Palin embraces SNL sketch, dishes out her own humor
(CNN) - There are so many scandals in Washington, Sarah Palin said, they could be lumped under the name of the botched gun-running sting that landed Attorney General Eric Holder in hot water long before the Benghazi, IRS or NSA stories came to light.
"These scandals are coming at us so Fast and Furious," she quipped at an annual gathering of conservatives on Saturday.
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Palin was the final speaker and star of the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference Saturday program, where she served up her criticism of President Barack Obama with her trademark witticisms.
The former Alaska governor and 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee offered no clues in her speech about her political future but was introduced by a video that culminated with footage of a roaring and rearing bear. It was a tribute to her "mama grizzly" effort on behalf of tenacious women running for public office.
Asked by CNN if she would be on the campaign trail again in 2014 on behalf of fellow Republicans, Palin replied, "Absolutely, more than ever."
"Time's-a-wasting. Things are moving really quickly and if we don't get out there and defend this republic then America will be transformed into something we do not recognize," she told CNN.
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She is also returning to television, where she has been largely absent since her contract with Fox News ended last year. The network said Thursday that she is returning as a paid commentator.
At the conference, she said the Washington controversies remind her of a sarcastic sketch performed by her "really, really good friends at Saturday Night Live." (They're friends, she said, because she provided actress Tina Fey, her look-alike, "job security.")
"Our government spied on every single one of your phone calls but it couldn't find two pot smoking dead-beat Bostonians with a hotline to terrorist central in Chechnya. Really?"
"Its built apparatus to sneak into all the good guys communications, but oops-a-daisy, it missed the Fort Hood mass murder of our own troops despite this Islamic terrorist declaring his ideology in numerous Army counseling sessions and on his own business cards," she said. "Really?"
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And the IRS "can't figure out how it managed to spend over 4 million dollars on a training conference because it didn't keep the receipts. Really? You try that with the IRS."
Palin swiped at a fellow Republican, too.
She appeared to reference former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush's remark at the same conference on Friday that immigrants were "more fertile," made in the context that legal immigration could "create an engine of economic prosperity."
Bush is a proponent of immigration reform.
Palin responded, "I think it's kind of dangerous territory, touchy territory, to want to debate this over one race's fertility rate over another, and I say this as someone who's kinda fertile herself.
"I don't think that's where we want to go in deciding how we incentivize the hard working responsible families that want to be in the light, follow the law, and become Americans versus those whose very first act on our soil is to break the law," she said.
The former governor took what appeared to be a light-hearted dig at first lady Michelle Obama, who said while being heckled at a fundraiser this month, "One of the things I don't do well is this."
Palin said near the top of her speech, "If there's any protesters, speak now or forever hold your peace, because facing the protesters, facing the critics - that's something I do well."
She voiced her oft-stated dislike for Washington, calling it a "hot mess," and said lawmakers should listen to a senator new to the city.
"You know what I wish Congress would do - just for a week, perhaps, just put themselves on cruise control," she said.
"Ted Cruz control," she added, naming the freshman GOP senator from Texas who she campaigned for last year.
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While I'm certainly not calling her a great candidate for high office, I love how people here are bashing her, when your current President has done nothing right, and a lot wrong. You should spend more time trying to get your President to make better decisions, shrink the deficit, and continue to push for greater government control of our lives.
The greatest mystery of our time will be what the heck was John McCain thinking. This lady is a total moron.
I can't see how those who quit government office so they can make "witty" remarks about people in government office have brought us closer to any solutions. Could we move on past such people, and those many others preoccupied with being on the sidelines, and at least listen to those who are trying to use the system, whatever their beliefs?
Guess what Sarah – you're no longer fertile...............
Like her or not, she says it like it is. DC is a mess and Obama is no better than of the others.
The mouthpiece for America's idiots speaks!
Did she have that deer in the headlights look permanently fussed with plastic surgery or what...
So much intolerance.... so much hatred.... CNN viewers and bloggers should learn to listen to other opinions.
Ironically, you could replace "Palin" with "Clinton" in most of these posts and get the same result, with the exception of well-dressed vs. pantsuits.
Sarah is right most of the time.
Welcome back, Sarah Palin! We've missed you! And to all of you hecklers and name callers and truly clueless commentators, you would be so lucky to have even an ounce of Sarah Palin's courage and integrity.
If Palin is the key speaker at "Faith & Freedom Coalition" feel free to take away my Bible & put me in chains.
Every time this woman opens her mouth there is this huge whooshing sound. Best thing that can happen for the GOP is for her to go AWAY. She continues to be one the the largest circus side shows for the GOP and it is sacking party credibility. People see her on the podium at Conservative events and they equate her intellect with that of the party. HOW that is a positive image to get the GOP on track I just cannot fathom! You know you are hitting rock bottom when you resort to mocking those who mock you!
Doesn't sound like she got very good writers for those zingers. Old, weak and lame!
You mean like the Big "O" every time he opens his mouth w/o a teleprompter???? At least, she doesn't need one... and makes sense.
How big a fool do you have to be to believe Sarah Palin has any relevance?
Can you believer there are still people who listen to this dingbat?
Which of today's politicians is closest to the "founder" of the Democratic Party, Andrew Jackson.
Jackson – considered uneducated by the elite.
Jackson – religious
Jackson – fiscally conservative, paid off every cent of gov't debt while he was President.
Jacskon – invited average people to his inauguration.
That's right! Sarah Palin is the politician closest to the founder of the Democratic Party. This shows how far the Democrats have deviated from their founding principles.
Jackson – We honor him on the $20 bill as one of our greatest Presidents.
This is just another FOX news screwup. They could have hired Michelle Bachman (who is twice as crazy as Palin) for half the price.
Thank you, Sarah. I hope you stay with the Republican candidates all way. And make sure to repeat your explanation of Paul Revere's ride. That'll really get a lot of attention.