Another great Palin article at American Thinker

Sarah Palin: A Leader Without A Party
American Thinker
July 31, 2009
By Stuart Williamson

The Democrats -- and the Republicans too -- may find the next stage of Sarah Palin's public career uncomfortable.

True to form, Sarah Palin, her Governorship behind her, clearly and forthrightly declared her intent: to take up arms against the forces dedicated to tearing down our Constitution, destroying our principles of government, disparaging our history of defense of democracy and free enterprise, weakening our military, and saddling generations to come with oppressive debt and entitlement programs. She did so in the same inspirational, forceful manner that won her immediate and enthusiastic acclaim when she joined John McCain on the Republican ticket in ‘08.

Her words, her dynamic style, her good humor and high spirits, as well as her clear dedication to the traditional values of Middle America, have created a great wave of euphoria among conservatives across the country, in the Tea Party movement as well as those who embraced her last fall.

Those in the Obama camp who have savaged her, and the commentators who have criticized her for being a quitter, a political weakling, doomed forever as a loser, are about to get their first lesson in Palin 101: The word "quit" is not in her vocabulary. She is not a reactive defender. She is a fierce and fearless attack machine. She earned her nickname Sarah Barracuda, on the basketball court. She polished those skills in the rough and tumble of the frontier politics of Alaska.

She is unswervingly honest. She hates liars and cheats. She spent many years exposing powerful entrenched opponents in a state whose politics had become sleazy, and has a keen nose for corruption What she says, she means. She makes no idle promises. This honesty is what brought her into politics in the first place. She ran for mayor of Wasilla because she questioned the motives of the favored candidate. She cleaned up local government. Her integrity is what propelled her to high approval ratings as she rose to the governorship. Her honesty is transparent, it shines through. It resonates with voters, differentiating her from run-of-the mill opportunistic professional politicians.

For Palin, integrity in government transcends all other considerations. Many politicians and pundits find this hard to believe, or even understand.

The truth is: Sarah Palin is not really a "politician". She did not get into politics to seek power or wealth. She bears no resemblance to the typical politician, who graduated in Law specifically to enter politics; or to the successful businessman who runs for office to gain profit advantage or status; or to the mediocrities who rises through nepotism or dynastic ambition like a Kennedy or a Gore. Or to any party hack out of the Chicago machine.

She has not brought herself into this fight at this point because she wants to be President...or Vice-President...or Senator....or Cabinet member. She is in this solely because she feels, deeply, that our traditional principles and values, already betrayed by both parties, are in serious jeopardy through the aggressive efforts of committed socialists. She is prepared to make a personal sacrifice in the cause of defeating them. If she succeeds, she'll be happy to just go back to Wasilla and the Alaskan way of middle class life she loves.

continued...

Palin not attending event on Aug 8

It looks like Palin will be keeping a low profile in the near future. A statement was released by Meg Stapleton on Palin's Facebook page stating that she will not be attending the Simi Valley Republican Women's Event at the Reagan Library as we previously thought she would.

As repeatedly stated to several in the media over the last week, former Governor Sarah Palin is not committed to attend the Simi Valley Republican Women’s event at the Reagan Library and in fact is not attending the event. Neither the Governor’s state staff nor SarahPAC has ever committed to attending this event or speaking at this event, and even requested that the Governor's name be removed from the invitation several weeks ago. The Governor has other work and commitments to take care of at that time. She looks forward to visiting her friends in California soon.

All event requests must be confirmed with Meghan Stapleton of SarahPAC. Additionally, all invitations bearing the Governor’s name must be approved by her attorney before proceeding.

Thank you.
Meghan Stapleton

No new Twitter account yet

There's no update yet on Palin's new Twitter account. But I'm still keeping an eye out for it!

The age of political "bloodsport" needs to end

I’ve been thinking a lot about the excuses the moonbats use to justify their disgraceful behavior toward Sarah Palin. They say that she put herself in the public eye so she deserves to be attacked in the most disgusting ways. They say that she put her kids on the stage at the RNC, so her kids deserve whatever gets thrown at them. They say that since she allows her kids to attend some of the events she does, and also physically carries her baby, then they all deserve condemnation equally. They say that since Bristol is now 18, she’s an adult and is fair game for any public scrutiny of her personal choices. Some of them even feel that attacking her children is a form of punishment for her “putting them on display.”

There’s a difference between job/performance criticism and vicious personal attacks and smears. The Left and the media have attacked her in the absolute worst, most disgusting, vile, rage-induced ways. It’s reminiscent of the way George W. Bush was attacked throughout his presidency (and even afterward). Just because someone is elected doesn’t mean they’re fair game to be slandered and attacked. Just because someone is elected doesn’t mean their children can be assaulted. There’s a trend of the Left and the media to treat any politician they disagree with as utter garbage. It’s almost like it’s become their goal to run them out office. It’s disrespectful and they have zero respect for the democratic process.

We have a democratic process to impeach or oust corrupt politicians. We have ethics violation processes. And the U.S. is not a monarchy – when people are elected to any seat it’s not forever, they must run for re-election at the end of their term. No one is King; no one has to be dethroned in order for the people’s voice to be heard. In essence, the moonbats have no grasp of our democratic process. They don’t want to speak with their vote; they can’t stand it if the majority doesn’t vote for who they want. They decide to use their own means necessary to oust the elected officials they don’t like.

A politician is not a celebrity and they shouldn’t be treated as such. They may naturally rise to the level of celebrity in popularity, but the quality of their work is not based upon how popular they are. Governors, senators, presidents, city councilmen, etc. are all part of our democracy. Someone has to fill these jobs in order for our democracy to work. Likewise, the people who fill those positions are fairly elected by a majority. And while we should always protect our election/voting process to ensure its fairness, we should not attack the people who fill these positions in the way Palin and her children have been attacked. There’s a huge difference between someone who goes on a reality show and someone who was elected to fill a position in government. The government positions are jobs, just like you and I have. The fact that they must be elected and be in the public eye to do their job doesn’t mean they’re celebrities who open themselves up to criticism of their family, children and personal lives.

And think of it this way: they were elected to serve the people, and in turn they get treated like crap. Why kind of normal person with a servant’s heart would want to stay in that job? How much crap are they supposed to take before they have to leave? If the everyday citizen like you and me were harassed at our jobs like that how would that make us feel? There has to be a point where they throw their hands in the air and say “if you treat me like garbage I’m going to leave,” and that’s exactly what the moonbats want them to do. They just keep pushing and pushing until the politician they don’t like is forced to quit.

Not only do they harass and malign elected officials personally, but they also try to brainwash the public into believing the lies they spew. I think one of Alinsky’s rules is to repeat a negative so much that it’s perceived as the norm, no matter how baseless and stupid it is. The “I can see Russia from my house” is a prime example of that. This is just wrong and cruel. And all of this affects how the politician does their job. So the moonbats are hurting everyone in the constituency by the attacks, because the politician can’t do their job effectively.

People elected to hold a public office should be given the dignity and respect that our democracy deserves. A lot of people have died for our democracy and the people who participate in it shouldn’t be abused like this. There’s no separation between the government and its citizens because we are a democracy that’s ruled by the people for the people. We need to criticize their policy and job performance, not attack their family and try to force them to quit.

With resignation, Palin gets to keep her accomplishments intact

In March, I wrote here and here about Obama's sudden interest in AGIA. There was talk that he was trying to funnel federal money into it, turning it into a "federal works project." My fear at the time was that he was going to swoop in and pretend that Palin wasn't running it successfully, take it over as one of his federal energy projects, and then take credit for its success (because Palin already did everything right and all the hard work in the first place). He could say that Palin needed help in getting it done and use that in his campaign if she ran against him in 2012. But she didn't need any federal input or money to get it done, thankyouverymuch. She started working on it the first day in office and everything was complete by the time she left.

So an added bonus of her resignation at this time is that the pipeline is up and running, the contracts and players are in place, the financials are all worked out, everything is done and now it just has to run its course. Obama can't say anything about having a hand in this. This is all Palin's accomplishment and will forever be. When she sets out to do something, it gets done. Unlike the President who voted "present" whose ideas turn out to be monumental failures - Palin will always have this as her crowning success, and she got it done in less than one term.

I love this comment

I was visiting Hot Air and reading one of the Palin threads. This comment by "WordsMatter" regarding Palin's farewell speech was right on:

"Gov. Palin: More guts in one speech than Obama has displayed in his lifetime."

The end of an era and the beginning of a new one

Sarah is no longer Governor of Alaska. It truly is the end of an era, but also the start to a beautiful new one. Her speech was fantastic. She warned the media to stop "making things up" and not to mess with Mr. Parnell's family. She listed her accomplishments and reaffirmed her message of limited government and individual freedom. She's free to go on her own path to spread her message, help candidates who believe in the same things she does and do the hard work it will take to get the country back on track. Why? Because she loves Alaska and she loves her country. God bless you Sarah; you continue to be an inspiration.

KTUU.com will live stream Governor Palin's farewell address

Please go here for details on how to view the live feed of Palin's farewell address and Parnell's swearing in.

Photos from Sarah's Governor's picnic

These are all from the ADN.

Only happiness and fighting spirit at picnic

I'm sure some cynics and Palin bashers out there thought Sarah would be sad, angry, regretful and depressed in her last days in office, but she's the total opposite. She's celebrating Alaska and its citizens with joy, enthusiasm, happiness and a fighting spirit. Thousands of people came to see her at the governor's picnics while she spoke, signed autographs, served hot dogs and gave flags to military families. They were celebrating her, many with signs and t-shirts with Palin 2012 on them. What a send-off!

Palin's Wasilla picnic draws a crowd
Daily News staff and wire reports

Published: July 24th, 2009 06:21 PM
Last Modified: July 25th, 2009 02:57 PM

WASILLA — Thousands showed up Friday for Gov. Sarah Palin’s annual picnic held in her hometown of Wasilla.

Palin, who is resigning and leaves office on Sunday, used the occasion, one of a series of picnics she is hosting this weekend, to sign autographs and hand out hot dogs.

The governor — dressed in blue jeans and a red New England Patriots sweatshirt — was mobbed by well-wishers who offered up babies, books, calendars, skateboards and even their hands for autographs. Several longtime picnic-goers said this year’s picnic crowd dwarfed last year’s.

Event coordinators planned for about 5,000 attendees. They roasted 4,008 hot dogs and had fixings for about 4,000 root-beer floats.

By the last hour of the event, the dogs were almost gone.

The picnics, which have become more popular in Wasilla since Palin was elected as governor, have previously drawn as many as 2,000 people.

Wasilla Chamber director Lyn Carden said she fielded calls this week from numerous out-of-state travelers who changed their plans to attend in hopes of meeting Palin. Some were interested in one-on-one time with the governor. Others wanted to know if they could buy mementos — such as a lock of Palin’s hair — at the event, organizer Lyn Carden said.

Kealoha Torres, who lives in Wasilla near the park, boosted his 6-year-old daughter, Leina, to his shoulders to get a good photo of Palin handing out hot dogs over the crush of people around the food tent. He said his family members from Washington state were risking missing their flight home to see Palin.
“They don’t care; they want to see her,” Torres said. “She has a lot of supporters in Washington.”

Fred Kostrick, an 84-year-old World War II veteran from Michigan who attended the event, said he appreciated Palin’s support of the military. “I think she’s one hell of a lady,” he said. “She’s tough, she stands her ground and she’s taken a lot of guff — more than I could.”

continued...

Palin's "Independence Day" is coming soon

Sunday is the day when Palin will be free of the anklebiters, frivolous complaint filers, the "Celtic Diva" and all the rest who tried to use her position as Alaska's governor to destroy her. It certainly wasn't the path Palin originally intended to take, but she will succeed with it. Just like everything else she's done and been successful with. If *anyone* can do it, it's her.

There will be a series of picnics this weekend where Alaskans can see Palin before she leaves, and watch Lt. Governor Parnell get sworn in on Sunday.

Palin's picnics begin today
Anchorage Daily News
Published: July 24th, 2009 01:16 AM
Last Modified: July 24th, 2009 01:17 AM

Alaskans can picnic with Sarah Palin over the next three days before she steps down as governor.

It's an annual tradition for Alaska governors and includes free food, live entertainment, games and activities for children and "much more," according to a press release from Palin's office.

The first is today at IditaPark in Palin's hometown of Wasilla from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The next one is Saturday at the Delaney Park Strip in Anchorage from noon to 3 p.m.

Finally, there is the Fairbanks picnic from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday at Pioneer Park (formerly Alaskaland.) That will be Palin's last event as Alaska's governor.

After the picnic, Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell will be sworn in as her replacement.

Media and elites trying to put us in our place

I believe we're at a point where we won't let the MSM, democrats and the GOP elites tell us who to like, who to vote for and who to nominate. After seeing the breath of fresh air and shot of realism that is Sarah Palin, we won't let them derail us and lead us to another defeat. It was a long time coming and Palin was probably the straw that broke the camel's back in that regard. She was the one who inspired some to reaffirm their conservative beliefs, and to others to get behind a candidate 100% and support long after 2008 election loss.

The heads of MSM, democrats and GOP elites are exploding everywhere because of Palin and it's been kind of fun to watch. After years of telling us that we're stupid we're finally saying we don't have to take it anymore. Here's a novel idea for them: why don't we elect a "real person" instead of a "political player" as our forefather's intended? Below is a great article from American Thinker published today that explains this phenomenon.

American Thinker
July 24, 2009
Hating Sarah Palin - and Us
By Stuart Schwartz

Any way you look at it, it's us vs. them.

The media elite hate Sarah Palin with a passion -- the same passion they have used for decades to rant about us. We are the "primitive strain," the "booboisie," or, as The New York Times put it, the "Philistines." We are a people, according to Times columnist Maureen Dowd, that displays a "reptilian American desire " for prosperity and an innate disrespect for culture and our betters, who are the political and media elite that "must nurse us through our affluenza."

Welcome to Mainstream Media World, where Sarah Palin is...us.

Call it Palin Envy, Palin Derangement Syndrome or even Palin Jealous. But the irrational hatred pouring from a thousand well-fed mouths, dripping from manicured fingers, from the talkers and squawkers of mainstream media, is fueled by the increasingly angry certainty that we -- and Gov. Sarah Palin -- simply don't know our place.

Witness rabid Palin-hater Kathleen Parker, the Washington Post and National Review columnist who has scored regular guest status on MSNBC for finding more than a hundred ways to say Palin is dumber than a chimpanzee... which, Parker opines, shows how much "deadwood" "Miss Alaska" has between her "low-brow" ears. After all, her "oogedy-boogedy" Christianity doesn't recognize the primacy of the primate in human affairs, putting her "Clearly Out of Her League" amongst cultured folks.

You don't need the brains of a chimpanzee to recognize the gulf between the world inhabited by Palin and that of Kathleen Parker, Peggy Noonan (Wall Street Journal, National Review), and David Brooks (The New York Times and National Public Radio) to name a few of the leading conservative lights of Mainstream Media World. To them, Sarah Palin represents the average U.S. citizen, who inhabits the American version of Bizarro World, the alternate Earth of Superman comics that was pledged to hate beauty and love ugliness; Bizarro inhabitants could achieve nothing without help from their betters.

Brooks says Palin is "a fatal cancer," representative of average America. And Brooks knows average America, which he describes from his perch in Midtown Manhattan as having a "trashy consumer culture" filled with those who live in the "vacuous realm of unreality." The denizens of Palin World -- us -- need to live a life of "contemplation" and be less "materialistic," he scolds. He expressed his disdain for the Alaska governor, "who scorn(s) ideas entirely," while dining at New York's Le Cirque restaurant (luncheon portion of spaghetti with tomato sauce, $28 -- no meatballs, too common; however, he was there for dinner and a larger portion, which begins at $98), which has "wined and dined high society in New York for half a century" and, praises the Times, makes its "regular customers feel pampered and important."

Time magazine all but giggled when Palin was interviewed after her resignation "while plucking salmon from the family fishing nets aboard a boat" on the ocean. And the giggles came from both left and right: On Fox, Dana Perino, who served as President George W. Bush's press secretary and now works for an A-list beltway lobbying firm, expressed dismay that a serious political player would handle fish... other than the kind that is smoked, nestled on cream cheese over toast points, and dotted with capers. Real players take the time to stage interviews, she pronounced, her blonde locks swinging and giggle dripping with gravitas.

They don't get it: Sarah Palin is not a real player, just as we're not real players. Like us, she's a real person. And real persons don't do staged. We simply live life, doing what we can to "pursue happiness" and help others. Service counts: Gov. Palin, for example, had programs to help Eskimos struggling with winter food shortages.

continued...

Parnell's administration will deal with confidential leaks

Soon-to-be governor Sean Parnell released a statement today seeking to end leaks of confidential information in ethics probes, as what happened to Palin last week during an ethics violation investigation. It seems like these ankle-biters aren't satisfied with just filing frivolous complaints, they want to further abuse the system by leaking confidential, preliminary reports to the media. Shameful.

Parnell Seeks to End Information Leaks

Parnell Seeks to End Leaks of Confidential Information Asks Attorney General to Step In

(July 23, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska) - Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell today asked Attorney General Dan Sullivan to provide recommendations on how to prevent leaks of confidential information in ethics probes.

Parnell’s request comes after the leak of an investigator’s confidential and preliminary report related to an ethics complaint filed against Governor Sarah Palin.

“These leaks must stop,” Parnell said. “If we allow public officials to be tried and convicted in the press through abuse of the legal process, then the Executive Branch is at risk. The rule of law is threatened.”

Parnell said that leaking the investigator’s preliminary report is just like walking into a courthouse, lifting some notes from the jurors’ break room and publishing them before all the evidence is in and before a verdict is reached.

Parnell recognized the need for accountability for public officials, but said the ethics laws are being abused.

continued...

Team Sarah will send up to 1,000 roses to Sarah on her "Independence Day"

What a great idea...and you can contribute! The details are here.

House Joint Resolution 27 addresses Alaskan sovereignty

In addition to signing legislation to reinforce Alaskan's second amendment rights on July 10, HJR 27 that Palin signed also addresses Alaska's sovereignty under the 10th amendment.

Palin to feds: Alaska is sovereign state
Constitutional rights reasserted in growing resistance to Washington
Posted: July 20, 2009
11:08 pm Eastern
By Chelsea Schilling © 2009 WorldNetDaily

Gov. Sarah Palin has signed a joint resolution declaring Alaska's sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution – and now 36 other states have introduced similar resolutions as part of a growing resistance to the federal government.

Just weeks before she plans to step down from her position as Alaska governor, Palin signed House Joint Resolution 27, sponsored by state Rep. Mike Kelly on July 10, according to a Tenth Amendment Center report. The resolution "claims sovereignty for the state under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States over all powers not otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal government by the Constitution of the United States."

Alaska's House passed HJR 27 by a vote of 37-0, and the Senate passed it by a vote of 40-0.

According to the report, the joint resolution does not carry with it the force of law, but supporters say it is a significant move toward getting their message out to other lawmakers, the media and grassroots movements.

continued...

Palin fights back against latest ethics smear

Yesterday an independent investigator for the Alaska Personnel Board said that Palin might be in violation of ethics law due to her creating a legal defense fund to pay her legal bills.

This is just completely outrageous. I'm not a lawyer but I expect that Palin's lawyers painstakingly scrutinized the law and every possible option in order to create a legal defense that was fully compliant with the law. Among the avalanche of frivlous ethics complaints filed against her, and the very high stakes for her career and her family, there's no way that she would have just thrown something together at the last minute that wasn't compliant. Even before her official defense fund debuted there were people donating to her that she had to turn down with the reason that it wasn't lawful.

Palin is fighting back against this final smear with guns blazing.

"I am informed that this fund was created by experienced attorneys in DC and was modeled after other similar funds established for senators and others. The fund itself was not created by me nor is it controlled by me. Neither I nor my lawyer has received a penny from this fund, and I am informed the Trustee was withholding any action or payment pending final resolution with the Personnel Board. This is the hallmark of legal compliance and prudent conduct," Palin said.

"In short, I have not 'acted' relative to the defense fund and it is misleading to say I have," she added. "I have no doubt that the Trust will welcome guidance by the Board, as do we all, but it is my understanding that this matter was not resolved and the complainant's violation of law has served to mislead the public and prejudice a fair review of this matter."

Several of the governor's top confidants also sharply criticized the report, pointing out that under Alaska law the contents of the document should have remained confidential because the matter is still under review.

"The investigator is still confidentially reviewing this matter," said Palin spokeswoman and top advisor Meg Stapleton in a statement. "It appears suspect that in the final days of the Governor's term, someone would again violate the law and announce a supposed conclusion before it is reached."

The governor's personal attorney, Thomas Van Flein, quickly followed Stapleton with a statement pointing out that he has "been working with the investigator regarding supplemental information. The matter is still pending. Whatever you have seen was released in violation of law."

Rasmussen's 2012 Match-up Poll

The results from the Rasmussen 2012 Match-up Poll today are:

If the 2012 presidential election were held today, President Obama and possible Republican nominee Mitt Romney would be all tied up at 45% each, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

The president, seeking a second four-year term, beats another potential GOP rival, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, by six points – 48% to 42%.

In both match-ups, seven percent (7%) like some other candidate, with three percent (3%) undecided.

continued...

Palin enjoying last days as Governor among grateful Alaskans

No matter what happens Palin's base always seems to grow, but none are more loyal than the Alaskan stalwarts who have been there from the beginning. These citizens were personally affected by Palin's governorship decisions and they carry a badge of honor that they were the ones who elected her which allowed her to be picked as McCain's running mate. They seem very sad that Palin is leaving, but know that she'll go on to bigger things, and will always have Alaska in mind. Palin's "farewell tour" indicates that her huge base of support in Alaska is as strong as ever and will continue to grow.

Palin: Alaska tour is thanks, not goodbye
By MATTHEW DALY (AP) – 1 hour ago

UNALAKLEET, Alaska — She was greeted like a rock star in Unalakleet, a fishing village on the Bering Sea. She danced with Eskimos in Kotzebue. And she watched grizzlies at a wildlife sanctuary on the Kenai Peninsula.

In all, Sarah Palin has been on eight trips outside her Anchorage base since announcing her resignation two weeks ago. Is this a farewell tour, the start of a possible presidential campaign for 2012?

Palin insists it isn't, although she still won't say what plans she has after she steps down as Alaska governor on July 26, with 18 months left to her first term.

"I am Alaskan. I've grown up here and I'm going to remain in Alaska," she told The Associated Press in an interview. "It's not farewell, it's more like thanks for letting me be here and I'll see you soon."

Palin has largely avoided the media limelight in the past two weeks and dodged questions about her future plans. But she hints she has a bigger role in mind, and she plans to launch her new platform by speaking her mind on the social networking site Twitter.

Palin said she is eager to begin life as a private citizen.

"Once I am 'Sarah Palin, Alaskan,' I can really call it like I see it," she said.

Palin waves off any talk of running for president.

"I look forward to continuing to work for Alaska and for energy independence and for the contribution that Alaska could and should be making to allow our nation to be more secure and more prosperous," she said.

Some have speculated she plans to build on her near celebrity status as a conservative talk show host, perhaps for Fox News, or launch a lucrative speaking tour. If her reception Friday in Unalakleet is any indication, she has a strong base of support.

More than 100 people packed a community center and bingo hall to greet the outgoing governor as she signed a bill continuing state subsidies for rural electricity.

The town, known locally as the place where the East wind blows, was an unlikely stop during Palin's final days. A remote collection of unpaved streets on the Bering Sea, the town is so remote that is only reachable by plane and most residents get around by ATV or by foot. There are few cars.

But this is what Palin loves best: Reaching out to Alaskans, no matter how remote. She barely had time to eat lunch — king crab and salmon and a barrage of homemade desserts — as families surged toward her, trying to shake her hand and get an autograph. Pictures of the governor were not enough. Residents wanted to talk to her and pose with her, even as an aide tried in vain to shield the governor and then get her to leave quietly.

Palin smiled through it all, basking in the attention. She nodded sympathetically as a man told her of a relative in Iraq. She hugged a mother whose baby has Down syndrome, as does Palin's youngest child Trig. She signed every post card and datebook thrust in front of her.

Palin says Alaska voters have accepted her decision to resign, even as she continues to receive criticism from the national media and even some fellow Republicans who question her decision to leave with 18 months left in her four-year term.

"We don't give a damn how they do it outside," she said, quoting a popular state bumper sticker. "We do it a different way up here. The pioneer spirit runs strong."

continued...

Palin will change Twitter accounts

Palin will change her Twitter identity on July 26 to a personal one, she said in a tweet yesterday. She also said she's going to post "less politically correct" tweets. I'm very interested in what they'll be.

I'll keep my eye out for her new account and post it up here once I find out what it is.

Unexpectedly out, but back

I'm sorry I was out unexpectedly. I'm back now and will be back to posting regularly. Thanks for your patience!

Gingrich doesn't rule out Palin either

Newt Gingrich is obviously a beltway insider and seasoned politician who knows the big picture. Even though he's "gone off the rails" a few times in his career (in my opinion) he's still a big voice in the Party who has a lot of sway. The fact that he's aligning with Palin at this time says a lot.

GINGRICH: PALIN'S STILL GOT A SHOT
Posted: Monday, July 13, 2009 5:09 PM by Domenico Montanaro

Here's one we missed Friday evening, but came across perusing Newt Gingrich's Twitter feed this afternoon...

As we, at First Read, have also argued, Gingrich said he thinks Sarah Palin still has a legitimate shot at the 2012 nomination.

He was asked on audio on his Web site, "If you decided to run for president in 2012, would you be open to having Sarah Palin as your running mate?"

Gingrich replied: "Well, I think it's important to remember that Gov. Palin may well be the nominee. There are lots and lots of Republicans who like her. And she's now going to be able to campaign full time for the next-- almost three and a quarter years. And so, who knows what's going to happen. I think it's a long way off, but I think she has a very major role to play in the party. And I wouldn't rule her out for either the first or second slot."

Sarah's WaPo Op-ed slams "Cap and Tax"

Palin posted this op-ed on her facebook page slamming Obama's Cap and Trade plan.

Washington Post Op-ed: The 'Cap And Tax' Dead End
Today at 10:52pm

By Governor Sarah Palin (R-AK)

There is no shortage of threats to our economy. America's unemployment rate recently hit its highest mark in more than 25 years and is expected to continue climbing. Worries are widespread that even when the economy finally rebounds, the recovery won't bring jobs. Our nation's debt is unsustainable, and the federal government's reach into the private sector is unprecedented.

Unfortunately, many in the national media would rather focus on the personality-driven political gossip of the day than on the gravity of these challenges. So, at risk of disappointing the chattering class, let me make clear what is foremost on my mind and where my focus will be:

I am deeply concerned about President Obama's cap-and-trade energy plan, and I believe it is an enormous threat to our economy. It would undermine our recovery over the short term and would inflict permanent damage.

American prosperity has always been driven by the steady supply of abundant, affordable energy. Particularly in Alaska, we understand the inherent link between energy and prosperity, energy and opportunity, and energy and security. Consequently, many of us in this huge, energy-rich state recognize that the president's cap-and-trade energy tax would adversely affect every aspect of the U.S. economy.

There is no denying that as the world becomes more industrialized, we need to reform our energy policy and become less dependent on foreign energy sources. But the answer doesn't lie in making energy scarcer and more expensive! Those who understand the issue know we can meet our energy needs and environmental challenges without destroying America's economy.

Job losses are so certain under this new cap-and-tax plan that it includes a provision accommodating newly unemployed workers from the resulting dried-up energy sector, to the tune of $4.2 billion over eight years. So much for creating jobs.

In addition to immediately increasing unemployment in the energy sector, even more American jobs will be threatened by the rising cost of doing business under the cap-and-tax plan. For example, the cost of farming will certainly increase, driving down farm incomes while driving up grocery prices. The costs of manufacturing, warehousing and transportation will also increase.

The ironic beauty in this plan? Soon, even the most ardent liberal will understand supply-side economics.

The Americans hit hardest will be those already struggling to make ends meet. As the president eloquently puts it, their electricity bills will "necessarily skyrocket." So much for not raising taxes on anyone making less than $250,000 a year.

Even Warren Buffett, an ardent Obama supporter, admitted that under the cap-and-tax scheme, "poor people are going to pay a lot more for electricity."

We must move in a new direction. We are ripe for economic growth and energy independence if we responsibly tap the resources that God created right underfoot on American soil. Just as important, we have more desire and ability to protect the environment than any foreign nation from which we purchase energy today.

In Alaska, we are progressing on the largest private-sector energy project in history. Our 3,000-mile natural gas pipeline will transport hundreds of trillions of cubic feet of our clean natural gas to hungry markets across America. We can safely drill for U.S. oil offshore and in a tiny, 2,000-acre corner of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge if ever given the go-ahead by Washington bureaucrats.

Of course, Alaska is not the sole source of American energy. Many states have abundant coal, whose technology is continuously making it into a cleaner energy source. Westerners literally sit on mountains of oil and gas, and every state can consider the possibility of nuclear energy.

We have an important choice to make. Do we want to control our energy supply and its environmental impact? Or, do we want to outsource it to China, Russia and Saudi Arabia? Make no mistake: President Obama's plan will result in the latter.

For so many reasons, we can't afford to kill responsible domestic energy production or clobber every American consumer with higher prices.

Can America produce more of its own energy through strategic investments that protect the environment, revive our economy and secure our nation?

Yes, we can. Just not with Barack Obama's energy cap-and-tax plan.

Palin/Cheney 2012!

Liz Cheney, that is.

I just saw this on Ace. Liz Cheney wrote a scathing critique of Obama in the WSJ today. I've always love hearing her opinions and almost always agree with her. Today she also told the Washington Times that she would consider running for political office.

"It's something I very well may do," said Elizabeth "Liz" Cheney, a lawyer and State Department appointee who has worked on two Republican presidential campaigns.

Ms. Cheney, 44, has emerged as one of the strongest defenders of the effectiveness and legality of Bush-Cheney policies on enhanced interrogation methods.

Palin/Cheney 2012! :) Imagine the liberals' heads exploding over that one.

Firm date set for post-governor event, and some words from McCain

Palin is going to speak at a private gala for the Republican Women Federated of Simi Valley on August 8, the AP reports. The event will be at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

The same article reports that John McCain appeared on "Meet the Press" on Sunday and had some kind words for the Gov.

"Oh, I don't think she quit," said Sen. John McCain, the Republican presidential nominee in 2008 who plucked Palin out of near-obscurity and made her a household name. "I think she changed her priorities."

"She has the ability to ignite our party and to galvanize us and get us going again and give us a strong positive message."

Palin's star power and new career opportunities

Palin's attorney, Thomas V. Van Flein spoke with the Washington Post and discussed Palin's career.

In an interview with The Washington Post this week, attorney Thomas V. Van Flein said Palin has "received hundreds of credible offers since the campaign, none of which she has accepted or pursued, with the exception of her book deal."

Among the offers were jobs in media, including offers to host her own talk show, and requests that she consider appearances in Hollywood productions, he said, declining to be more specific.

Van Flein said he hopes Palin will take time off to rest and be with her family but said, "she is a woman with a lot of energy. We'll see."

The Houston Chronicle also reports that Palin might stump for Texas Governor Rick Perry's reelection campaign. We already knew she endorsed him.

"Sarah and I were friends well back before she became a national star," Perry told The Associated Press after a luncheon speech to a Lions Club in Conroe, just north of Houston. "She'll be here."

Palin wrote on her twitter today:

Problem w/Professional Politicians:They're more concerned w/holding a title in perpetuity than just accomplishing goals they promised voters

Amen sister!

I'm positive that Palin will use her star power to change the face of national politics and the political discourse we are all so sick and tired of. Go Sarah!

Governor Palin getting more work done

Last week Palin signed legislation that protects Alaskans' 2nd Amendment Rights, as well as made some significant Board appointments.

She signed House Bill 201 and resolutions HJR 17, SJR 10, HJR 27 and SJR 3, that all have to do with gun ownership.

“The right to own guns and use them responsibly is something I and many other Alaskans cherish,” Governor Palin said. “We have to be vigilant to protect the rights of individual Alaskans to own and use guns. I appreciate the work of our legislature in standing up for the Constitution.”

Governor Palin also: announced appointments to the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute Board of Directors, the Alaska State Council on the Arts, the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board, and the State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers and Land Surveyors.

More proof that the ethics complaints were out of control

Unbelievable. Do we need anymore evidence that the people filing these ethics complaints are complete nutjobs? They filed three more after governor Palin announced she was leaving at the end of the month. This just defies reality to me.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 09-174

Governor’s Chief of Staff Releases Statement

July 10, 2009 Fairbanks, Alaska – Governor Sarah Palin’s chief of staff, Mike Nizich, issued the following statement today on the occasion of the 19th ethics complaint being filed against the governor or a member of her staff:

“A week ago today, the governor told Alaskans that she was about to step down as governor in large part because of the campaign of harassment against this office, in which the Executive Branch Ethics Act has been repeatedly abused. Incredibly, since then two more ethics complaints have been filed against the governor, including one today.

“Typically, the first action by these complainants has been an illegal one – to announce the filing of the complaints to the news media, in clear violation of the mandatory confidentiality in the law. Unfortunately, unlike the legislative ethics act, there is no provision in the executive ethics act for a complaint to be automatically dismissed when it is publicized prematurely. Regardless of that, it is breathtakingly hypocritical for anyone to violate the ethics law in the very act of making an allegation against the governor."

“Although the governor would not have thought it possible, the latest complaint rises to a new level of absurdity in alleging that she has been paid for interviews that she has given to the news media. It is amazing to me that anyone could think that, let alone put their name behind it and once again seek to distract state officials and needlessly increase their work load. The state is losing the value of some of its expenditures when public servants are pulled away from important assignments to deal with far-fetched and mean-spirited allegations.”

Governor Palin issued the following statement:

“The only saving grace in this recent episode is that it proves beyond any doubt the significance of the problem Alaska faces in the ‘new normal’ of political discourse. I hope this will be a wake-up call – to legislators, to commentators and to citizens generally – that we need a much more civil and respectful dialogue that focuses on the best interests of the state, rather than the petty resentments of a few.”

Of the ethics complaints against the governor or her staff, 15 have been resolved without any finding of wrongdoing, and four are now pending.

National Review coverage

It's not my intention to bash Republicans in pointing out my disappointment in National Review and NRO. But I do feel compelled to defend Palin against needless attacks which, in my opinion, NRO has been indulging in since Palin announced her resignation. I simply want to change my perspective of what NRO represents and accept it for what it is.

I found a post by Anthony Dick posted July 8 that I wanted to highlight here. I feel like it underscores why I'm disappointed and why I no longer consider NRO a daily must-read.

But it wasn’t just the choices she [Palin] made; it was the way she presented herself in conformance with the stereotype of the red-state simpleton.

WFB [William F. Buckley] once remarked to me, in reference to the second-term plunge in popularity of the George W. Bush administration, that it is not enough for conservatives simply to be intelligent or sophisticated. They have to project these qualities, conspicuously and convincingly, in order to get past the visceral prejudices of elite opinion-makers...

Two questions of "why." Why would someone change who they are in order to appease people who hold visceral prejudices? Prejudices are bad, and they prevent people from seeing the real person, the real issues and it's not fair to judge others based on prejudices. Those are the people who need to change, not the ones who are simply being themselves. The second "why" is - why are the elite making opinions for the general public, why does their opinion matter? If they are elite it means they don't represent the realities of everyday Americans. They have special, unique life situations that don't trickle down. So they are not equipped to "make opinions." Elites don't make my opinion, thankyouverymuch.

...elite opinion-makers who generally regard conservative ideas as some combination of boobish, evil, backward, boring, dangerous, and simplistic.

Whoa, back up there, Anthony. In addition to calling Palin those things, it sounds to me like he's saying that the elite opinion makers consider conservative ideas (his words) that way, including the right-leaning elite opinion makers. That's not good for the conservative movement. He puts down conservativism and props up what? What is his alternative? He doesn't say.

Overcoming these prejudices is, if not a prerequisite, at least a very helpful vehicle for receiving a fair hearing on the merits. Bill Buckley was, of course, a master at this project.

So he's saying that if someone presents themselves in a non-simpleton (his words) way, then they will receive a "fair hearing on the merits," fait accompli. Not only is that false but again, what does it say about these elite opinion makers that they cannot focus on the issues and are obsessed with appearances and language? Truly intelligent people are able to look past anything that might be a distraction and cut to the real issues, not at NRO. They are concerned with appearances.

The other thing that struck me was that he said it is a prerequisite to present yourself in a non-simpleton way. A prerequisite to what? Winning a presidential election or just receiving a fair hearing on the merits? I don't recall William F. Buckley winning a presidential election. And the candidate we nominated last year had all those qualities and he failed to receive the winning votes. Republicans never receive fair treatment by MSM or democrats so I wonder again why this is a prerequisite.

Sarah Palin seems either completely oblivious to it, or else too indignant to play that game. This may be a principled decision, but it is not without consequences.

Here is his baseless attack. Palin absolutely does not present herself as a "simpleton." She is a professional, classy, an intelligent speaker, has built vastly successful relationships with foreign countries in her role as governor, connects with voters in a powerfully persuasive way, able to juggle special interests along with what the general public wants. Her priorities are right; she has a very good handle on all the important issues. And putting all that aside, she's a mom of five who hasn't had the help of nannies and maids like most politicians. It's draining to constantly prove Palin's legitimacy to these "elite opinion makers" who outright refuse to look beyond their prejudices. If they have prejudices, it's not my problem or Palin's problem. They need to take a look at themselves first before "making an opinion" for the masses.

The bottom line is that we cannot rely on the Republican elite at NRO as any sort of source of support for Palin and I would also include the conservative movement in general. I see National Review as what it is - an elite subculture, a smaller group within a larger group. The larger group is us, the everyday Americans who are fed up with the way our government is going. The smaller group are people who more or less agree with some of the ideals of the larger group, but not reflective of the group as a whole due to their prejudices. They are a minority. If Palin has some good advisors she won't be listening to NRO's "advice."

Iowa Repubs want Palin

Now that Palin is going to have some time to spend outside of Alaska, it seems like the lower 48 are all clamoring to get a piece of her. The Iowa Republican Party said they want to invite her to their annual Ronald Reagan Dinner fundraising event. They had already tried to invite her previously to the event, and they are again extending their invitation. They can't wait for Palin to set foot in Iowa! Iowa is a crucial state in presidential elections and I wouldn't be surprised if we see Palin there a lot more over the next few years.

Near and dear to my heart: Kotzebue

This morning Palin went to the city of Kotzebue to sign a bill that will offer aid to them in the event of a nonprofit declining to do so. See that little red dot in the above picture? That's where Kotzebue is. It's 33 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Someday I will have to tell you why Kotzebue is significant to me but that's for another day.

Here is Palin's press release and information on the bill:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 09-169
Governor Palin Signs House Bill 106

July 7, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska – Governor Sarah Palin signed House Bill 106 in Kotzebue this morning. The bill, sponsored by Representative Reggie Joule, allows municipalities with a population of less than 10,000 to administer the Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) program if the nonprofit regional corporation has declined to do so.

“Changing the current state law is necessary, so that communities of less than 10,000 residents can still receive funding support from the state to ensure the safety of their residents,” Governor Palin said.

Under current state law, the Department of Public Safety is only permitted to assist the corporations with appointment, training, supervision and retention of VPSOs, and only these tribal entities can be awarded grants to administer the program.

The bill passed both the House and the Senate unanimously.

If you're interested in Kotzebue, Wikipedia has a great page on it here.

Sarah Palin: The Best is Yet to Come

Great article by J.R. Dunn at American Thinker yesterday. Please read it if you haven't already. Here's an excerpt.

There's nothing difficult to understand here. All the comments we've heard from the mass media, from the political experts, and from the operatives, merely reveal the limitations of the commentators.

But what about her greater obligations? To that of conservatism as a movement, for instance? It happens to have been the movement conservatives -- at least those of the Northeast Corridor, who on the basis of tradition consider themselves to be the core of the movement -- who led the charge against Palin on her selection as vice-presidential candidate. Not the left. Not the mass media. But conservatives (I won't add quotes -- not yet, anyway) such as Frum, Parker, and Brooks, who found her to be just the slightest touch déclassé. She did not understand the Modern Dance. Her taste in claret was undependable. Her reading of the Federalist No. 63 was, shall we say, idiosyncratic? These people have no call on her whatsoever.

And the GOP? Doesn't she owe her party anything? Just a few short days after her youngest daughter was humiliated on one of the most widely-watched late-night shows in the country, an obvious hit piece appeared in that balanced journal of the higher intellect, Vanity Fair, in which certain unnamed GOP officials revealed the true Sarah Palin: Sarah as Michael Jackson, Sarah the narcissist, who lived in a dream world and was overwhelmed by "demons". The fact that GOP figures would cooperate with a rag like Vanity Fair in the first place puts a period to any talk of a party connection. The GOP obviously has an agenda. It is not Sarah Palin's agenda. Nor, more than likely, ours either.

Palin granted interviews today

I saw her on Fox News this morning and they also reported she would be doing a one-on-one interview later this morning. Keep your eye out if you can watch it. I unfortunately, cannot.

New York Times offers support

New York Times
Stanley Fish
July 6, 2009, 1:02 pm
In Defense of Palin and Sanford

I did not vote for Sarah Palin in the November election, and had I been a resident of South Carolina, I wouldn’t have supported Mark Sanford. But I find their failings and, in the case of Sanford, sins more palatable than the behavior of the pundits who are having so much fun at their expense.

Both Republican governors made rambling and sometimes halting statements of about 18 minutes (is that the canonical length for this kind of thing?), and in response the commentators speculated endlessly about why they had said what they said. The one explanation they didn’t seem capable of coming up with was that they meant it, that their words were coming from the heart, from an interior that may have been fissured and rocky, but was nonetheless (dare I use the word) genuine.

Palin had barely finished speaking when MSNBC paraded analysts from both sides of the aisle (Matt Lewis and Chris Kofinis) who agreed that (1) it was a disastrous performance and (2) they couldn’t for the life of them figure out why she had delivered it. Kofinis: “It’s hard to understand why she’s resigning.” Lewis: “What she’s essentially done is guarantee that no pundit could make any intellectual defense of her.”

Later, Joe Scarborough pronounced in the same vein: “It’s hard to find a compelling reason.” The former majority leader of her own party, Ralph Samuels, chimed in, “I’ve had a million calls today from friends, all political junkies, and everyone is asking the same questions. Is it national ambition, or does she want time to write the book, or is she just tired of it. Don’t have a clue.”

Maybe he should look at the video and pay attention this time to the reasons she gives. It is true that her statement was not constructed in a straightforward, logical manner, but the main theme was sounded often and plainly: This is not what I signed up for. I’m spending all my time and the state’s money responding to attack after attack and they aren’t going to let up because, “It doesn’t cost the people who make these silly accusations a dime.”

The accusations had been coming from all sides, from investigators of her ethics, from Alaska Democrats and fellow Republicans, from officials in the McCain campaign, from scathing magazine articles, from what she termed the mockery and humiliation directed at her son Trig, from late-night comedians taking potshots at her daughters.

She dated the beginning of her trials and tribulations from the moment in August, 2008, when “political operatives descended on Alaska digging for dirt.” She complained that “millions of dollars go down the drain in this new political environment.” She signaled repeatedly her weariness with the “superficial political blood–sport” politics has become. She returned to her own sport, basketball, to explain that because she had become a distraction she was going to do what a good point guard always does, pass the ball to someone (her lieutenant governor) in a better position to make the shot. And in the end she earned the declaration that “I have given my reasons plainly and candidly.”

But the pundits didn’t want to hear them or, rather, they were committed to believing that the real reasons lay elsewhere, and were strategic. They couldn’t fathom the possibility that she was just giving voice to her feelings. It must, they assumed, be a calculation, and having decided that, they happily went on to describe how bad a calculation it was.

They did this even when reporting on something that might have given them pause. It was generally agreed that because the statement was structurally chaotic, even formless, Palin had written it herself. No self-respecting political operative would have produced something so badly crafted. One would have thought that this would be seen as evidence of the absence of calculation, but instead it was received as evidence of her Alaska-limited understanding of politics. (Doesn’t she know, they asked, that resigning is no way to run for president?) Rather than reasoning from what they took to be the political ineptitude of her performance to the possibility that it wasn’t political, they just continued on their merry, muckraking way.

continued...

Who is "fit" for the presidency?

I was thinking about this question today. A lot of people have been saying Palin isn't "fit" to run for president because she quit her job as governor. I was was wondering how far they intended Palin to go before she was "fit?"

The Palin family is now facing legal bills that could easily go up to a million dollars. Again, this is a normal middle class family with three children still at home. At what point would her judgment be questioned by not quitting? I wonder, did they think Palin should just fight all these complaints endlessly until they literally bankrupted her family? Would that have made her "fit" or would it call into question her judgment to stop the financial bleeding for her family.

Both options were a lose-lose situation. If she quits now, she's seen as a quitter who abandoned her state. If she waits out the end of her term, she keeps her political aspirations intact but her family is bankrupt and destroyed.

Palin basically said "screw that" and decided to do what was best for her family. She will find a way to make it work for her career, too.

In my opinion, it is asking WAY too much to ask Palin to just allow her family to be destroyed and fight legal battles until her term is up. Not only the financial aspect, but there was also the cost to the AK taxpayers in their money and time. They don't need a governor who has to essentially do two full time jobs and Palin recognized that, too.

Saying she isn't fit for the presidency (as both sides of the aisle have done) is just another way of saying she should sit down, shut up and get out of politics. Those are the people who really didn't like her in the first place and are now just using this as an excuse to cut her down.

Some perspective

Here's some perspective on Palin leaving office at this point in her career.

On January 4, 2005 Obama was sworn in as a U.S. Senator. On February 10, 2007 he declared he was running for President. He traveled the world, made speeches and ran a campaign for a year and nine months on the public dime while also serving as Senator and collecting a paycheck. He voted "present" most of the time due to traveling and running his campaign.

He, like many others, used his office as a stepping stone to the White House. Was he really serving the state of Illinois well during that time?

Isn't it more honorable to the general public to resign in that kind of situation?

Mark Levin discusses Palin resigning

Here's what Mark had to say about Palin on his show. Worth a listen.

I trust Sarah

Sarah said yesterday:

I do not want to disappoint anyone with my decision; all I can ask is that you TRUST me with this decision - but it's no more "politics as usual."

And I do. Palin hates the cesspool that politics has become. She's referred to it as "bloodsport" several times. She had to fight it when she ran for governor of Alaska, and while she was governor. The cronyism and corruption was out of control but she was a governor who wasn't in the pockets of big oil or other special interests. The rest of the picture is that the other politicians stuck waist deep in cronyism hated that about her.

But because of her actually using the office of governor for its intended purpose instead of personal gain, she got AGIA up and running after only two years - unprecedented considering it had been in the works for 30 years before her and no one could get it done. She got the oil and gas profits back in the pockets of Alaskans where it belongs. She got an entire laundry list of accomplishments done in her short time as governor - all of her detractors' efforts notwithstanding.

And now Alaska politics has become a cesspool again with the backstabbing and attacking Palin. I've chronicled how the legislature has all but turned against her, basically gridlocking any possible progress. There are groups of legislators who want her to fail because they disagree with her policies, there are those who want her to fail because she makes them look bad, and there are those who are completely jealous that she is so loved in the lower 48 that they can't stand it. Because of this she basically can't get work done anymore. That's something Palin was NEVER about. She hates wasting taxpayer's money. She hates big, slow government that isn't working for the people by the people. She really had to get out of there. She got done what she set out to do (which was more than anyone before her), and now she can grow politically even more.

Then there are the ethics complaints. Approximately $500,000 worth of legal bills. Can you imagine being a normal family and having to face that staggering number? That is staggering for a family that only makes about $150,000 per year and has three children still at home.

the State has wasted THOUSANDS of hours of YOUR time and shelled out some two million of YOUR dollars to respond to "opposition research" - that's money NOT going to fund teachers or troopers - or safer roads. And this political absurdity, the "politics of personal destruction" ... Todd and I are looking at more than half a million dollars in legal bills in order to set the record straight. And what about the people who offer up these silly accusations? It doesn't cost them a dime so they're not going to stop draining public resources - spending other peoples' money in their game.

You have to take her at her word that this is one of the major reasons she resigned. It is a valid, legitimate reason to step down. These complaints were NOT going to go away. This was the strategy the DNC used to "take her down" and you've got to love Sarah that she just circumvented them completely. She just went around their block. They thought there was absolutely no way she was going to resign (it was not even a slight possibility, obviously considered by most to be political suicide) so they thought while they had her hamstrung there in the office of the governor, they would tie her down with all these ethics complaints so she couldn't progress as a national candidate, she couldn't get her accomplishments done in Alaska, her family would be bankrupt, and they could always use the number of complaints filed as a weapon against her. She just found a way to stop all that insanity.

If I have learned one thing: LIFE is about choices! And one chooses how to react to circumstances. You can choose to engage in things that tear down, or build up. I choose to work very hard on a path for fruitfulness and productivity. I choose NOT to tear down and waste precious time; but to build UP this state and our country, and her industrious, generous, patriotic, free people!

Life is too short to compromise time and resources... it may be tempting and more comfortable to just keep your head down, plod along, and appease those who demand: "Sit down and shut up", but that's the worthless, easy path; that's a quitter's way out. And a problem in our country today is apathy. It would be apathetic to just hunker down and "go with the flow".

Nah, only dead fish "go with the flow".

That is inspirational right there. That certainly is not the voice of someone who is quitting or abadonning her state. She's finding a way to fight that will be vastly more productive than sitting in her office as governor. She's finding a new direction. She's not one to sit and just "take it." She had to make this step in order to survive and I applaud her for that. It took a lot of guts, a lot of guts, but that is something we all knew Sarah had. I really am loving the fact that her detractors can't attack her anymore in the office.

There are some people who think she is quitting and abandonning her state. Take for instance, jaded US Senator Lisa Murkowski, who happens to be a Republican:

“I am deeply disappointed that the Governor has decided to abandon the State and her constituents before her term has concluded.”

Pathetic. I would love to see how Murkowski would handle 1/10th of the vicious attacks that Palin has received. I think her response would be a little more sympathetic if she had! Palin supported Murkowski in her Senate run and this is how the kindness is repaid...nice to know. Murkowski just wanted to get her jabs in while she can, repeating the MSM and Democrat talking points to smear Palin. Murkowski knows Palin's record and what she's accomplished, there was no reason to say that.

But in that vein, Palin took some precautionary steps to protect Alaska, AGIA and the rest by ensuring Lt. Governor Parnell would have enough time to be an effective governor. She has all the confidence in him. She also paved the way for him to be more secure in a reelection campaign - which is probably why Murkowski is upset. SHE probably wanted to run for governor and now knows since Parnell has Palin's blessing, she will be crushed.

Anyway, I have rambled enough. I trust Sarah. I trust her conservative instincts and I know she has a plan. She is exactly the type of person our forefathers wanted to be in public office - someone who is a normal person who cannot be bought - something to think about on this July 4th holiday. And for that reason she is unconventional in today's political atmosphere. This was an unconventional move and I suspect it will garner unconventional results.

Happy 4th of July!

Let's not forget why we're celebrating today. Have a great Independence Day!

Bill Kristol's reaction is refreshing

A good friend sent me Bill Kristol's post today at The Weekly Standard. I love his take.

Kristol: A Contrarian Take
If Palin wants to run in 2012, why not do exactly what she announced today? It's an enormous gamble - but it could be a shrewd one.

After all, she's freeing herself from the duties of the governorship. Now she can do her book, give speeches, travel the country and the world, campaign for others, meet people, get more educated on the issues - and without being criticized for neglecting her duties in Alaska. I suppose she'll take a hit for leaving the governorship early - but how much of one? She's probably accomplished most of what she was going to get done as governor, and is leaving a sympatico lieutenant governor in charge.

And haven't conservatives been lamenting the lack of a national leader? Well, now she'll try to be that. She may not succeed. Everything rests on her talents, and on her performance. She'll be under intense and hostile scrutiny, and she'll have to perform well.

All in all, it's going to be a high-wire act. The odds are against her pulling it off. But I wouldn't bet against it.

Shock has worn off, more thoughts

I wrote the other day that Sarah is a whole 'nother animal (politically). She is unconventional. She has a history of bucking tradition. She is not your typical politician. I'll have to wait and see what she says exactly about her future but it seems like she is NOT giving up politics. For most, resigning from the current office you hold is a sign of weakness. But I think for Sarah this could be a really good decision for her, and not a sign of weakness. I'm going to post about my thoughts on her speech tomorrow.

I have a different perspective now after watching MSM scramble over this. They are running scared, that much is obvious. Sarah is free to fight back with the gloves off. If you heard her speech you know she's fighting.

"...you're naïve if you don't see the national full-court press picking away right now: A good point guard drives through a full court press, protecting the ball, keeping her eye on the basket... and she knows exactly when to pass the ball so that the team can WIN. And I'm doing that - keeping our eye on the ball that represents sound priorities - smaller government, energy independence, national security, freedom! And I know when it's time to pass the ball - for victory."

"We need those who will respect our Constitution where government's supposed to serve from the BOTTOM UP, not move toward this TOP DOWN big government take-over... but rather, will be protectors of individual rights - who also have enough common sense to acknowledge when conditions have drastically changed and are willing to call an audible and pass the ball when it's time so the team can win! And that is what I'm doing!"

"In the words of General MacArthur said, 'We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.'"

Oh hell yes she's fighting. I'm going to post more thoughts tomorrow.

Palin stepping down as Governor

I watched Palin's announcement on CNN. She is stepping down as Governor and will transfer power to Lt. Governor Sean Parnell at the end of the month.

I am so shocked and devastated and I can't put it into words right now. I'm completely speechless.

BREAKING: Fox and CNN reporting she will not seek reelection

UPDATED: from CNN: "WASHINGTON (CNN) – Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin announced Friday she would not seek a second term and would soon step down as governor." Step down as governor?? We still don't have confirmation from Sarah yet.


UPDATED: Fox and CNN reported on their live broadcasts that she will not seek reelection as governor in 2010. Still awaiting confirmation.

Palin issued a press release stating that she will make an announcement today at 3pm EST...right now. I'm on it and will post it as soon as I find out what it is.

Palin's hard work this week

Let's talk about some of the work Palin's been doing in Alaska this week and last, sandwiched around her trip to Kosovo. From her website:

Governor Safeguarding Student Loans: Signed Legislation That Will Avert Disruption

“This bill ensures Alaska’s students will not be left out in the cold despite the current economic downturn,” Governor Palin said. “Without this legislation, no Alaska student loans could be made this fall.”

Governor Opposes Waxman-Markey Energy Bill

“This bill does not offer enough flexibility to states to meet national standards and goals,” Governor Palin said. “Flexibility is particularly important for Alaska. Our cold climate and rural populations make it difficult for Alaskans to implement technologies that work elsewhere. Again, this is a case of one size doesn’t fit all.”

Governor Makes Board Appointments

Governor Sarah Palin today announced appointments to the Advisory Council on Libraries, the Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation Board of Directors, and the Water and Wastewater Works Advisory Board.

Pregnancy, children and motherhood

Those are the three areas everyone continues to target regarding Sarah Palin: her pregnancy, children and motherhood. Thinking about the Vanity Fair piece again, I can't help but notice this is just another link in the very, very long chain of attacking Palin at her most vulnerable point - being a mother and everything surrounding that. There is no more personal attack than attacking someone's children, or a woman's birth experience, or their parenting style.

As her career continues no matter what she decides to do, we can expect more and more of these types of attacks. David Letterman's joke and the McCain staff spreading lies are only the tip of the iceberg of what they will do to her as the months go on.