Sarah Palin on 2012

Sarah Palin has issued the following statement via Facebook:

October 5, 2011

Wasilla, Alaska

After much prayer and serious consideration, I have decided that I will not be seeking the 2012 GOP nomination for President of the United States. As always, my family comes first and obviously Todd and I put great consideration into family life before making this decision. When we serve, we devote ourselves to God, family and country. My decision maintains this order.

My decision is based upon a review of what common sense Conservatives and Independents have accomplished, especially over the last year. I believe that at this time I can be more effective in a decisive role to help elect other true public servants to office - from the nation’s governors to Congressional seats and the Presidency. We need to continue to actively and aggressively help those 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.

From the bottom of my heart I thank those who have supported me and defended my record throughout the years, and encouraged me to run for President. Know that by working together we can bring this country back - and as I’ve always said, one doesn’t need a title to help do it.

I will continue driving the discussion for freedom and free markets, including in the race for President where our candidates must embrace immediate action toward energy independence through domestic resource developments of conventional energy sources, along with renewables. We must reduce tax burdens and onerous regulations that kill American industry, and our candidates must always push to minimize government to strengthen the economy and allow the private sector to create jobs.

Those will be our priorities so Americans can be confident that a smaller, smarter government that is truly of the people, by the people, and for the people can better serve this most exceptional nation.

In the coming weeks I will help coordinate strategies to assist in replacing the President, re-taking the Senate, and maintaining the House.

Thank you again for all your support. Let’s unite to restore this country!

God bless America.

- Sarah Palin

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I will admit that I'm not thrilled with Sarah's decision. However, in the time that I've gotten to know her through her speeches, interviews and Facebook notes, I know that she means well. I spoke to my mother a few minutes ago and while she doesn't support Sarah completely, we both agree that she will be involved in the election process and will be in the spotlight no matter what.

I know supporters out there, like me, are not thrilled about this decision. But I am asking you to not despair over it. Yes, Sarah would have made a great President had she decided to run but that doesn't mean that we can't work together to find a President that will replace Obama and raise up America again. Sarah has shown that she has faith in God and in this country. This is no time to retreat. There is too much at stake and Sarah doesn't believe that any one person can do it all, just as our Founding Fathers believed.

I pray that this will encourage whomever is reading this to, in the words of Sarah Palin, "Don't retreat...RELOAD!"

Five Stars For "Going Rogue"

Looking on Amazon's website, I can't help but wonder why someone would write a one-star review about former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's memoir before it even hits the stores.

These past couple months, I've had the privilege of reading Sarah's memoir, "Going Rogue, An American Life." To be brutally honest with you, my reaction to this memoir goes beyond words. I was completely blown away by what Sarah Palin had to say.

In the past I have read many different books from many well known authors in literature, all of them very descriptive. In my opinion, though, "Going Rogue" is the only book that seems to take me away from whatever room I'm in. When Sarah Palin described everything from life in Alaska to the trials she faced, I almost forgot that I was either in the living room with my parents behind me or in the senior lounge with classmates talking ten feet from me. Honestly, that has never happened to me!

If I had to say what I found interesting about "Going Rogue" I would say it was Sarah's childhood and teenage years. Reading those particular sections, I didn't see a person who was always involved in politics. Instead, I saw a kid that behaved like any other. As a child, Sarah was known for her imagination and as a teenager, she was a little "boy-crazy." If you ask me I think this shows how she can relate to young people today.

I know there are people who don't necessarily like Sarah Palin or agree with her views. Regardless of that, I encourage you to read "Going Rogue, An American Life." If you haven't read it or simply refuse to do so, you seriously don't know what you're missing! I guarantee that once you read this memoir, you will have a better understanding of who Sarah Palin is and what she believes in. Then you can decide if you like her or not.

Palin to Join Fox News as Contributor

Fox News announced today that former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has signed a deal as a contributor.

Sarah has agreed to share her views on several platforms on Fox News including Fox News Business Channel, FoxNews.com and Fox News Radio. "I am thrilled to be joining the great talent and management team at Fox News. It's wonderful to be part of a place that so values fair and balanced news," Sarah said in a written release.

Sarah will also host periodic episodes of Fox News Channel's "Real American Stories," a series exploring real life stories of overcoming adversity.

For more information, go to http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/01/11/palin-join-fox-news-contributor/

Shakespeare's "Sonnet 55"

Not marble, nor the gilded monuments

Of princes, shall outlive this pow'rful rhyme,

But you shall shine more bright in these contents

Than unswept stone, besmeared with sluttish time.

When wasteful war shall statues overturn,

And broils root out the work of masonry,

Nor Mars his sword nor war's quick fire shall burn

The living record of your memory.

'Gainst death and all-oblivious enmity

Shall you pace forth; your praise shall still find room

Even in the eyes of all posterity

That wear this world out to the ending doom.

So, till the judgment that yourself arise,

You live in this, and dwell in lovers' eyes.

I guess one could wonder why I would blog about a poem that is over 400 years old. Well, for me the answer is simple.

When my English class was reading this particular sonnet, the one people that came into my mind were Sarah Palin and Ronald Reagan. What I believe Shakespeare is trying to say in Sonnet 55 is that when an someone is remembered by his/her supporters, they are remembered before and after the person dies and nothing -- not even wars can diminish the memories.

When Ronald Reagan's Presidency ended, people remember how he came into the presidency facing a recession worse than the one we're in right now. When he cut taxes, the economy literally took off. More jobs were available and revenues nearly doubled by the end of Reagan's second term.

In addition, Reagan helped to restore the faith of citizens who once felt like the Carter Administration was humiliating the country and allowing it to be pushed around. As evidence, 444 hostages in Iran were held until almost immediately after Reagan was sworn in as President.

After Reagan went home to God, his supporters continued to remember how he restored their faith and made his ideas known. Today, many including Sarah Palin continue to remind us of those ideas so that we may never forget them and pass them on to future generations.

Sarah is a clear example of Reagan's ideas. She is a great communicator to the average American because she is and average American.

As an executive, she has cut taxes so that businesses can keep more of what they earn and create jobs. As Mayor of Wasilla she has gotten government out of the way so that Wasilla became the fastest growing town in Alaska. She then brought those ideas to her gubernatorial administration as Governor of Alaska.

From the 2008 Presidential Campaign up to now and possibly forever, supporters continuosly remember her and her message to Americans to keep standing for what we believe in and let anyone ever tell us to sit down and shut up. We must continue to uphold that message so that we may be remembered for believing in the country we live in and will be buried in.