Palin vs. Paul

Here's an interesting article from Politico about the division of support among the Tea Party crowd. Personally, I am no fan of Sarah Palin and the hyper-evangelical social conservatives that tend to throw her their support. However, looking past the social side, these supporters will gladly throw support to the libertarian camp on fiscal issues. There seems to be a tendency within libertarian circles to remain very hostile to those who may have a difference of opinion and I think many political bridges have been burned unnecessarily because of this.

If we want to continue to grow our movement we must be willing to work with those who may not see eye to eye on every issue with us. While I disagree with many of the social conservative points of view, I would still contend that it remains vitally important to forge alliances with those individuals who can get behind us on bringing fiscal sanity back to an out of control federal government.

Ron Paul Loses by 1 (Yes, ONE) Vote in SRLC Straw Poll

Reporting outside the Hilton Conference center in the Big Easy:

Just as the headline reads, Ron Paul lost the 2010 Presidential Straw Poll by one single vote to former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.  This one vote, however, really comes off as a big win for Congressman Paul--Evangelicals for Mitt spent tens of thousands trying to influence voters in the straw poll by giving away Romney books, piggy-banks indicating fiscal responsibility and massive advertising posters of Mitt all throughout the conference. 

Ron Paul, on the other hand, merely had a few supporters with homemade signs. 

As I attended the 2010 SRLC to spread the mission of YAL with dozens of other liberty lovers from the South, I could not but help to notice how many people were starting to support the liberty movement. Although a majority of these people did not vote for Ron Paul in 2008, there appeared some sort of changing sentiment, rising, and fast, for this man and his ideas of, well...big-tent, really, really--really small-government. 

Results from the SRLC 2010 straw-poll:

Newt Gingrich    18%
Mike Huckabee  4%
Gary Johnson    1%
Sarah Palin       18%
Ron Paul            24% (438 votes)
Tim Pawlenty   3%
Mike Pence      3%
Mitt Romney    24% (439 votes)
Rick Santorum    2%

*YAL does not support or endorse any candidates for public office.

The Obnoxious Emanuel

It's no secret that Obama's Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel is known for his big, gutter mouth.

Last week, The Wall Street Journal reported that Emanual commented in a private meeting with liberal special interest groups that Blue Dog Democrats opposing the health care reform bill were "F***ing retarded."

The situation got much worse when former Alaska Govenor Palin asked Obama to fire Emanuel for using the R-word ("retarded"), and equating it with a racial slur. Obviosuly, to Ms. Palin and other parents of special children, the R-word is extremely offensive. Palin then wrote on her Facebook page a post titled, "Are You Capable of Decency, Rahm Emanuel?":

Just as we’d be appalled if any public figure of Rahm’s stature ever used the 'N-word' or other such inappropriate language, Rahm’s slur on all God’s children with cognitive and developmental disabilities — and the people who love them — is unacceptable," adding, "it's heartbreaking." 

However, should we be surprised by this?

They're Back -- Palin To Campaign For McCain's Reelection

(Sigh)

I suppose this is Palin's gift to John McCain for choosing her as his VP pick? Maybe, maybe not. However, this does speak plenty about her creadibilty as an alleged "conservative" -- not to mention how much of a contradiction it will now be for her to speak at coming Tea Parties.

Either way, does anyone know what her positions are in domestic/foreign policy? I know I don't; and in reality most people don't either.  She's always been heavy on style and light on substance, so why is she embraced by the Tea Party crowd as a principled supporter of small government?  She's campaignin for someone who clearly isn't.