The Line That Could Sink McCain-Palin

In last night's debate, there was one answer that caused the entire left blogosphere to spit coffee all over their keyboards, and worked Chris Matthews up. But, the line was largely lost in today's analysis. In the end, however, it could be the undoing of the McCain campaign.

In response to a question as to whether Dick Cheney's view of the Vice Presidency was right, not only did Sarah Palin say it was, but hinted that she'd like even MORE power, as VP.

In just over a week, it is expected that the Troopergate report on Palin's alleged abuse of power will come out. While Republicans have tried like hell to make this seem like a partisan hunt, they've have their legs cut out with every step. In fact, just last evening before Palin took the stage, the court rejected two Republican motions to stop the investigation. And, by the way, it isn't looking good. Apparently, one witness who had maintained Palin did nothing wrong, flipped her story under oath.

And yet, to this point, the McCain campaign could have dismissed the Troopergate report as much ado about nothing - a small-time issue dealing with small time politics - if it implied Palin was guilty of abuse of power. Not that I agree with that, but I could see the McCain camp fluffing it off and pivoting to much more dire issues facing American families.

Not anymore.

If a report is issued that says there is enough to say Palin abused her power, coupling that with Palin's contention that she wants even more power than Dick Cheney will become a strangling distraction for the McCain campaign with just days to go until election day.

Unless there are scary-as-hell circumstances that cause American's to lose their passion for civil liberties and separation of powers (see Patriot Act), Americans traditionally look very poorly at power grabbing and abuse. Even FDR couldn't overcome this sentiment when he tried to pack the court, so it would rubber-stamp his policies.

Of course, this is all moot if the report issues no conclusive finding, or finds Palin innocent of any wrongdoing. But if it doesn't, watch for Palin's answer on Cheney and Power to become a part of any story on the Troopergate report. And from there, watch Senator McCain's campaign get thrown so far off course that it barely limps into Election Day.

Comments

[desertbloom]

At first I thought Palin was George Bush in disguise, but she's actually Dick Cheney (complete with gun).

[CITIZEN8]

ok, im goin to try this again!
Since the national birth of Palin, I am beginning to see that she possesses reckless ambition. Not rooted in conventional intellect, but rather her ability to "play" the opposition and the audience. I suspect that the moment she was tapped as V.P, she began to calculate the odds on becoming President given McCain's age and health issue, and she is decidedly going for it! But here's the thing, I believe that Palin is certifiably stupid. However, as long as she believes that her opponents and audience are more stupid than she is, her plan will work. The republican males think they are using her to offset Obama for not selecting Hillary, but Palin is using them to achieve her own goals and the republican women are fuelling her efforts. What is frightening though is that she is bringing her "small town" game to the Major League show and as they say, "that's a whole other ball game" I think it's reckless and dangerous what she is doing. She is playing with people's lives. Not just Alaska, or the USA, but the entire world. If you want this intellectual dwarf to pander to you when so much is at stake in the world right now for her own"personal best" that's your choice. I mean let's face it, the first female president and leader of the free world is quite the accomplishment. But for me, I say thanks, but maybe some other time

[CITIZEN8]

Since the national birth of Palin, I've come to believe that she possess reckless ambition. Not rooted in conventional intellect, but in her ability to "play" the opposition and the audience. I suspect that once she was selected as V.P, she began to fully calculate her odds on becoming President. And she is decidedly going for it! But here's the thing- Palin, in my opinion is certifiably stupid. However, as long as she believes that her opponents and her audience are more stupid than she is, her plan will work.The Republican males think they are using her to offset Obama for not selecting Hillary, but Palin is using them to achieve her own goals, meanwhile the Republican women fuel her efforts. But what is frightening is that Palin is bringing her "small town" game to the Major Leagues, and as they, "that's a whole other ball game" It's dangerous and it's reckless what she is doing because she is playing with people's lives. Not just the ones in Alaska, or the United States, but the entire world!
It's up to you if you want this intellectual dwarf to pander to you for her own"personal best"- I mean let's face it The first female president of the USA and leader of the free world is quite the accomplishment, but with so much at stake right now in the world, i say thanks, but maybe some other time!!!!!

[HeevenSteven]

", Americans traditionally look very poorly at power grabbing and abuse. "

Yeah, if they know about it. Our MSM hasn't done a very good job discussing the implications of the Patriot act, or the countless other abuses of the Cheney-Bush administration. I find too many people stunningly ignorant about this.

[Marbur]

Sara Palin us a low information candidate. America has been dummed down and now we are being cheapened down.
Smiles, winks and Joe Sixpack wont work with Beijing, Pakistan, Germany , Russia or any other foreign country we are meeting with trying to resolve world conflicts. However, an intelligent person with a rational & curious mind will do us proud.

Obama save us from self destruction. Will ya:)

[KenFL]

(cont)

CAMERON: One of the criticisms of Vice President Cheney is that he is (INAUDIBLE) the power and influence of the office and that during the Bush/Cheney presidency, the power of the executive has been a standard beyond perhaps that which is good for a country that wants to make sure that we don't have an imperial presidency.

Would you change any of that, (INAUDIBLE) than the Bush/Cheney administration in terms of the power of the executive?

PALIN: Well, again, as I tried to explain last night, our executive branch will know what our job is. We have the three very distinct branches of government. You know, we might be bleeding our authority over to the Legislative or Judicial branch to do our job in the Executive branch as administers.

source:

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/03/raw-data-transcript-fox-news-interview-palin/

[KenFL]

Excerpt of transcript from Fox News interview today:

CAMERON: One of the things you talked about last night was the flexibility of the vice presidency (INAUDIBLE)

PALIN: Yes.

CAMERON: What do you mean by that?

PALIN: That thankfully, our founders were wise enough to say, we have this (INAUDIBLE) and it's Constitutional. Vice presidents will be able to be not only the position flexible, but it's going to be sort of this other duty as assigned by the president. It's a simple thing. I don't think that was a gaff at all in stating what the truth is.

And that is we've got flexibility in the position. The president will be directing in a lot of (INAUDIBLE) with the vice president does.
The vice president, of course, is not a member -- or a part of the legislative branch, except to oversee the Senate. That alone provides a tremendous amount of flexibility and authority if that vice president so chose to use it.

[allonfla]

It should happen that way, but it probably won't. I think these guys in Alaska are cowards and she will be found not guilty of anything.

[wideout179]

Y'know, I thought the conservatives were all about decreasing government's power, not handing, broad, vaguely determined rules to a figure who answers to no one. Where's the "strong bipartisan oversight" citizens want of all branches of government? Gov. Palin was pretty quick to approve it when it was directed at Wall Street.

[PDinCA]

This, combined with McCain's recent revelation that he's always aspired to be a dictator, and the passage from his memoirs stating that he wanted to be president, not for the good of the country, but as a personal ambition, should be enough to disqualify him from being president.

[WHATEVER7]

Gene Robinson on MSNBC last night had the best line...to paraphrase "If she wants to be stronger than Cheney she'll need to invade a few more countries."

[Freesia2]

Thank you Eric! R.J. Eskow included that in an article he wrote last night and I applauded him. A round for you as well. Talk it up. Please.

That is a terrifying statement that she made, and I believe she meant it. And I believe that the McCain/Palin ticket has become genuinely a threat to our constitution. They are up to all kinds of mischief, and people have got to get out and vote and vote right this time. Otherwise we can kiss the U.S. constitution crafted by the Founding Fathers goodbye. How awful that such a document that's withstood so much history and kept its legs could be brought down by a winking Alaskan wannabe.