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

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