Admit it, most of us watched the vice presidential debates expecting to see another Katie Couric moment. And while we didn’t get anymore ‘deer in the headlights’ moments but we did, if we paid attention, information that’s vital to us all. No, I’m not talking about her rote answers on foreign policy or the energy statements she gave, even when they had nothing to do with the question. No, I’m talking about her answers concerning the vice presidency and Dick Cheney.
Sarah Palin had a perfect chance to separate herself and her running mate from the crimes of their predecessors when asked about the current vice president. Instead, she made it perfectly clear that she not only approved of Dick Cheney’s behavior during this administration, but that, if elected she would emulate and even further it.
When asked about mistakes made by Cheney, she didn’t criticize his role in lying to the American public to get us into a needless war, a war which could get her own son killed. She didn’t mention his profiteering through Halliburton. Not a word came from her about being against the use of torture. Not a peep about the outing of a CIA operative during a time of war. No, she complained, not about Dick Cheney’s crimes, but that the media had teased him about shooting a friend in the face during a hunting trip. Apparently, all of that was A-OK as far as Sarah was concerned.
And then we heard why.
"I'm thankful the Constitution would allow a bit more authority given to the vice president if that vice president so chose to exert it in working with the Senate and making sure that we are supportive of the president's policies and making sure too that our president understands what our strengths are."
Before we were concerned because she was inexperienced. Then we were bemused that she was amazingly uninformed. Now we are alarmed because we have discovered that in addition to inexperience and ignorance, she is power hungry. There are some who won’t see the danger. They will see the outside trappings (pardon the pun) and miss the venom within.
She wants to out-Cheney Cheney. Instead of moving away from the policies which have lead us to where we are now, she wants to further them. And as you ponder this amazing admission of avarice, remember that this is a woman who already has a history of firing those who would not assist in her personal attacks and those who were not "loyal to her". This is a woman who has made political allies only to betray them when they were of no further use.
We should consider ourselves warned. With McCain/Palin in office, we’re not looking at four more years, we’re looking at four far worse.