As you all know, yesterday I blogged in part about the biased reporting done by Norah O'Donnell and Chris Matthews of NBC/MSNBC regarding their coverage of Sarah Palin's book tour. It is no secret that both of these individuals, Ms. O'Donnell in particular, cannot stand Sarah. Today, I wanted to share with you an experience a young 17-year-old blogger, Jackie, had with Ms. O'Donnell when she was confronted by her on Tuesday in Michigan as she waited for Sarah's arrival.

I actually got to know Jackie a couple months ago on Twitter (Click here to follow her @SoccerSealUSA). When I first met her, I was struck by how mature, articulate and intelligent a young woman Jackie was. Like me, Jackie became politically involved because of Sarah Palin. Jackie is an amazing girl, and I wish I had become politically aware when I was her age. While she may be young, she is already a very talented blogger who has a great future ahead of her. I actually recently wrote about her and other great, young conservative bloggers who are out there making a difference one post at a time. I find it so amazing and incredible that Sarah has brought so many people together. While Jackie and I do not know Sarah personally, we and millions of others have formed a bond that will last a lifetime.

I have included her post about her experience below. Make sure to click here to visit her blog Red, White and Conservative to read more and see pictures from the Michigan book signing. I encourage to leave a comment at her blog. Let Jackie know that you support her and the way in which she is taking a stand. She has received many supportive messages, but as expected, there are haters out there who are posting nasty comments as well. Jackie told me something today that I agree wholeheartedly with. Jackie said that liberals preach tolerance, yet leave nasty comments to someone who does not agree with them politically. I told her that while those on the left preach tolerance, they are the most intolerant individuals around. I also told her that for every attack that comes her way, that just goes to show how much of a threat she really is. Go, Jackie, Go!!!


I was so amazed by her story, I alerted #1 Alaska Talk Radio Host Eddie Burke that Jackie would make a great guest. Make sure to tune into Alaska's #1 host Eddie Burke's #1 Alaska Radio Talk Show on Monday to hear Jackie tell her story. Click here to listen online. Now, without further ado, here is Jackie's post:


The Day I Met Sarah Palin.and the Liberal Media
November 20, 2009 4:11 am

Where on earth do I begin? This all started as me, a young 17 year old American going to see a woman I admire and turned into this crazy event hah I'll start at the very beginning.

My dad and I arrived at the Barnes and Noble at 11 pm Tuesday evening. There were 2 tents in front of us; we were probably number 15 or so in line. It was a chilly evening but I enjoyed some good conversation from several Palin fans. We talked about Obama, Palin and just some other stuff. We sat outside in the cold, bundled up until 5:30 am. At that time they ushered us inside where we had to sit outside the B&N entrance until 7am. We received our bracelets at 7am and were told if we'd like to be guaranteed to see Palin we should remain in line all day. So I did. I was not about to lose a chance at seeing Sarah Palin after sitting in line out in the freezing cold for hours. So I sat, and sat. I read some of her book and then the media circus began. I spotted Norah O'Donnell and Andrea Mitchell right off the bat and couldn't believe they were there.. I mean I thought they hated Sarah Palin. I thought Sarah Palin had no impact, she was a nobody yet they send their 2 big guns to cover her book tour..but I digress.

There were 3 young girls-college aged who arrived first and they got tons and tons of interviews. After the media covered them they started walking the rope line. One by one I saw them interview people left and right of me. The day went on and then we were given the warning- 1 hour til she arrives! We were told the only thing we could bring in was our book. If we had coats they had to remain on. So I figured it was going to get hot in there with all us people crammed so I took it off.who knew that move would land me all the media buzz it did. I knew they went after people who were all decked out but I did not think my t-shirt would get much attention. I was first approached by a New York Times writer who wrote what my shirt said and then asked me a couple questions. She asked me what it was I liked about Sarah Palin. I said, "As a young female she is someone I can look up to, before her the only prominent female in politics I had known about was Hilary Clinton, whom I respect don't get me wrong, I respect her but when you don't agree with someone it's hard to really look up to them. I like how Sarah Palin will speak her mind, regardless of what the media will say about it." After that I just stood in line eagerly waiting for Sarah Palin to arrive. I then see Norah O'Donnell approach a man all decked out in Palin garb. She asked him a few questions (camera not rolling) then said she'd like to have a woman in the shot. She asked a woman who refused then pointed at me and said "Hey talk to her" So I walked over. I knew I was walking into hot water with MSNBC- thought I was prepared..Seconds later I met her. One of the many faces of liberal media bias. She asked me my name and then before going on air asked me why I liked Sarah Palin, I repeated what I told the NYT reporter. Norah didn't seem to like that much. So what did she do? I mean she couldn't ask me that question on television, heaven forbid her not have a biting response.. I noticed her look down at my shirt then, she turned around blackberry in hand spoke to a man, thumbs tapping the blackberry (I don't remember if she called or not, she may have. But she was on her blackberry), then jotted down a quick note. Little did I know that note would be used against me. She told us she'd be walking up to us. You know like she just stumbled upon us. The shot began. I kept telling myself answer her question well, don't freak out. Well, I thought she'd ask me the same question. She asked the man beside me (who by the way is NOT my dad) the same question she had before we went on air. Myself on the other hand, not the same story. She had me read my shirt and then proceeded to ask me "Did you know Sarah Palin supported the bailout" to be 100% honest I was like, are you kidding me? She is trying to use my shirt against me. I was so shocked by the craftiness she had that I was truly stumped. I asked her where she got her fact and she read her little note. Then she asked me what I liked about Sarah, and I talked about the Constitution. Immediately after the interview I said to my dad "Oh man, I have so many great responses now about my shirt" I could have said, well my shirt doesn't say anything about Sarah Palin supporting the bailout or "Hey Norah, have you read the book? She talks about how during her debate prep she was handed a list of note cards that had questions and 'non-answers'" Of course they told Sarah Palin to support everything McCain did. Call me crazy but it would have looked pretty bad had Sarah Palin been against something John McCain was against while they were running together. Norah also claims I told her I voted (on her twitter). That is not true. She never asked my age or if I voted. I'm 17 I couldn't have voted.and I don't live in an ACORN district so I didn't have a chance to even register illegally. Making that statement by Norah completely false.

Well, the interview was over and it was time for me to meet Sarah Palin. We were taken upstairs and stood for about a half hour. And all of a sudden, the music began playing. "Red High Heels" by Kellie Pickler started blasting; I thought it was a perfect song. Then off in the distance I saw Sarah Palin make her way to the table. Before I knew it there she was. My dad went ahead of me and Sarah welcomed him by saying "Well, hey there sir how are you doing" and being the goofball he is said to her "I've haven't been this excited since I visited Graceland." Sarah responded "Oh thank you so much!" He also told her that the girl behind him was his daughter and that I had just been interviewed by MSNBC and would've made her proud. Sarah smiled and said "aww well good we need that!" I was up, it all happened so fast I didn't have much time to take it in. But to my surprise she added my name when she signed my book. I'm going to back track for a second, when we arrived we were handed a pink slip with rules for the event and one read "There will be NO personalizing of books." That is why I was so shocked. She looked at me and said "Sweetie, what is your name?" I told her and watched her sign my name in the book and then hers. I told her "Thank you so much." and she said "No, thank YOU so much!" She was so kind and personal. She looked me directly in the eyes and looked so happy to see everyone. And just like that it was over. I had met the woman who had inspired me to become interested in politics and is one of the huge factors in my interest for learning about our countries great history. Meeting Sarah has been the highlight of my senior year so far, that is for sure!

So today. I thought about my interview and thought there was a slight chance someone; somewhere would pick up on it. Never did I think I would be featured on Glenn Beck, Bill O'Reilly, Hot Air, Associated Content, Media Matters, Newsbusters and the Fox Nation. I found out about Glenn Beck because during school I have my twitter updates turned on on my phone and I check them in between classes. After 3rd hour I looked at my phone and click on a tweet and it said that Glenn was airing my interview. After school, I went to work; I left my twitter updates on just to see what else might happen. I got tweets about Newsbusters and MediaMatters while at work. When I got home I began looking online and kept receiving tweets and the more they came the more surprised I became. Then as I'm sitting at the computer I get a TweetDeck notification alerting me of an @ mention, I clicked it and I read "HOLY CRAP YOU'RE ON O'REILLY" luckily I had it recording because I knew Sarah Palin would be on, but really I was stunned O'Reilly showed it. I've been sitting at the computer now for a couple of hours now reading articles and comments and I even got to see video from Glenn Beck's radio show of them discussing it, which made me laugh hysterically. It was not the first time I'd been mistaken for being much younger than I actually am (still get offered a kids menu). It was nice to see/hear someone like Glenn Beck defending me. I will clear up some of the stuff he said about me. I am 17, the man next to me was not my father and I cannot stand Miley Cyrus. He was right, however, in 2 areas. I do attend a private school (parochial-Christian school) and my dad is a Bible thumping, gun toting man. I wish I could have thought quicker on my feet for that interview and threw it right back into O'Donnell's face but I was caught off guard I had no time to think clearly, you can also add in nerves of being on live television for the first time. That certainly did not help.

In one day I met a role model, and met the liberal media and their crafty schemes. I fell prey to liberal bias, but I'd like to think I did an okay job. We always want do-overs, and I can assure you if I had a do-over with Miss O'Donnell you'd see a much more prepared (well rested) and ready to go at it side of this 17 year old. But unlike Norah I didn't have my note cards with me. I was forced to think on the spot and answer a gotcha question. Her goal was clear, make this teenager look like an uneducated Palin supporting buffoon. To liberals, and the 5 people who watch MSNBC she succeeded. To conservatives, she was the only buffoon during that interview.


THANK YOU, JACKIE, FOR BEING A GREAT AMERICAN AND ILLUSTRATING THAT WHEN ONE STANDS UP AND SPEAKS OUT, HE/SHE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!


(Click here to visit Conservative Girl with a Voice and become a Follower. Follow me on Twitter too @rachellefriberg.)

Remember Diane Dimond?  She is probably best known for breaking the Michael Jackson scandals that dogged him for the last 15 years of his life.  She worked on a couple of reputable news networks (or quasi-reputable, in the case of MSNBC) for a while.  But now poor Ms. Dimond has fallen on hard times, apparently, as she is slumming with that bastion of hard news, Entertainment Tonight.

Currently, ET has Ms. Dimond following the Sarah Palin Going Rogue tour.  (Here's the link one more time.  Disclosure:  if you buy using the link, I get money.  So buy it!)  For the past several days, Ms. Dimond has reported on the thousands of people waiting to greet Governor Palin at these stops, and has talked about how much people love her...

...until today, that is.  Today's report featured Ms. Dimond complaining that Sarah Palin is staying away from the media, that she's not talking to them, blah blah blah.  (From there, she went right into saying that Gov. Palin had talked with Barbara Walters, and others, completely destroying her previous point.)

Gee, I don't know...why wouldn't Sarah Palin want to talk to Entertainment Tonight?  Surely it couldn't be because of stories like this one (a story teased multiple times by Ms. Dimond on yesterday's show), could it?

Note:  I have only been watching Entertainment Tonight this week because of Sarah Palin.  So there.

Cross-posted at http://snowedin2006.blogspot.com.

According to a report from Ohio today, a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has asked the ACORN-tainted Ohio Secretary of State, Jennifer Brunner, to investigation ACORN's voter registration work in the state.

“U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan has formally asked Ohio's secretary of state to look into allegations that ACORN had at least a preliminary plan to back Democrat candidates in key Ohio congressional races in 2008.”

The political plan was described in an October article as “having been scaled back,” and of course, ACORN denied any partisan activity.

“But to some, ACORN's early 13-page plan for the 2008 election reinforces what critics always assumed: The group's goal was never nonpartisan. The political plan and other ACORN documents show that the group was interested not just in helping presidential candidate Barack Obama, whom it urged its members to support, according to post-election Federal Election Commission reports. ACORN also was interested in Congress and the Ohio Statehouse.
"There's no question that ACORN strategized to figure out how its election efforts could maximize the benefit for selected Democratic candidates in the most competitive races," U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa of California told The Plain Dealer. “

An illuminating  fact not mentioned in either article is that ACORN prepared political plans for several key battleground states in 2006 and again during the 2007-08 election cycle. As evidenced by the draft plans developed in the Spring of 2006 by the Strategic Writing and Research Department (SWORD) of ACORN Political Operations, these plans were aimed at electing “progressives” and in some cases broke down the Congressional districts by race for maximum targeting. SWORD, which was staffed by Project Vote staff, including myself, worked with ACORN head organizers in FL, MD, MI, MN, OH, PA, and RI to create local documents for the ACORN field staff to implement and present to funders and/or various partner organizations.

A copy of the Maryland and Colorado draft plans from 2006 are available online. Key parts of the plans are the contact and Congressional district sections at the end. For example, in the Maryland plan, it calls for mailings and face to face contact. A screen shot of the type of mailing Marylanders received is shown below.

ACORN used Project Vote staff and computers to create the PowerPoint “Campaign for a New Congress." This PowerPoint was aimed at swaying the Congressional election in Maryland from Albert Wynn to ACORN ally Donna Edwards. Using the final political plan, ACORN canvassed voters and mailed pieces through its affiliate Communities Voting Together.

Campaign for a New Congress

Communities Voting Together has the same address as the Project Vote office in DC and its address on the screen shot above is the same Elysian Fields address where hundreds of other ACORN entities "reside.

As a 527 group, Communities Voting Together paid over 150,000 to Citizen's Services Inc, and contributed to Wade Rathke's Chief Organizer Fund. Jeff Robinson is listed as the contact for Communities Voting Together and some may remembered Robinson from the 2008 elections (emphasis mine):

"In fact, the Obama campaign paid an ACORN-run organization more than $800,000. In Federal Election Commission required filings, the Obama campaign reported that this money was paid for polling, advance work and event staging. After watchdog scrutiny called this claim into question, the Obama campaign revised its filing and acknowledged that CSI was paid for “get-out-the-vote” projects.

CSI Executive Vice President Jeff Robinson last August told Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reporter David M. Brown that CSI is a 'separate organization entirely' from ACORN. But as Brown reported, CSI has the same office address as ACORN’s national headquarters, ACORN itself described CSI in 2006 as its 'campaign services entity.' Coincidentally, the widely identified “national deputy political director for campaigns and elections” for ACORN is...Jeff Robinson."

ACORN's shell corporations make it easy for a political plan to become a partisan voter registration drive facilitated by thin veiled “partnerships.” The filing reports of Communities Voting Together raise a number of questions, including whether the misspelling of the name on the filing was intentional. The payments to various ACORN entities should give any astute lawmaker pause.

ACORN has been able to claim that it never worked in some recent elections including NY-23, but as this screen shoot illustrates, Communities Voting together was mailing and passing out door knockers in 2006 for Corzine in New Jersey (without a mention of ACORN).

Will ACORN backed officials like Jennifer Brunner (who has her eye on a Senate seat) and officials in Maryland and Colorado take notices of these obvious attempts to elect Democrats, or will they continue to turn a blind eye to ACORN in order to save themselves?

Sure, anyone who has watched Entertainment Tonight recently has seen that they have covered Sarah Palin's book tour.  (Also, anyone who has watched this show in years has my sympathy.  But that's another story entirely.)  Of course, every episode I have seen that showed the Going Rogue book tour (have I mentioned I get paid if you buy through this link?) just had to include clips of Levi Johnston, publicity hound and father of Gov. Palin's grandson.  (Hey, did you know he did a photo shoot for what's essentially a porno mag?  Who freaking cares?)

But their show tonight (19-Nov) appears, at least to me, to show where ET's political leanings lie.  Sure, they spent a couple of minutes highlighting the many, many people who waited to see her today, but they spent most of the show hyping an article about a "new book" that would supposedly shed some light on what Gov. Palin is really like.  The title: The Lies of Sarah Palin: The Untold Story Behind Her Relentless Quest for Power.  (If for some strange reason you don't like Palin but frequent my blog--hi Dad--you can click that link to buy the book, and I'll get paid for that link too.)  As far as I'm concerned, spotlighting this book is not equal time (Levi got enough of that this week); this is simply a cheap shot at Sarah Palin during her moment in the sun.



Why do I think it's a cheap shot at her?  For starters, the book doesn't even come out until April.  Secondly--and ET didn't think this was worth mentioning--the author, Geoffrey Dunn, is a frequent contributor to the ultra-left Huffington Post.  This casts a bit of a shadow, at least in my mind, on the idea that this book could display anything resembling impartiality.  I see this book more as a smear job.


And why do I think it's a smear job?  Mr. Dunn has, in recent weeks, had an obsession rivaling that of self-described conservative Andrew Sullivan (no, still no link, Andi) with Sarah Palin.  He has already posted columns on HuffPo detailing so-called lies from Going Rogue that he managed to determine despite not having read the book.  And no, I'm not going to link to them, either.  Instead, I will direct you, dear reader, to Conservatives 4 Palin's takedown of Mr. Dunn on all counts.


So with this kind of track record, what has Mr. Dunn done to deserve a multi-minute spotlight from Entertainment Tonight?  Apparently, the only criteria for getting such attention is not liking Sarah Palin.  Such is the state of our media at present.

Cross-posted, ever so bemusedly, at http://snowedin2006.blogspot.com.

Sarah REALLY has a way with words. While I've been using the term mainstream media (msm) to characterize the liberal media that exist today, leave it to Sarah to truly call it like she sees it and referring to them as the "lamestream" media (lsm) after borrowing the phrase from Bernard Goldberg. I like this term so much that I am going to borrow it from Sarah for the purpose of this blog post. I don't think she would mind because we both view the media as not what it once was. I wanted to admit something with all of you that I feel terrible about now. I have to admit that I was just a tad bit jealous of all my friends and Twitter followers who got their copy of Going Rogue: An American Lifee before mine came in the mail. As I heard of all their joyous celebrations, I got a little impatient. Now, I know what you all are thinking to yourselves: "Big girls don't cry!" I know, I know. I feel bad for being jealous of all those who got their hands on one of the first copies. What made it even harder was having to read about it on Twitter. My buddy, Patrick (@iammob) sent me a picture of himself holding his newly bought copy. My sister, Adrienne Ross (@adrienne2012), tweeted of her adventure to her local Walmart-as it happened- where she was one of the first to buy a copy at midnight, no less. I chuckled and said to myself, "Why you gotta tease a girl this way?" Don't get me wrong, I was happy for my buddies, but I wanted my copy to arrive!!!


There is no doubt in my mind that I was being taught an important lesson in patience. While I couldn't wait to get my copy and read it (being home sick from work with a cold didn't help matters), I knew that all good things come in time, so I decided to sit back and wait my turn. My turn came the following day as I pulled from my mailbox my copy of Going Rogue: An American Life. I don't think I was as excited since I found out last May that I had been chosen to be a contestant on the game show Wheel of Fortune. I let out a small "woo hoo," for my cold-ridden voice wouldn't let me say much more. I immediately opened up the cardboard packaging and pulled out my copy. I couldn't wait to read it, and I realized that if I had to get stuck home sick with a cold, what a better time, right? I crawled into bed, and even though I was drugged up on cold medicine- all legal by the way- I began to read about a woman who inspires me to want to do more to make America great.


Last night, I happened to be flipping channels, as my regular readers now I am prone to do-I'm an avid surfer, I admit it. Sarah's face popped up yet again on MSNBC, which I have discovered is a very common occurrence given the obsession this network has with all things Palin. Chris Matthews', whiny voice and all, was discussing none other than Sarah's Going Rogue Book Tour. While I know Matthews and this liberal network cannot stand Sarah and clearly fear her, he seemed to hit a new low last night, as if his leg tingles and lovely-dovey Obama rhetoric wasn't already enough. Matthews was talking to Norah O'Donnell who was traveling along the tour covering Sarah. Gee, what fun it must be to have a liberal, biased woman hot on your trail as you meet with God-fearing, freedom-loving Americans across the country. Now, let me give you a little background about Ms. O'Donnell. It is no secret that this woman cannot stand Sarah. Throughout the entire 2008 campaign, Ms. O'Donnell treated Sarah terribly, not only belittling her, but wondering how she could be vice president of the United States while caring for five children, one of whom with Down Syndrome. I remember saying to myself: "How dare this woman say these things when she in fact has young children of her own?" It clearly all comes back to the fact that Sarah chose life; Sarah chose life for little Trig, and women like Ms. O'Donnell know that they would never make a courageous decision like Sarah did, yet they would NEVER admit this.


While talking with Ms. O'Donnell, tingling Matthews asked her about the crowd in general and what they were telling her. I was very surprised and frankly astounded by her response to Matthews' question:

"I think it's an emotional connection, Chris, because they feel too that they've been beat up on whether, it's the economy, or they feel like outcasts. They like the outsider, if you will, in Sarah Palin. And that's why people are willing to wait- 1,500 of them- since 7 a.m. this morning to just get a glimpse of Sarah Palin who, by the way, this is not just a book signing, Chris, I mean because that's largely what's in it, but she's about to arrive any minute, and there's a stage out front, and she's going to take to that stage and make her remarks almost like a mini campaign rally."


An emotional connection? The felling of being beat up on- do you feel beat up on? Is that the only reason why you support Sarah? Come on, give me a break. While I look up to her for being the strong, fearless woman she is, this is not the only reason I support her. Contrary to what Ms. O'Donnell may think, I do not feel beat up on or trampled on either. I am a strong woman who is able to think for myself. People like Ms. O'Donnell just don't get it. They don't understand how conservative women can believe in the things they do.


Ms. O'Donnell didn't end her outrageous assumptions there. She went on to say that when she talked to those in attendance about why they supported Sarah, not only did those she talk to only give the emotional reason mentioned above, but they couldn't name Sarah's position on the health care debate as well as other policy beliefs Sarah holds. I, for one, am very suspicious of Ms. O'Donnell's report. You can't tell me that Sarah's supporters don't know her stances when everything she says is practically dissected and evaluated on the news everyday, and her Facebook notes are updated regularly. Sarah has discussed everything from death panels to ideas for health care reform to her belief in the importance of listening to General McChrystal and the other generals on the ground regarding troop numbers in Afghanistan. Hello, Ms. O'Donnell, anybody home up there in that brain of yours? I hate to be rude, but it is so obvious to me that Ms. O'Donnell is attempting to belittle and mock those who support Sarah, in hopes that Sarah is discredited in the process.

While I admire and look up to Sarah for the strong woman and phenomenal mother she is, I support Sarah because I agree with her common sense message. I believe in her conservative platform. I support her because she believes in life, a strong national defense, capitalism, personal responsibility, smaller government, the free market and tax cuts. Her character and integrity are the icing on the cake. Maybe it's time lsm members like Ms. O'Donnell realize that, like Sarah, her supporters are smart and intelligent as well. Like Sarah, we do not want the lsm to feel sorry for us or to think we are weak because we are strong. I am a young woman, who graduated from college and went on to receive a masters degree, graduating from grad school with a 4.0, I might add. I am not some bimbo who used her charm to achieve this. Wake up, lsm! Sarah is here, and she isn't going anywhere, and we stand with her.

It wasn't just Ms. O'Donnell's report that offended me as a Sarah supporter. Here is how Matthews' responded to her report:

"Well, they look like a white crowd to me.... Not that there's anything wrong with that, but that's pretty monochromatic up there... no surprise to the level of ethnic nature of the people showing up, nothing wrong with that, but it is a fact. I think there's a tribal aspect to this thing, in that white versus other people...."


"White versus other people"- huh? I usually would ignore things like the above quote, but It seems as if race has become more of an issue ever since President Obama was elected last year. While watching the crowds gather at the book signings, the issue of race never entered my mind, just as if never entered my mind if an African-American held a book signing. Where does Matthews get off assuming Sarah's support all comes down to race. If he feels this way, then, does he feel the same about President Obama's supporters? Would he say the same thing if President Obama held a signing event? Not only is it outrageous to think race plays any role in terms of who supports Sarah, but it is frankly untrue. I have friends of all races who support Sarah. How dare Matthews say this. Not only is he offending me as a white woman to say that I only like Sarah because I share the color of her skin, but he is offending all the other individuals of other races who support her. President Obama's supporters are from all races and backgrounds. Is it too hard to imagine that Sarah's supporters are full of a variety of races and backgrounds as well? I have a feeling that it's because of instances like these that clearly help to define just how out of touch the lsm are with "Mainstreet U.S.A."

Sarah's life story is a story that so many people can identify with, and the lsm know this, although I guarantee you will never hear them admit it. Whether or not you agree with Sarah politically, it is clear how much of an every woman she is. As a 28-year-old woman from San Diego, California, I have never been to Alaska, yet can identify with her childhood in so many ways. Like Sarah, I grew up in an active, outdoor-loving family. Like Sarah, I played a variety of sports, including softball like she did and, through sports, learned so much about life, the value of hard work and the importance of team work. Like Sarah, I was awarded the MVP award on one of my sports teams (softball) as a high schooler. Like Sarah, I loved sports and, like her, I wanted to be a sports reporter (in college, I was sports anchor for the journalism group assignments). Like Sarah, at a young age, I began fishing, dug for clams (on the beaches of California, making fresh clam chowder with our catch) and picked wild blueberries in the summer with my siblings at our family's cabin in the Sierra Nevadas. I still enjoy picking wild blueberries to this day in the summer, and I cannot wait to share this tradition with my children. Like Sarah, I was a little dare devil who also had the passion for reading as a child. Like Sarah, I had a passion for writing, which is the reason I studied English and Journalism in college. Like Sarah, I attended multiple colleges and it took me six years to graduate because I decided that, while I loved journalism, I wanted to study English too. (She even got a "D" in a Macro-Economics course, and I had a "W" for withdraw in a Micro-Economics, a course I did not understand or enjoy.) Everyone is different, and not everyone fits into the four-year college mold. Like Sarah, my parents taught me the value of hard work, and this is a value I live my life by.


While Sarah and I grew up in very different parts of the America, I have so much in common with her, as I'm sure you do as well. It is so cool to have a conservative woman to whom I can really identify with. Something tells me, Hillary Clinton has never been fishing and probably wouldn't know where to begin to find a clam in the ocean, but that's okay. I guarantee there are many out there who identify with her. As I mentioned above, identifying with a politician should not be the sole reason for voting for them. I supported Sarah during the 2008 campaign because I agreed with her and John McCain on the issues. I knew I had some things in common with Sarah, but it wasn't until I began reading her memoir that I realized how much I can identify with her. I told my mom how much I am able to relate to this woman who I am proud to call a role model. Sarah's book is not only inspiring, but a book about a woman with a true pioneering spirit. I think this is the reason so many can identify with her. It isn't emotional or a feeling of getting trampled on that draws people to her; instead, it is the fact that she is so real and so easy to relate to. Sarah is truly the real deal. Sarah is unafraid to be herself, and this scares the socks off the liberal left, and to this I raise my glass and salute her for doing what so many are afraid to do in this unfortunate age of political correctness.


(Visit Conservative Girl with a Voice and become a follower. Follow me on Twitter.)

by Lisa Graas, editor --

Dan Gainor of the Culture and Media Institute appeared on Fox News Channel to address the AP "fact check" of Sarah Palin's book Going Rogue: An American Life. He does a great job exposing the AP for what we all know is really opposition research on the part of the AP. Video below. Hat-tip, NewsBusters

by Lisa Graas, editor --

From Preferential Option:

[Fiorina] was asked whether Sarah Palin displayed leadership qualities. The question was asked in apparent sincerity, but her physical reaction seemed to suggest that she considered it a hostile question.

Here's her response, word for word, in its entirety:

"I've never met Sarah Palin. Next question."

There's more at Preferential Option.

This news came at an interesting moment for me. I've been thinking all morning about how the term "populism" is tossed about as a pejorative and how, as of late, it's been so frequently attached to commentary regarding Governor Palin. The pundits, political operatives and politicians whom regular folks now frequently refer to as "elites" are invariably the ones who toss this word "populism" around in a dismissive manner. Maybe they think that if they use technical terminology "the folks", as Bill O'Reilly calls average Americans, won't realize they're being dissed. After all, how many regular folks will you find who can really define "populism" and, further, would claim to be a member of the populist club?

In regard to Sarah Palin, Beltway pundits will tell you something along the lines of "she's fine, but she's a populist and, as such, won't win a presidential campaign." At least, that's the way I hear it. Being among that group of "regular folks", I resent the tone. Providentially, these were the thoughts that were running through my mind when I read the comment by Fiorina -- top economic advisor for the McCain campaign, "I've never met Sarah Palin."

You may remember Fiorina from her very public defense of Sarah Palin during the 2008 campaign.

John McCain thinks very highly of Carly Fiorina. It's my understanding that he's endorsed her Senate candidacy in California. We have an equation there, then, of Senator John McCain giving his "golden touch" to a woman for high office. So, why aren't Californians jumping for joy? Call me a rube, but I think it has something to do with populism.

From Jonathan Martin, Politico, August 30, 2008:

GOP Grassroots on Fire

I've been covering the GOP presidential race since November of 2006. In those many months — across many states — I have never seen a crowd with the energy that I witnessed yesterday at the Erwin Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio.

Yes, there was an inherent buzz owing to the pending veep announcement.

But even after the choice was proclaimed, the crowd seemed to become more jacked. And when Sarah Palin delivered, they seemed to instantly fall in love.

They were, if you will, fired up and ready to go.

And outside the arena, far from Dayton, the response I've gotten from Republican activists coast-to-coast has been one of almost joy. My e-mail in-box is bursting with enthusiasm from loyal GOPers who've been either glum, cynical or downright unhappy for the past two years.

This zeal is emphatically not matched by some Republican elites, who are casting a more pragmatic eye on the potential pitfalls of McCain tapping a running mate that
neither he nor many other political types know.

But, heading into the GOP convention this coming week, rank-and-file members of the party have finally found something they've been casting about now for lo these many unhappy months: something to get excited about.

Why can't Carly Fiorina do that? Perhaps she should meet Sarah Palin.

by Lisa Graas, editor --

Arianna Huffington's liberal news site The Huffington Post, a publication not known for being very reliable when it comes to science -- see here, here and here -- but well known for sensationalizing headlines -- see here, here and here -- has seriously misrepresented both science and Sarah Palin in regard to Palin's professed belief regarding evolution.

HuffPo headline, November 16, Rachel Weiner: Palin Suggests Evolution Not Real in "Going Rogue".

The first sentence of the article says:

Sarah Palin suggests in her memoir, "Going Rogue" that she doesn't believe in evolution.

That's a complete lie. The article continues by quoting comments from her memoir about an exchange she had with McCain campaign manager Steve Schmidt on the subject of evolution which, as I explained in this article, is the position of the Catholic Church and is fully backed up by known science. Also, the quotes from Palin in the HuffPo article itself show that she doesn't deny evolution as science has, to date, proven definitively.

Below is a comment I left for the article:

The text of the article doesn't jive with the headline. She says she believes in evolution within a species but not that one species evolved into a separate species. The headline is, therefore, completely false. She believes in evolution within species, so it's in error to say she suggests she doesn't believe in evolution. Science hasn't revealed data showing that one species has ever evolved into another species. If she wants to believe that they didn't, that is her right. There's nothing within science to prove her wrong. I grow weary of the press misleading people about who this woman is. Thankfully, I can figure out who she is by ignoring the headline and the first sentence of the article and reading her actual words. I wonder how many other people reading things about her on this site would do the same. I suggest a correction of the headline and first sentence is very much in order.

While evolution may be a very uncomfortable subject for many people, it doesn't have to be. There is never anything to fear from the truth. Science has shown that traits may evolve within a species. People of faith can't deny science because we know that God is the author of reason. Unfortunately for atheists -- or people who are otherwise threatened in some way by belief in a Creator -- science has not shown that one species has ever evolved into another. Many wish that science would show that, but the truth is that it hasn't yet, and wishful thinking is not the same as science.

I'm unimpressed by Weiner's wishful thinking. Her wishful thinking -- belief in the erroneous idea that science has proven that one species has evolved into another -- is as troublesome to people of faith as faith can be to people who prefer wishful thinking.

I don't find fault with Weiner's choice to disagree with Palin on the issue. She has as much right to hold on to her wishful thinking as Palin has to hold on to her faith. That's neither here nor there. What I do take serious issue with, though, is the false headline and the suggestion that Palin denies known science. It's a lie, plain and simple.

I pray that we never get used to lies and I pray that we don't shirk from calling out those who lie so publicly when the topic seems uncomfortable. Folks, much is at stake in America and we can't be wimps when it comes to standing up against such nonsense as this lie from Weiner at HuffPo.

Faith and wishful thinking vary widely. Let people believe whatever they want when there's no proven right or wrong answer. Blatant falsehood must always be corrected, though. So it is in the case of Rachel Weiner's outright lie about Sarah Palin and evolution.

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Anyone interested in keeping up with photos from the book tour should check back often at the website of professional photographer Shealah Craighead.

If you recall, Ms. Craighead was the campaign photog that followed Gov. Palin and her family during the 2008 election run. I had hoped we would see more of her pictures from that time via the Archives in D.C. She mentioned in an interview after the election that she thought they may end up there.

I contacted the Archives once and was told that since the RNC owned the shots, it was pretty much up to them. "Hey, RNC! Let go those photos!"

However, for a few on Ms. Craighead's site, visit this link.

From the site:

A DC based photographer, Shealah Craighead is a former official White House photographer for Mrs. Laura Bush and the official photographer for Governor Sarah Palin during the 2008 Presidential Campaign. Her photographs have been featured in Newsweek and People Magazine, among other many other publications. Additional work can be found at:

http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/

At the present moment, I don't see any new images from the tour, but stay tuned!

www.shealahcraighead.com

Twitter @Karen_Allen
(Cross-posted at The Palination)

By Adrienne Ross - www.motivationtruth.com

The Chicago Tribune reports that Sarah Palin's appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show gave Oprah her highest ratings in two years:

Sarah Palin delivered the vote for Oprah Winfrey, giving the Chicago-based talk show host her highest ratings nationally for a single episode in two years.

[...]

Palin outdrew either half of Winfrey's two-part season-opening confessional with singer Whitney Houston, as well as Winfrey's show the day after the election of President Barack Obama, according to her syndicator, CBS Television Distribution.

Read more here.

I'm not surprised. Did I not write two articles in October in which I predicted this very thing?

In Sarah Palin Will Help Oprah Winfrey, I quoted an article that laid out Oprah's need:

It's not just another show booking for Oprah Winfrey. She's going whole hog this season to try to recover from the ratings tumble she took last season when her audience slid to under 7 million viewers. And, during one awful week in July, "The Oprah Winfrey Show" suffered its smallest ratings since its debut way back in 1985.

And I stated in According to Harpo Productions: Sarah Palin to Appear on Oprah that Sarah Palin would be the answer to Oprah's ratings problems, at least for the day:

If Sarah does make an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show, it will certainly drive Oprah's declining ratings through the roof. I will commend Sarah for going on the show on her own terms, and personally, I will be glad that the governor's book sales are already out of this world.

If you did not get a chance to see Governor Palin on Oprah Monday, go to Oprah's website and check it out.