CALIFORNIA YANKEE

Palin resignation 'is about country' and a 'higher calling'

Amid all the rampant uniformed and mostly unflattering speculation about why she chose to resign, Governor Palin explained on Facebook that her rationale "is about country" and a "higher calling":

How sad that Washington and the media will never understand; it’s about country.

[. . .]

I shared with you yesterday my heartfelt and candid reasons for this change; I’ve never thought I needed a title before one’s name to forge progress in America. I am now looking ahead and how we can advance this country together with our values of less government intervention, greater energy independence, stronger national security, and much-needed fiscal restraint.

You can read Palin's entire facebook message below.

Palin also went on the offensive against those spreading inaccurate and libelous tall tales about her resignation. The Governor's attorney, Thomas Van Flein, warned legal action may be taken against bloggers and publications that reprint fraudulent claims:

"To the extent several websites, most notably liberal Alaska blogger Shannyn Moore, are now claiming as 'fact' that Governor Palin resigned because she is 'under federal investigation' for embezzlement or other criminal wrongdoing, we will be exploring legal options this week to address such defamation.

This is to provide notice to Ms. Moore, and those who re-publish the defamation, such as Huffington Post, MSNBC, the New York Times and The Washington Post, that the Palins will not allow them to propagate defamatory material without answering to this in a court of law."

Van Flein also said Palin is not in any criminal legal jeopardy:

"I can say definitively I am aware of no criminal investigation whatsoever involving Sarah Palin. Zero."

The FBI's Alaska spokesman said their is no FBI investigation of Palin for her activities as governor, as mayor or in any other capacity.

Palin's Facebook message:

Happy 4th of July from Alaska!
Today at 4:55pm

On this Independence Day, I am so very proud of all those who have chosen to serve our great nation and I honor their selflessness and the sacrifices of their families, too.

If I may, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the last 24 hours and share my thoughts with you.

First, I want to thank you for your support and hard work on the values we share. Those values led me to the decision my family and I made. Yesterday, my family and I announced a decision that is in Alaska’s best interest and it always feels good to do what is right. We have accomplished more during this one term than most governors do in two – and I am proud of the great team that helped to build these wonderful successes. Energy independence and national security, fiscal restraint, smaller government, and local control have been my priorities and will remain my priorities.

For months now, I have consulted with friends and family, and with the Lieutenant Governor, about what is best for our wonderful state. I even made a few administrative changes over that course in time in preparation for yesterday. We have accomplished so much and there’s much more to do, but my family and I determined after prayerful consideration that sacrificing my title helps Alaska most. And once I decided not to run for re-election, my decision was that much easier – I’ve never been one to waste time or resources. Those who know me know this is the right decision and obvious decision at that, including Senator John McCain. I thank him for his kind, insightful comments.         

The response in the main stream media has been most predictable, ironic, and as always, detached from the lives of ordinary Americans who are sick of the “politics of personal destruction”. How sad that Washington and the media will never understand; it’s about country. And though it's honorable for countless others to leave their positions for a higher calling and without finishing a term, of course we know by now, for some reason a different standard applies for the decisions I make. But every American understands what it takes to make a decision because it’s right for all, including your family.

I shared with you yesterday my heartfelt and candid reasons for this change; I’ve never thought I needed a title before one’s name to forge progress in America. I am now looking ahead and how we can advance this country together with our values of less government intervention, greater energy independence, stronger national security, and much-needed fiscal restraint. I hope you will join me. Now is the time to rebuild and help our nation achieve greatness!

God bless you! And I look forward to making a difference – with you!

Sarah

Palin to resign as Alaska governor

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will resign from office July 26.

Palin did not say why she decided to step down, but speculation is that she will focus the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.

Pawlenty to Obama: Stop spending

"With all due respect, Mr. President, if we're out of money, quit spending it." - Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, CNN's State of the Union, June 28, 2009

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty discussed, health care, cap and trade and stimulus on CNN's State of the Union with John King. Pawlenty did a terrific job countering Obama/Democrat talking points:

• On President Obama's so-called stimulus:

  The General Accounting Office, said recently of the $800 billion stimulus bill, only about $150 billion of it is really stimulative for the economy. The rest was spent on government programs, government social service programs that are not stimulative. And so this is a bill that was misdirected,mis-targeted, mis- prioritized, mis-focused.

• On Out-of-Control Spending:

Well, the president said not long ago in an interview quote-unquote, "we are out of money." With all due respect, Mr. President, if we're out of money, quit spending it.

This is a nation that has got a debt load and a deficit load that is unsustainable. We're going to have, in my view, the federal government debt crisis equivalent of the mortgage crisis within 20 years.

• On Cap and Trade:

It's a cap and trade bill. It's going to cap our job growth and trade our jobs to other countries who provide a more competitive business environment. 

We should do things to reduce emissions and pollution, but we have to do it in a way that doesn't wreck our economy or put unreasonable burdens on our citizens. And this bill does not meet that test.

• On Health Care:

  Well, there are goals of three parts for health care reform, John. One is extending coverage, called access, but there are other goals, as well, which is cost containment, because it's bankrupting cities, states, businesses, the federal government. And the third is making sure we maintain quality.

  So you can obsess just about access, but if you don't also contain costs and preserve quality, you're in big trouble.       

  We share, as Republicans, the goal of health care reform, to get more access, to control costs, to improve quality. But the way to do that isn't to have the government take over the system.

Watch the video:

The full transcript of Governor Pawlenty is available here.

Governor Sanford's fall from grace

As you have probably heard by now, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford admitted he’s been having an extramarital affair and will resign as head of the Republican Governor’s Association.

You can watch the tearful admission in the following Associated Press video:

I am certainly disappointed in Sanford's indiscretion, but I don't care to comment or analyze the many political ramifications of Governor Sanford's fall from grace. This goes beyond politics. Sanford is human and therefore imperfect.

As a fellow human I want to express my concern for the entire Sanford family and wish them well in their hour of need. I also want to share the inspiring statement Mrs. Sanford released:

Jenny Sanford Statement:

I would like to start by saying I love my husband and I believe I have put forth every effort possible to be the best wife I can be during our almost twenty years of marriage. As well, for the last fifteen years my husband has been fully engaged in public service to the citizens and taxpayers of this state and I have faithfully supported him in those efforts to the best of my ability. I have been and remain proud of his accomplishments and his service to this state.

I personally believe that the greatest legacy I will leave behind in this world is not the job I held on Wall Street, or the campaigns I managed for Mark, or the work I have done as First Lady or even the philanthropic activities in which I have been routinely engaged. Instead, the greatest legacy I will leave in this world is the character of the children I, or we, leave behind. It is for that reason that I deeply regret the recent actions of my husband Mark, and their potential damage to our children.

I believe wholeheartedly in the sanctity, dignity and importance of the institution of marriage. I believe that has been consistently reflected in my actions. When I found out about my husband's infidelity I worked immediately to first seek reconciliation through forgiveness, and then to work diligently to repair our marriage. We reached a point where I felt it was important to look my sons in the eyes and maintain my dignity, self-respect, and my basic sense of right and wrong. I therefore asked my husband to leave two weeks ago.

This trial separation was agreed to with the goal of ultimately strengthening our marriage. During this short separation it was agreed that Mark would not contact us. I kept this separation quiet out of respect of his public office and reputation, and in hopes of keeping our children from just this type of public exposure. Because of this separation, I did not know where he was in the past week.

I believe enduring love is primarily a commitment and an act of will, and for a marriage to be successful, that commitment must be reciprocal. I believe Mark has earned a chance to resurrect our marriage.

Psalm 127 states that sons are a gift from the Lord and children a reward from Him. I will continue to pour my energy into raising our sons to be honorable young men. I remain willing to forgive Mark completely for his indiscretions and to welcome him back, in time, if he continues to work toward reconciliation with a true spirit of humility and repentance.

This is a very painful time for us and I would humbly request now that members of the media respect the privacy of my boys and me as we struggle together to continue on with our lives and as I seek the wisdom of Solomon, the strength and patience of Job and the grace of God in helping to heal my family.

What a lady. My prayers are with Sanford family. There is really nothing to add.

Palin's number one

The Sarah Palin 2009 Calendar is Amazon's number one best seller in Office Products.

Click image for a larger version of the screen grab.

This is sure to annoy a lot of those Palin derangement syndrome suffering liberal/progressives.

Most Republicans want a more conservative GOP

A recent Gallup Poll found only 34% of Americans have a favorable view of the Republican Party. Just as bad, if not worse, 61% now hold an unfavorable view of the party. That is the highest unfavorable number recorded for the Republican Party since Gallup started polling on that question in 1992.

To find clues about the Republican Part can do to reverse this unfavorable trend, Gallup asked repondents:

"Over the next few years, would you like to see the Republican Party and its candidates move in a more conservative direction, a less conservative direction, or stay about the same?"

Most Republicans (59%) want to see the party become more conservative, another 28% want it to remain about the same and 12% would prefer to see the party become less conservative.

In order to make gains in Congress or win the Presidency in 2012, Republicans must attract substantial support from political independents. According to Gallup, independents are split about the direction they would like the Republican Party to move. About a third say the party should become more conservative, an equal percentage say it should become less conservative, and just under one-quarter say it should stay the same.

Gallup Poll Editor in Chief, Frank Newport, covers the details in the following video report: