Showing posts with label Palin Bashers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Palin Bashers. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Letting Sarah Speak – Updated

Marion Algier – Ask Marion

It was just four years ago that John McCain surprised the electorate with his selection of then Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate, the first woman ever to be selected as a Republican VP nomination or part of the GOP ticket and only the second woman in all of U.S. history chosen to run for the #2 position in either party; Democrat Geraldine Ferraro, was the first woman on a presidential ticket in 1984.

The 2008 GOP Convention was the first time most Americans were introduced to Sarah Palin and she rocked the house the night of her convention speech and quickly changed the face of the McCain campaign. Palin soon overshadowed McCain on the campaign trail and within days the McCain/Palin ticket had surged into the lead. And for those who either don’t or choose not to remember that they were ahead in the polls after Palin joined the ticket, Greta Van Susteren just recently pulled out those old polls.

Sarah Palin Laughing As She Signs Autographs at So Cal RallyPalin took the 2008 presidential race by storm beginning with her speech accepting the GOP vice-presidential nomination in St. Paul, Minnesota with a performance that electrified the party faithful and received almost universal praise from previously skeptical pundits as well, a fact the has been conveniently forgotten or spun over the past four years.  Many people fell in love with Sarah Palin instantly after hearing her speak that first time and she rallied the party like she does every time she speaks and instantly became a tea party favorite, excited at the prospect of a fresh, inspiring, Reaganesque candidate that was a female to boot.

Tens of thousands regularly turned out for Palin’s 2008 appearances. It was at her first rally in Cali in October 2008 that this writer first saw Sarah Palin speak to a crowd of 23,000 in Carson, CA. I have been a supporter ever since and so are most who hear her speak live and actually listen!

So why isn’t Sarah Palin speaking at the 2012 Republican Convention on Tampa?

Why aren’t any of these people speaking? UPDATE (Aug. 17): It appears that Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich will now be speaking at the GOP Convention; announced since the so-called final speakers list was released after which the poster and campaign below were launched.

Click here to find out more!

Why?

After realizing Sarah Palin’s popularity with the grassroots elements of the Republican party and with average everyday Americans from all parties in 2008 and since, even after their attempts to demonize her, plus Sarah’s overall charisma, it scared the left as well as many within the Republican establishment who quickly developed a case of the phenomenon known as Palin Derangement Syndrome which was promoted by the those who suffer from it and those they control like the leftist mainstream media. ‘They’ were and are afraid that Sarah will speak her mind (Going Rogue), are afraid that they can’t control her and even more are afraid that she could win as the #1 spot on the GOP ticket or perhaps even on an independent ticket in the future. Nobody puts this much effort into someone that has no power or couldn’t upset their apple cart!

Plus, it seems fairly obvious that the RNC and the Romney-Ryan campaign’s strategy is to highlight voices that will excite party loyalists in the campaign hall while excluding those that could possibly turn-off independent voters watching on television at home, possibly giving some credence to the rumor that Palin was asked to speak during the day… when fewer people would see her. (As Rush Limbaugh has often said, “Wow what power we have given the independents!”)  That is a strategy that could backfire!  Everyone of the people in the photo above should be speaking at the Convention and Sarah Palin should definitely be speaking and speaking in prime time!

Kevin Fobbs has started a campaign to: Let Sarah Speak and the Tea Party launched a campaign to let Allen West, Rick Perry, Newt Gingrich, Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Donald Trump and Sarah Palin to speak.  Join them.  Call and email the RNC, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus who had said earlier that he hoped Sarah would have a speaking role, and the Romney Campaign. Also, sign this petition or start your own.

It is not too late to change things or add speakers.  On August 17th the word was that Ron Paul and his delegates had been embraced by the RNC and it appears that both Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul will now be speaking (or were given the invite) at the GOP Convention; still no specifics available on Ron Paul though. On the 21st the RNC struck a deal with Ron Paul delegates and  Sher Valenzuela (Who… When you could have Palin or Bachmann?) landed a prime speaking slot.  And on the 22nd it was announced that  Ann Romney will Keynote the First Night of the GOP convention.  Also, Donald Trump Is Now To Play a 'Surprise' Role At Republican Convention. So there is still time and room for Sarah Palin and the others listed above!

This is not in anyway an anti-Romney-Ryan movement!  They are the comeback team that America needs right now.  But the GOP needs to create a bigger tent!

GOP-needs-bigger-tent

Update on Maggie’s Notebook (08.22.12):

Snippet:

Mark Levin interviewed RNC chairman Reince Priebus and asked if Sarah Palin was offered a speaking position, in prime time, at the Republican National Convention beginning next week in Tampa, Florida. Priebus says (snippet): (see video below)

PRIEBUS: Governor Palin was definitely invited to speak at the Convention, and it wasn’t like in the afternoon or anything like that. She was invited to speak one of the evenings. I don’t know if it got to the point of what time and date, and which particular period of time, but she was invited to speak and it just turned out that in her schedule, I think she was planning on staying up in Alaska anyway, and it didn’t work out….

LEVINE: But a prime time spot?

PRIEBUS: I don’t what you mean by prime time, but I can tell you between 8pm and…

LEVINE: You know, when everyone is watching TV

PRIEBUS: Yeah, between 8pm and 11 at night, I think that’s a prime time spot. Yeah. It wasn’t at 7 o’clock or 4 in the afternoon. I can promise you that. It was a time when all the delegates would be in the hall and everyone would be there attentive and ready for the evening of major speakers. Yeah.

Something here doesn’t pass the smell test. I can’t imagine that Sarah would rather be in Alaska during the time of the Republican National Convention, if she had an opportunity to further her small government, integrity-driven government agenda. In fact, I can’t imagine she would not want be at the Convention, but I don’t think a 10pm or 11 pm speaking slot can be considered desirable or an appropriate offer, if that was the offer.

##

As highlighted by Ask Marion and by Constitution Daily Palin has rented a hotel space in Tampa during the Convention time, so maybe she is not staying in Alaska. I can’t imagine that she will, but then I can’t imagine that she wasn’t offered one of the best spots on RNC speaking roster.

Stay tuned…

Related:

Palin Not Speaking at GOP Convention in Tampa… Huge Disappointment to Many – Mistake or Smart by Romney Campaign?

Palin Derangement Syndrome Continues

Romney-Ryan: America’s New Dream Team and a Clear Choice

Vice President Joe Biden will be in Tampa as the GOP Convention Opens, another sign of how desperate the Obama campaign is. It has always been tradition that the opposite party stay out of the limelight while the other party has their convention.  I guess this move leaves it wide open for the Romney and Ryan to campaign during the Dem’s Convention.  Greg Gutfeld of The Five commented that perhaps the Dems are sending Biden to the GOP Convention on purpose and telling him that it is theirs, hoping he will think he has already attended the DNC Convention and misses it thereby cutting the chance of more Biden gaffes.

The Blaze: Three Notable Snubs From the GOP Convention

FOX News announces GOP convention coverage schedule

Official website of the 2012 Republican National Convention

One GOP Convention Session to be Themed “We Built That”

This article/campaign is absolutely not an anti-Romney-Ryan piece… They are the right team for the times, certainly compared to the alternative, but they would be helping themselves and the party in letting Sarah Palin speak!

image_thumb1

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Palin Derangement Syndrome Continues - Updated - A Must Read

By Marion Algier

It has been just about four years since I, and most Americans, were introduced to Governor Sarah Palin at the 2008 GOP Convention.  She rocked the house the night of her convention speech and quickly changed the face of the McCain campaign.  John McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska, as his running mate finally gave Republicans a reason to vote for him — a reason, that is, other than defeating Obama.  And for those who either don’t or choose not to remember that they were ahead in the polls after Palin joined the ticket, Greta Van Susteren just pulled out the old polls.

Many people fell in love with Sarah Palin instantly, some liked her and were excited at the prospect of a fresh,  inspiring, Reaganesque candidate that was a female to boot, some were wary and some hated her from day one because they saw her as a threat!  And that quickly Palin Derangement Syndrome was born.

Sarah Palin is smart, principled, accomplished, has a great family and husband, is able to speak extemporaneously (or with a few words jotted in her hand) and tells it as it is, she lights up a room or a country fair and is comfortable almost everywhere, loves the average American and can relate to them, and is pretty to boot.  As many said, she can bring home the bacon (even if she has to shoot or catch it herself), fry it up and then serve it looking like she is ready for her next interview as a house full of kids are running under her feet.  Palin inspired every day Americans whose values and ideals she shared as she scared the pants off of the Progressive no so relatable Left, the elitist Establishment of her own party and the left leaning women’s groups, who should have endorsed her, but who envied her and therefore hated her instead because she really had and could do it all and they just talked about it.

My husband and I were lucky enough to hear and see Sarah Palin speak live, at her first Rally in Cali , not long after she had been tapped as John McCain’s running mate. She was mesmerizing and both inspired and energized the crowd of about 23,000 people. She was introduced and supported by the Los Angeles President of NOW (the National Organization for Women), a lifetime Democrat and political convert as she introduced herself… until sometime later after the powers that be within her group convinced her otherwise. Many people have forgotten that soon after Sarah was chosen for VP that she and McCain were ahead until  McCain decided to suspend the campaign and trudged back to Washington, D.C. because of the financial crisis. Had that not happened or maybe even if McCain had just not headed back to D.C., he and Palin could very well have won! What a different America we would be living in, if that were the case! 

I was one who had done my homework on both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and although McCain was not my first choice, I knew what was coming if Barack or Hillary were elected so I saw Sarah Palin as a God send and after hearing her speak I knew she was the real deal.  The problem was so did the elites, the establishment, the haters and their media minions who quickly went to work destroying her, including the hack job by pretty faced CFR attack dog, Katie Couric.

From a Red State Review by Ben Howe of the movie Undefeated  – A must see film if you haven’t (The Undefeated Teaser Trailer ):

I pride myself on my ability to know when something is baloney, almost instinctively. On Sarah Palin, I was so incredibly hoodwinked that the one word that my wife and I agreed described how we felt after watching it, was shame. Yes of course invigoration, satisfaction and all the other things you experience when watching a good film, but about how we had handled our vetting of Mrs. Palin, shame was the word that best described it.

Shame for not bothering to look up her record. Shame for not reading her story. Shame for turning the channel when she came on the TV. Shame for not listening to people that we had a great deal of respect for like Andrew Breitbart, Tammy Bruce, Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity.

As Breitbart points out in the film, the greatest shame is that while this woman was savaged to degrees you may not even realize yet, some of us sat back and let it happen. For me to buy into the media template and not defend someone who’s only offense was being a conservative, is the absolute antithesis of what I stand for, and something that I shall never allow to happen again.

And the problem for a lot of people who were hoodwinked… they never did do their homework or figure out that they allowed themselves to be cheated of the opportunity of honestly checking out perhaps the best candidate for VP in 2008 or President in 2012.

imageIn fact even after Palin had been marginalized, Quaylinized, lied about, had her children attacked… from her disabled son Trig to her daughter Bristol while on DWTS, was charged with enough ridiculous and fabricated suits that she resigned her office as Governor in respect for her constituents because she couldn’t fight them and effectively do her job and then was both belittled and martyred for it, was the focused target of a “journolist” plot and even had a journalist rent the house next to hers to spy on Sarah and her family, she has not only remained standing but she has won the suits, emerged victoriously after an investigation of her time in office in Alaska and has gone on to be one of the superstars of the conservative movement.  Sarah Palin is the darling of the tea party and has helped dozens of true fiscal conservatives and constitutionalist-style candidates win their elections. Ted Cruz of Texas being the most recent.

But still there are far too many Americans of all stripes who have counted Palin out without knowing the true facts or doing their homework, just because the Palin_on_O'Reillymain stream media, that might as well be the Progressive government media, demonized her… and they never questioned it or were willing to take a second look.

Yet just last week the Republican Elite™ concerned that Mitt Romney may give Sarah Palin a speaking role at the convention which she should absolutely have or, God forbid, he might actually be smart enough to consider her as his running mate  engaged Dick Cheney to go after Palin from the Republican side. After all, they don’t want Sarah messing up their good ole boys club either!

Cheney was on ABC News on Sunday. He did the old “she’s a nice girl … but …” insult. Cheney claims choosing Sarah Palin as VP was a mistake because she lacked experience.  Really?  Here’s Sarah Palin’s Impassioned Response To Dick Cheney’s Comment

Conservatives 4 Palin:

Sarah Palin. She has nearly two decades of public service, almost all of it at the Executive level. She was a Mayor, the state’s chief oil and gas regulator, and Governor.

Now some may poo-poo the Mayor thing, because Wasilla was, and is, very a small town. But as they say, it’s not the size that counts, it’s what you do with it that matters.

Wasilla was a small, mostly dirt road village. Under Sarah Palin’s management, the town became the fastest growing city in the state, and would become the trading hub for the entire Mat-Su Valley, an area roughly the size of the state of Delaware. Sarah improved the infrastructure, built roads, recruited businesses, and grew the economy. And she did all of this while lowering taxes. This sort of thing doesn’t happen by accident. It takes strong leadership skills and common sense.

In 2008 the Mayor of Wasilla credited Sarah’s 75 percent property tax cuts and infrastructure improvements with bringing “big-box stores” and 50,000 shoppers per day to Wasilla. She left office in 2002. That’s some serious and lasting impact for one person to have.

Last time I looked, Dick Cheney had never run a city. Certainly never turned a dirt road town into a highly successful one with a bustling economy.

Sarah’s time as the Chairman of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission is the stuff of legends. Not so much for what she did as a regulator, which by all accounts was top notch, but for what she did to unwind the massive corruption lawmakers and many oil company executives were engaged in. By the time she was done, the state’s Attorney General was forced to resign in disgrace, as was the Republican Party Chairman. [From his job as a fellow AOGCC commissioner] He was also forced to pay the largest civil fine in Alaska’s history.

Sarah was just getting started, as she would take down the sitting Republican Governor, in a landslide, and go on to pass sweeping reforms once in office, as the FBI was still raiding lawmakers’ offices and hauling people off to prison.

Washington may be one of the most corrupt places on earth, and I’ve never, EVER heard Dick Cheney address it’s corruption in any manner whatsoever.

Stacy Drake and Whitney Pitcher put together an extensive listing of Sarah Palin’s accomplishments as Governor. No one in Washington has accomplished anything near what she has. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find any elected official in the country who got as much done, has a better record on fiscal issues, or maintained a higher approval record among their voters. Sarah Palin had a sustained approval rating in the 90s as Governor of Alaska.

Sarah Palin has much more experience, including executive experience, than Barack Obama ever had when he ran for President, including: head of the PTA to City Council, Mayor of Wasilla and Governor of Alaska, and has been on a non-stop learning junket since tapped for VP in 2008. She is now a major force in the Republican Party and Tea Party Movement. And Sarah and her husband Todd have owned their own businesses as well as working a long list of blue collar jobs; and have raised 5 children, including a Down Syndrome son. Sarah has a degree in journalism, worked her own way through school… which is why she entered a ‘beauty’ contest; and can hunt, fish and then can cook it when she gets back home while always looking great. She electrifies a room or a rally of thousands when she speaks, but cleans her own house. She supports our military and has a son fighting for America; supports our allies like Israel and believes in securing our borders and protecting America first; she believes in the American Dream; and Sarah is willing to speak out like nobody else. Sarah Palin loves America and respects the American people (of which she is one) as well as their their will rather than wanting to fundamentally transform her, is a Constitutionalist, and believes in God… just like approximately 83% of Americans. So ask yourself… what is so wrong with Sarah Palin… especially after you strip away the lies told about her? So why do we allow the media to shun every new independent bright light that just might really change what is going on in Washington? And why wouldn’t you like her or want a real average American who loves our Country, the Constitution and God in the White House?

She’s the real deal.

Mark Levin 2008:palin-reagan

As a Reaganite pre-dating Reagan’s 1976 candidacy, the contempt for Palin does, in fact, reminds me of the contempt some had for Reagan, especially from the media and Republican establishment, although no comparison is exact. I’ve not settled on a favorite would-be presidential candidate, but I also know media hit-jobs when I see them. I am hopeful more conservatives will begin to speak out about this or, before we know it, we will wonder why we are holding our noses and voting for another Republican endorsed by “the intellectuals” but opposed by a majority of the people.

Beck and PalinWhen times get tough there are always people who rise up, or are chosen to rise up, with the right message, the wake-up call, the inspiration and the leadership needed just for that time.  A few of the people who fit that bill right now are Glenn Beck, Ron Paul and Sarah Palin; all three have inspired the tea party and other grassroots groups and movements in different ways.  They are willing to speak out knowing they, and their families, will be attacked and criticized. if not worse.

It is our job to recognize those people and their strength and leadership.  It is also our job to stand-up with and for those people who are fighting for us, our families, our way of life, freedom and our country.

The power elite recognized Palin’s star power immediately and feared that she could actually get elected and would fight for real change for the American people and we let them destroy her and perhaps our best chance.

According to the Alaska Dispatch (August 6, 2012) Sarah Palin still hasn't received an invitation to speak at the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., and tea partiers aren't happy.  Palin told Newsweek that she hasn't even been asked to attend the convention yet. She said, "One must remember this isn't Sadie Hawkins and you don't invite yourself and a date to the big dance." Palin, who in March polled more popular than any GOP presidential candidate, has vexed Mitt Romney since his candidacy began. She stole the media show by appearing in New Hampshire on the same day that Romney formally announced his candidacy for president, brushing it off as "coincidence." Although her on-air rhetoric is supportive of Romney’s campaign, there's been no official endorsement. And the latest Palin-related offense? John McCain told Politico on Tuesday that Palin was a “better candidate” than Romney as a vice presidential pick in the 2008 race. What Palin brings to the table that Romney needs is gusto. He would be wise to cash in on some of hers!  So "It's time for Mitt Romney to man up, pick up the phone, and ask Sarah Palin to the dance."  That's a quote from a Daily Beast piece that argues Romney should invite Palin to speak at the Republican convention in Tampa, Florida, next month.  Word has it that Palin has already secured rooms at a hotel within walking distance of the GOP convention and if Romney does not invite her to attend let alone speak he may again find himself in the position of having Palin steal his thunder and the media show.  Eleanor Clift and ABC's Jonathan Karl have both recently said, "Sarah will be a force at the Republican Convention whether she does it from the floor or from the parking lot"  If I were advising Mitt Romney I would make sure that she was on my side!

Sarah Palin deserves a fair shot.  She definitely deserves a seat at the table at the Republican Convention and a prime speaking slot.  Mitt Romney would be smart to give her the opportunity.  And we’d be smart to make sure that our friends and family give Sarah Palin another honest look, if not for VP this time around then for a possible shot at the presidency in 2016 or 2020.

You can love Sarah or disagree with her, but if you are fair minded person who takes the time to do your homework, even just to read this piece, follow the links and think about it, you cannot disagree that Sarah Palin and her family have been unjustly attacked and scrutinized at a much higher level than anyone in Washington or any candidate out there because of Palin Derangement Syndrome caught and promoted by her enemies because they fear her for being a Conservative, a Christian, a person of Character and most scary of all for them she has the Charisma to possibly beat them and beat them honestly! 

You be the judge…   –  AskMarion~

AP_Palin-641x375sarah_palin_speakingSarah and Puppies

Related:

For Dick Cheney and His Ilk, John McCain’s Brilliant Choice of Sarah Palin was Bad News!

Will Bristol Palin Bring Politics Back to ‘Dancing With the Stars’?

Palin: 2012 is a Battle Between ‘Big Government’ and ‘Big Freedom’

Greta: About Those People Claiming Sarah Palin Cost John McCain the Election

Palin: 2012 is a Battle Between ‘Big Government’ and ‘Big Freedom’

Palin

Sandra Fluke Talks With TheBlaze About Her Defense of Palin

Sarah Palin Tweets Her Support for Chick-Fil-A

Watch Sarah Palin’s full interview on Hannity: Romney Needs to Light Our Hair on Fire…

Reagan is Gone: Is Sarah Palin America’s Next Great Cheerleader?

Politico Palin Alert: Vast Left Wing Conspiracy’s Mission: Sarah Palin Must Be Destroyed Uncovered!

Journolists: The Truth of Media Fraud Confirmed

The Narrative Not Mentioned Marginalizing Sarah

Hate for Sarah Palin

The Judas Media

Why Sarah Could Win

The Candidate…

The Real Truth About Sarah Palin — Ouch

Long Lost Sarah Palin Emerges From Released Emails Victoriously

“Death Panel” Three Years Later

Sarah Palin’s Saturday Speech Will Be a ‘Full Throated’ Defense of the Tea Party

Conservative Super Star Sarah Palin: Brought the Red Meat to CPAC and They Loved It… Loved Her!

Please Read – More Palin Derangement Syndrome by the Left

Zogby: Palin Person of the Year, Bush, of Decade

WeeWee’d Out

Palin Defends Obama Terrorist Comment

Sarah Palin martyred for the cause of conservatism

The Quayling of Sarah

Fear Factor: Palin Derangement Syndrome (Worth the Read)

First Rally in Cali

The Best Man Turned Out To Be A Woman

A Tale of Two Speeches: Sarah Palin and Barack Obama on the Tragedy in Tucson

‘Un-American Act’: Palin Slams Obama’s Contraceptive Mandate as Violating Constitutional Rights

The Audacity of American Exceptionalism

Greta Van Susteren: The Palin Effect – Taking a Look at Polls from 2008

Mark Levin talks about the Ted Cruz victory in Texas, the GOP establishment, the Tea Party and Governor Palin’s role in that race

Will Sarah Palin speak at GOP convention?

rogue-4insarahnewsweek-4inpalin_president

Sarah on the Cover of Newsweek… I Can Win!!

Sarah and Alveda 8.28.10

Sarah Joined Beck and Alveda King at Restore Honor Event

Must Reads Before Election 2012 Plus: America by Heart

08.08.12 Update: ** Since this piece was originally written the names of GOP convention speakers are slowly being rolled out including former Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice, 2008 GOP presidential nominee and Arizona Senator John McCain, Governor Mike Huckabee, New Mexico Governor Susanna Martinez, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, Ohio Governor John Kasich were announced as speakers early Monday morning. Governor Chris Christy was previously already leaked as a speaker. This list was followed up with the additions of Senator Rand Paul, former Governor Jeb Bush, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, former 2012 primary opponent Rick Santorum, Governor Scott Walker, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and Puerto Rican Governor Luis G. Fortuño, tea party favorite Texas Senate Candidate Ted Cruz… with more to come.

And as people are added to the speaker’s list, the potential VP list narrows. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, Wisconsin Rep Paul Ryan, and Senator Marco Rubio of Florida as well as Senator Rob Portman of Ohio and former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty are all sure bets to speak at the convention, unless they get the VP nod. Another possible GOP veep shortlister that has surfaced that past few days is General David Patraeus. Course, after New Jersey Governor Chris Christie recently announced that he has had a change of heart and might be interested in running for President in 2016 or 2020, Greta Van Susteren commented that perhaps Jersey Governor Chris Christie might get the nod, and already knows it, and they are trying to throw us off track.

Both Sarah Palin and Allen West should be no-brainers to speak at the GOP convention and possibly could be on the short list for VP. Their supporters can certainly hope, so perhaps they will be among the last group announced before or when the VP announcement is made. And if they are on neither list then Team Romney is on the dumb bunny list!

And as for Cheney… He has finally explained his Palin VP ‘mistake’ remark (see video) - The former vice president now says his comments about Palin were aimed at John McCain’s selection process rather than an attack on Palin after his daughter Liz and John McCain stepped up to take Palin’s side.

I hope you will share this piece with people you know who hate Sarah Palin or wrinkle up their nose while putting up their hand before you can get a word in edge wise but who really don’t know the truth or why they feel that way. As Ann Coulter says, “The Liberals Secret Weapon is Republicans Who Don’t Read” and I would extend that to the great majority of Americans who don’t read or only read fiction and People Magazine. Many people who support Palin and other conservatives don’t really have the knowledge to explain why or to sway the uninformed either.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Will Bristol Palin Bring Politics Back to 'Dancing With the Stars'?

Bristol Palin to Join Allstar DWTS SeasonBristol Palin is returning to Dancing with the Stars’ (DWTS) 15th season as part of their first “all-star” cast. Including Bristol Palin, the cast will feature a dozen past contestants including athletes Emmitt Smith (Season 3), Shawn Johnson (Season 8), Apolo Anton Ohno (Season 4) and Helio Castroneves (Season 5). The winners of the first two seasons, Kelly Monaco and Drew Lachey, will also compete, along with past second-place finishers Kirstie Alley, Joey Fatone and Gilles Marini, plus Pam Anderson and Melissa Rycroft. Three other former dancers, Carson Kressley, Kyle Massey and Sabrina Bryan, will compete to be the 13th contestant; one will be selected by online voters in August.

At a news conference after the Friday July 27th announcement, Palin apparently drew most of the questions from the media, on everything from gay marriage to whether she’s making reality television a profession.   Bristol was also pressed as to what her main reason to join this season of the show was, even though she had already answered the question several times. Then E! Online reported that Palin grew a bit defensive at times during the briefing. (“Do I like to provide for my son? Yes, I do,” was one line E! reported.) She seems to have her mom’s spunk!

Bristol finally turned the table blaming the press' overbearing nature as her prime reason for doing DWTS, saying "God provides opportunities for me… The press is going to be talking about me no matter what, so I may as well be having fun."

When asked again if she believes she has made herself more of a target by doing reality TV instead of quietly going home to raise her son after the 2008 election, Bristol replied, "Like I said before, this is a fun gig. I'm not whining; I'm not complaining about anything. I'm gonna go out there and I'm going to have fun. You guys, the media, you will talk about me whether I'm in my little Alaska life or doing this."

The Palin family has certainly done their share of reality TV the past couple years.  Mom Sarah had “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” in winter 2010, featuring the whole Palin family.  Bristol and her son are featured in “Bristol Palin: Life’s a Tripp” on Lifetime. And dad Todd Palin will be a contestant in “Stars Earn Stripes” this fall, a show featuring military exercises and missions.

DWTS executive producer Conrad Green has revealed that it is "impossible" for the new cast—including Kelly Monaco, Gilles Marini, Drew Lachey, Anderson, Helio Castroneves, Palin and Rycroft — to have the same partners as before. The pairings will be announced Aug. 13. "We are at their mercy!" Pam Anderson joked.

Last time around Bristol was known for being an unwed teen mom turned advocate and not necessarily for her dancing, who brought the buzz last time around.  Twitter took off increasing ratings when mom, Sarah, also known as 2008 vice presidential nominee and former Alaska governor and Dad, Todd, dubbed first dude by many, showed up in the front row of the dance floor.  Then a Wisconsin man shot his television in anger over Bristol’s success and there was a police involved scare at the studios.  This time around Bristol’s reality TV and life experience may have given her more expertise to apply to  the ballroom floor.  And she surely will no longer be billed as a “teen activist.”

Last time around the whining left complained that Bristol had an edge with her politico mom campaigning not only for her dancing daughter but for tea party candidates; Bristol finished third. (The tea party did pretty well, too.) So the question is will Palin’s presence revive the controversy — and high ratings — of her original competition in Season 11?

I’d say that is probably a yes and in a year when all eyes are on politics, Palin’s selection is without a doubt a surefire way to get “Dancing With the Stars” plenty of attention… especially if mom and dad stop by again.

Ask Marion~

Not Afraid of Life: My Journey So Far

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Sarah Palin Mythology Debunked

With George Bush soon leaving office, what will Bush bashers do with themselves? If Sarah Palin is elected vice president, it appears they will target her.

Already, with the help of the media, they have managed to obfuscate the record of John McCain’s vice presidential nominee and create a string of myths about her. To set the record straight, here are the chief myths, along with the facts.

Myth: As governor of Alaska, Palin put the governor’s plane up for sale on eBay but did not really sell it.

Fact: After she did not find a buyer on eBay, she sold the plane eight months later through a broker for $2.2 million.

Myth: Palin did not really stop the “Bridge to Nowhere.”

Fact: During her gubernatorial race in 2006, she endorsed the bridge but as governor rejected it, allocating the federal earmark money elsewhere. Meanwhile, in 2005, Barack Obama voted against a Senate amendment to stop funding for the project.

Myth: As mayor of Wasilla, Palin banned nearly 100 books, including “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” and “Death of a Salesman.”

Fact: Palin never banned any books. An emailed list of books she supposedly banned included Harry Potter books that had not yet been published when she was in office.

Myth: Palin fired her public safety commissioner because he would not terminate a trooper who was her former brother-in-law after he had been suspended for five days for misconduct.

Fact: Palin did want Walt Monegan to fire her former brother-in-law. But extensive emails from Palin and her aides show she was upset with him because he repeatedly defied her instructions on a string of budget requests. He was offered another job but declined to take it.

Myth: Palin cut funding for special needs education by 62 percent.

Fact: Funding for the program in question was actually tripled thanks to legislation signed by Palin.

Myth: Palin wanted Alaska to secede from the U.S.

Fact: A member of the Alaskan Independence Party incorrectly told the New York Times that Palin at one time had been a member. She later recanted this claim and issued a public apology to the governor.

Myth: Palin left Wasilla residents disenchanted with her.

Fact: In subsequent elections, Wasilla residents voted for Palin by 70 percent or more.

Myth: Palin has no experience.

Fact: As noted in the Newsmax article, “McCain Shows He Is the Genuine Article,” Palin has a string of accomplishments to show for her herself. As mayor, she cut property taxes by 75 percent and reduced her own salary by 10 percent. After joining the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission in 2003, she led an ethics probe of the commission's chairman, Randy Ruedrich, who also was the state GOP chairman. Facing conflict-of-interest-allegations, Ruedrich admitted ethics violations and resigned.

Besides opposing the $400 million “Bridge to Nowhere,” Palin as governor used her veto power to cut nearly $2 billion from the state budget. She was successful in enacting ethics reform legislation. While pushing to develop more energy resources, she reformed the system for paying Alaskans royalties from oil production. That will enable her to deliver a rebate of $1,200 — in addition to $2,069 in dividends — to each resident of the state.

Ronald Kessler is chief Washington correspondent of Newsmax.com. 

© 2008 Newsmax