by Michael Muskal
It was deja vu all over again, as John McCain and Sarah Palin, the recent losing GOP presidential ticket, were reunited today on a platform of political mutual aid.
It is the first time the odd couple of political and personal contrasts has campaigned together since the presidential race of 2008. McCain plucked Palin out of the political obscurity of the Alaska statehouse and gave her a platform that turned her into a media star and darling of conservatives across the nation.
Palin today gave McCain what he wanted in a fiery introduction that emphasized his conservative credentials and his standing as an anti-Washington maverick who opposed healthcare overhaul and supported fiscal restraint and small government.
"Those issues are at the heart of a conservative movement that is sweeping this country," Palin said. "It's a beautiful grassroots movement that is putting government back on the side of the people. Some parts of this is the tea party movement.
"I want to clear the air right now," she said to cheers, calling the tea party movement, "a beautiful movement. Everybody here today supporting John McCain, we're all part of that tea party movement."
McCain applauded and in his comments predicted that the recently passed healthcare insurance overhaul will be overturned by the courts. "Repeal and replace," he said, using what has become the GOP rallying cry for the midterm election cycle.
"When it comes to Obamacare," Palin joked. "I see Fidel Castro likes Obamacare and we don't. Doesn't that tell you something?"
The intervening months haven't been as kind to McCain, 73, as they have been to Palin, who quit as governor to become the author of a bestselling book, a television commentator and a political powerhouse. By contrast, McCain is fighting for his political life as he faces a primary from the right in his bid for a fifth term in the Senate.
Former congressman and radio talk show host, J. D. Hayworth opposes McCain, saying the incumbent is not conservative enough for Arizona, especially when it comes to immigration reform. As polls have shown his once sizable lead dwindling, McCain has been sounding ever more conservative, less of the maverick who was willing to work with Democrats and independents in the Senate.
Palin predicted McCain will win out as the pair campaigned in Tucson on Friday. They were to head to the Phoenix suburb of Mesa on Saturday and were scheduled to hold a fundraiser at the same Phoenix hotel where they conceded the presidential election on Nov. 4, 2008.
In her book, Going Rogue, Palin acknowledged there were tensions between her advisers and McCain's during the presidential campaign.
Regarded as a policy lightweight with an aptitude to sound ill-informed on a variety of issues and an unfortunate uncanny resemblance to a prominent comedian, Palin was a disaster in television interviews but a star with party faithful at campaign rallies.
McCain's staff tried to keep her away from reporters, much to Palin's displeasure. The final straw was when she was prevented from delivering a concession speech in Phoenix on election night.
But Palin has been kind in describing McCain who has reciprocated by consistently predicting she would be an important player in Republican circles. With the tea party movement creating more pressure - and opportunity -- on the rest of the GOP, Palin has become the Joan of Arc of the right.
Palin this week released her list of 20 U.S. House seats that she said conservatives should target in this year's elections. The list, posted on her Facebook page, featured a U.S. map with circles and cross hairs over the 20 districts.
It was posted before Democrats reported at least 10 incidents of vandalism and threats directed against House members who had voted for the healthcare insurance overhaul law, the most contentious bipartisan issue and centerpiece of President Obama's domestic agenda.
Comments
So the winning.....I'm sorry.....losing, Republican team.... from 2008 is getting the band back together, huh?
Just like the good ol' days. Sarahcudda is reading Wingnut talking points off the inside of her hand and Grampy McLame is standing there looking like an Angry Lawn Gnome.
Hilarious!
Posted by: HHH | March 26, 2010 5:39 PM
Fidel's affirmation about the just-passed healthcare bill is one of millions of American voices, who are also crazy about our new healthcare rights, in relation to the deadly practices of " Failin " Palin's sponsors, the Healthcare Corporations!! Hey, maybe " Crash " will be her VP choice !! Run, Sarah, Run !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | March 26, 2010 6:07 PM
Tie your guy firmly to the leaderless fringe right Teabaggers:
Check
Make silly dumbed-down statement tying Obama to Cuba/Castro:
Check
Make the claim that McCain is "gonna win":
Check
Johnny McCracker's campaign just got handed a death sentence this November.
Posted by: Bubba | March 26, 2010 6:12 PM
Remember that our dear friend Sarah Moosehuntress was the one who claimed that the health care system in Canada has 'death panels' to determine, apparently, who gets health care and who doesn't. And yet she and the rest of her grifter family were able to 'hustle over the border' whenever they wanted too, so they could get.....Canadian health care. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.
http://open.salon.com/blog/kanuk/2010/03/08/praising_canadian_health_carethanks_sarah
.
Posted by: HHH | March 26, 2010 6:31 PM
Palin is a joke. She is a lying manipulative and egotistical media whore. Wasnt it she who complained that the media was intruding into her family private life? And yet, as of today, she signed a deal with the producer Mark Burnett to do a reality series WITH HER FAMILY!! I 've got news for you dumbo, reality series air on TV. TV IS the media! Anyone who defends her is just as ignorant as she and her "Tea Baggers" are! As far as these idiots thinking they can overturn the health care bill. I'm LMAO you bethcha!
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | March 26, 2010 6:51 PM
Why should anyone care what this Made-for-TV quitter says? She has even less credibility now than she did when McCain plucked her from obscurity.
Posted by: athena | March 26, 2010 6:57 PM
Hmmmm.I don't remember any serious political figure wearing black leather.... is she really serious??? and is McCain?
Posted by: irene | March 26, 2010 7:30 PM
Run Forrest run!
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | March 26, 2010 7:36 PM
Were those studs on palin's black leather top? I couldn't tell for sure... So. I guess the GOP wants a motorcycle mama in the White House?
Posted by: irene | March 27, 2010 8:00 AM
Hey, no mention of how much she got for speaker fees...and did she parade Willow out again for her beauty pageant part of the dog and pony show?
Posted by: lochnessmonster | March 27, 2010 8:11 AM
What the Hell? Sarah and Crash McCain still have their heads up their @##'s. Hey Sarah, its national health reform not Obama-care. Why in the hell don't you go home and write the sequel to your book and title it "'Going Home"! Better yet take Rush "the druggie" Limpbaugh and both of you can go to Costa Rica, you would be doing the country a favor! I don't think anyone really believe's that you or McCain would do anything for this country. whiteagle38
Posted by: Raymond L. Juneau | March 28, 2010 2:03 AM
Shedding Light on Searchlight's Favorite Son
. . . Twenty years later Reid was elevated to be the Senate Majority Leader and he now stands as one of the most powerful individuals in the nation, along with fellow septuagenarian, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
In January, 2011, he will be unemployed, unless he joins the previous ousted Democrat Leader and tax cheat, D.C. gadabout lawyer, Tom Daschle as a lobbyist or whatever it is Daschle does for a living lately.
A nominal Mormon with tainted and ambivalent conservative credentials, Reid has finally been discovered by Nevadans for what he is.
Harry has become a typical Washingtonian and closet liberal who has been in office far too long . . .
(Read more at http://www.genelalor.com/blog1/?p=1593)
Posted by: Berlet98 | March 28, 2010 3:51 AM
A ChillBilly and a Antique both self serving, neither Interested in the people they serve or the needs of the Nation.
One brain dead and doesn't know it the other dead and hasn't the brains to lay down. neither of these FOOLS offer solution just distraction rhetoric of Hate and Fear and over simplistic answers. they pander to Inorance insight FEAR and are worthless as Leaders as can be sen they offer NO LEADERSHIP.
This is what the republiCANTS offer as americas future to BUFFOONS pandering to Ignorance.
Posted by: ProudLiberal1947 | March 28, 2010 9:12 AM
I still see the loony liberals are terrified of a strong conservative woman. All I need to say is when it comes to her not only are liberals hypocrites but also show how pathetic you are.
Posted by: Crooks_In_DC | March 28, 2010 9:28 AM
Bubba has a great ear for dialog....
Sarah scriptless is very revealing.
Listen to her ramble vaguely, and hyperventilate, hyperventilate, hyperventilate.
Then check out the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV, "Histrionic Personality Disorder".
I think that, in a "reality show" format, she has truly found her niche.
Posted by: ornery | March 28, 2010 10:26 AM
"Going (Khmer) Rouge." S/P =
Pol Pot.
Posted by: 3pieknow | March 28, 2010 8:58 PM
"Grammstanding McCain Speaks" Her lips, her thighs, just got all ya'll Hypnotized! Vote for me! Vote for me! Drink TEA! My "Lichtenstein" followers! PAR-TAY! She's the EVE in EEVS! YOU LIE, brown skin, brown eye, YOU LIE, Senator Joe Wilson, Obama brown skin, brown eye YOU LIE! Clap everyone! Clap! She's so "Embroynic" She's the Liberty in "Liberty." Vote for me! Vote for the GOP Generational Theft by Deception Axis of Evil! Her hips, her thighs, just got all of so hypnotized! GOP Care is NO Healthcare! GOP Care is just Emergency care! Stop! Stop the press! Vote for me! I'm Colo Solo Panama Canal (birthers) 1936 "naturalized" american soil! Vote for me! He's YOU LIE! He's a socialist, marxist, communist, good father, with two great kids, and a wonderful wife! He's YOU LIE! Unattested, unto the GOP Generational Theft by Deception Axis of Evil! She's the Eve in EEVS! Drink the TEA! PAR-TAY! Yee Ha! Yee Ha! She's no "Miss Buffalo Chip." Vote for John! Please!
Posted by: Roger Morris | March 29, 2010 2:02 PM
Sarah is getting more enjoyment from her teabagging rallies now that she's wearing smear-proof makeup.
Posted by: Quippy | March 29, 2010 8:28 PM
Roger Morris, time for your medication. Now, there's a good boy.
Posted by: DaveB | March 30, 2010 5:34 PM