At Oil Palace in Texas, Palin Pushes ‘Drill, Baby, Drill,’ Says Obama Wants To Rule By ‘Presidential Fiats’
In the wake of the oil spill disaster in the Gulf, many House Republicans backed away from former Alaska governor Sarah Palin’s infamous 2008 campaign slogan “drill, baby, drill” in conversations with ThinkProgress. In a Facebook posting earlier this month, Palin herself declared that the United States “must” “drill, baby, drill,” but “the public will not trust” oil companies to do so “unless government appropriately regulates oil developments and holds oil executives accountable.”
Last night, at the Oil Palace in East Texas, Palin invoked the mantra again, saying, “I chant, ‘drill, baby, drill,’ because it will help make the country energy independent.” NBC affiliate KETK in Tyler, Texas aired an extended excerpt of Palin’s speech this morning, including her claim that if America doesn’t “drill, baby, drill,” soon we’re “going to be bowing” to “the foreign countries” that “drill for us”:
PALIN: When I was governor, I had to file an amicus brief against Exxon, in favor of the plaintiffs to get Exxon to finally pay up what they owed Alaskan victims. And thousands of Alaskans in those 20 years, the fishermen, they died. A whole other generation now that finally received some compensation. So, how dare BP put the Gulf victims through such a thing. We have to make sure that BP will not do this. Will not do what Exxon did to Alaskans all those years ago. But see, we’ve learned a lot since then.
We’ve also learned more about government’s proper role and not violating the separation of powers, which I think Obama is kind of flirting with also, some government overreach. We are a rule of laws, not a rule of presidential fiats that I think President Obama would rather have sometimes, it seems. So, anyone who wants to chastise anyone for believing in ‘drill, baby, drill,’ should keep this in mind. I first said those three little words when I was running for the number two job in our country and if I had won, my duty in the White House would have been to help our country towards becoming more energy independent because I understand why we need to be.
Palin is trying to have it both ways when she correctly says “we have to make sure that BP” will “pay up what they owe” to victims of the oil spill, but then asserts that President Obama is “kind of flirting with also, some government overreach.” Earlier this month, Obama got BP to agree to set up a $20 billion escrow fund that “will provide substantial assurance that the claims people and businesses have will be honored” by BP. Though Palin claims she to want guarantee that BP compensates victims, she recently bashed the escrow fund as “an unconstitutional power grab.” In her tweet attacking the fund, Palin encouraged her followers to read a column by Thomas Sowell that compares Obama to Hitler for setting up the fund.
The mental stress on Palin must be incredible, playing apologist for BP one minute than accusing using the kind of demigougery against Obama that she says everyone does to her. Lying hypocrites shouldn't throw stones.
Myth: Elenea Kagan is "anti-military"
CLAIM: Kagan is an "anti-military loon" with "hostility to the U.S. military." Bill Kristol wrote on The Weekly Standard's blog that Kagan's position on military recruiters at Harvard reflected "hostility to the U.S. military," and Gateway Pundit blogger Jim Hoft called Kagan an "anti-military loon."The gateway Pundit has been playing pretend patriot behind the safety of his fully loaded keyboard for so long he actually cannot tell the difference between his sad lies and reality.
REALITY: Kagan's support of the military is well established. Kagan has repeatedly praised the military -- describing it as the "noblest of all professions" -- even while opposing the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Military veterans at Harvard Law have affirmed Kagan's support for the military.
FACT: Kagan repeatedly praised military, cadets in West Point speech. In an October 17, 2007, speech at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, Kagan repeatedly praised the military, stating: "I am in awe of your courage and your dedication, especially in these times of great uncertainty and danger." She went on to say:
I don't accept many outside speaking invitations; this may be the only talk of this kind that I'll give this year. I accepted this invitation primarily to thank all of you senior cadets -- and to wish you godspeed as you go forward to serve your country and your fellow citizens in the greatest and most profound way possible.
