WASILLA, Alaska, Nov. 10, 2008
Palin Blames Bush Policies For GOP Defeat
Former Republican Vice Presidential Candidate Responds To Critics, Jockeys For Position In The Party
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Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (AP)
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Timeline Palin's Path A look at Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's life and career
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Photo Essay Sarah Palin Alaska's youngest and first female governor tabbed to be McCain's running mate.
"I'm like, OK, God, if there is an open door for me somewhere, this is what I always pray, I'm like, don't let me miss the open door," Palin said in an interview with Fox News on Monday. "And if there is an open door in '12 or four years later, and if it is something that is going to be good for my family, for my state, for my nation, an opportunity for me, then I'll plow through that door."
In a wide-ranging interview with Fox's Greta Van Susteren, Palin says she neither wanted nor asked for the $150,000-plus wardrobe the Republican Party bankrolled, and thought the issue was an odd one at the end of the campaign, considering "what is going on in the world today."
"I did not order the clothes. Did not ask for the clothes," Palin said. "I would have been happy to have worn my own clothes from Day One. But that is kind of an odd issue, an odd campaign issue as things were wrapping up there as to who ordered what and who demanded what."
"It's amazing that we did as well as we did," Palin, who was Sen. John McCain's running mate, said of the election in a separate interview with the Anchorage Daily News.
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"I think the Republican ticket represented too much of the status quo, too much of what had gone on in these last eight years, that Americans were kind of shaking their heads like going, wait a minute, how did we run up a $10 trillion debt in a Republican administration? How have there been blunders with war strategy under a Republican administration? If we're talking change, we want to get far away from what it was that the present administration represented and that is to a great degree what the Republican Party at the time had been representing," Palin said in a story published Sunday.It's amazing that we did as well as we did
Alaska Gov. Sarah PalinPalin has scheduled a series of national interviews this week with Fox, NBC's "Today" show and CNN. She also plans to attend the Republican Governors Association conference in Florida this week.
Palin has been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate in 2012. She also could seek re-election in 2010 or challenge Sen. Lisa Murkowski. Still uncertain is the fate of Sen. Ted Stevens, who is leading in his bid for another term but could be ousted by the Senate for his conviction on seven felony counts of failing to report more than $250,000 in gifts, mostly renovations on his home. If Stevens loses his seat, Palin could run for it in a special election.
Palin and McCain's campaign faced a storm of criticism over the tens of thousands of dollars spent at such high-end stores as Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus to dress the nominee. Republican National Committee lawyers are still trying to determine exactly what clothing was bought for Palin, what was returned and what has become of the rest.
Her father, Chuck Heath, said Palin spent part of the weekend going through her clothing to determine what belongs to the Republican Party.
"She was just frantically ... trying to sort stuff out," Heath said. "That's the problem, you know, the kids lose underwear, and everything has to be accounted for. Nothing goes right back to normal,"
Palin's father said his daughter told him the only clothing or accessories she personally had purchased in the past four months was a pair of shoes.
RNC lawyers have been discussing with Palin whether what's left of the clothing and accessories purchased for her on the campaign trail will go to charity, back to stores or be paid for by Palin, a McCain-Palin campaign official said Friday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the campaign hadn't authorized comment.
The McCain-Palin campaign said about a third of the clothing was returned immediately because it was the wrong size, or for other reasons. However, other purchases apparently were made after that, the campaign official said.
In Wasilla, her hometown backers welcomed her, putting aside their disappointment over her unsuccessful bid.
Jessica Steele can't wait to see what Sarah Palin does next - not with her political career, but with her hair.
"That's something I want to talk to her about: What's our vision for her hair?" says Steele, proprietor of the Beehive Beauty Shop and keeper of the governor's up-do since 2002. "I can't wait to see her and say, 'OK, I've got you alone for three hours. Just relax, and how are you, really?"'
While Palin remains popular, the reality of defeat is evident.
Bags of fan mail, as many as 400 letters a day, partially fill a room at her parent's house. But parents no longer meet Secret Service agents when they pick up their children at Cottonwood Creek Elementary, where Palin's youngest daughter, Piper, is a student. The reporters and camera crews are gone from the Palin home on Lake Lucille, once patrolled by Coast Guard boats. Now a thick sheet of ice covers the lake.
Four state troopers still guard the governor 24 hours a day, Heath said - something Palin never had before.
And in a bit of familiarity, Heath said he brought a pot of moose chili to Palin's house this past weekend.
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Add a Comment See all 208 Comments
- *** she finally got something right..
- Reply to this comment
- The reason for John McCains defeat was because of the media!!! I know people have a real hatred for Bush as well and let''s be honest where do you think all the problems the world is in came from??? They were inherited from the previosu administration...blame Bill Clinton as well. Pure and simple and that is all I''m going to say on the subject.
- Reply to this comment
- ...And don''''t forget this election was about choosing intellect over lack of, if - eek - she became President.
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Posted by earthmomjs at 01:12 PM : Nov 11, 2008
The importance of intellect is not apparent in these articles or on this board. If you take the time to read something besides CBS you will find a different views of things. But, CBS feeds this class hatred that has sprung up during the election and demenas us all by pandering to ridicule. I find many of these posts to be "middle school" type of backbiting.
I agree, Obama has a good IQ. But more important, he keeps quiet and avoids specifics. Even now, he avoids direct answers to his priority issues.
I dont know why Dems seem so bitter here (you did win didnt you?). But lets put the slander, misrepresentation, and ridicule behind and fix our country before it disintegrates. - Reply to this comment
- John McCain is probably saying to himself about
Sarah "What have I done?"... "Look at the monster the GOP & I found and thawed out in the frozen Artic..." - Reply to this comment
- New defense strategy to rid the Taliban out of Afghanistan? Drop Palin in the border between Pakistan & Afghanistan & tell the tribal leaders she''s the b@stard child-sister of Bin Laden!
- Reply to this comment
Palin said:
'''' ... we want to get far away from what ... the present administration represented ... what the Republican Party .. had been representing.''''
Good idea Sarah
Easy solution
Become a Democrat
;-)
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Posted by TallyMan2008 at 01:37 PM : Nov 11, 2008
She isnt bitter enough to be a Democrat. she is to open to other ideas. She is too civil in her discussions. Nope, cant be a Democrat like many of the ones I see here.
Sorry Massa, didnt mean to offend.- Reply to this comment
Palin said:
'' ... we want to get far away from what ... the present administration represented ... what the Republican Party .. had been representing.''
Good idea Sarah
Easy solution
Become a Democrat
;-)- Reply to this comment
- Like a typical woman, she''s already worked herself into being seen as a victim.
- Reply to this comment
- The right-wing media continues its attempt to belittle Obamas sweeping victory by making Palin the story.
This election was not about race, not about personalities, but a mandate from the American people to take back our country from those who would have us live in fear. Republicans will be irrelevant for a decade.
Posted by wingnutsblow at 01:07 PM : Nov 11, 2008
...And don''t forget this election was about choosing intellect over lack of, if - eek - she became President. - Reply to this comment
- How cute....Palin now dazzles us with her ability to sound like a valley girl. Seems her daughter''''s have had a stronger influence on her than she one them. Isn''''t it about time she went into hybernation. Please!!
Posted by sjbj2322 at 12:59 PM : Nov 11, 2008
...valley girl, Caribou Barbie, telly tubby - whichever impersonation she does on a given day is just too painful to have on our radios and t.v''s. Really Sarah, Alaska needs you; stay there! - Reply to this comment
- The right-wing media continues its attempt to belittle Obamas sweeping victory by making Palin the story.
This election was not about race, not about personalities, but a mandate from the American people to take back our country from those who would have us live in fear. Republicans will be irrelevant for a decade. - Reply to this comment
- How cute....Palin now dazzles us with her ability to sound like a valley girl. Seems her daughter''s have had a stronger influence on her than she one them. Isn''t it about time she went into hybernation. Please!!
- Reply to this comment
- Americans have rightfully been hated internationally because they voted twice for GW Bush, the worlds number one terrorist. Sarah Palin was clearly an extension of Republicon terrorism as shown by her hate filled campaign rallies.
Posted by ConDumbistan at 12:47 PM : Nov 11, 2008
...Yeah, but the ''real Americans from true America'' don''t like the idea of this President Elect guy sitting down and talking with other countries. We don''t talk to anyone - we dictate, *** it! He is going to ruin this country with all that talk and peaceful democracy stuff. - Reply to this comment
- A friend said she was offered a photo-shoot with Playboy. No way - right? Anyone have any basis on this rumor?
Posted by doctajim at 12:07 PM : Nov 11, 2008
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maybe there is a career there for her. surely not in politics.
Posted by cees14 at 12:40 PM : Nov 11, 2008
...I suspect it is only a rumor. I don''t think Heff''s well as run that dry. - Reply to this comment
- When it came to the Clothes to Nowhere Palin said Thanks but No...Aw what the HEII, why not!
- Reply to this comment
- So, for all of you with hate I say-fvck you.
Posted by TheMasses10 at 12:41 PM : Nov 11, 2008
...Interesting contradiction in terms there. - Reply to this comment
- A friend said she was offered a photo-shoot with Playboy. No way - right? Anyone have any basis on this rumor?
Posted by doctajim at 12:07 PM : Nov 11, 2008
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maybe there is a career there for her. surely not in politics. - Reply to this comment
- A simple yes or no would have saficed.
Why do you hate her?
And no assumptions about her okay?
Posted by TheMasses10 at 12:34 PM : Nov 11, 2008
...You have presumed I hate her when in fact what I said was tjat I just want her to go away and be quiet. The reasons? As stated above, she is hypocritical, sanctimonious and uses her children for her own career advancements. These would be the reasons I - and most American women - dislike Sarah Palin. - Reply to this comment
- Uh-huh. Why didn''t you REFUSE the clothes, Sarah? You didn''t ask for them but you sure helped yourself BIG TIME, didn''t you?
What would have happened if the Shopping Spree hadn''t been found out? Donate them to charity? I think not.
Therein lies the real problem with the GOP... arrogance in the face of hardship. - Reply to this comment
- You sound more jealous of her than anything else.
What''''s the matter with her?
What''''s the matter with you?
Posted by TheMasses10 at 12:12 PM : Nov 11, 2008
....Yes, I want to be the mother who uses her children as pawns for her own career advancement. And I want to be incredibly under-informed about world affairs, yet delusional enough to think I should be the VP of the USA. I want to be sanctimonious and make everyone know that I am better than them, even though I build myself up by tearing others down.
You are onto me - I want to be a hypocritical, unintelligent politician who just happens to be a poor excuse for a working Mom as well. - Reply to this comment
