Sarah Palin: Against John McCain Before She Was For Him

Most people hold positions on specific issues that stay true to their core, certain bedrock, unflinching principles.  

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin demonstrated one of her allegedly bedrock, unflinching principles a long, long time ago - well, um, almost seven months ago - when she refused to endorse Arizona's senior Senator for President:

Some Alaska Republicans are conflicted over McCain, including Gov. Sarah Palin. They like his maverick reputation and military background but not his opposition to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

"She said she'd like to support McCain but felt she couldn't at this particular time because of his stand on ANWR," said the governor's spokeswoman, Sharon Leighow.

And what is McCain's stand on ANWR?

First: the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. McCain has always been against oil drilling and exploration in ANWR.

So, as recently as less than seven months ago, Sarah Palin refused to even endorse McCain because of a position of McCain's that, in a relatively rare occurrence, has not changed.  That's how strongly principled she was (note the past tense) in support of drilling in ANWR.

But now she's willing to sell out her principle in the name of political opportunism, certainly going well beyond just endorsing McCain.

Maybe McCain is planning to trade in his old position for a newer model, which would also appease the "Drill Here, Drill Now!" crowd.  Of course, that would be yet another major league flip-flop on John McCain's end.

In short, until McCain is willing to flip-flop on ANWR, Palin will have to backpedal on her earlier refusal to support McCain over ANWR, lest she face accusations of political spinelessness, to go along with the thin resume, far-right-wing extremism, abuse of power scandal, and financial mismanagement.



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Re: Sarah Palin: Against John McCain (none / 0)

The long twilight struggle against Sarah Palin and her subversive librarian eyewear continues unabated, I see.

Oh well, carry on, I suppose. Just try not to forget about the O-Joe Roadshow which is what was intended to be the Democratic message-of-the-day(s).


by blueflorida on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 01:52:39 AM EST

Not Going to Fly (none / 0)

Seriously guys, this is not a good argument.

I am all for bashing Sarah Palin on any number of her repuglican ideals.  But when she endorsed McCain and why she waited?  Really?  

Go look up when Biden endorsed.  Definitely not 7 months ago.

Lets win on arguments that actually make sense.


McCain = bad Obama = good
by CAchemist on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 01:55:27 AM EST

Re: Not Going to Fly (none / 0)

I agree ...

I would think only two steps needs to be done, and one of them is not bashing the poor little point guard from Wacilla High.

1.  Continue to stress her experience ... even against Obama, no matter what the wingnuts say, pales dramatically.   Only those who think abortion is the end-all topic, will find the answer to that pointing in her direction, through rose colored glasses.

2.  Ignore her.   Treat her like she is your little sister hanging around with her older brothers, ignore her, she will go away.


by Monkei on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 08:36:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Not Going to Fly (none / 0)

2.  Ignore her.   Treat her like she is your little sister hanging around with her older brothers, ignore her, she will go away.

hey!!  I am a little sister and I can tell you - I never went away when my bro ignored me ;)

depends on her character - she may fade, she may not.

at any rate, we should not underestimate the republicans - EVER.


by colebiancardi on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 11:10:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sarah Palin (none / 0)

If it does not come from the woman's mouth, it cannot be used against her or McCain. Plus, Biden didn't even endorse Obama, so the argument is mute.


Restore America's Strength.
by RJEvans on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 02:10:07 AM EST

R U a Republican? (none / 0)


overthrow the government~participate
by missliberties on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 09:56:51 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: R U a Republican? (none / 0)

What the hell are you talking about? If you want to cause trouble, get the hell off this site.


Restore America's Strength.
by RJEvans on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 02:55:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Do You need (none / 0)

anger management classes?


overthrow the government~participate
by missliberties on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 03:02:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Do You need (none / 0)

Ha, ha, ha.


Restore America's Strength.
by RJEvans on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 03:10:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

This should be on the front page. (none / 0)

Sarah Palin asking, "What is it exactly that the VP does every day?"


by Dumbo on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 06:28:28 AM EST

She is comparing VP to a Governor's job! (none / 0)

What is wrong with that? If we don beat her fair and square there will be a huge backlash!


You may not agree with What I say but don't forget I am a Democrat
by indydem99 on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 08:59:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: She is comparing VP to a Governor's job! (none / 0)

When will Democrats start to get some balls and realize that playing fair and square is the political equivalent of "nice guys finish last" ...and they do..and they will. TORA TORA TORA!!!!!!!!!!!!


by Lodgemannered on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 10:54:43 AM EST
[ Parent ]

McCain's daring strategy (none / 0)

Many were quick to forgive Obama's lack of experience for his eloquent "change" message-- but what if you put forth a white woman with roughly the same level of experience and perhaps an eloquent "reform" message?  Would the country be as forgiving?


by Sieglinde on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 07:20:06 AM EST

Re: McCain's daring strategy (none / 0)

I guess you need to define the word roughly for me.   I don't see her even coming close to Obama.   But I guess "roughly" could mean a little, a lot, almost, not nearly ...

America knows Obama, he was tested against maybe the second best political machine in his own party and won.   He has been vetted and has national experience.   He just didn't drop out of the tundra because some old guy picked him.


by Monkei on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 08:40:07 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: McCain's daring strategy (none / 0)

"Roughly the same level of experience"?

State Level Experience:
Palin: 2<years <br> Obama: >7.5 years

National experience:
Palin: 0 years
Obama: >3.5 years


Saxby Chambliss
by bosdcla14 on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 09:49:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: McCain's daring strategy (none / 0)

Roughly the same level of experience? Are you joking?
Obama has a law degree, was the president of Harvard Law review and also taught constitutional law at the University Of Chicago.
Palin has a bachelor's degree in journalism and got a job as a sportscaster.
Obama served in the state senate of Illinois (population 12 million) for 8 years until he was elected to US Senate in 2004.
Palin has a couple of local district appointments, was mayor of a town of 8700, and was elected governor of a state with 670,000 residents.
Not even close.
"Who are you for? That is the wrong question. It should be who is for you?" HRC
by skohayes on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 09:52:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: McCain's daring strategy (none / 0)

Compared to Biden and McCain, Obama's resume is closer to Palin's.  If the Obama strategy is to attack Palin's relative inexperience compared to Obama, then they're themselves revisiting Obama's own inexperience, precisely because Biden and McCain's resumes are thick.

That's why it's a daring strategy-- it may become a trap, if Obama's campaign isn't too careful.


by Sieglinde on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 07:13:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Are you a Republican? (none / 0)


overthrow the government~participate
by missliberties on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 09:57:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Are you a Republican? (none / 0)

No.  Are you?


by Sieglinde on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 07:10:21 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sarah Palin: Against John McCain Before She Wa (none / 0)


McCain did manage to step on the buzz from Obama's stirring closing ceremony speech. Palin-Biden seems a clear mismatch but perhaps not since she is such a charmer

Since Palin was a successful point guard, maybe she and Obama should go one-on-one.

homer   www.altara.blogspot.com


by Homer on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 07:32:46 AM EST

If this is the best you've got... (none / 0)

If this is the best you've got you can hand the election to McCain right now.  Are you serious?  I could write a book containing the statements Biden's made about Obama and their differences in positions.

For God's sake, Biden's one of the strongest Iraq war supporters there's been, and Obama's an anti-war candidate!


by cjbreisch on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 07:51:47 AM EST

Are you a Republican? (none / 0)


overthrow the government~participate
by missliberties on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 09:58:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: If this is the best you've got... (none / 0)

Don't say that,and don't be so cocky..yet. The American people have shown  just how stupid they can be. The populatiuon at large may still be  THAT stupid to re-elect  yet another Republican president and get the mess that they deserve.
Take nothing for granted.  Nobody can ,nor should they,no matter how things seem on the face of it.
Thats exactly why they need to be pounded long and hard.
by Lodgemannered on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 11:15:16 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Todd, I am sorry but this is a stupid diary (none / 0)

Think, who said in unequivocal terms that Obama is not ready to be president. The answer rings out loud-- Biden.

See, this knee-jerk reaction by Dems may loose
teh election for them.

Palin must be attacked in the Right way. She is to the  right of Bush. That is the line to take.
And there is ample evidence of this.


by ann0nymous on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 09:42:21 AM EST

Re: Todd, I am sorry but this is a stupid diary (none / 0)

Palin didn't run in the primaries. If she had, she would have been attacked for her lack of foreign policy, her short resume, and the fact that she just passed the biggest budget in the state's history.
Oh, and she also praised Obama's energy plan earlier this month:

August 4, 2008, Fairbanks, Alaska - Governor Sarah Palin today responded to the energy plan put forward by the presumptive Democratic nominee for President, Illinois Senator Barack Obama.

"I am pleased to see Senator Obama acknowledge the huge potential Alaska's natural gas reserves represent in terms of clean energy and sound jobs," Governor Palin said. "The steps taken by the Alaska State Legislature this past week demonstrate that we are ready, willing and able to supply the energy our nation needs."

In a speech given in Lansing, Michigan, Senator Obama called for the completion of the Alaska natural gas pipeline, stating, "Over the next five years, we should also lease more of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska for oil and gas production. And we should also tap more of our substantial natural gas reserves and work with the Canadian government to finally build the Alaska natural gas pipeline, delivering clean natural gas and creating good jobs in the process."

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2 008/08/29/1304936.aspx

Interestingly, the piece from MSNBC said the link to this article on her website was "broken".
I tried to access the Alaska state government site to look at the budget and the page cannot be found:

http://www.gov.state.ak.us/omb/

The fiscal year 2009 Alaska budget is also unavailable: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/omb/09_omb/bu dget/index.htm


"Who are you for? That is the wrong question. It should be who is for you?" HRC
by skohayes on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 10:01:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Todd, I am sorry but this is a stupid diary (none / 0)

duh ... Biden was running against him in the primaries.   Imagine where Ms Palin would have ended up if she was in the GOP primary?   Fact is, once we push her as the right wing zealot she is, far to the right of McCain ... she will be simply inexperienced AND out of touch.


by Monkei on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 11:51:41 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Does anyone know if she (none / 0)

is a Bush Republican?

That would be interesting to find out.


overthrow the government~participate
by missliberties on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 09:53:57 AM EST

Sarah Palin: Laughing at cancer (none / 0)

Actually, there's more dirt on Sarah Palin than just that.

This is the radio recording of Sarah Palin laughing at a cancer survivor being insulted live on air.

Courtesy of DailyKos: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/30/ 82113/4808/746/579971


by Arde on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 10:01:58 AM EST

Re: Sarah Palin: Laughing at cancer (none / 0)

well, I took the 3 minutes or so to go and listen to that "file".  Nothing there, 3 minutes of my life I will never get back.

Wasting time looking for crap on this woman.   Just attack her for what she is.  We don't have to make anything up or reach for anything, people just need to see exactly what qualifications, education, experience this person has, and I don't think you can count having 5 children as one because that would qualify just about every woman in Utah ... and push that point on American's.   All we here from the GOP is how this world is a dangerous place, be very scared, fight the terrorists wherever they are, and they give us this woman as the #2 on the ticket!


by Monkei on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 10:54:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sarah Palin: Against John McCain Before (none / 0)

Obama should make fun of McCain on this point through surrogates as much as McCain put out ads using HIllary's words against Obama.

Excellent. We need to marginalize McCain and reduce the good vibes during the convention.


by Pravin on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 11:46:52 AM EST

Re: Sarah Palin: Against John McCain Before She Wa (none / 0)

What if Sarah Palin's newest baby is not her own -- but is the child of her 16 year old daughter instead? The baby was born in a rural hospital, immediately after Palin delivered an address in Texas, flew to Anchorage (with nobody on board noticing she was pregnant), claimed her 'water broke,' flew to the rural town where she had been mayor, and 'delivered' the child.

See this dailykos diary that shows Palin with no pregnant belly in her "7th month" of pregnancy; and Palin's 16 year old daughter with an apparently pregnant belly just before she took 8 months off of school for "mononucleosis,"
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/30/ 121350/137/486/580223


by MS on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 01:21:04 AM EST


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