INDIANOLA, IA – Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin today took the stage to chants of “Run Sarah Run!” from the crowd of 2,000, which was double the event organizer’s expectations. Following her epic speech in which she outlined her five-point plan to revitalize our economy, Gov. Palin spent nearly 45 minutes shaking hands and hugging her supporters, signing books, posters, tee shirts, twice walking the rope line to ensure everyone had their special moment. We were not high-powered executives, major donors, corporate sponsors, or fat cats who paid thousands of dollars to pose for a picture. We were ordinary wanting to be with an ordinary woman who is on an extraordinary path.
Jelayne Sessler professionally transcribed much of Gov. Palin's Five-Point Economic Plan, punctuated by the crowd 2,000-strong summoning her to run for President in 2012.
These two Standard Definition Videos from the US for Palin Live-Stream contain the entire speech and a significant portion of the meet and greet session that followed.
At 13:29:47 CDT (49:47 into the video), I had my special moment. What lasted four seconds felt like much longer. No paid hacktivists and crony capitalists here. When she descended those steps Governor Palin was not a mere politician with a title, nor merely a 2012 Presidential hopeful.
CLIVE, IA - Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and her husband Todd tonight held a special meet and greet session with over 150 supporters at the Machine Shed Restaurant. They entered the restaurant to a throng of reporters and supporters shouting "Run, Sarah Run!" Gov. Palin spent nearly 30 minutes shaking hands, hugging, and meeting with her supporters. She signed tee shirts, books, posters, and bare arms. As this story goes to press, one man who had his arm signed is on the way to a 24-hour tattoo shop to have the former Alaska Governor's signature made permanent.
Gov. Palin shook my hand shortly after entering. She 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." My meeting with her concluded with a hug from Gov. Palin, followed by a handshake with Todd.
The former Alaska Governor did not address supporters at the Conservatives4Palin-sponsored event, however, Peter Singleton, Iowa State Coordinator, Organize4Palin did. The Palins sat and listened to his address, followed by final bonding with supporters.
A 21-minute 1080p HD video of this bonding session will be ready in approximately four to six hours.
Every once in awhile (and it happens all too often lately) I have a hard time deciding what to write here. Today isn’t one of those days.
Speculation as to when Sarah Palin will announce her intention to run for president has been bandied about for some time now. Even I have tried to second-guess her as to when she would make an announcement.
Now, I think I have the answer. Labor Day is fast approaching, and that means the end of summer; and this year it means the true beginning of the presidential election season.
Factoring in Labor Day, the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks and the upcoming caucuses, I have devised a surefire timeline as to when she will announce to the world that she is indeed running for president...
Wait for it... Wait for it...
Whenever she damn well decides to announce it!
Whether Sarah Palin announces her candidacy September 3rd or anytime thereafter, just believe that when she does finally toss the proverbial hat in the ring, the political world will be turned on its ear.
Romney, Perry and the rest of the field will take a backseat to her when the time comes. Sarah Palin will rise in the polls (currently third behind Perry and Romney[Gallup Poll as of today]) when she finally becomes a candidate, and you'll see a dramatic shift in public opinion when she lays out her case to the American people why she should be elected.
Now, the naysayers will throw a hissy fit with what I’m about to say, but I'll say it anyway:
Three years ago today at 1226 EDT, Presidential Candidate John McCain introduced former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to the world. While some of the conservative cognoscente knew who she was and advocated for her to be McCain's running mate, Gov. Palin was unknown for most of us until that moment. Instantly, the unknown Gov. Palin became a household name and remains so today. Palin blogs and websites were few and far between that day. Likely not a single site with "4P" in its name existed then. Today, over 100 dedicated Palin sites support Gov. Palin and possibly an equal number of hate sites try to destroy her.
Three years ago today, I caught her speech a few moments after it begun as I left my employee lot to get a Gatorade lunch. I did not know her name. I did not know what she looked like. In the two blocks I drove before I had to pull over to the side of the road, Gov. Palin - SARAH - rocked my world, divided my calendar, and got a political observer active. I heard the spirit of President Reagan resurrected in a woman's body. The first great leader we had seen in a generation was emerging. That day, Gov. Palin stole my heart. She finished the job not even six weeks later, when she signed it in Bethlehem, PA, once again rocking my world and dividing my calendar.
Gov. Palin has accomplished much in these three years. To simply link to all them would fill over 100 pages. In her final seven months as Alaska's Governor, Sarah Palin accomplished more than seven of New York State's governors had in 50 years. When she selflessly stepped down to stanch the flow of frivolous ethics complaints, Gov. Palin's trajectory soared even higher.
She authored two books, hosted an eight-part documentary series on her home state, was the subject of a full-length feature movie, became a sought-after speaker commanding top honorarium, and is a Fox News contributor. She conducted humanitarian missions in cholera- and earthquake-wracked Haiti and in Alabama following devastating tornadoes. The former Alaska governor has raised over $120,000 for wounded soldiers, walked for autism, and the March of Dimes, among others. During her final seven months as Governor, Sarah Palin coordinated and led an airlift to distressed villages in remote western Alaska, sacrificing the political primping and priming, champagne and caviar of the 2009 CPAC conference. The little children to whom she personally distributed supplies were far more important than the Washington DC elites. Around that time, SarahPAC was born. Soon, SarahPAC - which did not yet exist three years ago today - may become far less important, being supplanted by a Presidential campaign.
Since becoming a private citizen, Gov. Palin has traveled to Hong Kong, Canada, India, and Israel. In Israel, Gov. Palin met and broke bread with Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu. She is arguably the only private citizen who met, dined and spent a substantial amount of time with a head of state in recent history. Though Gov. Palin has long been an energy expert, she honed her acumen in economics and foreign policy over these past three years. Her writings have been featured in the Wall Street Journal.
Gov. Palin could announce her candidacy for the 2012 Presidential election any time now. Some had speculated it would be today. I think it will be a time, place, and method of her choosing. Regardless of when she ultimately announces her decision, now is a good moment to reflect on what brought us here in the first instance:
Where were you when...Gov. Palin shattered a glass ceiling with her sonic boom?
Tonight (8/28/2011) we have Martha Cano as a guest. We'll be talking about The Texas RP connection, or the dynamic duo of Rick Perry and Ron Paul. Come join the conversation tonight at 6:30 p.m. EST/ 5:30 p.m. Central. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/cu/2011/08/28/dewaine-susie-live
