Sarah Palin Conquering the Storm

The last time we met Sarah Palin she was storming through Massachusetts on the way to New Hamshire like someone out of the Wizard of Oz. This time she is barnstorming through Iowa.

Sarah Palin may or may not be running for President but her commentaries are beginning to sound like Winston Churchill in the 1930s. Like him she has been pushed aside by her own party but not out of voice. This one she called Conquering the Storm:

Our economic news is disheartening and the task before us can seem daunting, but we must not lose our sense of optimism. People look around today and may see only the negative. They see a culture and a nation in decline, but that's not who we are! America must regain its optimistic pioneering spirit again. Our founders declared that "we were born the heirs of freedom." We are the heirs of those who froze with Washington at Valley Forge, who held the line at Gettysburg, who freed the slaves, carved a nation out of the wilderness, and allowed reward for work ethic. We are the sons and daughters of that Greatest Generation who stormed the beaches of Normandy, raised the flag at Iwo Jima, and made America the strongest and most prosperous nation in the history of mankind. By God, we will not squander what has been given us!

That phrase "held the line at Gettysburg" is not something you hear a lot on lists of American accomplishments these days. It will rub some southerners the wrong way. And that line "By God" will rub others wrong.

Another statement you might not expect from Sarah Palin is in her encouragement to get involved:

Please get engaged in 2012 electoral politics and support experienced, vetted, pro-free market fiscal conservatives who will dedicate all to preserving our Republic and protecting our Constitution.

Yes, the maverick is calling for experience, and she is almost admitting that she got burned on the inadequate vetting of Christine O'Donnell and Sharon Angle in 2010 Senate elections.

Sarah Palin is in Iowa today to visit the Iowa State Fair, not because she is running for President but because she is "excited to try some of that famous fried butter-on-a-stick, fried cheesecake-on-a-stick, fried twinkies, etc." And lest you think the visit is entirely nonpolitical she had this dig for President Obama: "I'll enjoy them in honor of those who'd rather make us just 'eat our peas'!"

In the cattle barn at the State Fair, Sarah was pressed to endorse one of the other Republicans in or about to join the race. She mooed,

"Oh, you know the process hasn't even played itself out yet, so no on premature endorsements. And I haven't even decided yet if I'm going to jump in or not yet."

"There is still plenty of room in that field for a common-sense conservative. Watching the debate, not just last night, but watching this whole process over the past year, it has certainly shown me there's plenty of room for more people."

"Common-sense conservative" is the label Sarah Palin uses to describes herself.