Quote of the Day (October 31, 2009)

*
Edisto Joe:

"Anyone who doubts Sarah Palin as an up and coming major player on the political scene better find a doctor for a reality check."

- JP

An All Hallow's Eve of Horrors

TX4P contibutor Ian Ransom has been toiling over the cauldron to brew up a Halloween horror which ought to scare the living nightlights out of us flyover folk. Ian's recipie remains a closely guarded secret, but we suspect that three of the many icky ingredients which went into the steaming stew are Oil of Obama (made from arugula grown in Michelle's White House garden!), Eye of Newt and Brain of Biden.

If this don't creep ya' out pilgrim, then you're just an ol' Limousin liberal. Moo! So lock the doors, grab some garlic and brace yourselves for our fright night delight. Boo!

- JP 



An All Hallow's Eve of Horrors

- By Ian Ransom

Spooks and all things that go bump in the night
have nothing on me, kids, in sheer terms of fright!
One look at my face and you'll turn into stone;
my crone-fangs will gnaw your limbs straight to the bone!

My breath is a venom, my spit is like acid.
My nose is a wart-fest, all drooping and flaccid.
Upon an old dust-mop I fly through the air;
My spellbook of horror? The Bill of Health Care!

My sisters and I shall soon take to the skies.
We'll cackle and swoop as we buzz you like flies!
So make no mistake, we're the worst hags around.
It would take Sarah Palin to shoot us all down!

On Kathleen Sebelius! On vile Maureen Dowd!
On, Maddow and Huffington--witches most proud!
And woe to the poor soul that chances to meet us;
We'll boil him in oil (like we would with a foetus)!

We're a coven of doom, we're a grouping of ghouls.
We're a man-eating gaggle of liberal fools!
Thus travel with care, if you know what I mean,
'cause I'm Nancy Pelosi...and tonight's HALLOWEEN!

- Ian

Sarah Palin: A Time to Unite

On her Facebook Notes page, Sarah Palin has posted her thanks to Dede Scozzafava for suspending her campaign and a call to all who oppose ObamaCare and Cap and Tax to unite behind the candidacy of Doug Hoffman in New York's 23rd Congressional District:

A Time to Unite

I want to personally thank Republican Dede Scozzafava for acting so selflessly today in the NY District 23 race. Now it's time to cross the finish line with Doug Hoffman so that he can get to work for District 23 and the rest of America.

With Congress poised to overhaul one-sixth of our economy with so-called health care "reform" (which is really a government takeover of health care) and with plans to enact a cap-and-tax bill just as our economy struggles to recover, Doug Hoffman will be a voice for fiscal responsibility and common sense in Washington.

We need candidates like Doug now more than ever. In these final days of the campaign, it's vital that Doug continue to receive the enthusiastic support of those who want to bring common sense to Washington. Let’s help make it happen! You can help Doug by visiting his official website today and offering your support:

https://www.doughoffmanforcongress.com/donate3.html/

- Sarah Palin

- JP

Some Helpful Halloween Suggestions

Kids, you're not going to scare anyone tonight by knocking on the door and saying, "Trick or treat." Been there, heard that, ate the leftover candy. Instead, try a different approach. Ring the bell and say, "Hello, I'm from the government, and I'm here to help." Ronald Reagan used to say that strung together in such a fashion, those are the ten scariest words in the English language.

And speaking of English, here's the word on Halloween masks from across the pond:

Over in America, no wonder the PC brigade seek to ban masks. After the liberals pushed the Sarah Palin mask last year, we now see Obama masks as most popular.

[...]

Now, I was looking for Nancy Pelosi masks, but could not find any. Perhaps she is scary enough!

Scary is as scary does...

And speaking of scary, do we ever have a tricky treat for you! Coming up after the sun goes down is the most Teh Awesome YouTube evah embedded on this blog. We don't want to spoil the spookiness, so we'll just tease it by saying it involves our friend and colleague Ian Ransom, the most frighful witch of them all... and some sort'a human body parts. Prepare to be freaked out of your scarin' mind!

- JP

Reaction to Dede's Decision to Exit NY-23 Race

Here is some early reaction to Dede Scozzafava's Saturday announcement that she is suspending her campaign for the U.S. House seat in New York 23rd District:

The Minnesota Independent:

"After seeing high-profile Republicans like Rep. Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin side with her Conservative Party challenger, GOP-endorsed candidate Dede Scozzafava has suspended her campaign to win the special election in New York’s 23rd Congressional District."

Melissa Clouthier:

"Sarah Palin looks amazingly…..smart and prescient."

John Galt:

"This looks like an immense victory for Gov Palin. Go get em Cuda. It looks like the Artic Fox is now the head of the Republican party."

Hillbuzz:

"Big implications for Mitt Romney or Mike Huckabee in 2012…both of whom... are already laying claim to the "it’s my turn" mantle... but it sure feels like Sarah Palin delivered a karate chop to the "it’s their turn" nonsense…quite possibly to benefit herself... If she wants it, this Scozzofava business could help Palin a lot…especially if Hoffman wins."

Michael van der Galien:

"Although Scozzafava was destined [to] lose this race, especially after Gov. Sarah Palin and Gov. Tim Pawlenty endorsed Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman, she could still have been a spoiler for the conservative movement’s favorite."

Kim Priestap: 

"Scozzafava dropped like a rock once Hoffman and his conservative views became more well known. This can be attributed to folks like Sarah Palin and Fred Thompson."

Deadenders:

"Look what we have here, the power of Palin. Citizen Sarah Palin starts a trend."

America's Right:

"If you stand for something, they will come. Sarah Palin bought into this belief, and so she endorsed Hoffman."

Michelle Malkin:

"Hey, GOP elites: Can you hear conservatives NOW?!... Thank you, Sarah Palin."

Mickey McLean:

"After a week where her Conservative Party opponent Doug Hoffman picked up major endorsements from national figures such as Sarah Palin, Fred Thompson, and Tim Pawlenty and with a poll showing her falling hard out of first to third place in the race, Republican Dede Scozzafava has withdrawn from the New York’s 23rd District congressional contest."

HotAirPundit:

"Sarah Palin 1, Newt Gingrich 0"

Left Coast Rebel:

"So it seems that a Hoffman victory is one for conservatives and Sarah Palin. At least according to the grassrootssss."

More quotes to come...

- JP

The Scozzafava Suspension: Winners And Losers

From DBKP:

Who does this benefit?

[...]

Scozzafava supporters were 2-1 Republicans. So that would seem to indicate her dropping out would be a big benefit to Hoffman.

[...]

Who ultimately benefits?

Doug Hoffman should be the major beneficiary of Dede Scozzafava’s announcement.

We’d say one big beneficiary would be Sarah Palin, who jumped in to support Hoffman before supporting Hoffman was cool.

And who are the losers in this latest turn of events?

DBKP has some good arguments. Owens is no longer the beneficiary of a split in the GOP vote. The RNC (and the RCCC) do look somewhat foolish for pouring good money after bad into Scozzafava's campaign.

But from where we sit down here in Texas, which is admittedly far away from NY-23 and the DC Beltway, Newt Gingrich is the biggest loser. His more-elephantine-than-thou remarks dissing Hoffman and Doug's supporters are on the record. This is a big blow to his GOP Elder Statesman persona.

Close behind Gingrich on the losing side of the ledger are Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee. All that fence-sitting has done is to give them a pain in the nether regions. They come off looking indecisive, which is to say not presidential, unless the president happens to be Barack Obama.

Me-Too Update: Newt was against Doug Hoffman before he was for him.

Another Me-Too Update: In the anchor chair for Stacy McCain, who is on assignment in NY-23, Jimmie Bise advises:

"According to Jonathan Martin of The Politico, Mike Huckabee has endorsed Doug Hoffman, too. Expect others to come in for Hoffman, too (**coughRomneycough**), now that the fence on which they were all precariously perched has disappeared out from underneath them."

Jimmie also reports that the National Rifle Association is expected to flip its Scozzafava endorsement to Doug.

- JP

Here's a real game-changer: Dede suspends her campaign!

Sarah Palin, look what you've done! Stacy McCain reports from NY-23:

"Just confirmed that Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava has quit the race."

More from FOX News:

Republican state Assemblywoman Dierdre Scozzafava has suspended her campaign for upstate New York's 23rd Congressional seat, leaving Democratic nominee Bill Owens and Conservative Party nominee Doug Hoffman in the race that will conclude Tuesday, Fox News has confirmed.

The move comes on the heels of a new poll that showed Scozzafava had fallen behind her two competitors in a race too close.

The Siena College poll has Owens picking up 36 percent of the vote, while Hoffman has 35 percent. Scozzafava has 20 percent, with nine percent of voters undecided.

It's a turnaround from the first Siena poll on the race in September, which had Scozzafava leading, followed by Owens and Hoffman.

The special election is Tuesday.

Although Scozzafava did not endorse Hoffman, NRCC spokesman Ken Spain told FOX News that Scozzafava is releasing her supporters to vote for Hoffman.

Now that's what we call a game-changer!

Related: Check out these two tweets from Democrat pollsters PPP:

"With about 200 interviews down we had Hoffman 45 Owens 26 Scozzafava 17...her withdrawal will just make it that much easier for Hoffman"

"Well that wrecks our NY-23 poll. We're finding Hoffman with more support than Owens and Scozzafava combined...explains the withdrawal"

- JP

Some Advice for Levi Johnston: Shut the Hell Up and Act Like a Father

- By Thomas Lamb

Back in August I stated:

The person who knows who started the rumor, their name has been sent to Outside sources.

And with Levi stating he doesn't have much information about the divorce, it clearly shows he is getting lawyer advice on backing off on what was told to him.

So where does that leave Levi? Out in the cold when it comes to a possible custody battle.

One question remains, is Rex Butler leading the charge on a possible custody battle between Bristol and Levi?

We shall see.

But some advice for Levi, make as much money as you can get, because if you keep doing the trashy talk show circuit and continue to disparage your son's family, you will need it to pay the child support.

It's that simple.

This kid is definately getting bad advice, and where in the hell is Levi's father?

Today, Levi gave another interview to the Guardian with the following sensational lede:

Relations between the former US vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin and Levi Johnston, the teenager who almost became her son-in-law, have deteriorated to the point that a court battle is now inevitable, he has told the Guardian.

The dispute is over Tripp, his infant son by Palin's eldest daughter, Bristol: he claims Palin is preventing him from seeing the child.

"I'm up to the point where I can't see my kid again. I'm done. I'm sure we'll end up in court. We're definitely going to court," Johnston, 19, said in an interview in Anchorage, Alaska's largest city.

Some words of advice to Levi, get a new lawyer because you are going to need it.

Knowing Alaska family law extensively, the kid will get his butt handed to him on a platter if certain Judges are assigned.

There are good ones and there are bad ones. And if he get's a good one, then he's a gone'r.

But I don't think the kid really cares. A good lawyer would have told him to pay his child support and act like a good father,  not disparge the family.

Now given Levi has Rex Butler as cousel, and they have been on a whirlwind-disparge-the-family-tour, child custody is not the goal here.

My bet is it's just a ploy to keep his 15 minutes of fame alive and put the Palin family in a bad light. And a good Judge will ask Butler how does he think he has represented his client well.

Or is he using the court to push their 15 minutes of fame?

In the end, will Levi have a case of legal malpractice against Butler? After all, a good lawyer would have told Levi to shut the hell up and try to act like a father.

For Levi, it's too late to play the custody battle. He has opened his mouth too many times, and he comes across as a liar.

- Tom

Quote of the Day (October 30, 2009)

*
John Hawkins:

"Levi Johnston is trash because he’s behaving like a combination of Kato Kaelin and Joey Buttafuoco."

- JP

Sarah Palin: GOP health care reform proposal a "game changer"

Posting again on her Facebook Notes page, Sarah Palin promoted the GOP's health care reform plan as a "game changer" which offers "common sense solutions." The former Alaska governor advised her more than 955,000 Facebook followers to tune in to House Republican Leader John Boehner's weekly Republican address to the nation:

"Rep. Boehner will highlight a common sense alternative to Speaker Pelosi's 1,990-page government takeover of health care. I urge you to watch for it. For a preview, go to: http://www.gop.gov/solutions/healthcare.gov."

"You'll hear solutions. You'll hear of real choices based on America's proven free-market principles. You'll know once and for all what the GOP and Independents have been saying all along about alternatives to another big government take over. After tomorrow, you'll know that accusations against the GOP and Independents for not providing solutions are false. Those claims are bogus. There are alternatives."

Sarah Palin's full op-ed is here.

By endorsing Doug Hoffman, the Republican Party's 2008 vice presidential candidate sent a message to the GOP that when they don’t act like the party of Reagan, she will oppose them. With this Facebook op-ed, she is demonstrating to them that when they do the right thing, she will support them. Also significant, as Moe Lane points out:

"...if you were holding out hope that former Governor Palin was going to play third-party advocate… you might as well stop. This is her way of saying that NY-23 is a special case, not a general one; and that she’s still in, and in with, the GOP."

Sorry Glenn Beck, but as we said, you're wrong on this one.

If not absolutely brilliant, you have to admit that this is very, very clever. Sarah's nicknames -- Sarahcuda and Mama Bear -- are well-known, but lately and for good reason, she is becoming known as The Arctic Fox.

Update: Rep. Boehner's Weekly Republican Address is here,

- JP

Sarah Palin Was Right #18: Iran and the Alaska Missile Shield

- by upinak

When Obama stands there with his feeble limp-wristed style to swoon the stupid liberals into believing all is good and no harm will come to them. It makes one wonder about the safety for the country as well as question when Obama is actually going to do anything about the troops in Afghanistan.

Iran has made it clear to the world that it will not abide by the sanctions that were put in place to make it “safe” for what they are doing with the yellow cake uranium. They are going their own way regardless. The mullahs have not cooperated with this nation, and Cheney and Joint Chiefs predicted that it was never going to happen. And Obama just sits there looking like the schoolyard mama's boy being pushed around by the bully.

But here is a new shocker. I have pointed out that Alaska has a missile shield for the United States which would protect the West Coast and the Eastern Seaboard in some cases as Alaska's location in the hemisphere the ability of the the 49th Missile Defense Battalion to react quickly argue strongly for the US. to expand and strengthen its missile defense capabilities. Indeed, recently in the news it has come to light that there is a new measure on the table to complete the missile defense system at Ft. Greely but only subject to a bizarre condition:

Sen. Mark Begich, a Democrat, appealed to the Senate Armed Services Committee in June to maintain money to expand the ground-based missile defense system, saying it's not just about North Korea but also about shooting down missiles launched by Iran. In a news release Tuesday, Begich said the plan is "a welcome decision that will decrease the risk of the ever-evolving ballistic missile threats from rogue nations by increasing capacity required to defend the United States."

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican, was less enthusiastic about the decision in an e-mailed statement to the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, noting that the completion of Missile Field 2 comes with plans to decommission another missile field at the base, about 100 miles south of Fairbanks. "I remain unconvinced that abandonment of the Bush administration's plan, previously supported by Secretary Gates, is the right thing to do from a national security perspective," Murkowski said.

So we can have all the missiles that were slated for our protection under the Bush administration for overall protection, but we have to dismantle Missile Field 1, fund get the missiles for Missile Field 2 at Greely. Does anyone else think this sound like a self-defeating proposition? Especially since the Missile Field 1 only became fully operational in 2003/2004! Why does the Washington establishment want to waste the taxpayers' hard-earned money in such a cavalier manner?

Sarah Palin, you were right. It is America's misfortune that it has come to this.

- u

That's not Maggie's job

On NRO's Media Blog, Tim Graham says CBS morning anchor Maggie Rodriguez is "a liitle sloppy" in her rationalization of promoting Levi Johson so he can spew his wild accusations about Sarah Palin on that network. Rodriguez says The Early Show "offered a dozen times to interview Sarah Palin, but she has declined each of those requests."

Graham says that this is the journalistic equivalent of the old Tom Lehrer song:

"Once the rockets go up,
who cares where they come down?
That’s not my department,
said Wernher von Braun."

- JP

Iowa: The final Solution

Shane Vander Hart bottom-lines it nicely:

"She’s not coming, but would like to in the future. She’d also come for free."

The Caffeinated Thoughts blogger also links to an excellent take-down of Politico smear artist Jonathan Martin. Turns out that most of Martin's sources in Iowa he tapped for quotes to juice up his smear have Romney connections. Shane notes that this is entirely by coincidence, but he didn't use a /sarc tag. Also, we can't see if he is rolling on the floor, laughing his rear end off and scaring the cat. 

- JP

More Quote of the Day Honorable Mentions, Part 4

Even more great quotes...

James Lewis:

"Tell them we are going to elect Sarah Palin President -- because she scares the pants off those people. Don't ask me why. Maybe it's that big moose gun she has. Maybe it's her cheerleader personality. Maybe it's her good looks. Maybe it's her Reaganite sense of moral conviction. She just scares them silly. So tell them their worst nightmare is going to come true, and then make it so."

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

"When Sarah Palin's memoir hits store shelves next month, it will be at the crux of forces and trends, both short- and long-term, shaping the future of the business of books."

Bob Beers:

"Every rumor the left put forth vanished in a puff of hyperbole. Palin’s own record... proves that she is not interested in spending taxpayers’ money on frivolous wastes... Her replacement seems to be doing just fine, thank you. It seems the only ones really upset about her departure are the liberals because they no longer have Sarah Palin as a hot button target to snipe at."

Joel Johannesen:

"Once again, a huge poll shows that most Americans are 'conservative' — doubling the number of 'liberals'. And this explains why when the Republican Party runs an actual conservative like Ronald Reagan, they win elections with good margins. And why Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck and Ann Coulter are the ones who are constantly exciting the conservative movement. And it’s why the Bob Doles and the John McCains lose elections."

IMAO:

"In case you didn’t know, Sarah Palin’s book Going Rogue: An American Life is only $9.00 to preorder at Amazon. So if you like Palin, you can go ahead and order a copy. Just be forewarned, I hear it was ghostwritten by a domestic terrorist."

William Kristol:

"It's unlikely that the minority party in Congress will be the source of bold new conservative leadership over the next three years... The center of gravity, I suspect, will instead lie with individuals such as Palin and Huckabee and Gingrich, media personalities like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh, and activists at town halls and tea parties. Some will lament this -- but over the past year, as those voices have dominated, conservatism has done pretty well in the body politic, and Republicans have narrowed the gap with Democrats in test ballots."

The Irritable Pundit:

"Never has a name stirred up so much angst among the left. Andrew Sullivan, the celebrated and slightly mad blogger is a perfect example. Insistent that Trig is actually Sarah's daughter's child to the point of publishing innumerable screeds... more than any self-professed gay man should. I originally ascribed it to standard leftist politics and an unhealthy dose of hate, self and otherwise. Now however, it is seems more likely to be liberal womb-envy."

Cosmopolitan Conservative:

"Schafly and Beverly LaHaye are the primary parties responsible for stopping the ERA, but Palin is the one who exposed the hypocrisy of the women’s movement. Mention any of those names, and feminists do an Exorcist-type head roll. Many times you can see the steam coming out of their ears."

Keith Burgess-Jackson:

"Palin wasn't attacked because she's a conservative; she was attacked because she's a female conservative. [Clarence] Thomas wasn't attacked because he's a conservative; he was attacked because he's a black conservative. Progressives believe that women and blacks are too stupid to think for themselves. How else to explain the viciousness of their attacks?"

Jessica Wakeman:

"The only thing Levi probably isn’t full of hooey about? 'I’m sure [Sarah’s] got something coming for me,' he ominously predicts. Probably! Sucks to be you, dude."

Melissa Clouthier:

"Sarah Palin can learn, grow, speak, hone her message and demonstrate qualifications over time. The other candidates have a much tougher time with demonstrating that they care for the people. It might take getting personality transplants..."

Another Black Conservative:

"It is interesting to see Palin express support Christie considering he was kind of evasive about have her stump for him. That being said, Sarah did a better job explaining why one should vote for Christie than Christie does himself."

Yael T. Abouhalkah:

"Sarah Palin has struck it rich with her memoir, Going Rogue, and she's going to deserve every penny she gets when it's published next month. And that starts with her stunning $1.25 million advance for writing the book for HarperCollins."

Nikitas3:

"Sarah Palin is easily one of the most famous and engaging political figures of our time. She is young and is going to be around for a long time. And with disenchantment with Obama setting in among independent voters and even among many Democrats, leftist[s] fear that this fascinating and very successful American woman is going to steal the political show... In fact it already is happening."

C. Edmund Wright:

"From the 'backwater' town of Wasilla, the naïve hockey-mom moose-huntress simply 'Facebooked' a few thoughts into her device of choice and damned if those words didn't bounce off a satellite and land squarely in the middle of New York state politics... And from the glass towers of Manhattan to the stately low-rise buildings of Washington, self-important media pundits and Republican Party hacks are once again slow to realize that they have been outmaneuvered, out-finessed, and outsmarted by their favorite target of derision, Sarah Palin. I wonder if David Brooks has quit staring at the crease in Obama's pants long enough to notice."

- JP

Quote of the Day (October 29, 2009)

*
C. Brooks Kurtz:

"Gov. Palin, who herself is turning into a de facto kingmaker for Conservatives, seems to understand with organic fluidity what very, very smart politicians like Newt Gingrich do not: the era of the RINO has come and gone, and the Era of Choosing Sides has begun."

- JP

Beck thinks Sarah is preparing for 3rd party run

Glenn Beck told Bill O'Reilly on The Factor that he thinks Sarah Palin is gearing up for a third party run:



We don't think so. We think she wants to take the party back from the Vichy Republicans just like Ronald Reagan did 30 years ago (Back then they were called Rockerfeller Republicans). Of course, returning the GOP to its Reagan roots and making it actually live by the principles spelled out in its platform depends on the Republicans inside the Beltway getting a clue, and so far they are clueless. Time will tell.

h/t: Freedom's Lighthouse

- JP

Miracle on 23rd Street

Don Surber, citing the latest NY-23 poll:

Markos Moulitsas — Kos — backed Scozzafava in this race. She is down 9 points in his poll since then.

Sarah Palin backed Hoffman. He is up 9 points since then.

Who is the fool now, fool? Barack Obama carried this district.

Meanwhile the latest hatching at Big Lizards:

Evidence is mounting (a favorite liberal-stream media word) that far from making a "blunder," Sarah Palin had her finger on the crystal ball: Hoffman looks like a winner now, and Palin was the first Republican heavy-hitter to come out for him.

The Lizards acknowledge that Fred Thompson endorsed Hoffman before Palin did, but point out that Fred, much as well all love the big lug, does not represent the GOP's future. We were Frederalists back when the man who portrayed Rear Admiral Joshua Painter in a submarine movie you may have seen, but we have to agree that Fred is not likely to make any more runs for the White House. Still, we can see him cast in the role of mentor and Chief of Staff in some future administration... 

- JP

Sticking with Sarah

Corrie MacLaggan, on Postcards, the American-Stateman blog, reports on an interview Gov. Rick Perry sat down for at Austin FM station KVET. Our guv talked about his RGA colleague Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, who was due in Texas today to endorse Perry in his re-election bid. But wait, there's more:

"And when Perry was asked whether he’d rather have Sarah Palin or Dick Cheney endorsing him (Cheney is supporting his GOP primary opponent Kay Bailey Hutchison; Palin’s backing Perry), the governor responded: 'I think I’d stick with Sarah.'"

We're sticking with Sarah too, Governor. 

Update: According to Wayne Slater, posting on the Trailblazers blog at the Dallas Morning News, Governor Perry has endorsed Doug Hoffman in NY-23. We can just picture Sarah Palin quoting him the old Bruce Willis "Die Hard" line: "Welcome to the party, pal."

h/t: C4P

- JP

You do the math...

We have already written about this here, but Patrick S. Adams has posted such a clear, common sense explanation of why Sarah Palin resigned when she did, that we decided to revisit the topic, with Patrick's help. This excerpt is from his blog Liberty's Lamp:

It seems the less intellectually curious among us have taken Sarah Palin's resignation as governor of Alaska at face value. They think she quit. But when you dig a little deeper, it becomes more and more apparent that her resignation was probably the most crucial career saving decision of her life. This blogger has now come to accept that Sarah Palin's resignation was a brilliant and fantastic move.

Had Palin stayed on as governor, she would have just spiraled deeper and deeper into debt as the concerted smear campaign against her continued to pile on frivolous ethics complaint after frivolous ethics complaint. She did the math and realized that if she was ever going to be able to participate in leading a nation back to its greatness, she would not be able to do it from the poor house.

Palin could have served two terms as Alaska governor and ended up broke, disillusioned and politically devastated. Any attempts at reaching a national audience would have been viewed with contempt by local detractors and would have resulted in more ethics complaints. Without the ability to speak to the masses of those who yearn for her to take the reigns of the disaster we now call "the federal government," Palin was a lame duck governor in terms of national politics the minute she returned to Anchorage after the 2008 presidential campaign.

And on top of that, she was going broke.

When Sarah Palin sat down and figured out the finances, she realized that $125,000 a year minus $600,000 plus whatever other ethics violations were in the works means that she will end up with a net loss of at least $475,000. That's some fine reward for a great governor isn't it? And that's low balling it.

Since her resignation, here is the cocktail napkin explanation I've been giving to everyone who argues with me or simply asks me about her resignation:

Pro rate it like this:
4 years as Governor $500,000
Current ethics costs -$600,000
Projected new ethics costs -$400,000

Profit/Loss -$500,000

Then take into consideration the hits on her children.
Palin's choice: be Governor of Alaska and run up over $1 million in legal fees while having her children abused ruthlessly in the press or resign and make more than enough money on a book to pay back her debt and embark on a career as a private citizen political activist that would allow her to never quit on the real thing she's after: seeing our country return to greatness again.

You do the math. If you were her, wouldn't you quit, too?

Bravo Zulu, Patrick.

- JP

Here comes another Palin book

Actually, we suspect that this one will be more of a Hillary Clinton book, since author Anne Kornblut covered Hill's presidential campaign for over two and a half years for the Washington Post. We don't know how much space her tome will devote to Sarah Palin, because publisher Random House (via its Crown imprint) has released nary a blurb nor other information about Notes from the Cracked Ceiling: Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin, and What It Will Take for a Woman to Win. We find it interesting that Crown was the publisher of both of the books that were supposedly written by Barack Obama. (That's right, liberals. Open a can of worms, and you're sure to get some on you.) 

According to Greta Van Susteren, Kornblut's book will to some degree deal with the media's coverage of both women candidates during the 2008 campaign. A tip of the Stetson to Greta for that morsel of information and the preview of the cover. Cracked Ceiling, scheduled for release December 29, 2009 (just after the Christmas shopping season!) is available for pre-order here.

- JP

Reaction to Sarah Palin's Doug Hoffman endorsement, Part 5

And the quotes just keep on a-comin'...

Doug Patton:

"Naturally most true conservatives are lining up to support Hoffman, the nominee of New York’s Conservative Party. Former Alaska Gov. Sara Palin, arguably our most reliable political compass at the moment, has enthusiastically endorsed him."

Maggie Thornton:

"Palin's endorsement of Doug Hoffman in New York's 23 Congressional District is driving the old boys crazy."

Chris Cillizza:

"Hoffman's ability to stay competitive financially... and high-profile endorsements from the likes of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty among others has turned Hoffman from a fringe third-party candidate into a potential winner."

Logistics Monster:

"Tim Pawlenty is now endorsing Doug Hoffman in the special race in NY-23. Once again, Sarah is leading and Pawlenty is trying very hard not to look like he is following."

Patrick J. Buchanan:

"'Sometimes party loyalty asks too much,' said JFK. For Sarah Palin, party loyalty in New York’s 23rd congressional district asks too much. Going rogue, Palin endorsed Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman over Republican Dede Scozzafava."

Yael T. Abouhalkah:

"This is a high-profile bid by Palin to test her coattails in a U.S. congressional race."

Gary P. Jackson:

"Sarah wasn’t the first heavy hitter to come in and help Hoffman. Dick Armey and his Club For Growth were early supporters followed by Fred and Jeri Thompson. Sarah was the first person, however, to really stake her reputation on Doug Hoffman. Sarah was the first person considered a front runner in 2012 to lay it on the line."

Alan Orfi:

"An upset victory by Doug Hoffman would send huge reverberations to the Republican establishment... Genuine conservatives such as Sarah Palin and the host of conservative commentators who had the courage to stand up for Hoffman will have taken a huge step forward in reclaiming their party."

James Taranto:

"Establishment Republicans like Newt Gingrich lined up behind Scozzafava, while conservatives like Sarah Palin endorsed Hoffman."

Investors.com:

"Sarah Palin? But isn't that the kiss of death in a northeastern liberal state? This is clearly the thinking of those 11 local party bosses who chose Scozzafava, but with Hoffman having surged into the lead in late October, the voters seem to think otherwise."

- JP

Grant Ellis: Mitt Romney Votes "Present" in NY-23

On the American Thinker Blog, Grant Ellis' post is quite succinct regarding Mitt Romney's decision not to make any endorsement at all in the NY-23 race:

What does this say about Mitt? When balanced against Sarah Palin's political courage, it seems telling. Sarah is a political alpha, a leader for the future. Mitt... is almost certainly not.

You have to look no further to see why conservatives are so passionate about their support for Palin.

[...]

Regardless of the outcome of NY23, Palin wins. She drives debate. She leads.

Read the full Ellis post here.

- JP

Prevaricating Politico Piece Pummels Palin (Updated)

The Palin-hatin' media just keeps pouring it on Sarah Palin. The latest example is Politico's distortion of a report that a pro-family group wants to bring her to Iowa. The Iowa Family Policy Center has asked Team Sarah, which has no formal ties to the former governor, to help it raise $100,000 to stage an event on November 21 for which the organization hopes to book Palin to be the speaker. Team Sarah's Bill Collier says that IFPC has already raised $59,000 for the event, and his group is trying to raise another $41,000.

The headline for the Politico piece -- "Sarah Palin's $100K speaking fee has Iowa Republicans wincing" -- gives the impression that the money Team Sarah and IFPC are trying to raise is needed to pay the 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate's speaker fees, and the lede is likewise designed to paint Palin as a mercenary of the speakers circuit:

A conservative Iowa group’s effort to lure Sarah Palin to its banquet next month has had an unintended effect: Rather than exciting conservatives about the prospect of a visit from the former Alaska governor, the group’s plan to raise a six-figure sum to bring her to the state has GOP activists recoiling at the thought of paying to land a politician's speaking appearance.

The Iowa Family Policy Center’s effort to cobble together $100,000 for Palin would represent a striking departure from customary practice in the first-in-the-nation state, these Republicans say, noting that a generation of White House hopefuls has paid their own way to boost their party and presidential ambitions.

Were Palin to appear in Iowa on November 21st, it would mark her first trip back to the state since she spoke to a handful of rallies there last fall as the GOP’s vice-presidential nominee. She would offer powerful counter-programming to another major political event that night: The Iowa Democratic Party’s Jefferson-Jackson Dinner with Vice-President Joe Biden as the headliner.

But representatives from other Iowa-based political advocacy groups said they would never consider shelling out money for what many politicians see as a privilege: the opportunity to speak to a room full of sure-fire caucus-goers who often serve as precinct captains and can be instrumental to a presidential candidate’s success.

Jonathan Martin, who wrote the hit piece, then goes on to quote a number of Iowa advocacy group leaders who say that they have never had to pay politicians to attend their events, and they are not about to start now.

There's just one problem with this piece of Politico prevarication. The money the two groups are hoping to raise is not necessarily earmarked to pay Sarah Palin to speak. Major events -- and IFPC says this will be a major event even bigger than the banquet in Indiana where Palin delivered a pro-life manifesto of a keynote speech -- require large venues which can seat thousands of people. Such venues have to be rented, and they don't come cheap. In addition, these events have to have security which is usually provided by hiring off-duty police officers. Other workers have to be contracted to take tickets, run the lighting and sound systems and clean up after the event. Then there are promotional costs for local media buys, printing flyers and the like. Such an event as being proposed by IFPC can easily cost $100,000 or more just to stage, exclusive of any speakers fees which the intended speaker may or may not charge.

And indeed, one has to read all the to the sixteenth paragraph to learn that IFPC spokesman Bryan English told Martin that the effort to raise money was only to secure a venue, pay for lighting and promote the event and that English was "not personally aware of a speaker’s fee." And it's not until the twenty-fourth paragraph that Martin admits:

"There is no indication that the former governor has requested a fee or that her decision whether to attend is being influenced by whether she’ll be paid."

False? Misleading? Distorted? Deceptive? Biased? Anti-Palin? You betcha! That's Jonathan Martin. That's Politico. That's reprehensible. Why is Sarah Pain the only political figure Politico goes out of its way to treat in this manner?

First Update: You just know how deceptive Jonathan Martin's hit piece is when liberal Newsweek feels the need to call him out on it! To Holly Berry's credit, she posted on that magazine's blog The Gaggle:

The Palin camp tells NEWSWEEK there's no fee. Meg Stapleton, Palin's spokeswoman, tells your Gaggler that Palin "has not requested anything" and that she "does not charge people to campaign for them." According to Stapleton, Palin would instead cover such travel costs through her political-action committee, SarahPAC. Of course, that doesn't mean she's going to Iowa. Palin's book, Going Rogue, is due out Nov. 17, and she's got a major publicity tour planned around that, including a Nov. 16 appearance on Oprah.

Berry says Stapleton also told her that the Iowa group "has been told that through formal and informal channels."

Second Update: Allah, who saw right through the deception like we did, links to us (Dude! A of tip the Stetson to Hot Air) and comments:

"...note how long it takes [Politico] to mention that (a) Palin hasn’t demanded a fee, (b) Palin hasn’t done anything to suggest to the group that she’s interested in attending, and (c) the group itself says it’s raising money only to pay for a large venue in case she does decide to show."

We really didn't think any Palin faithful would be gullible enough to fall for Martin's deception, and we were right. A few fair weather friends of Sarah bought it hook, line and sinker. But none of the faithful did. Rick Perry said today that given his choice of having the support of Sarah Palin or Dick Cheney, he would "stick with Sarah." Sarah Palin's rainy day friends are sticking with her and still standing by her side.

- JP

Quote of the Day (October 28, 2009)

Cosmic Conservative:

"So, Sarah Palin is willing to appear on Oprah, but Obama is afraid to appear on Fox News, and Sarah Palin is supposed to be the 'unserious' one?"

- JP

Brennan: Palin will rally voters around the GOP banner

Since election day nearly a year ago, the left and its media attack dogs have been pushing a meme which began as a DNC talking point: Sarah Palin is a "divisive" political figure. Not so, says Phil Brennan:

It's apparent to me that Sarah Palin understands the pressing need for a unifying factor that will rally the voters around the Republican banner rather than around individual candidates. And I further believe that she recognizes that she herself is that unifying factor.

After all, it not her personal charm or her beauty, or her outspokenness that attracts large numbers of Americans. It is instead that the American people recognize her as unashamedly one of their number.

She's the woman next door, the one you meet at the grocery counter, an outgoing friendly neighbor whose head is screwed on straight and who views the world around her much in the way we ordinary folks do. It’s called common sense, unfortunately uncommon in the public square.

That, however, is not how the almost universally liberal media sees her.

To them she is a threat that must be faced and eliminated.

Brennan says former Governor Palin's role in the 2010 elections will be a sign of things to come.

- JP

And the Dude of the Week is... Sarah Palin?

Blogger Angry White Dude has rolled out a new award to be presented by his website:

I’m happy to announce Sarah Palin as the inaugural Dude of the Week! I know what you’re thinking….Sarah Palin’s a curvy womern! How can she be a dude? The answer is because she’s tougher than any of the other Republicans on the national scene! Last week, Sarah threw sand in the face of the wussypants Republican elite, gave the half-a-sissies a slap and endorsed conservative Doug Hoffman in the 23rd District of New Yawk...

[...]

Sarah Palin has a great gift. She has her finger on the pulse of what the regular guy citizen is thinking and she acts accordingly. She has fired a shot across the bow of the USS RINO stating what many of us are saying in our tea party groups….we will no longer blindly vote for RINOs just because they have a R after their name. We are many, growing and organizing and there is going to be a war between conservatives and the RINO establishment like Newt Gingrich, Michael Steele, John Boehner, Pete Sessions and Mitch McConnell.... 

[...]

In AWD’s home state of North Carolina we have an acronym that describes Sarah Palin. P-L-U….people like us. That’s what Sarah Palin is…PLU. She is also the Dude of the Week! Preach on, Sarah, preach on!

Amen, brother, amen.

- JP

Sarah Palin responds to Levi's lies; slaps CBS

It appears that the Palins have run out of patience with Levi Johnston's antics:

Levi Johnston repeated on CBS' "The Early Show" on Wednesday his assertion that Sarah Palin called her son Trig "retarded," prompting a firm rebuke from the former Alaska governor.

Mr. Johnston initially claimed in a Vanity Fair tell-all that Mrs. Palin had called her son, who has Down syndrome, "retarded," about which he reminded "The Early Show" co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez.

"I think the biggest hit we’ve had on, like, the Vanity Fair, you know, people really look on, is when she called her kid retarded," he said. "I mean, I've got a lot of people talking about that."

Sarah Palin responded to Levi's loose lips Wednesday afternoon, issuing the following statement through her personal spokesperson Meg Stapleton:

"We have purposefully ignored the mean-spirited, malicious and untrue attacks on our family. We, like many, are appalled at the inflammatory statements being made or implied. Trig is our 'blessed little angel' who knows it and is lovingly called that every day of his life. Even the thought that anyone would refer to Trig by any disparaging name is sickening and sad. CBS should be ashamed for continually providing a forum to propagate lies. Consider the source of the most recent attention-getting lies -- those who would sell their body for money reflect a desperate need for attention and are likely to say and do anything for even more attention."

The former governor's reference to "those who would sell their body for money" clearly refers to Levi's deal to pose nude for Playgirl magazine. But Johnston told the "Early Show" that his photo spread would be done "tastefully," so that makes it okay, right? Anyway, that's what he can tell his son in a dozen years or so after the boy gets teased and bullied at school because his dad posed in the buff for a magazine read mostly by gay males. Rather, that's what he can tell his son if the Palins ever let him get near their grandson again.

Update: Geraghty - "Man With Limited Career Options Threatens Mutually Assured Destruction"

- JP

Boo! Afraid much?

Anyone who thinks the left isn't skivvies-soiling scared of Sarah Palin should read this e-mail from MoveOn.org:

Warning: A bizarre House race in upstate New York could end up giving a big national boost to Sarah Palin and the far right, and endangering health care reform in the House.

Here’s how: In a three-way race, Doug Hoffman, a right-wing third party candidate, has gotten Sarah Palin’s endorsement and become a cause célèbre for the far-right fringe. They think the Republican nominee is too liberal because she’s pro-choice and supports gay marriage…

If Hoffman wins, teabaggers and hate groups will have their own representative in Congress.

Given the origin of the e-mail, we have to consult the Moonbat-to-Plain-English Dictionary...

"right-wing": anyone more conservative than Arlen Specter
"far-right fringe": anyone more conservative than Olympia Snowe
"pro-choice": supporting death by mutilation of tiny, innocent and helpless infants
"hate groups": any organization more conservative than the DNC 

Update: Read Stacy McCain's take at The American Spectator:

"Panicky liberals -- the kind of free publicity money can't buy..."

- JP

Nearly forgotten Palin e-mail hacker case delayed again

Does anyone remember the son of a Democrat state representative from Memphis who allegedly hacked into Sarah Palin's e-mail account while she was still governor of Alaska? David Kernell's lawyers are hoping that most people will have forgotten about the crime by the time the defendant's legal team runs out of motions to file as they pursue a strategy of seemingly endless delays. Kernell's trial, which was set to start yesterday, has been moved back another six months to April 20 2010, barring any additional delays.

Kernell was charged with not only hacking into Palin's personal e-mail account, but also with posting some of her private emails and family photos on the 4chan Web site during the 2008 presidential campaign. He was arrested a few weeks later on felony hacking charges.

The hacking of Sarah Palin's e-mail account, much like the torching of her church, is something the Democrat-Media Complex could not care less about. Put the shoe on the other foot for a few minutes, and try to imagine the outrage in the Obamunist lapdog media had Barack Obama's e-mail been hacked by the son of a Republican politician. Then we would have seen some coverage!

Keith Olbermann would be ranting nightly to the tune of something like, "Will justice never be served, sir?" Chris Matthews would no doubt have felt a chill running up his leg due to the vile perniciousness of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy seeking to deny Obama his privacy, which Rachel Maddow would have assured us is a right, much like abortion, which is granted by the constitution. And that's just at one minor, low-rated network. Multiply all the outrage by the number of fiercely loyal Obamunist media outlets, and you would have a cry heard around the world -- night and day, every day.

- JP

Malek's List

Inspired by Chris Cillizza's recent Top Ten List of the most influential Republican leaders, heavyweight GOP insider Fred Malek made a list of his own.

Malek's list -- titled "10 Republican Leaders Who Could Be President" -- differs from Cillizza's in that the former Deputy Director of OMB in the Nixon White House wanted to identify "those less visible figures who will emerge over the next five to ten years as leaders in the House, Senate, state capitols, and Presidential primaries." Malek's list grew from ten to thirteen, and most of the people on it are under age 50, though a few are just page that age.

Only two names appear on both lists -- Bob McDonnell and Sarah Palin. Of former Governor Palin, Malek had this to say:

"Charismatic, effective, and beloved by so many in the Republican Party. Since I know her reasonably well and like her a lot, people always ask me about her future plans. The answer is I have no idea, and my sense is she hasn’t ruled anything out and is truly undecided. Maybe her book next month will provide some clues."

Palin, along with Marco Rubio and Jon Huntsman, are on Malek's list, but they are not ranked, he says, because "I’m not sure where or how to place them."

- JP

Team Sarah wants to help pro-family group bring Palin to Iowa

CNN's Political Ticker blog is reporting that Team Sarah has launched an effort to raise $41,000 to help pay for a possible appearance by Sarah Palin next month before an influential pro-family organization in Iowa:

Team Sarah, which has no formal ties to Palin, sent a fundraising appeal to supporters Tuesday afternoon asking them to contribute on behalf of Iowa Family Policy Center Action, which is trying to book Palin for a speech on Nov. 21. Bill Collier of Team Sarah said that IFPC Action has already raised $59,000 for the event.

"As you know, we at Team Sarah have supported efforts to raise money for Sarah Palin's PAC and for the Legal Defense Fund, but this effort will actually help her and her family directly and enable her to have resources she directly controls to take care of all the things she needs to do as she launches her national effort to restore the core values of our Conservative movement," Collier wrote in the fundraising pitch obtained by CNN.

If Palin agrees to attend the event, it would be her first appearance in Iowa since she traveled to the state as the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee. Her visit to this critical presidential proving ground could be seen as a step towards a potential run for the White House in 2012.

According to Des Moines Conservative Examiner Kevin Hall:

The Iowa Family Policy Center is an influential social conservative group that promotes the sanctity of life and marriage. Palin backers hope her appearance at the November 21st event would be the first step toward a 2012 Presidential bid.

The former Alaska governor is wildly popular among Republicans in the Hawkeye State. She drew a crowd of 10,000 supporters to an appearance at Hy-Vee Hall in downtown Des Moines last year. Palin might be the only candidate who could defeat Mike Huckabee in the 2012 Iowa Caucus.

Team Sarah's appeal for donations to help the Iowans bring Sarah Palin to their event is here, and the IFPC website is here. More from Des Moines Register political blogger Tom Beaumont here and The Iowa Republican's Dave Davidson here.

Updates: Shane Vander Hart has several of them here.

- JP

Quote of the Day (October 27, 2009)

Matthew Continetti, from his book The Persecution of Sarah Palin:

"Until Palin showed up, one could have written off the liberal reaction to Bush as simply anti-Texan bias. That wasn't it, however. Palin proved that at its root the reaction to these folksy Western politicians is a form of anti-provincialism; revulsion toward people who do not aspire to adopt the norms, values, politics and attitudes of the Eastern cultural elite."

- JP

Palin Power Impresses Moderate Blogger

Sarah Palin is, as we pointed out here, now viewed more favorably by independents than is Vice President Joe Biden. If she can improve her standing among moderates as well, she will have made considerable progress with two key demographic groups. One influential moderate who appears to now look more favorably upon the former governor than in times past is Michael van der Galien, who blogs at PoliGazette. Here are excerpts from his latest post, "Palin Power in Action":

When Governor Sarah Palin endorsed Conservative Party candidate in New York for Congress, she took quite a big risk.

[..]

Hoffman trailed his Republican and Democratic opponents in the polls. Until, that is, Palin announced her support for the conservative New Yorker. Suddenly, Hoffman received a lot of free coverage and a lot of money, because Palin not only used her SarahPAC to donate to his campaign, she also called on her Facebook fans to do the same. The result? Hoffman is now leading in the polls and he suddenly has more funds available than his Republican rival.

[...]

The reason for the sudden support is crystal clear: once Palin endorsed Hoffman, other Republicans could also find the courage to revolt against the official leadership of their party.

Hoffman's turnaround is no small accomplishment for the 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate, says van der Galien. And we agree that it's impressive. Considering the massive resources the NRCC is pouring into the district in support of his liberal Republican opponent, if Hoffman wins the congressional seat, it will be all the more an impressive achievement, thanks in no small part to Sarah Palin.

- JP

Among independents, Palin viewed more favorably than Biden

Say it ain't so low, Joe! The left and their media lapdogs have been barking quite a bit lately about how Sarah Palin's favorable rating among independents has fallen. But her overall favorables are actually in a statistical tie with those of Vice President Joe Biden, as his numbers have been dropping at a very steep rate.

But the real kicker is that among independents, Sarah Palin has a considerably higher favorability rating than does Biden, according to two recent Gallup surveys. In a poll conducted by Gallup Oct. 16-19, the veep's favorables among independents is just 32 percent. Palin's favorables among that same demographic, in another poll, this one conducted Oct. 1-4 by Gallup, show the former Alaska governor's favorables to be 41 percent among independents, nine points higher than Biden's.

Considering the pass given Biden by the Obama-loving media and how it has been portraying Palin in the worst possible light for well over a year now, we see those results as nothing less than remarkable.

Overall, Biden's favorables are at 42 percent, while Palin's are at 40 percent. The two-point difference is within the margins of error for both polls, so it's a statistical dead heat.

h/t: FRee Republic

- JP

Palin financial disclosure may explain timing of her resignation

Sarah Palin's financial disclosure, which was publicly released this morning, may help explain the timing of her resignation as governor of Alaska. According to reporting by Sean Cockerham of McClatchy Newspapers, the former governor had to take out a loan to pay her attorneys for legal work in her defense from a series of bogus "ethics" complaints filed by her political enemies:

Palin is also reporting that she took out a home loan from Wells Fargo for "legal fees to fight false allegations while governor." She didn't give a date or amount.

[Editor's Note: This doesn't appear to be correct. See the updates at the bottom of this post - JP]

One of the last of the complaints filed against Palin charges that the legal defense fund which was set up to pay Palin's legal bills is itself not legal under Alaska law. That complaint was filed with the knowledge that the fund would be frozen while it was being investigated, therefore forcing her to pay her lawyers out of her own pocket. The aim of her political opponents has always been to destroy Sarah Palin any way they can. So they staged an all-out assault not only on her character and her family, but on her personal finances as well. 

According to reports, the twenty or so complaints had driven Palin's legal bill over the $600,000 mark. That's a considerable sum of cash for a governor with an annual salary of $125,000 to lay her hands on, so she was forced to borrow the money. Wizbang's Jay Tea (h/t: C4P) explains:

"...she had run up about half a million dollars in legal bills, and pretty much every single complaint had been tossed. In other words, she had incurred debts equal to twice her family's net income and 40% of their net worth for absolutely nothing. And with the latest complaint going after her legal defense fund, it was shaping up to get more and more and more expensive, with no relief in sight. The agenda of her opponents was clear: to use Alaska's flawed ethics laws (the 'flaw' being that no one foresaw a cabal filing an endless chain of worthless complaints purely to drive up the target's legal bills) to bankrupt her and her family." 

"So she took what she saw as the only solution: she resigned. And once she decided that, she saw no reason to drag matters out."

The legal fees  might also explain why Sarah Palin went to work immediately after resigning to write her book and get it finished in as short a period of time as possible. According to her financial disclosure,  she received $1.25 million from her publisher as a retainer for her memoir, which is due out next month. Book advances are usually paid half on signing and half on acceptance of the finished manuscript, with the agent usually taking at least 15% right off the top. If these were the terms of Sarah Palin's deal with HarperCollins, then after her agent --  Washington D.C. lawyer Bob Barnett -- took his cut, she received approximately $500,000 of her advance, which would not have been enough to pay her attorneys in full.

The former governor most certainly was feeling the pressure to complete her manuscript in order to receive the rest of the retainer from HarperCollins. Just speculation on our part, but Sarah Palin doesn't strike us as the type of person who wants to be beholden to anyone, so her goal was apparently to  pay her lawyers ASAP.

Some other details from her financial disclosure:

Palin reported that she received $73,000 in salary and $6,370 in per diem during those final months before resigning as governor.

Todd Palin reported receiving $34,086 during that time as a BP production operator. He also reported $32,260 from his commercial setnet fishing operation in Bristol Bay, under the business name "Toad's Fisheries."

Todd Palin also reported $3,500 in winnings from the Iron Dog snow machine race.

Now that she is no longer the governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin will not be required to file any more financial disclosure reports with that state's Public Offices Commission.

First Update: Sarah Palin spokesperson Meg Stapleton e-mailed the following brief statement to Sean Cockerham:

"The Governor has complied with Alaska disclosure law by her filing yesterday. Now, as a private citizen, her business dealings, including her publishing agreement, are confidential."

Second Update: A closer look at the disclosure forms reveals that Cockerham must have blurred the lines between two separate items, the Palins' home loan and the former governor's legal fees. The two do not appear to be related. A h/t to C4P for catching McClatchy's error and another to Shane Vander Hart for bringing it to our attention.

Third Update: We contacted Sean Cockerham, pointed out the discrepancy in his story and asked him to print a correction. He replied that he is trying to contact Sarah Palin's attorneys "to clarify information that's related to this." The reporter says he will correct any "reporting that is in error."

- JP

Gingrich Glum While Palin Glows After Hoffman Endorsement

- by Ian Ransom

It's so heartbreaking to watch a deck-hand go down with a sinking ship, especially when there are still plenty of lifeboats available, and all sensible passengers have long-since abandoned the doomed vessel for a boat that'll actually float. Yet, the disoriented swabber remains frozen and indecisive near the prow, hoping that his poor judgment might be mistaken for some sort of heroism--even as the waters of doom start to swirl around his disappearing feet.

That basically sums-up what I saw while watching Newt Gingrich complain to Greta Van Susteren the other night in the aftermath of Sarah Palin's endorsement of the Conservative Party's Doug Hoffman. Of course, Newt stood by his own endorsement of NY's 23rd District Republican candidate, Dede "I'm-not-a-real-conservative-but-I-play-one-on-TV" Scozzafava. Sure, Gingrich tried to sound cool and collected when Susteren asked him how it felt to be so out of touch with reality, but the insidious odors of underlying petulance were clearly filling the studio. I think I saw a couple of Greta's nose hairs sizzle and burn as bitter Newt-breath billowed:

"So I say to my many conservative friends who suddenly decided that, whether they're from Minnesota or Alaska or Texas, they know more than the upstate New York Republicans? I don't think so. And I don't think it's a good precedent."

There you have it. Newt Gingrich's rationale for utterly ignoring the vast majority of the GOP's base. Behold the obstinance, while voters in every district are confused enough by threats to conservative identity fostered through Newt's politics-as-usual approach. Does Gingrich really believe that the unity of a disconnected party is hindered by strong leadership coming from across the nation, at a time when what the GOP needs most is unifying leadership on a national scale?

In light of the widespread and thunderous uprising of grassroots conservatives across America, this kind of narrow Beltway vision has bypassed the relentlessly flogged "dead horse" phase. It's way beyond time for that animal to be buried. Newt made a mistake by failing to properly assess the needs of a conservative constituency that's been getting distilled misinformation about candidates from dominating liberal media outlets; yes, even at the district level. Like so many at the GOP's helm, Gingrich is ignoring this peril and, in turn, castigating those in his own party who are principled enough to sweep away cobwebs and help conservatives (anywhere and everywhere) properly identify their own, like-minded leaders!

Gingrich and others like him can gnash their teeth all they wish, but the tables have been turned and now they stand outside the door while the people (with help from leaders like Sarah Palin) are finally getting down to business within. The only difference is that Newt can walk through the same portal and join the ranks anytime he wants. There are no locks, here. This is not the sort of exclusive, "closed discussion" he and the Beltway Boys are used to.

Best of all, there's no charge for admission--save for courage and a bit of common sense.

- Ian

A Gentle Reminder to Sarah Palin: Marco Rubio

- By Thomas Lamb

On the face, this kid has it.

If he has no issues, this kid can win easily.

As for comments I made on the race being the testing ground for conservatives?

I still hold to the belief below on the Flordia Republican senate primary race being the testing ground for conservatives, but the New York race with Hoffman has added some interest in that it could become the catalyst in the conservative movement.

You have to hand it to the bigwigs within the Republican party. They know how to run a duplicitous campaign on smaller government.

It should be obvious now, that the Republican machine does not care about the message, it cares about winning.

Case in point, the Senate Republican primary that is unfolding in Florida.

Here you have the idiot Crist talking about how great the stimulus package is and wanting to become the senator of Florida under the Republican party banner.

Moreover, for the moment, you have a brand new poll showing the conservative losing to Crist.

But wait, is that a good sign? Not for the Republican party. The reason the Republican party is at odds right now is because it has no clear message.

It is being viewed as a duplicitous party. How can it be a party of smaller government when its bigwigs are pulling in behind Crist.

Just recently, a Gallup poll is showing the republicans making gains on the democrats. And Rasmussen has had gains at dead even between the parties, while the pundits continue to banter about how the republicans have to move from the right in order to win.

Given another poll done in February, on how independents view the stimulus package, I think Crist may be barking up the wrong tree when he is boasting about the benefits of the stimulus package and how he supports it.

As an aside, it would be interesting if Palin's PAC targets Florida and supports the conservative candidate. And even though there was no special election in Illinois, since the Democrats picked Burris, Illinois is setting to be a perfect storm for Palin's PAC, if Palin's PAC moves in on the state.

All in all, Florida will be the testing grounds for the conservative soul and may very well be the testing ground for Palin's PAC.

Call it fantasy politics if you want but it would certainly stir the political pot.

Given the race in New York and the demographics, politically speaking, Florida may still be the place to watch and see if Palin enters the political scene in Florida.

John McCain endorsed Crist and this Senate seat race would be (if an endorsement came in to Rubio) the one to give Palin's PAC its conservative wings.

Call it Going Rogue II: Revenge of the Conservatives

Related Threads:

New Developments Within the Florida GOP

John McCain is Crazy: He Endorses Crist

- Tom

Palin asks for support for RGA, McDonnell, Christie

*
Former Governor Sarah Palin, on her Facebook Notes page, has posted an op-ed in support of GOP guernatorial candidates Chris Christie, Bob McDonnell and the Republican Governors Association. Excerpts:

Like other independent Americans, you know I don’t always see eye-to-eye with Republican political committees, so when I tell you that the Republican Governors Association has my complete support and confidence in its campaign efforts back East, know that I really mean it. The RGA is helping lead the conservative comeback, BEGINNING THIS YEAR, and its involvement in the East Coast races is significant. I hope you'll support these efforts, which are vital to the cause for America's freedom and prosperity...

Let's consider the governor's race in New Jersey. The state has the highest tax burden in the country and the incumbent democrat governor has only added to the economic burden. He eliminated property tax rebates for middle class homeowners while the sales tax increased. Altogether, taxes on the people in the region have increased by billions of dollars. It’s no surprise that New Jersey has the highest unemployment rate in the region! Thankfully, there is an alternative. Residents there will be better off under an administration that understands the benefits that result when workers are allowed to keep more of what they earn. Watch New Jersey's economy come alive under new leadership that will put government back on the side of the people! Chris Christie promises this new leadership.

[...]

Then in Virginia - there is a clear difference between Republican Bob McDonnell and his liberal opponent. Republican Bob McDonnell is fighting for cheaper American energy and lower taxes, while his opponent wants to raise taxes, and, amazingly, even bragged about having more earmarks than any other state legislator. Bob McDonnell promises to fight for Virginia's hard working families, and he opposes some heavy-handed union leadership efforts that could ultimately hurt employers and employees...

Americans who believe in smaller government and free enterprise have a chance to show Washington that people all across the U.S. don’t want an ever-increasing national debt, more dependency on foreign energy sources and more wasteful government spending. If, like me, this is what you want to show Washington, then I hope you'll support Chris Christie and Bob McDonnell, and the RGA, as great efforts are put forth in these East Coast races.

Read Sarah Palin's full Facebook op-ed here.

- JP

Quote of the Day (October 26, 2009)

*
The Libertarian Conservative:

"This woman has more balls, spine and guts that any other male, female or trans-sexual politician in either of the two parties. And the amount of [vitriol] and vile she faces every day is proof how utterly helpless the liberals feel, and how scared they are of her. The machine of the Democratic party will not stop at anything to destroy this woman, for they know very well that she CAN bring about a CHANGE to America."

- JP

Terry Bascom: Get off your knees and stand with Sarah

In Terry Bascom's latest column for Annuit coeptis, he says Sarah Palin is calling conservatives to arms, and it's time for them to get off of their knees and stand with her:

The fact is that we are already engaged in a civil war. It is not being fought with guns and knives, but the U.S. is under attack. And the enemy is within. Our neighbors, our family, our friends are lined up on one side or the other, and only the Democrat/Liberal “progressives” are on the attack. The Republican/Conservative “traditionalists” are still hoping for a reasoned discussion leading to a restoration of American tradition. We want to avoid open hostilities while they savagely attack and attempt to destroy us and our non-compliant leaders – like Palin.

[...]

I do know Sarah Palin, and while I do not agree with her in all things (what two people do?), I fundamentally trust her. And I trust the fact that the Democrats and progressives, as well as the liberal wing of the Republican Party, want to marginalize or destroy her. I am not willing to give her my unqualified allegiance, but I am willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. And I appreciate that she is willing to break with the Republican Party on principle.

[...]

Sarah has stepped forward. She might not always be right in particular choices, but at least she is standing in the breach and pointing forward by pointing us back to our proud tradition and values. We need to get off our knees and stand with her, where we will take some shots but have the opportunity to give as good as we get.

Read the unabridged version here.

- JP

Reaction to Sarah Palin's Doug Hoffman endorsement, Part 4

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Don Surber:

"Conservatives blame the Republican Party’s fall from power on the moderates. The moderates blame Sarah Palin. And Sarah Palin is flexing her political muscles. She has this year and next to show she can raise money and bring voters to the polls."

Conservative Girl With a Voice;

"While Huckabee is not going to endorse the liberal Republican Party candidate, he is not going to support a man who believes in the same things he does? For the sake of conservatism, take a stand!"

Right Thinking:

"Palin demonstrates her commitment to principle, and she remains faithful to her conservative principles, even when it means going against the party establishment. That’s true leadership, and that’s one thing that sets Sarah Palin apart from most politicians."

Pamela Geller:

"Sarah Palin gets it -- big time. The future looks bright."

Standing Pat:

"Whatever the outcome of NY23, Palin sided with true conservatives and real patriots. Gingrich didn’t... Who will we support... for 2012? Palin wins hands down."

Anthony Moretti, Ph.D.:

"Her recent endorsement of the most conservative of the candidates in one New York Congressional election makes clear that Mrs. Palin is ready to carve out her niche as the conservative voice of the Republican Party."

More Than Right:

"Palin is appealing to the real power. That power was represented by the 1.8 million Tea Party protesters who marched on Washington not that long ago, which was comprised of disgruntled Republicans and Democrats alike."

Stacy McCain:

"The Doug Hoffman campaign collected $116,000 online in a single day last week [just after Sarah Palin endorsed him]... I spoke with a campaign source who told me that the overwhelming majority of those donations were in the $20-$50 range."

LCBorden:

"She can draw a crowd, she can raise money, she can sway closely contested elections... More power to her. Goodbye Newt, hello Sarah!"

The Lonely Conservative:

"The GOP needs less political tactitians like Newt Gingrich and more rogues like Sarah Palin and Doug Hoffman. Or they can continue down the same destructive path they’re on, only to find themselves completely irrelevant and powerless against the democrats in their quest for socialism in America."

The Reaganite Republican:

"And it's quickly looking like Newt and the Huckster flat-out blew it --  along with the GOP grandees that saddled NY-23 with this unfortunate choice."

American Conservative Daily:

"Sarah Palin, et al. broke ranks to support Hoffman and she threw her SarahPac behind him not out of Gingrich’s sense of expedience but out of concerned principle."

The Right Rev Rowland:

"Hoffman has surged in recent days ahead of both the Democrat and Republican candidates. Add to that a one-day fundraising total of over $116,000, and the momentum is clearly with the Independent candidate. Perhaps the endorsement [by] Gov. Sarah Palin had something to do with it?"

Dan Riehl:

"I still remember Sarah Palin referencing Newt and his ideas about getting beyond party to some degree. Funny that she chose one side in NY and he the other."

The Daily Instigator:

"After Palin Endorsement, Conservative Candidate Surges Ahead"

- JP