Gov. Palin calls for 'sudden and relentless reform' in St. Charles

"Our faith keeps us strong."

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In her first public appearance after announcing earlier this week that she would not seek her party's nomination for president, Sarah Palin told a crowd of thousands in St. Charles, Missouri Friday night that today's federal government is a threat to individual freedom:

The former Alaska governor spoke on a wide range of topics, ripping President Barack Obama's economic policies and faulting the "permanent political class in Washington, D.C." in both major parties for overspending and increasing the nation's debt. She also decried "crony capitalism."

She complained that Obama and others had supported bailouts for Wall Street and big business and favored political contributors with economic stimulus funds. She said the middle class was paying the bill.

"It's government picking winners and losers," she said.

She also said: "The only solution is sudden and relentless reform."

Palin, who gained national fame as the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee, on Wednesday cited family concerns as the main reason for her decision against running next year. She also said she would help support other candidates with similar views.
About 5,000 people attended Friday's event, and Palin got standing ovations. After speaking for about 50 minutes, she answered questions suggested in advance by listeners of KFTK-FM - the local conservative talk radio station that sponsored her appearance.

The event wasn't a typical political rally with people allowed in for free. Instead, it was promoted like one of the arena's entertainment events, with tickets priced at $26 to over $100. The arena bill also featured commentator Glenn Beck.

[More]

Gov. Palin was introduced by Big Journalism editor Dana Loesch to a standing ovation. She received another standing ovation after her speech, and then Loesch engaged her in a Q&A session with questions submitted by members of the audience.

Asked what she would do to increase domestic oil production, she said "Drill baby drill" with a reminder that U.S. oil, gas and coal resources are abundant.

On the question of whether she preferred a fair tax or a flat tax, Sarah said that tax reform is important, and we should all pay a fair and equal rate.

In response to a question about how she would adjust monetary policy, Gov. Palin said we should not engage in it because it is devaluing the dollar. She used an analogy about how children want milk in their cereal. If there's not enough milk, their mother can add water. "Did I make more milk? No, I watered it down," she explained. That's what the Fed is doing to the money supply -- watering it down. She added that though people say we can't politicize the Fed, the president appoints the members of the Fed, so it is already politicized.

Asked what keeps her family strong after the Palins have taken so much heat from media, Sarah Palin replied, "Our faith keeps us strong." She added that she had read the local newspaper, so she can relate to that question. The audience booed following the reference to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, which has a very liberal editorial policy.

The final question was what would she do differently if she could go back to 2008? Sarah Palin said she would call her Democrat opponents out on their records more than she did. Though many say it's negative campaigning, Gov. Palin said it's about fighting for the things we believe in, and added that she would assert myself more as a candidate and say enough is enough. She pointed out that the Democrats had no problem speaking negatively about a war hero, her running mate John McCain.

After the Q&A session, Sarah Palin was enthusiastically cheered as she left the stage.

h/t: Joe & Kalen

Related - StCharlesPatch: Sarah Palin Criticizes Obama, Media in St. Charles Event

Update - Dana Loesch has photos and a link to a full video of the event here

- JP

Sarah Palin: A Humbling Reminder of Our Duty

As posted at SarahPAC
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We spent a very moving day in Kansas City, Missouri, where it’s easy to remember what really matters, because here we have the National World War I Museum and Liberty Memorial.

The Liberty Memorial Tower is dedicated “In honor of those who served in the World War in defense of liberty and our country.” Reading the many memorial inscriptions while standing in the rain was a somber and humbling reminder of the sacrifices young Americans made nearly a century ago in distant battlefields so far from home. So many of them never returned from those fields in France and Belgium. Yes, it was a somber, real, significant moment reading those words about the honor in one’s dedication to God and country.

The main inscription on the memorial reads: “These have dared bear the torches of sacrifice and service. Their bodies return to dust but their work liveth evermore. Let us strive on to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”

I took the above photo of Piper and my niece McKinley with the memorial in the background. It brought home to me what this “One Nation Tour” is about. It’s about the duty we have not just to the living, but also to the dead and to the generations yet to be born. Our founders called us the “heirs of freedom,” and as such we have a duty to those who have already paid the price for us to live in freedom, and we have a duty to those who will come after us.

Our freedom was purchased by millions of men now long-forgotten throughout our history who charged the cannons, ran into bayonets, suffered in the trenches, and gave their lives so that we could live in relative comfort doing what we feel led to do. We can’t squander what they gave us or what the next generation expects from us. This is why visiting these historic sites and bringing your children to see them is so important. This is why I wanted to bring my own children with me to show them our history and remind them that America’s children will carry the torch of freedom one day.

Now it’s back to Alaska for the start of the school year. (And, of course, our annual visit to our own state fair where Piper looks forward to clogging on the Blue Bonnet Stage!) While kids crack open their school books, I look forward to continuing my own writing and research on strategies and plans to help move our country forward.

We will be back on the road soon, for on September 3rd we’ve been invited to a big Tea Party “Restoring America” rally in Waukee, Iowa. We hope to see many of you there as we gather to discuss the direction of our country and the way forward with our fundamental restoration of all that is good and strong and free in America. You can click here for more information on the event.

Thank you all for your support and for sharing this leg through the Heartland of the "One Nation Tour" with us.

With an Alaskan heart,

Sarah Palin

- JP

Sarah Palin: A Visit to 'America's Hometown'

As posted at SarahPAC
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We spent a great afternoon in "America’s Hometown," as Hannibal, Missouri, is famously called. Of course, Hannibal plays an important role in American literature as the hometown of Samuel Clemens. This town on the Mississippi River and his boyhood adventures here were the inspiration for many of Mark Twain’s most famous works.

Mark Twain’s wit was evident when he spoke or wrote about Hannibal. Reminiscing about his humble origins here, he once said: "Now in Hannibal where I was brought up, we never talked about money. There was not enough money in the first place to furnish a topic of conversation."

I’m sure this town also instilled in him the decency and common sense that he would hold to all his life. As an old man far removed from his boyhood days, he famously told others: "Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest."

- Sarah Palin

- JP

Gov. Palin: Pray for and help SW Missouri tornado victims

Learn how you can help here
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Just up on Twitter from Sarah Palin:

"Pls pray for victims & assist however you can as Joplin, MO is devastated by violent tornado's direct hit. MT@Drudge http://drudge.tw/kQeqy5"

- JP

Vicky Hartzler's new campaign ad 'sticks it' to Ike Skelton

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In Missouri, Vicky Hartzler is opposing Rep. Ike Skelton, a Democrat fixture in the U.S. House for 33 years. Her latest campaign ad "sticks it" to Skelton with his own words:



Sarah Palin endorsed former State Rep. Hartzler August 20:

Vicky Hartzler is determined to shake things up in Missouri’s 4th Congressional District. She ran an underdog campaign to win her primary and is now determined to challenge a 17-term Democrat incumbent who has long lost touch with the good people of Missouri. Vicky grew up on her family farm and is still a farmer with her husband. Her diverse background includes being a teacher, a state legislator, a grassroots organizer, a successful small business owner, and a proud mom of a wonderful daughter. She’s a dynamic commonsense conservative who is running to get our economy and long-term fiscal security back on track for her daughter and all of our children. Please visit this farmer’s daughter’s website and learn more about Vicky at www.vickyhartzler.com and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

- JP

Nice, Deb!

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Nice Deb has posted video of Gov. Palin's speech at the Winning America Back Conference in Independence, MO. She managed to get almost all of the speech recorded until the Flip HD camera's batteries gave up the ghost at the end of the address. Still, a heroic effort by the batteries for giving it their all...

Bravo Zulu, Deb!

- JP

Sarah Palin's Weekend Speeches (Updated)

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TheBlogProf caught most of Gov. Palin's Clarkston speech on video, and TheRightScoop has all of the segments collected in one post.

Glen Enloe has posted a favorable post about that Independence speech on the KC Star's Midwest Voices blog, and the libs are pounding him for it in the comments section. Seems that "progressives" won't tolerate any media narrative that doesn't try to destroy Sarah Palin. Progressives are about as tolerant of views opposed to their own as is the Taliban.

Update: Jesse Cornish has a firsthand account of Gov. Palin's Michigan speech here, and Michigan Capitol Confidential has a report here. Nicole Coulter has a not-up-close, but very personal account of the Wichita speech posted at C4P here. Nice Deb's videos of Gov. Palin's Independence speech are posted here.

- JP

More on the Winning America Back event in Independence

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Nice Deb has a roundup of the event here. Deb and her husband had VIP tickets, and they got to meet Todd and Sarah and have pics taken with her:

"Sarah is just a sweet, and gracious in person as you could possibly imagine, as was her husband Todd, who casually chatted with my hubby."

KCTV's story is here.

Once again, local media did a much better job of reporting this event than national lamestream media. AP's story was the worst; The Independence/Blue Springs Examiner had the best report, in our opinion. Both are linked in our post from last night here.

And once again, new media trumps old, as bloggers provided a snark-free perspective often found missing in old media, including both local and national outlets.

- JP

KC Star: Palin 'rocks the house' in Independence, MO

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Speaking to a conservative crowd at the Independence Events Center, the Kansas City Star reports Sarah Palin said that despite the Gulf Coast rig explosion, the U.S. must wean itself from foreign oil in order to be truly free:

“We’ve got to tap domestically because energy security will be the key to our prosperity,” Palin said.

[...]

The day featured speeches from former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson and former Oklahoma Congressman J.C. Watts, as well as panel discussions.

But the featured attraction was Palin, who... saved some of her strongest rhetoric for Obama and the Democrats for what she described as a dramatic expansion in the size of the federal government, particularly as a result of the recently passed health care bill.

The program will wind up costing far more than Obama has said, Palin predicted. And it will lead to rationing.

“Somebody has to decide who gets the health care and who doesn’t,” she said.

Palin also complained that too many Americans will be forced by the government to buy coverage.

The health care plan mocks the founding fathers’ idea of a small federal government with most powers delegated to the states, Palin said. In a line that drew thunderous applause, she said the plan should be repealed.

“Obama-care is such an over-reach,” Palin said. “This is a slippery slope we’re on.”

She called for lower taxes and a government that demands more of the individual.

“We should not be working for our government,” Palin said. “Government should be working for us.”

Media estimates put the crowd size at about 3,000.

The Star also has a photo gallery here. The AP story is here, and a report from the Examiner, eastern Jackson County's daily newspaper (including Independence and Blue Springs, MO) is here.

- JP

Sarah Palin Speaks This Evening in the KC Metro Area

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Keynote speaker Sarah Palin and a cast of several other higher-profile political figures will address the Winning Back America conference at the Independence Events Center today. The event is sponsored by a Kansas City area volunteer organization, Preserving American Liberty, and gets under way at 1 PM with opening remarks by local news/talk station KMBZ's Darla Jaye:

Political commentator Jeri Thompson will speak at 1:30, followed by 2008 presidential candidate Fred Thompson at 1:40.

Palin is scheduled to take the stage at 6 pm, followed by a question and answer session, just before the event concludes at 7.

There will also be two discussion events throughout the day, including a conversation on the economy, jobs, and the deficit at 3:30 pm, and a conversation on conservative urban outreach at 5:15.

Tickets are priced beginning at $50 to the VIP level at about $250, the latter including access to the floor seating nearest the stage and admittance to a reception and photo op with Gov. Palin. More information here.

- JP

Liz, Fred and Jeri to join Sarah in Independence

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Fred and Jeri Thompson and Liz Cheney will join Sarah Palin for the “Winning America Back” conference at the Independence Events Center, Saturday, May 1, it was announced today:

Tickets for the event are available at the Independence Events Center box office, online at www.GetTix.net or by calling 1-866-443-8849:

There will be two separate tickets – general admission and priority seating. General admission tickets to the one-day 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. conference are $50 and priority seating tickets are $75. Both prices include ticket fees and taxes at the box office, additional service fees will apply to tickets bought online or over the phone. Parking is free.

- JP

Rep. Blunt Tweets His Thanks to Gov. Palin

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Jordan Fabian in The Hill's Twitter Room noticed this thank-you tweet from Congressman Roy Blunt (R-MO) to Governor Palin:

"We are very pleased to have the support of @SarahPalinUSA and welcome her help in any way in our campaign."

Rep. Blunt and Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, a Democrat, have been locked in a tight race for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator Kit Bond, but recent polling indicates a surge by the Congressman:

Pollster Scott Rasmussen says, "Republican Roy Blunt now holds a six point lead of 49 to 43 percent over Robin Carnahan. Now, that's a big jump from December, when Carnahan had been up by two points."

Fabian says Blunt's decision to tout his endorsement by Gov. Palin could be seen as Blunt reaching out to conservative voters, many of whom are among the 2008 GOP VP candidate's strongest supporters. SarahPAC donated $2,500 to Blunt's campaign in the fourth quarter.

- JP

More from the Ozarks...

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KSPR-TV Senior Producer Ron Davis discusses Sarah Palin's speech here.

KSPR-TV's 10 PM newscast wrap-up of Sarah Palin's day in the Ozarks here.

Dave Catanese's report on the speech from 10 PM KY3 newscast here.

Chad Livengood's story covering the speech on the News-Leader website here.

Michael Durbin's tweets from Sarah Palin's speech at College of the Ozarks here.

KSPR-TV Senior Producer Ron Davis's tweets from the speech here.

Springfield News-Leader reporter Chad Livengood's tweets from the speech here.

KY3 political reporter Dave Catanese's tweets from the speech here.

Chuck and Sally Heath, Sarah's parents, talk to Springfield TV station KY3 here.

KY3 video of Sarah Palin's arrival at the Borders store in Springfield, MO here.

St. Louis FOX affiliate's report on Springfield book signing here.

KOLR-TV report on the Springdield book signing event here.

AP story on the book signing from Columbia Missourian website here.

Lame KSPR-TV slideshow of mostly useless photos from College of the Ozarks here.

News/Talk station KSGF's Vincent David Jericho will very likely be discussing the Palin speech on his morning show, 6 AM to 9 AM Thursday morning, and among his callers should be a number of people who were in the audience Wednesday evening at College of the Ozarks. The station's website is here. Just click on the big blue "Listen Live" button to hear his show. Also, Vince has been encouraging his listeners to send in their photos from the book signing and the speech, which you can view here.

Before returning to Texas last February, I lived in Springfield for eight years, and I listened to Vince nearly every morning. His show is the top-rated radio program in Springfield, and he even has higher ratings than Rush (whose program airs on a competing station)  in that market! Vince is very much a conservative activist who is totally involved in the community there. Just check our the photo gallery, and you'll see what I mean. Lots of Young conservative meetings, townhalls, TEA Parties and events which support our troops.

- JP

SW MO: Palin fans brave temps in the 20's for a place in line

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Television station KY3 (KYTV) reports that the line started forming outside Borders Books in the southwest Missouri city of Springfield at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon for Sarah Palin's 10 AM Wednesday book signing event at the store:

The people in line braved a cool December night to be among the first to grab just a few moments face-to-face with the most compelling figure in the conservative movement. Borders employees have been planning the visit for weeks.

"Her bus will come to the front, park in front. Hopefully, she'll say a few things and then maybe shake a few hands as she comes in the store. And she'll get right to the signing table," said Borders manager Gary Selby.

Thousands are expected but it's estimated that just 400 to 500 people will make it through the winding line.

Some of those at the front of the queue came from out of state, including Bob Runtz of Huntsville, Arkansas and Nicole Coulter, who travelled from Wichita, Kansas:

"I liked her before it was cool to like her," Coulter said.

Springfield will be former Gov. Palin's only book signing stop of the day. she will deliver an address Wednesday night at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, MO.

The full KY3 story is here. The local newspaper,  Gannett's Springfield News-Leader, has more here and here.

Update: The News-Leader reports that Sarah Palin stayed an extra hour at the bookstore to sign books for all of those who were in the queue.

- JP