Sarah Palin Rocks CPAC, Embracing a Long Primary
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(J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)
The most resounding speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference came not from a presidential candidate, or an elected official — but from Sarah Palin.
The screams and cheers that filled the spacious ballroom in which Palin spoke Saturday felt at times like they belonged at a Justin Bieber concert. A dozen times the conservatives at the conference leaped to their feet to applaud Palin, as she threw them line after line about beating President Obama and reclaiming “traditional values.”
“The president says small Americans, small-town Americans — we bitterly cling to our religion and our guns,” Palin said, referring to a comment Obama made in the last election, as the audience rose and cheered. “You say, I say, we say — keep your change. We’ll keep our God. We’ll keep our guns.”
For the first time at the three-day conference known as CPAC in Washington, protesters disrupted a speech. But the response from Palin’s loyal supporters was fierce. As protesters chanted at her from the back of the room at the Marriott, a man in the back row leaped over his chair, ran toward them and screamed, “Get the hell out of here, you asshole!”
The protesters were kicked out as others in the room began chanting “USA! USA!” followed quickly by “Sarah! Sarah!”
“See, you just won,” Palin ad-libbed to more cheers.
The GOP’s 2008 vice presidential nominee didn’t endorse a candidate for president, and she said that the drawn-out primary process can benefit the party — as long as Republicans don’t turn on each other.
“In America, we believe that competition strengthens us,” she said. “Competition relates to victory in 2012. We must stay true to our principles. I believe that the competition has got to keep going. But let’s make sure that the competition brings out the best in our party.
“We know that the far left and their media allies can’t beat us on the issues, so instead they’ll distort our records,” she added. “Let’s not do the job for them, OK, Republicans? OK, independents?”
Palin, wearing a bright-red blouse, black skirt and heels, spent her time on the stage bashing both Obama and Washington. But for all the contempt she had for Obama, she borrowed liberally from his most famous statements.
Perhaps alluding to Obama’s famous red-state/blue-state speech from the 2004 Democratic convention, Palin said in one of her frequent rhyming lines that Americans aren’t “red” or “blue.” She concluded, as the conservatives rose to their feet again, “We’re red, white and blue, and President Obama, we are through with you.”
“Hope and change — yeah, you’ve got to hope things change,” she added to laughs and more cheers.
Palin referred repeatedly to the tea party movement that has embraced her, and she demanded of the Republican establishment that conservative members of Congress be treated better.
“This November, we’re going to take back the Senate, and we’re going to fortify the House,” she said of tea party candidates. “We’ll elect more, and this time, establishment, we expect them to get leadership posts in Congress.”
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She was angrier than ever once again in her speech. Can’t GOP find more constructive reasons for running for office. Defeating Obama won’t solve our issues people . GOP just don’t get it. Clueless ignorance.
Posted by: Cary | February 11, 2012, 6:19 pm 6:19 pm
Keep on dreamin’ Sarah. While you’re at it, why don’t you stick around a little while. Your presence really helped us out in ’08 – any us, I mean the Democrats. ☺ ☺ ☺
Posted by: Sweet Pea | February 11, 2012, 6:47 pm 6:47 pm
What makes America great is that morons have free speech. The tragedy of America is when we stick microphones in front of them.
Posted by: mitch Eisenman | February 11, 2012, 7:18 pm 7:18 pm
Wow! I just don’t understand what people see in Sarah — she has no good ideas or logical arguments. She’s simply over-the-top angry! Is that really all it takes to gain GOP respect and admiration??? Sad.
Posted by: Don | February 11, 2012, 7:19 pm 7:19 pm
Wow, stop the presses. The GOP responded, as usual, to the same one liners that always get them on their feet. Whoop.
Posted by: lexingtonlady | February 11, 2012, 7:32 pm 7:32 pm
So Sarah is still soaking the Republicans for hard cash. All she has to do is scream out a cliche, and the Repubs go hysterical. I guess their IQs are below hers… which makes them as smart as bulletin board stick pins. Oh, Sarah, you are as vicious as you are brainless, but you are a cash cow.
Posted by: Roscoe Chait | February 11, 2012, 7:38 pm 7:38 pm
I see the Obama drones are out commenting on this political goddess,….
Posted by: JLL | February 11, 2012, 7:42 pm 7:42 pm
She’s irritating and irrelevant at the same time.. almost an oxymoron.. or just plain moron.
Posted by: badcafe | February 11, 2012, 7:59 pm 7:59 pm
The show would not be complete without the show girl jumping into the fray. Will she be Romney’s running mate?
Posted by: NoFlyZone2 | February 11, 2012, 8:06 pm 8:06 pm
“We’ll keep our God. We’ll keep our guns” Odd combination if you ask me.
Posted by: bp | February 11, 2012, 8:07 pm 8:07 pm
“I see the Obama drones are out commenting on this political goddess,….” I see the SP drones lapping up canned lines, written by someone else, and stupidity.
Posted by: bp | February 11, 2012, 8:09 pm 8:09 pm
John McCain is to blame for unleashing this nuisance in America.
Posted by: NoFlyZone2 | February 11, 2012, 8:12 pm 8:12 pm
I recently saw a bumper sticker that read, “If you voted for Obama to prove you weren’t racist, then vote against him to prove you’re not stupid”.
Posted by: Danielle | February 11, 2012, 8:17 pm 8:17 pm
noflyzone2 wrote:”John McCain is to blame for unleashing this nuisance in America.”
.
Actually the nuisance that John McCain unleashed on America goes by the name of Barack Hussein oBama.
Posted by: Michelle Shu Jas | February 11, 2012, 8:18 pm 8:18 pm
Obama=gets bin Laden, multiple AlQueda suspects, wins war on terror
Pahlin= ….uhhm nothing….she’s got nothing. what a truly un-captivating human being. Absolutley meaningless
Posted by: Vin | February 11, 2012, 8:23 pm 8:23 pm
what an odd country that we’d have a microphone in front of someone like Palin, I thought her speach was another Saturday Night Live skit…thanks McCain, I know you realized your mistake, now we all suffer with her babbling….
Posted by: Paul | February 11, 2012, 8:23 pm 8:23 pm
Why is this silly, fatuous TWIT still around?? She is no longer relevant and never was. Half a term as Alaska’s governor is no preparation for a major voice in American politics!!!
Posted by: J.T. | February 11, 2012, 8:34 pm 8:34 pm
How sad that because of your blindness and hate for the good you fail to see real greatness right in front of you. You’ll miss it, but like Reagan and many great people another generation will not. Sad. Sarah Palin a loving wife and mother, and patriotic American, and a person of character, integrity and faith. And you sad bunch, cannot discern good from evil or right from wrong and it will be your downfall. But I hope not our nation.
Posted by: william legge | February 11, 2012, 8:37 pm 8:37 pm
Keep it up Sarah your looking as good as we need you too,please stay in the spotlight!
Posted by: jOHN doe | February 11, 2012, 8:42 pm 8:42 pm
My goodness – she missed the entire point of Jesus! Wish she would stop calling herself Christian, taints the whole faith! So sad . . .
Posted by: NotCrazy | February 11, 2012, 8:43 pm 8:43 pm
As an independent who voted for McCain in the last election, even I don’t understand how the CPAC conference turned into a comedy roast for Obama. Any fool can criticize. I haven’t heard a single idea or solution come out of this conference. All I’ve heard is venom and anger. The GOP has gone bonkers.
Posted by: Lanai | February 11, 2012, 8:59 pm 8:59 pm
Matt, silly boy, obivously you have never been to a Justin BIeber concert. Don’t speak about something you know little about.
Posted by: jp | February 11, 2012, 9:06 pm 9:06 pm
Governor Sarah Palin ROCKS! She proved it again today who the star quarterback of conservative values and policies really is. The crowd and the media ‘swarmed over her’ just like they did at the Iowa Fair during their caucus, and everywhere else she goes.
Spare me the repetitive kiddy insults she is far more accomplished than our current ne’er-do-well in the White House, and those currently in the race. She is a straight shooter and that is her appeal.
Governor 3 fiscal years, Mayor 6 fiscal years, City Council 4 fiscal years, Oil&Gas Chairman 1 year, Small business owner 18 fiscal years. THAT IS A GREAT RESUME!
At the Iowa Fair and Caucus, no one even recognized the declared candidates while ‘they’ were walking around the fair grounds. It had to hurt when Sarah Palin showed up and become an instant vortex of media and voter attention, while they spent millions in advertising selling themselves, all she had to do was just show up.
America wants an honest normal citizen, who’s actually run big government organizations successfully, with 93% bipartisan support, who doesn’t flip flop from day to day, or year to year. Sarah Palin’ record is one of principled consistency in governance that ‘earns her’ the title of standard bearer.
NO ONE in either party has had ‘their’ 24,000 emails scoured by thousands looking for mistakes…and finding none. Let’s see Obama’s or Romney’s emails, huh! Bet there is some interesting reading there.
Sarah Palin ‘actually’ exposed political corruption and crony capitalism, and took a stand. She put her job, income, and career in politics, at risk over integrity and honesty.
Would you, or Obama, walk away from an $112,500 a year guaranteed job if all you had to do was ‘go along to get along and ignore any wrong doing?’ Sarah did.
Liberal Socialist Democrats and Fake Conservatives (Rino’s) have driven the country into the ground and taken zero responsibility for their actions. They literally flat out lie to their constituents with impunity.
It does not take rocket science to be President of the United States or Governor of the Several States. It takes selflessness, integrity, and principled leadership grounded in Traditional American Values of limited government, personal responsibility, and individual freedom.
Sarah Palin has all those qualities and feisty attitude to boot.
….all her detractors have is petty insults.
Posted by: Founders1792 | February 11, 2012, 9:09 pm 9:09 pm
she should just give up …stop trying sarah we are through with you
Posted by: this guy | February 11, 2012, 9:11 pm 9:11 pm
why do they keep showing this Idiot?????
Posted by: Linda, Fl | February 11, 2012, 9:12 pm 9:12 pm
Wow….the number of childish one liner sand box insults and personal attacks say WAY MORE ABOUT YOU than it does about her.
Posted by: Founders1792 | February 11, 2012, 9:16 pm 9:16 pm
Gee ..STICK AROUND SARA.. every time you open your mouth one more independent turns away from the Tea Partiers and supports the president who has accomplished more in 3 years then we had with 8 years of Bush. And still the Republicans have no solutions..
Posted by: Grace | February 11, 2012, 9:30 pm 9:30 pm
SHE’S BACK……….nooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: frenchie 11 | February 11, 2012, 9:32 pm 9:32 pm
It gets so old listening to the same nonsense from the left claiming Sarah is dumb, Sarah is stupid, Sarah is a moron…blah…blah…blah.
It’s obvious none of the Sarah bashers are intellectually honest, because if they were to actually watch one of her speeches they wouldn’t be spewing such garbage, unless they themselves were morons.
Posted by: Jack | February 11, 2012, 9:34 pm 9:34 pm
Wow, I hear jealousy in the democratic female ranks! How interesting is this!
Posted by: Marc | February 11, 2012, 9:39 pm 9:39 pm
What a completely stupid, small woman. Go away.
Posted by: Dano | February 11, 2012, 9:43 pm 9:43 pm
Lest we forget, may we never forget, Gabrielle Giffords and the others gunned down in that Arizona massacre, which is a prime example of Sarah Palin’s vicious, verbal and visual attacks such as cross-hairs pointed on her adversaries backs. For that reason, Sarah Palin will never be POTUS, all her rants and tirades are like hollow barks from the ranks of the utterly stupid.
Posted by: mylie1313 | February 11, 2012, 9:46 pm 9:46 pm
Is she still talking? I wish she’d just go away.
Posted by: Alfredo Fla. | February 11, 2012, 9:49 pm 9:49 pm
The commentators here don’t know Sarah Palin. Know what you ridicule.
During her recent speeches and postings, she does the expected direct attack on a certain Obama policy and why, but she then points to the ‘bipartisan’ crony capitalism of D.C.
There are a lot of the richest suburbs around D.C. for a reason. Sarah Palin said 7 out of the top 10 richest districts in the United States. Homes of many of the permanent political class.
She often focuses on crony-capitalism from the Republican side. Ask Rick Perry.
Many that she fired/fined/jailed were Republicans, because she kept her word as a candidate for governor and she cleaned up the party. The Republican party. Some of her most vicious opponents are Republicans.
If Sarah Palin becomes president, I don’t think she will discriminate as much on an R’s and D’s basis, but more on an honest, hard work basis, and on doing their job of serving the people, and protecting the constitution.
And not doing their job in order to become multi-millionaires with their billionaire crony capitalist DC new friends. These are the people, regardless of party, that worry most if she becomes president.
The FOX establishment, and the GOP establishment, oppose Sarah constantly.
Many people have more in common with Sarah than they’ve been told.
But if you’re one that dislikes her, research about her before you comment.
Know what you think you hate.
Posted by: Bill589 | February 11, 2012, 10:48 pm 10:48 pm
I absolutely love this women. Go Sarah! I am with you and our God!
Through you maybe we will get our America back.
Posted by: Fae | February 11, 2012, 11:07 pm 11:07 pm
Sarah Palin just revealed her plan for a non-traditional campaign. She hopes to stretch the nomination process by periodically stirring the pot. This in order to short-cut the nomination process with the hope [read: expectation] that she will be selected in November without actually working for it.
Posted by: Perspecticus | February 12, 2012, 12:22 am 12:22 am
The Artic Fox still rocks! Give ‘em hell, Sarah.
Posted by: Jim | February 12, 2012, 1:02 am 1:02 am
Appearantly, the republicans simulate a group of robots. Push the right buttons and they’ll all rise to the ocassion and cheer. No thinking required. Likely, no thinking desired, either. I feel sorry for George Will who, while being a conservative, is also a thinker. He stands alone, by himself in a sea of dummies.
Posted by: john locke | February 12, 2012, 1:05 am 1:05 am
These people are crazy…………..
Posted by: Jim | February 12, 2012, 6:49 am 6:49 am
Many who commented so viciously on Sarah Palin and her so-called “Speech of Hate,” etc., simply cannot understand that at least half – in not more – of the nation are fed up with bloated gov’t and a regime in power that rules by executive fiat, order and unconfirmed “czars.” The current POTUS lies like a rug at every turn; he says one thing, then proceeds to do another – or, at least, ignores his earlier promises. Furthermore, check out the venom that will be coming out of the Dem convention this summer. No beer & skittles for the Regressives!
To say that the zombies on the Left simply do not understand why Conservatives are fed up to here is an understatement. Sadly, there is a great divide now in this country that will, IMO, only be bridged by an outside attack (a la 9/11). Until then, we are doomed to view each other from two mountain tops separated by a very wide valley.
Posted by: Joy | February 12, 2012, 6:56 am 6:56 am
Sarah must be running low on money and needed to squeeze her sheep some more. Palin will NEVER be anything more than the motor mouth of the GOP. At this point for the republicans you need a mouth like hers just to generate some enthusiasm because there sure isn’t any for the primary candidates. A mouth without a brain, can’t get any worse than that.
Posted by: Indymind | February 12, 2012, 7:16 am 7:16 am
Founders1792 —- You mentioned Palin’s resume, and her years as mayor of Wasila, population: a few thousand. Why didn’t you mention the fact that when she started, Wasila had a balanced budget and no debt, but when she left, they were $20 million in the red? That’s conservative fiscal policy at work in the real world, not the fantasy land Republicans inhabit. You also left out the dozens of ethics complaints lodged against her when she was governor for half a term (before she QUIT to pursue her true god, The Almighty Dollar.) Why not mention that? Palin is nothing more than a small-minded person with a mean, selfish, small-minded personal agenda: say anything to anyone who will pay cash. She has become wealthy pandering to the dumbest, most ill-informed, most anti factual and anti intellectual group of people in the universe. So of course she is a heroine to the Right. They worship money above everythin else, and she personifies that ideology.
Posted by: A Cynic | February 12, 2012, 8:39 am 8:39 am
SARAH PALIN FOR VICE-PRESIDENT!!!!! Bwahahahahahahahaha!
Posted by: A Cynic | February 12, 2012, 8:40 am 8:40 am
Sarah Palin has a long record of achievement and experience in public office.Prior her election as Governor, Palin served two terms on the Wasilla City Council and two terms as the mayor of Wasilla. During her tenure, she reduced property tax levels while increasing services and made Wasilla a business-friendly environment, drawing in new industry.
Under her leadership as Governor, Alaska invested $5 billion in state savings, overhauled education funding and protected Alaska’s natural resources. She created Alaska’s Petroleum Systems Integrity Office to provide oversight and maintenance of oil and gas equipment, facilities and infrastructure and the Climate Change Subcabinet to prepare a climate change strategy for Alaska.
Sarah Palin is past chair of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, a multistate government agency that promotes the conservation and efficient recovery of domestic oil and natural gas resources while protecting health, safety and the environment.
She also served as chair of the National Governors Association (NGA) Natural Resources Committee, which was charged with pursuing legislation to ensure state needs are considered as federal policy is formulated in the areas of agriculture, energy, environmental protection and natural resource management.
Sarah Palin’s “business experience” comes with the negotiations and dealings she has had with one of the most powerful industries in the world: the energy industry. Sarah Palin has successfully negotiated new tax structures, lease deals and other issues that arise in the Alaska energy industry.
At the end of the day, Sarah Palin negotiated billion dollar deals with one of the toughest industries in the world.
Sarah Palin has always been a tough-as-nails executive who understood her role as a servant for the people during her time as Mayor of Wasilla and as Governor; she took on the Republican establishment, big oil, corruption, ethics reform, and tax reform.
She has cut spending, forward-funded education, and paved the way for job growth in her hometown.
As oil and gas commissioner, Sarah Palin called out the unethical practices of members of her own party. As Governor, she sought to end the back room deals and improper relationships between oil companies and politicians.
Sarah Palin has fought to reduce spending and to enforce fiscal discipline as governor of Alaska. She has drastically reduced the growth of the state budget, which has helped to produce a record budget surplus.
Sarah Palin has shown herself willing to take on corruption, even when it occurs among her fellow Republicans.
Posted by: Jack | February 12, 2012, 9:21 am 9:21 am
Even when they try they can’t resist being snarkey when reporting on Ms. Palin. Isn’t that true, Matt? Back to journalism school for you.
Posted by: jcarob | February 12, 2012, 10:53 am 10:53 am
I may not be overly fond of all her policies, but if you feel you have to call someone stupid or a moron because they have different beliefs then you are the one with the subpar IQ.
Posted by: anon | February 12, 2012, 11:59 am 11:59 am
She is one of the angriest people I’ve ever witnessed. Using God and Patriotic language to spread her hate and division. Her poll numbers drop every year. Yet she still clings to her guns, distorted version of the Bible and delusion that one day she will be President. By the time 2016 comes around sane Americans will be “tired” of her angry “one liners”.
Posted by: Anna | February 12, 2012, 7:11 pm 7:11 pm
“We’ll keep our God. We’ll keep our guns” Odd combination if you ask me.
Posted by: BP
BP, perhaps you should read Ecclesiastes 3:8
Posted by: Jim | February 12, 2012, 9:31 pm 9:31 pm
All supporters of the GOP presidential candidates (Mitt, Newt, Santorum and Paul),
Let us face the fact: Obama will beat anyone of the current GOP fields. Only Sarah Palin has strong conservative based loyal supporters, as well as GoProud and the HillBuzz plus those independent conservatives. Only SHE can unify the Republican base. Another fact why these GOP fields will be badly beaten in November is that they back-stab each other while Obama is just laughing at them. Forget about it, Mitt Romney, you are not destined to be the president of the United States and neither the rest of the GOP 2012 contenders. I was there last Sunday and you will fee the loyalties of the crowd to SARAH PALIN. GOP establishment made a big blunder, or it was orchestrated to ensure Obama’s re-election.
Posted by: Angelo | February 13, 2012, 10:52 am 10:52 am
I just watched a video of Sarah complaining that Obama doesn’t understand the constitution in regards to the whole Catholic contraception “debate”. The constitution does not imply that religion should have anything to do with the business of the government. In fact, it’s quite the opposite – FIRST AMENDMENT:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Also, from a practical and common-sense standpoint, doesn’t it make sense to provide the option of contraception to a group that 98% of its members support, regardless of what the celibate priests, cardinals, bishops, etc. have to say?
Anything to make a debate out of thin air. Republicans cannot and will not see the forest for the trees. Pathetic.
Posted by: theletterM | February 15, 2012, 3:53 pm 3:53 pm