Happy Anniversaries Today to Gov. Sarah and Todd Palin

Today Governor Palin and husband Todd celebrate 22 years of marriage. During this time, they have acted as excellent role models for their children and for their communities and now for the nation at large.

In early 2009, Sarah and Todd sat down with Christian Living magazine for an interview, which you can find here. During that interview, Gov. Palin said, "You know, life is about being willing to walk the walk, not just talk it."

In concluding her article, Ms. Hutto remarked, "And that statement really sums up the Palins: A couple willing to do what's right-to walk the walk-no matter how difficult." That principle has been observed by the Palins in both their personal and professional lives.

The Palins celebrate another anniversary today, one that has impacted all of America. For August 29, 2008 was the day that Governor Palin burst onto the national stage as the Republican vice presidential candidate.

The following two years have been a whirlwind of achievements and appearances and of service to Alaska and our nation. We are grateful to Senator John McCain for introducing Governor Palin to us on his birthday two years ago. Here is a video of that event:

We at the Sarah Palin Web Brigade would like to wish Gov. Palin and Todd a happy wedding anniversary and a happy "Sarah Palin Day" anniversary - as the day she was introduced to America has become known to her supporters. May you have many more happy years together, and may you achieve great success in your quest to restore America to her conservative roots.

Happy Birthday to An American Hero

Today is Senator John McCain's birthday. And we at the Sarah Palin Web Brigade would like to wish him a happy, blessed birthday, with many more to come.

We also want to thank him for his many years of service to our country, first in the military and then in our nation's Capitol. The following overview of that service was shown at the 2008 Republication national convention, where he accepted his nomination as his party's candidate for President.

Here is Video 4 of a series of 9 videos produced by A & E Biography and posted on YouTube by fabiana1233. This video as well as Videos 3 and 5 of the series detail the ordeal that Senator McCain endured for his country. He was offered an easy way out, but he chose to stay the course and honor the code of conduct instilled in him.

We also want to thank Senator McCain for the gift he gave America on his birthday two years ago. On that date, he introduced Governor Sarah Palin to America as his vice presidential running mate. I don't know about you, but I got goosebumps toward the end of this video:

Senator McCain recently won the Republican primary in his bid for reelection to the Senate from Arizona. Governor Palin endorsed him and campaigned for him and will continue to stand by him as the November mid-term elections approach.

We invite our readers to go here and sign Senator McCain's birthday card. You may leave a personal message if you choose. If you would like to give Senator McCain a birthday gift, you may also make a contribution to his campaign.

Happy birthday, Senator McCain! We wish you great success in the November election and in helping get our country back on track!

C4P, Tammy Bruce and Me!!! A Post by Conservative Girl with a Voice

As I write this post, I am in the SUV, on a road trip, heading to my family's cabin at an undisclosed lake near Lake Tahoe. My regular readers know I love my family's cabin from prior posts I have posted. I just cannot wait to get there, run down to the lake, put my feet in the sand and water and just relax. Everyone has their special place, and this is mine. I always say I believe I do my best writing while sitting by the lake.

It's been a week since I attended the awesome Conservatives for Palin meet up here in my hometown of San Diego. I attended the dinner at Salvatore's in downtown San Diego, in which phenomenal no-nonsense Radio Host Tammy Bruce was the featured speaker. It was great to meet so many inspiring, like-minded individuals from all over America- people from California to North Dakota, even Alaska. My sister, Krisha, came with me. While I describe myself as a pop-culture turned political princess and grizzly girl, my sister is the complete opposite. While she likes Sarah Palin, I do not think she gets my whole political obsession with all things politics-ha ha. It was fun getting dressed up and attending the event with her, and i think she walked away thinking her sister is not the only person who lives and breaths politics.

For those of you who listen regularly to Tammy, you know she is a woman of her word. She does not settle for second best. She loves her country, and her political beliefs make sense. She is a patriotic, freedom loving, independent conservative, and I really admire her and look up to her for being the strong, independent woman she is- just like Sarah Palin. I had the honor of sitting next to Tammy during the dinner, before she addressed the meet up attendees. I had first gotten to know Tammy on Twitter, and it made my day when she followed me (you on the tweet side know what this means) and later posted my account of my experience attending the Searchlight Tea Party on her website. How cool is that? Unlike many other radio hosts, Tammy makes it a point to connect with her listeners on a regular basis. This is what makes her so real! She believes in giving people chances and making people's days, like she did when she followed me, posted my blog entry and eventually posted Conservative Girl with a Voice on her blogroll When I finally had the chance to meet her, she was just as genuine as she appears. She is also hilarious too. I thanked her for all she has done for conservatism and for Sarah Palin. When so many women in the media turn their backs and stay silent when Sarah is attacked, Tammy remains vocal, and her voice resonates above the crowd.

Her speech was awesome- one the best I have ever heard. She told us about her time as a former liberal, urged us to continue the fight and stressed that America is still that great country we know her to be. She spoke about my hero Sarah Palin too. One of my favorite parts was when she told us how no other politician has a way of bringing people from all walks of life together. She was right!!! Tammy was right when she said it is Sarah and the tea party that bring so many diverse people together-simply awesome!!!

This was not a Mitt Romney event, this was a Sarah Palin event- it was casual and full of laughter and good times. I even had the honor of posing for a picture with Tammy (that's Tammy and I to the right, as well as Whitney @whit_pip and me) and having her sign my copy of Going Rogue. I'm going to be spending my summer reading her latest book, and next time I see her, I'll have her sign it-hear that, Tammy? ;)

I will never forget her thanking me for the work I was doing for the conservative movement. That was so cool! Hearing this from someone who has done so many wonderful things for this movement. Yep, this woman IS truly the real deal!!! Thanks again, Tammy for taking the time and traveling down to my neck of the woods and spending the night talking to a bunch of Palinistas!!! You're welcome to San Diego anytime!!! Keep speaking the truth, pissing off the left and calling out the Republican establishment!!! God has given you a gift, so continue to stand up and speak out!!! Oh yeah, I almost forgot: Did you ever get to finish your dessert?

(Visit Conservative Girl with a Voice and become a follower. Follow me on Twitter @rachellefriberg.)

What a Difference a Year Makes

One year ago today, Sarah Palin resigned as Governor of Alaska to spare her family and her state the expense of the continued abuse of Alaska’s ethics laws by a group of leftist bloggers with strong connections to the DNC. She wasn’t retreating from the battle; she was assuming a new position on the battlefield. Her Dad put it this way: “She’s not retreating, she’s reloading."

And reload she did. Now, a year later, friends and foes are talking about the significance of this date in America’s history. The haters are trying as usual to diminish and tear down any and all of Governor Palin’s achievements. But more and more, their Saul Alinksky tactics are being seen and exposed for what they really are.

Those who support and appreciate Governor Palin’s battle for her country look back with awe at her achievements over the past year. She has commanded a podium on Facebook and FOX News which is eagerly attended to by friend and foe alike. Numerous public appearances have given her the opportunity to speak out about the issues that face our country.

Thousands of people attended her book signings during her Going Rogue book tour. Now she is working on another book as well as a documentary series about Alaska that will air on the Learning Channel.

Her endorsements of candidates are making major differences in primaries and will carry a lot of weight in the midterm elections. She has often been the first and sometimes the only political figure to stand up and speak out against the radical agenda of the Obama administration.

Associated Press writer Becky Bohrer writes:

Sarah Palin isn't going to fade away.

Someone else in her position might have. Two years after the vice presidential nomination made her a star, the 2008 campaign is fading in memory. She's not even Alaska's governor anymore; she abruptly resigned that post a year ago. But she's evolved into an enduring political personality writ large — and now the talk, growing louder, is of her own run for the White House in 2012.

She's still a phenomenon. She can command weeks of headlines for a single Facebook observation — see health care "death panels" — and six-figure speaking fees from groups clamoring for her words. "Going Rogue," her best-selling memoir, added to her luster among the conservative faithful. And in this congressional election year, she has easily eclipsed other Republicans as provider of the most coveted endorsement.

Palin is everywhere: in South Carolina, campaigning for gubernatorial hopeful and fellow "mama grizzly" Nikki Haley; in Nevada, stoking the anti-establishment sentiment of the tea party movement; in Arizona, defending a controversial state law cracking down on illegal immigrants.

There are two stops she has yet to make in 2010 — Iowa and New Hampshire, the first major prizes of the presidential campaign. But she knows the way: She campaigned in New Hampshire in 2008 and was in Iowa for a book-signing event last December.

[…]

But Sid Dinerstein, GOP chairman in Florida's Palm Beach County, is among those who love Palin.

He has a signed picture of himself with her and argues that she was the only one of the four candidates in the 2008 election qualified to be president. Still, he doesn't want her to run in two years.

"She is currently the single most powerful political person in the country," he said. "The day she announces for president, she gives that up."

[…]

David Roederer, who ran John McCain's campaign in Iowa in 2008, says Palin would do well in the state, where grass-roots politics matter and the caucuses tend to be a winnowing-out of the weaker candidates.

"I think Republicans see her as a very genuine, down-to-earth person," he said. "That sure helps you win elections. (But) that in and of itself won't."

Palin endorsed former Gov. Terry Branstad in the recent Republican gubernatorial primary, a nod to the more mainstream candidate that angered some in the tea party movement. Roederer called it a "shrewd move," should she decide to run for president. Branstad won, and he'll face one of the more vulnerable Democratic governors, Chet Culver, this fall.

[…]

Palin has been noncommittal about her intentions, saying only that she is keeping all options open. In recent weeks, however, she has stepped up her criticism of Obama's leadership and focused on her own credentials.

[…]

Her immediate focus, aides say, is on 2010 and getting conservatives elected. So far this primary season, she's scored some high-profile wins, including with Haley in South Carolina. She has another book in the works, an enviable spot as a Fox News contributor, a travelogue TV series on the way and a schedule on the speaking circuit. She reportedly has made at least $12 million from the book and other media deals.

"I think if you want to look at what motivates Sarah Palin, it's that the country is seriously on the wrong track," said Rebecca Mansour, a consultant to her political action committee. "There's also the issue of, if you're given a megaphone and able to speak out on something positive, it would be a shame not to use it."

[…]

In announcing her resignation on July 3, 2009 — the timing around Independence Day intentional, and symbolic — she pledged to fight for the state and nation in other ways by advocating everywhere for less government and individual rights.

And running for president? Well, she hasn't said.

"I've never believed that I, nor anyone else, needs a title to do this, to make a difference, to help people," she said.

In spite of all the attacks against her, Governor Palin’s position in leadership has only strengthened over the past year. What her enemies meant to her for evil, God has turned to her for good. She knows where her strength comes from, and she knows Who her North Star is. Once during her governorship she said, “My faith sees me through.”

On Tuesday night at the Gwinnett Arena, she expressed her appreciation for the prayer shield that supporters keep around her. And as one of her supporters, I believe that God made Sarah Palin special, and that through hard work and faithfulness to Him, she has earned a place in the hearts of those who love our country and a certain place in the history of this nation. Like many others, I believe that God has called Governor Palin to lead “for such a time as this,” and that she has answered that call.

Sarah Rocked the House in Norfolk Virginia

I was lucky enough to win two tickets to Freedom Fest 2010 on the Steve Batton show. Yesterday, my dad and I got to spend 2.5 hours listening to Lee Greenwood, Col. Oliver North, Sen. George Allen, Bishop Jackson, Jay Sakolow, and ...Gov. Sarah Palin. It was one event filled night. When we got to the Ted Constant Center at Old Dominion University there were some protesters...by some I mean like, 10! Here are some picturesI took of the protesters:

WHen one guy realized I was taking pictures, he hid behind his sign. By the looks of his sign, he is the one who doesn't read much. It has been proven time ever time that Sarah Palin did not ban books!


Here are a few pictures of the outside of the event.



As you can see...we are having a heat wave here!



Once inside, we were greeted by a table filled with items for a silent auction. There were autographed pictures of President Reagan, Gov. Palin, and Pres. and Mrs. Bush (43). There were too many items to photograph so here are the two I chose to share.



The program was packed full of great speakers and good music. We were entertained by Lee Greenwood with a playlist of patriotic songs including "God Bless America" and "God Bless the U.S.A." Below is a video I shot of Lee Greenwood performing "God Bless America"

The program:


[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMH5e7IlBBI]

The music set the tone for the rest of the night. Lee Greenwood was very moving and the crowd love him. Many were even signing along. I was impressed by all of the speakers that followed. Bishop Jackson was powerful and inspirational. He spoke of the libreral goal of division of country versus unity. I loved it when he said "it took my people days and weeks to reach this country but today there are planes that can take you right out...if you don't love this country, get out." Here is Bishop Jackson. Bishop Jackson is the president of STAND - Staying True to America's National Destiny. Please view Bishop Jackson's website to find out about STAND and read about the Bishop.


Next was Col. Oliver North. He shared with us a rare video of the work our troops do to fight terror at home and overseas. Col. North spoke of the courage and drive it takes to be a member of the greatest military on Earth.


I could go on and on about each speaker, however, I will keep it short. The highlight of the night and the most inspirational was of course Sarah Palin. I was able to video her speech. I did have some technical diffuculty and missed a few seconds of the speech here and there. Below is Gov. Palin's speech in three parts.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfVGqUPu9Iw]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1Acnd25pGI]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7vvvWG9HhY]

As you can see Sarah rocked the house! She was amazing. She hit back and she hit back hard. She is standing up for all of us who believe this country is on the wrong track. As she said in her speech, Washington D.C. is not listening and we need a change in administration. She understands the importance of a strong, fully funded military. She understands that we must shore up our allies and not tear them down. She understands that we ARE fighting a war of terror not man-made disasters. Most of all Sarah Palin understands that America IS exceptional!

Here are some pictures of Gov. Palin at Freedom Fest 2010:







After her speech, Gov. Palin answered questions from Steven Batton. During the question and answer period, the topic of Sarah's red shoes came up. I was able to video a part of her answer in which she was calling out the media that if all they get out of her speech was that she was wearing red shoes it would show their motivation! Here is the part I was able to video:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04bol_0KCn0]

Sarah Palin's Alaska Series Stays On Course Despite Attacks

As Josh Painter at Texas 4 Palin reported earlier this afternoon, Discovery Communications and TLC are moving forward with the "Sarah Palin’s Alaska" series without a hitch. Scott Collins at the Los Angeles Times reports that production of the eight episodes of the series will begin next month.

Extremist environmental groups, led by Defenders of Wildlife, waged a well-funded campaign against the series with multiple petitions and with ads at bus stops across from Discovery’s corporate headquarters. We don’t know whether their petition was delivered to the Discovery shareholders meeting as they planned. But we do know that our counter petition, with signatures and a list of sponsors, was overnighted on May 4 to Discovery CEO David Zaslav, with a request that it be presented at the shareholders meeting on May 5.

Our petition drive was launched on April 20, two weeks before the shareholders meeting, with limited resources but a lot of enthusiasm. The group of sponsors listed on the petition represent over 30 Sarah Palin support sites. This was the second Internetwide cooperative effort between Sarah Palin supporters. The first was a Grassroots Webathon spearheaded by Conservatives for Palin in which $115,585. was raised for Governor Palin’s legal defense fund. (See here, here, and here.)

Spearheaded by the authors of Sarah’s Web Brigade and SPIB, the current petition drive was a cooperative effort between many Sarah Palin supporters that enabled us to make a statement of support on behalf of Governor Palin’s new series. A Facebook Cause was also set up for the petition drive. Related efforts are also ongoing at the "Tell TLC/Discovery Communications YES to Sarah Palin" Facebook group, which we encourage you to join. The U. S. Sportsmen's Alliance (USSA) has also encouraged their members to write Discovery in support of Governor Palin's series.

Obviously, Discovery Communications knew they had a winner from the beginning when they landed the contract for Governor Palin’s Alaska series. But what kind of statement would it have been if we her supporters had remained silent in the face of the vicious attack against her series? We’re glad we took a stand and will continue to cheer Governor Palin and Discovery Channel on as this series becomes a reality. (And no, it is not a reality series - it is a documentary about Alaska and her people.) We are certain to see breathtaking scenes of Alaska’s awesome beauty and learn fascinating facts about what it is like to live there.

Thank all of you who have already signed the Show Your Support for Sarah Palin’s Alaska Series! petition. Those of you who have not yet done so, please sign the petition and join us in supporting Governor Palin and Discovery Channel in this endeavor. Contact information for Discovery Communications and TLC is posted on the petition site so you can make phone calls and send letters. Visit the other links posted on the petition site for additional information.

Let’s make Sarah Palin’s Alaska the most-watched series in TLC’s history! Do it for Sarah!

Palin will deliver speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial

Sarah Palin will join Glenn Beck on August 28th in Washington, D.C. on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial for the Restoring Honor rally.

The mission of the rally is to recognize our First Amendment rights and honor the service members who fight to protect those freedoms.

Those attending will see a miniconcert by Jo Dee Messina, who won the CMA Horizon Award. Also lined up for the event are Gary Sinise, Marcus Luttrell, David Barton, Ted Nugent, and the largest collection of medal of honor winners that have ever been assembled.

"And to bring on the medal of honor winners, along with Gary Sinise, will be somebody that I selected... not for political reasons at all, but because I think she understands duty and honor, I think she understands...the first people that we have to point out before we go into the badge of merit are the people that have done remarkable things in wartime. She has a son who is serving currently. Sarah Palin will also be joining," Beck announced on his radio show.

Palin appeared on the Glenn Beck show and thanked Beck for the invitation. "I think it's going to be the most inspiring and for me personally the most humbling experience, could be of my lifetime, and I hope we have a million people there to honor our troops. I'm just so absolutely thrilled that you invited me and I wouldn't miss it for the world," Palin said.

You can also help raise funds for true American heroes by joining Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck for breakfast on August 28th before the rally. Visit this website to bid on an invitation only breakfast with both Palin and Beck. All proceeds from this auction go to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, a non-profit charity serving the children of our fallen heroes.

You can visit the Restoring Honor Facebook page for all updates.



Read more articles by the National Sarah Palin Examiner at Examiner.com.

Death by Facebook for Sarah Palin

Cross-posted at Palintwibe.com:


About a week ago, I posted here samples of hate filled and violent threat tweets toward Governor Sarah Palin. It was not a pleasurable thing to do, but people need to be made aware, especially since Governor Palin has been accused of being hate inciting. The "love everyone and let's just get along" crowd of the left feels warm and accepting toward every critter and human alive, minus a few select outspoken conservatives, with the main target of their hate being Sarah Palin.

It's truly astonishing how such people that would consider themselves sane and loving can spew such vitrolic acid from their fingertips and mouths. Just what has Governor Palin and her family done to them personally? How can they wish death and give clear cut methods of achieving it with no remorse or second thought?

Does not Governor Palin have freedom of speech guaranteed to all citizens of the United States of America? Yet, I have never heard or seen anything said or written by her that called for anyone she disagreed with in the world of politics to be killed. And like it or not, I cannot call the cries for her dead body to be tortured and screwed into the oil spill as a plug "free speech" by any sane American.

What? You didn't hear about that? I found out because TIME magazine's online news feed page had a story on it. Check out this Facebook page and see for yourself. It calls for "two birds to be killed with one stone" on the information page. At the time of this writing, the group numbers 119,656, fans of the page 1,000,000 People Who Want to Plug the BP Oil Spill with Sarah Palin.

Sound ha, ha, funny? Not if you read the info and wall comments. I certainly hope that the Facebook community reports and flags this page enough to pull it. Facebook itself would do well to avoid any kind of liability or reputation issues by shutting it down quickly. Copycat pages are already popping up like here and here. They should all be eradicated, along with any other FB pages that suggest any person be used in that manner, not just Governor Palin.

If this particular site is gone before you get there to do your good duty of reporting it, take a gander at some screenshots. I call this the WALL OF SHAME. And to any of the fans of that page that may chance to stop by here:  Your mama should wash your mouths out with Lava Soap and send you to military school.

Was that too violent? I was taught not to say some things.

Oh, and one more thing....it's all about the money, baby. The page's creator has a Cafe Press store too. Yeah, they even sell stuff for the kiddies. Sick.

Warning: Language Advisory

There are plenty more examples, but you get the gist. Please report and flag this page and similar ones. It is people like these that are making our country a dangerous and divided place. May God help us all.


@Karen_Allen
You can tweet the Gov at @SarahPalinUSA with a Hi-5!

Palin's other First Dude

In Alaska, Sarah Palin can often be seen cheering on her champion snowmobile racer husband, Todd Palin, but on Saturday, the former Governor was cheering on a different First Dude.

Sarah Palin made a surprise appearance at the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown to place her bet on a horse named First Dude.

"Of course, we love the name of the horse," Palin exclaimed. "And we're excited First Dude's gonna get a chance to race."

First Dude, out of the mare Run Sarah Run, is named for Palin's husband Todd, who was nicknamed First Dude while Sarah Palin was Governor.

Palin was the guest of Marylou Whitney and her husband John Hendrickson, who also used to be in politics in Alaska.

"We're excited to be here," said Sarah Palin, who was decked out in navy capri pants, a white T-shirt and black cap. The New York Daily News reported that the Palins swept into the raceway about 4 p.m., hours later than planned.The couple's limo driver got lost during the ride from Kennedy Airport, leaving them with no time to stop off at their hotel to change.

“We were a couple hours late (coming from Texas)," said Palin, "but everyone has been so hospitable and accepting of the garb.”

So what did the Palins wager on First Dude?

“A big bet for us would not be much,” she said with a laugh.

More than 45,000 people filled Belmont Park along with the Palins, who watched Drosselmeyer pull off a stunning victory, surging past First Dude and runner-up Fly Down in the home stretch.

Learn more about First Dude at Horse Racing Nation.

Read more articles by the National Sarah Palin Examiner at Examiner.com

Thoughts on Sarah Palin’s Endorsement of Terry Branstad in Iowa’s Governors Race

I was traveling back from Minnesota on Thursday so I was like the last to know about former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s endorsement of former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad’s campaign for a fifth term as Iowa’s Governor.  I learned of it through Dustin’s post shortly after getting home and checking email.

Color me surprised.  Color Governor Branstad surprised as well.

Some thoughts on this so you don’t think I’m avoiding the issue.  I rarely agree with somebody 100% (including my wife), and I disagree with this endorsement for numerous reasons.

• 
  
  There are two other candidates in the race align closer to her values who would have likely benefited from this endorsement if it came early.  I obviously wished she endorsed my candidate, Rod Roberts, but frankly an endorsement five days before the primary won’t really help.  Coming to campaign or help fundraise earlier on would have made a difference though.
  
  



• 
  
  I don’t think she really has much to gain politically from this either.  For starters this came very late in the primary so she’ll be seen as “Johnny-come-lately.”  Second, Branstad’s campaign is filled with Romney supporters, and Mitt Romney endorsed Governor Branstad earlier.  I wouldn’t count on reciprocity in 2012.
  
  



• 
  
  If Bob Vander Plaats wins the nomination and then the general election it could, could harm her in 2012 should she decide to run.  If Mike Huckabee runs in 2012, he’s locked up the Vander Plaats endorsement and there could be some ill-will from some of his supporters.
  
  

I’m not buying into the meme that Governor Palin committed political suicide however.  People were saying that after she endorsed Rand Paul in the Kentucky Senate Primary, and he won in a landslide.  Obviously Republican voters in Kentucky disagree with that sentiment.  Even James Dobson (who endorsed Vander Plaats) changed his endorsement from Trey Grayson to Rand Paul.  

You hear it from some Chuck DeVore supporters in the California Senate Primary when she endorsed Carly Fiorina.  Fiorina may not be as conservative as DeVore, but she is conservative.  The latest poll shows her leading by double digits the RINO in the race, Tom Campbell (who is also ahead of DeVore in the polls).  Should DeVore win that primary it is unlikely he could beat Senator Barbara Boxer.

So cries that she “sold out” don’t wash with me.  Sure she campaigned for Senator John McCain, did you really think she wouldn’t?  She was also one of the first to endorse Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate in the NY 23 special election since Dede Scozzafava was more liberal than the Democratic candidate.  She’s been making a number of good endorsements.  Also, she didn’t endorse the incumbent pro-abortion Republican Senator in her own state of Alaska, Lisa Murkowski, she endorsed  Joe Miller instead.

Back to this current endorsement… she may not have picked the most conservative person running, Terry Branstad is certainly better than Dede Scozzafava whom Newt Gingrich endorsed.  He does have a plan to cut taxes and reduce government spending.  He is prolife.  He is certainly better than Governor Chet Culver, and even on the gay marriage issue he would be no worse than neutral which is better than Culver.  This is why I would have no problem voting for him should he win the nomination. 

Would I rather seen her endorse Roberts months ago?  Absolutely.  Would Vander Plaats line up closer to her on issues, probably, but I don’t think she’d go for his executive order idea either.  I also believe at this point in the race it would have been better to support Branstad after the primary should he win the nomination.

You also get a sense that Branstad isn’t her ideal candidate by the endorsement itself.

Iowa, your great state’s motto is “Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain.” That motto will be well served by voting for Terry Branstad for governor next Tuesday!

Not very specific, she has been more specific with other endorsements.  I think she made a pragmatic choice to endorse the candidate who may not be the most conservative, but the conservative who, in her opinion (and recent polls suggest), has the best chance to win the primary unseat Chet Culver.  Even if she doesn’t fully agree with him.  Josh Painter points out that she has tended to do that with Governor and Senate races, but has gambled on some Congressional races.

In Congressional races, Gov. Palin can afford to bet on some candidates who face longer odds. In many of these races, there are more than just a single conservative candidate running in each primary, so if a few of her choices should lose, the chances are good that other conservatives will be nominated with as good or better odds of winning in the general election. But there are other variables in her calculations. Take, for example, her endorsement of Vaughn Ward for U.S. Congress in Idaho. Though Raul Labrador is a conservative and is supported by the local tea party there, no way was she going to endorse an immigration lawyer who has represented illegal aliens to help them stay in the U.S. Her political enemies would have used such an endorsement to try to paint her as soft on immigration, so Ward's loss doesn't hurt her as much as an endorsement for a victorious Labrador would have.

So is her political career in shambles?  How many people have said that in the past, but she keeps coming back?  If Branstad wins I doubt this hurts her at all.  While she likely wouldn’t be supported by campaign surrogates, it could win her some favor by those who voted for him.  I also think most people don’t base their choice on who they will vote for President on an endorsement made two years before.  That would be pretty shallow.  Those who are saying they won’t vote for her (if she even runs) because of this, likely weren’t going to vote for her anyway.

But, I think ultimately this endorsement was about seeing Chet Culver get beat not a possible 2012 run.  Otherwise I think she would have been more invested in it.

So while I disagree with this endorsement, I understand it.  Again I would have preferred my candidate got the nod earlier when it would have helped.  I think she should have stayed out of this particular primary since she was endorsing so late

But I’m not going to throw Sarah Palin under the bus because of an endorsement I disagree with.

Shane Vander Hart is the editor of Caffeinated Thoughts and a contributor at The Des Moines Register's From The Right. Feel free to follow Shane on Twitter or friend him on Facebook.

Governor Sarah Palin's Foreword to the 2010 US Tort Liability Index

Conservatives 4 Palin note that Governor Sarah Palin has penned the foreword for the 2010 Report of the U.S. Tort Liability Index. Where does your state rank?

My home state of Alaska offers incredible beauty, amazing wildlife, abundant natural resources, friendly people, and no individual income tax. Alaska also has the best tort climate in the United States according to the U.S. Tort Liability Index: 2010 Report from the Pacific Research Institute (PRI).

In this top-notch report, PRI scholars analyze the costs and risks of each state’s tort system and conclude that Alaska is best overall. The report, now in its third edition, has been influential because the rankings are based on hard data, not opinions or speculation. The data don’t lie and Alaska is number one for good reasons.

Alaska has the second-lowest monetary tort payouts of any state, controlling for the size of each state’s economy. Our tort costs are particularly low for businesses—another reason for entrepreneurs to locate here. We also have some of the lowest medical liability costs in the country. We appreciate doctors in Alaska and welcome them with open arms, not abusive lawsuits.

Alaska also boasts the lowest relative tort litigation risks of any state. The state may abound in moose but it doesn’t have any “judicial hellholes” skewed to personal injury lawyers. The state also doesn’t have huge outlier jury awards. Its tort caseload is third-lowest in the country and it’s not flooded with lawyers. We practice the rule of law, not the rule of lawyers as in other states.

Alaska’s great tort climate is good for business and for all my fellow Alaskans. As the U.S. Tort Liability Index demonstrates, states with sound civil-justice systems and fair tort rules enjoy lower insurance premiums, increased employment and output, and higher individual incomes. A sound civil-justice system also expands the tax base, yields greater innovation, and lowers health care costs while improving access to health care.

Given these sweeping benefits, all states would do well to follow Alaska’s example and enact legal reforms that eliminate lawsuit abuse. The state motto, after all, is “North to the Future.”

Sarah Palin
Eleventh Governor of Alaska

McGinniss compares Palin's tactics to Nazi Germany

The most talked about fence in the country and the author cited as the main cause for the 14 ft. fence that's become known as "The Great Wall" made its way onto NBC's Today Show Tuesday morning.

Joe McGinniss, the controversial author, who has moved next door to the subject of his next expose, Sarah Palin, has many questioning his move. Is it immersive journalism or stalking?

McGinniss, who also gave an interview to the Washington Post’s David Weigel, told Matt Lauer he would live in the house if the Palin's lived on the moon.

McGinniss claimed he needed to be in Wasilla to do his work and that his work is not to be in the house. He said he "couldn't care less about her kids," and was not there to observe the Palins. His goal is to talk to the people who have lived in Wasilla for 40 years, who know the Palin's best and can trace their evolution.

At the very start of the interview, McGinniss got defensive as he attempted to clarify the photo posted by Sarah Palin on her facebook page of McGinniss standing on the deck of his newly rented home in which she questions, "Wonder what kind of material he’ll gather while overlooking Piper’s bedroom, my little garden, and the family’s swimming hole?" McGinniss wanted to clarify that he was not peering in on the children, that he was as far away from the Palin home as he could get (on the other side of the deck), and that he was talking on the cell phone. Matt Lauer pointed out that Palin was probably talking about what McGinniss could do from that deck, not at that particular moment.

McGinniss said his wife will be moving in with him soon and his daughter and three grandchildren will be able to visit and enjoy relaxation while he works.

McGinniss said, "I moved here and didn't tell anybody outside of my family. I wanted to tell the Palins directly, personally, face-to-face, and work out some accomodation with them to live peacefully." But McGinniss added that, "Sarah hysterically puts up this Facebook page." He claimed it was revolting what Palin has caused people to say about him and pointed out the power Palin has to incite hatred and her readiness to do it. He compared the same kind of tactic to that of the Nazi troopers used in Germany in the 30s and said he didn't think there was any place for it in America.

When Lauer asked McGinniss what he would do if the roles were reversed, McGinniss said, "I would go over and shake hands and maybe give her a plate of cookies and say welcome to the neighborhood."

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Read more articles by the National Sarah Palin Examiner at Examiner.com

Shame on You, Joe!!! A Post by Conservative Girl with a Voice

There are a lot of words I could use to describe this character Joe McGinniss, but I have promised myself that I would keep this blog as clean as possible. For those of you out there who don’t know Joe, he is the whacky guy who tried to bid on dinner with the Sarah for the auction she participated in some months back. He also is known to follow the gov around. And if that isn’t enough, now he has moved in right next door to Sarah Palin and her family. Now, usually a new neighbor is welcomed into the neighborhood with open arms and potluck foods or some yummy homemade cookies, but this neighborhood situation is a little bit different. This is because Joe’s latest stunt is penning a book about Governor Palin and her family. This guy is not decent in any sense of the word, and nothing good could come from his writing this book.

This guy is out to target and destroy Sarah, and it seems nothing other than maybe a very high fence can keep him out. I don’t deny that it is this man’s First-Amendment right to write any sort of book he wants to, but did he really have to move right next door to the Palin family to write it? This is not only creepy, but downright outrageous. If I was Sarah or Todd, I would feel very uncomfortable for my children and grandchild to be outside in the backyard with this gentleman living right next door. A family’s home should be a personal castle. This man is acting more like a member of the paparazzi than a friendly neighbor. If this man has any dignity at all, he will respect the Palin family’s privacy, but something tells me this man will not give up until he has the expose he seems so intent on writing. I do not blame Sarah for being upset. I find it hypocritical that members of the loony liberal left are calling her a crybaby, but defend celebrities from the paparazzi. I do not see the difference. Once again, the liberal left have no shred of common decency when it comes to defending Sarah Palin. They are unable to clearly see when a line has been crossed. The Palin family is no different from any other family in that they too deserve their privacy. It would be very wise for Mr. McGinniss if he wised up and realized this. It is clear he has not wised up yet, but maybe he will when hears the construction going on next door with the construction of that huge fence, which I learned Todd just completed. Todd and Sarah, I have a suggestion for you: If it is not too late, paint the side of the fence facing Mr. McGinniss’ house a really ugly shade of chartreuse. That way, he’ll have something to look at and get the welcome he REALLY deserves.

(Click here to visit Conservative Girl with a Voice and become a follower. Follow me on Twitter @rachellefriberg.)

Punishing the Class for a few Bad Apples!

Here we go again. A tragic situation has turned into a politic event. I find it difficult to understand why it has taken so long to stop the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico and why the President feels all Americans should be punished by stopping all drilling offshore. As I pondered the President’s remarks on the BP oil spill yesterday, I decided to take a look at the time line of events since the explosion of the oil rig on April 20.

Detailed time lines can be found here and here. An animated map showing the locations of the oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico for each day since April 25, when the slick was first measured can be found here.

Time line:

April 20: The Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico exploded and caught fire. Of the 126 people on board, 17 were injured and 11 are still missing (presumed dead).2

April 22: The Deepwater Horizon sank.

April 24: Officials discovered that the underwater “riser” structure used to connect the rig to the well was damaged and was leaking oil into the ocean. 2

April 26: Search and rescue operations ended with 11 people still unaccounted for. Officials also stated that it would take months to fix the leak even with the use of “sophisticated” underwater robots. 2

April 28: The United States Coast Guard considered setting fire to the oil in the hope of keeping some of it form reaching sensitive ecological area on the shores of the Gulf. 2

April 29: Officials announced that approximately 5,000 barrels of oil per day was leaking and not the originally estimated 1,000 barrels a day.

April 30: The oil slick was estimated to cover 6,000 square miles.

May 1: A small not for profit group, SkyTruth, analyzed satellite imagery and radar images to estimate that the oil was leaking much faster than the original estimates from the officials.

May 3: BP tried to install a shutoff valve on one o the three leaks underwater but was not successful. 2

May 5: BP stated that they were able to plug one of the leaks.

May 5: Plan to use a containment dome to stop one of the leaks failed.

May 11: Secretary Salazar announced that he will be restructuring the Minerals Managements Service in the hopes of establishing a separate and independent safety and environmental enforcement committee. 1

May12: Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu traveled to Houston to attend meetings with DOE and national lab staff, and others to discuss solutions to cap the leak and contain the spill.

May 14: Pres. Obama announced he had order Sec. Salazar to conduct a “top to bottom” review of the Minerals Management Service. 1

May 15: Sec. Napolitano and Sec. Salazar sent a letter to BP CEO stating the BP is accountable to the American Public for the complete costs of the cleanup of the spill as well as the economic losses related to the oil spill.

May 16: A riser insertion tube tool was inserted into the riser that was leaking. An estimated 2,000 barrels per day were captured by the tool.

May 17: A second drill rig started drilling a second well for relief.

May 19: Sec. Salazar signed an order leading to the fundamental restructuring of the Minerals Management Service. Energy and Environment Subcomittee Chairman Edward Markey asked that BP make public its live video feed of the leak point.

May 20: Sec. Napolitano announced that Coast Guard Adm. Allen would stay as the national incident commander for the Administration’s “continued, coordinated response to the spill” even after he stepped down from his position as Coast Guard Commandant. 1

May 22: Pres. Obama signed an order that established the bipartisan National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling. This new commission will recommend how to prevent and mitigate the impact of any spills in the future. 1

May 23: A containment boom was deployed. Approximately 10.2 million gallons of water-oil mix had been recovered.

May 24: An estimated 65.6 miles of the Louisiana coast had been impacted by the oil. Secretary of Commerce Locke declared a disaster for both commercial and recreational fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico. 1

May 25: BP began the use of “top killing” the leak by filling the leaks with mud.

May 27: Pres. Obama announced that he is extending the moratorium on new deepwater drilling permits and canceled plans for Virginia while stopping drilling in Alaska.

After researching this tragic situation, I found it very frustrating that the government is punishing the rest of the country because the officials at BP did not do their jobs. By stopping current drilling and canceling plans for future leases, Pres. Obama is locking down our chances of economic recovery as well as opening us to being less secure as we buy more and more oil from other countries. Gov. Palin addressed these issued in her Facebook note on May 24:

The Obama administration claims that it “will not rest until we get this situation under control,” but in practice it’s evident that it must do more to stop a potential environmental disaster from happening. U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen probably summed it up best when he described the Obama Administration’s approach to this crisis as “keeping a close watch” while BP is tackling the problem – at the company’s own pace. While the Administration watches from the sidelines, the Gulf Coast states face some potential disaster. This raises serious questions. Should it really take nine whole days before the Administration asked the Department of Defense for help in deploying equipment needed for the extreme depth spill site? Why is Governor Jindal still waiting, 35 days later, for material needed to tackle the oil spill to protect the coast’s environment and for federal approval to build offshore sand barriers to protect his state’s coast line? Is it correct that the Coast Guard was initially unwilling to burn off the oil for fear of causing air pollution (which would have been far less harmful than the current water pollution)?These questions all require answers. In the meantime, let me make a constructive suggestion to help the White House out of its current impasse. They should reach out to the best oil and gas team in the nation and tap into its expertise. I know just the team: Alaska’s Department of Natural Resources, led by Commissioner Tom Irwin. Having worked with Tom and his DNR team as Governor, I can vouch for their expertise and their integrity in dealing with Big Oil and overseeing its developments.

Please visit Gov. Palin’s Facebook page to read her complete statements.

I do believe that Pres. Obama was successful in garnering bipartisan support, but I don’t think he got it in the way he was planning. Sen. Mark Begich spoke with Neil Cavuto on May 27, 2010. Sen. Begich (D-AK) talked adamantly about how Alaska is falling victim to the failures of BP. He criticized the president’s move to restrict drilling in the Arctic. You can watch the video here. Virginia Sen. Mark Warner (D) also stated in an article by MSNBC that he believes the president's annoucement might affect the Commonwealth financially.

Gov. Bob McDonnell (R-VA) and Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA) are also concerned with the economic fallout from Pres. Obama’s decision. Gov. McDonnell issued a statement yesterday:

“The environmental disaster still unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico is unprecedented and devastating. The full attention of the federal government, as well as state and local governments and the private sector companies involved should appropriately be focused on permanently capping this leak and cleaning up the oil that has been spilled. The images from Louisiana and around the Gulf are stunning, and it will take significant time and resources to fully recover from this tragedy. The Commonwealth of Virginia is prepared to assist in those efforts, should our services be required or useful. I have previously called Governor Bobby Jindal to inform him of our willingness to help. He is doing excellent work in leading his state’s response.
Similarly, it will take significant time to fully investigate and evaluate what took place at the Deepwater Horizon rig on April 20th and in the ensuing weeks. This accident must lead to necessary improvements in offshore exploration and drilling technology and safety, and the implementation of new safeguards and regulations moving forward. This process will make it difficult to move forward with the lease sale currently scheduled off the coast of Virginia in 2012. Thus, I understand the decision the President has made today. While I respect his decision, and the need for delay and investigation, I do not believe outright cancellation was the only alternative given the fact that this sale was not due to occur until two years from now, and actual drilling would likely take place years after that. The two-year environmental impact statement already underway would provide ample information about the wisdom of proceeding on to an actual lease sale.”
Read Gov. McDonnell’s complete statement here.

Along the same lines, Congressman Wittman issued a strong statement:

“My visit to the Gulf, and this week’s Natural Resources Committee hearings have made clear to me that the federal government must focus 100% on stopping the Gulf oil spill and cleaning up the impacted coastlines. It is increasingly frustrating that 38 days into this crisis, industry and the federal government have not been able to stop the spill.

The President’s announcement today to significantly curtail further offshore energy production, including canceling a planned lease sale off the coast of Virginia, while well intentioned may set a precedent that weakens our national security and increases our reliance on imported foreign energy.

It is appropriate to carefully review and ensure that offshore energy production is appropriately regulated and conducted in a safe and environmentally sensitive manner. However, it is also critical that we promote responsible American made energy, including oil, natural gas, nuclear, coal, and renewable energy.” Click here to visit Congressman Wittman’s website.

As a concerned citizen, I feel that our government has dropped the ball here. Instead of looking for scapegoats and placing blame, they need to listen to the people with experience to stop this current leak and to continue to drill in a responsible manner.

Gov. Palin was the top executive of the nation’s largest oil producing state and I will trust her when she says in her April 30, 2010 Facebook note:

“All responsible energy development must be accompanied by strict oversight, but even with the strictest oversight in the world, accidents still happen. No human endeavor is ever without risk – whether it’s sending a man to the moon or extracting the necessary resources to fuel our civilization. I repeat the slogan “drill here, drill now” not out of naiveté or disregard for the tragic consequences of oil spills – my family and my state and I know firsthand those consequences. How could I still believe in drilling America’s domestic supply of energy after having seen the devastation of the Exxon-Valdez spill? I continue to believe in it because increased domestic oil production will make us a more secure, prosperous, and peaceful nation.”

On one final note, I give you a time line of a different sort. Below is the time line of posts to twitter by both Gov. Palin and the White House in the days after the explosion in the Gulf.


Tweets from @SarahPalinUSA

May 27 "I never say drill,baby,drill" Ahh, that's much of the problem,Mr.President;Drill ANWR&unlock land for safe onshore devlpmnt/energy security

Passing The Buck Doesn’t “Plug the D#*! Hole” http://fb.me/AO2fPdT2

Deep offshore moratorium? Then correspondingly allow more onshore drilling, incl ANWR reserves. Domestic oil's still required in US industry

Fri, President may put down the golf clubs & fundraiser fork 40 days into Gulf gusher to finally grasp this tragedy?Carville's right on this

May 24 Big Oil: Learning from Alaska’s Experience http://fb.me/yvJYjTA1

May 23 Mr. Gibbs, Obama is the top recipient of BP PAC & individual money over the past 20 years. http://u.nu/5vpia Dispute these facts. 1:10 PM May 23rd via web
Mr. Gibbs, BP gave over $3.5mill to federal candidates over the past 20 years, with with the largest amount going to Obama http://u.nu/5vpia
May 13 Oil spill states:FIGHT that 150-yr-old,irrelevant maritime law thats used as claim to NOT apply remedy to innocent injured people;Alaska did
May 5 Gulf: learn from Alaska's lesson w/foreign oil co's: don't naively trust- VERIFY. Livelihood affected by spill?Don't sign away remedy rights

April 30 Domestic Drilling: Why We Can Still Believe http://fb.me/tgHWkTSB

Having worked/lived thru Exxon oil spill,my family&I understand Gulf residents' fears.Our prayers r w/u.All industry efforts must b employed

April 25 Prayers for everyone impacted by the terrible oil rig disaster off the coast of Louisiana,
especially families of the missing workers.


Tweets from @whitehouse

May 27 Starting soon: Obama speaks to the press on BP & more. http://wh.gov/live (or on your WH iPhone app as always)

On tap: 12:45 Obama speaks to the press at length on BP & other issues. http://wh.gov/live

May 26 Obama heading to Gulf Friday. Latest on Administration-wide response to BP oil spill here: http://bit.ly/9iGNNT

May 22 Weekly Address: Obama names co-chairs of independent oil spill commission, accountability for BP, govt http://bit.ly/9UzIna

May 14 Obama pledges ongoing full response on spill, calls BP/Halliburton finger-pointing "ridiculous spectacle" http://bit.ly/91UnJV

Starting momentarily: Obama gives an update on BP spill response efforts, watch live http://wh.gov/live

May 10 A busy day here, but the President has not taken his eye off the BP spill http://bit.ly/90NYXy

May 5 Detailed, thorough timeline from Day 1: The Ongoing Administration-Wide Response to the BP Oil Spill http://bit.ly/aYOIA3

May 4 "Holding BP Accountable": Pfeiffer posts on ensuring BP pays, WH support for raising damages cap http://bit.ly/dctrx6

May 2 New photo gallery: The President in the Gulf Coast http://bit.ly/9Fwty3

Transcript: Gibbs press briefing on BP oil spill aboard AF1 en route to Louisiana with Obama http://bit.ly/bwRRgb

May 1 Gibbs: Update on response to the BP spill http://bit.ly/ahevm9

April 30 Gibbs post: The Response to the Oil Spill So Far http://tiny.cc/cv46n


There are many who feel Gov. Palin is unintelligent, has no experience, doesn’t know what she is talking about. Well, I disagree. If she were in the White House, she would have responded to this crisis on day one. As you can see by the twitter time line. The current administration was late by 7 days! You be the judge.



Footnotes:
1. http://beforeitsnews.com/news/50/386/Timeline_of_Events_in_BP_Oil_Spill:_Day_by_Day,_April_20_to_May_26.html

2. http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tech-transport/gulfofmexico-oilspill-whatwhenwhere-whatyoucando.html

Sarah Palin in Idaho: "Hold the Media Accountable"

Governor Palin spoke at a campaign rally for Vaughn Ward in Boise, Idaho yesterday.

KTVB.com reports:

Ward introduced Palin on Friday and said and her family arrived on time in
Boise, but unfortunately their bags did not and the rally started about 30
minutes late.

When Palin took the podium, she addressed the setback in a
tie-dyed blue top and a knee-length black skirt.

"We flew through the night and this morning my luggage didn't arrive. So
about an hour ago, I was sitting backstage in sweats and tennis shoes and man,
this is just so me. I'm in borrowed clothes, again... I appreciate the borrowed
clothes though, this is nice," said Palin.

However, Mike Tracy, a spokesperson for Vaughn Ward, says clothes were
purchased for Palin by a volunteer in the amount of $298.50. Tracy says Palin
personally reimbursed the volunteer in that amount.

Her visit drew about 1,500 to the 5,000-seat Qwest Arena comes just five days
before Tuesday's primary and Ward's showdown with rival state Rep. Raul Labrador
for the GOP nomination for Idaho's 1st Congressional District.

Palin's appearance could have a big influence next week and beyond for Ward's
cash-strapped campaign. The winner of Tuesday's primary will take on first-term
Democrat Walt Minnick, who doesn't have a primary challenger and continues to
rake in campaign donations.

Rocky Barker and Katy Moeller from The Idaho Statesman also report:

Idahoans were proud to cling to their guns, religion and protest signs Friday
as they gave native daughter Sarah Palin a star's welcome home.

Palin, who was born in Sandpoint and graduated from the University of Idaho,
came to support Republican Vaughn Ward in his tight primary race with GOP State
Rep. Raul Labrador in the 1st District. But before she spoke, Ward, a former
Boise State Bronco football player, had to say two words: "Go Vandals."

For his efforts, Palin delivered a powerful endorsement, calling Ward "one of
the most promising conservatives" in the nation. She said he's pro-gun,
pro-life, will fight for lower taxes and the free market.

"He's the real deal," Palin said.

Ward's authenticity has been challenged by Labrador after a series of Ward's
campaign missteps, but Palin suggested Labrador's references to Ward's miscues
were negative charges that "really diminish a candidate" for bringing them up.
But she reserved her strongest criticism for the press.

"The left and some of the 'lamestream' media, they can really play dirty
sometimes. Trust me on this one, I know," Palin said.

The former GOP vice presidential candidate told around 1,500 people at Qwest
Arena to "expect more dirt to be slung," and she called on them to "hold the
media accountable when they twist and turn what Vaughn said."

She said the media attacks on conservatives go against what she learned about
journalism as a U of I communications major.

"I think it's appalling," Palin said, "and a violation of our freedom of the
press."

Sarah Palin: America's Duct Tape

I am sure over the next few days there will be far more eloquent and talented authors than myself who will be able to articulate the gargantuan of a canyon our president continues to carve in the middle of America's heartland. What started as a crack has turned into a gorge of division that our nation has not experienced in a long time. Sometimes, a shake up is necessary....this however, is a shakedown.

I was horrified...yes, an appropriate word...to watch today as our president stood shoulder to shoulder with Mexican president Felipe Calderon and effectively became a turncoat against a part of our Union. When did it become acceptable for a president of the United States of America to join another country in tearing down and degrading one of our own member states? It just feels treasonous to me.

It's been debated whether any of the critics of the Arizona immigration law SB1070 have even read it in full. It's only fifteen pages...far less than the two thousand plus of the health reform bill. Why don't some of our elected officials and their paid staff take a minute between tee times and extramarital affairs to find out what the heck is going on in America? I'd love to see a reality show where the citizens of Arizona take a DC hack to the field and let him or her experience the violence and fear of living beneath a reign of terror due to illegal invasions. This is not about preventing some poor Mexicans from working on farms...this is about national security with a gaping border allowing drug cartels and terrorists from other countries free access. Seriously, what is wrong with our president?!

When Governor Palin said, “Politically, if I die, I die,” it was with the understanding that even if she never ran for an office again, it wasn't going to stop her from standing up on her soapbox, wherever it might be stationed. I'm thankful for that and how she has stood up for the state of Arizona and their right to protect themselves, with no apology. She isn't alone. There are many in the same fight for our country, and she is quick to acknowledge them. One thing though that has been distinct in Governor Palin's approach is how she has been a unifier among Americans from all walks of life.

Understand that while Sarah Palin has never backed down from pointing out the wrongs being done by President Obama and his administration, she has also never retreated from associations many, even in her own party, see as pariahs. Folks that are often categorized as rednecks, teabaggers, and Bible thumpers will find a friend in Governor Palin because she sees them as Americans just like any others, not freaks that liberals think necessary to make fun of and rant against. Not stopping there, she has strong supporters across all racial, religious, and social lines...Americans are Americans, and they all deserve Constitutional respect in her eyes.

This is a truth that the left has not figured out. Instead they constantly moan and ask, “Why does anyone listen to her?” Or my all time favorite, “Her kids are just being used as props.” Listen up! As a mother of four, I can tell you it is far easier to leave the kids at home. Far. Easier. Why does she do it? The same reason I drag mine around...I love them, and I want them to experience things they may never get another chance to do.

Anyway, lest even one politician think that these apparently delusional Palin supporters I speak of are far and few between, do allow me to point out that they make up workers from every marketplace and station in life you can name....from Wal-mart cashier to successful business owner to stay at home mom...and they all have votes. They are many. You are few. Don't say you didn't know. Just told ya. Right here.

According to an online dictionary, “Conflation occurs when the identities of two or more individuals, concepts, or places, sharing some characteristics of one another, become confused until there seems to be only a single identity — the differences appear to become lost.” In my opinion, conflation has occurred with the identity of President Obama. He is synonymous with a chisel and hammer, dividing and separating our country into sides so diametrically opposed to one another that it seems nearly impossible to overcome.

But what I can hold onto is that conflation has also occurred with the identity of Governor Palin. She has become synonymous with open arms, the heart of a giant, and the courage to be the mama grizzly that says to us, “Wait a sec, let me eat this intruder, and then we'll move along.” Sarah Palin is not anti-immigrant, anti-people different than herself, or even anti-vegan. What she does promote is national security, common sense, and freedom based on our Constitution. What can possibly be wrong with those things?

I've decided I won't fear President Obama's continual digging at our nation's unity because I will be shovel ready come election time, and as Governor Palin reminds us, “...we know that there is nothing wrong with America, that together we can't fix as Americans.”

Find me on Twitter! @Karen_Allen