, innovation, and determination.

SarahPAC believes energy independence is a cornerstone of the economic security and progress that every American family wants and deserves.

SarahPAC believes the Republican Party is at the threshold of an historic renaissance that will build a better future for all. Health care, education, and reform of government are among our key goals. Join us today!

For those wondering if this really does mean that Sarah is indeed officially running for office of the Presidency in 2012 - no such luck there.

Ramrocks over at Conservatives for Palin is keeping us updated:

Pam Pryor, a spokesperson for SarahPac, told KTUU that the PAC was "not a step toward Palin taking a run at higher office":

"This is not an exploratory committee," Pryor said.

Pryor says Palin has received numerous requests by Republicans across the country seeking her support.

"And whether it was (Sen. Saxby) Chambliss in December, whatever, there are just a lot of requests coming in and this will kind of harness that energy," Pryor said. "This is not about a future run for her."

But the move hints that Palin is interested in running on the national level, said political analyst Jennifer Duffy.

And now you know the rest of the story... or at least as much as we currently know...

The Winner for The One's 1st Presidential Interview Is...

2009-01-26T23:12:00.010-05:00

Al - Arabiya? Gosh darn it, if I did that, I'd be crucified...

The least the Messiah can do is give all the cult of personality followers an American news outlet interview as a priority as the new Commander in Cheatin... I mean... Chief. Again, Obama continues to surprise us all in his choices as the new President. What a guy. *Sarcasm*:

President Obama today conducted his first extended TV interview since moving into the Oval Office -- not with a U.S. network, but with one serving the Middle East.

Obama addressed with the Al-Arabiya network the prospect of peace between Israel and the Palestinians, reiterating U.S. policy toward Israel in calling it "a strong ally of the United States." The tone of his comments were a stark departure from those of former president George W. Bush, who often described the Middle East conflict in terms that drew criticism from Palestinians.

Obligatory "Diane Sawyer Drunk On The Air" Video

2009-01-25T23:59:00.001-05:00

OMG.

2008 Really Was Cooler, Huh?

2009-01-25T18:14:00.004-05:00

Told ya it wasn't man-made...

This from the Anti Daily Palin of all places. Wait. So does this mean the polar ice caps may not disappear, Al Gore? Haha! Looks like they finally had to give in:

The National Weather Service has confirmed what many Alaska residents already knew: 2008 was cooler than normal.
According to the service's data, area of the Bering Sea, Western Alaska and across to the western Gulf of Alaska was significantly cooler than normal, while most of Southcentral was unusually cool but not as extreme.
A Weather Service report issued last week indicated the average temperature at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in 2008 was 34.7 degrees, compared with the 30-year average of 36.4 degrees. That made 2008 the coolest year since 1999.
Dealing with May through August alone, 2008 had an average temperature of 52.5 degrees, making it the coolest summer since 1982. The lowest average summer temperature on record was in 1971, with 50.8 degrees, according to the report.

Personal Responsibility: Highlights of Palin's SOS Address

2009-01-23T11:20:00.014-05:00

Mama Grizzly on the move...

I was one of the many Sarah Palin supporters who took part in watching her 3rd State of the State (SOS) Address last evening. The Governor "worked it out, dawg" as American Idol judge Randy Jackson would say.

First of all, she thanked our troops and President Bush for keeping America safe. Don't see Obama doing that too much.

First, please join me in thanking those who protect our freedoms that allow us to assemble – our good men and women in uniform – they are America’s finest, our U.S. military.

And, for keeping the homeland safe, and being a friend to Alaska, I thank President Bush.

Palin opened with pure poetry - describing the journey of the state of Alaska and comparing it to what makes Alaska so special. Using illustrations like Denali, Yukon, and so many more, it was easy to see how much the governor truly loves her state. Imagine if she had actually been born in Alaska...would that loyalty and love of state been even more present?

Today, when challenges may seem as high as Mt. McKinley, and change as constant as the mighty Yukon flows, and political events send shockwaves through our foundation like the ’64 quake – what do Alaskans do? We climb Denali, we forge the river, we rebuild a stronger foundation on higher ground. When it matters most, lesser differences fall away. Just like family, Alaskans unite.

It was this kind of determined action that turned the northland wilds into a territory, a territory into a state, and that state, across 50 years, into a land of industry, opportunity, and enduring beauty. And now that perseverance is needed again, as we go through a time of testing for our country – a time of economic worry for many Alaskans – a time of challenge to the wisdom and resolve of state government.

Governor Wally Hickel said he feared more than any economic depression – a depression of the spirit. Alaska, it’s time we revive the optimistic, pioneering spirit that our founding mothers and fathers birthed in our State Constitution! As we celebrate statehood – let that spirit rise now, and our actions correspond as our founders intended.

Nevertheless, the governor's speech (yes, she actually did write it), struck a chord in me as I'm sure it did with many viewers, especially local Alaskans. She emphasized time and again the concepts of fiscal and personal responsibility. She spoke of a state hiring freeze, reductions in budget spending, and conserving for the future.

So with a close eye on price, we need to be willing to curtail spending as needed. If there’s a shortfall, there are options. It’ll take a cooperative spirit all around to see us through the uncertainty.

I had proposed we start with an overall reduction of seven percent from last year’s expenditures.

This is a real reduction, not just a reduction in the rate of spending increases – as cuts are often defined elsewhere. That’s transparency in budgeting – just as the public saw when we put the state’s checkbook online. We stand ready to work with lawmakers – who hold the purse strings – to amend the budget, as we receive revenue updates in weeks ahead.

She also discussed an in-state natural gas pipeline for Alaska:

The solution for our state is much the same as for the rest of our nation – only the source is ours and much closer to us, so delivery can come sooner. We’re facilitating a smaller, in-state gasline with legislation we’ll hand you next month. My goal for this in-state line is completion in five years. It will carry 460-million cubic feet of gas every day to energize Alaska.

All in all, it was a great speech for the governor. Here's what some folks said:

Senate President Gary Stevens, a Republican from Kodiak, said a hiring freeze for state government is a start.

"Often you wind up with some gaps and you need more people in certain areas. But I think that's the way to begin and I applaud the governor for making that first move," he said.

Stevens called it a great evening and said Palin's speech showed that she's focused on the state, despite her vice presidential run and national profile. "I think that if there was any doubt in anyone's mind it's clear that the governor is back in town," he said.

Palin's State of State Speech LIVE!

2009-01-22T21:43:00.002-05:00

JR from our brother site, Conservatives for Palin, has posted the following:

Governor Palin will be giving her annual address to the Alaska legislature tonight at 7:00 pm local time (11:00 pm ET).

We will be providing two links for you to watch the speech, the first is from Gavel to Gavel, which is the Alaska Public Television station. The second is from KTUU, which has a banner ad on their website promoting their live stream of the governor's speech.

We recommend the Gavel to Gavel link first. It seems to be more the reliable of the two.

We will also a provide a chat box in this post for live discussion of the speech (including drinking game!). The chat will open at 9:30 pm ET.

So, you'll need to open two windows in your browsers -- one for the live stream and one for us. Stick with us for live chat, and we'll all dissect the speech together as it happens!

Again, our live chat will start an hour and a half before the speech to get everyone in the mood...

This post may or may not be bumped throughout the day as other news occurs, but it will return to the top of our blog at 9:30 pm ET.

Till then, folks!

Oh yeah, and did you know that the 'Cuda wrote this one herself? She did.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE LIVE CHAT

Sarah's Hopes For the Obama Presidency

2009-01-20T23:57:00.001-05:00

Cuda Can Write!

And a dang good writer she is.

As published in the Wall Street Journal (Woah! She knows that's a paper?):

Tax Cuts and Fiscal Discipline

By Sarah Palin

Especially evident in these trying economic times is America's need for affordable, abundant and secure energy. This means American energy resources developed through American ingenuity and produced by American workers. I applaud President Obama's focus on alternative and renewable energy, and here in Alaska we've joined the effort: I have asked Alaskans to focus on obtaining 50% of our electric generation from renewables by 2025. In the meantime, we must not abandon oil and gas exploration and development. In fact, Americans should demand the cooperation of the major oil producers so that Alaska's vast supply of clean natural gas can be brought to market. Alaska stands ready to positively contribute to the nation's markets and energy needs.

Another step on the path to economic recovery is to let Americans keep more of their income. Mr. Obama and Congress could make this happen with permanent tax cuts and by adhering to a path of fiscal discipline. When congressional appropriation trains run too hastily, they accumulate excess baggage, spending more taxpayer money. Leaving more money in American pockets through tax cuts and fiscal discipline stimulates the business-investment and job-creation climate -- the climate for economic recovery.

Finally, we are extremely proud of our men and women in uniform. Mr. Obama and Congress must continue to guarantee a strong national defense by modernizing and equipping our armed forces; by treating active-duty military and veterans fairly; and by supporting the families of our service members. America will face difficult challenges in the years ahead. As Mr. Obama takes the helm, our prayers are with him as he seeks direction for our great nation.

Ronnie Calendar 2009

2009-01-19T20:01:00.002-05:00

Not only am I the proud owner of a Sarah Palin calendar, I just found a Ronald Reagan ranch calendar that I completely forgot about! So, it is like double the pleasure and double the fun.

It's MLK Day... and... My Birthday!

2009-01-19T15:39:00.005-05:00

The Dream Lives...

Hey guys. Not to toot my own horn here, but I'm a year older today. ;-)

I am proud to share this birthday with the likes of Confederate General Robert E. Lee and country singer Dolly Parton. 9 to 5... what a way to make a livin'... ahem...

I'm also glad that my birthday fell this year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. May his legacy of righting the wrongs against African-Americans live on. And, seeing as we're inaugurating a half African-American man President of the free world tomorrow, I believe that Martin Luther King's "dream" has really come true.

She's on the Council, She's on the Board: Team Sarah Video

2009-01-18T16:39:00.001-05:00

SethAdamSmith's made another awesome video for Team Sarah. Please, take a moment to watch it.

Random Video Post

2009-01-18T01:13:00.002-05:00

I love Carrie Underwood. Just thought I'd share a video montage I made including her and the song "I'm Alive" that David Cook (American Idol Winner, 2008) covered on American Idol. The song was orginally a Neil Diamond hit I believe. Anyway, just thought I'd make a random post of this video. It was a blast to make... best of all, Carrie doesn't talk politics... ever... smart girl ;-).

Breakaway

2009-01-16T11:45:00.001-05:00

TATSUOstudios made this video. Need I say more? ;-)

McAllister Stinks at His Job

2009-01-15T17:11:00.005-05:00

Bill, Get Better or Get Out...

Okay, this has been said time and again by all us Palinistas: Bill McAllister stinks at his job.

What is public relations all about anyway? Putting on the best face you can to represent your client to the public without appearing lost, confused, or uninformed on the issues at hand regarding your client. Duh. So what does McAllister do now? He claims that he really just "doesn't know" whether or not Sarah Palin was indeed invited to this dinner for McCain hosted by NObama. Yeah right, Bill. Get with it, man.

You know, the most frustrating part about all of this and other lame efforts on the part of McAllister is that Sarah Palin could get anyone she wants to represent her. I'm sure the likes of Dick Morris or Newt Gingrich would be thrilled to help a girl out. I'm getting the feeling Sarah possibly feels some sort of loyalty to Bill, which is fine, but it just saddens me because I believe Sarah could be represented much more effectively by a person who is willing to be proactive to save Sarah some bad raps. Oh well...

This is what the Mother Jones blog had to say about the whole debaccle:

Can true tribute be paid to McCain without Palin's presence? Picking her for his party's veep nomination was McCain's most decisive and significant action of his campaign. And she spent weeks praising him as an American hero, a man the country desperately needed as president. True, the Palin and McCain camps have bickered with each other since the election about some of the campaign's miscues. But shouldn't she be part of any celebration of McCain?

According to McAllister, Palin will spend next week in her home state preparing for the legislative session, which begins on Tuesday, and for her State of the State address on Thursday.

Was she even invited? "I don't know if she was invited," McAllister says. Don't know? How could that be? It's hard to miss an invitation from a presidential inauguration committee. For its part, Obama's inaugural committee has declined to say whether an invitation was sent to Palin. Repeated phone calls to its press office produced no answer to this simple question.

She's So Lovely

2009-01-14T16:32:00.001-05:00

TATSUOstudios has done it again. Best Sarah Palin tribute maker of all time. There. I said it. Haha. Enjoy:

I Own a Palin Calendar!

2009-01-13T14:32:00.001-05:00

Awesomeness

I am the proud owner of a 2009 Sarah Palin calendar. Thank you, eBay! :). It truly is an awesome calendar with never-before-seen photos of Governor Palin and family. Some are pretty old photos too. It is interesting to see, at least from a female's perspective, how much her style has transformed over the years. Go buy it!

Winslet Wins 2 Globes

2009-01-12T10:06:00.003-05:00

Kate's Great

Alright. I gotta say it. I have loved Kate Winslet as an actress ever since I first spotted her (as did most people) in Titanic. She's been acting in dramatic roles since she was a teen, with her first Oscar nomination for Sense and Sensibility when she was 19.

Here's what good old reliable Wikipedia says about Kate:

Winslet earned her fifth Academy Award nomination for Little Children at the age of 31, becoming the youngest actress to garner five nominations (in just 19 movies). Previous record holder was Olivia de Havilland, who secured her fifth at the age of 33 in 1950 (with 33 films).^[9]
With her Best Actress nomination for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which she eventually lost to Hilary Swank, she surpassed Marlon Brando's record for the youngest actor to have received four Oscar nominations. Her Titanic nomination secured her the record for the youngest ever double-Oscar-nominee.

She has also received two nominations for playing younger versions of another nominee in the same film - the only two instances of different actors playing the same role in the same film both being nominated. She played the younger versions of nominees Gloria Stuart in Titanic and Judi Dench in Iris.

In 2000, she won a Grammy Award for the 'Best Spoken Word Album for Children' for Listen To the Storyteller. Winslet was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for playing herself on an episode of Extras that premiered in 2004. In this episode, she comically criticized the fact that she had (by that point) been nominated for an Oscar four times, but had never won one.

So congrats to Kate. Keep up the good work.

Here's video of her Supporting Actress win:

And of the big one, Best Actress:

David is not so Frumtastic

2009-01-10T23:46:00.008-05:00

She deserves better

Once again, we must come to the defense of Gov. Palin... from her own party members. Sheesh.

David Frum, writer at National Review, is at it once again. His latest Palin hit piece even includes a quote from Rick Santorum saying that Palin "doesn't have a well-informed worldview." Wait a minute. Who's to say that? Honestly? I expected better from Sen. Santorum. Sad day. I just don't understand these people's obession, i.e. Frum, Parker, etc., with trashing the Governor - throwing her under the bus each day with some piece. Have they met this woman? Have they had an intelligent conversation with her via phone call? Someone please let me know when they do because it will be then and only then that they have the right and proper judgment to decide whether or not she has the proper "worldview." They need to get off their high horses and do good for this country, which does not include trashing members of your own party and leaving them for the wolves. Hasn't this woman been through enough?

He writes: If Palin seeks the presidency, these are votes she's going to need. On the evidence of the Ziegler interview, she has no better understanding of how to seek them than she did in August. Palin's supporters insist that she can grow and learn. Maybe someday. But on the evidence of this latest interview the growth and the learning have not started yet. Don't blame the handlers, then, for concealing Palin under wraps. Given their candidate's flaws and limitations, concealment and evasion was the right media strategy. So it remains, and so it seems it always will.

Enough is enough.

A Bit of a Hiatus...

2009-01-06T21:49:00.003-05:00

Under the weather

All,

I've been so busy lately that it's been tough to post daily. This is just an update to let everyone know I am indeed alive... though this heckuva cold's been rough. *Wash your hands after reading this* *Don't touch your mouth, eyes, or nose* But I digress...

Sarah's Full-Court Press remains very much alive in my head and heart, but I've just been so caught up in life that I've been neglecting her.

I shall be back and better than ever by week's end. See you in a few days. :-)

My Declaration

2009-01-02T19:54:00.002-05:00

Awesome inspirational video by StandingStrong4Sarah. Song is "My Declaration" by American Idol champ David Cook:

Sarah's Late Night TV Canada Appearance

2009-01-02T16:47:00.003-05:00

Awesome? You betcha...

Sarah's interview with George Stroumboulopoulos on The Hour on CBC was a great one. Gov. Palin is getting better and better in each interview she conducts.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Props: Sarah Palin for President , Governor Sarah Palin Media Database

Thanks for the Memories, Mike

2008-12-31T00:06:00.005-05:00

The Mastermind

Head Coach Mike Shanahan was fired by Denver Broncos' owner Pat Bowlen today in a startling move. I never thought Shanahan would be fired from the Broncos. I always envisioned him to be with the team until retirement, so it was very shocking news to me, as well as most Bronco fans. Was it really Mike's fault that pretty much every running back we had got injured? Was it Mike's fault our receivers couldn't catch passes thrown right to them? Mike Shanahan used every asset he could to make the team the best it could be. He could turn an average college running back into a 1,000 yard rusher unlike any other NFL coach I've ever seen. I'm not blaming Mike for much of anything really, and maybe I'm in denial, but it's just my opinion. Yes, I know he's also GM too, but I think he did the best he could with what he had.

This is what the AP Obama reported:

He was known as a genius, a mastermind and, yes, a Super Bowl champion. Shockingly, though, Mike Shanahan has a new title: unemployed coach. Shanahan became the latest and most stunning victim of the NFL coaching purge, fired Tuesday by the Denver Broncos after a late-season collapse knocked the team out of the playoffs for the third straight year.

Shanahan became the fourth coach to be fired this week, joining Eric Mangini, Rod Marinelli and Romeo Crennel, after going 24-24 over the last three seasons, including three straight losses in 2008 that turned a three-game division lead to an 8-8 record.

"After giving this careful consideration, I have concluded that a change in our football operations is in the best interests of the Denver Broncos," owner Pat Bowlen said.

Bowlen had been steadfastly loyal to Shanahan, rewarding the coach who brought the long-awaited Super Bowl title to Denver with what seemed like carte blanche for life.

But Denver remained stuck on only one postseason victory since John Elway retired in 1999 following back-to-back championships. Shanahan finishes at 146-91 over 14 seasons in Denver, including playoffs; his final game was an unseemly 52-21 loss to San Diego with the division title on the line.

"I'm very shocked, extremely shocked," said rookie Spencer Larsen, who played fullback and linebacker this year. "I don't think any of us saw this coming."

Quarterback Jay Cutler certainly didn't. "I was talking to Mike yesterday about personnel moves," he said in an interview on KCNC-TV in Denver. "I'm as shocked as anybody else. I think it's the wrong move."

Some sources have reported that the sudden firing came after Shanahan refused to fire the defensive coordinator at the pressure of Bowlen. Could this have broken the camel's back?

Three league sources said Tuesday afternoon that in a short meeting Bowlen had wanted Shanahan to make changes on the team's coaching staff, particularly with defensive coordinator Bob Slowik, and that Shanahan had refused.
Slowik is considered one of Shanahan's closest friends in the league — the two have known each other since being on the University of Florida's coaching staff during the 1980-82 seasons. Shanahan had said immediately after the Broncos' season-ending loss in San Diego on Sunday night that there would be no change at defensive coordinator.

Privately, some Broncos officials were quickly disputing Tuesday night that Slowik's future was the tipping point, claiming that Shanahan's departure has more to do with the erosion in the day-to-day relationship between Bowlen and Shanahan.

We'll maybe find out more tomorrow, as both Bowlen and Shanahan will speak to the media tomorrow at an 11 a.m. MST presser in Denver which can be watched live at CBS 4, Denver.

Thanks for the awesome memories, Coach Shanahan. I remember one of my fondest memories was seeing you speak in person at Pepsi Center during the Get Motivated! conference in 2006. He's a great leader. He was the Broncos coach since I was 7. That's a long time. He is definitely a man dedicated to the art and grind of coaching in the NFL. Thanks for putting Broncos' football on the map, Coach. Those are memories I'll hold with me forever.

And now a video tribute to Mike Shanahan (kind of). Thanks again, Coach. You'll be missed.

Sarah and Todd Are Grandparents

2008-12-30T00:44:00.004-05:00

Coolest Grandparents Around...

Congratulations to Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston on the birth of their son, Tripp. Also, best regards to the Palin, Heath and Johnston families on this happy occasion. Sarah and Todd Palin are now grandparents! They're certainly the best looking grandparents I've ever seen! People Magazine reports:

Bristol Palin, the 18-year-old daughter of former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, gave birth on Saturday to a healthy 7 lb., 7 oz., baby boy in Palmer, Alaska.

"We think it's wonderful," said Colleen Jones, the sister of Bristol's grandmother Sally Heath, who confirmed the news. "The baby is fine and Bristol is doing well. Everyone is excited."

The baby's name is Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston and he was born at 5:30 a.m., according to Jones.

Baby Tripp takes his surname from his dad, Levi Johnston, an apprentice electrician and former Wasilla High School hockey player who has been dating Bristol for three years.

Bristol Palin is currently residing in Wasilla and completing her high-school diploma through correspondence courses.

Johnston is studying to become an electrician. He told the Associated Press in October that he and fiancée Bristol plan to wed in 2009 and raise the child together.

Gov. Palin's "Putting Alaska First"

2008-12-29T18:10:00.008-05:00

Putting Alaska First

Here's an excerpt from the November/December newsletter from Governor Palin's Official site. In it she discusses everything from budget roll outs to Operation Santa Claus. Enjoy:

For the last two years, my administration has been guided by a policy of living within our means, saving for the future and controlling government spending. Over the past year, we have seen unprecedented volatility in oil prices. It’s more important than ever that state budgets stay on this course of fiscal discipline.

With that in mind, the general fund budget we released for Fiscal Year 2010 will spend less than the current one, especially when adjusted for inflation. At the same time, the spending plan ensures that the state provides for the safety, health and education of our citizens, pursues responsible resource development and maintains a stable economy.

The operating and capital budgets total $4.9 billion in general funds and $11.2 billion in total funds. The proposed Fiscal Year 2010 general fund and total spending represents a 7 percent decrease from FY 2009, excluding the one-time resource rebate of $746.4 million and appropriations to savings.

Working with the legislature, we have made good decisions over the past two years by putting money into savings accounts and investing in infrastructure that will help us develop our resources and communities. I am committed to working closely with the legislature on the budget and other priority issues and I look forward to a productive legislative session.

Governor Palin and many of her Commissioners held a press conference in Juneau on Dec 15, 2008 to unveil the proposed Fiscal Year 2010 Budget.

LISTEN TO AUDIO:
December 15, 2008 Press Conference

VIEW PRESS RELEASE:
Governor Palin Releases FY 2010 Budgets
I encourage all Alaskans to read more about the budget on the Office of Management & Budget Web site at http://omb.alaska.gov/.

To sign up for the Governor's newsletter go here.

Sarah Can Appoint AK Supreme Court Justices Soon

2008-12-28T23:02:00.003-05:00

Get 'er done

Gov. Sarah Palin can put her conservative stamp of approval on Constitution-following justices soon for an Alaska State Supreme Court appointment. This will give us a good look at how Sarah chooses those to represent her state in the judiciary side of things. It can give all a glimpse as to how she'd appoint Supreme Court Justices one day, should she be so blessed to be elected to serve America in the highest office in the land.

Two Superior Court judges have scored highest among six candidates for a vacancy on the Alaska Supreme Court in a survey of attorneys by the state bar association.
Morgan Christen, presiding judge in Anchorage, was rated 4.5 of a possible 5.0 in professional competence, fairness and judicial temperament, and a 4.6 in integrity.
Palmer Superior Court Judge Eric Sanders collected an overall 4.0 rating, with a 4.3 in integrity.
Other candidates, in order of rating, are: Frank Pfiffner, 3.7; Kenneth Kirk, 2.7; Kenneth Jacobus, 2.5; and David Lawrence, 2.4.
The results are sent to the Alaska Judicial Council, which is charged by the Alaska Constitution to evaluate and recommend applicants for judicial office. In addition to the Alaska Bar Association survey, the council reviews an applicant's experience, credit history, performance in court cases, writing ability and involvement in the community. The council also solicits public comment about applicants on its Web site at http://ajc.state.ak.us.
The applicants are vying for a vacancy created by the pending retirement of Justice Warren Matthews, who was appointed to the five-member court by Gov. Jay Hammond in 1977.
At the end of the evaluation process, the council will nominate two or more candidates and forward their names to Gov. Sarah Palin who makes the appointment. After three years on the job, the new justice will go before the electorate for approval or rejection.

While Sarah Got Grilled, Caroline's Just Having Fun

2008-12-27T19:45:00.003-05:00

What gives?

Oh that's right. This is THE Caroline Kennedy we're talking about. She's "It" just like how Barack Obama was the "One" right? How could I forget? Clumsy me.

Yes, that's right, folks. The media just keeps dumping the love on Princess Caroline as if she were actually entitled to it as much as I'm entitled to win the lottery. Where's my bail-out anyway? Oh that's right. The government only gives to those who are irresponsible and don't care about personal finances. Duh. Sheesh.

Anyway, Howie Carr is miffed about all of this as he explains here:

Forget the Profiles in Courage award. For this interview yesterday Caroline Kennedy deserves the Profiles in Chutzpah Award.

See, JFK’s only surviving child wants Hillary Clinton’s seat in the U.S. Senate, although she has absolutely no qualifications for the position other than her last name, which by the way used to be Schlossberg until last summer.

Now all these dreadful, sweaty Albany and D.C. parvenus who actually had to run for political office are complaining about Ms. Kennedy’s ever-so-Kennedy-esque attempt to cut in line ahead of them. So Caroline grants - or should I say, grahhhhnts - an interview to the Associated Press, and she has the audacity to play the victim card. To get the Senate seat, she says, “I have to work twice as hard as anybody else.”

Huh? You’ve never worked a day in your life, honey. Your pampered-poodle existence makes Uncle Teddy look like a working-class hero. Poor Uncle Teddy is worth a mere $103.6 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Caroline’s gotta be good for at least three times that.

“I am an unconventional choice.”

No, Caroline, you are about as conventional as it gets. You’re operating under the oldest rule in the book, the golden rule. He (or she) who has the gold, rules.

“If I were to be selected,” she says, and that last word is the key one - selected. Not elected, but selected. “I understand that public servants have to be accessible.”

Wow. She pledges to be “accessible.” Her income taxes won’t be - that’s one pledge we can be sure she’ll never go back on - but she will be “accessible.”

You know just how preposterous this whole idea is by the convoluted paeans to her common touch that are being trotted out by the doddering sycophants of Camelot.

Remember Al Hunt, formerly of The Wall Street Journal and CNN, now of Bloomberg, as in Mayor Bloomberg, who is playing Cardinal Richelieu to her dauphin. Knowing quite well on which side his bread is buttered, Hunt wrote that Caroline is indeed One of Us - why, outside her mansion on Park Avenue, she has been known to hail her own cab! Was it raining too, Al?

She’ll have to work twice as hard, will she? You know how, when your basement or garage starts overflowing with junk, you have a yard sale? Caroline Kennedy knows what that’s like, only she calls one of her garage sales a “Sotheby’s auction.” In 2005, she made $5.5 million, which was a drop from the 1996 auction where she took in $34.5 million, including $2.5 million for her mom’s engagement ring.

And then there’s Mumsy’s cottage on Martha’s Vineyard. She only has 366 acres. On the ocean.

But she’d have to work twice as hard. Just like she’s always had to, right? Is it too late for her to buy herself a Pulitzer Prize? Does anyone have Ted Sorenson’s phone number?

Well said, Mr. Carr. Major props to you for writing this piece. As Ace of Spades writes here, the obvious question is how would media treat Sarah Palin if she had no clue regarding her own voting record in various elections? The woman hasn't even voted regularly in elections since Clinton's first term. Are you kidding me? This is a joke, right? What a crying double standard of a shame, indeed.

Favorite Christmas Clips

2008-12-25T14:42:00.002-05:00

It's a Wonderful Life

It's Christmas, Charlie Brown

The Muppet Christmas Carol

The Nativity Story: Birth of Christ

Merry Christmas: The Birth of Jesus Christ, Our Savior

2008-12-25T02:02:00.005-05:00

The Savior is Born...

Luke 2

The Birth of Jesus
1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ^[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

A "Green" Christmas? Not for the Griswolds

2008-12-24T21:58:00.002-05:00

A Christmas Message from Clark W. Griswold

Gov. Palin: Libertarian of the Year

2008-12-24T21:32:00.004-05:00

A Conservative Libertarian

Gov. Sarah Palin has been named Libertarian Republican's Libertarian of the Year. This comes in addition to her recently being named Human Event's Conservative of the Year.

Read the rest of the story here...

Thanks for the day off, Governor

2008-12-24T12:17:00.001-05:00

Appreciate ya!

Alaska state workers will have an extra day off, thanks to Gov. Sarah Palin.

Following the lead of President Bush, Palin is giving state employees the day off on Friday, the day after Christmas.

State personnel director Nicki Neal said employees not scheduled to work Friday will be credited with an additional day of leave.

Neal said feedback she has received from employees and managers about the governor's action has been positive, though there is additional work coordinating schedules and getting union agreements.

It was not clear what the extra day off for 15,000 executive branch employees will cost. Neal said there will be no budgetary impact.

"There's a loss of productivity, but I couldn't quantify it," she said.

In some cases, employees may have to be paid overtime to cover for others taking leave.

Jim Duncan, business manager of the Alaska State Employees Association, praised the move.

"I think it's a good thing to do; our members are pleased with that," he said.

The extra day off has an effect on municipal government contracts that tie employee work schedules to the state's.

Juneau City Manager Rod Swope told the Assembly on Friday he wished the state had talked with the city first.

"The only disappointing thing is they didn't coordinate with the city, go over what the consequences are," he said.

Just before Palin's Dec. 17 announcement, Swope sent an e-mail to city staff offering to let them take part of the day off Dec. 26. After the governor's announcement, Swope rescinded his offer because it was overridden by the state action.

The municipal Assembly on Friday extended the union-contract-guaranteed day off to nonunion employees. Municipal employees required to work that day will be given the option of taking overtime or a separate day off, Swope said.

"Clearly, there is a cost," he said.

Swope said it was the first time in his tenure that an extra day was given.

Duncan said something similar was done for the funeral of former President Ronald Reagan.

Live from Wasilla: Air National Guard Recruit Center Opens

2008-12-23T12:43:00.005-05:00

Welcome to Wasilla, Air Force

WASILLA -- For the first time, the Alaska Air National Guard has a Mat-Su presence with the opening Monday of a new recruiting center in Wasilla.

The center's opening also marks a national premiere: Wasilla is the first place in the country where an Air Guard recruiter is sharing an office with an active-duty U.S. Air Force recruiter.

Military officials, hoping to capitalize on the Valley's growing population and general military support, say they don't care whether recruits end up in an Air Guard uniform or an Air Force one.

Wasilla and Palmer account for about 165 of the 1,700 members of the Guard's Anchorage-based 176th Wing.

The wing's commander said he hopes to bring in 250 recruits of all kinds this year, with help from Wasilla.

Right now, the 176th is especially eager to fill out about 70 positions on a new maintenance squadron for C-17 Globemaster transport planes, said commander Gen. Chuck Foster.

"I don't want people to get the idea if you don't want to be a C-17 mechanic, don't bother," Foster said. "We have a lot of opportunities for everybody."

Recruiting efforts will target recent high school graduates -- recruiters make regular trips to area schools -- and former active-duty members looking to serve but stay closer to home than they did on active-duty tours.

An agreement hammered out by Air Force and Guard senior leadership allows the Guard to share the space rent-free for a year, said Master Sgt. Richard Maxted, the wing's recruiting officer supervisor.

The Air Force already pays the lease on the office, located on the second floor of the big white commercial building at the intersection of the Parks and Palmer-Wasilla highways that also houses Wayland Baptist University and a drive-through espresso stand.

Master Sgt. Bethany Miller is serving as the only full-time staff at the Air Guard office. Miller served as an active-duty Air Force recruiter for 13 years.

"I can help folks looking for Air Force opportunities too," Miller said. "We'll play nice together."

The partnership should help both branches, officials said. The Guard can accept a wider range of recruits than the Air Force, including those with GEDs, those older than the active-duty cutoff of 27, and some with family issues that might keep them out of the Air Force, Maxted said.

On the other hand, the Air Force is the better path for someone who wants to serve overseas in, say, Iraq or Afghanistan, said Miller.

"The point is to get them here and find them a blue uniform," she said.

Gov. Sarah Palin presided over an opening-day ceremony Monday at the center. Palin later said a recruiter visiting Wasilla High School got her son, Track, interested in military service. He is now serving with the Fort Wainwright-based 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team in Iraq.

"I was one of those military moms that asked a heckuva lot of questions of our recruiters," the governor told a small crowd of military dignitaries and media packed into the center's small reception area.

Palin administered the oath of service to 17-year-old Jessica Newton and 25-year-old Justin Lawson, two slightly nervous siblings from Willow.

Afterward, the brother and sister talked about how they decided to join the Guard.

"I liked how it was military, but it wasn't active-duty," Newton said. She graduated last month from Correspondence Study School in Wasilla.

The two didn't initially plan to join up together. Newton wanted to visit a recruiter and Lawson came along for support. He's already served with the U.S. Army, four years that included a tour in Iraq building roads as a heavy equipment operator.

But, as a new father who's working part time as a paid on-call firefighter, Lawson decided to enlist again when he heard about the bonuses and tuition assistance.

Newton, who hopes to attend the University of Alaska, gets $10,000 now and another $10,000 after three years, she said. Her brother gets $7,500 in two installments.

Shantelle Rose, Lawson's 20-year-old fiancee, said she respects Lawson's desire to serve -- again -- but hopes he isn't sent overseas.

"He said there's really no chance of him getting deployed, but I know there's always a chance," Rose said.

Palin on the Non-Pay Raise

2008-12-21T21:57:00.003-05:00

Via the good folks at TATSUOstudios, Sarah Palin talks "non" - pay raise:

Reagan in a Dress

2008-12-21T17:58:00.002-05:00

TATSUOstudios put together this awesome clip:

You betcha!

You, Mam, Are No Sarah Palin

2008-12-21T15:08:00.006-05:00

I've got a song named after me too, Caroline

Word to Caroline "I wished I looked more like my mother" Kennedy. You really are no Sarah Palin. I, of course, mean this in the most honest and sincere form possible. The woman has no experience whatsoever. Nada. It would be like me wanting to go fly a commercial aircraft just because I think I could do a good job and be cool. No knock to the Kennedy clan (though the family's pretty much gone so far left JFK has rolled over in his grave several times) whatsoever, but let's just say "Camelot" doesn't necessarily mean a free pass to fill a vacant Senate seat. I don't care who you are. That's, quite simply, just lame. It's not just me and fellow conservatives who hold the view that Caroline is not prepared or qualified whatsoever. Just look at what even Democrats have said in regards to Sweet Caroline's Senate aspirations:

Democratic and Republican critics of Caroline Kennedy said Sunday that the privacy she has demanded for years leaves her unprepared for the rough world of politics.

Kennedy has not publicly answered questions since she announced last week that she is seeking the New York Senate seat to be vacated by Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton if she is confirmed to be secretary of state.

“They’ve basically Sarah Palin-ized her, if I could coin a phrase,” said Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.), referring to the Alaska governor and former GOP vice presidential candidate criticized for being sheltered from the media. “They’re answering questions that you have to submit in writing. She’s not talking to reporters as she makes this grand tour. They’re, kind of, building a mystique and an industry around her, when we need somebody to fight.”
Critics also hammered home the criticism that she’s a viable candidate primarily because she’s the daughter of slain President John F. Kennedy.

“Rembrandt was a great artist,” Ackerman said on CBS’s “Face the Nation”. “His brother Murray, on the other hand, Murray Rembrandt wouldn’t paint a house.”

Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), who is likely to seek the Senate seat in 2010 called Kennedy a “People Magazine celebrity” who “has never held a real job” on the same show.

He also indicated that reports that Kennedy has failed to vote in numerous elections would be a possible line of attack in a 2010 campaign.

Host Bob Schieffer questioned whether the attention surrounding her possible appointment indicates that she’d be the toughest candidate for Republicans to beat in 2010. But King said it is just the opposite, arguing that the attention she would get would make her a weak candidate.

“There’s going to be a spotlight on her,” King said. “And people are going to see that she is not equipped for the job. And it’s going to create national attention.”

Sarah Palin is so much more qualified than Caroline Kennedy, it's like a big joke. Especially when it comes to media coverage and the obvious double standard that exists for women on the left as compared to those like Sarah Palin on the right. Ranging from everything to throwing Caroline softball questions like in the New York Times to asking Sarah Palin if she supports the ever-so-minimally-defined "Bush Doctrine", the media is power hungry and will do whatever it takes to get their guy or gal to win, as evidenced so thoroughly in the election of 2008.

It really gets my blood boiling to see how blatant the obvious biases are in the media. The Obama media relishes any opportunity to throw their agendas down conservatives' throats, but if conservatives make any moves that may be considered "outspoken" just because of the honesty and objectivity of the topics, they are called "bigots" or "intolerant." It's so unbelievably unfair.

This is where standing strong and being outspoken on the message of conservatism is so important to achieving success in the next elections and the culutre as a whole. Sarah Palin is one of hopefully many up-and-coming conservative revolutionaries who can carry that torch into the next elections. We wish her great success in whatever route she so chooses. I'm personally hoping that she runs for Governor again in 2010. Whatever happens in the next 2 years, I know that conservatism and its ideals can be made fashionable again, and it can start right here, right now, with Sarah Palin leading the way.

This dude's pretty upset about Caroline's Senate hopes:

Gov. Palin's Rural Subcabinet

2008-12-19T23:59:00.002-05:00

Working for the rural citizens

December 18, 2008, Anchorage, Alaska - Governor Sarah Palin has signed an Administrative Order (AO) formally establishing a Rural Subcabinet. The Rural Subcabinet will focus its initial efforts on rural migration patterns and the cost of energy in rural Alaska.

The Rural Subcabinet will study the state of the economy, education, law enforcement and infrastructure in outlying regions, and then will make proposals aimed at creating well-paying jobs, stronger schools, safer communities and better public works facilities.

On the issue of migration, Governor Palin noted: “Some level of migration occurs naturally as certain individuals decide to leave rural Alaska for job and educational opportunities that may not exist in their small communities. I want the Rural Subcabinet to look for ways to make certain migration is a result of personal decisions, not despair or a lack of choice resulting from economic pressures or other factors.”

Commerce Commissioner Emil Notti noted that while recent school enrollment statistics did not show dramatic shifts overall, the Rural Subcabinet should continue to review the issue of relocation patterns. “Several rural school districts did see a significant decline in enrollment, and 16 Alaska boroughs or census areas lost population between 2000 and 2007, while only five showed moderate increases.”

The Rural Subcabinet is chaired by Attorney General Talis Colberg. Additional members are Commerce Commissioner Emil Notti, Health and Social Services Commissioner Bill Hogan, Labor Commissioner Click Bishop, Military and Veterans Affairs Commissioner Gen. Craig Campbell, Environmental Conservation Commissioner Larry Hartig, Education Commissioner Larry LeDoux, Public Safety Commissioner Joe Masters, and John Katz, director of the Office of the Governor in Washington, D.C.

Additionally, advisory working groups will be formed, and Alaska Natives and others will have the opportunity to participate and provide input.

While Congress Gets a Raise, Palin Says "Thanks, but no thanks"

2008-12-19T20:30:00.008-05:00

Keep your money, Alaska. I like my Carhartt jacket.

I was just listening to the Laura Ingraham Show on my laptop, when I heard Laura briefly mention that Congress takes a raise, but Sarah Palin does not. Sarah Palin lives what she says, and she governs the state of Alaska in the same fashion. Conservatives for Palin has been on this since it first broke.

The Hill reports:

A crumbling economy, more than 2 million constituents who have lost their jobs this year, and congressional demands of CEOs to work for free did not convince lawmakers to freeze their own pay. Instead, they will get a $4,700 pay increase, amounting to an additional $2.5 million that taxpayers will spend on congressional salaries, and watchdog groups are not happy about it.

“As lawmakers make a big show of forcing auto executives to accept just $1 a year in salary, they are quietly raiding the vault for their own personal gain,” said Daniel O’Connell, chairman of The Senior Citizens League (TSCL), a non-partisan group. “This money would be much better spent helping the millions of seniors who are living below the poverty line and struggling to keep their heat on this winter.”

However, at 2.8 percent, the automatic raise that lawmakers receive is only half as large as the 2009 cost of living adjustment of Social Security recipients.

Still, Steve Ellis, vice president of the budget watchdog Taxpayers for Common Sense, said Congress should have taken the rare step of freezing its pay, as lawmakers did in 2000.

“Look at the way the economy is and how most people aren’t counting on a holiday bonus or a pay raise — they’re just happy to have gainful employment,” said Ellis. “But you have the lawmakers who are set up and ready to get their next installment of a pay raise and go happily along their way.”

Member raises are often characterized as examples of wasteful spending, especially when many constituents and businesses in members’ districts are in financial despair.

The rest of the story....

This certainly is not surprising. So much for the "clean house" regiment that Nancy "Bug-eyed" Pelosi was talking about when Dems took over in 2006. What a joke. So much for helping the little guy. And these are the same people who attacked those CEOs from the Big 3 automakers for flying to Washington a few weeks back. Pettiness will get people nowhere. Stupidity doesn't do much either.

Meanwhile, up there in the Last Frontier, Gov. Sarah Palin heartily rejects a much-supported pay raise of $25,000 a year. Being fiscally conservative all the while making wise monetary decisions for the state of Alaska across the board, it's no wonder Alaskans love Sarah Palin, as indicated in this new pol l. Those cronies in DC can certainly learn a lesson from her. Props to the Cuda.

Monegan For Mayor

2008-12-18T21:38:00.007-05:00

Thanks, Sarah, for getting my name out there

From ADN:
From Don Hunter in Anchorage:

Walt Monegan just answered a phone call and confirmed he plans to file a letter of intent Friday with the Alaska Public Offices Commission.

A longtime Anchorage cop who rose to become chief of police, Monegan said people have been talking to him about running for office since before he left the city.

His much-publicized ouster as the state's public safety commissioner in a dispute with Gov. Sarah Palin last summer "certainly gave me the opportunity," Monegan said.

Monegan said he didn't want to talk in any detail about his campaign plans or issues he wants to pursue until his state paperwork has been filed.

He will be entering a race that already has eight candidates, including former state Rep. Eric Croft, former West Anchorage Assemblyman Dan Sullivan, East Anchorage Assemblywoman Sheila Selkregg and former police spokesman Paul Honeman.

Why not run for Mayor of Anchorage, Walt Monegan? You are the "failed" Public Safety Commissioner under Gov. Palin, after all. Why not throw your hat into the cutthroat world of politics? Could this be a possible ploy to drum up the sympathy vote out of your feeling "pressured" by Gov. Palin to fire that low-life of a trooper in "Tasergate?" Maybe you'll be lucky enough to receive an endorsement from the CEO of Alaska herself. Don't count on it though.

Racist Obama Jokes Haunt Alaska Gov't Employees

2008-12-18T00:14:00.003-05:00

Please, don't forward me your stupid e-mails

This would happen in Alaska of all places. Just great for the mainstream media to jump all over this nothing of a story and somehow turn it around to slam Gov. Palin again. You'll see, folks, it's coming. Just wait. Tomorrow, every mainstream media news outlet (including the hyenas on the View) will be abuzz about how awful those people in Alaska are, and somehow Sarah Palin should have known about this and condemn the actions immediately. "What's taking her so long to come to the defense of Barack Obama?" "Is she racist?" "The world is ending as we know it."

Yada, yada, yada, people.

Anyway, this is a snippet of the story via AP Obama:

Alaska officials are investigating racist jokes about President-elect Barack Obama that have been circulating on state government e-mail accounts.

One of the five e-mails obtained by The Associated Press asks about the outcome of the Democrat's victory after all the time and money invested and concludes: "Another black family living in government housing!"

State officials were unaware of the e-mails until asked about them by the AP.

Three of the racist messages were confirmed by the state's information technology division after an electronic search of the government's e-mail system, Administration Commissioner Annette Kreitzer said Wednesday.

"It's embarrassing to the state," she said.

Kreitzer said she alerted the office of Gov. Sarah Palin — the failed Republican vice presidential candidate — about the e-mails.

Bill McAllister, Palin's spokesman, said in an e-mail that the matter concerned individual actions taken by a handful of state employees among thousands.

"My understanding is that the Department of Administration is following up on this with the individuals who took action to forward the offensive e-mails," he said. "This is, of course, a confidential personnel and disciplinary matter that has nothing to do with the governor's office."

The Rev. Alonzo Patterson, state chairman of the Alaska Black Leadership Conference, encouraged Palin to address the e-mails.

"They're doing that in a state setting," he said. "She should condemn it."

Lipstick Leading the Way

2008-12-16T16:49:00.012-05:00

Recession? No way.

Sarah Palin's budget for 2009 (FY '10) for the state of Alaska comes complete with a 7% cut in overall spending, with the operating budget for state agencies increasing by 2%. With oil prices dropping dramatically over the past few months, Gov. Palin realizes that taking the fiscally conservative approach will aid in keeping the state of Alaska with a surplus for years to come. This, unlike other states like California (Ahnold's problem) or Michigan (that's right, I'm looking at you Ms. Granholm) which have been suffering in a deep recession for quite some time, is in stark contrast to the U.S. economy as a whole currently.

From ABC News:
That just leaves one part of the country -- Alaska -- with a still-expanding economy. (The District of Columbia, with its government and government-related jobs, also still has an expanding economy.)...
Economy.com explains that what started in housing has now become a more broad-based slowdown.
"Financial market turmoil is weighing on businesses' ability to finance daily operations, and weak domestic demand and near recession-like conditions globally have brought the industry to its knees," economist Andrew Gledhill wrote on the firm's Web site. "Michigan has been in recession the longest, although its malaise was chiefly its own at that point. The national recession began last December or January in California, Arizona, Nevada, Florida and others. States across the industrial Midwest were the next to drop, and it spread from there." ...
Several state governments already face major budget shortfalls.
"The state governments are an exercise in irresponsibility. Through the property boom, they enjoyed the increase in people's assessments," Morici said. "They are just not structured to handle the cynical movements in their revenue the way they should be.

"Just like companies, municipalities can behave irresponsibly in good times, not shore up any money for bad times and then go crying to the federal government when they need cash," he added.

So, praises to you, Gov. Palin, for running the only state in the union that's in great shape economically. Hopefully others will learn from you and copy your conservative approach to using OPM (other people's money as Sarah would say).

Video: via TATSUOstudios

"When You Figure Out Love Is All That Matters After All...

2008-12-16T01:24:00.003-05:00

... it sure makes everything else seem so small." -Carrie Underwood, 'So Small'

This montage tribute to Gov. Palin this time is like the previous one from a few days ago, just tweaked a bit to better fit the new song. Best of all, I got it on Youtube! Yay! Here ya go and enjoi, as always:

God, Politics, and Wasilla Bible Church

2008-12-14T12:58:00.005-05:00

Arson?

We all are certainly glad to see that no one was hurt in the fire at Sarah Palin's old church, Wasilla Bible Church, over the weekend.

What is so sad is the fact that Gov. Palin possibly blames herself for what happened to the 3-year old church:

"(Palin) told an assistant pastor that she apologizes if the incident is in any way connected to the undeserved negative attention the church has received since she became a vice presidential candidate on Aug. 29. Whatever the motives of the arsonist, the governor has faith in the scriptural passage that what was intended for evil will in some way be used for good."

Honestly, if some creepy people took it upon themselves to do this to this place of worship, knowing they could potentially kill people inside, all on account of it being Sarah Palin's church, they need some serious help, prayer, and should have justice promptly served. We hope the local police and firemen in the Mat-Su Valley can determine the cause (the fire was started on the outside) and find the perpetrators quickly.

What can possess people to want to destroy a place of worship where people gather to worship the Lord? Was this only because it was Gov. Palin's church and these loonies wanted to make some sort of political statement? Or was it completely seperate from Gov. Palin altogether? Whatever the case may be, some strange things have been going on up there in Alaska whether it be the powder-filled envelopes that wound up at Gov. Palin's Juneau office or now this...

Then there's the whole inevitable, "What if it had been Barack Obama's church?" question. "What if this had been a mosque, a Jewish temple, or some other place of worship that wasn't necessarily a 'Christian' place of worship?" Let's just say the mainstream media's coverage and overall outrage would be a lot more plentiful than it has been thus far over a Christian church where Sarah Palin just happened to attend, and everyone knows it. Sad but so true.

The media's caricature of Sarah Palin as some "Christian nut" is so misleading. Did anyone once ever hear Sarah Palin talk about her views on Creationism vs. Evolution on the campaign trail? Anyone? No? Are you sure she wasn't shoving her beliefs down everyone else's throats? Matt Damon obviously thought so. And these folks who did this to her church, if indeed it was because of it being her church, thought so too. Of course, this is the message that always seeps into culture, especially the culture of young people who only care to know what SNL tells them in the form of Tina Fey.

Let us pray that the Wasilla Bible Church can rebuild (you can donate to them here), and, like the Governor said, that this act of evil can be used for good and somehow give glory to the name of Jesus. Amen.

Video clip via Hot Air: