Tens of thousands descended upon Harry Reid's legislative backyard to not only prepare for the decrepit Senator's imminent political demise in November, but display yet more proof of America's growing dissatisfaction with Washington DC's tone-deaf and increasingly arrogant attitude toward governing.
The Obama-Pelosi-Reid truimvirate has awakened the kind of conservative/libertarian/populist backlash not seen in this country in at least a generation.
Sarah Palin was, yet again, the star attraction. Taking the small stage with a strong wind, both literally and figuratively, at her back, the former Alaskan governor again struck the resounding chords of anti-Big Government, pro-State Rights, and warnings of impending economic doom based upon DC's far too long "buy now pay later" business model.
Palin displayed overt disdain for the mainstream media's repeated attempts to diminish Tea Party members as some fringe group, yet managed to do so with equal parts grit and optimism - a balancing act no other political figure today is able to pull off so successfully. While the Palin speech added little new from her now all too well known playbook of political cliches and generalizations, the thousands attending the Searchlight rally appeared more than satisfied with what they widely regard as common sense truths that few other national figures are willing to declare for fear of inciting increasingly determined media and political retribution. Palin not only appears unfazed by said retribution, but in fact welcomes it, wearing those attacks with a clear sense of willful pride.
Will Palin be the next great conservative American leader - or is she instead undergoing the important task of preparing the way? As Goldwater did for Reagan, is Palin doing the same for a future national conservative? Palin not only loves the spotlight, but thrives in it - perhaps indicating an ego unwilling to pass the torch to another. And with such a devout following of millions across the nation, would those followers even allow her to do so?
The Searchlight gathering will prove a political harbinger for things to come - namely the substantial Republican gains that are now a near-certainty in both the House and Senate in the 2010 Election. But what of 2012? Will this momentum continue to build and thus relegate Obama to one-termer status? That question is far too difficult to answer at this point, due in great part to Obama having earned some legitimate political street cred with successful passage of his health care bill. While there is much to disagree with in that bill, and while the political price may prove substantial to both he and all Democrats in the near-term, its passage proves that Obama is no longer one to be dismissed as a political light weight. He will fight hard for a victory in 2012, and clearly has the skill, and now proven political will, to secure another presidential victory.
For now Palin and her Tea Party supporters represent the widespread dissatisfaction with Washington DC, while at the moment, President Barack Obama IS Washington DC, with all its great power and failings contained therein.
Who will win out? Will it be the loosely organized grass roots anti-Big Government dissent, or the highly coordinated might of the White House and fellow ruling-class DC-power brokers?
Only in America...
The Obama-Pelosi-Reid truimvirate has awakened the kind of conservative/libertarian/populist backlash not seen in this country in at least a generation.
Sarah Palin was, yet again, the star attraction. Taking the small stage with a strong wind, both literally and figuratively, at her back, the former Alaskan governor again struck the resounding chords of anti-Big Government, pro-State Rights, and warnings of impending economic doom based upon DC's far too long "buy now pay later" business model.
Palin displayed overt disdain for the mainstream media's repeated attempts to diminish Tea Party members as some fringe group, yet managed to do so with equal parts grit and optimism - a balancing act no other political figure today is able to pull off so successfully. While the Palin speech added little new from her now all too well known playbook of political cliches and generalizations, the thousands attending the Searchlight rally appeared more than satisfied with what they widely regard as common sense truths that few other national figures are willing to declare for fear of inciting increasingly determined media and political retribution. Palin not only appears unfazed by said retribution, but in fact welcomes it, wearing those attacks with a clear sense of willful pride.
Will Palin be the next great conservative American leader - or is she instead undergoing the important task of preparing the way? As Goldwater did for Reagan, is Palin doing the same for a future national conservative? Palin not only loves the spotlight, but thrives in it - perhaps indicating an ego unwilling to pass the torch to another. And with such a devout following of millions across the nation, would those followers even allow her to do so?
The Searchlight gathering will prove a political harbinger for things to come - namely the substantial Republican gains that are now a near-certainty in both the House and Senate in the 2010 Election. But what of 2012? Will this momentum continue to build and thus relegate Obama to one-termer status? That question is far too difficult to answer at this point, due in great part to Obama having earned some legitimate political street cred with successful passage of his health care bill. While there is much to disagree with in that bill, and while the political price may prove substantial to both he and all Democrats in the near-term, its passage proves that Obama is no longer one to be dismissed as a political light weight. He will fight hard for a victory in 2012, and clearly has the skill, and now proven political will, to secure another presidential victory.
For now Palin and her Tea Party supporters represent the widespread dissatisfaction with Washington DC, while at the moment, President Barack Obama IS Washington DC, with all its great power and failings contained therein.
Who will win out? Will it be the loosely organized grass roots anti-Big Government dissent, or the highly coordinated might of the White House and fellow ruling-class DC-power brokers?
Only in America...