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McCain says he regrets choosing Sarah Palin as his running mate
American Thinker ^ | 05/05/2018 | Thomas Lifson

Posted on 05/06/2018 9:14:40 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

The forthcoming final memoir from Senator John McCain, titled The Restless Wave, and a nearly two-hour-long HBO documentary on its way seem to be being used as an opportunity to settle some scores. Jonathan Martin of the New York Times has obtained copies of both books, and has spoken with the ailing senator at his ranch, where he seems to be spending his final days. This leaped out at me:

While he continues to defend Ms. Palin’s performance, Mr. McCain uses the documentary and the book to unburden himself about not selecting Mr. Lieberman, a Democrat-turned-independent, as his running mate.

He recalls that his advisers warned him that picking a vice-presidential candidate who caucused with Democrats and supported abortion rights would divide Republicans and doom his chances.

It is odd indeed to call it “sound advice” and to simultaneously wish he had disregarded it. Logically, this seems to mean that he wishes he had lost, while making a futile gesture towards bipartisanship, or maybe just avoiding contamination with the populism of Sarah Palin. It is an open secret that members of McCain’s campaign sought to sabotage Palin during the campaign, apparently preferring to lose rather than tolerate her views and her persona.

This odd, unsourced paragraph written by Martin offers a clue:

 Yet many in Mr. McCain’s own party believe that, by selecting Sarah Palin as his running mate in 2008, he bears at least a small measure of blame for unleashing the forces of grievance politics and nativism within the Republican Party.

I strongly suspect that McCain himself expressed these views to Martin, but asked not to be quoted.


(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 1moretime; 2008; johnmccain; mccain; notthisagain; palin; sarahpalin; strawberries
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To: SeekAndFind
The ingrate.

181 posted on 05/06/2018 5:36:23 PM PDT by conservatism_IS_compassion (Presses can be 'associated,' or presses can be independent. Demand independent presses.)
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To: SeekAndFind

For Sarah’s sake, I regret it too.


182 posted on 05/06/2018 5:58:54 PM PDT by YogicCowboy ("I am not entirely on anyone's side, because no one is entirely on mine." - J. R. R. Tolkien)
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To: sparklite2

Yep. So they silenced her. They were supposed to lose.


183 posted on 05/06/2018 5:59:29 PM PDT by YogicCowboy ("I am not entirely on anyone's side, because no one is entirely on mine." - J. R. R. Tolkien)
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To: SeekAndFind

Not only was McCain supposed to lose - he wanted to lose. He panicked when his polls surged after naming Gov. Palin as his running mate - had to do something stupid to kill the momentum. His relief when he lost was quite visible.


184 posted on 05/06/2018 7:35:10 PM PDT by Some Fat Guy in L.A. (Still bitterly clinging to rational thought despite it's unfashionability)
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To: Some Fat Guy in L.A.

I agree 100%. I’ve said all along, McCain wanted to lose. I was shocked that he won the primaries considering how poorly he did during debates and meetings with the press. A confused, feeble man.


185 posted on 05/06/2018 7:41:56 PM PDT by apocalypto
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To: Politically Correct
And I regret having to vote for him because I had no other choice voted for him. Period.
186 posted on 05/06/2018 8:40:27 PM PDT by LouAvul (The most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.)
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To: Liz

I voted for Liberman against Lowell Palmer Wackjob (Weicker). I voted for Dems only 4 times - Liberman, Ella Grass (family friend), a State representative from my town, who was anti income tax and a friend in my hometown for town council.


187 posted on 05/06/2018 8:50:07 PM PDT by Deplorable American1776 (Proud to be a DeplorableAmerican with a Deplorable Family...even the dog is, too. :-))
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To: Deplorable American1776

Sorry, Ella Grasso...


188 posted on 05/06/2018 8:58:09 PM PDT by Deplorable American1776 (Proud to be a DeplorableAmerican with a Deplorable Family...even the dog is, too. :-))
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To: SeekAndFind

Pretty pathetic when one has done so many dishonorable things in a long life and regrets one of the smartest decisions....


189 posted on 05/07/2018 2:53:57 AM PDT by trebb (I stopped picking on the mentally ill hypocrites who pose as conservatives...mostly ;-})
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To: sparklite2

Forget it, Sparklite. You are OFF my list of friends whom I will be inviting to my funeral! *snicker*


190 posted on 05/07/2018 8:11:33 AM PDT by alstewartfan (Lines of coffee cups on parade. Soldiers for keeping the night away. Al Stewart in Delia's Gone)
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To: SeekAndFind

I am sure Sarah Palin feels the same way after being attacked constantly and relentlessly after the election so much she was basically forced to resign as governor of Alaska...

I am sure she appreciates feeling a sense of loyalty to defend him every now and then since 2009 even when it was not popular with her own base and then never having Johnny Boy EVER DEFEND HER WHEN SHE WAS UNDER CONSTANT RELENTLESS ATTACKS!!!!

I hope McCain’s cancer takes it’s time and tortures his sorry ass slowly in excruciating pain before he snuff it...

ESAD John “Wet Start” McCain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


191 posted on 05/07/2018 5:28:29 PM PDT by GraceG ("Trust, But Verify the Plan!")
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To: SeekAndFind; pookie18

192 posted on 05/07/2018 5:34:18 PM PDT by GraceG ("Trust, But Verify the Plan!")
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To: SeekAndFind
Not really news. McCain's staffers have been blaming Palin for years -- even if they originally encouraged McCain to pick her.

McCain wouldn't have done better with any other running mate. His other choices: Romney, Pawlenty, Crist, Jindal, Ridge, Lieberman.

Palin certainly was more energetic and combative than any of them. She wasn't an ideal candidate, but McCain wasn't going to win anyway.

Questions: Would Palin have been more effective if she'd been prepped better and more, or was it her way to reject advice and just wing it? Would she have been a better candidate if she'd gotten more help? Or was she just too undisciplined to take direction? Or was she a net plus to McCain, who just wasn't a winning candidate in an election that was going to be lost anyway?

193 posted on 05/07/2018 5:41:52 PM PDT by x
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To: SeekAndFind

I didn’t vote for McCain, I voted for Sarah Palin.

5.56mm


194 posted on 05/07/2018 5:46:40 PM PDT by M Kehoe (THIS SPACE FOR RENT)
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To: x
Palin was a big plus for McCain. Those who attacked her, would have voted for Obama anyway.

Repeatedly Palin was unfairly attacked by MSM. Letterman went after her life a jilted stalker. He was obsessed with her, mocking and attacking not only her but her younger daughter.

195 posted on 05/07/2018 5:52:12 PM PDT by apocalypto
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To: GraceG

Thanks, GraceG!


196 posted on 05/07/2018 6:49:21 PM PDT by pookie18
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To: SeekAndFind

He regretted his first wife too when she became disabled so he dumped her.


197 posted on 05/07/2018 6:51:14 PM PDT by fatima (Free Hugs Today :))
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To: SeekAndFind

The only reason he got as many votes as he does did was BECAUSE of Sarah. What an ungrateful NASTY man.


198 posted on 05/07/2018 7:18:28 PM PDT by RooRoobird20 ("Democrats haven't been this angry since Republicans freed the slaves.")
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