The gloves were off and the game was on in Madison, Wisconsin on Tax Day, Saturday, April 16, 2011 where Governor Sarah Palin declared, "And the 2012 election begins here... Mr. President, game on!" during a rousing speech aimed at the debacle of Obamacare and other left-wing policies crippling the American economy. Governor Palin's supporters were out in droves-- and in the sleet and snow-- to see the woman they believe (and I do too) will be the next President of the United States. In true Sarah-style, she wowed the crowd with her message of American exceptionalism and "we can do it" spirit. The following is Governor Palin's speech in its entirety as written on her Facebook page, with photos added by me for emphasis. ____________________________________________________________________ Hello, Madison, Wisconsin! You look good. I feel like I’m at home. This is beautiful. Madison, I am proud to get to be with you today. Madison, these are the frontlines in the battle for the future of our country. This is where the line has been drawn in the sand. And I am proud to stand with you today in solidarity. I am here today as a patriot, as a taxpayer, as a former union member, and as the wife of a union member. What I have to say today I say it to our good patriotic brothers and sisters who are in unions. I say this, too, proudly standing here as the daughter of a family full of school teachers. My parents, my grandparents, aunt, cousins, brother, sister – so many of these good folks are living on teachers’ pensions, having worked or are still working in education.   A pension is a promise that must be kept. Now, your Governor Scott Walker understands this. He understands that states must be solvent in order to keep their promises. And that’s what he’s trying to do. He’s not trying to hurt union members. Hey, folks, he’s trying to save your jobs and your pensions! But unfortunately some of your union bosses don’t understand this, and they don’t care if union members have to be laid off. No, they want to protect their own power, and if that means forcing a governor to lay off union workers, then so be it; they’ve proven that is fine with them. But that’s not real solidarity! Real solidarity means coming together for the common good. This Tea Party movement is real solidarity! Well, I am in Madison today because this is where real courage and real integrity can be found. Courage is your governor and your legislators standing strong in the face of death threats and thug tactics. Courage is you all standing strong with them! You saw the forces aligned against fiscal reform. You saw the obstruction and the destruction. You saw these violent rent-a-mobs trash your capital and vandalize businesses.  Madison, you held your ground. Your governor did the right thing. And you won. Your beautiful state won. And you know what – people still have their jobs because of it! That’s courage. And that’s integrity. And that’s something that’s sorely missing in the Beltway today. Because let me tell you what isn’t courageous: It’s politicians promising the American voters that, as we drown in $14.5 trillion debt, that they’re going to cut $100 billion out of this year’s budget. But then they cave on that and they reduce it down to $61 billion after they get elected. Then they get in there and they strike a deal and decide, nah, they will reduce that down to $38 billion. And then after some politics-as-usual and accounting gimmicks, we find out it’s not $38 billion in cuts. You know that $38 billion – we don’t have it; we’re borrowing it. We borrow from foreign countries to give to foreign countries, and that’s insanity. We find out it’s not even $38 billion; it’s less than $1 billion in real cuts. Folks, that $352 million in real cuts – that’s no more than the federal government is going to spend in the time it takes us to hold this rally today! That is not courage; that’s capitulation! Now, there’s a lesson here for the Beltway politicos, something they need to understand; the lesson comes from here in Madison. So, our lesson is to the GOP establishment first. And yeah, I’ll take on the GOP establishment. What more can they say about us, you know?  So, to the GOP establishment: if you stand on the platform, if you stand by your pledges, we will stand with you. We will fight with you, GOP. We have your back. Together we will win because America will win!  We didn’t elect you just to re-arrange the deck chairs on a sinking Titanic. We didn’t elect you to just stand back and watch Obama re-distribute those deck chairs. What we need is for you to stand up, GOP, and fight. Maybe I should ask some of the Badger women’s hockey team—those champions—maybe I should ask them if we should be suggesting to GOP leaders they need to learn how to fight like a girl! And speaking of President Obama, I think we ought to pay tribute to him today at this Tax Day Tea Party because really he’s the inspiration for why we’re here today.  That’s right. The Tea Party Movement wouldn’t exist without Barack Obama.  You see, Candidate Obama didn’t have a record while he was in office; but President Obama certainly has a record, and that’s why we’re here. And hey, media, it’s not inciting violence and it’s not hateful rhetoric to call someone out on their record, so that’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to do it to be clear. That’s right: we’re here, we’re clear, get used to it!  Candidate Obama promised to be fiscally responsible. He promised to cut the deficit; but President Obama tripled it!  Candidate Obama promised that fiscal responsibility; but President Obama flushed a trillion dollars down the drain on a useless “stimulus” package and then he bragged about the jobs he “created” in congressional districts that don’t even exist! That’s right; on this, White House, you lie. The only thing that trillion-dollar travesty stimulated was a debt-crisis and a Tea Party!  Now, the left’s irresponsible and radical policies awakened a sleeping America so that we understood finally what it was that we were about to lose. We were about to lose the blessings of liberty and prosperity. They caused the working men and women of this country to get up off their sofas, to come down from the deer stand, get out of the duck blind, and hit the streets, come to the town halls, and finally to the ballot box. And Tea Party Americans won an electoral victory of historic proportions last November. We the people, we rose up and we decisively rejected the left’s big government agenda. We don’t want it. We can’t afford it. And we are unwilling to pay for it.  But what was the president’s reaction to this mandate for fiscal sanity?  Less than 90 days after the election, in his State of the Union address, President Obama told us, nah, the era of big government is here to stay, and we’re going to pay for it whether we want to or not. Instead of reducing spending, they’re going to “Win The Future” by “investing” more of your hard-earned money in some cockamamie harebrained ideas like more solar shingles, more really fast trains – some things that venture capitalists will tell you are non-starters. We’re flat broke, but he thinks these solar shingles and really fast trains will magically save us. So now he’s shouting “all aboard” his bullet train to bankruptcy. "Win The Future"? W.T.F. is about right.  And when Wisconsin’s own Paul Ryan presented a plan for fiscal reform, what was Obama’s response? He demonized the voices of responsibility with class warfare and with fearmongering. And I say personally to our president: Hey, parent to parent, Barack Obama, for shame for you to suggest that the heart of the commonsense conservative movement would do anything to harm our esteemed elders, to harm our children with Down syndrome, to harm those most in need. No, see, in our book, you prioritize appropriately and those who need the help will get the help. The only way we do that is to be wise and prudent and to budget according to the right priorities.  Now, our president isn’t leading, he’s punting on this debt crisis. The only future Barack Obama is trying to win is his own re-election! He’s willing to mortgage your children’s future to ensure his own. And that is not the audacity of hope. That’s cynicism!  Piling more debt onto our children and grandchildren is not courage. No, that’s cowardice!  But did you notice when he gave that polarizing speech last week there was a little gem in the speech. Maybe you missed it. But he spoke about the social contract and the “social compact.” Well, Mr. President, the most basic tenet in that social compact is adhering to the consent of the governed. That would be “We the People.” President Obama, you do not have our consent. You didn’t have it in November. And you certainly don’t have it now. You willfully ignored the will of the American people.  You ignored it when you rammed through Obamacare.  You ignored it when you drove up the debt to $14.5 trillion.  You ignored it when you misrepresented your deficit spending.  You ignored it when you proposed massive tax increases on the middle class and our job creators.  You ignored is when you went to bat for government-funded abortions and yet you threw our brave men and women in uniform under the bus, Mr. Commander in Chief.  You ignored it when you got us into a third war for fuzzy and inconsistent reasons, a third war that we cannot afford.  You ignore it when you apologize for America while you bow and kowtow to our enemies, and you snub our allies like Israel.  And you ignore when you manipulate the U.S. oil supply. You cut off oil development here and then you hypocritically praise foreign countries for their drilling.  And when hardworking families are hit with $4 and $5 a gallon gas and your skyrocketing energy and food prices as you set out to fundamentally transform America, you ignore our concerns and you tell us we just better get used to it.  Well, Mr. President, we’re not going to get used to it. Not now. Not ever. You ignored us in 2010. But you cannot ignore us in 2012.  Mr. President, you and your cohorts threw all the hatred and all the violence you could at these good folks in Madison, Wisconsin. But you lost here.  And Madison, you defended the 2010 electoral mandate. You are heroes, you are patriots, and when the history of this Tea Party Movement is written, what you accomplished here will not be forgotten.  Your historic stand brought down the curtain on the last election. And the 2012 election begins here.  We will take the courage and the integrity that you showed all of America. We will take it and we will win back our country!  God has shed His grace on thee, America. We will not squander what we have.  We will fight for America! And it starts here in Madison, Wisconsin!   It starts here! It starts now! What better place than the state that hosts the Super Bowl champs, to call out the liberal left and let them know: Mr. President, game on!  God bless you, Wisconsin, and God bless America!

    The most important thing a man can do for his children is to love their mother. Henry Ward Beecher A Father’s Day Tribute to Todd Palin… A Man for All Seasons “Todd is a good dad”. Governor Sarah Palin said these words often on the 2008 presidential campaign trail when introducing her four- time Iron Dog champion husband, Todd Mitchell Palin, to cheering audiences. The First Dude, as she affectionately calls him, is deeply committed to his marriage, is fiercely protective of his children, and constantly shows patriotic allegiance not only to his native Alaska, but to America.  Never slothful or lazy, Todd is always by his wife’s side and works hard to provide for his family whether it be on a Bristol Bay salmon run or in the oil fields of Alaska’s North Slope.  He understands that trust between a father and his children generates  happiness, hope, confidence, and security.  He strengthens his family by instilling faith and security.  He leads his children – by example – to spend their energy helping others and not just themselves.  He takes great pleasure in his wife’s success and much pride in seeing his children make quality decisions on their own.  As are all “good dads”, Todd is rewarded by the achievements of his children.  The man of integrity walks securely…” Proverbs 10:19  Happy Father’s Day to Todd Palin and all the “Good Dads” across America, including mine.  

  Maybe it was the endorphins pulsating through my body as I sped to nowhere Friday afternoon on a stationary bike in the fitness center, or perhaps it was the forbidden pieces of chocolate I savored earlier in the day. Whatever the culprit, a single photograph featured in the Washingtonian caught my eye as together the periodical and I raced toward the weekend. Follow: American author Mark Twain once said, “Hawaii is the loveliest fleet of islands that lies anchored in any ocean”. No one would argue with Twain that the Hawaiian Islands’ tropical weather, low humidity and infrequent severe storms make it a traveler’s dream destination. Hawaii not only boasts of its great beauty but also claims to be the birthplace of Barack Obama.    By contrast, Alaska’s majestic mountain peaks and rugged topography covered with glaciers, countless rivers and lakes, huge tracks of forested land, and over 34,000 miles of tidal shoreline is beauty personified. Alaska is a constant adventure for those that live there, and for those fortunate enough (or smart enough) to travel there, it often proves to be their most exhilarating and worthwhile adventure. The Last Frontier is the beloved home of Sarah Palin, the youngest and the first female governor of that state, and is like no other place on our planet. No doubt these two states are uniquely and breathtakingly beautiful, but under a microscope the resolution of their great beauty becomes a study in contrasts. Their magnification and resolution prove to be an eerily accurate characterization of their most famous residents. Take a look at this photo from National Geographic. Believe it or not, this is the magnification of a dipperful of Hawaiian seawater. Describing the photo, journalist Jennifer S. Holland, writes, “Gelatinous shape-shifters lazily ride the currents (dead fish going with the flow). Familiar [and unfamiliar] forms — wide-eyed fish larvae, baby squid and octopuses—dart liberally (left wing radicals). Their lives are precarious (reckless decisions). Some wear shells (disguises) or exude toxins (media malpractice) against enemies (Main Street America); others are active only after dark (opaque government).” Even the name of the photograph is telling- The Secret Life [of Marine Microfauna].   No two alike? According to Discover, physicist Kenneth Libbrecht says it’s essentially impossible for any two ice crystals to have the exact same molecular structure (unique and one of a kind). He claims that, “Out of all the complex (smart, intelligent, quick study) snow crystals ever made over the history of the planet, it’s unlikely that any two ever looked completely alike (unprecedented). The elaborate branching structure indicates that the crystal was formed under high pressure (hard work, dedication, boldly speaking the truth, fearless), even where molecules encounter more resistance (‘drill, baby, drill’; ‘we eat, therefore we hunt’; ‘quit making things up’). The more easily the clear branches (government transparency) accumulate molecules, the more fabulous the shapes take form”. We the People are like magnifying glasses making it possible for all to see self-serving political agendas purposely hidden to the naked eye. We must magnify our lawmakers’ policies to a point of resolution where lines are not blurred but clearly defined and transparent. Who knew such musings could come from looking at a single photo published by a liberal medium while riding a stationary bike? Maybe next Friday I will join the line dancing class where Britney tunes are blared at a thousand decibels. Who knows I may oops, do it again.    

      It takes more than horsepower to win the world's longest toughest snowmachine race over an unforgiving Alaska landscape, just ask four-time Iron Dog Champion Todd Palin. Drivers also need skill, knowledge, and the determination to stay in the race.  Iron Dog contendors also race with perseverance. Perseverance means “the ability to bear difficulties calmly and without complaint.” Perseverance keeps going and moving forward no matter what opponents say or do.  I once heard someone describe perseverance as "stick-to-it-ness".        Todd Palin is a world class snowmachine racer Four-time Iron Dog Champion Todd Palin   Team #22 Davis/Palin ready to hit the Iron Dog Trail, the longest toughest snowmachine race in the world Like her world class snowmachine racing husband Todd, 2008 GOP Vice Presidential nominee Governor Sarah Palin personifies perseverance. No matter how the mainstream media elite, the liberal political pundits, the late night talk show hosts, or even the nosy neighbor peering through a wooden fence may slander her, Governor Palin consistently perseveres. She forges ahead endorsing commonsense conservative candidates, speaking the truth with boldness at fundraisers and rallies, and shares personally from her heart at pro-life events without giving a fleeting thought to inevitable media backlashes and hit-pieces. In contrast to the Iron Dog Champion's perseverance and Governor Palin's "stick-to-it-ness", how then shall we describe the liberal agenda of this generation? It is like children calling to their playmates: "We wanted to play wedding, but you didn't want to be happy; so we wanted to play funeral, and you didn't want to be sad. So, in other words, what DO you want!?  What would make you happy!?"  The answer is, sadly, NOTHING! You might as well not even try, and thus Governor Palin does not TRY to accommodate the liberal agenda.  No doubt she provokes furious responses from those who oppose, but at the end of the day, I am certain that their spitting, their foaming at the mouth, their wide-eyed carryings-on leave them confused as to why they are going so insane over the self-proclaimed hockey mom from Wasilla. Here's how I'd like to apply it to commonsense conservative freedom-loving Christian Americans. Jesus said in John 15:18-27 that the disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his Lord. If they were so offended with the Master, do you really think Governor Palin, a woman of devout Christian faith, can get by without getting anybody riled up? Well, she CAN'T.  In fact, she does everything exactly right, and she does it well, and humbly, and patiently, and with a good motive... and the liberal elite get so upset that they blame her for every ill on the planet. According to them, she must have had a hand in planning the September Attacks in 2001 and the Wall Street plunge last fall. She is the one causing the ice caps to shrink! She caused the deadlock in Congress, she engineered the Bird flu virus in her basement, and in their minds, there never WILL be peace and security as long as Governor Palin is on the loose. (Yes, it really is as Mahalia Jackson sings in Sweet Little Jesus Boy:  That's just the way things are down here below).  Silly, isn't it?     Gov. Palin with FL AG candidate Pam Bondi Endorsing Miller for AK US Senate Campaigning with Nikki Haley for SC Governor So what do we do? We vote for Palin-endorsed commonsense conservative candidates on November 2nd. We smile with both good humor and a heart of trustfulness, and pray, "Dear Lord, You know—much better than we do—how things are 'round here. Continue to give Governor Palin the bold strength to expose the socialist agenda seeking to take over our country. Protect her from the scornful enemies who plot to stone her dead! Keep her alive and her voice loud, Lord, and send her as many faithful supporters as can be gathered together across the nation. And one more thing dear Jesus: HEAL THEM ALL!"  

  February 4, 2011--- Governor Sarah Palin addressed dinner guests at the Reagan Ranch Center in Santa Barbara, California tonight as the keynote speaker for Young America's Foundation Reagan 100 Celebration. Governor Palin's comments focused around President Reagan's famous "Time for Choosing" speech given on behalf of Barry Goldwater's 1964 presidential campaign. Many claim his election to the presidency stemed from this single speech. The following are highlights from Governor Palin's remarks: Recalling the adventures she and daughter Bristol had riding horses on the ranch earlier in the day, "When you are here, you can distinctly feel his spirit." On Liberalism and Big Government: "The Left's version of American exceptionalism is an exceptionally big government." "President Reagan saw the dangers in LBJ's Great Society... he saw our nation at a critical turning point. He wanted to know if American still had the courage and the will to not only endure, but to arise, succeed, and soar." "My fellow Americans, this is not the road to greatness. It is the road to ruin." On Energy Independence: "I'm in favor of a sound, all-of-the-above approach to energy independence." On the Economy: "We need a vibrant economy that actually produces, grows, and builds things again." "History has proven again and again that when government picks the winners and losers, we're stuck with the losers." On the Christian Faith: "Our grandparents put their faith in God, not government. They didn't demand bailouts. They didn't need stimulus." "We are an army of patriotic Davids who are not afraid to tell Goliath: 'Don't you tread on me!' On the Virtues of the US Military: "Fine examples of the steel spine and the moral courage that we need." "Keep the flame of the Reagan Revolution burning bright." On American Patriotism: "Know that we are a force for good in this world, and that is nothing to apologize for." "Friends, we are not helpless. Our future is in our own hands." "This is our time of choosing... how we answer will be our glory or our shame." Governor Palin's remarks were a beautiful and fitting tribute to the 40th President and the conservative movement. Afterward, she graciously agreed to remain at the Reagan Ranch until everyone present had the opportunity to have a photo taken with her.   

    Extra! Extra! Read all about it! It seems The New York Times finally discovered what Governor Palin’s supporters have known all along: Her intelligent and intuitive ideas have built a bridge across the proverbial political aisle and linked the great divide known as ‘left versus right’. Times contributor, Anand Giridharadas, lamented with chagrin in an article published on September 9th that, “Something curious happened when Ms. Palin strode onto the stage last weekend [September 3rd] at a Tea Party event in Indianola, Iowa… she delivered a devastating indictment of the entire U.S. political establishment — left, right and center — and pointed toward a way of transcending the presently unbridgeable political divide.” At least one lamestream media outlet was paying attention to Gov. Palin’s wise words. Whether this “discovery” by the Times was flashbang or a three alarm wake-up call to the devastation wielded upon Americans by one Barack Hussein Obama is anyone’s guess. The article is worth a read as Mr. Giridharadas even goes as far as to briefly synopsize Gov. Palin’s “interlocking points” made during her speech to the thousands gathered in an Iowa cornfield while peppered by a driving rain. Will the Times continue traveling this bridge-to-somewhere or follow the signs leading to the left exit detour? Buckle your seat belts; it’s going to be a bumpy ride. Photo source: Getty Images; Gov. Palin speaks in Indianola, IA on 9/3/11.