Making a Case for Sarah Palin's Earthquake Part 2: It's Time to Shake Things Up!

                       " Do you not know that in a race all the runners run
                          but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as
                          to get the prize."  -   1 Corinthians 9:24 NIV



One month after Governor Sarah Palin announced that she would not be seeking the GOP nomination for President of the United States in 2012, her supporters still have not coalesced behind one declared Republican candidate.

Torn between wanting to respect her decision  and  a group of GOP candidates who are either lacking in experience, not ready for prime time,  with too much baggage or with ever-shifting positions on issues,  Palin supporters keep going back to one leader who has the right experience, resolve and character to restore America’s greatness - Sarah Palin.

There is a compelling parallel to be drawn here between her staying out of the 2012 election and the times that she resigned her posts as chairwoman of the Alaska Oil & Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC) and as governor of her home state.

During her tenure at the AOGCC, she brought to the forefront the ethical lapses and conflict of interests of, among others, her fellow Commissioner Rudy Ruedrich who was also serving at the same time as chairman of Alaska Republican Party. Unwilling to be part of the "Corrupt Bastards' Club", she resigned from AOGCC and blew the whistle on the corruptions of her colleagues, knowing fully well that she was going against the deeply entrenched GOP establishment. In the end, the FBI investigations resulted in arrests and jail times for some public officials and with Mr. Ruedrich paying the state's largest fine for ethics violation.

Sarah Palin sacrificed her political career, took a stand and Alaska won.

After the 2008 election, the Democrats and their allies deluged the Palin administration with one frivolous ethics complaint after another, which were just as quickly dismissed and found without merit by the state Personnel Board. An article by John Fund, Death by a Thousand FOIAs, deftly described her critics' zeal in holding her office hostage to their political dirty game. By the time she resigned, fighting off these complaints had cost the Alaskan taxpayers $1.9 million, not counting the lost time and opportunities that could have been used in taking up the state affairs and business. She gave up her governorship, as she said, so that Alaska could continue to progress. One year after she left office, Moody's upgraded the state's credit rating to Triple-A  on the account of Alaska's $14 billion in reserves - "enough to pay for almost three years of operating expenses". Proof  positive that by stepping aside, the wheels of her economic and fiscal policies kept on rolling successfully to the benefit of her constituents.

Sarah Palin sacrificed her political career, took a stand and Alaska won.

Now that she has declined a run for the 2012 election,  Gov. Palin has once again decided to put her political advancement on hold – at a time when America needs to win.

This may turn out to be the biggest blessing in disguise and/or the most unconventional  campaign strategy yet.

Whatever and however family concerns factored in  in  her decision, in my opinion, should be left within the walls of her home. What we can fairly discuss in the public arena are the statements she gave in her announcement release: that she will "help elect other true public servants, from the nation’s governors to Congressional seats and the Presidency , … who will stop the “fundamental transformation” of our nation and instead seek the restoration of our greatness, our goodness and our constitutional republic based on the rule of law.”

 Rest assured, she will not be hibernating in Alaska.

By not being a candidate, she is indeed unshackled to go around the country to talk about what is at stake in this election without a big target on her back. At the same time, she is meeting, supporting and endorsing like-minded commonsense conservative candidates, building alliances along the way. Alliances that would be necessary in implementing  the much-needed reforms so we can get our economy growing again and get the country back on the right track.

For three years she has endured attacks, darts and arrows from the LSM and the left. Now that she isn't a "threat" to Barack Obama, the issues facing our country can finally take center stage. As the GOP rivals busy themselves taking each other down  and Team Obama already defining Mitt Romney as "Mitt the Empty Suit ... without a core", she will be blazing the trail, talking to voters about the urgent need for smaller government, less spending, less regulated free market and the solutions to fix our country’s problems. She is building the support system and the path to retaking the Senate, strengthening the GOP-controlled House and, with God's blessing, winning the White House.

Her supporters would like nothing else but to see that it is she who would win the White House. It is just too soon to concede.

Pro-Palin movements, like the Sarah Palin's Earthquake  and DraftPalin  among others, have been leading the efforts in urging her to change her mind and in pushing for a write-in/draft drive. They're doing a tremendous job. It is now time to shake things up and take our actions to the next level!

Right now, the group that benefits the most from our work is probably the US Postal Service. The thousands upon thousands of postcards we're sending the former governor and the state RNCs have probably "saved or created" more jobs than Pres. Obama could ever hope for with his stimulus bill. But our postcards and personal letters may not be enough to convince her to jump into the race.

Why?

The voters, especially the non-supporters and those on the sidelines, do not see the volume of the personal letters and postcards that are mailed to her private residence and to the RNC's private offices. Nor do they feel the intensity of her supporters' desire to get her to reconsider. The general public, and the media, need to see vigorous actions on the ground, boots on the ground kicking things up in her behalf, their curiosity piqued by ordinary folks' sincere activism in wanting to shape this election, so dynamic and unseen before that it'll shake American politics at its core.

Absent these, Sarah Palin would only be opening herself  to unnecessary attacks from the LSM and the left. If she simply comes out and suddenly announces in the Bob & Mark show that she has changed her mind and would run for the presidency in 2012 after all, her critics would just as quickly pummel her as wishy-washy, a spoiler, or worse, be slapped with that most dreadful label - a flipflopper.  But if everyone, including the media, could see  the earth-shattering grassroots efforts by We The People to put her name on the ballot, it gives her all the ammunition she needs to pick up the torch and carry the fight to the finish line.

It's time to reset our "reconsider" strategy and take it out to the campaign trail. It's time to reload. Here are some suggestions on the things we can do:

 - Let's work on the official write-in/draft petition now, gather the signatures and file. Contact your state's O4P (if your local O4P is not on the "reconsider camp", you'll have twice the task to convince them to "reconsider" as well). We have to make sure that the gathered signatures are all legit and valid. We knew that Barack Obama knocked off his opponents in his first Senate run in Chicago by challenging his opponents' petition signatures. I don't see how the Democrats or the GOP nominee would not employ the same tactic. There are also filing fees to consider which vary from state to state. We may be asked to contribute.

- Keep her out there. Let’s encourage the  O4Ps and the Tea Parties to work together in requesting speeches and appearances by the governor to keep her visibility high. While the other candidates are floundering at the weight of their own gaffes and flaps, with Sarah Palin being out there, voters are reminded that, yes, there is one living alternative to these flawed candidates and we have paved the legal way for them to vote for her and make their write-in votes count.

- Attend all and any political events to distribute "Write-in Sarah Palin" leaflets. We have to coordinate with our local O4Ps on what to write on the leaflets. We can't have 3 million Palinistas (and that's just her Facebook followers)  going rogue on messaging. We will have to print these materials from our home computer to help defray costs. Suggested items to write on the handouts: list of accomplishments, link to her FB page, brief bio, promote the movie "The Undefeated".

- Be her minesweeper. For the past years the Democrats, the left and the media have littered Sarah Palin's way with spikes and mines in hope that that would end her political career. By sheer wit, gut and determination, she is still on top but she cannot fight the smears alone by herself. Let us do locally what Conservatives4Palin has done for her nationally: defend her record and correct any lies and misinformations that her detractors are throwing out there. Write to your local papers, call radio shows, do robocalls . Let us all remember to be respectful and sensible in language and in tone because we represent her.

With the O4Ps, the Tea Party, her supporters and pro-Palin groups working together, more and better strategies will surely come up. Let us all help in whatever capacity we can.

After deciding that she'd pass up on 2012, why should we go to great lengths to convince her to reconsider and run?

Some critics say that if Sarah Palin wanted to be president, then she should be out there fighting for each and every vote. Under ordinary times I would agree. But the country right now is standing at a precipice of history. We could all go down together without a fight  or pull each other up to a stable and solid ground. For three years, she has been fighting the powerful troika of the LSM, the left and the GOP's good ol' boys' club who would unleash all dirty tricks on the book to take down an honest and an incorruptible public servant. Their false and malicious attacks  have been universally on her character because they knew that they could not compare with the substance and solidness of her  record. They will never play it fair with her.

She is just one person and if we care about the direction America is going, we need to fight with and for her.

Her record in public office is marked with one consistent theme: doing the right things for the people she serves.  That means making the hard choices that elected politicians before her have refused to make. No kicking the can down the road . No accounting gimmicks in balancing the budget.  No pandering to special interests. If it meant risking her  own political career, so be it. In her book, what needed to be done shall be done.

This is exactly the kind of leader we need at the White House. We have a president right now who is chipping away at everything that America stands for, whose politics guide every policy he makes, who seems oblivious to the hardships  that he’s creating for the American people.

As I have said here  before, when it comes to Sarah Palin as a leader and her crusade for a government truly representative of the people, it is impossible to separate the message from the messenger. By paving the campaign trail for her, we are allowing her to carry her message all across the country without being knocked off by constant attacks from the protectors of the status quo.

Keeping in mind 1 Corinthians 9:24,  2012 is the race that could either completely "transform" or restore America . Many are in the race but only one wins the prize. For our children and the future generation's sake, Sarah Palin has got to be the one to win this race.

Let the Earthquake begin. It’s time to shake things up!

We can do this.

(Note: Please know that I am not speaking for any O4P, Draft Palin or any particular group. All the opinions expressed in this article are mine alone.)

Making A Case For Sarah Palin's Earthquake

                     "But as for you, be strong and do not give up,
                      for your work will be rewarded."  - 2 Chronicles 15:7



The GOP presidential candidates just recently held their 8th debate of the year. The field is all but set.  Yet, most of Sarah Palin's supporters are still finding it hard to rally behind one Republican candidate. It's because not one comes close to being a total package that she is.

We see a tug-of-war in the polls between Mitt Romney, Rick Perry and Herman Cain. Michelle Bachmann has lost the magic and all the rest has simply no clear and practical path to the nomination.

Mitt Romney is the presumptive nominee but the Republicans' embrace of him has been lukewarm at best. I, for one, cannot in good conscience vote for Mr. Romney whose convictions are as solid as a JELL-O. A man of his word he is not. He's been a liberal, a moderate and a conservative depending on who he is running against. A famous flip-flopper, he's even changed his position that one should make a stand on issues and not flip-flop.  His 10th amendment defense of individual mandate in Romneycare is also highly debatable. Technically, the federal government cannot  mandate people to eat broccoli, but a state can. Should a governor order everybody in his state to eat broccoli? As Sarah Palin once said, "just because you can, doesn't mean you should." His defense, if anything, shows lack of restraint in exercising the vast powers of his office, though guaranteed by the States' Rights. Just ask Rick Perry.

Rick Perry came under fire for his policy of providing in-state tuition assistance to illegal immigrants in Texas. He defended this as a states' rights issue. It wasn't enough that it showed utter unfairness to other students (who are legal residents and US citizens) who probably have to work two jobs or have to incur students' loans to afford their college educations. It was also quite a sight to watch on national TV a governor, entrusted to enforce the laws of his state,  to openly embrace and publicly ignore the meaning of the word "illegal." If that wasn't trouble enough for him, he suggested that those who play by the rules who disagree with him "do not have a heart." Mr. Perry has had several gaffes (the Gardasil flap, "Ponzi scheme" remark that scared off seniors dependent on Social Security checks, "treasonous" Ben Bernake)  that sent his poll standing tumbling down. He is, however, a formidable fundraiser so he remains a viable contender. Nearly 60%, though, of his contributions came from Texas which suggests that his base of support elsewhere is soft. Moneywise, he could endure a long and expensive campaign and probably win easily ... in Texas.

Herman Cain has surged in the polls lately. But as affable and charismatic as he is , his 9%  national sales tax would be a hard sell, especially to states with no sales tax like New Hampshire or states with the highest combined state and local sales taxes like Tennessee and California. His propensity to misspeak is a treasure trove for his opponents to twist and misquote every word he has uttered. He is not quite ready for prime time and his inexperience on national stage is showing through his gaffes, during interviews and on the campaign trail. With his paltry fundraising and a ragtag team, he'd be easily creamed by the more seasoned, aggressive, $1 billion-richer Team Obama.

With the general election likely to be Barack Obama vs. Mitt Romney, it's hard to tell which lesser evil America is going to get: a President Romney or a reelected President Obama. A President Romney is a win for the establishment and business-as-usual. A President Obama means another four years of more-of-the-same. Mitt Romney is a man of ever-shifting positions on issues. Barack Obama is a man of no-principle-at-all, voting present and too careful to stick his neck out for anything. What difference does it make? Either way, America loses.

That's why Palin supporters keep looking back at Wasilla, Alaska, hoping that their last remaining fighting chance would reconsider her decision and run for President of the United States in 2012.

There is a movement on Facebook right now called "Sarah Palin's Earthquake" whose main purpose is "to round up all of the Sarah Palin supporters to see if we can create the "Earthquake" that she said it would take to get her to reconsider running for President."

(Disclaimer: I am a member but I do NOT speak for the group. The opinions expressed in this post are all mine and are not endorsed by the group.)

In her conversation with Bob & Mark Levin, radio show hosts in Alaska, she said that absent  a 10.3 earthquake, she would not change her mind. We all know that the earthquake reference is all but a metaphor. What isn't a metaphor is her clear plan  going forward to help elect common sense conservatives who will get this country back on track. Indeed, we must join her in this effort 100%. We are one election away from turning into Greece. Our enormous debt is the biggest threat to our national security. It is only the specter of 2012 that makes some Democrats in Congress vote against Pres. Obama's bills and proposals. A GOP-controlled Congress is our only firewall against his destructive policies. We hear her message loud and clear.

But how do you separate the message from the messenger?

Such is the dilemna facing the voters. The current GOP presidential candidates are preaching the same message of smaller government, less spending, less regulations on the free market. Yet, not one comes across quite as authentic. With Sarah Palin, the message and the messenger are one and the same.There is no candidate right now from both parties whose policies and governing style are marked with clarity, consistency and constancy. She calls it like it is and says the same things whether she's speaking in Iowa or Florida or Arizona because she has no need to brown-nose to special interests. Rare is a politician whose words quite match her actions and she has the record to prove it.

Will we be able to convince her to change her mind?

Only she can answer that but I do know that our children's and grandchildren's future is at stake here so it's worth a try. I also know that if, after her much prayerful deliberations, we are going to ask her to put her family through heck again, we must show her that we have her back. We should be in it to win it.

I am not much of a political junkie to know the details of the write-in/draft rules and filing deadlines for primaries and general elections of all 50 states. But I know enough that there are Organize4Palin groups all around the country that have already laid out a campaign path for the governor before her announcement came out. They could gather the required signatures and file the necessary paperwork in her behalf so that, if in God's grace she reconsiders, all the legalities are already taken care of and we could all hit the ground running.

If we are ever to change her mind, I believe IOWA is key. I hope that Mr. Stephen Bannon would stick with his plan of releasing his "bombshell" a month before the Iowa caucuses as he had initially planned. I also hope that Mr. Peter Singleton could quickly mobilize those boots on the ground and do whatever is necessary to convince voters to caucus for her.  A win in Iowa would be a strong enough earthquake to meet the bar she has set. If we could deliver Iowa for her, it would make a huge statement for her viability and her supporters' sincere grassroots efforts to help get her into the race.

Speaking as a former Democrat, only the closed-minded would dismiss the substance and successes of her political life. I see Sarah Palin through her record of public service as a council member, mayor and governor. She has provided us with a blueprint of what great things America could achieve under a true and honest leadership  that operates under the context of a limited government. A leader who looks conscientiously to the Constitution in fulfilling her duties instead of trying to creatively circumvent it. A leader who is prudent with taxpayers' money and governs with the interests of her citizens instead of political donors and allies.  A leader who could not wait to shed the perks of her office, like the governor's jet, in stark contrast to the current First Couple who had no qualms about  travelling on  two separate taxpayer-funded planes on the same day on their way to the same vacation destination - four hours apart!

America deserves better.

One cautionary point to ponder for the ABO (Anybody But Obama) crowd. Mr. Obama might be a weak incumbent but an intense disapproval of the current president is not enough to unseat him if we field an even weaker challenger. Just ask any ABB (Anybody But Bush) Democrat. At the height of two unpopular wars and with the budget surplus that had all but turned into a $413 billion deficit , a polarizing George W. Bush could not be knocked off by a weak, flip-flopping, rich, can't-connect-with-a-Joe-six-pack, stiff guy  from Massachussetts. No, I'm talking about John Kerry, not Mitt Romney.

The political ground in DC needs a major shake-up. The electorate has the power - their votes- to crack open the fault line so that the old landscape can change and a new direction for our country could emerge. A government that is truly representative of the American people. Let us bring it forth. One vote at a time.

In Kaylene Johnsons's book, "Sarah: How A Hockey Mom Turned Alaska's Political Establishment Upside Down" (2008 edition, pp. 96 -97), she wrote that Sarah Palin often turned down generous checks from big corporations or from supporters whom she knew did not really have much  money to spare, saying that "Really, all I need from you is your vote." That's what it will come down to when all is said and done.

Your vote. For Sarah Palin. In 2012.

We can do this.

Please go to http://www.facebook.com/PalinQuake;    OR
http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/SarahPalinsEarthQuakeMovement/   (this is a CLOSED group and the administrators are asking its members to switch over to the newer site at the top.)