Journal Star: East Peoria pampers Palin

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John Sharp of the Journal Star chronicled the Palins' off-limelight stay in the Peoria area:

For two days in East Peoria, at least, the 2008 Republican vice president candidate relaxed, with an afternoon at an East Peoria hair and nail salon far removed from blinding TV cameras and the swarm of reporters and security.

Husband Todd dined alone and undisturbed at a Subway.

And the couple was surprised at the Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center with six pounds of Mocha Moose coffee, a move which led Palin to write a note to the hotel's general manager Joe LoMonaco: "Joe, Thank you so much, Sarah Palin. * this was the most special thing ever in a hotel for us!"

"We did everything we could to really make her feel as comfortable as possible," said Gina White, owner of Pamper Me Please, the tucked away hair and nail salon located off Main Street that the Palins visited Saturday afternoon. "She made us feel comfortable as well."

[...]

"She and her husband were normal, nice people," LoMonaco said. "You never know with what you see in the news and everything. But she was really nice and down to earth."

Read the full article here for all the details.

- JP

Mrs. Palin Goes to Washington....Illinois

- By Whitney
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It's not everyday that you have opportunity to go with your personal heroine to hear your political heroine speak, but Saturday, April 17th was such an opportunity for me, as my mom and I attended Governor Palin's speech in Washington, IL. If I were to say one thing, I would say it was definitely a barn burner of a speech, and in central Illinois, there are a heck of a lot of barns to burn!

To give context to the speech, it took place in Washington, Illinois, a small town of about 13,000 people in central Illinois just outside of Peoria. The town of Eureka, home of Reagan's alma mater, Eureka College, is just a short 10-15 minutes from Washington. The event was a fundraiser for Five Points Washington, the town's community center. Some of the funds raised were also to be used for a scholarship program as well. During the question and answer session following the speech, the Governor mentioned that she chose to speak at this event because she knows what a blessing such community centers bring to a town, referencing the sports complex built in Wasilla when she was mayor.

The topic of the speech was " You Don't Need a Title to Make a Difference" and was the inaugural speech in a series on Lessons from Leaders. In her own signature style, the Governor effectively wove this topic into the speech also highlighting her political platform, record, and worldview, all while truly making the speech applicable and personal to central Illinoisans. She brought up at least three examples of people who made and are making a difference without a title. She began her speech speaking of Trig, who is turning 2 years old today. She spoke of how he may never hold a title, but he wakes up everyday in applause, bringing perspective and joy to those around him. She also spoke of how Reagan saved 77 lives when he worked as a lifeguard on the Rock River in Illinois when he was young, before he had a "title". She had the words "Lifeguards Needed" written on her palm. She also spoke of how we, as Americans, can make a difference without a title through our voice, our vote, and our freedom.

Regarding leadership, she spoke specifically of three former Presidents: Washington, Lincoln, and Reagan. She spoke about Washington's leadership--how true leaders respect the will and wisdom of the people and often were reluctant leaders who did not seek office, but the office sought them. She spoke of Lincoln's use of his stovepipe hat as a "traveling office" and how if it was good enough for Lincoln to store his notes in his hat, it was good enough for her to use her palm for her notes. She spoke quite a bit about Reagan, calling him a "son of Illinois". She spoke of his politics of both personality and conviction when it came to foreign policy, saying also that America needs his "Midwestern common sense" and "relentless optimism". Governor Palin, in a jab at President Obama, spoke of how a Eureka educated politician plays better in Peoria than a Harvard educated politician. At one point she stated during the speech that the next Lincoln or Reagan may be sitting in the audience. In my head, I thought, "the next Reagan is standing behind the podium!"

On a local level, Governor Palin praised central Illinois for being people who "cling to guns and religion" and who understand what she meant when she says, "don't retreat, reload". Politically, she spoke of how Obama's policies are affecting the region. The construction machine company, Caterpillar, is based out of nearby Peoria and employs quite a few people in the area. Governor Palin spoke of how President Obama came to Peoria last year claiming that the stimulus package would prevent Caterpillar workers from being laid off, which was not the case. She spoke of how the "economically illiterate" health care bill will cost the company $100 million in the first year alone.

More broadly, she spoke of the problems of a quadrupled national deficit, a $3.8 trillion budget, and the "mother of all unfunded mandates": the health care reform bill. Governor Palin criticized the President for bowing to world leaders and alienating allies like Israel.During the question and answer session, she mentioned that the President's comments about America being a military superpower, whether we like it or not was the statement that had taken her most aback of anything during President Obama's administration. However, her political rhetoric was not limited to criticisms, but included a great deal of what she called "time tested" solutions. She spoke of how prosperity cannot be legislated from Washington D.C., but must be earned through hard work ethic and by government getting out of the way. Additionally, she mentioned that more every day people, not politicians, are needed in government.

In sharing such solutions, she was very effective in tying in her record as governor and mayor , highlighting several of the examples that she mentioned in Going Rogue. Specifically, she mentioned how she lowered taxes and improved infrastructure as mayor as part of a pro-business, pro-economic growth strategy. She mentioned the main principles by which she governed Alaska. Government must live within its means. Resource development must be expanded. Money must be saved for the future, and earmarks must be slashed. During the question and answer session, Governor Palin spoke of how important it is that politicians realize that they are spending OPM (other people's money), and she highlighted that she fired the personal chef and the sold of the jet.

The Governor has an amazing way of connecting with the people with whom she is speaking. After the speech, my mom said, "it was like you were listening to your best friend. She talks to you, not at you." I concur with this statement whole heartedly. Governor Palin spoke with such conviction, sincerity and optimism. I was also struck by how often she used the word "blessed". She seems to see every opportunity and experience as a blessing. I was amazed how focused and personal she made it for the audience she was speaking to by pulling in Reagan's ties to the area and the effects of the Obama administration on a large local employer. It truly was a blessing beyond words to hear America's point guard speak with such optimism and conviction.

So, this begs the age old question. Does Governor Palin play in Peoria? You betcha!

To see more pictures, albeit not high quality, see here.

- WTP

- Special guest blogger Whitney is editor of The LOTUS and is a contributor to The Palination and the Palin Twibe blog.

Sarah Palin: Country needs dose of 'Midwestern Common Sense'

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Sarah Palin told a crowd of 1,100 in central Illinois Saturday that what unites Americans is stronger than what divides them. The former Alaska governor and 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate cited a strong work ethic, security and a government that allows people to live how they choose as uniting factors, and she encouraged Americans to unite to get the nation's troubled economy back on track. Gov. Palin's address was the inaugural speech last night in Five Points Washington's "Lessons From Leaders" speakers series:

Palin commented on the Land of Lincoln having a "most diverse political scene" and referenced the "Will it play in Peoria?" cliche.

"Nobody here is ordinary. ... Much of the eyes of America are on this part of our nation because this is a representation of good, hard-working, grounded, unpretentious, patriotic Americans," she said.

One of those people, Palin said, is former President Ronald Reagan, a Eureka College graduate, who believed in limited government in order to expand opportunity and prosperity. Reagan was a Midwestern boy who understood the importance of work ethic, not entitlement, she said.

"We need a dose of that Midwestern common sense now more than ever," Palin said.

[...]

Palin took several jabs at President Barack Obama's Harvard Law School education. She said the U.S. is on pace to quadruple the deficit, called the federal health care bill "Obama-care" and the "mother of all unfunded mandates," and chastised Congress for what she called "bullying" of Peoria-based Caterpillar Inc.

"Washington's idea is to tax and borrow and spend our way out of big problems," Palin said, adding both Republicans and Democrats are to blame. "We're sticking our kids with the bill. I think that is immoral."

Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis said Palin hit on points resonating throughout the country "like getting the government under control and getting taxes under control and having people get the government back."

Leadership is speaking out, sticking up for your beliefs, getting involved and contributing to the community. "We want leadership that offers common sense principles and offers common sense solutions," she said.

A sold-out crowd of 1,100 people turned out for Palin's speech, titled "You Don't Need a Title to Make a Difference." Audience members submitted questions for possible inclusion in a question-and-answer session after the speech.

Said U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria: "She's definitely got a role in shaping American politics and American policy, and when she speaks, people listen.

"I thought she gave a very inspiring speech about some of the challenges she went through in her own life as mayor of Wasilla and governor of Alaska and as a candidate for the vice presidency of the United States," he added.

John Morris, who is director of development for the Ronald W. Reagan Leadership Program and Reagan Museum at Eureka College, said Gov. Palin's remarks about the 40th president's alma mater were "thrilling," because she is a potential Republican candidate for president in 2012:

"Eureka College is a national living legacy to this story that in America you can come from anywhere and with the right values you can go on to help change the world. Eureka College is the living legacy to the story of Ronald Reagan," Morris said.

This is a re-write for the Peoria Journal-Star's Sunday edition of the incomplete story karen McDonald filed late last night. The Sunday PJStar also has a companion article by Steve Stein focusing on local reaction to Gov. Palin's speech.

Illinois Review relays RNC Committeewoman for Illinois Demetra DeMonte's post-event thoughts:

"I just returned from an amazing evening in Washington Illinois. Sarah Palin’s optimism - her belief in the goodness and wisdom of the American people - mesmerized an audience with the message that the American dream is still alive – and that it is up to us to ensure that it remains alive. Although speaking in an positive tone Sarah did not avoid talking about the serious problems confronting us today. She particularly sited the deficit and national security as the most compelling issues of our time."

"She called upon on all of us to hold our elected officials accountable on election day and to do what is necessary to preserve our freedom and the American way of life we cherish , not only for us but for our children and grandchildren."

- JP

Will it play in Peoria? You betcha!

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Up until now, members of the media have only been allowed into Sarah Palin speaking events if they purchased a ticket. But at Five Points Washington's "Lessons from Leaders" banquet April 17 in the Peoria, Illinois area, that policy has changed, according to the Journal Star's "Word on the Street" column:

"Due to several requests that we have received, we have arranged for the local media to attend the April 17, 2010, Lessons From Leaders with Governor Sarah Palin," read an invitation we received last week.

That said, space is limited. West said not all local media outlets are being allowed.

"Media asked if there was any way we could help them out. I said I would have to think about it and figure out how and if we could do something," West said. "This is not a political thing. This is a private function. We're trying our best to accommodate a few media, but we are space limited."

All tickets quickly sold out. The 400 banquet/speech tickets - at $200 each - sold out less than 24 hours after Palin's appearance was announced. Speech-only tickets sold for $100 on the main floor and $75 for the balcony in the 1,000-seat Caterpillar Performing Arts Center.

Whether the policy change is a singular exception only for the Peoria event remains to be seen, but we suspect so. The policy of requiring the media to purchase tickets just like everyone else is, we believe, part of the Washington Speakers Bureau contract language for appearances by Gov. Palin.

- JP