Sarah Palin giving the keynote speech at Tea Party convention last night. 'I believe in this movement ... America is ready for another revolution,' she said as the crowd roared its approval






 

Sarah Palin declared 'America is ready for another revolution' at a rally last night for activists of the grassroots Tea Party movement which has swept the U.S. The former Alaska governor and Republican John McCain's running mate in the 2008 election repeatedly attacked President Obama. 'I believe in this movement ... America is ready for another revolution,' she said as the crowd roared its approval.

'This movement is about the people. Government is supposed to be working for the people.' Then noting Democrats' recent electoral losses just a year after Obama was elected on promises of hope and change, she mocked: 'How's that hope-y, change-y stuff workin' out for you?'  The convention in Nashville, Tennessee, brought together hundreds of activists from the 'Tea Party' group, which hopes to make a splash in the 2010 congressional elections and beyond. The group made headlines last year with often highly-charged protests against Obama's healthcare reform drive, a $787billion economic stimulus package and other initiatives. The convention is the latest sign that the diffuse movement is attempting to transform itself into a political machine that can get out the vote for conservative candidates.

 

 

All 435 seats of the House of Representatives and more than a third of the 100 Senate seats are up for grabs in November. Democrats have majorities in both chambers. Palin encouraged activists to get out and support candidates who shared their values. Her speech was frequently interrupted by bouts of thunderous applause. 'This is about the people ... and it's a lot bigger than any charismatic guy with a teleprompter,' she said, a reference to Obama's use of teleprompters which conservative critics frequently chide him for. Referring to mounting debt and government programs, Palin said: 'What they are doing ... They're sticking our kids with the bill. And that's immoral. That's generational theft.' The three-day event had been plagued by infighting, pullouts and criticism of tickets costing more than $500. But the appearance of Palin, the darling of the U.S. conservative movement, raised its profile and gave her a national platform to appeal directly to an emerging base for the Republican Party.

In a speech that made frequent appeals to patriotism and faith, Palin used the folksy, Washington-outsider rhetoric to lambaste Obama and his Democratic Party. Her audience waved flags and erupted in cheers during multiple standing ovations during the keynote address. But, aside from broad conservative principles like lower taxes and a strong national defense, it was short on her own policy ideas that typically indicate someone is seriously laying the ground work to run for the White House. Indeed, Republican observers say she's seemingly done more lately to establish herself as a political celebrity focused on publicity rather than a political candidate focused on policy. Catering to her crowd, Palin talked of limited government, strict adherence to the Constitution, and the "God-given right" of freedom.

She said the 'fresh, young and fragile' movement is the future of American politics because it's 'a ground-up call to action' to both major political parties to change how they do business. 'You've got both party machines running scared,' she said. Palin suggested that it should remain leaderless and cautioned against allowing the movement to be defined by any one person. "Let us not get bogged down in the small squabbles. Let us get caught up in the big ideas," she said, though offered few of her own. Palin, who resigned from office last summer before completing her first term, didn't indicate whether her political future would extend beyond cable news punditry and paid speeches to an actual presidential candidacy. All she offered was a smile when a moderator asking her questions used the phrase 'President Palin'. That prompted most in the audience to stand up and chant 'Run, Sarah, run!'


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Palin says 'absurd' not to ponder presidential bid

WASHINGTON – Sarah Palin says it would be "absurd" for her not to consider running for president in 2012.

The former Alaska governor and the Republican vice presidential nominee in 2008 says she will run for president if she believes it's right for the country and right for her family.

Palin was asked on "Fox News Sunday" if she knows more today about domestic and foreign affairs than she did two years ago. Her response: "Well, I would hope so."

She says her focus has widened since she was governor of Alaska. Palin says she gets daily briefings by e-mail on domestic and foreign policy issues from advisers in Washington.

Palin appeared on "Fox News Sunday." She is a paid contributor to Fox News.

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