Us Mag: Palins to attend correspondent's dinner

According to Us Magazine, Todd and Sarah Palin will be
guests of the Fox News Channel Saturday night at the annual White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington, D.C.

Add this to the buzz that the governor will be in New York Friday to visit Alaska House, and it sounds like another whirlwind weekend (see here and here) for the former vice presidential candidate, if the reports are true.

- JP

Gov. Palin will work with NCNA

Politico is reporting that it has word that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has responded to an invitation to join the NCNA:

Palin "looks forward to doing all she can to bring about positive change many desire and deserve, across Alaska and our great nation, through this National Council for a New America and others," Meghan Stapleton, a spokeswoman for SarahPAC, said in an e-mail.

Stapleton said Palin's primary focus, though, is her home state. Palin "is focused on moving Alaska forward and pushing for her goals which include providing energy independence and security for Alaskans and Americans," she said.

The drive-by media has tried to light another fire, speculating wildly about why Gov. Palin had not responded to the group's invitation. When will the drive-bys learn that the governor doesn't just rush into decisions lightly, preferring instead the more prudent path of giving things due consideration? Yes, I know, it was a rhetorical question.

Update 1: Rush weighs in on the NCNA and Gov. Palin at Motor City Times.

Update 2: Congressman David Dreier (R-CA), on Greta Susteren's FNC show last night, mentioned that Senator John Ensign (R-NV) will be also be working with NCNA.

- JP

Palin: Let voters decide on parential notification

From the Anchorage Daily News:

Gov. Sarah Palin is backing a ballot measure to bypass the Legislature and make it illegal for teenagers to get an abortion without telling their parents.

The initiative sponsors, including former Lt. Gov. Loren Leman, applied last week to start gathering signatures. The measure would generally forbid a girl under 18 from getting an abortion unless the doctor informed at least one of her parents beforehand.

The sponsors hope to get the initiative on the ballot for the August 2010 primary election. To do so, they need to gather at least 32,734 signatures before the start of the legislative session in January.

The initiative springs from the failure of a bill which would have required girls under 17 to tell their parents they're about to have an abortion. That measure stalled in the state Senate.

In a sign of the times, Gov. Palin expects that her support for the initiative will prompt an ethics complaint:

"I acknowledge the 'new normal' we're dealing with today will no doubt see someone filing a charge against me anyway, for exercising my First Amendment rights as a citizen, but I will not hesitate to speak up in support of Alaska's daughters."

- JP

Frivolous eithics complaint FAIL

If there's any doubt out there that the coordinated and politically-motivated campaign to swamp Gov. Sarah Palin with phony "ethics" complaints in an attempt to drive down her favorable opinion poll numbers is backfiring, here's a couple of items of evidence for you to consider:

Exhibit A: Michael van der Galien is a blogger who has been sharply critical of Gov. Palin. He does not believe that she was ready for the spotlight last year, and he wonders whether she will be ready in 2012. Though he concedes that she is talented, he's not convinced that she can win a nationwide election. Despite all that, van der Galien blogged today:

"...the attacks on Palin - all the litigation, attempts to destroy her and her family by the drive-by media, etc. - convince me that liberal activists, journalists and politicians fear her tremendously. They would not go after her - even obsess over her - if they thought she was a wacko who could never win elections for president."

"No, the attacks imply that they believe that the governor can make a major comeback four or even eight years from now."

"That should encourage Palin and her most passionate supporters."

Exhibit B: The Anchorage Daily News, a McClatchy newspaper which has been consistently harsh on Gov. Palin, published an editorial on the subject of the bogus complaints today. Here are some excerpts:

"Alaska citizens have a right to file ethics complaints against their elected representatives. State law guarantees it. But when Alaskans use the ethics law to score political points, they abuse that right -- and may put it at risk."

-snip-

"But she's within her rights to create a fund to cover her legal expenses -- and complaints like Chapman's only win sympathy for the governor and run up the legal bills."

-snip-

"State ethics law is not a megaphone for crying foul every time the governor or any other elected official does something someone doesn't like. "

-snip-

"When Alaskans make the ethics law a vehicle for gadfly politics, they weaken even valid ethics complaints in the public eye -- cynics dismiss every complaint as political. And they strengthen the hand of those lawmakers who want to weaken Alaskans' ability to hold elected officials accountable."

And so we have two opinions, each one independent of the other, from sources not overly friendly toward Gov Palin, which say that these frivolous ethics complaints are having a boomerang effect. Instead of having the desired result, they are generating sympathy for the governor even among those who have been been her longtime critics.

If the despicable Alinsky tactics are having this effect on those opposed to Gov. Palin, one can only imagine how much sympathy it is generating for her among those who have been undecided. And, as van der Galien pointed out, it only strengthend the resolve of Palin supporters.

Bottom line: The Palin-haters have failed again. They are so obsessed with taking her down that it probably never occurred to them that, like the latest gadget from the Acme catalog in the hands of Wyle E. Coyote, it would blow up in their faces.

- JP

Chris Muir does it again

Click on pic for larger image

(Thanks Chris!) Day By Day

- JP

Democrats live the Book of Saul

Who says Democrats aren't deeply religious? I'll have you know that their tactics come right from the Book of Saul - Saul Alinsky, that is. Bob Sikes:

Pick the target. Freeze it. Personalize it. Polarize it.

One of many memorable Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals that Americans should find as common place since the Clinton years. The legendary communist still influences they way Democrats make political hay. Alinsky Rules are still at work with another true believer in Barack Obama. But no where do we see this frightening tactic at its zenith but in the continuous Democrat party attacks on Sarah Palin.

A must-read.

- JP

TIME 100: Missing Mitt Miffed, Pans Palin

John King, interviewing Mitt Romney and Eric Cantor on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday morning, mentioned that Rush Limbaugh and Gov. Sarah Palin are on TIME's list of the 100 most influential people. Then he asked Eric Cantor and Mitt Romney, neither of whom made the list, whether the inclusion of Rush and Sarah on the list is "helpful, hurtful" or "indifferent."

Cantor graciously answered that the two conservatives "have a lot of ideas, and our party should be about ideas." Mitt tried to make a little joke and... FAIL:

"I think there are a lot more influential Republicans than that would suggest. But was that the issue on the most beautiful people or the most influential people? I'm not sure. If it's the most beautiful, I understand. We're not real cute."

Yes, Mitt, the only reason Rush is on the list is for his GQ cover boy looks. Must be El Rushbo's great hair that makes him influential. Sheesh...

Update: More Mitt/Mike Murphy Meaness.

- JP

Marching for babies: $540 sneakers not required

More: Juneau Empire

h/t: Free Republic

- JP

Quote of the Day (May 3, 2008)

John Hawkins:

"Look at the despicable media jihad that was launched against Sarah Palin's family. There was a not-so-subtle message being sent there: if you're a Republican woman, you better stay in the shadows or we're going to destroy your family to get you."

- JP

Is Gov. Palin New York bound?

*
The Alaska Ear passes along the rumor that Gov. Sarah Palin will return to New York Friday. It seems that Alaska House, a nonprofit arts and cultural center "representing the Alaskan point of view," is hosting an invitation-only Global Seafood Tasting Event on May 8.

The Ear hears that the governor will be there to promote one of her state's key exports - canned Alaskan salmon. Alaska Pink Salmon is not just a delicacy for upscale dining. It has become a staple of the Global Food Aid Program and is helping to feed the world's hungry.

The Ear doesn't give much credence to another rumor, one which supposes that while she is in NY, Gov. Palin will sign that $7 Million book deal that has become the stuff of legend. Indeed, buzz that she was shopping such a deal has been heard several times since the election last November, but the governor has never confirmed such rumors. And who could blame her? Some useful idiot member of Alaska's "Ring of Hatred" would probably file an "ethics complaint" over it.

- JP

Quote of the Day (May 2, 2009)

Former U.S. Attorney for Alaska Wev Shea, expressing his opinion that the State of Alaska should be responsible for defending the governor from frivolous ethics complaints:

"Alaska's chief executive must never be publicly humiliated by incompetents who like to attack success."

- JP

Rest in Peace, Jack Kemp (1935 - 2009)

Jack Kemp's long battle with cancer is over. He died shortly after 6 PM today, surrounded by his family.

Kemp quarterbacked Buffalo to two consecutive AFL Championships, and was voted the league's most valuable player in 1965. He co-founded the AFL Players Association in 1964 and was elected president of the union for five terms.

His football fame helped Kemp transition to the world of politics, and he represented western New York for nine terms in Congress, leaving the House for an unsuccessful presidential bid in 1988.

After serving as President George H.W. Bush's housing secretary, Kemp was Bob Dole's running mate in the 1996 presidential election. After that loss, Kemp frequently appeared for speaking engagements, wrote a syndicated column and served as co-director of Empower America, the free market advocacy group he helped to establish.He was a tireless crusader for tax reform and supply-side policies. As a congressman, Kemp's signature legislative accomplishment was passage of the Kemp-Roth Tax Cut in the 1980s, the first of two major tax cuts enacted under President Ronald Reagan.

In his memoriam to Jack Kemp, my colleague at RedState.com, Erick Erickson, said:

Kemp did for Dole what Palin did for McCain among conservatives — excited a conservative base distrustful of the then Senate Majority Leader.

There are other parallels. Like Gov. Palin, Jack Kemp was an optimist and a happy warrior. Also like her, he gave campaign staffers fits by occasionally departing from the script and speaking his mind. Gov. Palin also shares Kemp's abiding faith in God and his belief in freedom.

To conservatives, the loss of Jack Kemp is tempered only by the knowledge that there is a new generation of Reagan disciples who will carry that great president's message and preach it to all who will listen. Governors Palin, Jindal and Sanford, as well as Representatives Bachmann, Flake, Hensarling and Pence are just a few of those who were too young to have known Reagan personally, but old enough to have been influenced by Kemp, who kept Reagan's flame burning.

Please remember Jack Kemp's family in your prayers.

- JP

Gov. Palin Pitches in to Help Military K-9 Outreach

Operation Military Care K-9 is a program that reaches out to military K-9 teams deployed in the Middle East. Both the dogs and their handlers are recipients of care packages thanks to the effort, which was organized by Beth White, a teacher at Henderson High School in South Carolina. Mud Creek Baptist Church is partnering with Beth to help send such useful items as cooling vests and bandannas for the dogs and sun block and lip balm for their handlers, as the teams have to work in the intense heat under the punishing sun of the Middle East.

Now one year old, Operation Military Care K-9 has sent more than 300 care packages to the military service dogs and their handlers. The Times-News says that a Memorial Day shipment to K-9 teams is scheduled to leave May 11 for the Middle East, and it will include some very special American flags. Each flag will include a message from Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, whose son Track is on active duty in the M.E.:

"God Bless," Palin wrote boldly on each flag. She was thankful to be included in this opportunity to express her gratitude and prayer for the military men and women, White says.

- JP

The Palins are using alternative media

Stephen Maloney makes the observation:

"Sarah and Todd have been using the media we never think of: Esquire, Sports Illustrated, Men's Journal, and 'American Chopper.' Smart move."

- JP

Gov. Palin Marching for Babies in Juneau Today

The latest tweet from Gov. Palin: Like a million of her fellow Americans, she's participating in the March for Babies:

"Just starting the March of Dimes' 'March for Babies.' Gorgeous day here in Juneau, great crowd of AKns marching together for healthy babies!"

BTW, since the governor established her Twitter account and started tweeting just 48 hours ago, she now has nearly 15,000 followers.

- JP

Quote of the Day (May 1, 2008)

Comment to a post on Wizbang yesterday about Michelle Obama wearing $540 sneakers to volunteer at a food bank:

"She gets praise for being a fashion icon, where as someone like Sarah Palin got critized because money was spent on her clothing to look good during the elections."

Honorable Mention: McClatchy Watch, commenting on how Steven Thomma, McClatchy's DC political reporter, has suddenly noticed Joe Biden is a gaffe machine:

"Just imagine the reaction from McClatchy and the Anchorage Daily News and Tina Fey if Sarah Palin had told somebody in a wheelchair to stand up."

- JP

No More Mr. Nice Right?

John Hawkins says it's time for conservatives to play hardball:

While we conservatives don’t have to stoop quite as low as the left has, we do need to start giving them a taste of their own medicine, if only to make them think twice about the way they’re treating our side.

For example, look at the media jihad that was shamelessly launched against Sarah Palin’s family. There was a not-so-subtle message being sent: if you’re a Republican woman, you better stay in the shadows or we’re going to destroy your family to get you. The left gave the same kind of intrusive, public scrutiny to “Joe the Plumber,” a private citizen who merely asked an inconvenient question to Barack Obama. While conservatives defended both Sarah and Joe as we complained incessantly about the way they were treated, the reality is that the Democrats paid no price whatsoever for the out-of-bounds attacks.

Instead of continuing to complain, here’s a better idea. Why don’t conservatives do opposition research on the journalists endlessly running stories about Bristol Palin and Joe the Plumber? Have they ever been arrested? Whom do they own property with? Have they ever been paid to do a speech for someone and then run a favorable news story about him? Certainly Keith Olbermann’s personal life is just as newsworthy as Joe the Plumber’s, and the details of Maureen Dowd’s life are just as noteworthy as those of Bristol Palin — are they not?

The only problem is that the Left's oppo research and dirty dirty tactics are well-financed. I'm all for playing for keeps. But without a Sugardaddy Soros bankrolling us, how will we raise the money? If the conservatives are serious about this, it's going to take more than a few bake sales and passing the hat at tea parties to pull it off.

Got ideas? I'd like to hear them.

- JP

Governor's March-April Newsletter Published

A new edition of Gov. Palin's newsletter, Putting Alaska First, has been published and is now up on her website. The feature item is about the legislature's decision to accept most of the federal stimulus funds:

"With passage of several bills and resolutions before it adjourned, the legislature acted to accept the federal economic stimulus dollars that were slated for Alaska. I have been clear and consistent about my concerns with accepting these funds as our nation incurs tremendous debt. to accept the funds via passage of House Bills 81, 113, 199, Senate Bill 75, House Joint Resolution 11 and House Concurrent Resolution 13. The House and Senate finance committees held nearly 20 public hearings and worked closely with my administration to research aspects of the stimulus bill. The public had the opportunity to both weigh in and also learn more about the complicated and evolving requirements in this package. The legislature agreed with me that these funds should be used to generate new private sector jobs and not to create new services or programs and included intent language to that effect in HB 199. Because the legislature resolved to take the funds, it is the administration's job now to prudently and wisely administer them."

The governor also discusses how her administration is dealing with the impact of declining oil and gas revenues and how fiscal changes have affected the budgeting process in Alaska:

"We must, of course, make the necessary improvements to programs, but we need to avoid major, new spending commitments that would create budget shortfalls in the future."

Gov. Palin also discusses what the state's government is doing with regard to energy, transportation and infrastructure, education, health, public safety and other matters in the bi-monthly newsletter here.

- JP

Amend Alaska's Ethics Act

As we know all too well, ethics complaints can be filed in Alaska, and even if they are dismissed as frivolous, it doesn't cost the filer a dime. A group of Palin-haters, egged on by the Anti-Palin nutroots in Alaska, have used this loophole in the state's ethics regulations to run Gov. Palin's legal bills up to over half a million dollars and burn hundreds of thousand more in state money purely for political purposes.

Alaskan blogger Upinak says it's time to amend Alaska's Ethics Act to make those who file unsuccessful ethics complains pay all of the legal fees brought on by their actions instead of forcing the taxpayers to pick up the tab. this would make it more difficult for bogus ethics complaints to be used as a political weapon.

Anyone wishing to lend a hand in this effort, shoot an e-mail to HelpingPalin@gmail.com. Legal assistance would be especially appreciated.

Put the rabid anklebiters on a leash!

- JP

How to put a Palin-hatin' TV critic in his place

Warner Todd Huston, my colleague at RedState.com, where we are both regular contributors, has exposed snarky Baltimore Sun TV critic David Zurawik for using his position to make a *PDS attack on Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. One would expect Zurawik, as a TV reviewer, to analyze the actual program he used as a vehicle for his drive-by character assassination attempt, but such was not the case:

Zurawik gives us no less than one slight on Palin’s social standing, one denigration of her addition to the McCain presidential ticket, one claim she is “divisive,” as well as a few name callings and the like. Zurawik calls Palin “a hot dog” and then implies that she is a low-class individual that is perfect for reality TV.

In fact, out of the four paragraphs of the review, only one of them actually talks about the show. The rest are merely an excuse to attack Palin on a personal level.

One would also be excused if after reading the acid tongued Zurawik’s account of the show that Palin is a central part of the episode. In truth, however, only one small part of the show features Palin as she was visited by the show’s main character, motorcycle builder Paul Teutul, Sr.

The smear campaign against the former vice presidential candidate is unprecedented. The Palin haters are using every venue they can think of to try to destroy her political career before she has the opportunity to challenge The One they worship. The milieu of so-called entertainment reporters, gossip columnists and media critics is just one of the many battle fronts on which they attack.

Read WTH's full post at RedState.com. Watch a clip from the episode where Paul Sr. visits Gov. Palin in her office here.

- JP

*Palin Derangement Syndrome