On the heels of his prediction of a Palin nomination on "Fox News Sunday", Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol went on "Your World with Neil Cavuto" yesterday for the sole purpose of discussing Sarah Palin. I specifically liked the fact that he never once mentioned Palin's gender as an issue, shooting down the idea that she would be merely an "affirmative action" pick.
New Contact Email
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Kristol predicts Palin nomination, Palin plays coy with John Gibson.
That was on today's edition of Fox News Sunday. Note that it is not merely a suggestion, but rather an actual PREDICTION. Now, listen to Gov. Palin's Friday interview on Fox News Radio's "John Gibson Show".
Maybe it's just me, but watching all of the media attention Gov. Palin is suddenly getting, it's starting to look like there might be something going on behind the scenes.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Videos: The media tour begins?
Gov. Palin has recently conducted three interviews with national TV networks, all within roughly 24 hours of each other. This is sharply raising the Governor's national profile, and some might think that they are watching an effort to float Palin as a VP candidate for John McCain. Hot Air's "Allahpundit" has even coined the term "Palinmania". Here's a review:
First, there was Fox Business Channel
then CNBC's "Kudlow and Company" and finally this clip on CNN. (Don't trust the title, listen to what Palin actually says.)
First, there was Fox Business Channel
then CNBC's "Kudlow and Company" and finally this clip on CNN. (Don't trust the title, listen to what Palin actually says.)
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
John McCain: Palin "has a future in our party"!
Click here to watch Gov. Palin's interview with Larry Kudlow!
I know that the title does not match the first line of this post, so let me string this all together for you. Gov. Palin gave a great interview tonight on "Kudlow and Company", and VP speculation came up in a BIG way...namely a very interesting soundbite from John McCain himself. I won't spoil the entire surprise, but my title should give you a clue. It was also notable that Palin did NOT respond in the negative when Kudlow asked if she would accept (a departure from her language in the Glenn Beck interview). I also loved her commentary on ANWR, especially the remark about anti-drilling liberals "living in la-la land".
I know that the title does not match the first line of this post, so let me string this all together for you. Gov. Palin gave a great interview tonight on "Kudlow and Company", and VP speculation came up in a BIG way...namely a very interesting soundbite from John McCain himself. I won't spoil the entire surprise, but my title should give you a clue. It was also notable that Palin did NOT respond in the negative when Kudlow asked if she would accept (a departure from her language in the Glenn Beck interview). I also loved her commentary on ANWR, especially the remark about anti-drilling liberals "living in la-la land".
BREAKING: Palin on CNBC TONIGHT!
UPDATE: Kudlow and Company will not be re-airing tonight. I will be working on obtaining the dtails of the interview.
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Sorry for the short notice, but I just found out myself. Gov. Palin was on CNBC's Kudlow and Company TONIGHT at 7 PM Eastern. If you want to watch, they should be recycling the program later tonight. I'll get details posted as soon as I can, but judging from the following blurb on Kudlow's website I can almost guarantee that the vice presidency will come up:
AN INTERVIEW WITH GOVERNOR SARAH PALIN...Joining us live from Anchorage, Alaska will be the much talked about possible McCain vice-presidential pick Sarah Palin. She'll discuss drilling for oil on the Outer Continental Shelf and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
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Sorry for the short notice, but I just found out myself. Gov. Palin was on CNBC's Kudlow and Company TONIGHT at 7 PM Eastern. If you want to watch, they should be recycling the program later tonight. I'll get details posted as soon as I can, but judging from the following blurb on Kudlow's website I can almost guarantee that the vice presidency will come up:
AN INTERVIEW WITH GOVERNOR SARAH PALIN...Joining us live from Anchorage, Alaska will be the much talked about possible McCain vice-presidential pick Sarah Palin. She'll discuss drilling for oil on the Outer Continental Shelf and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
More praise from El Rushbo!
Rush Limbaugh gave Gov. Palin a big shout-out today, praising her letter to Sen. Reid. He also posted his comments on his official website.
Click here to read the transcript!
Click here to read the transcript!
Palin sends ANWR letter to Harry Reid!
"We may look back someday and realize that we failed to perceive a critical crossroad in the history of this nation."
-Gov. Sarah Palin
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If you haven't already seen Gov. Palin's letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, you really ought to read it. In three short pages, she makes one of the most convincing and concise arguments for drilling in ANWR and domestic oil production in general. Sarah Palin needs to remain an active voice in our nation's energy policy, and hopefully this letter will help her break into the national-level debate. I hope she follows it up with an offer to personally tour ANWR with congressional leaders and the presidential candidates.
-Gov. Sarah Palin
-----
If you haven't already seen Gov. Palin's letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, you really ought to read it. In three short pages, she makes one of the most convincing and concise arguments for drilling in ANWR and domestic oil production in general. Sarah Palin needs to remain an active voice in our nation's energy policy, and hopefully this letter will help her break into the national-level debate. I hope she follows it up with an offer to personally tour ANWR with congressional leaders and the presidential candidates.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Video: Santorum praises Palin!
Former Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA), appeared on a Fox News panel yesterday to discuss the three female running mates brought up by Politico.com (Palin, Fiorina, Hutchison). He deemed Palin the "most interesting one" and "the one that would play best with conservatives". He also called her a "dynamic new leader" and praised her handling of the recent birth of Trig.
Click here to watch.
Click here to watch.
BIG Politico Article.
UPDATE: Ed Morrissey has a wonderful, pro-Palin response to the Politico article posted on HotAir's front page (along with a big Palin portriat). He does an excellent job of shooting down all of the article's arguments against Palin. YOU ROCK, ED! (hat tip: "It's vintage, duh!")
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It started yesterday at Politico.com, then I found it on HotAir.com, then it hit the Yahoo! homepage, then it turned up as a RealClearPolitics headline, and now it's posted at AOL's "Elections" homepage and mentioned by the Wall Street Journal.
I'm speaking, of course, about David Paul Kuhn's article "Three women who might join the GOP ticket", which profiles (in order) Sarah Palin, Carly Fiorina, and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. On the whole, this is is definitely a positive development for our movement. It gets Gov. Palin's name out there, and almost all of the comments posted at Politico are pro-Palin (much fewer mentions of the other two women profiled), and the same goes for the comments section at HotAir.com. So, people are definitely loving the idea of a McCain-Palin ticket!
However, I also need to take issue with some of the views presented in the article. Several unnamed "party insiders", who seemed to have no inside knowledge of the VP selection process, dismissed Palin as "out of the top tier" for very petty reasons. I feel a need to respond to their claims, as they seem to show a double standard. So, here are their three primary criticisms with my responses.
1. She is "too unkown and inexperienced".
This argument could be made for almost any potential VP candidate. I don't hear anyone complaining about Charlie Crist's lack of experience, despite the fact that he and Palin were both elected in 2006. In fact, Palin was elected to her first office (city council) in 1988, four years before Crist's first election as a State Senator in 1992. Furthermore, I doubt that the average man on the street knows the names Tim Pawlenty, Bobby Jindal, and Tom Ridge. Hence, this criticism is totally irrelevant.
2. "She is not only based far from the continental 48 — and in a state with just three electoral votes that should already be in the bag for the GOP".
The Vice Presidency is about leadership, not geography, and this argument is an insult to every American who lives in a small state. However, I would also point out that Alaska could become a swing state this year, and Obama is also targeting other Northwestern red states. Please read my recent column, "The Geographic Argument for Palin", for a detailed description of why the current electoral map requires John McCain to select a Northern (and preferably Northwestern) running mate.
3. "No foreign policy credentials or experience."
Again, this is a blatant example of a double standard being applied to Palin. Gov. Palin has the same level of foreign policy gravitas as almost every other Governor. Tim Pawlenty, Charlie Crist, Bobby Jindal, Mitt Romney, Mark Sanford, and Mike Huckabee are all lacking in the foreign policy department, and no one is criticizing them for it. John McCain has foreign policy gravitas spilling out his ears, and it is not what he needs in a running mate. However, as this election will likely be won or lost at the gas pump, he does need someone with gravitas on oil and gas issues. Gov. Palin, being from Alaska, is one of the country's leading voices on such issues, a mantle which no other governor can claim.
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It started yesterday at Politico.com, then I found it on HotAir.com, then it hit the Yahoo! homepage, then it turned up as a RealClearPolitics headline, and now it's posted at AOL's "Elections" homepage and mentioned by the Wall Street Journal.
I'm speaking, of course, about David Paul Kuhn's article "Three women who might join the GOP ticket", which profiles (in order) Sarah Palin, Carly Fiorina, and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. On the whole, this is is definitely a positive development for our movement. It gets Gov. Palin's name out there, and almost all of the comments posted at Politico are pro-Palin (much fewer mentions of the other two women profiled), and the same goes for the comments section at HotAir.com. So, people are definitely loving the idea of a McCain-Palin ticket!
However, I also need to take issue with some of the views presented in the article. Several unnamed "party insiders", who seemed to have no inside knowledge of the VP selection process, dismissed Palin as "out of the top tier" for very petty reasons. I feel a need to respond to their claims, as they seem to show a double standard. So, here are their three primary criticisms with my responses.
1. She is "too unkown and inexperienced".
This argument could be made for almost any potential VP candidate. I don't hear anyone complaining about Charlie Crist's lack of experience, despite the fact that he and Palin were both elected in 2006. In fact, Palin was elected to her first office (city council) in 1988, four years before Crist's first election as a State Senator in 1992. Furthermore, I doubt that the average man on the street knows the names Tim Pawlenty, Bobby Jindal, and Tom Ridge. Hence, this criticism is totally irrelevant.
2. "She is not only based far from the continental 48 — and in a state with just three electoral votes that should already be in the bag for the GOP".
The Vice Presidency is about leadership, not geography, and this argument is an insult to every American who lives in a small state. However, I would also point out that Alaska could become a swing state this year, and Obama is also targeting other Northwestern red states. Please read my recent column, "The Geographic Argument for Palin", for a detailed description of why the current electoral map requires John McCain to select a Northern (and preferably Northwestern) running mate.
3. "No foreign policy credentials or experience."
Again, this is a blatant example of a double standard being applied to Palin. Gov. Palin has the same level of foreign policy gravitas as almost every other Governor. Tim Pawlenty, Charlie Crist, Bobby Jindal, Mitt Romney, Mark Sanford, and Mike Huckabee are all lacking in the foreign policy department, and no one is criticizing them for it. John McCain has foreign policy gravitas spilling out his ears, and it is not what he needs in a running mate. However, as this election will likely be won or lost at the gas pump, he does need someone with gravitas on oil and gas issues. Gov. Palin, being from Alaska, is one of the country's leading voices on such issues, a mantle which no other governor can claim.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Jack Kelly: McCain, Palin should make joint ANWR trip
Syndicated columnist Jack Kelly suggested yesterday that John McCain should visit the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), accompanied by Gov. Palin, to reconsider his position on drilling. He also suggests using the trip to name Gov. Palin as his running mate.
I have heard the idea of a McCain-Palin ANWR trip floated by several news outlets, and personally I think that it is a very good idea. Veepstakes or no veepstakes, McCain could gain great credibility by touring ANWR (even if he doesn't change his position), and Gov. Palin is in the unique position of being able to facilitate such a venture. As one of the nation's leading voices on ANWR drilling, I think that she could play a vital role in the national drilling debate by inviting both Senator McCain and Senator Obama to visit the proposed drilling site and review the facts. Obama is not likely to accept such an offer, so McCain could easily seize the upper hand in the energy debate by showing himself as a the only candidate willing look at the facts on the ground.
So, I am happy to join the chorus calling for an ANWR visit by McCain, but I would like to add a plea to Gov. Palin as well:
Please take it upon yourself to invite both presidential candidates to ANWR. You are the only one who really has the authority to offer such a tour, and the country would benefit greatly from your services.
I have heard the idea of a McCain-Palin ANWR trip floated by several news outlets, and personally I think that it is a very good idea. Veepstakes or no veepstakes, McCain could gain great credibility by touring ANWR (even if he doesn't change his position), and Gov. Palin is in the unique position of being able to facilitate such a venture. As one of the nation's leading voices on ANWR drilling, I think that she could play a vital role in the national drilling debate by inviting both Senator McCain and Senator Obama to visit the proposed drilling site and review the facts. Obama is not likely to accept such an offer, so McCain could easily seize the upper hand in the energy debate by showing himself as a the only candidate willing look at the facts on the ground.
So, I am happy to join the chorus calling for an ANWR visit by McCain, but I would like to add a plea to Gov. Palin as well:
Please take it upon yourself to invite both presidential candidates to ANWR. You are the only one who really has the authority to offer such a tour, and the country would benefit greatly from your services.
Friday, June 20, 2008
The geographic argument for Palin
Our argument has always been that Sarah Palin should be on the ticket for two reasons. First and foremost, she is one of the nations toughest and gutsiest leaders; and secondly, she can appeal to broad demographics across the country. However, we now have a third argument, a geographic one, that flies in the face of the "but she's from Alaska!" criticism. Now, to be clear, this site maintains the position that geography should be at best a secondary concern in the selection of a running mate. However, I think it is important to show that even geography is now arguing for Palin.
Yesterday, Barack Obama launched his first TV ad of the general election. It is running in 17 states, mostly traditional battlegrounds. However, he is also targeting three traditionally red states in the Northwest: Alaska, Montana, and North Dakota. If you recall, the Obama campaign recently asserted that they could win the election without winning Ohio or Pennsylvania, and now we know what they were thinking. Obama is planning to to pick off the small, red-leaning states where he won the Democratic caucuses and McCain lost the GOP caucuses to Mitt Romney. Hence, a Northwestern running mate is needed to solidify McCain's hold on these states.
Furthermore, one of the bigger surprises of this campaign has been the fact that McCain could have a slim lead in traditionally blue Michigan. A Northern running mate could definitely help him protect that lead. Another interesting poll shows that McCain could take Minnesota if he selects Bobby Jindal as his running mate. Palin and Jindal are often lumped together as up-and-coming reformers, but Palin is also a Northerner. Hence, it is not a stretch to think that a McCain-Palin ticket would outperform even a McCain-Jindal ticket, putting Minnesota solidly in the Republican column.
It really boils down to this: Governor Palin knows how to speak the language of the Northern U.S. She calls herself a "hockey mom", not a "soccer mom"; and her strong Alaskan accent bears great similarity to Minnesotan, Dakotan, and Michigander accents. I realize that this sounds petty, but petty issues often affect the way people react to a candidate; and Palin can personally relate to Northerners in a way that most other candidates (especially the Southwestern McCain) cannot.
So, while geography has been used to agrue against a Palin nomination, the changing electoral map now makes a strong agument in her favor.
Yesterday, Barack Obama launched his first TV ad of the general election. It is running in 17 states, mostly traditional battlegrounds. However, he is also targeting three traditionally red states in the Northwest: Alaska, Montana, and North Dakota. If you recall, the Obama campaign recently asserted that they could win the election without winning Ohio or Pennsylvania, and now we know what they were thinking. Obama is planning to to pick off the small, red-leaning states where he won the Democratic caucuses and McCain lost the GOP caucuses to Mitt Romney. Hence, a Northwestern running mate is needed to solidify McCain's hold on these states.
Furthermore, one of the bigger surprises of this campaign has been the fact that McCain could have a slim lead in traditionally blue Michigan. A Northern running mate could definitely help him protect that lead. Another interesting poll shows that McCain could take Minnesota if he selects Bobby Jindal as his running mate. Palin and Jindal are often lumped together as up-and-coming reformers, but Palin is also a Northerner. Hence, it is not a stretch to think that a McCain-Palin ticket would outperform even a McCain-Jindal ticket, putting Minnesota solidly in the Republican column.
It really boils down to this: Governor Palin knows how to speak the language of the Northern U.S. She calls herself a "hockey mom", not a "soccer mom"; and her strong Alaskan accent bears great similarity to Minnesotan, Dakotan, and Michigander accents. I realize that this sounds petty, but petty issues often affect the way people react to a candidate; and Palin can personally relate to Northerners in a way that most other candidates (especially the Southwestern McCain) cannot.
So, while geography has been used to agrue against a Palin nomination, the changing electoral map now makes a strong agument in her favor.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
VIDEO: Ann Althouse nails HuffPo editor on Palin
This video may be one of the most convincing arguments yet for a Palin candidacy, because it shows how the far-left establishment reacts to her. After dodging Althouse's questions about Palin for almost eight minutes, The Huffington Post's Rachel Sklar is finally forced to talk about Palin, and this is the only anti-Palin argument that she can muster:
I would note that Miss Sklar is the HuffPo's "media and special projects editor", which is not exactly a low-level job. If all that she can muster against Palin is a rant about her own opposition to pro-lifers, then we know that we have found a VP candidate who can sink the Democratic ticket. Sklar's repeated refusal to even mention Palin also proves a major point: Sarah Palin scares the living daylights out of her potential opponents. It is almost impossible to attack Gov. Palin without placing your foot in your mouth, so the only way to get out of the conversation is to change the subject. Just think about it, with Sarah Palin on the ticket, interviews like this one could become commonplace on national television! If we spend the election season watching stammering Democrats desperately trying to explain away McCain's bulletproof running mate, then I think that there is a very good chance that the GOP ticket will steamroll to victory in November.
Click here if you want to watch Sklar not answer Althouse for a full ten-minute segment.
I would note that Miss Sklar is the HuffPo's "media and special projects editor", which is not exactly a low-level job. If all that she can muster against Palin is a rant about her own opposition to pro-lifers, then we know that we have found a VP candidate who can sink the Democratic ticket. Sklar's repeated refusal to even mention Palin also proves a major point: Sarah Palin scares the living daylights out of her potential opponents. It is almost impossible to attack Gov. Palin without placing your foot in your mouth, so the only way to get out of the conversation is to change the subject. Just think about it, with Sarah Palin on the ticket, interviews like this one could become commonplace on national television! If we spend the election season watching stammering Democrats desperately trying to explain away McCain's bulletproof running mate, then I think that there is a very good chance that the GOP ticket will steamroll to victory in November.
Click here if you want to watch Sklar not answer Althouse for a full ten-minute segment.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Cool Video
This just went live at the Anchorage Daily News' "Alaska Politics Blog". It was shot yesterday, when Gov. Palin signed a bill banning text messaging and video watching while driving. She had a great unscripted moment discussing BlackBerries. Sorry that I can't embed it, no code available.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Great PR Day!
I love days like this. You know...the ones where you have to write a "wrap-up" instead of a post because there is just too much good news!
First off, Gov. Palin got a big mention on Hannity and Colmes tonight. She was mentioned by Colmes as the newest name to surface in the GOP Veepstakes, and guest Dick Morris called her "a very bright woman" and "an excellent choice". Granted, he said he would prefer either Powell, Rice, Lieberman, or Bloomberg; but he still heaped praise on Palin. Either way, the Governor's picture appeared on the screen three different times, more than any other candidate.
Palin was also added to CBS News' "VP Hot Sheet", a top-ten list of who is "hot" in the GOP Veepstakes. She enters the countdown at #9 and is labeled as "the ultimate outside-the-box choice". Hopefully a good showing in their poll will move her up the list.
Lisa Schiffren of National Review also chimes in, noting that younger, hipper VP contenders like Palin are on the rise, while conventional choices like Pawlenty are becoming less desirable.
And finally, James Pethokoukis of U.S. News and World Report suggests that Sen. McCain needs to pay a visit to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), accompanied by our favorite governor, to reconsider his position on ANWR drilling. This on the heels of an identical suggestion posted by Kathryn Jean Lopez at National Review Online. I may be posting more on this story later in the week, as it seems to be coming from several different sources.
First off, Gov. Palin got a big mention on Hannity and Colmes tonight. She was mentioned by Colmes as the newest name to surface in the GOP Veepstakes, and guest Dick Morris called her "a very bright woman" and "an excellent choice". Granted, he said he would prefer either Powell, Rice, Lieberman, or Bloomberg; but he still heaped praise on Palin. Either way, the Governor's picture appeared on the screen three different times, more than any other candidate.
Palin was also added to CBS News' "VP Hot Sheet", a top-ten list of who is "hot" in the GOP Veepstakes. She enters the countdown at #9 and is labeled as "the ultimate outside-the-box choice". Hopefully a good showing in their poll will move her up the list.
Lisa Schiffren of National Review also chimes in, noting that younger, hipper VP contenders like Palin are on the rise, while conventional choices like Pawlenty are becoming less desirable.
And finally, James Pethokoukis of U.S. News and World Report suggests that Sen. McCain needs to pay a visit to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), accompanied by our favorite governor, to reconsider his position on ANWR drilling. This on the heels of an identical suggestion posted by Kathryn Jean Lopez at National Review Online. I may be posting more on this story later in the week, as it seems to be coming from several different sources.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Profile in the Colorado Springs Gazette
Click here to read!
If you don't already know, this blog is headquartered just outside Colorado Springs, CO. Hence, I'm very excited that our movement is on the front page of the "Metro" section in my local paper. The article is supposed to be a profile of me, but I know better than anyone that you, the readers, are really the engine of this site's success. So, thank you for making our movement newsworthy. Also, I'd like to thank reporter Alexis Fitts and photographer Carol Lawrence for their work on the story, it was a pleasure working with both of you.
If you don't already know, this blog is headquartered just outside Colorado Springs, CO. Hence, I'm very excited that our movement is on the front page of the "Metro" section in my local paper. The article is supposed to be a profile of me, but I know better than anyone that you, the readers, are really the engine of this site's success. So, thank you for making our movement newsworthy. Also, I'd like to thank reporter Alexis Fitts and photographer Carol Lawrence for their work on the story, it was a pleasure working with both of you.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Conference Call with RNC Vice Chair Frank Donatelli
My one major deviation from the all-Palin-all-the-time format is my reporting on the McCain campaign's blogger conference calls. The focus of yesterday's call was economic policy, and the guest was Frank Donatelli, Deputy Chairman of the Republican National Committee. I actually got the chance to pose a question, so I asked if McCain would talking more about ANWR drilling during the campaign.
While Mr. Donatelli did not know whether Sen. McCain would be specifically addressing ANWR, he did say a few things about energy independence that I really liked. His primary point was that the Senator thinks that it is imperative to our national security that we lessen our dependence on foreign oil. He wants to promote numerous solutions, including nuclear power.
The key thing I took away from this call is that, while Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin may have differences on ANWR, they hold the same overarching views regarding energy independence. Gov. Palin has repeatedly said that, in order to truly protect our nation, we need to ensure that we are not dependent on potentially hostile foreign regimes; that view is now being echoed by the McCain campaign. So, despite some disagreements on specific issues, I think that we can trust both Palin and McCain to pursue energy independence with a militant devotion. This is yet another reason why they will make a great ticket in November.
While Mr. Donatelli did not know whether Sen. McCain would be specifically addressing ANWR, he did say a few things about energy independence that I really liked. His primary point was that the Senator thinks that it is imperative to our national security that we lessen our dependence on foreign oil. He wants to promote numerous solutions, including nuclear power.
The key thing I took away from this call is that, while Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin may have differences on ANWR, they hold the same overarching views regarding energy independence. Gov. Palin has repeatedly said that, in order to truly protect our nation, we need to ensure that we are not dependent on potentially hostile foreign regimes; that view is now being echoed by the McCain campaign. So, despite some disagreements on specific issues, I think that we can trust both Palin and McCain to pursue energy independence with a militant devotion. This is yet another reason why they will make a great ticket in November.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Another Great Media Day!
The press about Palin just won't stop! Here's a sampling of some articles and posts from today.
The Times (UK) - Palin makes the British paper's list of McCain's top ten VP picks, saying "Known for her maverick governing style, McCain could see in her something of a kindred spirit". Let's hope they're right.
About.com offers not one, not two, but three posts mentioning a Palin nomination. Justin Quinn's ringing endorsement of Gov. Palin is the most favorable.
The American Spectator's Blog also focused on Palin for much of the day, as two of their bloggers engaged in an extended debate on the merits of a Palin candidacy. (Links: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) Be sure to look for my comments below two of the posts.
There's also this heartwarming story from the Anchorage Daily News (posted yesterday)...and this one too. Can the Palin narrative get any more endearing?
Of course, there was also my interview on "The Lee Davis Show" in Birmingham, AL and Steve Maloney's appearance on Sirius 110's "Blog Bunker".
And lastly, our new web ad has been viewed over 2,000 times on YouTube since it's release Monday morning!
The Times (UK) - Palin makes the British paper's list of McCain's top ten VP picks, saying "Known for her maverick governing style, McCain could see in her something of a kindred spirit". Let's hope they're right.
About.com offers not one, not two, but three posts mentioning a Palin nomination. Justin Quinn's ringing endorsement of Gov. Palin is the most favorable.
The American Spectator's Blog also focused on Palin for much of the day, as two of their bloggers engaged in an extended debate on the merits of a Palin candidacy. (Links: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) Be sure to look for my comments below two of the posts.
There's also this heartwarming story from the Anchorage Daily News (posted yesterday)...and this one too. Can the Palin narrative get any more endearing?
Of course, there was also my interview on "The Lee Davis Show" in Birmingham, AL and Steve Maloney's appearance on Sirius 110's "Blog Bunker".
And lastly, our new web ad has been viewed over 2,000 times on YouTube since it's release Monday morning!
Radio Appearances TODAY
Sorry for not posting this earlier, but I will be appearing at 4:30 PM Eastern on "The Lee Davis Show" on WXJC in Birmingham, Alabama. (Live Stream Available)
This will be followed at 5:30 PM Eastern by Steve Maloney's appearance on "Blog Bunker" on Sirius Satelite Radio Channel 110.
This will be followed at 5:30 PM Eastern by Steve Maloney's appearance on "Blog Bunker" on Sirius Satelite Radio Channel 110.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
New Web Ad!
ALERT: Remember to vote for Sarah in MSNBC's "Veepstakes"! Polls close Monday at noon (Eastern). Also, don't forget to listen to Steve Maloney Monday on Sirius Sattelite Radio!
I am extremely proud to announce the release of the very first YouTube ad promoting Sarah Palin for Vice President, which we are co-sponsoring with our good friend Kristofer Lorelli of PalinforVP.com (who did the production work). I think it does a very good job of capturing our message and summarizing all of the great qualities that Palin would bring to Sen. McCain's ticket. This could be a great marketing tool for us, so let's make sure it goes viral. Please post this to your blog, send it to your friends, anything to make sure that it is watched as many times as possible.
Palin speculation gets "Sirius"
If you have Sirius Satellite Radio, be sure to tune in to Channel 110 ("Indie Talk") on Monday at 5:30 PM Eastern. One of our biggest and earliest supporters, Steve Maloney, will be discussing Sarah Palin on the talk show "Blog Bunker". For those of us (like me) who don't have Sirius, I will be doing my best to obtain a tape or transcript.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Sarah Palin: mommy first, politician second
One of the things we love about Gov. Palin is that, unlike many politicians, she has her priorities in the right order: family first, politics second. Unfortunately, this has brought up a debate (especially among social conservatives) about whether motherhood and leadership should be mutually exclusive. Obviously, we believe that they should not, and the Governor is consistently proving that they don't have to be (see picture below). Hence, I would like to link you to what I consider to be a very important column by one of the leading behind-the-scenes voices in our movement...my mom (who happens to author a blog on homeschooling).
Now, to be clear, I am not linking this post because my mommy wrote it. I'm linking it because she has an EXTREMELY unique perspective on Gov. Palin which I have not seen ANYWHERE on the net, and I have been encouraging her to write it down for some time. You see, Mom is a devoutly religious, stay-at-home, homeschooling mother. Basically, she's cut from the same cloth as many of the people who are saying that Palin should not even be in politics, let alone running for Vice President. Yet, she is very supportive of our movement, and has written (to the best of my knowledge), the first BIBLE BASED argument for why Gov. Palin should be our next Vice President. Regardless of who wrote it, I consider this opinion to be a must-read for any religious conservative.
Photo: Gov. Sarah Palin, left, signs Senate Bill 57 while holding her baby, Trig, on Wednesday (David Sheakley / Juneau Empire)
Now, to be clear, I am not linking this post because my mommy wrote it. I'm linking it because she has an EXTREMELY unique perspective on Gov. Palin which I have not seen ANYWHERE on the net, and I have been encouraging her to write it down for some time. You see, Mom is a devoutly religious, stay-at-home, homeschooling mother. Basically, she's cut from the same cloth as many of the people who are saying that Palin should not even be in politics, let alone running for Vice President. Yet, she is very supportive of our movement, and has written (to the best of my knowledge), the first BIBLE BASED argument for why Gov. Palin should be our next Vice President. Regardless of who wrote it, I consider this opinion to be a must-read for any religious conservative.
Photo: Gov. Sarah Palin, left, signs Senate Bill 57 while holding her baby, Trig, on Wednesday (David Sheakley / Juneau Empire)Thursday, June 5, 2008
"Greatest Hits": The video that started it all
As there seems to finally be a brief lull in breaking news, I wanted to take the time to introduce our new supporters to some of the material that helped show me (and other early "Palinites") that the Governor was ready for prime time back in February 2007. So, for the benefit of our new readers, I will be sporadically re-posting some of the key videos and columns from the early days of our movement. To kick off this "Greatest Hits" series, I thought I would bring back one of the videos that convinced me that it would be possible to build the now-booming Palin Movement .
This report from KTUU TV in Anchorage, recorded in December 2006, shows Gov. Palin and her daughters arriving at the Governor's mansion for the first time after her election. This intimate look at the Palin family shows that the governor is a genuine, down-to-earth, honest human being. Watching it, I realized that, in addition to her courageous leadership on poltical issues, Gov. Palin also possessed the type of infectious personality that could generate a massive grassroots following. That type of charisma helped build the careers of Ronald Reagan, JFK, and (unfortunately) Barack Obama; so we knew we were seeing something special when we saw it demonstated by Sarah Palin. While it is not political in tone, this video was key in the early marketing of our movement.
This report from KTUU TV in Anchorage, recorded in December 2006, shows Gov. Palin and her daughters arriving at the Governor's mansion for the first time after her election. This intimate look at the Palin family shows that the governor is a genuine, down-to-earth, honest human being. Watching it, I realized that, in addition to her courageous leadership on poltical issues, Gov. Palin also possessed the type of infectious personality that could generate a massive grassroots following. That type of charisma helped build the careers of Ronald Reagan, JFK, and (unfortunately) Barack Obama; so we knew we were seeing something special when we saw it demonstated by Sarah Palin. While it is not political in tone, this video was key in the early marketing of our movement.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
MSNBC Veepstakes, and record numbers!
Round 2 of MSNBC's "Veepstakes" is up, and Gov. Palin needs some help to beat John Thune. I was considering not posting this, as Thune had a big early lead, but Gov. Palin has started closing the gap due to today's media coverage. Please log in and vote, and maybe we can win this thing after all! At the very least, we can narrow the margin.
We smashed our record for visits today, registering over 3,000 individual visitors and over 5,000 total page loads! We've also had by far our best day ever concerning the ratio of page loads to petition signatures. On days when we get over 1,000 hits, we might get ten petition signatures, twenty if we are really lucky. However, in the last two days, we have received well over 100 petition signatures out of 6,000 hits. So, not only are we reaching more people than ever, we are also increasing the percentage of our readers who actually commit to supporting Gov. Palin!
LET'S KEEP THE SNOWBALL ROLLING!
We smashed our record for visits today, registering over 3,000 individual visitors and over 5,000 total page loads! We've also had by far our best day ever concerning the ratio of page loads to petition signatures. On days when we get over 1,000 hits, we might get ten petition signatures, twenty if we are really lucky. However, in the last two days, we have received well over 100 petition signatures out of 6,000 hits. So, not only are we reaching more people than ever, we are also increasing the percentage of our readers who actually commit to supporting Gov. Palin!
LET'S KEEP THE SNOWBALL ROLLING!
RealClearPolitics Article!
RealClearPolitics ran a wonderful column on Palin's VP prospects today, and it is currently listed on their front page (main column, 12th story down). Among the many other positive comments, columnist Jack Kelly calls Gov. Palin the "one potential running mate who has virtually no down side."
Folks, the snowball is rolling, and chances are that it will only get bigger!
Folks, the snowball is rolling, and chances are that it will only get bigger!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Glenn Beck Interview
I think the governor did a fantastic job and showed tremendous competence on oil and gas issues, which will likely dominate the election due to high gasoline prices. Now, I know she says that she would answer "no" to a VP nomination "if she had to make that decision today", but there are several reasons why I do not find this discouraging. For one, she seems to be indicating that she'd think about it before making a final decision; and secondly, she leaves open the idea that she might say "yes" if asked tomorrow.
At the moment, Governor Palin is trying to complete the process of licencing the construction of a natural gas pipeline by the TransCanada corporation. This would be the biggest development in Alaska since the oil pipeline, and Gov. Palin needs to stay in the governor's chair through the current special session of the legislature, which will decide whether to award the license to TransCanada or not. However, that session should be completed well before Sen. McCain selects a running mate, and the governor's situation will probably have changed significantly.
Almost every potential VP candidate is giving similar answers to the media right now, and you might have noticed that she did not answer the question of whether McCain's people had been in contact with her. Our movement will be continuing at full speed, and we are very hopeful that the governor will be able to answer "yes" to the VP question by the time she is actually asked.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Palin on Glenn Beck.
Gov. Palin will be featured on tonight's Glenn Beck Program on CNN Headline News (7 PM Eastern, 4 PM Pacific, 3 PM Alaskan...replay at 9 PM Eastern). The topic will be her lawsuit challenging the listing of polar bears as a threatened species, but we're hoping VP speculation comes up. The exact format of the feature is unknown, as I know about it only from commercials on CNN. No details are posted online.
Another interesting wrinkle is that the Anchorage Daily News' "Alaska Ear" was told that Palin would be on at 11:30 AM (Alaskan Time). That obviously does not match Mr. Beck's evening TV slot, but it does match the slot for his nationally syndicated radio show. So, I will be listening closely to that as well.
Oh...and a quick note to "Alaska Ear": It is no longer valid to refer to Palin's VP speculation as "silly". That ship sailed months ago. When a potential candidate starts getting mass amounts of attention in the media and in political circles, it's called "serious" VP speculation. Asserting that is is not serious only makes you look "silly".
Another interesting wrinkle is that the Anchorage Daily News' "Alaska Ear" was told that Palin would be on at 11:30 AM (Alaskan Time). That obviously does not match Mr. Beck's evening TV slot, but it does match the slot for his nationally syndicated radio show. So, I will be listening closely to that as well.
Oh...and a quick note to "Alaska Ear": It is no longer valid to refer to Palin's VP speculation as "silly". That ship sailed months ago. When a potential candidate starts getting mass amounts of attention in the media and in political circles, it's called "serious" VP speculation. Asserting that is is not serious only makes you look "silly".
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Kavon W. Nikrad backs Palin!
If you are not familiar with Race42008.com, then you are missing out on the best election coverage in the blogosphere. Over the last few years, R4'08 has built itself into one of the most widely read Republican Election blogs on the net. One of the key minds behind the site is Founder and Managing Editor Kavon W. Nikrad, who announced today that he believes Gov. Palin would have more impact than any other VP candidate. This is important to me for two reasons. The first (and most important) is that I am a long-time reader of R4'08 and have tremendous respect for what Kavon has built over there. I started lurking in their comments section several months before I came up with the idea for this blog (under the he handle "ElephantMan") and still frequent the site (now under the handle "Palin for VP!"). Secondly, Mr. Nikrad has previously opposed the concept of a Palin nomination, so this proves our point that the more people see of Gov. Palin, the more they like her.
I have reposted the full text of the column below.
-------
I am a Flip-Flopper...
…on Sarah Palin for Veep that is. I have overcome (cough…flip-flopped…cough) my initial skepticism and am now of the belief that the selection of Sarah Palin could have the biggest impact of any potential choice that Sen. McCain could make.
It’s not only Dave’s compelling posts on disaffected Hillary voters (here and here) that changed my mind. This really does seem to be a real phenomenon with staying power that will stretch to November rather, than just a temporary tantrum.
The turning point for me is anecdotal, so take it for what it’s worth- but the majority of Hillary voters that I am acquainted with have told me that I they are not simply sitting the election put, put will actually pull the lever for John McCain in November. And to the very last one, they have echoed the sentiments of this irate Hillary voter, independently of one another.
I was shocked to discover that my wife’s gay, male, lifelong Democrat volunteer/activist friend (with whom she has shared many a friendly but spirited political debate with) pulled her aside to confess that he will be voting for John McCain in November. His reason is the same as the female Hillary supporter featured in the video, and is the same as that of the other Democratic acquaintances that have shared their decision with me. Their explanations have been that although they are lifelong Democrats, they cannot in good conscience vote for someone as inexperienced as Obama to be President of the United States.
And that is really the crux of the anger here, isn’t it? It not that Hillary lost, it’s that Hillary lost to someone that her supporters feel is vastly underqualified for the job in comparison. When Hillary supporters look back on their remembrances of the peace and prosperity of the Clinton years, as well as Hillary’s accomplishment of her own since she the White House and see that a three-year Senator that was representing a few neighborhoods in the Chicago area before that is poised to receive the Democratic nomination, the only conclusion that they can come to is that sexism is the root cause (this is what happens, of course, when your party is dominated by identity politics, but that is a discussion for another day).
Which brings me back to Palin. What would happen if Sen. McCain would select an accomplished and articulate Governor who identifies herself as a feminist, yet holds the values of a Center-Right Nation? My answer is that on election day, we would actually be able to hold many of these disaffected voters that may drift back to Obama or simply decide just to sit out instead.
The Veep selection is now a double edged sword for Obama. Pick a female, and he cannot shore up his main weakness in the general which is that he is too inexperienced to be CiC. Choose someone like Gen. Clark, Gen. Zinni, or Sen. Webb, and McCain can potentially pick off massive amounts of female voters by selecting Gov. Palin.
Bottom line: the veep selection on both sides is of more importance in this contest than perhaps any other in many, many years.
Best. Primary. Ever.
I have reposted the full text of the column below.
-------
I am a Flip-Flopper...
…on Sarah Palin for Veep that is. I have overcome (cough…flip-flopped…cough) my initial skepticism and am now of the belief that the selection of Sarah Palin could have the biggest impact of any potential choice that Sen. McCain could make.
It’s not only Dave’s compelling posts on disaffected Hillary voters (here and here) that changed my mind. This really does seem to be a real phenomenon with staying power that will stretch to November rather, than just a temporary tantrum.
The turning point for me is anecdotal, so take it for what it’s worth- but the majority of Hillary voters that I am acquainted with have told me that I they are not simply sitting the election put, put will actually pull the lever for John McCain in November. And to the very last one, they have echoed the sentiments of this irate Hillary voter, independently of one another.
I was shocked to discover that my wife’s gay, male, lifelong Democrat volunteer/activist friend (with whom she has shared many a friendly but spirited political debate with) pulled her aside to confess that he will be voting for John McCain in November. His reason is the same as the female Hillary supporter featured in the video, and is the same as that of the other Democratic acquaintances that have shared their decision with me. Their explanations have been that although they are lifelong Democrats, they cannot in good conscience vote for someone as inexperienced as Obama to be President of the United States.
And that is really the crux of the anger here, isn’t it? It not that Hillary lost, it’s that Hillary lost to someone that her supporters feel is vastly underqualified for the job in comparison. When Hillary supporters look back on their remembrances of the peace and prosperity of the Clinton years, as well as Hillary’s accomplishment of her own since she the White House and see that a three-year Senator that was representing a few neighborhoods in the Chicago area before that is poised to receive the Democratic nomination, the only conclusion that they can come to is that sexism is the root cause (this is what happens, of course, when your party is dominated by identity politics, but that is a discussion for another day).
Which brings me back to Palin. What would happen if Sen. McCain would select an accomplished and articulate Governor who identifies herself as a feminist, yet holds the values of a Center-Right Nation? My answer is that on election day, we would actually be able to hold many of these disaffected voters that may drift back to Obama or simply decide just to sit out instead.
The Veep selection is now a double edged sword for Obama. Pick a female, and he cannot shore up his main weakness in the general which is that he is too inexperienced to be CiC. Choose someone like Gen. Clark, Gen. Zinni, or Sen. Webb, and McCain can potentially pick off massive amounts of female voters by selecting Gov. Palin.
Bottom line: the veep selection on both sides is of more importance in this contest than perhaps any other in many, many years.
Best. Primary. Ever.
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