Are there any conservatives left who don’t like GOP Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin? There is at least one, commentator and activist Chuck Baldwin. Here are a few excerpts from an article he wrote entitled “Sarah Palin’s Answers: Very Troubling:”
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin gave her first exclusive interview as John McCain’s Vice Presidential running mate to ABC’s Charles Gibson last week. Her answers were very troubling, especially to those of us who believe in constitutional government. On foreign policy, especially, Palin reveals herself to be just another neocon; one who would enthusiastically promote Bush’s preemptive war doctrine.
Speaking of the Bush doctrine, it was extremely enlightening that Sarah Palin demonstrated surprising ignorance as to what the Bush Doctrine is. Gibson asked: “Do you agree with the Bush doctrine?” Palin’s response: “In what respect, Charlie?” Continued questions revealed that Sarah Palin was totally ignorant of the Bush doctrine.
When Gibson properly defined the Bush doctrine as being the determination of President Bush to unilaterally, preemptively launch anticipatory military attacks and invasions against foreign countries (without a Declaration of War from Congress, I might add), Palin said the President “has the obligation, the duty” to launch such attacks. No wonder John McCain likes her so much.
Palin went on to make further statements that must have made John McCain proud. When asked if she would be willing to take America to war with Russia in order to defend Georgia, she responded by saying, “Perhaps so.”
Egad! Do John McCain and Sarah Palin envision–even desire–war with Russia? John McCain is already on record as supporting sending troops to Georgia; now Sarah Palin suggests that even war with Russia is a possibility. Over what? Has Russia deployed troops along our borders? Has Russia threatened to invade the United States? Are McCain and Palin truly willing to launch a war with a nation that has thousands of ICBMs in its nuclear arsenal, when our own security has not been threatened? And just how many other countries are McCain and Palin willing to defend with American toil and blood? All of Europe?
Instead of promoting European states such as Georgia joining NATO, America should promote dismantling NATO. The reason for NATO’s existence ended when the cold war with the former Soviet Union ended. It is past time for European states to take responsibility for their own defense. To promote American hegemony in Russia’s backyard (which is exactly what we are doing by promoting the expansion of NATO) not only serves to reignite the cold war, it could inflame an all-out, very hot war. Is this what McCain and Palin want?
Those without sufficient knowledge can find solace in doctrine even when they can’t identify it as a doctrine. Its the playground model of problem solving. Its hardwired into every american by the common grade school experience we share.
How brilliant of them to appeal to us on such a basic level ignoring the lessons of history and diplomacy or even the checks and balances of our parlimentary system. Those are cerebral questions and functions of the buracracy. Who hasn’t felt confined by those? Go to court once and you’re turned off.
I personally don’t think they can survive the vetting process and that a clear picture will emerge that will cause the American people to look at the McCain/Palin ticket and exclaim “The emperor has no clothes!” (and I’m not refering to modeling pics of the Governor either).
Too soon? Awww come on, who can resist, really?
Are there any conservatives left who don’t like GOP Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin?
That’s a funny question. Actually there are lots of true conservatives who have been supporting Obama over McCain, for many reasons. The choice of Palin no doubt confirms their decision. Of the top of my head, there’s Bruce Fein, Jonathan Turley, Senator Chuck Hagel, and I’m sure I could go on and on, but I’m feeling lazy, maybe others can add to the list.
And then there are the Republican partisans who are dismayed by the pick but don’t like to say so in public – that at least includes those two GOP pundits who got caught on MSNBC’s mike a couple weeks ago – I posted it – that was Peggy Noonan and some other guy…
Bro Vernon.
If you may recall I commented months ago that McCain should pick Hillary based on her broad appeal. I also told others that John should not pick another member of Congress whose approval rating is what NINE percent. Even your commander-in-chief has a higher approval rating.
My suggestion was to select a govenor to complement that experience.
While I surely was not serious about Hillary, Gov Palin has surely stolen the spotlight from your team. In fact, where is your VP choice anyhow? While we were out of the country these past two weeks we still were able to watch CNN and FOX news.
In fact, what’s his name again?
The two things she said that I found utterly appalling and yet largely overlooked by the media:
1) We should never “second guess Israel” in defending itself against Iran
2) there will be no more Cold Wars
The first comment is remarkable: Country First (so long as that country is Israel); the second is just so stupid as to defy comprehension. Considering the alternative, the Cold War was the best, most cost effective strategic victory the US has ever had.
I am a conservative and I am just, well… appalled.
Brother Larry, Congress has ALWAYS had a very low approval rating – it’s just one of those funny things – and yet check on the approval rating of any individual member of Congress and it’s probably at least 50%, not to mention that everyone seems to love their OWN reprobate.
I agree about Biden. Where is he? Where are you Joe? JOE????
Should USA go back to old ways of “shoot me first and then if I be alive, I may strike back”
Are volunteers being accepted for the position martyr? Those who will happily give their lives in favor of “The Strike Back Doctrine”.
I think I will make and sell T-shirts for the “Strike Back” apologists, with a bulls eye on the back.
That way the Terrorists, Foreign invaders, or guided missiles, will know who the valid targets are from innocent civilians.
Is this Cook trying once again to justify the debacle and crime of our “pre-emptive” invasion and occupation of Iraq? Still think Saddam was getting ready to nuke us with his hang-gliders, Cook?
Vern, are you sore that the people of Iraq are soon to be free of opression?
I bet you hated Clinton for Kosovo and Serbia too.
Off to Rie Aide for Ice Cream……………….
You enjoy that ice cream, Robin. And think. Why did the Cheney administration do this, why were they SO hellbent to perpetrate this war – they really cared that much about the Iraqi people? They really thought we were gonna get attacked? There’s a big moment coming into your life, where you, as an honest guy with a brain, are gonna say, “I WAS DUPED.”
That Palin has one hell of a rack. I didnt remember anything I read in this post but those ta ta’s are burned into my memory. Probably all the way to the polls in November.
… didn’t Palin need Charlie Gibson to define ‘Bush Doctrine’ for her? Hmm.
SMS
And yet, once Charlie explained the doctrine of pre-emption to her – a doctrine which our nation had shunned until 2002, she had no problem with it, it made perfect sense to her. She is a neocon without reflection.
What A Sight: How ’bout you spend Nov. 4 in a titty bar, let’s say California Girls on Harbor. I’ll pick up your tab. Just stay away from the voting booths.
Yikes, the Enquirer keeps on vetting:
PALIN FAMILY SHOCKERS: WHAT SARAH’S REALLY HIDING!
The NATIONAL ENQUIRER’S exclusive ongoing investigation of GOP VP Nom
Sarah ‘Barracuda’ Palin’s goes far beyond a mere teen pregnancy crisis
this week!
The Enquirer’s team of reporters has combed the Alaskan wilderness to
discover the hidden truth about Gov. Palin’s family, which has become
a central part of her political identity.
The ENQUIRER has learned exclusively that Sarah’s oldest son, Track,
was addicted to the power drug OxyContin for nearly the past two
years, snorting it, eating it, smoking it and even injecting it. And
as Track, 19, heads to Iraq as part of the U.S. armed forces, Sarah
and her husband Todd were powerless to stop his wild antics, detailed
in the new issue of The ENQUIRER, which goes on sale today.
THE ENQUIRER also has exclusive details about Track’s use of other
drugs, including cocaine, and his involvement in a notorious local
vandalism incident.
“I’ve partied with him (Track) for years,” a source disclosed. “I’ve
seen him snort cocaine, snort and smoke OxyContin, drink booze and
smoke weed.”
The source also divulged the girls would do anything for Track and
he’d use his local celebrity status to manipulate other guys “to get
them to steal things he wanted.”
“He finally did what a lot of troubled kids here do,” the source
divulged. “You join the military.”
And as Gov. Palin has billed the state of Alaska for various expenses
related to her children, as reported by The Washington Post, The
ENQUIRER’s investigation reveals that she was so incensed by 17-year-
old Bristol’s pregnancy that she banished her daughter from the house.
Another family friend revealed pre-prego Bristol was as much of a hard
partier as Track was.
“Bristol was a huge stoner and drinker. I’ve seen her smoke pot and
get drunk and make out with so many guys. All the guys would brag that
the just made out with Bristol.”
When Sarah found out the teen was pregnant by high schooler Levi
Johnston, she was actually banished from the house. As part of the
cover-up, Palin quickly transferred Bristol to another high school and
made her move in with Sarah’s sister Heather 25 miles away!
And the ENQUIRER also learned that Levi Johnston, the baby mamma’s
future wedded dada, who was glad handed by John McCain at the GOP
Convention, isn’t too happy about his impending shotgun nups either.
“Levi got dragged out of the house to go to Minnesota,” Levi’s friend
told The ENQUIRER. “Levi realizes he’s stuck being with Bristol
because her mom is running for Vice President.”
The friend also confided that both Bristol and Levi “broke up a few
times and they definitely messed around with other people.”
Meanwhile, as members of the Palin family’s war viciously over
“Trooper-Gate” and claims of Sarah’s extramarital affair have turned
the political race into a chaotic arena of threats, denials and
vicious attacks by political black ops, The ENQUIRER has discovered
shocking new details about the red-hot affair scandal!
For the full story of the secrets Sarah Palin is trying to hide –
pick up the new ENQUIRER!
…there are lots of true conservatives who have been supporting Obama over McCain, for many reasons. The choice of Palin no doubt confirms their decision. Of the top of my head, there’s Bruce Fein, Jonathan Turley, Senator Chuck Hagel, and I’m sure I could go on and on, but I’m feeling lazy, maybe others can add to the list.
I’ll help you out with that, Vern, since nobody else is. Check out distinguished ex-Republican ex-Congressman Jim Leach’s DNC speech here, backing Obama:
http://orangejuiceblog.com/2008/08/the-two-best-dnc-speeches-you-never-heard/
Also, the great Conservative blogger John Cole (whose blog “Balloon Juice” I bet most of you would enjoy: http://www.balloon-juice.com/?p=11290 ) John left the Republican Party a couple years ago in disgust over the Bush/Cheney/Rove perversion of the GOP, and has sworn to “only vote for Democrats and small-L libertarians” until his party rediscovers its roots. And he has the one of the best summaries of Governor Palin I’ve seen: “Sarah Palin is the distilled essence of wingnut. She has it all. She is dishonest. She is a religious nut. She is incurious. She is anti-science. She is inexperienced. She abuses her authority. She hides behind executive privilege. She is a big spender. She works from the gut and places a greater value on instinct than knowledge.”
Red.
How thoughtful of you to interject Palin’s family when Obama said family should be “off limits.” While you cannot control what is published elsewhere you could refrain from spreading that material on this blog. Your trash material involves children of candidates, not the candidates themselves. We are not speaking about the well documented exploits of Bill Clinton before and during his term as president but it’s OK for you to speak about the Palin children.
That shows a great deal of class.
Not!