Sarah Palin fires up Tea Party faithful and hints at 2012 run

The London Guardian ^ | February 7, 2010 | Ed Pilkington

[2ndDivisionVet]

Sarah Palin took the development of her own political brand to the next level with a speech to the first national gathering of Tea Party conservatives in Nashville in which she poured scorn on the first year of the Obama administration and set herself up as an alternative politician in the mould of Ronald Reagan.

In a 40-minute speech to an audience of about 1,000 drawn from across America, Palin dispelled criticism about the $115,000 she was reported to have been paid amid accusations that she was riding on the back of the populist movement. She won a succession of standing ovations with pointed attacks on the president, whom she portrayed as being soft on terrorism, elitist and out of touch.

"America is ready for another revolution," she declared, and she was duly rewarded at the end of the speech with chants of "run, Sarah, run".

Further excitement is likely to be generated by Palin's comments on Fox News today in which she dropped the strongest hint yet that she has her eyes on a 2012 campaign. Asked whether she would consider challenging Obama, Palin replied: "I would be willing to if I believe that it's right for the country."

--snip--

Andrew Sullivan, a persistent critic of Palin, said the speech was a content-less rehash of Fox News truisms, but added: "There is no question in my mind that Palin is the leader of the opposition in this country. And there is no question in my mind that she is the leader of the Tea Party movement." The Washington-based website Politico said she was launching "an aggressive play to become the leader of the tea party movement, which could boost her prospects of securing the 2012 Republican presidential nomination".(continued)

[2ndDivisionVet]

The Guardian is a far-left newspaper in the UK.

[RobbyS]

But pretty good reporting here.

[lmarie373]

To be honest she is hijacking the tea party for her own economic advantages and possible political advantages. We dont need a leader this is a grassroots movement. I also hope she doesn’t include social issues like,abortion,we are protesting FISCAL issues that BOTH parties are responsible.

[Bean Counter]

I gotta tell ya, I saw Sarah’s interview with Chris Wallace today and she was simply impressive. I thought she was more confident and informed, and able to carry on a conversation about more topics than Obammy will ever hope to be able to do.

She has come a long way in a short time, and I have high hopes for her in the future.

[bicyclerepair]

Going on oprah unfortunately is one way to get exposure to the morons in America.

[SoConPubbie]

To be honest she is hijacking the tea party for her own economic advantages and possible political advantages. We dont need a leader this is a grassroots movement. I also hope she doesn’t include social issues like,abortion,we are protesting FISCAL issues that BOTH parties are responsible.

Really?

Care to back up that slander with some type of cogent reasoning or are you just a "drive-by" slanderer?

BTW, without the Social Issues you don't have a winning coalition.

Reagan won by addressing all three legs of the Conservative Coalition:

1. Fiscal
2. Social
3. Military or strong Defense


We most definitely need the social issues because a culture that runs away like a coward from doing the right thing on social issues is on a steep downward trajectory to failure.

Furthermore, from a political perspective, I'd say at least 30% of her base, at least, find those things to be of primary importanct.

And lastly, you're on the wrong web-site bub with that kind of nonsense.

Here is what the founder and owner of the web-site has to say about the purpose of this web-site:

...As a conservative site, Free Republic is pro-God, pro-life, pro-family, pro-Constitution, pro-Bill of Rights, pro-gun, pro-limited government, pro-private property rights, pro-limited taxes, pro-capitalism, pro-national defense, pro-freedom, and-pro America. We oppose all forms of liberalism, socialism, fascism, pacifism, totalitarianism, anarchism, government enforced atheism, abortionism, feminism, homosexualism, racism, wacko environmentalism, judicial activism, etc. We also oppose the United Nations or any other world government body that may attempt to impose its will or rule over our sovereign nation and sovereign people. We believe in defending our borders, our constitution and our national sovereignty....

[lmarie373]

I dont recall anyone protesting about social issues last April,the people were against the bailouts,redistribution of wealth and so on.Im not attacking HER social views Im just saying the Tea party are about Fiscal responsibility adn the unhappiness of both parties.

[185JHP]

H (eard) U (nderstood) A (cknowledged) Hooah!

[SoConPubbie]

You totally ignored the historical relevance in my post.

If she ignores the social issues, she will lose, period.

In order to win, the three factions of conservatives will need to do the following:

1. Social conservative will have to be willing to give the Fiscal Conservatives small and limited government and a strong military to the NEOCons or whatever they might call themselves in exchange for their support on Abortion and Marriage issues.
2. Fiscal Conservatives will need to be willing to give the Social conservative their support on Abortion and Marriage issues and a Strong Military to the NEOCons in exchange for their support for strong fiscally conservative issues such as smaller and more limited government, tax-cuts, etc.
3. NEOCons or Strong Military Conservatives will have to agree to support Social Conservatives on Abortion and Gay Marriage, or at least not make it a big issue and support Fiscal Conservatives on fiscally conservative issues in return for the other groups supporting a strong military.

This is where the compromise is and where the victory is.

Any other path is a path to failure.

[Windflier]

"Andrew Sullivan: "There is no question in my mind that Palin is the leader of the opposition in this country. And there is no question in my mind that she is the leader of the Tea Party movement."

An uber-lefty like Sullivan gets this, but unbelievably, some Freepers don't.

All you Palin bashers around here had better pay attention to what the Commies are telling you.

[FreeperFlirt]

Did she tell you that? duh~~~~

[SmokingJoe]

“Andrew Sullivan, a persistent critic of Palin, said the speech was a content-less rehash of Fox News truisms”

Hey Sullivan, Todd Palin is already taken. Sullivan needs to go find his own man.

[SmokingJoe]

The Guardian is like “Pravda” of the former Soviet Union, only much worse.

[IntolerantOfTreason]

I have high hopes for Sarah. I think she could really be the One who will kick out the RINOs for good and usher in true conservatism. I just wish she’d stop tip-toeing around Zero’s eligibility. If she demands that Hussein show us the birth certificate, nobody can fail to notice the issue, even if they disagree.

[SandRat]

rules...