Palin fires up crowd at tea party keynote
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Sarah Palin, in a speech that was short on ideas but big on enthusiasm, took aim at President Barack Obama and the Democrats, telling a gathering of “tea party” activists that America is ripe for another revolution.
Noting his party’s dismal showing in elections since Obama moved into the White House a year ago with talk of hope and promises of change, Palin asked the gathering: “How’s that hope-y, change-y stuff workin’ out for you?”
Her audience waved flags and erupted in cheers during multiple standing ovations as the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee gave the keynote address Saturday at the first national convention of the “tea party” coalition. It’s an antiestablishment, grass-roots network motivated by anger over the growth of government, budget-busting spending and Obama’s policies.
Palin’s 45-minute talk was filled with her trademark folksy jokes and amounted to a pep talk for the coalition and promotion of its principles.
The speech also was rife with criticism for Obama and the Democrats who control Congress, but delivered with a light touch. Aside from broad conservative principles like lower taxes and a strong national defense, the speech was short on Palin’s own policy ideas that typically indicate someone is seriously laying the groundwork to run for the White House.
Indeed, Republican observers say she’s seemingly done more lately to establish herself as a political celebrity focused on publicity rather than a political candidate focused on policy.
WATCH THE WHOLE KEYNOTE
Catering to her crowd, Palin talked of limited government, strict adherence to the Constitution, and the “God-given right” of freedom. She said the “fresh, young and fragile” movement is the future of American politics because it’s “a ground-up call to action” to both major political parties to change how they do business.
“America is ready for another revolution!” she told the gathering.
Palin suggested the movement should remain leaderless and cautioned against allowing it to be defined by any one person.
“Let us not get bogged down in the small squabbles. Let us get caught up in the big ideas,” she said, though she offered few of her own.
The former Alaska governor, who resigned from office last summer before completing her first term, didn’t indicate whether her political future would extend beyond cable news punditry and paid speeches to an actual presidential candidacy.
All she offered was a smile when a moderator asking her questions used the phrase “President Palin.” That prompted most in the audience to stand up and chant “Run, Sarah, Run!”
But, given the plethora of attacks that Palin leveled at Obama, she seemed like she was already running against him. And, perhaps, as an independent.
UPDATE: Earlier today, in her first Sunday show appearance (though it was taped before the convention began yesterday), Palin reiterated that a presidential run is still on the table.
“I would, I would if I believe that is the right thing to do for our country and the Palin family. Certainly I would do so,” she told Fox News Sunday. “I think that it would be absurd to not consider what it is that I could potentially do to help our country… I won’t close a door that perhaps could be open for me in the future.”
She talked little about the Republican Party and encouraged “tea party”-aligned candidates to compete in GOP primaries.
Palin ribbed Obama for Democratic losses in New Jersey and Virginia governor’s races last fall and in a Massachusetts Senate race last month, saying: “When you’re 0-3 you’d better stop lecturing and start listening.”
On foreign policy and national security, Palin said he had “misguided thinking” and a pre-Sept. 11 mindset.
Her fee was $100,000 for the appearance at the for-profit event.
(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading ...
It is contemptibly timid, despicably mean for anyone to say those sexist, slanderous, malicious comments about anyone, let alone a wife and mother of five. Anyone who takes pleasure in spewing such hatred, wild accusations, and attacks on a family is utterly reprobated. Some people and it is evident in some comments in this blog who have bought into the Democrats’ entire political strategy which is centered on the politics of personal destruction. What is the mind-set of an individual that justifies vomiting such filth and then goes about kissing a wife or husband; child, mother or family member with affection without so much of a conscious thought of how those comments might affect the children? It is simply monstrous and unconscionable that anyone can believe that such venom serves some moral or ethical purpose. That self-diluted, duplicitous hypocritical mind-set defies credulity! It maybe elementary to write speaker notes on ones hand, but it is much worse, bordering on inhumane, for adults to conduct themselves with such excessive indulgence in the personal mutilation and character assassination of another human being!
Cut and paste much, Carlito? How long did it take you to work your way down from those little paper dollies, and the flour and water glue?
Goldman and CITI are offering a ‘Special, In-House Private Semi-Derivative’ investment to their prime clientele, an offering of ‘Insider’ shares in TPI.
Tea Party Inc., their latest ‘private’ IPO. is predicting a 20+% annual return, on the conditions that Sarah-the-Simp does not contract strep throat, and teabaggers do not, as a group, become enlightened. Members of the NeoConZionist Cabal, are secretly backing the Goldman/CITI/TPI, having secured the pledge of AIPAC, Unltd.’s enormous financial reserves, so that all may maintain their control of the US, and pre-empt the long-anticipated real revolt of it’s citizens.
All liberals better get ready—They’re gonna get MEGA-teabagged in November..!
It’s hilarious watching the left try to untwist their panties today. They sure spend a lot of time trolling from thread to thread, website to website, posting incoherent rants about a woman they think is irrelevant. Obsession, jealousy, and insanity – they are sure good for the psychotic pharmaceutical industry.
Wow – she didn’t quit halfway through the speech. Impressive.
Palin’s negotiations with Ailes and Murdoch to put her Tea Party on FOX as a ‘Political Reality Show’ are proceeding. ‘We have a built-in audience’, Sarah insists. ‘All the folks who watch the WWE fake wresting shows will love us. I don’t know if we should go so far as to put our candidates in long blond wigs, and have them dress in tights and all-over tattoos, but those are just details we’re working on’.
….short on ideas…the woman is an overarching, monumental idiot and hypocrite who kisses Rush’s a##. She will ensure Democratic victory because only a fool will vote for her. She reads from notes written in ink on her hand !!!