It was almost like campaign 2008 all over again. Senator John McCain was sticking up for his former running mate Sarah Palin this morning on CNN. McCain said he was "saddened by the ... vicious attacks" on Palin.
(NEWSCOM)Photos (1 of 1)
McCain saddened by Palin attacks but predicts resurrection
By Jimmy Orr | 08.02.09
It’s just like the old Huey Lewis song from “Back to the Future” where the occasional doo-wop performer sings about going back in time.
Because hearing John McCain this morning sticking up for Sarah Palin makes it feel like the 2008 campaign season again. It’s like McCain has morphed into Marty McFly. And Palin is perhaps, George McFly. And the media, maybe, is Biff.
Then again, this analogy might be an abject failure.
Regardless, McCain — appearing on CNN’s State of the Union said he was “…saddened by the fact that there are still such vicious attacks on her and her family.”
“I’ve never seen anything quite like it,” he added.
When asked about the former governor’s decision to step down, McCain said it was a decision he supported. “People make decisions, what they think is best for their own future, their state, the country and their family. And I’m not aware of all the influences,” he said.
“Sarah, I think, made, clearly, the best decision,” he added. “I think she will continue to contribute. I think she will continue to be a force.”
As for the “vicious attacks” he referenced, there were no specifics. But Palin supporters could — and have — come up with a laundry list of grievances.
Is it the media’s fault? Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza was asked that question.
“I think there is a way to separate where the media has covered her aggressively and are there a lot of untrue and unsubstantiated rumors on blogs?” he said noting that he didn’t want to disparage the medium as he pens a successful blog on the Post’s website.
“Are there things out there that are unfair to Sarah Palin that are promulgated as truth? Yes. Has she given the media many reasons to be skeptical about the way in which she has gone about ending this phase of her political career and beginning the next? Yes,” he added.
Of course the latest flap receiving much media attention was the rumor that Palin and former First Dude Todd were getting a divorce. This claim was quickly swatted down by a Palin spokeswoman yesterday. Click here to read about it.
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Just like Marty McFly, we’ll always stick up for you. So follow us on Twitter!
<< Sarah Palin STILL not getting a divorce (in case you don’t believe it) | MainComments
2. Jack | 08.02.09
Never seen anything like it, eh McCain? I guess McCain is just a liar because he sure has seen the same thing and worse before.
McCain saw Republicans investigate Hllary for making money on cattle futures, and he saw Republicans investigate her for losing money on land deals. McCain saw Republican investigate Hillary for firing staff and for hiring staff. McCain was even there when GOP Congresman Dan Burton took time out from seeing his tax-payer supported mistress to shoot a water melon in his back yard to prove that Hillary murdered her good friend Vince Foster.
What Palin has gone through is a drop in the ocean compared to the mean-spirited, baseless harrassment John McCain and the GOP put Hillary through.
The difference is that, unlike Republicans, Hillary is not a whiner or a quiter.
3. memory | 08.02.09
it was mccain’s campaign that leveled “such vicious attacks” against palin immediately after the election.
5. Mann Coulter | 08.02.09
What’s the matter, can’t the pitbull with lipstick take the heat? Ms Barracuda can’t heck it. Todd is whipped to the bone.
6. fourthsign | 08.02.09
the people are beginning to see that these liberal loon losers are destroying the country, the constitution, democracy and are no longer representing the people!
7. gavin cooke | 08.02.09
grasspress I am confused. Nixon and Bill Clinton were both impeached and convicted criminals, what was Palin guity of when fool hardy liberals falsely accused her of everything from not knowing Africa was a continent to not being the mother of her own child? Simply put a democrat is very happy to believe lies told about a conservative but unable to accept tose told about liberals.
A grown up accepts the truth regardless of source. Grow up….
8. Alexandra | 08.02.09
McCain is simply defending himself…after all, he picked her. As far as the media being extraordinarily aggressive toward her, hmmm — does anybody remember Quayle? How about John Kerry? And what about Hillary Clinton–she certainly didn’t hide behind her gender. How about Jimmy Carter and his “sinning in his mind? C’mon–if Sarah Palin thinks she’s tough enough to play at the national political level, then you don’t get to cry foul just because you’re not voted homecoming queen. She needs to remember, she’s not in Wassila anymore.
9. Dirge.exe | 08.02.09
McCaain still doesn’t get it…the ONLY reason anyone supported her was because he put her on the ticket. She stands for NOTHING, and is completely disassociated with reality. John, the joke is over, please don’t let it go on any further. It hurts the country and you.
11. Ellie | 08.02.09
I do not agree with grasspress - I am not a Palin supporter, but I was appalled at how the media treated her and, in particular, her family. They went way overboard!! I have no respect for the media as they twist the news and make their opinions truth. I would not trust anything the media said period.
13. Izzy | 08.02.09
The problem mccain is that you never know when he is truthful.
As for palin, imo, she will not attain elected office again. I don’t believe there are enough radical rightists to get her into office on any level.
Y think there is a dark side to this woman.
14. jim Sempek | 08.02.09
The media, in most cases is the witch in most of the controversies of the republic mess. McCain needs to chill out and go to work. Palin needs her free time to sort out what she wants to do. If these people would spend this much energy on closing out the war and getting a decent health plan on the table perhaps they would be representing the people of this great country enstead of their selfish selves.
15. Seneca | 08.02.09
gavin cooke writes: “when fool hardy liberals falsely accused her of everything from not knowing Africa was a continent . . . ”
Uh, actually, if you’ll check the record, you’ll see that she didn’t know that.
(And I agree: It’s always best not to make foolhardy statements, or even fool hardy.)
16. Everyman | 08.02.09
Behind all the “unfair media attacks” there is the reality that Palin was wholly unqualified for national office. (I’ll leave it to the citizens of Alaska to decide if she was qualified to be governor, but given her resignation the answer have to be an unqualified “No.”) Palin has only herself to blame; she should have blinked. Maybe then she would have spared herself, her family and the nation all the embarrassment and drama of the past year. McCain should also reflect on his role in this personal, and near-national, debacle.
17. Scott | 08.02.09
“Never seen anything like it, eh McCain? I guess McCain is just a liar because he sure has seen the same thing and worse before.
McCain saw Republicans investigate Hllary for making money on cattle futures, and he saw Republicans investigate her for losing money on land deals. McCain saw Republican investigate Hillary for firing staff and for hiring staff. McCain was even there when GOP Congresman Dan Burton took time out from seeing his tax-payer supported mistress to shoot a water melon in his back yard to prove that Hillary murdered her good friend Vince Foster.
What Palin has gone through is a drop in the ocean compared to the mean-spirited, baseless harrassment John McCain and the GOP put Hillary through.
The difference is that, unlike Republicans, Hillary is not a whiner or a quiter.”
On top of that, lets not forget the near-race riots incited by him and Ms. Palin during the election.
18. henry fiorentini | 08.02.09
Admittedly, I’m no fan of Palin, but I hardly think the media has been ‘unprecedented’ in their ‘attacks’ on her.
TO Q
19. greg | 08.02.09
The comment section looks like a Palin Derangement Syndrome support group, with a few normal people stumbling in from time to time. Palin was more qualified to be VP than 0bama was to be President, and she is more qualified than he is right now. I voted for McCain only because of Palin, and I and millions of others will be glad to vote for her again in 2012. By then we’ll need a person with common sense to clean up the mess 0bama and his cronies are making of the country.
20. henry fiorentini | 08.02.09
Admittedly, I’m no Palin supporter. But I don’t think the media has been ‘unprecedented’ in any recent attacks. They’ve basically ignored her - EXCEPT for the attention that she overtly brings to herself. And quitting a governership in mid-term is no small news item, under any circumstances.
And from the ‘fair is fair’ dept, a candidate whose M.O. is something like ‘Can’t we all get along???’ should expect different recepttion from the media and the public, than one who BRAGS that they are a ‘pit bull with lipstick’.
Simply put : If you are going to ‘throw down the guantlet’, then don’t **** and whine when you are treated in kind. That’s hypocritical, and THAT is why I am not sympathetic to Palin.
And by the way, I believe that Clinton WAS impeached, but not convicted. There mere vote that passed for articles of impeachment in and of itself qualifies for ‘impeachment’. Nixon resigned even before the impeachment vote was cast. Andrew Johnson (successor to Lincoln) was the only president impeached and convicted.
22. Izzy | 08.02.09
The problem with mccain is that you never know when he is truthful.
As for palin, imo, she will not attain elected office again. I don’t believe there are enough radical rightists to get her into office on any level.
I think there is a dark side to this woman.
23. John | 08.02.09
Maybe Palin is getting heat because she is out of her league but can’t accept it. There is a related post at http://iamsoannoyed.com/?page_id=588
25. Robbo | 08.02.09
This from a guy whose family was viciously attacked (over his adopted daughter) in the 2000 GOP presidential primary campaign by George W. Bush’s political operatives and then he turned around and kissed George W.’s butt for 8 years simply to aid his own political career. He has no credibility.
26. Ck | 08.02.09
Poor Johnnie… a leader who cannot admit when he is wrong. Very dangerous! Sarah’s nothing more than “another notch on his bedpost” in his life-long fixation with bubble-headed beauty queens.
27. Gaias Child | 08.02.09
Palin is just dying by the sword she’s lived by. If Papa McCain wants to protect her from that, then he has to abandon the chance to tutor and educate her so that she can take a collaborative role in something. With McCain, “Maverick” was one of many phases but to survive in the Senate, he’s been criss crossing the aisle and the religious philosophy demarcations through the years. Did he learn anything that he use to help Palin improve her chances? If “Maverick” means she wants to be the tarantula at the cocktail party, then she’s got to expect what that choice brings. Right? Or no, by being cheerily dim witted, she can play that role and then feel sorry for herself when everybody jumps up screaming in horror at the prospects. McCain’s being dim witted and juvenile himself to feel sorry for her. She’s ridden her ticket this far and she’s not done. But really, she’s done. Done like Rush Limbaugh who preaches to a choir that has too narrow a slice of our population to elect a president. Praise God!!!!
28. promise | 08.02.09
john feels sorry for sarah?oh come on, john!sarah was the best the repigs could come up with.your campaign was nothing short of the sailing of the titanic.john’s a Bore.sarah can’t keep her foot out of her mouth.poor sarah’s future is in late night comedy fodder.we have to admit-it’s been a distraction aside from dealing with the serious mess you repigs left us.
29. Fact Checker | 08.02.09
Alexandra,
Here are the facts.
Bill Clinton *was* impeached by the US House of Representatives.
Bill Clinton *was not* convicted of the impeachment by the US Senate.
Regards,
The Fact Checker
30. gotogoal | 08.02.09
McCain has been a buffoon for a long time now……Arizona is ready to replace him.
I’m no Hillary fan - the press was at least as hard on Hillary and in many ways, they were harder on her than Sarah from Wasilla.
If Palin wanted the press to leave her family out of politics, then Palin should have left them out of politics to begin with. 1st dude was all over the place……..and she often times touted her christian values (fanaticism is alive and well in the Republican party as well as the Mideast) with her fine upstanding children……then the proverbial **** hit the fan. Palin was the one who began show casing her clan on stage with old wrinkle **** McCain.
Palin is done politically - even the religious fundamental party (Republican Party) realizes this.
31. pob | 08.02.09
wait a damn minute……..was anyone listening to Palin attacking Obama during the campaign? Questioning his citizenship, implying he hung out with terrorist; or worse was a terrorist himself. Give me a break girlfriend. You bring all this on yourself. Stop parading your kids in front of the camera to score points with “moms”. Quit having you picture taken in front of a slaughterhouse; quit shooting wolves from a helicopter. Quit attacking the only people making you famous. I for one would hope to never hear your name again.
32. Izzy | 08.02.09
What attcks? Just because you like her doesn’t give her a free pass. I’m not sure what all her supporters are whining about? She embarrassed herself world wide. What do you like about her? is it her looks, her intellect, her family values, her relationship with a voodoo priest? Maybe because she and tood are connected, albeit unknown how closely, to a secessionist organization? Or perhaps we should take mercy on her for being shamed by her teen aged, unmarried pregnant daughter on national TV. The media did that…..
33. Greg | 08.02.09
Sarah Palin sure does play the victim role well, eh?
I love how the McCain campaign thrust her into the national spotlight, shouted “dogpile!” in order to grab headlines, and then cried foul when everyone dogpiled her. This was an orchestrated victimization.
34. JimBob | 08.02.09
Conservative wingnuts are understandably confused about objective reporting of facts about Palin, which are often video of her making a fool of herself, because the majority of wingnuts get their “news” only from FOX, Limbaugh and other talkers. Any reported factual information that conflicts with their beliefs is perceived as an assualt on their values, or on a person who espouses them such as Palin. Without any help from the “liberal media” Palin has demonstrated herself to be an intellectual lightweight, emotionally unstable, impulsive and undisciplined, and woefully unqualified for national office…and she could have been a melanoma away from commanding our military arsenal. We dodged a bullet on that one.
35. deb | 08.02.09
The hatred is truly unbelievable. Why is what really concerns me.
Just seems very uppty to me. She’s a woman, not educated enougth, not strong enough. You are kidding right? She is indeed a woman, she has a bacholers degree, she can take down a mouse. Whats the problem? That’s right she’s’ a woman.
36. linda | 08.02.09
Well, well, not only do we have some politically correct folks on here, but some spelling geniuses!
38. Beth Thornton | 08.02.09
Speaking of unqualified, where does that leave OBAMA? He has shown very well his lack of experience in anything, but campaigning. At least Palin was a Governor! She would know better than to bankrupt our country in 6 months in a recession!
39. Cactus Joe | 08.02.09
gavin cooke: “Nixon and Bill Clinton were both impeached and convicted criminals”
Alexandra: “Check your facts — Clinton was not impeached”
Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives and acquitted in the Senate. Nixon resigned after the Judiciary Committee passed articles of impeachment, but before the full House vote.
As for convictions, Nixon was pardoned by President Ford and faced no criminal prosecution. Clinton was investigated for perjury, but never indicted. Thus, neither was a convicted criminal.
40. bibi | 08.02.09
Alexandra - Palin has no business on the national political stage but actually, Clinton WAS impeached. See Wikipedia.
41. J | 08.02.09
Alexandra@10:
Clinton was indeed impeached by the House of Representatives, but the Senate voted to acquit. I believe you’re thinking of Nixon — he was never impeached; he resigned before proceedings could go that far, and he was pardoned by Ford. So neither Nixon or Clinton are “convicted criminals” as Gavin Cook contends, but Clinton *was* impeached. (Andrew Jackson is the only other president to ever be impeached, FWIW.)
42. Jamie | 08.02.09
To Alexandra:
Check YOUR facts. Clinton was impeached. He just wasn’t removed from office.
43. Arty Lunch | 08.02.09
McCain has never seen anything like this? Has he forgotten Rush playing dogs barking while laughing anytime he mentioned a tween aged Chelsey Clinton? He’s forgotten the swift boaters? McCain can get back to important biz like Jack Johnson’s purging even though McCain voted against a MLK holiday. Pew!
Palin was partly used by McCain as a self avowed pit-bull expecting no flak because she’s a woman? Pew!
44. Ray Dobson | 08.02.09
Palin is a joke, and the reason the Republan party lost so disastrously last November. Millions of voters were demanding answers to why they had lost their jobs, their homes, their life savings, and access to health care, and the Republans just kept banging on about Jeremiah Wright and some guy who was a radical in Chicago in the 60’s when Obama was 4 years old and not even living in Chicago. Clowns like Palin and Joe the Plumber were the public face of the Republan party, and it was blatantly obvious to all except the mouth-foaming base that the Republans wanted to win at all costs but were not at all serious about governing, or about fixing the problems they had created over the last eight nightmare years with their corruption, greed, incompetence and reckless warmongering.
Palin-Taitz ‘12? Bring it on!
45. Reality | 08.02.09
As our country swings far away from what our Founding Fathers so hoped, one cannot help but cry when we see how far below the morality line we as a society have sunk. Just read the comments from any sight (including this one) and the majority are demeaning snipes based on misinformation and innuendoes; yet, most posters have a gleeful tone when spreading the hate. Why is that? How is calling another family derogatory names without any merit honorable? If the comments from the posters and our media define how we as a society has progressed, than I am afraid we have already reached the point of no return.
How sad that our country’s most popular blogs are Daily Kos and Huffington where hateful, uninformed, and brainwashed citizens are in full display.
46. John Carpenter | 08.02.09
“Behind all the “unfair media attacks” there is the reality that Palin was wholly unqualified for national office.”
Nonsense. Those who attack Palin are doing so because of their own emotional issues.
I’m an independent who has voted for Bobby Kennedy, Rudy Guiliani, against Reagan and Nixon, for Gore, and who went with McCain.
I agree with McCain. I have never seen a politician other than a sitting president be the target of such hysteria and IRRATIONAL viciousness.
Palin states she can see Russia from her House and it becomes unimpeachable proof of her ignorance. Obama claims he has visited all 57 states (with the exception of Alsaka and Hawaii) and its spun as a reference to the 57 nation states that are Islamic.
Can anyone really be ignorant enough yo believe a woman who knows what the acronym FATA means and its implication with respect to hunting Osama doesn’t read newspapers? Similarly, can anyone who was involved as a plaintiff in the Exxon Valdez case actually be so consumed by hate for the woman they would believe she wasn’t
familar with any Supreme Court rulings.
And by the way, there is no singular “Bush Doctrine”. There are as many as six depending on which scholar you listen to.
The people who readily buy into all the defamation directed at Palin are probably descendants of the uber-gullibles who actually believed martians had invaded America on Halloween night in 1938.
47. Mickey Finn | 08.02.09
The venom of many of the previous comments, the arrogance and viciousness of the press only serves to confirm that we are getting exactly what we deserve.
Our acceptance of the mistreatment of political candidates, our desire for the sensational and disregard for the truth assures that we will end up with the lowest common denominator of candidate. It also assures that we will be stuck with those same candidates for the duration.
We deserve Obama, Bush and Clinton and the pathetic Republican Congress we had and the pathetic and misguided Democratic Congress we now have.
They are the worst of the best.
48. Alex Waverley | 08.02.09
Wow. It seems few folks on both sides need to check their facts.
Nixon was not impeached Gavin, he resigned to avoid impeachment.
Alexandra, Clinton was impeached by the House of Representative and acquited by the Senate.
Too bad people can’t be made to pass a civics test before posting.
49. blogger | 08.02.09
Is he saddened by all the **** the Rush Limbaugh and his cronies dish out. I doubt it. Palin reaps what she. Is is quick to criticize and question the loyalty of others but can’t take criticism some earned, some political and yes some below the belt nonsense. She reaps what she sows and should stop crying. I like McCain but I do question his judgement after the last election. If a sad Demagogue like Palin is the best the Republicans can offer I think the party is doomed.
50. Eric | 08.02.09
What if young Sarah Palin had driven a car into an Alaska lake and left her date to drown and not reprot for 12 or so hours. At least when the Republican sscrew up they force their own out. Because of the unresolved justice for Mary Jo the Democrats cannot do anything else but let other comtemptable individuals hold office. They have no moral ground to force other Democrats out if they try it will only bring light to Ted. It is a wink, wink, nudge, nudge metality, if Ted can get away with that then …
Why was Ted never tried?
I challenge the media to do Ted Kennedy what they are doing to Sarah Palin.
Eric
51. Dave | 08.02.09
John still doesn’t get it! After Sarah was announced he jumped to a 10 point lead. Then, she opened her mouth, didn’t stick to the script, started trying to dazzle us with her wits, and quickly lost the election for him. The fact that John would resort to such a gimmick, instead of considering the well-being of the country, tells me we’re lucky he never became President.
52. shrink | 08.02.09
No, Sarah and Todd aren’t getting divorced. But they are both having sex change operations.
53. avafreebird | 08.02.09
I am truly confused as to how people continue to perceive Sarah Palin as “unqualified” etc.
I also don’t understand how they can excuse or explain the amazing avalanche of hatred and criticism levelled at her.
NOBODY in recent memory -has been villified as she has.
It so happens she has more executive experience than Barack Obama. And her philosophy is pretty clear; she puts the American People first,is not an elitist, is NOT against intelligent conservation and green energy, is realistic about America’s enemies, is warm hearted and inclusive, and has proven , with actual RESULTS, to have been careful with money , excellent at diplomacy, and an independent thinker in her ACTIONS in office.
All I can think of is that people hate her because 1. she is VERY cute and sexy while still being traditional and a wife and mother, and women are NOT supposed to be like that and still be steely and full of fight.
and 2. she is rather a lady in the old fashioned (still relevant) sense, and a civil, friendly person, and thus provides a clean target to throw dirt at, and shape into a scapegoat, much as the “nice girl” at school is sometimes villified by others as being “naiive” or “not cool” because she isn’t interested in mud wrestling, but in a reasoned argument and a good and clean life.
54. Morg | 08.02.09
Presidents Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives but acquitted by the Senate. Nixon was not impeached.
If you guys would watch some FOX News, you would have your facts straight…
55. avafreebird | 08.02.09
PS to call Sarah a “demagogue” just boggles the mind…..
She is the MOST un-scripted candidate in recent memory….in contrast to the utter puppets we have now and our teleprompter and ideology- dependent President.
With Sarah in charge, we would have ongoing real diplomacy, with charm, and an iron fist, we would not have tripled our national debt overnight, we would be moving rapidly to energy independence, we would not be worrying about the economy as she would cut all the pork and probably find tax benefits and cuts as well.
Not to mention a high nation wide morale boost, and a resurgence of patriotism and our founder’s values all with a smile and a wink.
Instead of the murky, angry, sad, dangerous mess we are in now…
56. Lookin11 | 08.02.09
I rather liked that she didn’t know about the inside workings of the Washington machine. I think we ought to throw out the whole batch of them and start over, like the Canadians did a few years ago. The woman was smart and it’s the job of a leader to gather information from subordinates and make decisions based upon that information. I think she would have done fine with that function and would have been immune from the lobbiest disease that runs rampant throughout Washington. Those who argue that she was not qualified are simply asking for more of the same as we’ve seen already. I was ready to vote for change, but the kind an outsider brings, not the Obama insider kind that we got.
57. DL | 08.02.09
I do remember John Mccain saying Janet Reno was the mother of Chelsea Clinton
and basiclly calling her ugly.
58. retry | 08.02.09
Gavin Cookie said: “A grown up accepts the truth regardless of source. Grow up….”
Yeah take a page from the Birther’s playbook and GROW UP!
59. retry | 08.02.09
Lookin11 said: “The woman was smart…”
See, the thing is, she wasn’t smart. And she gave the media A LOT of sound bytes that didn’t need to be taken out of context to show just how NOT smart she was. **** even her resignation speech, which I have to assume was written beforehand, was full of non-sequitor mishmash masquerading as causality and logical explanation.
60. Mike Anderson | 08.02.09
I am a resident of Alaska and am always entertained and intrigued by the spot light that Palin has received since she was nominated by McCain to run as his V.P. candidate in 2008.
Before Palin was thrust on the national stage of politics she was in my opinion an effective governor (I did not vote for her nonetheless). She ran against the good-old-boys ( as she called the GOP in AK herself) and won bringing in ethics reform, tax and royalties increases on the Producers (oil companies doing business in AK), and an agreement to pursue building a natural gas pipeline to Alberta, CA. To get all of this done she used the AK Democrats as allies and the AK GOP who were wary of her went all along not willing to buck her popularity at the time.
Since she was nominated by McCain all things have gone downhill for Palin in Alaska. The AK Dems reversed their alliance with her and the AK GOP got brave enough to challenge her. She had only a small faction of very conservative AK legislature left that she could rely on. In effect, she was no longer an effective Governor for the citizens of Alaska. While this is a deeply red state her popularity amongst Alaskans plummeted by 40% since her V.P. nomination.
Many people here in Alaska think that it is time to move on from Palin and get back to the future.
61. MDH1984 | 08.02.09
“Never seen anything like it”? Really John? What about when GWB and cronies ran the smear campaign against YOU and YOUR family in the 2000 primaries by starting the rumor you fathered an illegitimate black daughter (in reality, of course, the circulated pictures were of the daughter you and Cindy adopted from an orphanage in Bangladesh). Personally, I think you would have scored a lot of points by dealing a Buzz Aldrin style face bomb on W and Rove, but I can see how hugging the man was the more “mavericky” move.
Either way, it seems to me that what Bush & Co. did to you back in 2000 was a thousand times worse than anything the media has said about Ms. Palin (who clearly would like nothing better than to continue the food fight with the “mainstream media” through the 2012 primaries).
Sorry John, but you can’t be both a maverick and a water carrier.
62. lookin11 | 08.02.09
I have to disagree with Retry’s comment that Palin isn’t smart. There’s a huge difference between intelligence and ignorance. Palin gave naive answers to some questions, which led to ridicule. She was trying to think up answers without knowing all of the facts, so she looked foolish on several occasions. This is a failure of McCain to prepare her properly, more than of Palin. Those sound bytes took on a life of their own and were really a tempest in a teacup. If you followed her closely, most of the time she gave clear, concise answers. When asked about subjects that she knows, her answers are direct, well considered, and articulated very clearly. I spent a lot of time watching her before I came to the conclusion that she is quite bright. Is she a Mensa? Probably not, but she probably has an IQ of about 125, which is more than 2/3 of the people in Washington.
63. Bob | 08.02.09
Just to clear up some misconceptions, Clinton was impeached for lying to congress about his sex life and not convicted of anything. Nixon was not impeached for authorizing burglary of a Democratic reelction office, but rather resigned and was pardoned of any future charges. Sarah Palin was never impeached or convicted of any crime, but, unlike the other two, is a dolt and unworthy of public leadership roles.
64. MDH1984 | 08.02.09
@ Izzy #22
Correct me if I’m wrong, but it seems to me that your argument is essentially ‘Palin has been unfairly criticized because she’s a woman’.
I won’t attempt to refute your point right now (I’m sure there’s a word limit on here), but will instead just pose a question; Is Sarah Palin really someone you think of as a role model for women? And if so, why?
As a man with four younger sisters, I think it’s important my sisters have strong female role models in their lives, though I leave it up to them to decide who those women should be. If they chose to put Sarah Palin at the top of their lists, I would be disappointed, but I would be out of line to try and bully them into agreement with myself re: the ex-governor.
However, I am grateful for the fact that not one of my sisters thinks of Ms. Palin as someone to idolize, and I’m sure that for their part, my sisters are equally grateful I didn’t choose to model my behavior off people like Rush Limbaugh or Glenn Beck.
65. Everyman | 08.02.09
@ 19 Greg: It seems that those with Palin Derangement Syndrome are those who believe she was qualified. Something along the lines that the WMDs in Iraq were somehow tied to al-Qaida and 9/11. Keep up the delusion.
66. Barbara C | 08.02.09
sigh. I can’t believe we are still reading, debating, taking sides, etc. on the top of Ms. Palin. I have never seen so much wasted air on someone so incredibly lacking in intelligence. People …Ms. Palin will never run this country. She is not an smart woman. Soccer moms are soccer moms because they are good at driving kids to soccer games…not running the country - or for that matter a state. Palin left office because she was ineffective after showing the world how inexperienced she really is. McCain is just an old man at this point. He’s like the uncle you avoid at a family reunion. Both of these - very nice people - are just that. Nice people who have failed upwards. And finally, if Ms. Palin does not like the press and the way they treat her then she should definitely stop calling press conferences and/or alerting the press where she’s gonna be at any given hour of the day. ick. ick ick. who cares? Really…who cares?
67. Milo | 08.02.09
Well Sarah palin pretty much messed up the McCain campain by throwing the fact that she would refuse a child an abortion if her father got her pregnant and by turning all the stimulus money down in the state of Alaska in which Sean Parnell, the new gov. is fighting to get back. Not only did she backstab the whole republican party by trying to run from her responsibilities as VP for Mc Cain but she also drug quite a few other people down with her. Me being one of them. That dancing diva? Yea that was me it cost me my career. Thx Sarah! Yea I do predict that she may go back to her happy go lucky self and may be able to focus on her job now that shes no longer the gov. of Alaska But I also predict that that she permanantly demolished the McCane campaign. Sorry Dude.
68. Freedom | 08.02.09
Get a health plan together?? Have you read it yet? Man oh man, there are pages in there that will totally take us over. Even our bank accounts (electronically)!!!
People need to leave Sarah Palin’s children alone, and family. I am ashamed of the media and their cruelty toward a human.
69. Harold | 08.02.09
Palin was attacked and continues to be attacked because she is a conservative women. It became open season on everyone in her family. Nothing was off limits.
It made no difference what she said or how she said it. Three hours of tape were taken during the now infamous CBS interview with only six minutes used. CBS used every method they could contour up to make her look bad. No politician has every been attacked by the national media the way Sarah Palin has been attacked. Palin represents both family and country and the liberal media hates that with a passion.
70. milo | 08.02.09
It may be hillary clinton thats slinging all the mud. I actually feel kinda bad for her even though she you know, she doesnt like intelegent women. She really doesnt deserve this.
71. EWAdams | 08.02.09
When a man is a misogynist, it’s bad enough. When a WOMAN is a misogynist, it reveals a deep strain of self-loathing. What sensible woman is going to vote for that?
72. Mark | 08.02.09
When the going gets tough, the tough quit for the good of their party ???? I can not believe that anyone could be dumb enough to believe that Sarah is in it for anything but Sarah.
73. HellMan | 08.02.09
Sarah Palin will win the 2012 election I assure you.
She out shines the rest of the democrats, because they all look like dogs.
74. marie | 08.02.09
President Clinton was impeached and then acquitted. End of story.
I’m amazed at how much hatred and bashing goes on in regards to McCain and Palin. They are standing for our country, trying to make it a better place for Americans, both have much to contribute in their own right. If they had won the election, I don’t think we would be in the state we are in today. We would not be spending money we don’t have, apologizing to foreign leaders for our alleged mistakes, and trying to force bills through congress without reading them through. These bills have been in the making for a long time, they were not recently put together. Do you wonder why they weren’t passed before??? Better start paying more attention to the details before it’s too late.
76. wayne | 08.02.09
Liberals showing their true colors repeating hearsay as if it were fact about Palin:
1. She did not say “I can see Russia from my house”. That was stated by an impersonator on SNL. (and liberals repeat it over and over and over)
2. There is no credible source for the statement that she did not know Africa was a continent. An “unnamed source” that claimed to have been present at a Palin briefing accused her of that. But nobody knows who that was. So liberals repeat it over and over and over in hopes that it might be true.
77. Dan Smith | 08.02.09
To Gavin Cooke:
Another incorrect fact: it was “fool hardy liberals” who accused Palin of not knowing Africa was a continent but people working inside the McCain campaign.
78. Dan | 08.02.09
Spending money we don’t have? What about taking a $236 billion budget surplus and turning it into a $477 billion dollar deficit in 4 years? Check the fiscal numbers of 2000-2004 please before commenting on why we are in the “state we are today”. I want someone to tell me how you can increase spending and cut taxes without creating a deficit. Also check the facts that money was actually taken out of our social security outlays to pay for part of these tax cuts. Does that sound responsible to you? If the economy is going well and there is a surplus why would you burn through that money so quickly and take away from all of our futures but taking funds from our social security?
I am an independent - no liberal here - but I can at least understand the theory behind having to spend money to boost the economy in a recession. I can also understand having to raise some tax brackets in order to fund this. It is just painful reality. Just spending money because times are good and you have it all the while jeopardizing our future I will never agree with or understand.
Too many sources have written about what happened between 2000-2004 and the unprecedented detrimental effects it had on our deficit. Here is just one but go to the Congressional Budget Office website if you want all the figures:
Remember - the largest surplus in history was eliminated in 4 years….
79. HAT | 08.02.09
This is in response to GAVIN.
Nixon was NEVER Impeached , He Resigned
Clinton was Impeached But was never found “Guilty” of any crimes.
Get an education and learn how to read.
Typical Palin Fan
81. Dan | 08.02.09
Let’s be fair to SNL here…I think that joke was just there and couldn’t help but be told…
Charles Gibson: “What insight into Russian politics do you have?”
Palin: “They’re our neighbors…and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXL86v8NoGk
Remember - the question was about insight into Russian politics…
So that answer is stupid. Period - and if you give a stupid answer you will be made fun of in these days and times - it is just a sad truth…
83. aleks | 08.03.09
It was the right thing to do. God told her, in her head, where to find Obama’s Kenyan birth certificate. She couldn’t have not resigned to go look for it.
84. David Haworth | 08.03.09
If a bunch of liberal Christian Science Monitor readers loved Sarah Palin I wouldn’t vote for her in 2012. I am appalled by abortion, same sex marriage, Acorn,the H.R. 3200 health plan,the Wall Street bailout,the government takeover of the auto industry and just about everything Liberals support.
85. David Haworth | 08.03.09
Alexandra maybe you better recheck your facts. Bill Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives on December 19, 1998, but was not convicted by the Senate. I hate it when a know it all liberal instructs a conservative on facts.
86. yeoldgrump | 08.03.09
Clinton was impeached in the House of Representatives and found not guilty in the Senate.
Nixon was never impeached. He resigned before impeachment charges could be brought forth.
87. CliffNZ | 08.03.09
Love her or hate her, no one can deny she is a woman who generates plenty of attention. Just look at the attention she is getting right now. Personally - I love her..
89. promise | 08.03.09
love her or hate her,once again she’s a Distraction.look-we’re talking about her now.there are the repig sheep who will simply go along with Anything….that’s what we see with these Palin posts.can’t think for themselves.we have those who’ve recognized it’s going to take change and a whole lot of sacrifice to make a wide u-turn on the road we’ve been going down these last 8 years.we couldn’t continue just doin’ what we were doin’!change was necessary.palin has very limited knowledge of the world around her.charming enough-but hardly presidential potential—-maybe of the P.T.A.!wish the both of them would just quietly “leave the room” bye,bye johnny-seeeeeeeeeeya,sarah!!!!!!!!!!
90. tom | 08.03.09
Politics has always been dirty, slanderous and filled with innuendo and half truths. This was true of the political campaigns of our founding fathers (John Adams versus Thomas Jefferson comes to mind) and continues to this day. Politicians both left and right from the founding of the first newspapers in this country think the media is against them. Read your history. It is nothing new. Is it more vicious these days? Maybe, considering the larger number of places to read or listen to opinion that matches one’s personal preconceived notions as well as the immediacy of the internet, radio and television to broadcast or print anything at any time. The ability to spread rumor or fact is much faster these days and but it just seems to take longer to find the facts or verify or deny a rumor.
91. Matthew | 08.03.09
That would be nice if you had to pass a Civic’s test to post…unfortunately, from what I can tell, that would leave a very lonely and empty message board.
Also, I think the winning quote of the day was this - “the people are beginning to see that these liberal loon losers are destroying the country, the constitution, democracy and are no longer representing the people!”
How awesome! No evidence, not even an argument. Just blanket ambiguous statements that have absolutely no basis. Fourthsign…you have to be a professional journalist…I mean, to come up with that piece of brilliance.
Don’t you guys ever get tired of sounding stupid? Take a class or something.
92. Walter Leighton | 08.03.09
Remember the ‘…palling around with terrorists’ remark by Palin? That was her firmly placing her feet into the chasm of political nastiness. She started it, democrats finished it. Does that sort of thing disgust you? Take a look at Karl Roves playbook. This is how it looks when democrats use his tactics on republicans. How do YOU like it?
93. bruce | 08.03.09
How many people have to keep repeating the impeachment facts? Read all the posts people, its been beaten to death already. I can not feel sorry for Palin. The media should tone down personal attacks in general but she is certainly not an innocent victim. Conservatives are always saying liberal media this and liberal media that. They must not listen to their own media outlets. They are hardly saints and are experts at spreading lies, innuendo, and insults as well as anybody. The few I bother to check on seem to make a full time job of it. I am glad McBush/Palin lost - see that name calling, shame on me. It would have been an extension of GWB. As far as Sarah the maverick for Pres? Please, she would be groomed and coached to follow the ultra conservative party line more like a puppet.
94. Chip | 08.03.09
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impeachment_of_Bill_Clinton
Clinton was impeached and with Sarah being such a bright beaken of honest in such a corrupt political scene no wonder the press hates her. She was the best candidate of the 4 running last year…She did what was best for the people of AK and actually does what is best for the people she works for. Something POTUS and Congress could and should actually start doing.
McCain is clueless and will be for a long time…moderates have no purpose no path…please someone save the country fm these lackies
95. Christopher London | 08.03.09
Arizona made a mistake repeatedly sending John McCain to the United States Senate. McCain’s “Maverick” brand is but a fiction created by his handlers and friends in the mainstream media. McCain was the mistake, the GOP rigged its primary system to insure a McCain victory in a bad year for Republicans with the hope that his maverick appeal would overcome his party affiliation. McCain proved to be out of touch with reality and himself not intellectually or emotionally qualifed for the office. McCain was the candidate that most Americans were repelled by. Absent Sarah Palin, Obama’s victory over McCain would have been an electorial landslide of mythic proportions. The selection of Sarah Palin and GOP Vote Suppression efforts in many key battleground states kept this election close at the margins to insure that more Republicans were not run out of office. Conservatives have a right to respect Sarah Palin. Many held on to their seats in Congress because of her. Nevertheless, Sarah Palin for all of her hype is at present a not ready for prime time player who needs to gain a better understanding of the world that we live in before any person of a rational mind could consider putting her in the White House as the leader of the free world.
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Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. grasspress | 08.02.09
poor john wants it every way but honest. for him to say he hasn’t ’seen anything like it’ is a bit silly, or else he just wasn’t paying attention when the press was covering poor nixon or the even poorer clintons.
but i’m sure he feels that any press exploitation of the clintons was deserved, since they had it coming.
when will we ever grow up?