Posted on 09/05/2011 10:28:29 AM PDT by smoothsailing
Tony Katz
September 5, 2011
When former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin took the stage at the Restoring America Tea Party Rally in Indianola, IA, the crowd that had sat through two and half hours of rain and humidity jumped to their feet and cheered. The view from your TV could lead you to believe it was just another rally. Being there, however, gives a whole new look into what Palin means to those who love her, and what Palin Nation will do to get her to run, and elected.
Palin’s speech, at least the bullet points, was somewhat leaked in the days prior to the event. She was going to bring a full on assault against crony capitalism, and the “good old boys” network. This has been a continual theme of Palin. She broke through that network to get elected in Alaska, and utilized this outsider approach in her introduction to the world stage as the Vice-Presidential nominee of Sen. John McCain in 2008.
She delivered. On crony capitalism, she explained clearly the perils associated with the disassociation from free markets:
"This is not the capitalism of free men and free markets, of innovation and hard work and ethics, of sacrifice and of risk. No, this is the capitalism of connections and government bailouts and handouts, of waste and influence peddling and corporate welfare. This is the crony capitalism that destroyed Europe’s economies. It’s the collusion of big government and big business and big finance to the detriment of all the rest – to the little guys."
When Palin posited to the crowd, “…what or who we will replace him (Obama) with…,” the crowd erupted. The chants of “Run, Sarah, Run!” went throughout the grounds. They cheered in every corner, they cheered from the booths selling every imaginable Palin-esqe tchotchke. By this time, the crowd had grown. During the rain – big rains – some of the crowd stayed in their cars, or in the booths at the top of the venue. While we could see the constant stream of cars coming in from our view on stage, we could not see where they were parked. But as the moment approached of Palin’s speech, the crowd filled in nicely for a rain soaked day.
Many looked to Palin’s speech as proof that she is going to announce, or not announce, her run for President. Those people miss the point. To understand what is happening, one needs to be on the ground with the people. You need to look into their eyes, listen to them speak, watch them react...
On the issue of the institutionalized status quo not really liking her and her electability: A LOT of people said the same thing about Reagan when he was running - the GOP really didn’t like him, the Democrats certainly didn’t like him, but Americans LOVED him. Same with Sarah.
Wow...so much truth in what she says. I believe she has some new answers and would take America in a different direction.
When she announces, the whole game changes forever. With just a few words she will slay them all.
It's a good thing the Tea Party isn't an exclusive club - the meaning of Tea Party Activist will expand to include any real conservatives and a huge chunk of the Independents, not to mention the minority of Democrats that are actually "moderate". I'm ready...
Pretty cool word picture.
And the remnant were slain with the sword of him [her] that sat on the horse [canoe, boat, seat, whatever], which sword proceeded out of his [her] mouth... Revelation 19:21.
If she should decide, Iowa, and Palin Nation, will follow. They will campaign relentlessly. They will fundraise constantly. They will stand in the rain, in the blazing sun, in the bitter cold.
And yet the same could be said of Ron Paul supporters. If anything, they may be more devoted than Palin's die hard followers. In the end it doesn't matter because Paul can not translate the dedicated support of his loyal fans into broader appeal even among Republicans.
Being there, however, gives a whole new look into what Palin means to those who love her, and what Palin Nation will do to get her to run, and elected.
Again, these kinds sorts of anecdotal observations don't necessary have much meaning. There are plenty of examples to chose from, but in Iowa a few years back Democrat Howard Dean inspired the lefties and was adored by his followers to the extent they would crawl over broken glass to see him speak. In the end, it did not matter because he did not have broad support, only intense devotion from a small segment of the electorate.
The observations in this article would matter much more if Governor Palin were a new face and was just starting to build a name for herself and solidify her brand. Unfortunately, with Palin, that just isn't the case. Everyone knows her, most don't like her, and majorities of even conservatives and Tea Party folks do not want her to run.
Palins message is .... The status quo is over! You must put country ahead of party! You must either reform your party or abolish it altogether! Currently the Dem party is such a disaster that it has little or no chance for salvation. They have no desire to change. In fact, they want much more of the same. The Repubs have a chance but they will go kicking and screaming too. Sarah will put the final nail in their coffins.
“but Americans LOVED him. Same with Sarah.”
The people that love her ARE Americans. Sadly, there is just not enough of them.
Longbow1969 shot an arrow into the air, and it landed in his derriere.
The founding fathers and revolutionaries were also a minority. Didn't stop them. Shouldn't let it stop us.
“The founding fathers and revolutionaries were also a minority. Didn’t stop them. Shouldn’t let it stop us.”
Sorry, I was speaking of electoral politics, not armed revolution. You want to compare apples and hand grenades.
Most of the status quo establishment didn't like Reagan either. Why is this any different?
“them”?
Your freudian slip is showing.
Whatever it takes. Give me freedom or give me death.
“Your freudian slip is showing.”
Only if you choose to look for one. I am not currently a supporter of Sarah Palin since she is not currently a candidate for anything.
Makes as much sense as supporting Chris Christie.
So if Palin chooses not to run for President, are you threatening to pick up arms against the U.S. Government?
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