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.
McVain craves attention and praise from the Enemedia. This is the best way to get both.
The ONLY reason I voted for John McCain in 2008 was because of Sarah Palin. Period.
She was the only bright spot of the 2008 Presidential Election. The only one who spoke directly to the American people. The only one who fully understood the intent of the Founding Fathers in establishing this country. The only one who understood what Freedom truly means. The only one who could connect with people in much the same way President Ronald Reagan did.
In fact, I called her the modern day Ronald Reagan. I still believe she was and it's a damn' dirty shame how the lying liberal lamestream media treated her.
I hated the media before 2008, I really REALLY hate the media even moreso after their deplorable treatment of Sarah Palin.
She's a Patriot, IMO.
The McCain MYTH continues.
“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.”
HUH? What R U smoking?
McCain is a TRAITOR who HATES his country. He should be CONDEMNED for his public service and his COWARDICE as a prisoner of war in Vietnam for over five years.
There, I fixed it. I made it truthful instead of a bunch of LIES.
Right.
Democrats and McCain's own campaign team savaged Sarah during the campaign and McCain himself savaged her after the campaign.
McCain basically declared Palin irrelevant and in his arrogance essentially blamed her for his 2008 loss to Obama.
He doesn't even have the decency to meet his Maker like a decent man.
It's the inate Hillary rottenness in him coming to the surface.
Both of them lost a presidential campaign through their own poor judgement yet neither one can accept their own responsibility for the loss.
They are both disgusting, spineles, self-serving creatures.
Faced with Personal Bankruptcy because their were no State monies to fend off frivolous Soro's / DNC / Activist Lawsuits which had their legal bills up to $440,000, I would have done the same thing.
It was a miracle her book came along and it's earnings payed off the debt.
Sadly they Alinsky'd her on Steriod's and the E-GOP did nothing to protect one of their own.
And we wonder why we here on FR are soooooo jaded when it comes to that apparatus?
McCain was ahead of Obama (Thanks to Palin) until the stock market crash.. Him saying he had to suspend his campaign to work on the economy was why he lost. Obama jumped on it and said he could do both at the same time. McCain is a moron.
Hmmm. Sounds a lot like someone else we all know AND WON"T SHUT UP!
Instead of being grateful to the DNC for honoring her with their presidential nomination, she seems bitter that she was not elected president. However, she has no one to blame but himself.
No.
He loves the idea of an America torn down and rebuilt as a Progressive utopia.
He should be commended for his public service and his bravery as a prisoner of war in Vietnam for over five years.
He burned that ticket up three decades ago.
It has got to a schadenfreude moment at times for Sarah, her Fam, and her team.
All those detractors that tried to destroy her?
Well the baton has been passed in this race and We essentially have the Palin Administration without the Mini Skirt in President Trump. Think about that one for a moment because it is spot on.
No wonder they are loosing it, I am enjoying their angst, pass the popcorn this twisted comedy of a movie where they villain gets it daily is far from over.
Shortly after the election I took a razor to the bumper sticker on my truck so it just read: "PALIN"
I belong to our local parish Christian Women group. I remember in 2008 that one of my friends told us that she and her husband were amazed that a couple, [who they were good friends with], who were staunch Democrats were going to vote for the GOP ticket because of Sarah Palin.
Without Palin on the ticket, McCain would have not even carried his home state.
Palin was the only reemption, especially at the end when McCain withdrew and gave up
Since then, she has grown wiser about the world of fakes
I appreciate her for what she has done...
still proudly have my pink Palin hat, although she never got to my area for me to have her sign it...
leadership is not always a constant...
people come and go in leadership roles in this world....
if the world is lucky, that leader strikes at the right moment in time...
that was Sarah Palin...
I’m sure, like many others, Palin was the only reason I voted for McCain in 2008. I despised McCain so much that I hoped McCain would win but not be able to finish his term so Sarah could take over.
Agree with the title and the article. McCain has been, as noted elsewhere, the Democrats’ favorite Republican. He got my vote in the general election. However as bad as Obama was, McCain might have been worse.
McCain was a willing Designated Loser.
Palin was the ONLY reason I went to the polls in ‘08.
John McCain is a typical member of the Deep State. He did not pick Khalid Sheikh Mohammed for VP because he was not available. McCain has all the characteristics of a Deep State politician. He does not know the meaning of the words gratitude, loyalty or integrity. Palin had countless opportunities to criticize McCain. Out of loyalty she did not. This is why Americans are at such a disadvantage in their conflict with the Deep State. Palin was savaged by the media. Quote from a second class comic were attributed to her.
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