Let Palin be Palin!

In the 1980 presidential campaign staffers and speechwriters for Ronald Reagan realized after the first debate that instead of over coaching him, the best practice was to “let Reagan be Reagan.”

Tonight, during the vice presidential debate in St. Louis we finally got to see “Palin be Palin.” After weeks of watching Sarah Palin being tentative and restrained during hostile interviews with Katie Couric and Charlie Gibson as she tried to remember her talking points, it was refreshing to see her turn on her charm and showcase her down-home values to score a significant victory!

America watched her up close and personal for 90 minutes—and they liked what they saw. She came across as a real person, a hockey mom who got involved in her home town of Wasilla, Alaska because she didn’t like the way things were being run in the city. She talked about middle –class family struggles to make ends meet—and it was believable. Untainted by Washington, D.C.’s political culture, she hasn’t learned how to lie smoothly (and we hope she never does) like Sen. Joe Biden who was caught in at least ten “misrepresentations” tonight according to Karl Rove.

Sarah Palin came across as a warm, humorous, down to earth person tonight. Yet she was able to go head to head with a veteran senator with 35 years of congressional experience. She connected with much of middle America and showed that she has what it takes to be a trustworthy leader.

Win or lose this election, we’re going to hear a lot more from Gov. Sarah Palin in the future. The McCain campaign handlers just need to step aside and “let Palin be Palin.” She is a winner!

GOP Fired Up!

The race for the White House is on! I know, I know, it’s been going on for the last two years. But now, after the selection of Sarah Palin and a tremendously successful Convention—the GOP is in the game for real.

The nomination of Sarah Palin has completely changed the dynamics of this election. McCain’s selection of her at once energized the conservative base of the Republican Party. Then, at the GOP Convention the rest of the party and the rest of the nation got to meet her. It was love at first sight.

Somehow, somewhere in the waning days of summer, McCain finally got the message that to win the election he had to woo and win over the conservatives. And boy has he ever done it in the past few weeks.

The Republican Convention was the most watched convention on television ever, eclipsing the record set by the Democrats the week before. The Republicans averaged 34.5 million viewers compared to 30.2 million for the Democrats. Surprisingly, John McCain’s acceptance speech drew just as many viewers (42.4 million) as did Barack Obama’s.

Though McCain’s speech was too long (48 minutes) and at times downright boring, in the closing minutes he soared! He challenged us to not just find fault with our country but to make it a better one by working to correct the faults. He offered ways that we could help such as by enlisting in the armed forces, becoming a teacher, entering the ministry, running for public office, feeding a hungry child or defending the rights of the oppressed. He had it right when he said, “…nothing brings greater happiness in life than to serve a cause greater than yourself.”

A New Attitude

I’ve noticed something very encouraging in the past few days - a new attitude developing in conservatives. It’s an “Enough…we’re not going to take it!” attitude. After experiencing the efforts of Democrats, liberal media and political attack dogs doing everything humanly possible to demean, belittle, and diminish Sarah Palin—conservatives are beginning to fight back.

One great example of this was when former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich got very forceful with MSNBC reporter Ron Allen during an interview in which he questioned the resume of Palin.

Gingrich said, "It's stronger than Barack Obama's. I don't know why you guys walk around saying this baloney. She has a stronger resume than Obama. She's been a real mayor, he hasn't. She has been a real governor, he hasn't. She's been in charge of the Alaskan National Guard, he hasn't. She was a whistleblower who defeated an incumbent mayor. He has never once shown that kind of courage. She's a whistleblower who turned in the chairman of her own party and got him fined $12,000. I've never seen Obama do one thing like that. She took on the incumbent governor of her own party and beat him, and then she beat a former Democratic governor in the general election. I don't know of a single thing Obama's done except talk and write." To see the interview, click here: http://newt.org/tabid/193/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/3682/Default.aspx

What Republicans Have Succeeded in Doing

And finally, you have to believe the Democrats are reeling because of what the Republicans have succeeded in doing this week. McCain and Palin have brilliantly gained the high ground on: Reform (Obama calls it change), the women’s vote, the energy issue (drill here, drill now), defense (addressing the real threats that face America and talking about real solutions), family values, tolerance, racial and gender diversity, patriotism, honor and cultural values.

Not a bad week at all for the GOP.

Governor Sarah Palin pick a Grand Slam for McCain!

A month ago I along with many other conservative Republicans felt that the McCain campaign was in the doldrums and was showing few signs of gaining any momentum.

Then two weeks ago (Aug.16) came the Saddleback Civil Forum on Leadership and Compassion where Barak Obama and John McCain were both questioned (separately) by Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church. Obama seemed to me to hem and hedge and answer many questions in a halting, unsure manner. He even replied that one question was “above his pay grade.” McCain however, for the first time seemed sharp, focused and on target that Saturday night. I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, McCain had found his footing.

Later Obama seemed to make a safe choice with his pick of running mate Senator Joe Biden, a man with many years of Senate experience and a solid record of involvement and knowledge in foreign affairs.

But while the Democrats partied and politicked in Denver reliving their “glory days” with the Clintons, Al Gore, Jimmy Carter and Ted Kennedy and dreaming of re-taking the White House with Obama and growing their numbers in the Senate and House of Representatives—John McCain and his team plotted, planned and worked diligently to make that final, all-important decision on his vice presidential running mate.

On Friday, August 29 as we awaited McCain’s announcement on his running mate, I confess I was nervous and concerned that he would pick someone like a Joe Lieberman, or Gov. Tom Ridge, or some lesser known liberal or moderate running mate—and it would be all over for the Republicans in this 2008 election. I felt a sense of dread and foreboding as I waited for the news.

Then like a crack of lightning and a boom of thunder came the surprise announcement, McCain had picked Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. As I listened to her speak my excitement grew. She was a conservative, a mother of five, a Christian, pro-gun, pro-life, pro-drilling for oil and natural gas, a proven leader, young (only 44 yrs. old) feisty, well-spoken, attractive and intelligent. I was elated!

The selection of Palin has ignited passion in the conservative base of the Republican Party that will result in increased fundraising, volunteers and enthusiasm to support this ticket.
Way to bat McCain. You knocked this one out of the park!