a
nice reporting of things . It seems 5,000 packed the house to see Sarah:Point Lookout, Mo — Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said tonight she doesn’t need an
official “title to affect positive change” in the country. Palin told an
estimated crowd of 5,000 packed in Keeter Gymnasium at College of the Ozarks
that despite her resignation, she is moving on “in the battle with new
strategy.”
Palin was the keynote speaker tonight during a convocation that honored
World War II veterans and others connected to the private college with “Great
American” awards. Palin was the inaugural recipient of the award for her
contributions to promoting patriotism, said College of the Ozarks President Jerry
Davis.
Silver Dollar City co-owner Sharon “Sherry” Herschend, an alumna of the
school, was among seven people who received a Great American Award from the
college. The military veterans participated in a program where they visited
battlefields with students to teach the young people about sacrifices their
elders made, Davis said.
As part of Palin’s speaking contract, College of the Ozarks sought to ban
reporters from covering the speech. But the News-Leader and other local media
outlets obtained free tickets and sent reporters to cover the speech from the
bleachers. Palin’s speech came after spending three hours in Springfield
autographing copies of her new book “Going Rogue” at Borders Bookstore on South
Glenstone Avenue.
Palin talked about how she got started in politics, working her way up from
the Wasilla, Alaska, City Council to mayor and then eventually to chair of the
Alaska Gas and Oil Conservation Commission and governor of the state.
As a city councilwoman, Palin said she didn’t conform to the town elders’
standards for the status quo of governance. “I kind of went rogue, even back
then,” Palin said jokingly, making a reference to her book title and history of
going off-script while running for vice president last year.
Palin spoke to a friendly crowd that routinely applauded what she had to say
about the current state of affairs in Washington, D.C., and her call for the
country to return to its “pioneering values” of work hard, independence and
taking care of your neighbors.
“History and common sense tells us that when government tries to take care
of us, it ends up robbing us of our ability to help ourselves,” Palin said. “If
we empower people to be free, providing a hand up but not a hand out … then we
will become a more prosperous and generous nation.”
Here are a few choice tweets from the night. BTW, when you see @
SarahPalinUSA folks are of course referencing Sarah herself. Twitter has it’s
own protocol, it seems.
From Chad Livengood of the News-Leader:
“Borders manager says Palin signed up to 1,200 books for 700-900 people in 3
hours. That’s a signature every 9 seconds. http://tiny.cc/MZlOj “
“The Borders manager said yesterday he didn’t think they could handle
anymore than 500 people, so they consider this good.”
“The first mention of @SarahPalinUSA gathers a standing applause at the
convocation, which is underway.”
“College of the Ozarks is awarding @SarahPalinUSA its inaugural “Great
American Award’ for her patriotism and spreading it.”
“C of O’s Jerry Davis: “If all you know about Sarah Palin is what the
so-called mainstream media has to say, you’ve got a lot to learn.”
“Jerry Davis just introduced @SarahPalinUSA: “She has her hand on the heart
beat of America,” he said.”
“@SarahPalinUSA on Jerry Davis: “I just love him. He’s such a hoot.” She
says he’s like her in that he “goes off script” and goes “rogue.”
“Palin is talking about work ethic & pushing one’s self to better their
lives. “I don’t believe in coincidences,” she said.”
“@SarahPalinUSA says she returned home from campaign trail to new political
rivals, bringing Alaska gov’t to a “grinding halt.”
“@SarahPalinUSA is getting to why she quit: “We spent about 80% of our time
fending off frivilous lawsuits.”
“@SarahPalinUSA says she resigned “with no scandals running me out of
office, despite what the media desperately wanted to find.”
“Possible @SarahPalinUSA Quote of the Night: “You don’t need a title to
affect positive change.”
You can read more of Chad’s take on the night here .
Fox2now, the local Fox affiliate, has some great video. It’s interesting to
see young and old. One 20 something girl who drove in from St Louis is
interviewed, as well as a guy of about the same age, who drove in from
Arkansas, and says that not only does he feel that Sarah will be the leader of
the Conservative movement by 2012, he also has hopes she will be the next
Ronald Reagan!
Personally, when I hear younger folks mention the Great Renaldus Magnus with
such reverence, it really makes me feel good about the direction our younger
generation will take us. You can see the video here .
Citizen Palin 4 President, another website devoted to a Sarah Palin
presidency, has more really great video, including a truly glowing report from
Fox2now. The word rock star is used quite often! Check out the website and see
the videos here .
Here are some tweets from Ron Davis :
“SP: ‘As ur spine is stiffened, the spines of others will be stiffened.’”
“Calls self mix of federalist, Jeffersonian.”
“SP: much media coverage ‘waste of ink.’” (Editor’s note: I agree!)
“Says ethics chgs were ‘game being played.’”
“On resigning: God has ’so blessed that decision.’”
“Says US at crossrds in ‘economic, military n values oriented battles.’”
“Crisis abt nation’s identity, she says.”
Dave Catanese offers his take :
“In giving award to @SarahPalinUSA, C of O prez citing her dedication to
military veterans as Governor.”
“@SarahPalinUSA now helping honor 7 World War II/Vietnam vets who
participate in school’s Patriotic Travel Program.”
“Maybe College of the Ozarks president Jerry Davis should run for office.
The guy’s a heck of a storyteller. Got more 1-liners than “
“Jerry Davis’ intro: “If all you know about Sarah Palin is what the
mainstream media says about her, you’ve got a lot to learn.”"
“Davis cites Palin’s motto: “No more politics as usual.” “I’d like to see
that in Washington myself,” Davis says to cheers.”
“Palin speaking now… “Davis is such a hoot.” Mentions FOX News appearance.
Cheers. “I knew he was gonna go rogue,” Palin adds.”
“Palin says College of the Ozarks debt-free education should be model for
the nation.”
“Palin says never thought taking 5 yrs to get a 4-yr degree would be an
issue until the “lame-stream” media took issue with it.”
“Palin says she’s “an ordinary American given extraordinary opportunities”
because she’s put her life in God’s hands.”
“Palin:”Despite what the media wants to..spin about my record…I will keep calling
it as I see it.”
“@SarahPalinUSA cites journalism degree: “So much has changed in the world
of journalism since then…Holy Moly!”
“@SarahPalinUSA touting work as city councilwoman in Wasilla, “bucking
consensus.” “Only dead fish go with the flow,” she says”
“Palin says the reason she wants to keep gov’t power on the local level,
because she’s lived it. Encourages involvement in local politics.”
“@SarahPalinUSA calls veep nod “honor of a lifetime” she doesn’t regret but
outlining sacrifices she had to make”
“Palin now on 4th mention of media, says “media isn’t fond of common sense
conservative values.” But adds she’s not whining”
“Palin also says during the campaign, “the media did spin” her lifestory
into “something unrecognizable.” Can’t imagine why media is barred.”
“Palin mounting a complete defense against attacks, lawsuits, gossip and
media coverage of her during ‘08 campaign.”
“Palin says she prayed about how to stop “the hurt and paralysis” in her
state. “Calling the audible has worked for my state,” she says.”
“@SarahPalinUSA now turning to issues, says “misplaced government
interference” caused economic crisis, “not our free-market principles.”
“@SarahPalinUSA: “Things crashed…darnit… in the midst of our campaign.”
“John McCain and I placed 2nd out of 2.”
“@SarahPalinUSA says it’s beyond ridiculous to complain about last
administration’s spending when Obama has spent 4 times more.”
“@SarahPalinUSA hits POTUS for “apologizing” to foreign countries. No
mention of Obama’s Afghanistan strategy.”
“Palin’s concludes her 50-minute speech to a standing O. I’m off to our
satellite truck. See you live on Ky3 News @ 10!”
You can see all of Dave’s tweets here .
He gives a great accounting of the event, but is clearly miffed that the media
wasn’t allowed in, though, there he was! Again this is standard for private
speeches. Poor fellow was stuck in the nosebleed section of gym, as well. But a
nice summation on his part anyhow.
Catanese’s blog has some neat video of Sarah’s dad, Chuck rippin’ on the “liberal
media back east ” and of Sally, Sarah’s mom, that you can see here .
“The liberal media back east, they raise hell with her. She’s tough. It
hurts us when they hit the kids, but when you’re a politician, that comes with
the territory”
___Chuck Heath
As always, wherever Sarah goes, she is a hit. Sarah brings something that no
one else out there can. Sarah has a quality about her that can’t be bought. It
can’t be learned and it can’t be taught. It just is.
Many people compare Sarah to the Great Ronald Reagan, and of course, that’s
a valid comparison, and one that makes a lot of sense. After all, Sarah has
studied Reagan since she was a kid, and quotes him in almost every speech or
interview.
Both Reagan and Sarah come from small towns, went to small schools, including
the “wrong colleges” and have a working class background. Like Sarah, Reagan
was even a sportscaster!
But it goes further than the superficial stuff. Sarah, like Reagan, has an
unbelievably strong work ethic. She has the ethic of those who spend a lifetime
working with their hands. Sarah understands why our founders designed our form
of government, and believes in that direction.
Sarah understands that America is it’s people, not it’s government. That
left alone, the American people have made this the greatest nation on earth.
Ronald Reagan railed against the government his entire career. Sarah is cut
from that same cloth. Both know that government isn’t the answer, government is
the problem.
One more important thing, like Reagan, Sarah sees America as “that shining
city on a hill,” this wonderful place were men are free and everyone has a
chance to succeed. A nation that is the envy of the world and has inspired
other nations and other peoples to be free.
Sarah brings a good old fashioned common sense with her that is rare among
politicians these days. She also brings a western independence and an Alaskan
pioneering spirit, a can do kind of attitude, no doubt shaped by life in the
rugged wilderness of Alaska.
It’s no wonder that the College of the Ozarks saw fit to honor Sarah with
it’s inaugural “Great American Award” for promoting patriotism.
The Photos attached to this article are published with permission from Sarah Palin, photographer Shealah Craighead, and are copyrighted by SarahPac. To see more go HERE
