GOP Hosts Women's CEO Panel On Jobs and the Economy

On Monday, December 5, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers hosted the first ever GOP Women’s CEO Panel on Jobs and the Economy. Joined by six of her female Congressional colleagues and six of the nation’s most prominent female CEO’s, the discussion centered around what Congress can do to help job creators get back to doing what they do best--creating jobs. 

“America stands at an unprecedented crossroads,” said McMorris Rodgers in her opening remarks. “It’s been 34 consecutive months of unemployment above eight percent and the U.S. debt has now hit a record $15 trillion. We’re here today, as CEO’s and members of Congress alike, to say that we refuse to watch those numbers rise. We’re here to shed light on the effects current economic policies and government regulation have had on people who have experienced it the most.”

The discussion began with Dr. Alison Brown, of NAVSYS Corporation, who quickly pointed out that the policies of the current administration have not helped small businesses be competitive in the particular market in which her business operates--competing for contracts with the Department of Defense. She became the first to point out that restrictive regulations and economic uncertainty are choking the life out of small businesses in the United States. "The worst case scenario for the country," Dr. Brown expressed, "is the 'no plan' situation that now exists." Every panelist confirmed and reiterated the points raised by Dr. Brown. 

One of the most interesting parts of the entire afternoon, however, was when Lisa Hook, of Neustar, Inc. began discussing the needs of her particular industry (tech), and highlighted some areas of opportunity where education is concerned. “We are not, in this country, training our kids in S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). That effects not only our company...it effects the growth of the tech sector, it effects our world competitiveness, and at the end of the day it effects our national security." She went on to cite some troubling statistics. "By 2018, there will be 1.4 million computing job openings in the United States, but at the current graduation rates, only 29% of those jobs will be filled by U.S. computing graduates. The rest of those jobs will have to be filled by very qualified folks, but folks that we will have to import to the country." Janet Trautwein, National Association of Health Underwriters CEO, later added that she is finding it increasingly difficult to find applicants who have adequate writing and speaking abilities. So, while the discussion centered primarily around the role Congress needs to play in helping Americans get back to work, some vital points were raised regarding the need for preparing our children for tomorrow's job opportunities. 

"We heard from Women CEO's from a variety of industries--energy, technology, defense, insurance, engineering, and health care--and while their backgrounds are different, their experience is not," said Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers. "They all cited duplicative, burdensome regulations and economic uncertainty as the major impediments to job creation and business growth. It's time we enact pro-growth policies to stimulate our economy and get Americans back to work again."

It appears that the House is very willing to do just that, with 27 bipartisan jobs bills now awaiting Senate action...now let's see if Mr. Reid and his colleagues in the Senate can manage to bring even one of them to the floor for a vote. 

To view the entire panel discussion, visit this link. 

Congressional Members included: 

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)

Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC)

Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)

Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC)

Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-OH)

Rep. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO)

CEO's included: 

Dr. Alison Brown, NAVSYS Corporation

Ms. Barbara Martin, Vista Health System

Ms. Catherine Heigel, Duke Energy South Carolina

Ms. Sandra Parrillo, Providence Mutual Fire Insurance

Ms. Janet Trautwein, National Association of Health Underwriters

Ms. Lisa Hook, Neustar, Inc. 

Anybody For Some Obama Campaign Merchandise?

A friend tagged me on Facebook this week with some interesting observations about the merchandise President Obama is offering these days on his website, and...while my friend has asked to remain anonymous, his observations were too good not to share. 


On the President's Web site on Friday, you were able to save 10% on merchandise by using this code: 10%TurkeyDay. Call me nit-picky, but the sale--while it was a "Turkey Day" sale--was posted on Friday, missing Thanksgiving by a day. (perhaps it couldn't be called a "Black Friday" sale because the country is in the red so deep) Just sayin'. 


If you take a look at the front page on the merchandise site, you'll notice that 2012 sticker in the header photo is attached to a Ford Focus. Funny, wasn't Ford the only company that didn't take bailout money?


Rhodium ball and glass ornaments are offered, but Christmas ornaments are never mentioned on the site...today, however, he tweeted an advertisement for Christmas ornaments.  (I'm sure, to the disappointment of many constituents) 


A cutting board is offered, but he seems incapable of cutting the least bit of spending. 


Birth certificate mugs that say "Made in the U.S.A." are offered...as my friend put it, it's just a tad ostentatious, don't you think?


He has done you a favor and offered one product that showcases the American flag, so if you'd like to own your very own tee with the President against a flag backdrop, see this link. 


And, if all of these items don't quite suit your fancy, you may follow this link, donate and enter a drawing to have dinner with the President. Watch the video, I think you'll find it quite...interesting. 

In the news...

I've had the opportunity to chat with a few reporters the last couple of weeks and wanted to share the articles with you. It seems the media is fascinated by the continued interest those of us who are Sarah Palin supporters still have in politics! (who knew??)

Check out Frieda Klotz's Forbes Woman piece on "How Sarah Palin's followers are rebranding for the future, " and Paul Blumenthal's Huffington Post piece "Sarah Palin's rarely gave to other candidates prior to her Presidential decision".

My interview with FTR Radio

If you haven't listened to the guys and gals over at FTR Radio, I highly recommend it...they're conservative, they're hilarious, and they score some pretty awesome interviews!

I was able to sit down last week with them, wanted to share it with you.
http://www.ftrradio.com/interviews/TammyNantzBlogCon2011.mp3

Heritage Foundation & American Enterprise Institute to Sponsor CNN Republican Presidential Debate on 11/22

On Tuesday, November 22, the Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute will co-host CNN's GOP Presidential debate, to be held at Constitution Hall in Washington DC and moderated by Wolf Blitzer. The event will focus on foreign policy and national security, two topics that are near and dear to the heart of most on the Right, and include 8 of the 16 declared Republican Presidential Candidates. Please be sure to tune in to CNN at 8:00 pm ET and join me over at  Smart Girl Politics for the live debate chat.

In preparation for Tuesday's debate, Heritage has created a special website where you can find insightful discussion on the candidates and the issues, a spot to sign up for your very own complimentary debate watch party kit,  a Facebook poll asking which foreign policy issue matters most to you, and even a spot to share the event with your friends on twitter! 

I hope you'll be sure to tune in, and join us over at Smart Girl Politics for the action!

**a version of this post was crossposted at SGP Action.

Grizzly Coalition Action Report

Listen to internet radio with Grizzly Fest on Blog Talk Radio

Occupy Denver Protesters Get A Little Taste Of Their Own Medicine

In Denver on Friday, Occupy Denver protesters got more than they bargained for when they decided to crash the Freedomworks Blogcon event being held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

I was there for the event and caught some of it on video:



For more footage, visit Breitbart TV.

Grizzly Fest 2011 Livestream

Please be sure to join us for the livestream at 2:00 PM Eastern...This is also a recorded event, so you'll be able to re-listen after the event has ended.

Listen to internet radio with Grizzly Fest on Blog Talk Radio

The Inspiration of Sarah Palin

This post, written by me, was originally posted at the Grizzly Fest  site. I wanted to repost here for my readers:

Today, Americans from all walks of life will unite to bring Grizzly Fest 2011, the first event of its kind, to a computer near you.

You can be sure that the liberal left and, let’s be honest, the Republican establishment, are scratching their heads in disbelief trying to figure out what in the world it is about Sarah Palin that inspires such enthusiasm within the conservative movement. And, just when they thought Sarah and her supporters were finally going to go away, here we are again. More enthusiastic than ever.

It’s remarkable, really. There’s no way to put a label on exactly who it is that supports Sarah. There are certainly those within conservative politics who are willing to voice strong support, but beyond that, the descriptions run the gamut. The panelists for Grizzly Fest 2011 are a perfect example--their experience is as varied as the audience to which they will be speaking. What has most fascinated me over the last few years, however, are both the blogs and the organizations that were started either directly, or indirectly, as a result of the passion of one woman who decided it was time for her to make a difference.

And make a difference she did.

So, what is it about Sarah Palin that caused moms and young people alike to finally stand up and take notice? Was it the clothes? I mean, shocking as it is to many on the left, the lady can rock a dress like nobody you’ve ever seen. Or, maybe it’s the fact that she’s been married to the same man all these years, and that together, they’ve had five kids. Or, perhaps it’s the fact that she is one tough chick, what with all the running, fishing, and caribou hunting...I joke, but I hope you get the point. The liberal left like to paint the support of Sarah as some sort of fad, a sort of celebrity worship, and you and I both know that couldn’t be further from reality.

When I first heard about Sarah Palin, I was standing in my kitchen doing dishes, listening to Rush Limbaugh. I was your average informed conservative wife and mother, largely uninvolved in politics other than my annual trip to the voting booth. Rush mentioned that he’d heard Sarah was being considered for Vice President, and spoke highly of her. That was sometime mid-summer 2008, and while I liked the prospect of a female VP, I never thought it would happen. It wasn’t until the morning of August 29, 2008 that I began to think all that seriously about the little known Governor from Alaska. As I watched the news reports, I heard the mainstream media talk about this woman like she was the devil himself, and it puzzled me. Everything I’d heard, which admittedly wasn't much, had been extremely positive. She started her political career at the very bottom, and with a lot of hard work, determination, and willingness to do the right thing, she had risen to the top spot in her state--with support from both sides of the aisle. (let’s face it folks, that’s not an easy task these days)

Later that afternoon, Senator John McCain did, indeed, announce that Sarah was his choice for the coveted spot, and with that announcement, the liberal left lost their minds. No, seriously, they came completely unglued.

And that is when this conservative mom woke up. 

I decided to start a blog, and as I logged onto blogger and typed my title, I prayed. God, I haven't the slightest clue what to say, but I just want you to use me to make a difference. I decided that day that I would never again be afraid to take a stand.  Moms 4 Sarah Palin became a place where I could not only inform others about Governor Palin, but also defend her against relentless media attacks, educate women on the issues, and inform my readers about the principles of conservatism.

Three years later, I continue to hear story after story just like mine, and while I have no doubt  that  I would’ve been inspired by Sarah Palin’s life story regardless of the behavior of the mainstream media, they certainly were instrumental in speeding up the process. What is it about Sarah that inspires such passion, on both sides of the political spectrum?

She's the real deal.

Over and over throughout her political life, Sarah has taken a stand for what is right, regardless of popular opinion. She's genuine, she believes deeply in the cause for which she's fighting, and because of that, is tireless in her effort. I believe, in addition to her strong stand on Constitutional conservative principles, this is why so many have been inspired by  Sarah and seek to follow her example.

In the weeks and months that followed Senator McCain's announcement, support for the team began to come from the most unlikely places. Blogs like mine were created, in many cases by people who were completely unfamiliar with social media (and in some cases, even politics)--ordinary Americans of all ages were inspired to do something extraordinary. They came together in unprecedented numbers and a true grassroots movement was born. Organizations were created either in direct support of Sarah, or because they were inspired by Sarah--one such organization is Smart Girl Politics. Stacy Mott, founder of SGPA, refers to herself as a 9/11 conservative. Before the horrific attacks on 09/11/01, Stacy was a Democrat. Her first real involvement in politics was in 2004. By 2008, she had developed a great desire to get involved, but because she was mommy to very small children, blogging became her only real option. In June 2008, Smart Girl Politics--the blog--was created. After the election, inspired by what she'd witnessed over the course of the previous months, Stacy decided to put a help-wanted sign on her blog. She announced that she'd like to create a place for other conservative women to discuss politics and conservatism, and within a week, 60 women answered the call. In December 2008, Stacy and co-founder Teri Christoph formed what is now known as Smart Girl Politics Action. Today, SGP  is one of the fastest growing premier social networks for conservative women in the country. They are a national organization providing local support to their membership, with a united voice that now exceeds 40,000 women.

When the McCain/Palin team lost the election in 2008, many thought it would be the death of support for Sarah Palin, and that she'd go back to her Wasilla home and leave politics to the big boys. They were dead wrong.

So, what now?

That is what Grizzly Fest 2011 is all about. Sarah isn't running for President in 2012, but that doesn't mean that the cause for which we were inspired to fight has gone away. We have a President in the White House who is fundamentally changing the very fabric of our nation, and it is up to us to stand strong, and continue to follow Sarah's example. Sarah's not finished, she's just getting started...and so are we.

Game ON. 

**How were you inspired by Governor Palin? We'd like to hear your story here!**

Tami Nantz is the Blogger Outreach Coordinator for Smart Girl Politics Action, and founder of Moms 4 Sarah Palin. 

Join me at GrizzlyFest 2011

In case you haven't heard, there's quite an event taking place this Saturday, right here on Al Gore's amazing internet, and I'm honored to participate, representing Smart Girl Politics. Grizzly Fest 2011 was created by a team of dedicated supporters of former Governor Sarah Palin who wish to follow through with Sarah's challenge during her October 5th announcement that she would not be running for President in 2012. "We need to continue to actively and aggressively help those who will stop the 'fundamental transformation' of our nation, and instead seek the restoration of our greatness, our goodness and our constitutional republic based on the rule of law."

It is because of this challenge that Grizzly Fest 2011 will take place this Saturday, October 29th. Representatives from a number of different sources, including yours truly and many other Palin bloggers, will gather to discuss how we can move forward most effectively. I'll be joining Tammy Bruce, Jedediah Bila, and Josh Painter to discuss "the historic nature of the Palin movement, both in the blogosphere and in organizing...the impact Palin supporters had on the historic 2010 midterms....and what potential we have to make a difference in 2012." I strongly encourage you to register and take part in this historic event.

Grizzly Fest Online Summit Agenda


When: Saturday, October 29, 2011
What time: 2:00-5:00 p.m. ET
Where: www.GrizzlyFest.com

Panel 1: Success of the Movement So Far – 2-3 p.m. ET
Tammy Bruce, conservative radio host and author
Jedediah Bila, conservative columnist and author
Josh Painter, blogger, creator of Texans for Sarah Palin
Tami Nantz, blogger outreach coordinator, Smart Girl Politics, and founder of Moms4SarahPalin

This panel will discuss the historic nature of the Palin movement, both in the blogosphere and in organizing, and the impact Palin supporters had on the historic 2010 midterms. Plus, what potential we have to make a difference in 2012.

Panel 2: The Restoration Agenda – 3-4 p.m. ET
Steve Bannon, film producer and radio host
Jackie Siciliano, coordinator of Team Sarah
Stacy Drake, editor at Conservatives4Palin
Whitney Zahnd, Illinois O4P coordinator, blogger, and part of the Central Illinois 9/12 Project

This panel will identify the main themes we relate to as Palin supporters, and how we can continue to make these issues front and center going forward in 2012 and beyond.

Panel 3: Future of the Grassroots Movement 4-5 p.m. ET
Peter Singleton, Iowa O4P coordinator
Janne Myrdal, North Dakota Tea Party Caucus
Thomas Schmitz, California O4P coordinator
Kristen Hendershot, Alaska resident, O4P coordinator

This panel will discuss the “boots on the ground” aspect of the Palin movement, and how we can continue to deploy for good causes.

Special appearances (at the beginning of panels)
Sarah Jordan, The Grizzly Hour - 3 p.m. ET
Kevin Scholla, SarahNetRadio – 3 p.m. ET
Madeleine McAulay, Faith, Hope & Politics - 4 p.m. ET
Austin Harris, Iowa Students4Palin – 4 p.m. ET

BREAKING NEWS: Sarah Not Running for President in 2012

Sarah revealed this evening on the Mark Levin show that, after much consideration, she has decided not to run for President in 2012. While I am disappointed, I am not shocked. I deeply respect the decision she  and her family have made, and will be excited to see what lies ahead for the Governor. 


Sarah has released the following statement on SarahPAC:

October 5, 2011 Wasilla, Alaska After much prayer and serious consideration, I have decided that I will not be seeking the 2012 GOP nomination for President of the United States. As always, my family comes first and obviously Todd and I put great consideration into family life before making this decision. When we serve, we devote ourselves to God, family and country. My decision maintains this order. My decision is based upon a review of what common sense Conservatives and Independents have accomplished, especially over the last year. I believe that at this time I can be more effective in a decisive role to help elect other true public servants to office - from the nation's governors to Congressional seats and the Presidency. We need to continue to actively and aggressively help those who will stop the "fundamental transformation" of our nation and instead seek the restoration of our greatness, our goodness and our constitutional republic based on the rule of law. From the bottom of my heart I thank those who have supported me and defended my record throughout the years, and encouraged me to run for President. Know that by working together we can bring this country back - and as I've always said, one doesn't need a title to help do it. I will continue driving the discussion for freedom and free markets, including in the race for President where our candidates must embrace immediate action toward energy independence through domestic resource developments of conventional energy sources, along with renewables. We must reduce tax burdens and onerous regulations that kill American industry, and our candidates must always push to minimize government to strengthen the economy and allow the private sector to create jobs. Those will be our priorities so Americans can be confident that a smaller, smarter government that is truly of the people, by the people, and for the people can better serve this most exceptional nation. In the coming weeks I will help coordinate strategies to assist in replacing the President, re-taking the Senate, and maintaining the House. Thank you again for all your support. Let's unite to restore this country! God bless America. - Sarah Palin

...And released the following excellent video.

Cathy McMorris Rodgers on the Women of Afghanistan

Below is an excerpt from my monthly column in Smart Girl Nation, Smart Girl Politic's online magazine. 

Fighting brutality against women and children is not the expression of a specific culture; it is the acceptance of our common humanity - a commitment shared by people of good will on every continent. --Laura Bush  

Along with news of yet another Taliban attack on Afghanistan’s capital city of Kabul earlier this month, there is speculation that the country may be on the brink of civil war. Add that to the growing concern over the pending U.S. troop withdrawal and the effect it could have on the women and children of Afghanistan, and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out how volatile the situation is. “Afghanistan is at that delicate moment in the development of a free society,” said Laura Bush in an article she wrote for The Hill in June, “when the weight of its new institutions will either shift toward a free future or back toward an oppressive past. And whether it continues to protect and expand human rights could determine in which direction the country goes.”...Read the rest here. 

Sarah Palin Threatens to Sue ‘Rogue’ Book Publisher

by Shushanna Walsh and Jonathan Karl

Sarah Palin’s family attorney John Tiemessen has written a letter to Maya Mavjee, the publisher of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, that Palin may sue her, the company, and the book’s author Joe McGinniss “for knowingly publishing false statements” in...Read the rest here.

Explosive Email Shows Anti-Palin Author McGinniss, Random House Likely Published Literary Hoax (Updated)

by Andrew Breitbart


The awful launch week for the over-hyped, expected bestseller The Rogue: Searching for the Real Sarah Palin, by controversial author Joe McGinniss, just got worse. Much worse.

After a week of universally scathing pans from the reflexively anti-Palin establishment media, McGinniss now faces the fight of his literary life: the accusation that he seems to have knowingly submitted a book to his publisher, Crown/Random House, that was filled with unproved “tawdry gossip” and rumors that lacked “factual evidence.” Read the rest of the story here.

McClatchy-Marist Poll Shows Sarah Gaining Huge Ground With Independents

So, we know polls are not something Republicans spend a great deal of time worrying about, but Democrats do, and that's what's so fabulous about the latest McClatchy-Marist poll. 


I'll leave the bulk of the reading to those of you who are interested, but thought it was worth highlighting an article posted in the Miami Herald today:

Look out President Barack Obama. Even Sarah Palin's gaining on you. 

A new McClatchy-Marist poll finds that Obama looks increasingly vulnerable in next year's election, with a majority of voters believing he'll lose to any Republican, a solid plurality saying they'll definitely vote against him and most potential Republican challengers gaining on him. 

Even in potential matchups where he leads, Obama in most cases has lost ground to the Republican. 

The biggest gain came for Palin, the former Alaska governor who hasn't yet announced whether she'll jump into the fast-changing race for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. 

After trailing Obama by more than 20 percentage points in polls all year, the new national survey, taken Sept. 13-14, found Palin trailing the president by just 5 points, 49-44 percent. The key reason: She now leads Obama among independents, a sharp turnaround.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/09/20/v-fullstory/2417008/poll-finds-obama-losing-ground.html#ixzz1YYhsKBve

Greta Van Susteren v. Tucker Carlson

Twitter is on fire tonight after Fox News' own Greta Van Sustern had it out with Tucker Carlson over the controversial article he allowed over at The Daily Caller a few days ago. The story centered around the discussion about a book written by Joe McGinnis in which he supposedly uncovers an unsubstantiated "affair" Sarah had as a single young woman with an NBA star. (Remember Joe?) Tyson appeared on ESPN radio and unleashed a stream of vile comments about the sexual encounter he imagines might have taken place or could take place, were she to have an encounter with a black man.  


First, let me just say that I like Tucker Carlson, and I think his intentions were good...sort of. If his intent was to shed light on a disgusting story, I applaud him for it. However, the point Greta was trying to make in the interview was that in the original post, there was no note from the editor warning the reader/listener about what was said. The title itself, "Mike Tyson: Sarah Palin met 'the womb shifter'", with no explanation, is outrageous. If the intent was to shed light on this pathetic excuse for a human being and what he said about Sarah, why not instead write a simple title calling Tyson out on his disgusting behavior?  Restating one of the many remarks Tyson made about Sarah in the title hardly gives the appearance of someone trying to defend her.





In the end, they walked away friends in spite of the heated on-air debate. My take? I think they both had good intentions. Tucker originally, perhaps, allowed the story in order to expose Tyson/ESPN. He exercised extremely poor judgement, however, when he permitted one of Tyson's comments to be used as the title. Tyson, a convicted rapist, is known for advocating violence against women and it is outrageous that he was allowed to spew the disgusting things he did on any radio/television station. I commend Carlson for attempting to expose him but am disappointed that more wasn't done in the beginning to make it clear that that's what he was doing. 


That said, I believe Greta's heart was in the right place. She, along with millions of her listeners, has had it with the mainstream media and it's inability to cover stories in a fair and accurate manner. The bottom line is, there is a different standard when it comes to covering stories about conservative women. Period. Advocate for just about anything against them in the liberal media, you get a free pass. Kudos to Greta for taking a stand...it sure did make for an interesting show. 

Remembering 9/11

Who on earth can forget where they were on that terrible September day in 2001? To some, it seemed as though the world stood still. To others, it was the beginning of the worst nightmare they'd ever endure. For nearly 3,000 Americans, life would come to an end. Some cheered, while most of us stood watching in absolute disbelief as the scene unfolded before our very eyes on television. One thing is for certain, September 11, 2001, is the day America was forever changed. 


Or was it?


It seemed so for awhile, but soon, life went on. Americans once again became comfortable in their everyday lives, and to many, the word terrorist became a term used more frequently for those fighting for the life of our nation rather than the monsters who flew planes into the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and a field in PA on that September day.


If I'm being perfectly honest, posts like this are nearly impossible for me to write. It's not that there's nothing to say, quite the contrary. Really, it's more that there's nothing I can say that could possibly express what's in my heart on a day like today. So, I'll simply say this: let us never forget. It's easy, especially when you aren't the one suffering the loss of a family member in a tragedy such as this, to soon forget that there are those whose lives will never again be normal. 


The Heritage Foundation is asking that Americans honor those who lost their lives today, as well as those who are on the front lines in the War on Terror, by raising Old Glory. Will you join them in this effort on this day? 

Sarah Secretly Runs Half-Marathon In Iowa

In a story reported on the 4th, citizens in one Iowa town realized Sarah had joined them for a little run. 

Sarah Palin’s short-lived and unannounced run began and ended today in Storm Lake, Iowa.
The morning after Palin’s speech at a tea party rally in Indianola, Greta Van Susteren of Fox News posted a photo she said was snapped of Palin during the “Jump Right in and Run” half-marathon organized by the Storm Lake Running Club.
Hannah Campbell, webmaster of the Storm Lake Running Club, confirmed the former Alaska governor’s participation in the event. She said Palin’s official time was 1 hour 46 minutes 10 seconds.

Turns out the Governor won 2nd place in her age group, and had registered under her maiden name. Read the rest of the story here. Do you love this woman, or what?

(Storm Lake Running Club)

My interview with Cathy McMorris Rodgers Pt. 2

I know many of you probably wonder what in the world I'm doing talking about Cathy McMorris Rodgers so much on a blog that exists primarily to talk about Sarah Palin. I understand that, so I figured I'd take a minute to explain. 


When I started this blog several years ago, I didn't start it for the reason so many Sarah haters think I did. I wasn't a "Palinbot" or an obsessed Sarah Palin fan. In fact, when I started Moms 4 Sarah Palin, I knew virtually nothing about her. I originally began to blog about her simply because I was horrified by the behavior of the mainstream media when it came to Sarah Palin, and decided to do my research and see if anything they were saying had a shred of truth to it. Over the years, this has become my spot to talk about politics, whether it be specifically about Sarah, or about those issues that are most important to conservative Americans as a whole. 


So, when I was given the opportunity in mid July to sit down with Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, it was only right that I ask about some of the things she and Sarah have in common...one of those is that both women have been entrusted by God with precious little boys who have Down syndrome. I wrote an article about this portion of the interview for the latest issue of Smart Girl Nation, an online magazine for Smart Girl Politics (pages 6 & 7).

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) introduced two pieces of legislation last month that would guarantee a huge step forward for those within the special needs community, specifically those with Down Syndrome. According to her web site, “research for a treatment and cure [for Down Syndrome] has lagged behind other medical conditions.” H.R. 2695: The Trisomy 21 Centers of Excellence Act of 2011 and H.R. 2696: The Trisomy 21 Research Resource Act of 2011, if passed, would “ensure that Down Syndrome research remains on par with the research infrastructure of other diseases.”  

McMorris Rodgers is no stranger to the special needs community. When she and her husband Brian welcomed their son Cole McMorris Rodgers into the world in 2007, little did they know how deeply they would be affected by the journey on which they were about to embark. Within a few days of his birth, they received confirmation that their new little bundle of joy had Trisomy 21, also known as Down Syndrome. “Hearing the test results was the most difficult,” she told Northwest Women’s Magazine in 2008. “Every parent has hopes and dreams for their child, Down Syndrome is not on the list. It is not what we expected, yet we have embraced Cole as the special gift from God that he is. We are developing new dreams for our son and look forward to seeing him reach his potential.” Read the rest here. 

Why Palin Can Win

This is an old article, but an excellent one, so I wanted you to know about it.

One of the most talked about subjects in politics is whether or not Sarah Palin will run for the presidency.  It's frankly anyone's guess which direction she will go with her decision and when she will make the decision.  However, if Palin doesn't run it will be a disaster for the Republican Party and quite possibly the country.

Continue reading...Why Palin Can Win.

Sarah on Iowa

Hmmm. I don't know about you, but that sounds very candidate-like to me. Let's see what September 3rd brings, when she goes back to Iowa. 

Sarah on Hannity at the Iowa State Fair

Tonight, Sarah was on Fox News with Sean Hannity, just in time for the Republican Straw Poll that takes place tomorrow at the Iowa State Fair. Sarah is always enthusiastic, but something seems to have changed...listen, and tell me what you think.
  
Part One:


Part Two:

Sarah's Headed for the Hawkeye State

Well, it seems Sarah and her family have resumed the bus tour...



  
                                                                        ...could it possibly mean a run for President? 

Run, Sarah, Run

In late July, I travelled to St. Louis and spent the weekend getting to know a number of remarkable conservatives at the annual Smart Girl Politics conference, the Smart Girl Summit. I admit, I'm always a bit nervous attending political events of any sort. I'm truly just a mom trying to make a difference, and no matter how immersed I become in the world of politics, I never quite feel like I belong. It isn't that I'm not warmly welcomed, or that I don't want to attend these events...nothing of the sort. It's really quite difficult to explain, and I admit it,  I rather like the discomfort I feel. My heart is filled with love for this great nation, and what I've seen take place over the last several years has been nothing short of outrageous--I'll never be filled with joy when I have to meet and talk about the issues we face as a nation. I feel a great responsibility as a citizen journalist (blogger) and a writer to get the story right, when so many in the mainstream media get it dead wrong. I learned early on in my blogging adventures that I must grow a thick skin if I was to make it very far in this world of political blogging...and that, my friends, has taken some time. It seems these days, no matter what crowd I'm in, if the subject of politics comes up, opinions are as varied as the number of people in the room. (yes, believe it or not, that's even the case in conservative circles) 


The thing I love about the Smart Girl Summit, and other events like it, is that it's just the bare bones. You're not going to get a fancy show, and while we love hearing from every speaker that so graciously takes time from their busy schedule to appear, we're not about gushing over anyone. Those who attend these conferences are there to be educated and empowered, and most of us are pretty darn serious about it.  The speakers don't waltz in acting like Hollywood celebrities, though some of them could easily do so (Phyllis Schlafly, Andrew Breitbart, and Herman Cain--to name a few), and the mainstream media in attendance is treated with...well...a bit of disinterest. Frankly, I find that somewhat amusing. 


Those on the left seem to be quite puzzled by these events. They attend incognito, then leave and write the funniest pieces about what happened. I guess what with all the civility and lack of riots, they just don't quite know what to make of it all. Even the media--who are very easily identified--seem to walk around with a perpetual look of confusion on their faces. It must be terribly frustrating to have so much disdain for a group of people, step into what you believe is going to be a brainwashing session, and instead, hear nothing but truth being spoken. 


I don't know about you, but I feel like this political world in which we live is growing crazier with each passing day. I keep thinking that surely I'm going to wake up one morning and figure out that it was really all just a very bad dream. We have a political party in power who is going to great lengths not only to openly destroy the very fabric of our nation, but a party who is literally seething with hate for anyone who dares to disagree with them. It's like the country is being run by a bunch of spoiled brats, and if it weren't so destructive, it would be incredibly hilarious. 


The country is suffering, and with what we've seen over the last few days, it's not going to get better any time in the very near future. What we're lacking is true leadership, and there are few souls left in this world who are brave enough to step into the political arena that we see today in Washington. The left has made it abundantly clear: they will seek to destroy anyone who dares to run against them. 


Governor Sarah Palin has been asked a million times if she had plans to run for President. I've heard her answer more than once that she'd consider running only if/when she feels the country needs her. She's been vetted more thoroughly than any candidate in American history, and if I were in her shoes, perhaps I'd run as far as I could run and never look back. Those on the left, and many on the right, have treated her with an unfairness that is unparalleled in American politics, and it's been largely overlooked. As we've seen in recent days, however, doing the right thing is never the easy thing, and only time will tell whether or not Sarah will decide to run for President. It's my firm belief that, should she decide to run, and America gets to know the real Sarah, she'll win by a landslide. 


Now that you've picked yourself up off the floor, let me briefly explain why I hold that opinion. I sat in a room mostly full of conservatives at the Smart Girl Summit last month as we watched The Undefeated. I'd screened the movie here in DC two months prior, and already knew what they were in for. I listened throughout the two hours as many gasped or loudly proclaimed their anger as they heard facts they'd never been told by our mainstream American media. The general consensus, as far as I could tell before the film, was that attendees liked Sarah, but they weren't all that concerned with the topic because she isn't yet on the ballot. After the film, I heard comment after comment exclaiming "Sarah has got to run! I had no idea she'd done all that!"...and an anger that they--mostly conservatives--had been so misled by the media. 


I believe with all my heart that the tactics of the left will eventually backfire on them. I think Americans are fed up with the shenanigans we see being played on the Hill and in the White House. The American people aren't the idiots that those on the left think them to be...we can only hope that enough people are waking up to pay attention, and that when they do, the right person has stepped forward to run. 


I believe that person is Sarah Palin. 

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”-Theodore Roosevelt

Conquering the Storm

Sarah posted a moving piece on her facebook page today. 

In the coming days we’ll sort through the repercussions of S&P’s downgrade of our credit rating, including concerns about the impact a potential interest rate increase would have on our ability to service our suffocating $14.5 trillion debt.

I’m surprised that so many people seem surprised by S&P’s decision. Weren’t people paying attention over the last year or so when we were getting warning after warning from various credit rating agencies that this was coming? I’ve been writing and speaking about it myself for quite some time.

Back in December 2010, I wrote: “If the European debt crisis teaches us anything, it’s that tomorrow always comes. Sooner or later, the markets will expect us to settle the bill for the enormous Obama-Pelosi-Reid spending binge. We’ve already been warned by the credit ratings agency Moody’s that unless we get serious about reducing our deficit, we may face a downgrade of our credit rating.” And again in January, in response to President Obama’s State of the Union address I wrote: “With credit ratings agency Moody’s warning us that the federal government must reverse the rapid growth of national debt or face losing our triple-A rating, keep in mind that a nation doesn’t look so ‘great’ when its credit rating is in tatters.”

One doesn’t need a Harvard Law degree to figure this out! Just look across the pond at Europe. European nations with less debt and smaller deficits than ours and with real “austerity” plans in place to deal with them have had their ratings downgraded. By what magical thinking did we figure we could run up perpetual trillion dollar deficits and still somehow avoid the unforgiving mathematics of a downgrade? Nothing is ever “too big to fail.” And there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Didn’t we all learn that in our micro and macro econ classes? I did at the University of Idaho. How could Obama skip through Columbia and Harvard without learning that?

Many commonsense Americans like myself saw this day coming. In fact, in June 2010, Rick Santelli articulated the view of independent Tea Party patriots everywhere when he shouted on CNBC, “I want the government to stop spending! Stop spending! Stop spending! Stop spending! STOP SPENDING!” So, how shamelessly cynical and dishonest must one be to blame this inevitable downgrade on the very people who have been shouting all along “stop spending”? Blaming the Tea Party for our credit downgrade is akin to Nero blaming the Christians for burning Rome. Tea Party Americans weren’t the ones “fiddling” while our country’s fiscal house was going up in smoke. In fact, we commonsense fiscal conservatives were the ones grabbing for the extinguishers while politically correct politicians and their cronies buried their heads in what soon became this bonfire.

With S&P and others now warning that we could face another downgrade if we don’t get serious about our debt problem (i.e., recklessly spending money we don't have), Washington needs to wake up before things get worse! We’re already hearing murmurs about QE3, which is just madness and will further debase our currency at a time when the dollar’s status as the world’s reserve currency is already being questioned. The loss of the dollar’s reserve currency status would adversely impact us in every conceivable way. Our standard of living would decline as imports become more expensive (including imports of foreign oil), government wouldn’t be able to finance deficits as cheaply, and American corporations – employers – would lose a competitive edge. It would be another crack in our status as a financial superpower.

Last May, I gave a speech at Westhills Community College in Lemoore, California, to an audience that included farmers from California’s Central Valley. I tried to paint a picture for them of where all of this was heading. The following is an excerpt from my prepared remarks:

Now we’re all getting hit with rising food prices too. Back in November of last year, I predicted this would happen when the Federal Reserve dropped a $600 billion money bomb called QE2 on us! That’s short for “quantitative easing 2.” It’s a fancy term for running the printing presses and creating money out of thin air – which drives down the value of the dollar and makes the price of everything more expensive.

As I predicted six months ago, these policies will lead us down a path where for the first time in our history our fate will be taken out of our own hands and placed in the hands of the world’s capital markets. They will force us to make the responsible decisions that our leaders are unwilling to make. Just as the destinies of the Central Valley farms have been taken out of your hands by the federal government’s overreach into your water rights, so the destiny of our nation will be taken out of our hands because our leadership has failed to get our financial house in order.

This isn’t some theoretical threat any more. It’s already happening. The world’s biggest bond investment fund PIMCO announced last month that it was dumping U.S. Treasury bonds. The head of PIMCO, Bill Gross, one of the world’s preeminent debt investors, warned that the U.S. is in serious risk of default with our trillion dollar deficits and no end in sight. And last week, credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s downgraded our credit outlook to “negative” – that’s the first time that has happened to us since the attack on Pearl Harbor. The IMF has even given us formal notice that, unless we do something to deal with our debt problem, we could tip the world economy into another recession.

It is a disgraceful and embarrassing situation when the United States finds itself justifiably chastised in the same tone normally reserved for near-bankrupt economies.

And in this, like in shutting off your water, the federal government has failed you. Their reckless spending and destruction of the dollar will make access to available credit for farmers and small business owners harder to get. And it will make transportation costs higher because it will hit everyone at the gas pump. You see, because the Obama White House won’t let us drill domestically, we’re forced to import oil that we pay for in dollars. So, when the value of the dollar drops, the price of gas goes up. And if you think $4 a gallon is bad, wait till you see what life is like at $6 or $7 a gallon.

Last November, the so-called smart people all laughed at me when I warned them of this. They told me not to make such a big deal about rising prices. Well, guess what – it became a big deal all on its own.

In fact, there was an editorial in the New York Sun that said – and I quote: “As gasoline is nearing six dollars a gallon at some pumps, the cost of groceries is skyrocketing, and the value of the dollars…has collapsed to less than a 1,500th of an ounce of gold. Unemployment is still high. Shakespeare couldn’t come up with a better plot. But how in the world did Mrs. Palin, who is supposed to be so thick, manage to figure all this out so far ahead of the New York Times and all the economists it talked to?”

Well, I’m sure the New York Times writers will remember the famous line: “You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.” And right now the American economy is in the howling, hot headwinds of a gathering storm. We’re printing up and buying up our own notes at an unprecedented rate, and the Fed is artificially holding interest rates down to nearly zero. Anyone with commonsense could see what was coming. Unfortunately, common sense is in short supply among our leaders. It’s like they never believe that the rules of common sense apply to them. They think somehow we'll escape from the consequences of their policies. It’s the same magical thinking that allows them to run up trillion dollar deficits and still think that we can “win the future.”

Every other generation has weathered recessions by sacrifice and belt tightening. But our leaders today decided that they could magically paper over the tough decisions by running the printing presses. A little history lesson might have showed them how well that worked out for Germany in the 1930s. The Weimar Republic inflated its currency so much that it took a wheel barrel full of paper money to buy a loaf of bread. That might be the main thing I remember from Mr. Crum’s history class at Wasilla High, but it told me all I needed to know about the inflationary dangers of a weak currency and why we must avoid it. What a shame Mr. Crum didn’t teach at Harvard.

That was just three months ago, and things have already gotten worse. We have to face this storm head on. It won’t be easy, but there are real solutions to grow our economy and reduce our debt.

First, we need to get serious about our deficit. No more accounting gimmicks. No more cuts in “out-years” that never materialize. The permanent political class in D.C. might be fooling themselves with these Enron-like accounting games, but they’re not fooling the world’s capital markets. And we don’t need any more happy talk from the White House about “investing” in solar shingles and really fast trains. The White House shouldn’t even bother floating these new spending programs. We can’t afford them. Period. We need to stop this deficit spending, balance our budget, repeal Obamacare, cancel all unused stimulus funds, and reform our entitlement programs. We have to have an adult conversation about our spending commitments; circumstances have changed, and we must adapt. I know none of this will be easy, but, “thick” or not, the average American outside the D.C. politico bubble knows that we no longer have a choice! We will have entitlement reform and a balanced budget; it’s just a matter of how. We can do it ourselves in a calm, methodical, and responsible manner, or we can wait for the world’s capital markets to ram it down on us. Let’s be responsible and do it ourselves. And let’s get serious about reducing the size of government across the board and rooting out waste. How many more reports (that today are destined to merely gather dust on the shelf) do we need about duplicative and unnecessary programs before we actually do something about government waste?

We need to get this economy moving again, and the real stimulus we’ve been waiting for is domestic energy development. We must reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil by responsibly developing natural resources here. This will provide good paying jobs, reduce our trade deficit, increase federal and state revenue, ensure environmental standards, and actually stimulate our economy without incurring any debt. That’s real stimulus! Affordable, plentiful, and secure energy is the foundation of every thriving economy. Let’s make it the foundation of ours. Let’s do the opposite of President Obama’s manipulation of U.S. energy supplies. Let’s drill here, build refineries, and stop kowtowing to foreign countries in asking them to ramp up energy production which makes us even more beholden to them as we rely on their foreign product. Let’s move on tapping our massive domestic natural gas reserves. Natural gas is the perfect “bridge fuel” to a future when more renewable sources are available. It’s clean, it’s green, and we’ve got a lot of it. Let’s drill. Let’s build an infrastructure for natural gas cars and power plants. Energy development can help kick start our economic engine.

In addition to energy security, I embrace a pro-growth agenda that can make American corporations far more competitive on the global stage. (I will be writing more about this in the coming days.) We need to tell the world, “America is open for business again!” And let’s welcome industry by reducing burdensome regulations. The Obama administration keeps strangling businesses in red tape. From the EPA’s rulings to that nightmare known as Obamacare, the Obama administration is hanging one regulatory albatross after another around the private sector’s neck. Let’s get government out of the way and give the private sector room to breathe, grow, and thrive. We can provide businesses confidence to expand and hire Americans in a stable environment.

Be wary of the efforts President Obama makes to “fix” the debt problem. The more he tries to “fix” things, the worse they get because his “solutions” always involve spending more, taxing more, growing government, and increasing debt. This debt problem is the greatest challenge facing our country today. Obviously, President Obama doesn’t have a plan or even a notion of how to deal with it. His press conference today was just a rehash of his old talking points and finger-pointing. That’s why he can’t be re-elected in 2012.

Our economic news is disheartening and the task before us can seem daunting, but we must not lose our sense of optimism. People look around today and may see only the negative. They see a culture and a nation in decline, but that’s not who we are! America must regain its optimistic pioneering spirit again. Our founders declared that “we were born the heirs of freedom.” We are the heirs of those who froze with Washington at Valley Forge, who held the line at Gettysburg, who freed the slaves, carved a nation out of the wilderness, and allowed reward for work ethic. We are the sons and daughters of that Greatest Generation who stormed the beaches of Normandy, raised the flag at Iwo Jima, and made America the strongest and most prosperous nation in the history of mankind. By God, we will not squander what has been given us!

Our destiny is still in our own hands if we pick ourselves up and act responsibly and quickly. We must all get involved. Concerned Americans must seek truth, work harder than ever, and be willing to sacrifice today to ensure freedom tomorrow. Please get engaged in 2012 electoral politics and support experienced, vetted, pro-free market fiscal conservatives who will dedicate all to preserving our Republic and protecting our Constitution.

- Sarah Palin