Posted by
Ron Devito on Sunday, September 02, 2012 10:56:38 AM
T'was the night before Indianola. Palinistas had made a pilgrimage to Iowa from all parts of the nation and all of us were stirring in the Machine Shed Restaurant at a Conservatives4Palin meetup. I arrived in Iowa the night before the meetup and spent the day working with and meeting several colleagues, and forming new friendships. As Conservatives4Palin's Ian Lazaran wrote in this morning's Open Thread, " It’s still amazing to me that a bunch of bloggers could pull off an event that created favorable stories for the Governor nationwide. Perhaps there’ll be a “Return to the Shed” in ’15...." No one knows what the future will bring, but certainly a "Return to the Shed" in any year that includes Gov. Palin would be something to look forward to.
Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and her husband Todd entered around 2015 / 8:15 PM CDT. Within less than five minutes, she was drenched in sweat from the heat generated by the throng of supporters swarming around her. I had already greeted her with a handshake within moments of her entering. This special night was our time to be in her company.
Gov. Palin and Todd Palin greet supporters immediately after entering the Machine Shed Restaurant, September 2, 2011. Photo Copyright © Ron Devito, US for Palin.
At 2027 / 8:27 PM CDT, Gov. Palin signed my O4P NY tee shirt, as I said to her, “Take New York. Take the heart of it. Take it all…all 29 electoral votes. Do it for my wife. Do it for my mother. Do it for all the little girls of this country.”
Up until October 5, 2011 the entire Palinista community was swept up in what can best be described as "Palin 2012 fever." My remarks reflected that, and you can hear it too in Peter Singleton's speech, which was devoted to that subject. Though Gov. Palin did not run for President as my spiel alluded to that night, she is taking New York and the rest of the nation not by electoral votes but by executing Ronald Reagan's mandate from 37 years ago: building "a new first party - a Republican Party raising a banner of bold colors...." As a woman, Gov. Palin is doing this for my wife, my mother, and all the little girls of this country. Earlier this week, she was the forefront of a fight against the odious rule changes, some of which stood, which could give the Republican Party the ability to lock out the grassroots at some future point. Gov. Palin chose not to run for President, but she was and is our President by how she leads.
My meeting concluded with a group hug from the Palins, followed by a handshake with Todd. Gov. Palin did not leave until everyone in that room who wanted their time with her got it. Less than 17 hours later, we would be with her once more on a field in Indianola.
My interaction with the Palins can be seen on the UStream Standard Definition video from 5:17 to 5:37.
The Machine Shed will always be a special memory, not only for my interaction with the Palins, but for the time spent with wonderful friends and colleagues in this journey.
1080p HD YouTube
UStream SD
Video streaming by Ustream
Original Stories:
HD/SD Videos: Gov. Palin Meets, Greets 150 Supporters at C4P Meetup
Gov. Palin Meets With Supporters in Clive, IA