ABC's Diane Sawyer on November 15 resurrected the blood libel leftists tried to foist on former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin after deranged gunman Jared Loughner shot Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle ("Gabby") Giffords and 19 others, killing six. Sawyers' false linkage of Gov. Palin to the shooting aired on 20/20. CNN's Piers Morgan last week jumped on the bandwagon. While Giffords' husband Mark Kelly explicitly said Gov. Palin was not responsible for the shooting, he claimed she was "irresponsible." Here are some facts as they pertain to this shooting:

• Loughner never saw SarahPAC ad which contained 20 cross hairs representing the 20 districts in which sitting Congressmen and women were "targeted" to be voted out. The campaign known as "Take Back the 20" was highly successful: 18 out of the 20 candidates Gov. Palin endorsed were elected.
• Loughner did not like or watch the news.
• Loughner did not listen to talk radio.
• Loughner had a years-long personal obsession with Giffords.
• Loughner was known by many in his circle to be mentally unstable.
• Loughner was a leftist and probably would not have been positively predisposed to Gov. Palin.

Gov. Palin addressed the blood libel in a video and a Facebook Note: Sarah Palin: "America's Enduring Strength" from Sarah Palin on Vimeo. Here are some facts as pertain to the SarahPAC ad:

• Both Democrats and Republicans have used cross hairs, bulls eyes, dots, and all manner of reticles on political ads for many years.
• Liberal Democrat Bob Beckel discussed Democrat use of cross hairs on Sean Hannity's TV show
• The use of cross hairs and bulls eyes was actually pioneered by a Democratic Party consultant.

See: All Cross Hairs are Equal, But Some are More Equal than Others Facts on "target" and "targeting":

• The word "targeting" has been used in political campaigns by both Democrats and Republicans since time immemorial.
• "Target" and "targeting" are key words used in sales. Salesmen and women target prospects. Their commissions are based on hitting certain targets.
• "Target" is often used synonymously with "goal."
• Politics and sales share much in common, hence the use of similar terms in both disciplines.

Facts about Gov. Palin and her political advocacy:

• Gov. Palin has never advocated, supported or promoted vigilante or mob justice.
• Gov. Palin has always advocated following established legal and political processes.
• Gov. Palin has on numerous occasions condemned the use of violence to achieve political objectives.
• Gov. Palin has on numerous occasions said that our arms (weapons) are our ballots.
• Gov. Palin is a responsible leader who knows and understands her words influence others to action. Gov. Palin has never and would never encourage or counsel anyone to break the law or engage in unethical acts.

Facts about Gov. Palin, Conservatives and Violence:

• Gov. Palin and members of her family have been targeted for violence numerous times in these past three years. Prior to announcing her decision to not seek the GOP nomination in 2012, threats, death wishes and hate speech against Gov. Palin were routine on Facebook and Twitter. Even post-announcement, haters still make threats.
• The Undefeated begins with a montage of some of the most hateful and violent rhetoric that has been directed at Gov. Palin and her family. This hateful imagery and rhetoric was so disturbing that the theater version of the movie would have had an NC-17 rating if ran uncut.
• Tea Party rallies and other conservative events are self-policed, sanitary and conducted in compliance with the law. I have yet to hear of an arrest made at a Tea Party rally.
• Leftists are responsible for most violence and the threats of violence. This was going on with the "Occupy" protests in cities throughout the country. Violent confrontations with police, rapes, sexual assaults, and destruction of private and public property were staples of "Occupy" protests. Occupy protesters have gone on record as wanting to firebomb businesses, burn cities down, and one has expressed a wish that 9/11 would have occurred 911 more times.

Any Palinista worth his or her salt knows that one of Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's missions is rooting out crony capitalism and corporate welfare in Washington, D.C. Throw them All Out, by Peter Scheweizer - Gov. Palin's foreign policy adviser - focuses on Congressional insider trading, a practice that is illegal for the rest of us. Recall that a perjury conviction related to insider trading infamously earned home-making guru Martha Stewart time in the federal pen. Congressional insider trading is only one of numerous Congressional sins. In 1988, as the Reagan administration drew to a close, the Heritage Foundation undertook a five-year study of Congress, resulting the publication of The Ruling Class: Inside the Imperial Congress by Eric Felten in 1993. The Ruling Class is an expose on the inner workings of Congress and also suggests several ways to reform our legislative branch - all of which have been discussed, but none of which left the dream stage.

How Crony Capitalism Works

Gov. Palin has spoken numerous times about the federal debt ceiling. Ruling Class, Chapter One, which is titled "Sleight of Hand" explains precisely how the debt ceiling is raised automatically: House Rule XLIX (59). As Felten pointed out, the need to raise the debt ceiling is rather embarrassing. Not wanting to be held accountable for voting in favor of raising the debt ceiling, this piece of stealth legislation lets Congress do it without actually being voted on. Remember "deemed to have been voted on" - the trick some Democrats wanted to use to pass ObamaCare? Same principle here.

When the $787 billion stimulus was passed, Gov. Palin noted that many in both houses of Congress never read the bill. Many conservatives were likewise shocked when Nancy Pelosi declared about ObamaCare, "we're not going to know what's in it until we pass it." Actually, it's not shocking at all. This is routine practice in Congress. Our Senators and Representatives don't write legislation. Their staffs do it for them. Our legislators do not even read what was written for them either.

Ruling Class also outlined how Congressional hearings amount to little more than bullying to benefit a special interest group that successfully lobbied a Senator or Representative. Felten referred to these proceedings as a "Barnumocracy," and history is replete with them.

Another Congressional abuse is "regulation negotiation" or "reg neg," where lobbyists are directly involved with law-making. In a typical reg neg, the interested parties agree with a federal agency not to challenge a regulation in court. Felten described how Marriott Hotels strongly favored the Americans with Disabilities Act and worked to influence its passage. Marriott had already been designing its properties to be accessible for the prior 10 years. Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act cost Marriott nothing, but cost its competitors many millions of dollars. Thus, passage of the ADA worked to Marriott's advantage. Reg neg is one of the underpinnings of crony capitalism.

The Commons, Spending, Debts, and Deficits

According to Felten, our current woes with national debt and deficit spending are rooted in how both parties conduct business in both houses of Congress. Federal budgeting works in a manner similar to pasturing cattle on public commons. Eventually, too many cattle over-burden and deplete the commons. Because constituents and special interest groups have grown addicted to legislative pork without paying their fair share, the demand for services only increases. The result is more federal bloat, over-spending, debt, and deficits.

Felten also revealed that spending "cuts" are little more than a Congressional shell game, in which the "current services baseline" is raised, then "cut." This practice is akin to a store normally selling an item for $100, raising the price to $150, then offering a special sale promotion of $125.

Felten also asserted that re-election has become a machine-driven process in both Houses. Felten even wrote about crony capitalism, only he referred to it as "the favor factory."

As Old as the Republic...

Congressional corruption is as old as our Republic and "...has no party, no ideology and no gender," says Constitutional Scholar Alan Baker. "It's bipartisan and soaked in history and tradition. It also often defies logic."

While it is theoretically possible to throw the entire House of Representatives out every two years, only one third of the Senate is subject to election in any given cycle. Incumbents enjoy a strong re-election advantage. "Throwing out" often becomes a case of "Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss."

"We're talking about a culture of 'I'm better than everyone else' and 'I don't have to answer to anyone,'" says Baker. "It is pervasive and it has been part of the Congressional culture for a long time. You may hear a lot of talk about accountability and reform, but it simply is not happening."

Even when a new member of Congress arrives in Washington, full of idealism about doing a good job, he or she is soon sucked into the system.

This could explain why at least two of Gov. Palin's endorsees who ran on a Reagan-Conservative platform are backing Mitt Romney. They got sucked into the GOP establishment. Why else would they back a candidate who has been running for over six years, consistently polls at around 22%, and does not appeal to the party's base?

Political Corruption in America: An Encyclopedia of Scandals, Power and Greed, by Mark Grossman covers all of it since there was a Congress, but at nearly $200, the book is not likely to land on many shelves. An abridged version is available as a free Google eBook.

The Almanac of Political Corruption, Scandals, and Dirty Politics, by Kim Long also claims to cover 300 years worth of skullduggery and at $14 is more within the average person's reach. Inside Congress: The Shocking Scandals, Corruption and Abuse of Power Behind the Scenes on Capitol Hill, by Ronald Kessler focuses heavily on sex scandals, before addressing other malfeasance. This is also an expensive read coming in at nearly $125.

Of course, crony capitalism, patronage, corruption, and scandals have infected the executive and legislative branches at federal, state and local governments since time immemorial. Tammany Hall ruled New York for over 100 years. I remember when Queens Borough President - Donald Manes - committed suicide while his huge corruption scandal involving the Parking Violations Bureau erupted. And, two generations of Daleys treated Chicago to a tour de force of graft and corruption.

Reforming Congress Requires an Act Of Congress, and More

Felten's proposed reforms for Congress included: term limits, the line item veto, session limits, spending limits, removing Congressional exceptions to laws passed, subject Congress to Freedom of Information Act, "end the Constituent Service Racket," establish fair and open procedures, and cut committees.

These are all lofty reforms. Unfortunately, reforming Congress in many cases requires - well - an act of Congress. Reforms such as term limits, the line item veto and subjecting Congress to its own laws likely require a Constitutional Amendment. President Reagan repeatedly called for a line item veto throughout his administration, but it never materialized. When Sarah Palin was Alaska's governor, she did have the line item veto and used it with telling effect. Subjecting Congress to its own laws would resolve the entire issue of Congressional insider trading which is what Schweizer delineated in Throw them All Out.

Gov. Palin's Role in Reform

Since the founding of our republic, no one from inside the political establishment of either party has been able to root out any of these abuses in the federal Congress. Will Gov. Palin be able to do it as an outsider private citizen? Only time will tell and history will be the judge over the many election cycles this could play out. Gov. Palin, of course has a proven record as a reformer throughout her entire political career. If she cannot do it, most likely nobody can.

The future, how Gov. Palin will pursue ending political abuses, and her very destiny remain uncertain. Conservatives - not just Palinistas - are yearning for today's Ronald Reagan.

Today's Reagan very much exists, but she is not pursuing a formal title.

Signed two years ago today at the seventeenth hour and the fortieth minute Eastern Standard Time.

“Governor Palin…Sarah….it’s nice to see you again.” We locked eyes…she shook my hand, said “Hi, what’s your name.” “I’m Ron Devito, from Staten Island. You signed my heart in Pennsylvania.” She smiled…I could tell she remembered. “I like your buttons,” she said. But…I saw her looking at the Palin Power button, I had been selling. Pointing to the button, I said, “Today, I prototyped this one. And I will be giving it to you in the gift box. It is yours.” “Thank you,” Governor Palin said. It was time to leave….I turned back….”It was nice to see you again” — followed by a pregnant pause — “my President.” She ended the conversation with a final thank you and I took my signed books.

That day, I got to meet: Chuck and Sally Heath, Trig Paxson Van Palin, Jason Recher, and two of my authors: Adrienne Ross and Kristina Lazzaro, among several other friends and colleagues. Many things changed over these past two years, but my final two words to Gov. Palin this day are not among what's changed.

Enjoy the complete journey:

Going Rogue: Rochester, NY, Part VI — Going Home

Going Rogue, Rochester, NY: Part V — Egg Attack

Going Rogue, Rochester, NY: Part IV — Books Signed

Going Rogue: Rochester, NY, Part III — Ready

Going Rogue: Rochester, NY Part II — Camping

Going Rogue: Rochester, NY Part I — Journey

The Valley Women's Republican Club is sponsoring a screening of The Undefeated this Sunday November 20 from 1600 / 4 PM till 1800 / 6 PM AKST at the Colony Inn in Palmer, AK. Tickets for a special VIP meet-and-greet event with Stephen K. Bannon, the movie's creator and producer sell for $50 per person or $75 per couple, and include a light dinner.

The movie will play at the Wasilla Alaska Club Theater on Monday, November 21 at 1800 / 6 PM AKST. This is a screening only with seating limited to 150 and a suggested donation of $5.

For more information, to reserve a seat or to purchase a ticket to the meet-and-greet, contact Harmony Shields at informedgirl@gmail.com or 907-315-5038.

H/T Ian Lazaran, Conservatives4Palin for story lead.

File Photo by Rick Small, Anchorage, Alaska. 2011 Iron Dog: "And he’s off…Todd is officially on the Iron Dog trail." As published in Sights & Sounds from Iron Dog 2011 Starting Line, by Missy Stewart.

Four-time Iron Dog Champion Todd Palin will partner with Eric Quam, forming Team 11 in the 2012 Iron Dog, according to Alaska News. Palin and Quam came in second place for this year's Iron Dog, when Palin's snow machine sustained damage during the final leg of the race. He bungee corded the damaged left ski back to the machine and came in second by only 6:51. The first five places are considered wins with first being the champion. Todd Palin has raced in 21 Iron Dogs. Racers over the 2,000-mile course reach speeds of 80 mph or more in temperatures that drop to -70 Fahrenheit, and often in whiteout blizzard conditions.

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin tonight said she has "no regrets" about not seeking the 2012 GOP nomination and "can shake it up better from outside with Peter Schweizer and my PAC" in a two-segment interview on Sean Hannity's TV show from her home in Wasilla, Alaska. Gov. Palin would not endorse a particular candidate, however, she said the GOP nomination will be "Romney versus the non-Romney," with various candidates shifting front-runner position as the "non-Romney." Gov. Palin was seated by her fireplace which was operating, giving the feeling of a Fireside Chat.

Gov. Palin said it is very important that all the candidates be vetted so that the mistake that led to Obama's election would not be repeated. She also said voters should not be distracted with minor issues and gaffes that may reflect the idiosyncrasies of candidates running for office.

When asked about Newt Gingrich's rise in the polls, Gov. Palin said she was not surprised since "he's done so well in debates and balanced budgets during the Clinton Administration," but advised that Gingrich and all the other candidates should read Peter Schweizer's Throw Them All Out. About Romney, Gov. Palin said he has six years of experience as a candidate and has held steady with his numbers, which rest at 22%. She cautioned that the GOP nominee will have have a formidable foe with Obama who will have a $1 billion war chest and 90% of the lamestream media on his side.

Gov. Palin expressed her outrage at the violence being committed by Occupy protesters and the support of these protesters by Obama, Biden, and Pelosi. "These folks are ill-informed...misguided. I think it's atrocious what's going on," she said. Gov. Palin agreed with Hannity that Obama has inspired the protesters. "The Office of the Presidency has the power of word. This is getting out of control, this Occupy Wall Street, these shenanigans," Gov. Palin said. "He'll lecture us on words we should use. This is actual violence!"

Occupy "could become a campaign issue. The hypocrisy is glaring. Obama is perpetuating class warfare." Gov. Palin said the protesters should be angry about things like Solyndra, and crony capitalism. They should be directing their anger to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., she said. "For shame they are not angry at what is going on. Peter Schweizer is revealing graft, corruption. We cannot afford afford to continue this...our country is going bankrupt," she said.

"2012 is important not just for the Presidency, but the House and 33 Senate seats, and not just American Exceptionalism, but ethics," Gov. Palin said.

Video retrieved from SarahNET.

by Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin Reprinted in its entirety and retrieved from Wall Street Journal: How Congress Occupied Wall street

Mark Twain famously wrote, "There is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress." Peter Schweizer's new book, "Throw Them All Out," reveals this permanent political class in all its arrogant glory. (Full disclosure: Mr. Schweizer is employed by my political action committee as a foreign-policy adviser.)

Mr. Schweizer answers the questions so many of us have asked. I addressed this in a speech in Iowa last Labor Day weekend. How do politicians who arrive in Washington, D.C. as men and women of modest means leave as millionaires? How do they miraculously accumulate wealth at a rate faster than the rest of us? How do politicians' stock portfolios outperform even the best hedge-fund managers'? I answered the question in that speech: Politicians derive power from the authority of their office and their access to our tax dollars, and they use that power to enrich and shield themselves.

The money-making opportunities for politicians are myriad, and Mr. Schweizer details the most lucrative methods: accepting sweetheart gifts of IPO stock from companies seeking to influence legislation, practicing insider trading with nonpublic government information, earmarking projects that benefit personal real estate holdings, and even subtly extorting campaign donations through the threat of legislation unfavorable to an industry. The list goes on and on, and it's sickening.

Astonishingly, none of this is technically illegal, at least not for Congress. Members of Congress exempt themselves from the laws they apply to the rest of us. That includes laws that protect whistleblowers (nothing prevents members of Congress from retaliating against staffers who shine light on corruption) and Freedom of Information Act requests (it's easier to get classified documents from the CIA than from a congressional office).

The corruption isn't confined to one political party or just a few bad apples. It's an endemic problem encompassing leadership on both sides of the aisle. It's an entire system of public servants feathering their own nests.

None of this surprises me. I've been fighting this type of corruption and cronyism my entire political career. For years Alaskans suspected that our lawmakers and state administrators were in the pockets of the big oil companies to the detriment of ordinary Alaskans. We knew we were being taken for a ride, but it took FBI wiretaps to finally capture lawmakers in the act of selling their votes. In the wake of politicos being carted off to prison, my administration enacted reforms based on transparency and accountability to prevent this from happening again.

We were successful because we had the righteous indignation of Alaskan citizens on our side. Our good ol' boy political class in Juneau was definitely not with us. Business was good for them, so why would they want to end "business as usual"?

The moment you threaten to strip politicians of their legal graft, they'll moan that they can't govern effectively without it. Perhaps they'll gravitate toward reform, but often their idea of reform is to limit the right of "We the people" to exercise our freedom of speech in the political process.

I've learned from local, state and national political experience that the only solution to entrenched corruption is sudden and relentless reform. Sudden because our permanent political class is adept at changing the subject to divert the public's attention—and we can no longer afford to be indifferent to this system of graft when our country is going bankrupt. Reform must be relentless because fighting corruption is like a game of whack-a-mole. You knock it down in one area only to see it pop up in another.

What are the solutions? We need reform that provides real transparency. Congress should be subject to the Freedom of Information Act like everyone else. We need more detailed financial disclosure reports, and members should submit reports much more often than once a year. All stock transactions above $5,000 should be disclosed within five days.

We need equality under the law. From now on, laws that apply to the private sector must apply to Congress, including whistleblower, conflict-of-interest and insider-trading laws. Trading on nonpublic government information should be illegal both for those who pass on the information and those who trade on it. (This should close the loophole of the blind trusts that aren't really blind because they're managed by family members or friends.)

No more sweetheart land deals with campaign contributors. No gifts of IPO shares. No trading of stocks related to committee assignments. No earmarks where the congressman receives a direct benefit. No accepting campaign contributions while Congress is in session. No lobbyists as family members, and no transitioning into a lobbying career after leaving office. No more revolving door, ever.

This call for real reform must transcend political parties. The grass-roots movements of the right and the left should embrace this. The tea party's mission has always been opposition to waste and crony capitalism, and the Occupy protesters must realize that Washington politicians have been "Occupying Wall Street" long before anyone pitched a tent in Zuccotti Park.

Ms. Palin, a former governor of Alaska, was the Republican nominee for vice president in 2008.

H/T Ian Lazaran, Conservatives4Palin for story lead.

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin tonight offered advice for six of the declared candidates running for President in 2012 on Greta Van Susteren's On the Record from her home in Wasilla, Alaska. Gov. Palin did not endorse any candidate saying that the "the cream has not risen to the top." She did not pick a candidate most likely to defeat Obama in 2012 as Fox News had promoted on its website, and the subject of a reconsidered run never arose during the interview.

Gov. Palin said a candidate who most closely aligns with her values and articulates them best would earn her endorsement. The values she specifically mentioned include: "shifting the balance of power back to the people and adhering to the Constitution."

In what will likely be the "takeaway" from tonight's interview, Gov. Palin said she "would bring the rope" to hang former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky "from the highest tree if he were found guilty and convicted of child molestation charges." That statement was made in answer to Van Susteren's question about whether Gov. Palin agreed with former Senator Rick Santorum's position that Penn State should not be allowed to play in any bowl game. Gov. Palin said that "it was not the players' fault and they should not be made to suffer for having had a perverted coach."

About Herman Cain, Gov. Palin said "it sucks to be falsely accused," but also said Cain needs to candidly answer the questions being asked of him and acknowledged that his answers could be "a game-changer." She said Cain needs to get to the substance of the issues. Gov. Palin recounted that both she and her husband Todd have been falsely accused of having affairs.

Gov. Palin said Romney has been running for president for nearly six years now and has not seen a change in his polling numbers. She said he "needs to reach out to the Tea Party conservatives and explain his real and perceived flip-flops." She said voters seek authenticity and candidness.

Ron Paul "has very energized supporters....it's unfortunate he has been written off," Gov. Palin said adding that Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum have also been written off by the mainstream media. "He needs to keep doing what he is doing. He was only given 89 seconds to respond to questions. It's not fair, but his supporters need to be the ones to raise the issue, Gov. Palin said.

She said public disdain for Congress, especially with revelations of crony capitalism and pay-to-play are at least contributing factors in Santorum and Bachmman being written off. She added that if Congressmen and women are not fighting crony capitalism, people will perceive them as being part of it.

"[Newt Gingrich] needs to hang on to his hat. People are respecting his performance in debates and his knowledge of history," Gov. Palin said. She continued that his momentum in the polls makes him a target for media scrutiny and he needs to be prepared for it.

Gov. Palin said this election is not just about replacing Barack Obama, but who we replace him with. "Evidently, in this day and age, personal indiscretions don't matter, but jobs and economy are paramount. People need an explanation about solutions and proposals."

Video retrieved from SarahNET

Gov. Palin tonight will reveal on Greta Van Susteren's On the Record which declared candidate she believes has the best chance of beating Obama in 2012, according to promotional language on Fox News' home page and in a promo video.

Ed. Note:

If the foregoing is true, we can reasonably conclude that all reconsideration, "earthquake" and other such efforts should cease. Further, this pick may or may not constitute an official Palin endorsement of a declared candidate.

H/T Anne Quinn, Sarah Palin News for story lead.

Over a week ago, a rumor began that Gov. Palin was actively reconsidering her decision to not seek the GOP nomination in 2012. The whys, wherefores and "he said/she said" associated with the rumor are not important now. No one except Gov. Palin, her husband Todd, and God know for sure whether the rumor is true. But, reasonable people can agree that she could reconsider or could already have taken one or more steps in that direction.

She Could...

On November 3, Nate Silver of the New York Times outlined a scenario in which Gov. Palin could mount a late unconventional campaign if she so chose. Silver also said the probability of this scenario occurring was "low."

On November 8, Glynnis MacNicol of the Business Insider suggested that Silver's scenario could be more probable in "IT'S COME TO THIS: Could Sarah Palin Get Back in the Race?." MacNicol opened the synopsis stating that many Republicans are displeased with the possibility that Romney could be their only viable choice and this displeasure has led to the reconsideration rumors.

On November 10, Bernie Quigley, who writes for The Hill, concluded his Pundit's Blog, thus:

Possibly she created "the vacuum on the right" when she got off the bus and took it back to Alaska. As per last night it is safe to say there is still time to get in simply because nothing else is working. And the failure of the other contenders works positively in her favor.

According to Ian Lazaran, Conservatives4Palin, Gov. Palin would still have a plausible chance of winning if she enters the race by December 10. He reiterated that date in a second open thread.

The Field

A late entry into the 2012 race was advantageous for Gov. Palin, because simple passage of time permitted the remaining candidates to succeed or fail on their own merits without her having to lift a finger, spend one penny, or be the lightning rod. The foregoing three articles speak to that. Simply put, time was her best friend. At some point, the equation will reverse and time will become Gov. Palin's worst enemy in the 2012 race. Could December 11 be that date in which this reversal occurs? I honestly don't know.

Living in New York, my primary is April 24, 2012. Absent a reconsidered Palin run, I have over six months to pick a declared candidate and vote in the primary. I also have over six months to work in a New York ground game on a reconsidered run. If Gov. Palin were to enter today, my Iowan colleagues would have only six weeks to re-effectuate their ground game. If we use December 10, that time compresses to a mere three weeks. While Friday's Bret Baer show did not feature the promised interview with Gov. Palin, it did provide a solid education on the mechanics of the Iowa caucuses, their history and their importance. Iowa could likely be critical to a successful reconsidered run.

Consideration of Reconsideration

Conservatives4Palin is considering a reconsideration ad campaign. Since the original discussion on it, the idea has developed via an open thread and a dedicated article. I expressed my support of the idea in commentary on the original article. While I was never enamored with the idea of mail-bombing Gov. Palin "earthquake" postcards and letters, this project is far different. Properly worded, these ads could very publicly show that we are here for Gov. Palin and we are ready to help her get elected if she chooses to run. Furthermore, these ads are intended to be seen in mainstream media and generic conservative outlets. Their purpose is to gin up buzz around reconsideration, not be an "earthquake movement" in ad form. As Lazaran noted, it could help Gov. Palin's political viability now or if she chooses to run in 2016. I agree with this strategy.

As publisher of US for Palin, I have held that that we should respect Gov. Palin's decision, defer to her leadership and support whatever she does moving forward. I maintain this position. I also believe Conservatives4Palin's proposed ad campaign, does not conflict with this position.

No Illusions

We should not have illusions about ourselves vis-á-vis our effect on Gov. Palin's reconsideration. Her original decision was never premised on lack of popular support for her running.

Gov. Palin is the owner and final arbiter of any reconsideration process. Because her decision was driven by factors other than popular support for running, I do not think she is going to reconsider and run because she saw the umpteenth post card or read a reconsider ad. In my opinion, any project premised on changing Gov. Palin’s mind is a conscious choice to ignore reality and disregards the root cause of her decision. But, I think an ad campaign that says “we support Gov. Palin and we are prepared to do useful work if she does choose a reconsidered run” can be productive and is worthy of our financial support.

In my opinion, any reconsideration process Gov. Palin undertakes would be based at least in part on her assessment of the political landscape and how it has changed since she made her announcement on October 5. I think she would revisit the factor(s) that weighed against her running on October 5 and determine if they have mitigated sufficiently to justify a run, or have become inoperative. I think as a woman of faith, she would pray over this - perhaps even more so than the original consideration! I think she would not proceed without the approval of those in her immediate family who are old enough to have a say and who would be affected by her decision.

Be Careful What You Wish For...

You just may get it....meaning if Gov. Palin reconsiders with the outcome being her entry into the race, the stakes will be very much higher. This would not merely be an unconventional campaign, but a very risky one. By publicly supporting reconsideration, we are asking Gov. Palin to stick her neck - and her family's necks - out for us. Are we ready, willing and able to make the sacrifices and do the work required to help her win? Extraordinary though she may be, she cannot do this on her own or in a vacuum. Do we have the wherewithal to conduct a successful write-in for those states whose filing deadlines have come and gone - if those states permit it? Can we mount a truly effective ground game in a compressed time span?

Work means canvassing precincts - when it's hot, or cold; your feet are sore or even blistered; you are tired, hungry, and thirsty; and you've had doors slammed in your face. Work is doing street visibility, making phone calls, stuffing envelopes, and installing signs. Goofing off on Facebook, engaging in flame wars, and jockeying for non-existent positions does not count as work. If you are not truly ready to put your 125% effort via useful work into a Palin win; if you do not understand and accept the aggravated risk associated with a campaign that would give new meaning to "unconventional," best to vote for a declared candidate and forget reconsideration.

Her Potential

Gov. Palin has enormous potential yet to be unlocked. A reconsidered 2012 POTUS run could be the key that unlocks her highest potential. Or, some other endeavor could unlock that potential even she has yet to see. I support whatever propels Gov. Palin to summit - to self-actualize - POTUS run or not.

But some part of me still feels she has been summoned.

Gov. Palin's adviser, Peter Schwiezer discussed the crony capitalism that has infected the Obama administration on CBS News 60 Minutes earlier this evening. As this goes to press, Schwiezer is on the air with Victory Sessions with Stephen K. Bannon to discuss his new book Throw Them All Out which goes to market on Tuesday, November 15, 2011.

H/T Ian Lazaran, Conservatives4Palin for story lead and video.

Governor Palin today posted on Facebook:

I proudly display a bumper sticker that proclaims “If you love your freedom, thank a vet!” It was on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 that the armistice between Germany and the Allied nations was formed. A year later the White House commemorated the day as one to be “filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory.” Years later 11-11 was officially declared Veterans Day. We are thankful for this day being set aside to remember our vets, and many of us are overwhelmed with pride and respect for those we honor today. America's men and women in uniform selflessly sacrificed – some giving all – to protect the freedom and opportunities we enjoy today. In honor of everything our veterans have given, I implore Americans to remember them and thank them. And I ask that as a nation we not squander what they have fought to protect: American Exceptionalism that was based on free men and free markets. May God bless, protect, and heal the hurts of America's finest. God bless our veterans. - Sarah Palin  

Retrieved from: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150366211988435.

Governor Palin today posted on Facebook:

It’s tempting to get distracted with the horse race aspect of electoral politics during a primary season. But as pundits talk about “who’s up and who’s down” in the 24 hour news cycle, we must keep our eye on the ball with the Obama administration. They rely on distraction to skirt responsibility, but we’re going to hold them accountable for their corruption and incompetence.

When the stories about Operation Fast and Furious first broke, it sounded too crazy even for this administration.

Why would any government official with an ounce of common sense think it’s a good idea to facilitate the smuggling of thousands of guns into the hands of violent Mexican drug cartels? That’s what Operation Fast and Furious did.

You might think Eric Holder’s Department of Justice was setting up a sting operation in which our federal agents would swoop down and arrest the bad guys the minute the guns traded hands. But that’s not what happened. Eric Holder’s DOJ had American gun dealers sell weapons to “straw purchasers” tied to drug cartels without actually following the movement of the guns as they were then sold to Mexican drug lords. They apparently thought this so-called “gun-walking” operation would help them chart the path of gun smuggling, but they didn’t have a plan to actually control the weapons’ movements as the guns were allowed to “walk” into Mexico. All Holder’s DOJ did was arm violent criminals. What manner of fools do we have working in this administration? What’s next? Supplying nuclear weapons components to the Iranians so we can track their activities?

Fast and Furious isn’t just your typical government incompetence. This is a deadly tragedy. U.S. border agent Brian Terry was gunned down with weapons connected to Holder’s debacle. At least 200 Mexican citizens were also killed by criminals using Fast and Furious weapons. We can only imagine how many more people will be murdered by criminals our government armed.

When an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives blew the whistle on this operation, the DOJ leaked sensitive information about him to the press. This week, the former U.S. Attorney for Arizona, who was ousted in the wake of the scandal, admitted to being the leaker.

And where is President Obama’s Attorney General Eric Holder in all of this? When did he first know about the operation? In his testimony to the House Oversight Committee on May 3, 2011, Holder stated, “I probably heard about Fast and Furious for the first time over the last few weeks.” But the DOJ’s own documents prove that Holder had been receiving briefings on Fast and Furious for nearly a year before that date. In other words, our government’s top law enforcement official, Eric Holder, lied to the American public. He finally admitted this week to the Senate Judiciary Committee, “In my testimony before the House committee [on May 3], I did say a few weeks. I probably could have said a couple of months. What I said about a few weeks was inaccurate based on what happened.”

When the nation’s highest law enforcement official lies to the American people, he must go.

And if he claims that he didn’t lie, then how else do we explain this situation? He’s either lying or he’s so grossly incompetent and lazy that he didn’t read important life and death briefings from his deputy attorney general and didn’t know about this deadly operation run by people under him. So, which is it? Incompetent, lazy, or lying? No matter which explanation fits, he needs to go.

Holder conceded this week, “I have ultimate responsibility for what happens in the department.” He can prove it by resigning. And if he refuses to resign, then President Obama – with whom the bucks ultimately stop – can prove that he respects honesty, transparency, and accountability in his administration by firing Holder.

I stand with the members of Congress who are calling for Holder’s resignation. I stand with the family members of Brian Terry who are demanding transparency and accountability. Mr. President, where do you stand?

- Sarah Palin

P.S. It can be argued that some elements of this scandal give the appearance of perhaps being intended to be used to infringe on our Second Amendment rights. I invite our President to correct concerned Americans if they’re wrong on this.

Retrieved from: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150364849368435.

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's November 3 keynote speech helped raise over $900,000 for the Florida GOP, Ian Lazaran, Conservatives4Palin reported last night, sourced from Alex Leary of the St. Petersburg Times. According to both reports, the amount exceeds the $894,000 the Democrats raised in their entire third quarter. Gov. Palin's fund-raising keynote speeches have a 100% success rate - that is they earn money for those who host her 100% of the time. For instance, Gov. Palin's fund-raising speech before St. Stanislaus raised over $200,000 for the school.

Lazaran also posted three videos which, when watched in sequence form the entire video transcript of her speech.

Sarah Palin's First Visit to Disney and her Caribou Stew by the SharkTank1

Sarah Palin At Victory Dinner 11-03-11 Part 1 by Snowlinen

Sarah Palin gives keynote speech at RPOF Victory Dinner 11-03-11 by RuBegonia

Gov. Palin tonight delivered the keynote speech at the Republican Party of Florida's Victory Dinner. This video by RuBegonia contains 11:55 of her speech. The moments captured focused on the economy.

H/T Stacy Drake, Conservatives4Palin for story lead.