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Palin-Bachmann rally: 'Take that, liberals!'
MinnPost ^ | Wednesday April 7, 2010 | Doug Grow

Posted on 04/07/2010 6:02:43 PM PDT by Bigtigermike

How do you get your mind around something like this rally that happened right in the middle of the state's most liberal congressional district?

Michele Bachmann, Sarah Palin and, on the undercard, Gov. Tim Pawlenty. All on one stage before thousands of passionate conservatives. T-shirts and banners ("Palin-Bachmann, Our Dream Team.") Conservatives bouncing to the tunes of — gasp — Bruce Springsteen as they awaited the arrival of the stars. People coming to the Minneapolis Convention Center at 5:30 in the morning for a 2 p.m. event. ("I didn't want to miss any of this,'' said Joan Peron of Coon Rapids.)

Let's start with the star attractions, Bachmann and Palin. The thousands standing on the concrete floor for hours didn't just like these two, they adored them. Everything about 'em, especially when they ripped into Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid or President Obama. The people booed those three with the same gusto they cheered Bachmann and Palin.

Those gathered especially seemed to like the cute stories. Palin, for example, told the story of how she first met Minnesota's 6th District congresswoman.

"When we first met, she had traveled to Alaska to see about what we could do to have energy independence. I knew we'd be buddies right away, because she was saying, 'Drill here, drill here, drill here.' I replied, 'Drill baby, drill.' And then we both said, 'you betcha.'''

Big, big cheers. You betcha.

Still, what was all of this about?

Thousands of people on a gorgeous April afternoon standing inside on a concrete floor, waiting and waiting.

Un-party crowd

It had the feel of a presidential campaign event, not a congressional campaign event. Republican Party officials, in fact, couldn't remember a congressional campaign event ever attracting this sort of crowd.

But, interestingly, this wasn't necessarily a Republican crowd. Speaker after speaker — from Pawlenty to Rep. John Kline to the stars of the show — referred as often to "conservatives" and "Tea Party" members as they did to Republicans.

Before the event began, Tony Sutton, the chairman of the state's Republican Party, noted how un-party this crowd was. In fact, he said, the biggest benefit to the state party was that so many of the 11,000 people who requested free tickets were not people on the party's mailing list.

"Now we have them identified,'' said Sutton. "That's 10,000 new people we will have to go out and work for us.''

Was he baffled by this huge turnout?

"I sometimes think that we in Minnesota don't realize what an important voice Michele Bachmann has become for the conservative movement across the country,'' Sutton said.

Perhaps the slogans on the t-shirts best told the story of who these conservatives are. The slogans weren't about party, or even specific candidates.

"God Bless the USA."

"Be A Citizen, Not a Subject.''

"Anti-Socialist."

"Impeach Obama.''

Those t-shirts underscored the message that conservatives/Republicans are the people of "no.''

And Palin assured the crowd — her crowd, Bachmann's crowd — there's nothing wrong with that.

"What's wrong with being the party of 'no' when you see what Obama, Pelosi and Reid are doing to this country?'' she asked.

The crowd agreed with cheers. Loud, long cheers. There were so many conservative cheers Wednesday afternoon in the heart of Minnesota liberalism.

The Bachmann campaign, by the way, said the site in the 5th District, Keith Ellison's district, was selected because it was centrally located for people coming in from the sprawling 6th District. It was helpful that the convention center also is handy to the Hilton Hotel where Bachmann and Palin were going for a big-buck fundraiser. $10,000 would get you photographed with Sarah Palin.

But this event surely will help DFLers raise money, too. They're inspired to generosity by Palin and Bachmann, much as the conservatives are inspired to get involved by the current administration.

"I hope they pour a bunch of money into the 6th District,'' said Sutton. "I hope they pour as much as they've got because it's all going to be wasted.''


TOPICS: Government; Politics
KEYWORDS: bachmann; democrats; elections; gop; michelebachmann; obama; palin; sarahpalin; socialism
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To: Sarah Barracuda

You can tell Sarah is pissed at what is going on. She looks and sounds a lot more serious than normal.


21 posted on 04/07/2010 6:36:34 PM PDT by Clyde5445 (Gov. Sarah Palin: :"You have to sacrifice to win. That's my philosophy in 6 words.")
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To: FlyingEagle

Well said. The “Democrats” are about party survival. Republicans are about the country’s survival. Dems=selfish, Repubs=Selfless.


22 posted on 04/07/2010 6:42:10 PM PDT by historyrepeatz
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To: Sarah Barracuda

Sometimes I just glance over to see what he and Matthews are doing. It’s extremely painful to watch Shultz for more than about 15 seconds. The things he says are just unbelievable-same with Matthews.


23 posted on 04/07/2010 6:45:09 PM PDT by dandiegirl
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To: dandiegirl

Watching MSDNC makes my head hurt. I just skip over the channel, I should call Time Warner and remove it from my lineup..what a waste of a network. All it is unfortunately is is the mouthpiece of the Obama Administration.


24 posted on 04/07/2010 6:51:31 PM PDT by Sarah Barracuda
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To: historyrepeatz

I am with you. She has it all.


25 posted on 04/07/2010 6:55:06 PM PDT by Bainbridge
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To: Clyde5445

What do you mean by this ?


26 posted on 04/07/2010 6:56:42 PM PDT by Bainbridge
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To: FlyingEagle

I wouldnt worry about Michele, she is plenty safe - let the Dems waste there money there. If they couldnt beat Bachmann in 2008, they never will.


27 posted on 04/07/2010 7:02:53 PM PDT by keyesguy
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To: Bigtigermike

Next president and vice president Palin-Bachmann 2012


28 posted on 04/07/2010 7:08:33 PM PDT by SinCityMom
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To: SinCityMom

Amen Amen......and may the libs heads exploded in unison!!!


29 posted on 04/07/2010 7:09:59 PM PDT by Bigtigermike (Loose lips sink ships, stay away RINO's)
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To: FlyingEagle

“Where are the Republicans?” I think they are in some back room trying to figure out WHO they are. Too many in “our” party are Also addicted to the Power, Perks and Pork.


30 posted on 04/08/2010 4:09:25 AM PDT by radioone ("The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.")
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