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Sarah
Palin, is the great white hope of many conservatives and on Saturday
February 6, 2010, the former Alaska governor gave the keynote speech at
the inaugural National Tea Party Convention at the Opryland resort
outside Nashville.The former Republican vice presidential candidate and current Fox News commentator openly acknowledges the kinship she shares with Tea Party supporters. With supporters chanting “run, Sarah, run,” the keynote speech seemed more like a coronation.
Palin may be a leading contender for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination, but she is no friend of Green. During her 45 minute speech she made no mention of the environment or renewable energy. By avoiding the issue altogether, she is respecting her audiences' ignorance on climate change. Rather than address the issues, Palin pandered to the crowd by taking shots at Obama and the Democrats.
According to a CNN poll, 7 in 10 Republicans have a positive view of Palin and predictably, she is liked by more men than women. Despite her intellectual limitations, Palin understands the importance of superficialities when appealling to her base, “Scott Brown in many ways represents what this beautiful movement is all about,” Palin said. “It’s about a guy with a truck and a passion to serve our country.”
America is ready for another revolution, and you are part of this,” Palin told the 1,100 conference attendees. Her speech was filled with the same old incendiary rhetoric, and although she called for new "big ideas," Palin didn't have any of her own. She did, however, repeatedly criticize Democrats on the economy and national security.
Palin claimed the Tea Party is "the future of politics in America." With Tea Party events in Searchlight and Boston in the near future, it appears as though she is planning to use this group as her base.
The fact that Tea Party organizers were looking to Palin to enhance their legitimacy and stature says a great deal about the movement.
Despite paying lip service to the Constitution, she does not appear to have understood some of the documents key elements. During the question and answer period, Palin suggested we should bring "divine intervention" back into government, seemingly forgetting about the separation of church and state.
Perhaps the most fitting commentary came from Neal Boortz on MSNBC, who noted that if Palin is the Republican nominee for President of the United States, it will mean another four years of Barack Obama.
Despite appearances, Palin is a shrewd political operator and as George W Bush proved, you do not need to be able to pronounce the word "nuclear" to win the most powerful office in the world.
She mentions that the Tea Party doesn't need a leader. However, this may be her way of saying, "I'm with you, but I can't officially be your leader because many independents think you're all insane and they won't vote for me."
