"I make [decisions] as quickly as I can, quicker than the other fellow, if I can," Mr. McCain wrote, with his top adviser Mark Salter, in his 2002 book, Worth the Fighting For. "Often my haste is a mistake, but I live with the consequences without complaint."- John McCain
As the true vetting of Sarah Palin continued over the last two days, we learned more about John McCain's pick for vice-president. Unfortunately for us, if John McCain is elected, it's the American people that will face the consequences of his rash decision to chose a complete unknown for his ticket. Here's a recap of what we have learned over the last couple of days about the person John McCain thinks should be a 72-year-old heartbeat away from the presidency:
- Palin's ties to the lobbying system she is purportedly going to "reform" keep piling up:
Steven W. Silver, a Washington lobbyist who began representing the small town of Wasilla during Palin’s tenure as mayor, is also lobbying for construction of a controversial bridge linking Anchorage to the borough housing Wasilla, according to lobbying disclosure records.
Palin's administration isn't shying away from that earmark, which may cost taxpayers between $450 million to $1.5 billion.
- Speaking of earmarks, McCain can't be too happy that his choice for VP was so earmark-eager that, in reaction to getting federal money for a earmarks that McCain himself opposed , she wrote: "We did well!"
- Wasilla
is was the "meth capital of Alaska."
- Does "executive experience" as the mayor of Wasilla include royally screwing up a building project at the taxpayer's expense?:
WASILLA, Alaska -- The biggest project that Sarah Palin undertook as mayor of this small town was an indoor sports complex, where locals played hockey, soccer, and basketball, especially during the long, dark Alaskan winters.
The only catch was that the city began building roads and installing utilities for the project before it had unchallenged title to the land. The misstep led to years of litigation and at least $1.3 million in extra costs for a small municipality with a small budget. What was to be Ms. Palin's legacy has turned into a financial mess that continues to plague Wasilla.
- On Troopergate, the fired offical is speaking out and calling Palin a liar:
"I believe I was fired because of, primarily the reason of her former brother-in-law," Monegan said. "I think that my unwillingness to take special action against her former brother-in-law was not well received."
Monegan says he believes that the Governor has not told the truth about what happened.
Courtesy of ABC News, here is a scathing investigative reportwhich leaves little doubt that Palin lied to cover up the scandal. And courtesy of Newsweek, we learn that McCain's circle is trying to stonewall the investigation.
- As an executive, she has exhibited the same disdain for science as George W. Bush:
In her 20 months as governor, Palin has questioned the conclusions of federal marine scientists who say the Cook Inlet beluga whale needs protection under the federal Endangered Species Act. [...]
"Her philosophy from our perspective is cut, kill, dig and drill," said John Toppenberg, director of the Alaska Wildlife Alliance, maintaining she is "in the Stone Age of wildlife management and is very opposed to utilizing accepted science."
She also rejects the idea that polar bears should be an endangered species.
- In light of this New York Times article revealing the central role religion plays in Palin's life, details about her church are becoming more relevant--and more disturbing. Palin's church claims that it has been "prophesied" that Alaska is a "refuge state" (along with Wisconsin) for the rapture (Alaska First!). Watch Palin on stage as her pastor proclaims that Alaska will be a refuge for hundreds of thousands of people in "the last days." Video here (around the 1:37 mark). Oh, and her church also embraces the "pray away the gay" movement.
All that, in just two days. On top of what we learned 24 hours before that. As we learn something new about Sarah the Scandal Queen seemingly every hour, it's not surprising that John McCain has warned the press to back off asking questions. Indeed, as McCain's spokesman himself has admitted, Palin is being hidden away from the press because she is destined to "make[] a mistake" that will affect the election (video here):
If she goes out and makes a mistake, that is something that [voters will] care about, and that's something that will haunt [McCain] for awhile, so I think this is a smart move.
A "smart move" for the McCain campaign? How long can they keep Palin at an undisclosed location, cramming for her VP debates, before McCain begins to feel backlash from voters who are tired of more of the same Cheney-style politics? Because while McCain believes it's a "smart move" to hide Palin from the press, the American people aren't that stupid.
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