Posted on 05/12/2018 7:02:14 AM PDT by Kaslin
In his new book, The Restless Wave, and in an upcoming HBO documentary, U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) expresses regret about choosing former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate in the 2008 election. According to TheNew York Times, in the documentary, McCain refers to the Palin selection as “another mistake” he made in a long political career.
In his new book, McCain reportedly claims that former Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, a Democrat, would have been a better choice for the ticket. McCain noted that his advisers convinced him not to choose the Democrat, so he picked the relatively unknown Alaska Governor.
The “maverick” McCain has made a career out of trashing Republicans and “reaching across the aisle” to his friends in the Democratic Party. Of course, he would have preferred Lieberman, who is liberal on fiscal and social issues. A McCain-Lieberman ticket would have been a disaster and lost in a landslide. The only thing that prevented McCain from losing to Barack Obama in a total blowout was Sarah Palin.
While the 2008 was not a rout, Obama handily won both the popular vote and the Electoral College. On the campaign trail, McCain failed to connect with the American people and was nowhere near as smooth or polished as Obama. In the debates, McCain performed badly and was easily dispatched by his opponent, a better politician and presidential candidate.
Instead of being a mistake, selecting Sarah Palin was the best thing to happen to the 2008 McCain campaign. At the GOP convention, she gave a fiery speech that energized the delegates. In her only vice presidential debate against Joe Biden, Palin perform admirably.
On the campaign trail, Palin provided a spark, displaying much needed energy and enthusiasm. While McCain was a poor communicator and lacked vigor, Palin was a powerful speaker who exuded vitality and dynamism.
As the vice presidential candidate Palin was able to rally conservatives, who were unexcited about McCain, and encourage those voters to support the GOP ticket. It was Sarah Palin who helped create the powerful Tea Party movement that drove the Republican agenda for several years. In contrast, McCain was very unpopular with Tea Party groups. His moderate to liberal positions on a number of issues were more in tune with Barack Obama than the Republican Party.
As a presidential candidate, McCain refused to attack many of Obama’s extremely liberal positions. He even scolded talk show host Bill Cunningham for mentioning Obama’s middle name of Hussein at a rally. McCain said the campaign did not want to engage in such tactics. Of course, there was nothing wrong with mentioning Obama’s middle name or blasting his horrible platform.
McCain is a patriot who loves his country. He should be commended for his public service and his bravery as a prisoner of war in Vietnam for over five years. Unfortunately, in these last few years, he has turned very negative and has focused most of his attacks on the Republican Party.
His votes have also become especially unpredictable and have often been in conflict with his campaign rhetoric. For example, when he was running for re-election to the U.S. Senate, McCain promised the people of Arizona he would vote to repeal Obamacare. Unfortunately, after he was safely re-elected, McCain turned his back on his constituents and cast the deciding vote to retain Obamacare. He seemed to relish the opportunity to vote against President Trump and members of his own party.
Instead of being grateful to the GOP for honoring him with their presidential nomination, he seems bitter that he was not elected president. However, he has no one to blame but himself. McCain lost the race because he was a horrible candidate and refused to exploit the many weaknesses of his opponent. He should have followed the example of his running mate who effectively attacked Obama’s liberal positions and made a compelling case for conservative policies.
While Sarah Palin served her party with distinction, she was not given any respect by McCain campaign officials or the Republican Party. Over the last ten years, she said that McCain “repeatedly” apologized for how she was treated during the campaign. As a result, when Palin heard that McCain regretted choosing her, she said it felt “like a perpetual gut punch.”
Sarah Palin deserved much better treatment. No vice presidential candidate in American history has been subjected to as much criticism and abuse. She became the target for Republican elites who hated her style and for comedians who hated her conservatism and her pro-life stance and even mocked her for having a Down’s syndrome child.
Through it all, she handled the pressure with grace and class. Instead of regret, Senator McCain should express nothing but gratitude that Sarah Palin accepted his offer to be his running mate.
Didn’t she campaign for him when he was primaried?
What proof has been offered that McLame himself actually wrote the book?
Or has been making the comments attributed to him the last several months?
I disagree that Juan McTraitor loves his country.
I told anyone who would listen (and some who didn’t) that Palin was the most qualified of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates. She had at least one thing none of the others did, integrity. Oh, and she had more guts than the other three combined all packaged very nicely I might add.
No doubt McCain is treating her badly. What a mysoginist. (Read a$&hole)
Palin almost messed up the plan for the Kenyanesian Usurpation.
Shake it off, Sarah. Real Conservatives love you.
“...Palin Was The Only Bright Spot In The 2008 Race...”
True that, KC. Well said.
And I’d vote for HER again in a heartbeat. Which Trump would bring her in board ins some capacity.
That statement by McCain is the lowest of the low. What a disgrace he’s made of himself. Sad to see a bitter, dying man undo a lifelong legacy that had been respected fairly widely.
In a way she laid the groundwork for Trump.
Sarah Palin was the only reason the 2008 election wasn’t a 49 state landslide.
I hope McCain goes to hell knowing(understanding) deep down that Sarah Palin was the person that helped usher in President Trump.
Absolutely a joy to behold. I enjoyed her more than any other candidate to date.
I might have voted for OBAMA except I loved Sara...
Remember OBAMA ran as a CLINTON democrat..
my theory was McCain might die and Sara would be president...
McCain and the GOP a total waste....
Sara was the first TRUMPSTER...she was a populist..
Sara was indeed the bright light, and I also cast my vote for her.
You could tell how threatened to Left was by their psychotic reaction to her.
They weren’t worried about Juan; they had him in the bag.
She was a different story entirely.
He’s a disgrace, KC! Imagine saying that about Sarah - who only did good for him.
Great question - Suddenly, out of nowhere, from running behind, McCain WAS the candidate. How did it happen? Some slimy behind-the-scenes plan by the Swamp Dwellers. They had to be upset with Palin, and spent their vitriol trying to destroy her.
Too bad for them, we loved her. And we still hated McCain! Even more today - he is a real turd.
If you want my opinion, it’s Cindy and some ghost writers. Just follow her nasty twitter account.
Amen. Amen. I voted for Palin. She was campaigning hard and pushing conservatism. He was a dolt. I donated twice in that cycle. One on the day she got the VP nomination and gave a great speech. Again after her convention speech appearance. The only bright spots of the General campaign.
Plain was the only reason I was happy about voting for McCain.
Palin is finished in electoral politics. The media and the RINOS got to her just like they did with Quayle, a good senator not ready for prime time. All indications pointed to a McCain loss and the losing ‘audition’ would have been good for the party knowing she’s waiting in the wings as a successful governor. Unfortunately she played into their hands by quitting. Murkowski is up again in 2020. Don’t count on Palin helping vs. the swamp. Her kids are as screwed up as the Kennedy’s. Reagans kids are even dimmer bulbs.
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