Is Sarah Palin the new Dick Cheney?

Of course Sarah Palin is much cuter than Dick Cheney. As the must-have Republican political button from St. Paul put it: "Hottest VP From Coldest State."

And it sounds like she's better with a gun than the vice president, who accidentally shot a friend while on a hunting trip in southern Texas.

But lots of folks are beginning to draw a parallel between Cheney, with his secret meetings on energy policy, and Palin, the pistol-packing soccer mom who took on -- and beat -- the political establishment in Alaska.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, in an interview today with ABC's George Stephanopoulos, calls Palin a "skilled politician" but says his rival Republican John McCain "chose somebody who may be even more aligned with George Bush -- or Dick Cheney -- or the politics we've seen over the last eight years -- than John McCain himself is."

And last week on the same program, John Kerry, the Democrats' 2004 presidential nominee, said Palin is a member of the "flat earth caucus" whose views of climate change are reminiscent of Vice President Cheney.

"With the choice of Gov. Palin, it's now the third term of Dick Cheney, because what he's done is he's chosen somebody who actually doesn't believe that climate change is man-made," said Kerry, who also called Palin "Cheney-esque" in her views of social issues.

In an interview with Newsmax, Palin said she does not believe that global warming is caused by humans.

"A changing environment will affect Alaska more than any other state, because of our location," she told the magazine. "I'm not one though who would attribute it to being man-made."

There is one energy policy distinction between Palin and Cheney, a former exec at Halliburton. As the Wall Street Journal has noted, the governor of Alaska has annoyed the oil companies by raising their taxes and royalty payments to the state.

But that hasn't stopped Democrats from seeing a resemblance.

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

Comments

[Richard]

I think of her more as the new George W Bush actually. Same "just folks" appeal, same pandering in that "folksiness". It's really the worst current trend in politics: Policy and issues come AFTER "she/he is just like ME". The Republicans have been great at leveraging this and I'm embarrassed that so many people go for it.

[Co]

Palin, showed that she is trigger happy and won't hesitate to shoot at anything she does not know and then ask questions. A pitbull is known to be one of the most unreliable and violent dogs, usually kept by machos and hooligans. In most European countries this dog is forbidden to be kept as a pet. I still wonder when she applied for her first passport.

[UWBizKid]

What a boring line the "Another George Bush Term" is coming from Obama. When the man opens his mouth I turn off the television or stop playing a news article. The rock star is now pop-fiction. They just didn't get what it was real women want and that is equality. The press has never been kind to women who step outside traditional roles to actually do something with their lives. I watched this really stupid interview with Charlie Gibson where women who had jobs were aligned to criticize Sarah Palin for actually having a mind and wanting to apply herself to something else besides be a slave to the home and family. Sarah Palin does represent women because she IS a woman.

Where is the outrage at Joseph Biden for not giving up his career when his first wife died? Where is the outrage at Barack Obama for not spending more time with his children or frankly any man who is working away from his children. We watched this nonsense when Hillary Clinton was running for office, only she was criticized for having her daughter on her side. We women work twice as hard and twice as much as men and we still are treated like we are simpletons unable to Govern. Hah!

The worst part is that women in the media and Hollywood don't represent us either since they DON'T face every day challenges that we do and because they have their slice of the pie they won't stand up and speak out. Cowards! They have to talk like men and act like it is Maucho to put down or diminish another woman's ability to run even to the extent that women who take the airwaves use foul nazi-feminaticidal terms. The men have done it again to the silly or cowardly women of the press. Silly women of the press and followers of NOprah, have YOU no shame for beittling the efforts of your own gender and betraying them?

Sarah Palin, like Hillary, represents our efforts and she said it just right, that glass ceiling can be pushed through, but it would have been broken by Hillary. The other jealous women out there who betrayed us with the Hillary vote will learn we have a higher cause than Party. So if you want YOUR future to be better then stop betraying our real cause which is to finally say YOUR own gender does have the ability to Govern as is the case with Hillary, as is the case with Sarah Palin.

That is what Obama Maniacs are afraid of that we actually will break the glass ceiling with a woman in at least the second highest office in the land. Another woman who is Governing competently and proven herself to which a non-qualified Presidential candidate compares himself. Now Women who actually have a voice talk about that and stop betraying our gender and pretending your a man and not a woman!

Gloria, sweetheart, you don't speak for US anymore!

[Tom Williams]

Palin does indeed cement McCains allegiance to his most important constituency, the right wing of the Republican party. Palin? Hundreds of pieces of evidence for evolution meaningless? Global Warming not a result of man? Even Bush gave up trying to squash the truth there. Ok to use her power of office to pursue personal family vendettas against ex-husbands? People backing this ticket are loons.

[old moses]

Don't worry, it's very early on a Sunday morning. Los Angeles Times you will get the biased results you want just as soon as the Democrats wake up from their drunken stupor of last night.

[AndyB]

Sean Hannity was right. Journalism is dead in America. Now the only thing left is for somebody to let the journalist's know.

How many of you has ever seen a fish out of water struggling to taking their last few gasps before dying?

[old moses]

Hey, Times why didn't you accept my last comment ? Couldn't be because it said something about your bias, now could it ?

[Tom Kingsley]

MSM, keep up the good work and the Dems will blow another election.

[Gene Wiley]

Poor thing, you sound really scared. Fact is Obama is just another lib in the dukakis,kerry,mondale,gore mode. Non of them could get close to 50% and yes, the republicans are dumb, but the democrats are dumber.

I know you must be mortified, bad economy, GW so unpopular, yet Obama can't close the deal. Make sure your grief counselor has room for you on that first Wednesday in November cause it's cryin' time darlin'.

We hope you can recover to your normal whining self.

Gene Wiley

[Peter]

Palin is worse than Cheney. Anne Kilkenny who knows Palin had this to say in her letter:

"Her experience is as mayor of a city with a population of about 5,000
(at the time), and less than 2 years as governor of a state with about
670,000 residents.

"During her mayoral administration most of the actual work of running
this small city was turned over to an administrator. She had been
pushed to hire this administrator by party power-brokers after she had
gotten herself into some trouble over precipitous firings which had
given rise to a recall campaign.

"Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a “fiscal conservative”. During her 6
years as Mayor, she increased general government expenditures by over
33%. During those same 6 years the amount of taxes collected by the
City increased by 38%. This was during a period of low inflation
(1996-2002). She reduced progressive property taxes and increased a
regressive sales tax which taxed even food. The tax cuts that she
promoted benefited large corporate property owners way more than they
benefited residents.

"The huge increases in tax revenues during her mayoral administration
weren’t enough to fund everything on her wish list though, borrowed
money was needed, too. She inherited a city with zero debt, but left it
with indebtedness of over $22 million.

"What did Mayor Palin encourage
the voters to borrow money for? Was it the infrastructure that she said
she supported? The sewage treatment plant that the city lacked? or a
new library? No. $1m for a park. $15m-plus for construction of a
multi-use sports complex which she rushed through to build on a piece
of property that the City didn’t even have clear title to, that was
still in litigation 7 yrs later–to the delight of the lawyers
involved! The sports complex itself is a nice addition to the
community but a huge money pit, not the profit-generator she claimed it
would be. She also supported bonds for $5.5m for road projects that
could have been done in 5-7 yrs without any borrowing.

"While Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled and her office
redecorated more than once.

These are small numbers, but Wasilla is a very small city."

Just imagine the fiscal damage she can do with a whole country.

Peter

[Dave Delany]

There's nothing impartial in the LA Times. Fair and balanced? Wow. I sure wish our family had such Democratic equality... Oh, wait. We live in New York. We do.

[JP, Philly]

Desperate times call for desperate measures. No matter how ridiculous the connections remain to be drawn and will continue to be, they will not fog or cloud the breath of cold, fresh air Governor Sarah Palin brings.

Her selection will validate the general election outcome on November 4th but not in terms of stale racial division already being penned in some circles, but with hope for all of humanity that continues here at home and leads to an American export that remains priceless in value.

[Ed Reif]

wow-Geroge W. Palin, Now Dick Cheney's third term--Next you''ll be reporting that Sarah is actually a man

[Tom S.]

The only way the Democrats can win the White House is to convince enough people that electing McCain-Palin would be four more years of Bush-Cheney. So we'll see a lot more of this propaganda before it's all over. John McCain is no George Bush; Sarah Palin is no Dick Cheney. Get over it!

[Jack Lights]

It surprises me that they haven't aligned her with 'Satan'... Yet.

[Ernie]

Another left wing Democratic reporter afraid of a strong women

[Bob]

Its obvious McCain is heading for Bush admin 3rd term. People say McCain is a Mavrick, and at one time was considered to be a "democrat" however, instead of appealing to the middle or slightly left voters, he went farther to the right with his pick of Palin. We all know what the right have brought us!!

Palin is a time bomb waiting to explode. Hidden behind beauty paget lipstick, she represent BIG oil. She would nothing more to have ANWR opened, and oil pumped out of Alaska. Remember Alaskans receive revenue from Oil industry for oil. So its easy to see why she, and her alaskan voters would benefit to be in the pocket of Exxon. Also, depsite years of validated research, Palin, foolishy hides behind religion instead of accepting validity of Evolution and Global warming issues that affect this world. IF she is willing to try and ban certain books from the local library, wat will this HOLY-ROLLER think up next to impose her WILL onto the rest of America?

[Elaine Cupa]

I would l like to hear Barak Obama ELABORATE on his "CHANGES" and how he intends to accomplish them. Who cares what John Kerry has to say, he's like a puff of smoke in the wind. All I hear from Barak Obama and his running mate is "AMERICA WANTS CHANGE," and he's going to give it. Well WHAT IS IT? WHEN SHOULD WE EXPECT IT? HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO IT? WHAT KIND OF CHANGES? I for one love my nation, "ONE NATION UNDER GOD." Are you going to start there first and CHANGE our RIGHT to choose. What's your PLANS Mr. Obama? Be honest!
Sarah Palin's right about the "global warming." According to very renound scientists, atmospheric changes took place on this plant long before the industrial age, before there was "pollution." But of coarse the Democrates like to "spin" things don't they! Don't worry Sarah Paulin has a great power behind her Mr. Obama and he's not afraid to pull punches. Why not use your precious TV time to explaine "YOUR CHANGES" to the American public. I'm waiting!

[al]

You just can't stand the thought of a strong Woman with her own opinions. Because her opinions are different than yours. Thats all it ever is from haters like you. If you are too dumb to understand what might be different from you. Say something hatefull. But, with Sara you have to do it in a sneaky fashion I guess. Very weak Johanna

[Mary Porter]

Palin has similar experience to Bush's, only more so.
It doesn't seem to be exactly true that Palin wasn't "vetted" before she was selected as McCain's running mate. She was vetted and chosen by Cheney's energy team, and then marketed by Rove's culture-wars squad. She represents the same people who brought us our last good-drinking-buddy, Nascar watching, evangelical oil puppet president: George Bush. He led us to international disgrace, a ruinous war, economic failure, and oil industry profits that dwarf any previous profits anywhere in all of history. His legacy would be handed over to Palin.
She was famously forced on the now pitiful McCain, who is helpless against the Rove/Cheney lobbyists and handlers who manage him. As vice president, she will be surrounded by Cheney's staff. And yes, I am afraid they may mean for her to occupy the oval office sooner, rather than later.

[lee]

if the democratcs keep playing the same 'nice" politics they will loose this election to the repulicans - IT'S TIME TO BRING OUT THE AMUNITION GUYS - what the heck is the matter with Barak - the republicans are not going to give up. John Kerry played nice w/Bush, and in the end Bush stole the election.

We cannot afford for Barak to play nice - Palin is Dick Cheney in a skirt. BARAK GET TOUGH FOR US.

[Alaskan]

Dear classmates -

As an Alaskan, I am writing to give all of you some information on
Sarah Palin, Senator McCain's choice for VP. As an Alaska voter, I
know more than most of you about her and, frankly, I am horrified that
he picked her.

The most accurate description of her is red neck. Her husband works in
the oil fields of Prudhoe Bay and races snow mobiles. She is a life
time member of the NRA and has worked tirelessly to allow
indiscriminate hunting of wildlife in Alaska, particularly wolves and
bears. She has spent millions of Alaska state dollars on aerial
hunting of these predators from helicopters and airplanes, dollars
that should have been spent, for example, on Alaska's failing school
system.We have the lowest rate of high school graduation in the
country. Not all of you may think aerial predator hunting is so bad,
but how anyone (other than Alaska wolf-haters, of which there are
many, most without teeth), could think this use of funds is
appropriate is beyond me. If you want to know more about the aerial
hunting travesty, let me know and I will send s ome links to
informative web sites.

She has been a strong supporter of increased use of fossil fuels, yet
the McCain campaign has the nerve to say she has "green" policies. The
only thing green about Sarah Palin is her lack of experience. She has
consistently supported drilling in ANWR, use of coal-burning power
plants (as I write this, a new coal plant is being built in her home
town of Wasilla), strip mining, and almost anything else that will
unnecessarily exploit the diminishing resources of Alaska and destroy
its environment.

Prior to her one year as governor of Alaska, she was mayor of Wasilla,
a small red neck town outside Anchorage.The average maximum education
level of parents of junior high school kids in Wasilla is 10th grade.
Unfortunately, I have to go to Wasilla every week to get groceries and
other supplies, so I have continual contact with the people who put
Palin in office in the first place. I know what I'm talking about.
These people don't have a concept of the world around them or of the
serious issues facing the US. Furthermore, they don't care. So long as
they can go out and hunt their moose every fall, kill wolves and bears
and drive their snow mobiles and ATVs through every corner of the
wilderness, they're happy. I wish I were exaggerating.

Sarah Palin is currently involved in a political corruption scandal.
She fired an individual in law enforcement here because she didn't
like how he treated one of her relatives during a divorce. The man's
performance and ability weren't considered; it was a totally personal
firing and is currently under investigation. While the issue isn't
close to the scandal of Ted Steven's corruption, it shows that Palin
isn't "squeaky clean" and causes me to think there may be more issues
that could come to light. Clearly McCain doesn't care.

When you line Palin up with Biden, the comparison would be laughable
if it weren't so serious. Sarah Palin knows nothing of economics
(admittedly a weak area for McCain), or of international affairs,
knows nothing of national government, Social Security, unemployment,
health care systems - you name it. The idea of her meeting with heads
of foreign governments around the world truly frightens me.

In an increasingly dangerous world, with the economy in shambles in
the US, Sarah Palin is uniquely UNqualified to be vice president. John
McCain is not a young man. Should something happen to him such that
the vice president had to step in, it would destroy our country and
possibly the world to have someone as inexperienced and inappropriate
as Sarah Palin. The choice of Palin is a cheap shot by McCain to try
to get Hillary supporters to vote for him. when McCain introduced her
today, Palin had the nerve to compare herself with Hillary and
Geraldine Ferraro. Sarah Palin, you are no Hillary Clinton.

To those of you who, like me, supported Hillary and were upset that she
did not get the nomination, please don't think that Sarah Palin is a
worthy substitute. If you supported Hillary, regardless of what you
think the media and the Democratic party may have done to undermine
her campaign, the person to support now is Obama, not Sarah Palin. To
those of you who are independent or undecided, don't let the choice of
Palin sway you in favor of McCain. Choosing her shows how unqualified
McCain is to be president. To those of you who are conservative, I
guess you have no choice for president. But please try to see how the
poor choice of Palin tells us a great deal about McCain's judgment.
While the political posturing inherent in the choice of Palin is
obvious, the more serious issue is the fact that the VP is, literally,
a heartbeat away from the presidency. Sarah Palin is totally and
unequivocally unqualified to be vice president, let alone president.

I know this is a lengthy and emotional email, but the stakes are high.
I thought it might help for all of you, regardless of political
affiliation, to know something about Palin from someone who has to
live with her administration in Alaska on a daily basis.

[Dave]

I find the entire notion of a comparison of Mrs. Palin tp to Mr. Cheney to be pretty ludicrous.

She strikes me as having an innocence and ignorance of the ways of the jaded underbelly of the DC body politic whereas Mr. Cheney has been afforded too much access way too long.

The strings of financial dealings are attached to the bedfellows of how, where, and with whom we conduct ourselves anymore.

We have become more concerned with the back scratching cronyism and pulling in favors, and holding our political activities like trade secrets from the taxpayer lest just how unsavory reality is becomes universally known.

She strikes me as a refreshing change of straight dealing pace for once. I could really use a few power players who don't raise any of the ethics questions in my mind as have some of the characters I have been exposed to in the past. Respectfully.

[Deep is the well of ignorance]

The picture illustrating this article shows people waving this banner "Sarah you had us at hello." How truly pathetic. People will vote for someone to be VP stating that they do not need to know anything more about that person than just their introduction. No wonder George got elected twice by these ignoraminus who are happy to state that they want to remain ignorant... and ready to elect more of the same.

[steve brown]

Sure she'll be McCains bulldog, just like Cheney. I bet her first project for the President will be to create another SECRET Energy Task Force, like Cheney. Then she and all of the Energy corporations can get together and make their plans for OUR future; even writing the legislation which will include more tax breaks for themselves, like last time. I'm very sure that they will put COUNTRY FIRST and think about those of us that aren't whining about what we THINK is a terrible economy. I'm sure they will want to to pay their fair share of taxes for living and doing business in the Best country in the world. They can probably use the maps of Iraqi oil fields that were used back before 9/11!