Speaking at Freedom Fest in Norfolk, Virginia Sarah Palin laid out her very
aggressive agenda for the nation. This is a powerful indictment of the Obama
regime, and the corrupt “lamestream media” as well.

Fresh from her speech
at California State University, at Stanislaus, where she spoke of American
exceptionalism, and the need to get back to the basics in education, and raised
more money for the university than any other speaker in history, Sarah came to
Virginia ready to take on the big issues that we face.

With every passing speech, every new appearance, Sarah Palin looks more
powerful, more in control, and more presidential. This is a compelling speech,
where she implores the American people not to settle for second best. She tells
us not to allow Barack Obama and his minions get away with saying America’s
finest hours are behind us, and that we are just another nation among nations. Don’t
let Obama and the rest of the Marxist-democrats tell you America is not the
greatest force for good the world has ever known.

Sarah implores us not to just say “no,” to the Obama agenda, but “Hell
No!“

Here’s video of the speech:

<object width=”640″ height=”385″><param
name=”movie”
value=”http://www.youtube.com/v/TWc49eKypsI&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1″></param><param
name=”allowFullScreen”
value=”true”></param><param
name=”allowScriptAccess” value=”always”></param><embed
src=”http://www.youtube.com/v/TWc49eKypsI&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1″
type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” allowfullscreen=”true”
allowScriptAccess=”always” width=”640″
height=”385″></embed></object>

Below
is a partial transcript Sarah released today via her Facebook blog:

Peace Through Strength and American Pride vs. “Enemy-Centric” Policy

Earlier this week, I spoke at the Freedom Fest in Norfolk, Virginia; and,
evidently, the media was asked to leave – not by me, that’s for sure. I want my
message out, so despite reporters making up a story about “Palin people
kicking us out” (uh, the “Palin people” entourage would consist of
one person – my 15-year-old daughter, Willow – and I have no doubt she could
take on any reporter, but I know for certain she didn’t “kick ‘em out”
of the event). Anyway, here are some of the key issues I spoke about.

DEFENSE SPENDING

It takes a lot of resources to maintain the best fighting force in the world
– especially at a time when we face financial uncertainty and a mountain of
debt that threatens all of our futures.

We have a federal government that is spending trillions, and that has
nationalized whole sections of our economy: the auto industry, the insurance
industry, health care, student loans, the list goes on – all of it at enormous
cost to the tax payer. The cost of Obamacare alone is likely to exceed $2.5
trillion dollars.

As a result of all these trillion dollar spending bills, America’s going
bust in a hurry. By 2020 we may reach debt levels of $20 trillion – twice the
debt that we have today! It reminds me of that joke I read the other day: “Please
don’t tell Obama what comes after a trillion!“

Something has to be done urgently to stop the out of control
Obama-Reid-Pelosi spending machine, and no government agency should be immune
from budget scrutiny. We must make sure, however, that we do nothing to
undermine the effectiveness of our military. If we lose wars, if we lose the
ability to deter adversaries, if we lose the ability to provide security for
ourselves and for our allies, we risk losing all that makes America great! That
is a price we cannot afford to pay.

This may be obvious to you and me, but I am not sure the Obama
Administration gets it. There isn’t a single progressive pet cause which they
haven’t been willing to throw billions at. But when it comes to defense
spending, all of a sudden they start preaching a message of “fiscal
restraint.” Our Defense Secretary recently stated the “gusher” of
defense spending was over and that it was time for the Department of Defense to
tighten its belt. There’s a gusher of spending alright, but it’s not on
defense. Did you know the US actually only ranks 25th worldwide on defense
spending as a percentage of GDP? We spend three times more on entitlements and
debt services than we do on defense.

Now don’t get me wrong: there’s nothing wrong with preaching fiscal
conservatism. I want the federal government to balance its budget right now!
And not the Washington way – which is raising your taxes to pay for their
irresponsible spending habits. I want it done the American way: by cutting
spending, reducing the size of government, and letting people keep more of
their hard-earned cash.

But the Obama administration doesn’t practice what it preaches. This is an
administration that won’t produce a budget for fear that we discover how
reckless they’ve been as fiscal managers. At the same time, it threatens to
veto a defense bill because of an extra jet engine!

This administration may be willing to cut defense spending, but it’s
increasing it everywhere else. I think we should do it the other way round: cut
spending in other departments – apart from defense. We should not be cutting
corners on our national security.

THE U.S. NAVY

Secretary Gates recently spoke about the future of the US Navy. He said we
have to “ask whether the nation can really afford a Navy that relies on $3
to $6 billion destroyers, $7 billion submarines, and $11 billion carriers.”
He went on to ask, “Do we really need… more strike groups for another 30
years when no other country has more than one?“

Well, my answer is pretty simple: Yes, we can and, yes, we do because we
must. Our Navy has global responsibilities. It patrols sea lanes and safeguards
the freedoms of our allies – and ourselves. The Navy right now only has 286
ships, and that number may decrease. That will limit our options, extend tours
for Navy personnel, lessen our ability to secure our allies and deter our
adversaries. The Obama administration seems strangely unconcerned about this
prospect.

OBAMA’S FOREIGN POLICY INHERITANCE

When George W. Bush came into office, he inherited a military that had been
cut deeply, an al Qaeda that had been unchallenged, and an approach to
terrorism that focused on bringing court cases rather than destroying those who
sought to destroy us. We saw the result of some of that on 9/11.

When President Obama came into office, he inherited a military that was
winning in Iraq. He inherited loyal allies and strong alliances. And thanks to
the lamestream media pawing and purring over him, he had the benefit of
unparalleled global popularity. What an advantage! So their basic foreign
policy outlines should have been clear. Commit to the War on Terror. Commit to
winning – not ending, but winning the war in Afghanistan. Commit to the fight
against violent Islamic extremism wherever it finds sanctuary. Work with our
allies. Be resolute with our adversaries. Promote liberty, not least because it
enhances our security. Unfortunately, these basic principles seem to have been
discarded by Washington.

THE WAR ON TERROR

His administration has banned the phrase “war on terror,” preferring
instead politically correct nonsense like “overseas contingency operations.”
His Homeland Security Secretary calls acts of terrorism “man-caused
disasters.” His reckless plan to close Guantanamo (because there’s no place
to go after it’s closed) faces bipartisan opposition now.

The Attorney General just announced that a decision about where to try
terrorists like 9/11 master mind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed would not be announced
until after the mid-term elections. Is there something he’s afraid to tell us?

The President’s new National Security Strategy does not even use the word “Islamic”
when referring to violent extremism. Does he think the ideology of those who
seek to kill Americans is irrelevant? How can we seek to defeat an enemy if we
don’t acknowledge what motivates them and what their ultimate goals are?
President Obama may think he is being politically correct by dropping the term,
but it flies in the face of reality. As Senator Joe Lieberman noted, refusing
to use the word Islamic when describing the nature of the threat we face is “Orwellian
and counterproductive.”

AFGHANISTAN

In Afghanistan, it is true that President Obama approved deploying
additional forces to the conflict – most, but not all the troops requested by
commanders on the ground. But it took months of indecision to get to that
point, and it came at a very high price – a July 2011 date to begin withdrawal.

This date was arbitrary! It bears no relation to conditions on the ground.
It sends all the wrong signals to our friends and to our enemies. We know our
commanders on the ground are not comfortable with it.

As that great Navy war hero, Senator John McCain recently put it: “The
decision to begin withdrawing our forces from Afghanistan arbitrarily in July
2011 seems to be having exactly the effect that many of us predicted it would:
It is convincing the key actors inside and outside of Afghanistan that the
United States is more interested in leaving than succeeding in this conflict.”

Does the President really believe the Taliban and al Qaeda won’t be
empowered by his naming of a starting date for withdrawal? They now believe
they can beat him simply by outlasting us. What sort of effect does he think
this will have on the morale of our troops – and of our allies?

ALIENATING OUR ALLIES

It’s not the only area where the Obama administration has failed our allies.
They escalated a minor zoning issue in Jerusalem into a major dispute with our
most important ally in the Middle East, Israel. They treated the Israeli Prime
Minister shabbily in Washington. When a Turkish sponsored flotilla threatened
to violate a legal Israeli blockade of Hamas-run Gaza, the Obama Administration
was silent. When Israeli commandos were assaulted as they sought to prevent
unmonitored cargoes from being delivered to Hamas terrorists, the Obama
Administration sent signals it might allow a UN investigation into the matter –
an investigation that would be sure to condemn our ally Israel and bemoan the
plight of Hamas. Loyal NATO allies in central Europe were undermined by the
cancellation of a missile defense program with virtually no warning. At the same
time, Russia and China are given preferential treatment, while remaining silent
on their human rights violations.

CODDLING ADVERSARIES

Meanwhile, the Obama Administration reaches out to some of the world’s worst
regimes. They shake hands with dictators like Hugo Chavez, send letters to the
Iranian mullahs and envoys to North Korea, ease sanctions on Cuba and talk
about doing the same with Burma. That’s when they’re not on one of their
worldwide apology tours.

Do we get anything in return for all this bowing and apologizing? No, we
don’t. Yes, Russia voted for a weak sanctions resolution on Iran, but it
immediately stated it could sell advanced anti-aircraft missile to Iran anyway,
and would not end its nuclear cooperation. In response to North Korea’s unprovoked
sinking of a South Korean Navy ship, China warned us not to take part in
military exercises with our ally.

And while President Obama lets America get pushed around by the likes of
Russia and China, our allies are left to wonder about the value of an alliance
with the U.S. They have to be wondering if it’s worth it.

AN “ENEMY-CENTRIC” FOREIGN POLICY

It has led one prominent Czech official to call Obama’s foreign policy “enemy-centric.”
And this “enemy-centric” approach has real consequences. It not only
baffles our allies, it worries them. When coupled with less defense spending,
it signals to the world that maybe we can no longer be counted on, and that we
have other priorities than being the world leader that keeps the peace and
provides security in Europe, in Asia and throughout the world.

Together with this enemy-centric foreign policy, we see a lessening of the
long, bipartisan tradition of speaking out for human rights and democracy. The
Secretary of State said she would not raise human rights with China because “we
pretty much know what they are going to say.” Democracy promotion programs have
been cut. Support for the brave Iranians protesting their government was not
forthcoming because President Obama would rather try to cut a deal with their oppressors.

When the world’s dictators see the United States unconcerned with human
rights and political freedom, they breathe a sigh of relief, because they know
they have a free hand to repress their own people.

This goes against the very ideals on which our republic was founded. There
is a long bipartisan tradition of speaking out in favor of freedom – from FDR
to Ronald Reagan. America loses something very important when its President
consigns human rights and freedom to the back burner of its international
priorities.

A DIFFERENT VIEW OF AMERICA

We have a President, perhaps for the very first time since the founding of
our republic, who doesn’t appear to believe that America is the greatest
earthly force for good the world has ever known.

When asked whether he believed in American exceptionalism, President Obama
answered, “I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the
Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek
exceptionalism.” Amazing. Amazing.

I think this statement speaks volumes about his world view. He sees nothing
unique in the American experience? Really? Our founding, and our founding
mothers and fathers? Really? And our history over the past two and half
centuries?

Really? He sees nothing unique in an America that fought and won two world
wars and in victory sought not one inch of territory or one dollar of plunder?
He sees nothing unique in an America that, though exhausted by conflict, still
laid the foundation for security in Europe and Asia after World War II? He sees
nothing unique in an America that prevailed against an evil ideology in the
Cold War? Does he just see a country that has to be apologized for around the
world, especially to dictators?

President Obama actually seems reluctant to even embrace American power.
Earlier this year when he was asked about his faltering Middle East peace
process, he said “whether we like it or not, we remain a dominant military
superpower.” Whether we like it or not?! Really? Mr. President, this may
come as news to you, but most Americans actually do like it. And so do our
allies. They know it was our military might that liberated countless millions
from tyranny, slavery, and oppression over the last 234 years. Yes, we do like
it. As a dominant superpower, the United States has won wars hot and cold; our
military has advanced the cause of freedom and kept authoritarian powers in
check.

It is in America’s and the world’s best interests for our country to remain
the dominant military superpower, but under President Obama’s leadership that
dominance may be slipping away. It’s the result of an agenda that reeks of
complacency and defeatism.

(I went on from there to talk about our need to end the negative, defeatist
attitudes of those in leadership. I spoke further on American exceptionalism,
and Willow and I ended a great evening with some great patriots. Sorry the
media chose to report anything other than what actually happened at the event.)

- Sarah Palin

I want to address the question of this blogger, who none of us has ever
heard of, but indeed has a blog, that claims he was kicked out of Freedom Fest
after a few minutes of blogging Sarah’s speech.

Now we find that rather a dubious claim on many levels. People live blog
from pretty much every speech Sarah gives, especially events like this. People
park on Twitter waiting anxiously for every quote, every tidbit of information
about the event, hungry for all things Palin.

Another thing, this blogger claims he was invited by one of the event
sponsors to cover this deal, and was credentialed. I’ve been to a lot of
events, and credentialed media is rarely hassled. Past that, if the guy was
there at the behest of a sponsor, how hard would it have been to drop a name or
two? (It’s always worked for us!)

Some have suggested that maybe an outsider, posing as an event official, an
“agent provocateur” may have wondered in to cause trouble, but that’s
getting out there where the buses don’t run.

The thing that makes us really doubt this blogger’s story is the fact that
video, clearly shot from someone in the audience, exists. If they were kicking
out fully credentialed and somewhat “official” bloggers, how did the
video posted by “Daily Press News” come into being?

Inquiring minds want to know.

You’ll read more about this in the coming days I’m sure, but as Stacy Drake
wrote in her latest
offering, this is all about stealing the headlines away from what Sarah actually
has to say, the substance, and mis-directing you somewhere else.

There are a whole lot of people both Marxist-democrats, and establishment
Republicans, who would just as soon you didn’t pay attention to Sarah Palin and
her strong message. They just as soon you forget she is one of the few real
leaders this nation has.

Sarah Palin is a real leader, a strong leader, and a proven reformer.
This scares the hell out of both the corrupt Marxist-democrats, as well the
corrupt establishment Republicans. In fact, she may scare the corrupt
Republicans more, because they know what she did to the Alaskan Republicans and
Governor Frank Murkowski’s “Corrupt
Bastards Club.“

Our best advice when it comes to Sarah Palin, is to pay attention to what
this magnificent woman says, and ignore the spectacle that those who don’t have
America’s best interest at heart, make of themselves, trying to get you to
ignore her!

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading …

About Gary P.

Gary P is editor and publisher of A Time For Choosing as well as a
contributor to Red State, Digital Journal, The Sarah Palin Web Brigade,
The Sarah Palin Information Blog, and other conservative sites. A Time For Choosing is a website based on solid Ronald Reagan/Sarah
Palin conservatism. We give no apologies, and accept no substitutes.This website is named after Ronald Reagan’s iconic 1964 speech at
the Republican National Convention of the same name. Although, A Time
For Choosing is the speech’s official title, it is so iconic, so well
known, and so highly quoted, it is simply known as “The Speech.”It’s time for all Americans to choose the nation they wish to live
in. do they want to continue to live in a free nation and retain their
God given liberties, or do they want to allow someone to take it all
away?Do Americans want a nation where they can live their lives as they
see fit, or do they want a totalitarian, oppressive government?It is a time for choosing.

• Mail

|

• Web

|

• More Posts (519)