Dick Cheney: Picking Sarah Palin for VP Was 'A Mistake'

Yahoo/ABC News ^ | Jonathan Karl

[dirtboy]

Dick Cheney has some advice for Mitt Romney on choosing a running mate: Don't pick another Sarah Palin.

In his first interview since receiving a heart transplant in March, Cheney told ABC News, that John McCain's decision to pick Palin as his running mate in 2008 was "a mistake" - one that it is important from Romney not to repeat.

It's subject on which Cheney has some unique experience. He helped Presidents Gerald Ford and George W. Bush lead their vice presidential searches and, of course, served as vice president for eight years. He's also privately offered some advice to both Romney and Beth Myers, who is leading Romney's search for a runningmate, on the process.

Cheney would not comment on what he told Romney and Myers, but he was harsh in his assessment of McCain's decision to pick Palin.

"That one," Cheney said, "I don't think was well handled."

"The test to get on that small list has to be, 'Is this person capable of being president of the United States?'"

Cheney believes Sarah Palin failed that test.

"I like Governor Palin. I've met her. I know her. She - attractive candidate. But based on her background, she'd only been governor for, what, two years. I don't think she passed that test…of being ready to take over. And I think that was a mistake."

[reasonisfaith]

Why does Cheney fail to name specific presidential duties that are beyond Palin’s abilities?

Because there are no specific functions of the Oval Office that Palin couldn’t perform. This is exemplified by her documented accomplishments as Governor.

[Cyman]

The VP pick is the most overrated choice in all of politics. Unless the pick can bring in a huge amount of votes eg Kennedy picking Johnson for the southern Democrat vote,it don’t mean squat.

Quickly, who was Carters’ VP?

[old school]

“We the People are the only ones who can stop this by defunding the GOP and refusing to support their reachers across the aisle..”

It’s not enough to just defund the GOP. If the GOP win in November, that will afford conservatives some (little) time to look elsewhere for leadership. You have but to look at California to see the trajectory the GOP establishment is on.

[mkjessup]

Your comprehension skills need some repair . . . .
#142: "It is sad that you consider the topic . . . ." [emphasis added]

Thank you for establishing that indeed, your comprehension is lacking. My statement that it is "sad" that you consider the topic of child abuse to be rhetorical fodder for your own weak attempts to debate a topic, does not mean that my observation reflects my own personal sadness. It would seem that you have a tendency to make everything personal, the observation was to point out the hollowness of your own soul, a soul which would stoop that low in invoking child abuse to score some kind of points. You little rude one, are the sad one, and you continue to establish that with every post you make.

Do you find yourself feeling sad often? What else makes you sad? There are people on this thread who truly want to help you

Your own projection confirms everything I've said.

Get professional help.

[Mountain Mary]

“Regardless of whether it was a mistake or not, i wish Palin hadn’t been picked by McCain. Can you imagine how strong she would have been this go around without the media hounding her and trying to sabotage her every day for the past 4 years?”

Sarah Palin was launched onto the public American stage as a result of being chosen as McCain’s running mate. So like a bad marriage that produces great kids(mine), it was the only way for her to become the influential woman that she is today.

Cheney and everyone else who opines about what shoulda or coulda been is wasting their own and everyone else’s time.
It is what is it. Now let’s get out of the way and allow Sarah to continue to do what she does best.,,ie help Conservatives get elected to office.

[mkjessup]

Why does Cheney fail to name specific presidential duties that are beyond Palin’s abilities?

You would be better served directing that inquiry to the former Vice President's website.

Because there are no specific functions of the Oval Office that Palin couldn’t perform. This is exemplified by her documented accomplishments as Governor.

For those tuning in late, perhaps you could list those documented accomplishments for us? I've misplaced my copy, thanks for the help.

[kitkat]

>>>Palin did not lose the election for McCain. McCain lost the election for McCain.>>>

Amen!

I waited week by week for McCain to make a statement about why he should be president. I gave up the night before the election.

[dirtboy]

[My Favorite Headache]

http://m.voices.yahoo.com/the-time-now-again-romney-11544376.html

[NKP_Vet]

No the mistake was Bush picking the homo-marriage supporting, war profiteer Dick Cheney AS HIS RUNNING MATE.
Sarah Palin was the only reason McCain didn’t lose 40 states.

[My Favorite Headache]

http://m.voices.yahoo.com/the-time-now-again-romney-11544376.html

[mkjessup]

J.D. Hayworth? You mean the guy who ran for office in a Tea Party era knowing he had been in an informercial touting ways to get free government money?

Sounds like you were supporting McCain in that primary. Looks good on you.

He should have stayed on the radio and allowed a good conservative without his baggage to run instead.

I don't recall our esteemed Founder (who supported Hayworth) calling on that conservative candidate to drop out in favor of someone more qualified? Who did you have in mind instead of Hayworth?

Take your time.

[1rudeboy]

Does the internet make you sad?

[mkjessup]

Not at all, however Cheney's position on homos (irregardless of his daughter being a lesbian) has nothing to do with the topic of this thread, is that not correct?
Pretty funny coming from a guy who has posted solely to bash Palin supporters instead of discussing Cheney's comments, pro or con.

Au contraire, my posts were directed at those extreme Palin supporters whose Cheney-hating comments were so over the top that they screamed out for rebuke. The hate being directed at our former Vice President would be condemned by Sarah Palin herself, and those assailing Dick Cheney ought to know that.

Do you?

[Third Person]

Palin was not ready to be President because she isn’t part of the elitist globalist club, of which Dick Cheney is a member.

[reasonisfaith]

The onus is on Cheney to describe the specific duties that he’s claiming are beyond Palin’s abilities.

In trying to appeal to emotion, Cheney ignores facts and logic.

Again, the question is: what specific duties could Palin not do?

[mkjessup]

You two need to get a room.

[CrosscutSaw]

After the way Bush/Cheney led the country for eight years I don’t think Cheney has too much credibility in judging who is fit to be president.

[dirtboy]

Sounds like you were supporting McCain in that primary. Looks good on you.

Uh, no, I was not. I would have preferred someone like Shadegg to get in. Hayworth was a compromised candidate from the beginning, as events proved out. And he ran without caring that he was compromised, and too many people were so eager to get rid of McCain that they failed to see the problems with Hayworth until it was too late.

[1rudeboy]

How about angry? Does the internet make you angry?

#83: "I hit the abuse on your puerile graphic . . . ."