Lisa Murkowski concedes, and Governor Palin tweets:
Do you believe in miracles?! http://u.nu/72z2f Congratulations, @JoeWMiller! Thank you for your service, Sen. Murkowski. On to November!
Senator Lisa Murkowkski has conceded. What an incredible victory for Joe Miller, who was snatched out of anonymity by Governor Palin's endorsement. Governor Palin defeated Lisa's father to become the first woman governor of Alaska, and now she helped Joe Miller to defeat his daughter. As Karl Rove said, "It's an end of an era."
But it's the beginning of another one. As I've been predicting all along, it's Miller Time! We've received the "miracle on ice" Governor Palin has been praying for. Now, on to November!
The following is a message from Governor Palin worth reading--and worth heeding, Mr. President. Via Facebook:
Later today, President Obama will speak to the American people about Iraq. No doubt he will laud the “end of major combat operations” by the date he randomly selected some 18 months ago. His press secretary Robert Gibbs also gave us a glimpse of what else he might say, telling the Today Show this morning that ”What is certainly not up for question is that President Obama, then-candidate Obama, said that adding those 20,000 troops into Iraq would, indeed, improve the security situation, and it did.”Read more...
Iraq in 2010 is indeed a very long way from Iraq in 2006, when violence and sectarian conflict threatened complete chaos. But then-candidate Obama did not support the course that brought us here as his press secretary now claims. On January 10, 2007, when President Bush announced the surge, Senator Obama insisted that the surge would actually increase sectarian violence: “I am not persuaded that 20,000 additional troops in Iraq are going to solve the sectarian violence there. In fact, I think it will do the reverse.” Barack Obama was clearly in opposition to the surge strategy.
Had we followed the course advocated by then-candidates Obama and Biden, the Iraq war would be remembered now as a crushing defeat for the United States and our allies. Al Qaeda in Iraq and Iranian supported extremists would have claimed victory over America – with grave implications for us throughout the region and the world. Iraq would have descended into full-scale civil war. Iraq’s neighbor would have likely been drawn into the conflict. Parts of Iraq would have been made a safe haven for terrorists to train and plan for attacks far beyond Iraqi borders.
Fortunately for all of us, these events did not occur. They did not occur because America changed strategy in Iraq. President Bush decided to increase our forces in Iraq and pursue a counterinsurgency strategy – a course long advocated by Republicans in Washington. This “surge” policy in 2007 was opposed by many – most notably and adamantly by Senators Obama and Biden. In October 2006, as the violence was spiraling out of control, Senator Obama actually advocated reducing our troop presence: “It is clear at this point that we cannot, through putting in more troops or maintaining the presence that we have, expect that somehow the situation is going to improve, and we have to do something significant to break the pattern that we’ve been in right now.”
In response to President Bush’s State of the Union address on January 23, 2007, Senator Obama said: “I don’t think the president’s strategy is going to work…My suggestion to the president has been that the only way we’re going to change the dynamic in Iraq and start seeing political commendation is actually if we create a system of phased redeployment. And, frankly, the president, I think, has not been willing to consider that option, not because it’s not militarily sound but because he continues to cling to the belief that somehow military solutions are going to lead to victory in Iraq.”
Senator Joe Biden, just before the surge was formally announced, actually declared: “If he surges another 20, 30 [thousand], or whatever number he’s going to, into Baghdad, it’ll be a tragic mistake.”
In May 2007, Senator Obama voted against funding our troops in Iraq. Reporters have insinuated that I haven’t been telling the truth on this fact, but consider the fact: he did not support additional troop funding. Had his position prevailed, our troops would have been forced to leave Iraq precipitously and chaos would have ensued. Goodness, even Senator Biden voted for the funding and had to admit this about Senator Obama and others who opposed it: “My colleagues voted against the funding to make a political point. There’s no political point worth my son’s life. There’s no political point worth anyone’s life.” As the mother of a soldier who spent his year in Iraq recently, I have to agree with Biden on that point.
As it became clear in the summer of 2007 that the surge strategy was working, Senator Obama was still stubbornly in denial about the success our American troops were having, saying: “My assessment is that the surge has not worked and we will not see a different report eight weeks from now.” What willful blindness he showed with that assessment.
And even in November 2007, when everyone could see the success of the surge in reducing violence and increasing political space in Iraq, Senator Obama said: “Finally, in 2006-2007, we started to see that, even after an election, George Bush continued to want to pursue a course that didn’t withdraw troops from Iraq but actually doubled them and initiated a surge and at that stage I said very clearly, not only have we not seen improvements, but we’re actually worsening, potentially, a situation there.”
As Americans tune in to watch President Obama, it is important to remember the facts. He opposed the surge. He predicted it would fail. He said it would make things worse even after it dramatically improved the situation. He voted to cut off funds for our brave soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines fighting in Iraq. For months he refused to accept that the surge he fought was actually a spectacular success. As President Obama usually likes to look backwards and declare the state of everything to be “George Bush’s fault,” my hope is that tonight he stays consistent and looks backwards, and in this case acknowledges that credit should be given where credit is due.
Along with the points that Bill Kristol made yesterday, I too have some suggestions for the president. President Obama, please show grace, humility and some honesty before the American people tonight. Please don’t declare “Mission Accomplished” and then saunter away with an assumption that your opposition to the Iraq strategy was key to our troops’ success. Please end the political posturing. Admit you were wrong about the surge. Recognize what our brave armed forces have achieved. Admit that the strategy long advocated by Republicans, proposed by President Bush, led by Generals Petraeus and Odierno, and executed by thousands of America’s finest – our brave men and women in uniform – brought violence under control and made responsible withdrawals possible. The more honest you are about the past, the more likely it is you will gain the support of the American people for your Iraq policy in the future. We need to be able to trust the White House war strategy, as our children’s future depends on it. Being honest with us tonight is a good starting point in building trust.
- Sarah Palin
Joe Miller and Lisa Murkowski are in a fierce battle to see who will represent Alaska in the United States Senate. A week after the primary, the battle continues. Not many had heard of Miller, much less expected him to take Murkowski to the brink of defeat, but Governor Palin's endorsement helped set up this scenario where a true conservative may dethrone someone whose voting record has shown her to be anything but.
Absentee ballots are being counted as we "speak," and hopefully Joe Miller will soon be able to move on to the next phase of his campaign--setting his sights on November. But you can help today.
Joe Miller launched a money bomb this morning to raise $100,000. Visit http://www.supportjoemiller.com/, where you will find the following message:
Support Joe MillerRead more...
Send a Constitutional Conservative to Washington
This year's Republican primary in Alaska has come down to a fight between the establishment and the conservative grassroots. Unfortunately, Joe Miller and his homegrown base of conservative Alaskans are facing legal battles with well-funded special interests committed to maintaining the status quo in Washington.
With your support, Joe can continue his momentum; stave off the inevitable lawsuits, and cross the finish line with another victory for the conservative movement. Please donate 50, 75, or 100 dollars to preserve the integrity of Alaska's electoral system and ensure that the true conservative is on the ballot in November.
Help Joe return the power, land, and resources of the states to the people that live in them!
Governor Palin is headed to Iowa. The Republican Party of Iowa put out the following press release:
Gov. Sarah Palin to Headline Iowa GOP’s Ronald Reagan Dinner
“Salute to Freedom” Event, Friday, September 17
DES MOINES – Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Matt Strawn today announced Governor Sarah Palin will be the Party’s special guest at the upcoming Reagan Dinner: A Salute to Freedom.
“The Iowa GOP is pleased that Gov. Palin is traveling to Iowa to join the battle to return principled, conservative leadership to Iowa,” said Chairman Strawn. “Our economic and personal freedoms are under attack in Washington, DC and Des Moines. I know Iowa Republicans will be energized and motivated by Gov. Palin to stand up and fight for these principles all the way to Election Day and beyond.”
The Reagan Dinner: A Salute to Freedom will take place the evening of Friday, September 17 in Des Moines. The exact time and location will be announced closer to the event. Tickets for the Reagan Dinner are $100 each, or $1,000 for a table of eight.
Strawn noted that while the former Governor of Alaska and Vice Presidential nominee is popular among Iowans, the current economy is challenging for many Iowa families who may wish to attend. That is why the Iowa GOP is offering Iowans an opportunity to volunteer through any of its ten statewide Victory Centers in exchange for a ticket to the Ronald Reagan “Salute to Freedom” Dinner. For additional details regarding volunteer opportunities, Iowans should contact their local Iowa GOP Victory Center in: Ames, Cedar Falls, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Iowa City, Marion, Mason City, Ottumwa, Sioux City and Urbandale.
Tickets can be reserved by emailing RSVP@IowaGOP.org or by calling 515-282-8105.
Media requesting credentials should email Danielle Plogmann at dplogmann@iowagop.org.
Some wonderful people are sharing some great pictures with me from the Restoring Honor Rally.
I received the first picture below with the message that follows:
A commenter on SPN posted that Glenn Beck states that Governor Palin had been praying for 10 minutes when this photo was taken.
I thought you may enjoy this. I did a bit of converging two pictures to make this.
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Flying V to start Restoring Honor in America, 8/28
www.youtube.com
Right before the Restoring Honor event was about to begin at 10am God sent a message to America telling us to stand together and look to him for answers.
Governor Palin tonight on Sean Hannity:
(h/t Ian)
Sarah Palin wiping a tear during the dramatic bagpipe rendition of Amazing Grace accompanied by Gospel choir: "8/28 Restoring Honor Rally" at The Lincoln Memorial
It was his birthday, but he gave us a gift.
On August 29, 2008, John McCain managed to give the nation a gift that, unlike most gifts, has grown in value rather than depreciated. I know Senator McCain is a bright man and a polished politician, but I don't believe he could have guessed the magnitude of his running mate selection. He knew her record, knew her family background, and knew her convictions. But certainly after the election, on November 4, 2008, he couldn't have known the impact she would have on the face of politics, the power she would wield in her future endorsements, and the lead she would take on issues such as health care, illegal immigration, and the Ground Zero Mosque. He certainly couldn't have envisioned her standing at the Lincoln Memorial on the anniversary of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech delivering a speech of her own to a crowd reportedly larger than the one that gathered 47 years prior.
John McCain learned immediately after introducing Governor Palin to the world that the Left wouldn't play nice, and things were going to get very ugly, but I doubt he knew that the woman he tapped to stand alongside him would not only be able to weather the storms but emerge unscathed, undeterred, and unafraid.
Governor Palin's story speaks to me, as a woman, a message of never allowing gender to be a roadblock but a well of strength from which to draw. Her story speaks to me, an educator, of the potential within each life that dares to prepare, for as she says, open doors are defined simply as "preparation meeting opportunity." From one Christian to another, Governor Palin speaks to me a sermon, like those I've so often heard in church, of the "suddenly" moments God grants us, how in the blink of an eye one can enter her destiny with an awareness that she was born "for such a time as this."
I love my country more today than I did before "Sarah Palin Day" launched in Dayton, Ohio two years ago. I appreciate my freedom and those who sacrifice to protect it more than I ever did before that day. And like never before, I am committed to being a voice of common sense and righteousness, rather than embracing silent compliance to an anti-God, anti-American, damaging agenda that some would promote in the name of change. Governor Palin represents a willingness to speak truth despite the cost. She has unveiled and shattered in my mind the lie that it is somehow unthinkable and even unholy to call out others who are doing the unthinkable and the unholy. Many espouse the idea that one must sit idly by and do nothing rather than making some noise and rocking the boat. Not Governor Palin, and not I--not anymore.
After losing the election, she could have called it quits and retreated. After murderous miscreants set fire to her church, she could have sat down and said nothing more. After partisan piranhas tried to bankrupt her family and her state, she could have refused to fight back. After heartless hacks shamelessly attacked her children, she could have gathered them up and run to the hills. After the media became increasingly threatened and, therefore, increasingly hateful, she could have become bitter, thrown up her arms, and despaired. And who would have blamed her? The haters' intent has always been to crush her spirit, but if they have, she has certainly shown no signs of it. Instead, she continues to smile, continues to hope, and perseveres in the hard work it takes to take back America--and she doesn't seem to be slowing down one bit.
While overcoming incredible odds, Governor Palin has managed to be an inspiration to people who had never been inspired previously to get involved. She's lifted candidates out of anonymity into the forefront. She has battled for the respectful treatment of those with special needs. She has stood in the gap for the most vulnerable of us all--the unborn. She's been an advocate for those who selflessly serve our country. She has lifted her voice for fiscal sanity, limited government, and protecting our freedoms, our faith, and our Constitution. She has become a symbol for common sense, common decency, and the common man and woman.
And most of this has transpired in the last two years. Add to that the impressive resume' she already possessed prior to August 29, 2008--which is the reason Senator McCain tapped her to be his running mate to begin with--and you've got a leader who has brought America to the precipice of something great that we have yet to see in its fullness. I don't know for sure exactly where Governor Palin has set her future sights, but I feel confident in stating whatever road she chooses to ride, whichever path she opts to occupy, and whenever the time she takes that step, she'll travel with the right message, a storehouse of support, and, most of all, great content of character.
Yes, it was his birthday, but we got the gift. God bless Governor Palin, and God bless America!
You can read what I wrote last year on this anniversary here, here, here, and here.
Update: Governor Palin tweets:
Happy Birthday John McCain! We continue to appreciate you, Tom Kirk,all your Band of Brothers who sacrificed for America;we shall not forget
Dr. Alveda King powerfully spoke the truth at the Restoring Honor Rally in Washington, DC today. It was a message of faith, hope, and love--in spite of the challenges we face. In fact, she declared:
Yet we are not without hope. Faith, hope, and love are not dead in America. Hallelujah! We still trust in God!
I, too, have a dream. It is in my genes.
Governor Palin, via Facebook:
What an honor it was to speak today at the “Restoring Honor” Rally in D.C. The following is the text of my remarks. You can click here or here to watch a video of it.
- Sarah Palin
“Restoring Honor” Rally
August 28, 2010
Washington, D.C.
Thank you so much. Are you not so proud to be an American?
What an honor. What an honor.
We stand today at the symbolic crossroads of our nation’s history. All around us are monuments to those who have sustained us in word or deed. There in the distance stands the monument to the father of our country. And behind me, the towering presence of the Great Emancipator who secured our union at the moment of its most perilous time and freed those whose captivity was our greatest shame. And over these grounds where we are so honored to stand today, we feel the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who on this very day, two score and seven years ago, gave voice to a dream that would challenge us to honor the sacred charters of our liberty – that all men are created equal.
Now, in honoring these giants, who were linked by a solid rock foundation of faith in the one true God of justice, we must not forget the ordinary men and women on whose shoulders they stood. The ordinary called for extraordinary bravery. I am speaking, of course, of America’s finest – our men and women in uniform, a force for good in this country, and that is nothing to apologize for.
Abraham Lincoln once spoke of the “The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battle-field, and patriot grave, to every living heart and hearthstone, all over this broad land.” For over 200 years, those mystic chords have bound us in gratitude to those who are willingly to sacrifice, to restrain evil, to protect God-given liberty, to sacrifice all in defense of our country.
They fought for its freedom at Bunker Hill, they fought for its survival at Gettysburg, and for the ideals on which it stands – liberty and justice for all – on a thousand battlefields far from home.
It is so humbling to get to be here with you today, patriots – you who are motivated and engaged and concerned, knowing to never retreat. I must assume that you too know that we must not fundamentally transform America as some would want. We must restore America and restore her honor!
Now, I’ve been asked to speak today, not as a politician. No, as something more – something much more. I’ve been asked to speak as the mother of a soldier, and I am proud of that distinction. You know, say what you want to say about me, but I raised a combat vet, and you can’t take that away from me. I’m proud of that distinction, but it is not one that I had imagined because no woman gives birth thinking that she will hand over her child to her country, but that’s what mothers have done from ancient days.
In cities and towns across our country, you’ll find monuments to brave Americans wearing the uniforms of wars from long ago, and look down at their inscriptions, you’ll see that they were so often dedicated by mothers. In distant lands across the globe, you’ll find silent fields of white markers with the names of Americans who never came home, but who showed their dedication to their country by where they died.
We honor those who served something greater than self and made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as those who served and did come home forever changed by the battlefield. Though this rally is about “restoring honor,” for these men and women honor was never lost! If you look for the virtues that have sustained our country, you will find them in those who wear the uniform, who take the oath, who pay the price for our freedom.
And I’d like to tell you three stories of such Americans – three patriots – who stand with us today.
The first is a man named Marcus Luttrell. His story is one of raw courage in the face of overwhelming odds. It’s also a story of America’s enduring quest for justice. Remember, we went to Afghanistan seeking justice for those who were killed without mercy by evil men on September 11th. And one fateful day in Afghanistan on a mountain ridge, Marcus and three of his fellow Navy SEALs confronted the issue of justice and mercy in a decision that would forever change their lives.
They were on a mission to hunt down a high-level Taliban leader, but they were faced with a terrible dilemma when some men herding goats stumbled upon their position, and they couldn’t tell if these men were friend or foe. So the question was what to do with them? Should they kill them or should they let them go and perhaps risk compromising their mission? They took a vote. They chose mercy over self-preservation. They set their prisoners free. The vote said it was the humane thing to do. It was the American thing to do. But it sealed their fate because within hours, over a hundred Taliban forces arrived on the scene. They battled the four Navy SEALs throughout the surrounding hills. A rescue helicopter came, but it was shot down. By the time the sun set on June 28, 2005, it was one of the bloodiest days for American forces in Afghanistan.
19 brave, honorable men were lost that day. Marcus was the sole survivor. Alone, stranded, badly wounded, he limped and crawled for miles along that mountain side. What happened next is a testament to the words: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy.” Marcus and his team showed mercy in letting their prisoners free. And later he was shown mercy by Afghan villagers who honored an ancient custom of providing hospitality to any stranger who would ask for it. They took him in. They cared for him, efused to hand him over to the Taliban. They got him back safely to our forces.
Marcus’ story teaches us that even on the worst battlefield against the most brutal enemy, we adhere to our principles. This American love of justice and mercy is what makes us a force for good in this world. Marcus is a testament to that.
Please join me in honoring retired U.S. Navy SEAL Petty Officer Marcus Luttrell.
From the time he first heard men marching to a cadence call, Eddie Wright had one dream in life, and that was to be a United States Marine. And as a Marine serving in Iraq, his company was ambushed in Fallujah. He was knocked out when a rocket propelled grenade hit his Humvee. When he came to, he saw that both his hands were gone and his leg was badly wounded.
He couldn’t fire his weapon, he could barely move, and he was bleeding to death. But he had the strength of mind to lead the men under his command, and that is exactly what he did. He kept them calm, he showed them how to stop the bleeding in his leg, he told them where to return fire, he had them call for support, and he got them out of there alive.
His composure under fire that day earned him the Bronze Star with Valor device. But if you ask him, “What did you get it for?”, he’ll tell you, “Just for doing my job.”
After a long recovery, Eddie continued to serve as a martial arts instructor. He resigned from his beloved Marine Corps a few years ago, but he still lives by the motto: “Once a Marine, always a Marine.”
And if you want to see the American spirit of never retreating, no matter the odds – of steady confidence and optimism, no matter the setbacks – look at Eddie’s story. No matter how tough times are, Americans always pull through. As Eddie put it himself: “We don’t really foster the attitude of I can’t. When you have an obstacle in front of you, you just keep putting one foot in front of the other, and focus on what you can.”
So, please join me in honoring retired Marine Sergeant James “Eddie” Wright.
Tom Kirk was an Air Force squadron commander and a combat pilot who had flown over 150 missions in Korea and Vietnam. One day on a routine mission over Hanoi, his plane was shot down. He spent the next five and a half years in that living hell known as the Hanoi Hilton.
Like his fellow prisoners, Tom endured the beatings, the torture, the hunger, the years of isolation. He described it, saying, “There was nothing to do, nothing to read, nothing to write. You had to just sit there in absolute boredom, loneliness, frustration, and fear. You had to live one day at a time, because you had no idea how long you were going to be there.”
After two years of solitary confinement, pacing back and forth in his cell — three and a half steps across, three and a half steps deep – Tom was finally moved to a larger holding cell with 45 other Americans prisoners, among them was a man named John McCain. In circumstances that defy description, this band of brothers kept each other alive, and one by one, they came home.
Tom was released on March 14, 1973. You might think that a man who had suffered so much for his country would be bitter and broken by it. But Tom’s heart was only filled with love – love for America – that special love of country that we call patriotism.
Tom wrote, “Patriotism has become, for many, a ‘corny’ thing. For me, it is more important now than at any time in my life. How wonderful it is to be an American come home!”
Friends, please join me in honoring retired Air Force Colonel Tom Kirk.
My fellow Americans, each one of these men here today faced terrible sufferings, overwhelming set-backs, and impossible odds.
And they endured! And their stories are America’s story.
We will always come through. We will never give up, and we shall endure because we live by that moral strength that we call grace. Because though we’ve often skirted a precipice, a providential hand has always guided us to a better future.
And I know that many of us today, we are worried about what we face. Sometimes our challenges, they just seem insurmountable.
But, here, together, at the crossroads of our history, may this day be the change point!
Look around you. You’re not alone. You are Americans!
You have the same steel spine and the moral courage of Washington and Lincoln and Martin Luther King. It is in you. It will sustain you as it sustained them.
So with pride in the red, white, and blue; with gratitude to our men and women in uniform; let’s stand together! Let’s stand with honor! Let’s restore America!
God bless you! And God bless America!
The National Review reports Governor Palin's backstage comments at the Restoring Honor Rally when asked about how Dr. King would feel about today:
I hope that Dr. King would be so proud of us, as his niece Dr. Alveda King is very proud as a participant in this rally,” Palin says. “This is sacred ground where we feel his spirit and can appreciate all of his efforts. He who so believed in equality and may we live up to his challenge.
Mediaite has covered Governor Palin's speech at today's Restoring Honor Rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. Frances Martel writes:
Palin dedicated her speech to the troops, honored several American soldiers, and thanked the greatest Americans, both large and small in legacy, for their contributions.
Before going through a list of US soldiers that were receiving awards today for their exemplary service, Palin took the time to go through some of America’s greatest leaders– George Washington and Abraham Lincoln and, of course, Martin Luther King, Jr. She thanked him for providing “a dream that would challenge us to honor the sacred charters of hour [sic] liberty, and reminded the audience that, “in honoring them [the great Americans], we must not forget the ordinary men and women… our men and women in uniform, a force for good in this country, and that is nothing to apologize for.”
Forty seven years ago today, Dr. Martin Luther King stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and delivered what has gone down in history as one of the greatest speeches of all time, "I Have a Dream."
I wasn't alive on that momentous day when Dr. King spoke so powerfully, but those words remain as powerful and moving today, perhaps even more so. May this country walk in true unity--hand in hand, arm in arm. May we walk as one. May God bless America and, more importantly, may America bless God.
The full transcript of Dr. King's speech:
I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.
Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.
But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.
In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."
But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.
We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.
It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.
But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.
The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.
We cannot walk alone.
And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.
We cannot turn back.
There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating: "For Whites Only." We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until "justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."
I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest -- quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.
Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.
And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."
This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.
With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:
My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,
From every mountainside, let freedom ring!
And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.
And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.
Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.
Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.
Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.
But not only that:
Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.
From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:
Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!
The Restoring Honor Rally has started in Washington, DC at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial where Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech 47 years ago today. You can watch it live on C-Span. With Glenn Beck will be Governor Palin and Dr. King's niece, Alveda King. Governor Palin is currently speaking.
Governor Palin tweeted the following earlier:
Amazing. We are here. America is beautiful. Washington, DC is filled with extraordinary patriots today to honor our U.S. military.
Looking forwrd to seeing Alveda King again tomorrw at Glenn Beck rally in DC! MLK's niece spoke at an Alaska event 2 yrs ago - so inspiring!
Last night, Governor Palin spoke in Jacksonville, FL at a fundraiser for Heroic Media, a faith-based pro-life group. Thursday, of course, was Women's Equality Day, which I addressed here.
Governor Palin's own experience walking the walk is a testimony of strength and courage and is one reason so many women respect her--and also the reason so many Leftists despise her. Those in the room last night were obviously inspired by the Governor's life story. Deirdre Conner shares:
Heroic Media, a faith-based group, is dedicated to buying ad space on television, websites and billboards to encourage women not to abort their babies.
Mark Nelson, the Florida director for the group, said it is aiming to raise about $150,000 to buy ad spots over a 10-week period in Jacksonville. The group said on Thursday that it has raised about $50,000 toward that effort.
Palin said that after her experience learning that her son, Trig, who was born with Down syndrome - as well as her daughter Bristol's unplanned pregnancy - gave her better insight into what women go through when having a baby under "less than ideal circumstances." And, the former Alaska governor said, it deepened her belief that activism is needed to let women know that they are capable of motherhood, no matter what the challenges.
How about protecting our littlest sisters in the womb on equality day?"
Governor Palin, via Facebook:
Two years ago almost to the day, I was thrilled to meet with union members at the Alaska AFL-CIO Convention in Anchorage to sign important job-creation legislation related to the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act. As a former card-carrying IBEW sister married to a proud former IBEW and later USW member, it was a great moment for all of us. Our Alaska union brothers and sisters helped build our state! Many of them risked their lives to complete our infrastructure, including the Trans-Alaska Pipeline that stretches over treacherous mountain ranges from the North Slope oil fields to Valdez. By signing that job-creation bill surrounded by union members, I was paying tribute to them and acknowledging that they would be valued partners in the construction of Alaska’s long awaited natural gas pipeline. I was honored that day to receive a standing ovation from them for signing a bill that provided a Project Labor Agreement to bring good jobs to these good men and women.
Today, AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka came to Alaska (on a trip paid for with union dues) to preach the usual Beltway nonsense. There was a bit of the politics of personal destruction thrown around, and he mixed it in with the same old big government agenda that has been rejected in union halls, town halls, and voting booths all over our country.
I’m not sure why he’s attacking my record when I’m not the one responsible for the policies resulting in continued mass unemployment and a weak economy (that would be the man in the large white house on Pennsylvania Avenue). Among my “crimes,” the union boss cited the fact that I sometimes write notes on my hand (guilty as charged!); that I appear on cable television every once in a while to comment on the news (it’s called the First Amendment, Rich); and that my commonsense conservatism makes him laugh. Well, I guess that’s better than the failed leftwing big government policies of “his friend” Barack Obama, which makes the rest of us cry.
Trumka’s even worried I’m going to get violent against him. It’s kind of ironic that a union boss has the gall to accuse anyone of threatening violence. After all, we remember the violent attempts by SEIU to intimidate those who wanted to make their voices heard in last year’s town halls. And unlike Trumka, I never threatened that any effort to break a picket line would lead to violence. Come to think of it, neither did I ever hide behind the Fifth Amendment during a federal investigation about union corruption. Then again, I was just an ordinary, card-carrying union member, not one of the big shots who ended up, unfortunately, giving unions a bad name.
Trumka’s attempts to put himself on the side of the working man and woman would be more convincing if he weren’t a career union boss who’s spent most of his life in DC. No surprise then that his priorities aren’t the priorities of the average working man or woman, but of the Beltway power player. My fellow union brothers and sisters have had their union dues squandered for far too long by a few of the union bosses who work for partisan politics and not the good blue collar Americans who have to fund their cushy salaries.
Trumka purposely misquoted something I said in a speech I gave in Texas a few months ago. Let me clarify things for him: I never called union members “thugs.” You lie. I called some union leaders “thugs.” And I refuse to apologize for that because they have acted like thugs – at least in this day and age.
In the past there were many great union leaders who courageously defended the rights of workers. Unions were founded for all the right reasons! They were to give working men and women the clout to negotiate fairly with their employers and to fight for decent pay and working conditions. The unions of old would often end up fighting big government on behalf of the little guy. Today’s unions seem to be big government’s most enthusiastic supporters. It’s turned into some nonsense when union bosses back the government takeover of the car industry, and the mortgage industry, and the entire health care sector. And with the help of big government they aim to push through card check legislation that some characterize as being unfair to workers, and even un-American, because of its insistence on stripping workers of their right to privacy with a secret ballot. And that’s not just me voicing concern over card check – ask current union members how comfortable they are with what some of their leaders are saying about the legislation.
To my hardworking, patriotic brothers and sisters in the labor movement: you don’t have to put up with the scare tactics and the big government agenda of the union bosses. There is a different home for you: the commonsense conservative movement. It cares about the same things you and I care about: a government that doesn’t spend beyond its means, an economy focused on creating good jobs with good wages, and a leadership that is proud of America’s achievements and doesn’t go around apologizing to everyone for who we are.
This November, you have a choice. You can go with the flow and merely pull the lever the way they tell you to. Or you can join millions of others, and take a stand for freedom and independence and dignity, while still being part of a greater working community.
Join us. I promise you, you won’t regret it, and Americans who want good jobs for our families will be better off for it!
- Sarah Palin
I can think of many women today who represent all that is good in this country. They are intelligent, resilient, hard-working examples to the rest of us. They include mothers, sisters, housewives, teachers, and the list goes on. They, of course, stand on the shoulders of those who came before them and paved the way.
Today, August 26th, is Women's Equality Day! Congratulations, ladies. We deserve a day, don't we?! So let's take a look at history. The National Women's History Project shares:
At the behest of Rep. Bella Abzug (D-NY), in 1971 the U.S. Congress designated August 26 as “Women’s Equality Day.”Read more...
The date was selected to commemorate the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. This was the culmination of a massive, peaceful civil rights movement by women that had its formal beginnings in 1848 at the world’s first women’s rights convention, in Seneca Falls, New York.
The observance of Women’s Equality Day not only commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, but also calls attention to women’s continuing efforts toward full equality. Workplaces, libraries, organizations, and public facilities now participate with Women’s Equality Day programs, displays, video showings, or other activities.
Joint Resolution of Congress, 1971
Designating August 26 of each year as Women’s Equality Day
WHEREAS, the women of the United States have been treated as second-class citizens and have not been entitled the full rights and privileges, public or private, legal or institutional, which are available to male citizens of the United States; and
WHEREAS, the women of the United States have united to assure that these rights and privileges are available to all citizens equally regardless of sex; and
WHEREAS, the women of the United States have designated August 26, the anniversary date of the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, as symbol of the continued fight for equal rights: and
WHEREAS, the women of United States are to be commended and supported in their organizations and activities,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that August 26th of each year is designated as Women’s Equality Day, and the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation annually in commemoration of that day in 1920, on which the women of America were first given the right to vote, and that day in 1970, on which a nationwide demonstration for women’s rights took place.
The votes are still being tallied in the last of yesterday's Primary Day races involving candidates Governor Palin endorsed. Governor Palin's other endorsees, Pam Bondi, Allen West, Paul Gosar, and John McCain, emerged victorious. However, the eyes of the nation followed the Joe Miller-Lisa Murkowski show-down in Alaska, as Palin's endorsement put a relatively unknown Miller on the map. A day later, we're yet looking toward the North as votes are still being counted in a very close race that Miller is leading. He gives credit to Governor Palin for the good shape he's in.
The ADN reports today:
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski is battling for her political life this morning against Republican primary challenger Joe Miller, the tea party-backed candidate who has a slim lead as ballots continue to be counted.
Miller, a Fairbanks attorney, led from when the first returns came in Tuesday night and was on the verge of pulling off one of the biggest election upsets ever in Alaska.
With 429 of 438 precincts counted this morning,, Miller had 45,909 votes (51 percent) to 43,949 (49 percent) for Murkowski.
Miller credited the support of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for his lead.
"I'm absolutely certain that was pivotal," he said.
Murkowski on Tuesday night took a shot at Palin, saying that when Palin resigned as governor last summer she said she would use her new national role to help out Alaska.
"I think she's out for her own self-interest. I don't think she's out for Alaska's interest," Murkowski said as she waited at her campaign headquarters for results to come in.
Palin and the Tea Party Express made a big push to convince Alaskans to dump Murkowski for Miller. Polls had shown Murkowski with a big lead just three weeks ago. But Miller supporters had thought it was narrowing and were expressing confidence earlier in the day Tuesday that they would be pulling off an upset.
This was the first test of Palin's influence on Alaska politics since she resigned as governor last summer, and the first sign of how influential the Tea Party movement can be in shaping political races in this state. The race was being closely watched nationally as a sign of Palin and the Tea Party's strength, but also because Murkowski is one of the leading Republicans in the Senate.
I received the following from Ron Devito, US4Palin:
Palin's Winning Touch retrieved from Fox Business. H/T PalinTV; and Sheya, Conservatives4Palin.
Governor Palin discusses her endorsements, the responsibility of elected officials, and, of course, the current Joe Miller-Lisa Murkowski U.S. Senate race yet to be decided but led by Miller.
It was a huge night for Governor Palin's endorsees. Results are in for four out of five of these particular elections, which I covered here, here, here, and here. The Governor is batting 1,000.
Alaskan Joe Miller, taking on incumbent Lisa Murkowski for U.S. Senate, is leading in a very tight race. Not many people expected him to have a shot at first. He was out-spent and not as well-known, but he is definitely the true conservative in the race. Governor Palin brought attention to Miller with her endorsement, allowing him to surge.
Carl M. Cannon reports:
Meanwhile in Alaska, Sen. Lisa Murkowski was leading Miller going into the day, but partial results show her trailing. Miller, a Fairbanks lawyer, war hero and West Point graduate, mainly attracted national attention because of his endorsement by Palin, a longtime Murkowski rival.
Nobody in Alaska knew who Joe Miller was prior to her endorsement. Prior to her endorsement, Miller had no chance. Keep in mind too that Murkowski outspent him by a 10-to-1 margin.
No other Republican would have taken a chance on an underdog like Miller except for Palin. That she has been able to push him to get so close to an incumbent with a 10-to-1 fundraising advantage speaks volumes about the power she wields.
@HeyTammyBruce @JoeWMiller g'night!May Alaska's opportunity to export our pioneering, independent spirit come to fruition w/a miracle on iceRead more...
Paul Gosar, another Governor Palin endorsee, has been declared the winner of the Arizona Primary for U.S. Congress. That's two wins for the state of Arizona, since John McCain defeated J.D. Hayworth in the U.S. Senate Primary.
Congratulations!
John McCain, supported by Governor Palin, defeated J.D. Hayworth to win the Primary in Arizona.
Congratulations, Senator McCain.
On to November...
Allen West, endorsed by Governor Palin, has won in Florida.
His statement, via Tammy Bruce:
(Deerfield Beach, FL) “This evening, after nearly 2 years of hard work, our campaign to restore honor, integrity and character to Washington reached an important milestone. With a vast majority of the precincts having reported their results, we will have defeated David Brady by a margin of nearly 4 to 1. With GOP turnout significantly higher than democratic turnout throughout District 22, our victory tonight is proof that South Floridians are sick and tired of the status-quo in Washington, and are looking for leaders instead of politicians.
Tonight, the tone has been set. Over the next 2 months, we will continue to draw a contrast between Ron Klein’s Ultra-Liberal policies that have bankrupted our district, our state and our Country, versus my principled leadership. I am confident that – 70 days from tonight – the good people of Florida’s 22nd Congressional District will be firing Pelosi’s favorite Florida son, Ron Klein.”
Pam Bondi, whom Governor Palin endorsed for Florida Attorney General, has won the GOP Primary.
She'll celebrate briefly, no doubt, but then it's on to the next phase. Congratulations!
We are winding down a very busy Primary Day. Governor Palin has given her support to a few candidates who, along with the rest of us, are awaiting the day's results. It should be quite interesting.
She endorsed the following:
It's Miller Time in Alaska as Joe Miller takes on Lisa Murkowski for U.S. Senate on Tuesday, August 24th. Vote Joe Miller!
Listen to Joe Miller in a Fox News interview about his opponent:
(h/t Fay)
Governor Palin records a robocall for Pam Bondi, candidate for Attorney General:
(h/t Sheya)
Governor Palin records a robocall for Joe Miller.
I had gone back and forth with myself about whether or not I wanted to weigh in on the Dr. Laura issue. After engaging in what seems to be endless debate on the issue, and after reading numerous comments on both sides of this mess, I knew I would have to speak up because not doing so would simply be, in my estimation, cowardly. I know there are both conservatives and liberals who have looked at this through the wrong lenses. I'm used to being under fire from liberals, but my take may tick off some conservatives as well. So be it. My perspective may not be popular with them, but one thing is true of me: I am nothing, if not principled. And principles do not rely on popularity. Principles rely on a commitment to doing the right thing. I called out a superior at work at the end of the last school year because I didn't like the manner in which he repeatedly addressed my colleagues. I took a teacher to task early in the same school year because during Banned Books Week she promoted a lie in the name of her political agenda. I held my ground when dealing with her, the principal, and then the superintendent. I knew the situation was sticky for me, but I had to. Why? Because it was the right thing to do. This sometimes leaves people looking at me like, "Girl, are you crazy?! Are you asking for trouble?!" Believe me, I don't want any trouble, but I also want to be able to look myself in the mirror in the morning and sleep peacefully at night, and for me that's directly linked to standing up for what I believe in. This brings Shakespeare's wise words to mind:
This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Farewell, my blessing season this in thee!
Hamlet Act 1, Scene 3
Yes, I survived the intense traffic, the dangerous drivers, and the journey home from Long Island. It was a good time with my family the last couple days, but I am back in my neck of the woods with the mountain view I love so much.
Now, I know your patience with me is running low, and that this will make you sad (okay, maybe not), but you will have to wait to hear more from me. :) I had hoped to do some blogging when I got home, but it's late-ish, and church is in the morning. I need to just chill out for a while, as the topic I will discuss will only rile me up. Not tonight.
Have a good one, everybody.
God bless.
I've been visiting family in Long Island the last couple days, so I've been relatively quiet in terms of adding my two cents--and common sense--to the issues during this time. I will be heading back to my own abode in a few hours, and I imagine that tonight I will have something of value to say, as always. :)
Check yall out later.
God bless.
From Sheya at PalinTV:
Via Gretawire
Here is our entire extensive conversation with Governor Palin and her husband Todd about drilling in ANWR, the importance of it to Alaska and the nation and so much more:
Governor Palin Talks to Greta about ANWR
The Unedited Interview On Flight
This clip is the original aired version which includes the segment with the Governor and Todd on the Ground at ANWR (Fast forward to the 9:10 mark)
'On the Record' in Valdez
Greta and the Governor look on their visit to the pipeline in Valdez:
Governor Palin on Obama's Ground Zero Mosque Comments
(I have also included the other clips, this post now includes the clips from all three days)
It's not Christmas, but I'll be home anyway. I'm headed this afternoon to Long Island to visit family for a few days. After spending a month and a half in Missouri, I'm sure they're wondering when I'll come see them. They'll be pleasantly surprised when I knock on the door you see in the picture above--minus the Christmas decorations, of course!
I imagine I'll still be blogging while I'm away.
God bless.
Courtesy of PalinTV's Sheya:
Up Close Look at Valdez
Greta and Governor Palin take an inside look at Valdez and the safety and environmental concerns in transporting oil through the Trans-Alaska Pipeline
Watch Day 1 here and Day 2 here.
Greta will actually continue this special tomorrow, so tune in then for Day 4.
Governor Palin tweeted a request for everyone to see this video. It begins with the words, "These are the voices of the victims and families of 9/11. They are speaking out against building a Ground Zero mosque."
Do their feelings matter at all? Did we not say we would never forget? Please listen to their stories.
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