Palinmania Sweeps the Nation

Unless you live under a rock, you know Sarah Palin's book Going Rogue was released this week and you know the former Alaskan Governor and Republican Vice Presidential Candidate has been everywhere. Traveling the country, making stops to do interviews and sign books, Palinmania has swept the nation, attracting both positive and negative attention. Media personalities from Martha Stewart to Washington Post book reviewer Ana Marie Cox have bashed her and various media outlets continue to speak untruths and spread rumors about Palin. The Associated Press even assigned eleven reporters to fact-check her book (comepared to the two assigned to the health care reform bill), but the American people are still lining up to support her like never before.

Going Rogue sold a record-breaking 300,000 copies on the first day of its release and the day after, the former Governor began a thirteen-stop book signing tour that hits cities in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, and Florida. Attendees are waiting in the streets to get an autograph and camping out overnight in the cold, just to get a glimpse. But most people have probably seen or heard Palin interviewed on a number of radio and television shows. Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Barbara Walters, Oprah Winfrey, Mark Levin, Bill O'Reilly, and others have had their chance to question Palin about everything from some nasty rumors to her plans for the future. Here's a look at some of the things she's had to say.

When asked about running for president in 2012, Palin told Fox News host Bill O'Reilly that she felt she was qualified but wouldn't confirm whether or not she planned to run. Oprah's audience snickered when Palin told the talk show host that she wouldn't confirm her plans with her, even if she were planning to run for office again. Of John McCain, she calls him a "patriot" and "friend" but doesn't have a lot of great things to say about his campaign staff and the way they treated her during the 2008 election. Of the now infamous Katie Couric interview, she insists she didn't answer the question about what publications she reads because Couric was treating her rudely.

When Rush Limbaugh asked the former Governor what her goal with the book is and who she's trying to reach, she responded,

Just everyday, hardworking Americans who want government back on their side and I want to help them have their voice be heard. And the book is all about that, and the book is about my record and my accomplishments as a mayor and as a governor that kind of lay the foundation for Americans to see where it was that I was and how I got to where I am. It was just a lot of hard work and it was a lot of very commonsense measures that I undertook politically and practically speaking, and the book is about that, and hopefully people will read it and enjoy it and learn something from it.

While those sort of topics are making the headlines, Governor Palin has also spoken out about a number of current issues the nation is facing and what needs to be done about them. From the economy, "Let's go back to what Reagan did" and "stay committed to those free market principles" to the topic she seems to know a lot about, energy, "What is complicated about tapping into abundant, safe domestic supplies that could provide stability for our country and security for our country?"

Love her or hate her, one thing's for certain, Sarah Palin causes a stir whenever her name is mentioned!

Sarah Palin Announces Book Tour

Former Alaska Governor and Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin's highly anticipated book Going Rogue: An American Life will officially be released in just two weeks. The book, which already reached the number one spot on a number of best-seller lists, is expected to be a personal and political chronicle of Palin's life and according to publisher HarperCollins, will be full of "fascinating details."

Today, the former governor took to her Facebook page to announce that she'll be visiting a number of places across the country, in the coming weeks, to promote her book. Palin said she will be announcing the exact locations for scheduled book signings in the next few days and that she looks forward to meeting as many people as possible, "I’ve decided to travel to cities outside of the typical book tour venues, and I hope to cover as much of the country as I can."

In addition to book signings, she will make be making a number of media stops, or so she hopes. Palin listed a number of media personalities she'd like to meet with and not surprisingly, most of them are big supporters of the former Governor. Her media wishlist includes: Bill O’Reilly, Barbara Walters, Sean Hannity, Greta Van Susteren, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin, Laura Ingraham, Dennis Miller, Tammy Bruce, and others, including local Alaska personalities Bob & Mark and Eddie Burke.

Palin is already scheduled to appear on Oprah Winfrey's show on November 16, the day before the book is released. Winfrey, who openly backed Barack Obama in the 2008 Presidential election, came under fire for not inviting then Republican Vice Presidential candidate Palin to her show, considering Palin was and is easily one of the most influential people in the country.

Marsha Blackburn: Tennessee's True Conservative

Marsha Blackburn has never been one to stay quiet when it comes to politics, whether it be at the grassroots level or during her career representing Tennessee's 7th Congressional District. At the age of 25, she founded the Williamson County Tennessee Young Republicans and in 1989, she served as Chairman of the Williamson County Republican Party for two years. In 1992, she took her passion to a new level by running unsuccessfully for Congress. Despite the loss, she would go on to serve as the chairwoman of the Tennessee Film, Entertainment and Music Commission in 1995 and become elected to the Tennessee State Senate in 1998. During that time she led the effort to prevent the passage of a state income tax and to protect the state's Second Amendment rights.

In 2002, Blackburn decided to make another attempt at running for Congress, successfully becoming the first female to represent Tennessee based on her own merits (three other women have represented the state on behalf of their deceased husbands) and the first Republican to represent the Nashville area since Reconstruction. Some consider her a potential candidate for governor of the state in 2010. Since entering office, Blackburn has proven that she is a true Conservative, both on fiscal and social issues and has become a mainstay in the media, frequently appearing on television shows such as Fox News' "Hannity."

As a member of Congress, Blackburn has worked tirelessly to pass tax relief, promote an "ownership society," create health care legislation for small businesses, restore concurrent receipt for Veterans, increase pay for members of the military, prohibit partial birth abortion and reform the personnel system of the Department of Defense. She currently serves on the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. Blackburn has also served in a number of leadership roles including her roles as Communications Chair of both the Republican Study Committee and National Republican Congressional Committee, as Deputy Whip, and as co-founder of the Congressional Songwriters Caucus. In 2008, she signed on as a senior advisor to Governor Mitt Romney's presidential campaign but resigned to endorse former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson for president.

Most recently, she has been a strong proponent of "Czar" accountability legislation. In a recent appearance on "Hannity," she had this to say on the matter,

"...the more people know about this and the more they realize that this administration has put in place as many 'czars' in eight months as the Bush administration did in eight years. And that is of concern. And the other thing is the lack of transparency. We think, when individuals are going to act with this authority, that a Cabinet secretary has, or be placed between the administration and the Cabinet secretary and be outside of that line of congressional oversight, that, indeed, the American public needs to know."

With a 100% pro-life voting record, Blackburn has been heavily praised by the National Right to Life and has been honored by several fiscally conservative groups such as the Americans for Tax Reform who called her a "taxpayer hero" in 2003. The National Journal has called her a "top House Conservative" and she received the "true blue" award from The Family Research Council. She has also received 100% approval from the U. S. Border patrol.

Congressman (as she prefers to be called) Blackburn was born June 6, 1952 in Laurel, Mississippi. She received her Bachelors degrees from Mississippi State in 1973. She has been married to Charles "Chuck" Blackburn for over 30 years. The couple has two children, Mary Morgan Ketchel and Chad Blackburn, and one grandson, Jack Ketchel.

Michele Bachmann's Health Care Town Hall

Like many members of Congress have doned this summer, Minnesota Representative Michele Bachmann held a town hall meeting for her constituents today, allowing them to voice their opinion about the very controversial proposed health care reform bill. Bachmann, who is against the bill, was joined by Texas Congressman Michael Burgess, who is a doctor and chair of the Congressional Health Care Caucus.

Hundreds of people packed the Lake Elmo, Minnesota middle school where the town hall took place, with overflow seating and video feed being provided for those who couldn't get into the auditorium. Most audience members applauded and cheered on the Congresswoman from the time she entered the room and told her they supported her decision to vote against the bill. One speaker, who had recently undergone knee surgery, told Bachman, "You're my hero - I like the fight you have."

The loudest cheers came when Bachmann spoke of British citizens giving birth in the hallways of hospitals, due to overcrowding. When a man interrupted, Bachman quickly retorted, "I'll tell you what, I've given birth here probably more times than you, sir. I've given birth in the Stillwater hospital and I'll tell you it is the finest care you could ever receive."

While most attendees applauded Bachmann's criticism of the bill, there were several who were there to speak out against her and other Conservatives. Dr. Ilya Gorodisher asked the Congresswoman, "Why do you persist on destroying the president's plan. Why do you persist on stretching the truth to the point of lies?" Others shouted the words "lies" and "shut up" over Bachmann's remarks.

Media who attended the event described it as "lively" and "feisty" and said many speakers' words were drowned out due to applause and boos. Some audience members even left early, stating that they were tired of the yelling and screaming. Hostility amongst attendees on both sides of the fight has been a fairly common theme at many similar town hall meetings throughout the summer.

Bachmann referred to the American health care system as the "greatest health care system the world has ever known" and insisted the new health care bill would destroy it. Last week, she appeared on Fox News' "Hannity" to discuss this very issue. There, she stated that the bill was unconstitutional and asserted that many members of Congress were not listening to their constituents. She encouraged the American people to stand up against the bill and not to be fooled when leaders referred to the "public option" by another name.

You can watch video of Bachmann's appearance on "Hannity" here:

Michele Bachmann: The GOP's 2nd Most Hated Woman

Last night, Sean Hannity called her the GOP's "second most hated woman." He was, of course, talking about Congresswoman Michele Bachmann from Minnesota's Sixth Congressional District. After Governor Sarah Palin, Bachmann is perhaps the most recognizable and outspoken female member of the Republican Party and much like Governor Palin, Bachmann is a target of liberals in Washington DC and within the media. Each week, we see her on numerous news programs or holding press conferences on every issues from abortion to wasteful spending, but just who is Michele Bachmann?

The third female and first Republican to represent Minnesota in Congress, Michele Bachmann was born on April 6, 1956 in Anoka, Minnesota. She graduated from Winona State University, received her J.D. from Oral Roberts University and her LL.M. degree in tax law from William and Mary. Bachmann, who is a mother to five children, began her political activism in the 90's by getting involved with her local school system. In 1993, Bachmann along with other parents opened a Charter School that's Christian leanings were the source of much controversy. She also loudly opposed Minnesota's "School-to-Work" program.

In 2000, Bachmann officially entered the political arena, becoming a State Senator representing Minnesota's 56th District. During that time, she proposed a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. In 2004, she was appointed Assistant Minority Leader in charge of Policy for the Senate Republican Caucus. In 2006, Bachmann successfully won the election to her current seat in Congress. She currently serves on the Financial Services Committee and on several subcommittees including: Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises; Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade and Technology; Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

During her short time in Congress, Bachmann has been outspoken on everything from the war in Iraq to energy. She was a strong opponent of the federal bailout and introduced the Light Bulb Freedom of Choice Act, insisting the government should not be in the business of telling consumers what they can and can't buy. In October, 2008, during a controversial appearance on "Hardball with Chris Matthews" she not only questioned Barack Obama's patriotism but called for an investigation into several Democratic members of Congress' patriotism. Bachmann has taken a strong position on several other current, hot-button issues including favoring the privatization of Social Security and constitutional amendments banning gay marriage and opposing minimum wages increases and abortion.

Bachmann, not one to stray away from controversial topics or stand up what she believes in, is currently under fire for refusing to fill out the 2010 Census. Bachmann told The Washington Times she would only answer the question about how many people lived in her household, claiming the Census is becoming far too personal, "I know for my family the only question we will be answering is how many people are in our home, we won't be answering any information beyond that, because the Constitution doesn't require any information beyond that." Several House Republicans have been urging Bachmann to reverse her decision.

Bachmann currently lives in Stillwater with her husband Marcus. The couple has five children: Lucas, Harrison, Elisa, Caroline, and Sophia. They currently own a small mental health care practice. Bachman, who was yesterday appointed to be a member of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute's advisory board has parented 23 foster children.