[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/06/02/art.palin.twitter.jpg caption="Palin is targeting opponents of ANWR drilling on Twitter."](CNN) – Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is using the Gulf Coast oil spill to promote the issue of drilling in the Arctic Wildlife National Refuge – the 20-million protected acres where untapped oil and gas reserves have long served as a lightning rod of controversy.
"Extreme Greenies: see now why we push 'drill,baby,drill' of known reserves & promising finds in safe onshore places like ANWR? Now do you get it?" the former Republican vice presidential nominee wrote Tuesday evening on her Twitter account.
That comment followed a similarly-themed tweet last week after President Obama announced a moratorium on deep offshore drilling for six months, while an independent commission reviews the explosion of the BP rig that caused the ongoing leak.
"Deep offshore moratorium? Then correspondingly allow more onshore drilling, incl ANWR reserves. Domestic oil's still required in US industry," she tweeted Thursday.
During the 2008 presidential campaign, Palin was a strong advocate of drilling both offshore and in ANWR, a position that was repeatedly expressed her now-famous phrase "Drill Baby Drill."
In her Oct. 2008 vice presidential debate with Joe Biden, Palin specifically took aim at him for opposing offshore drilling efforts.
"You even called drilling – safe, environmentally-friendly drilling offshore – as raping the outer continental shelf," Palin said at the debate. "There – with new technology, with tiny footprints even on land, it is safe to drill and we need to do more of that."
She's asking us if we get it? She's the clueless one. Her hot air could alone power & heat Alaska.
Dear CNN,
Please note that Palin is like the small child in the back of the classroom desperately in need of attention and self-affirmation. I think you'll find if you just ignore her, she'll put her head down and let the mature people in the room have an actual discussion. I think most people in the class are tired of hearing about how the communist nazis of the left are destroying america and putting glue in her hair.
Yes, Sarah, WE get it. Obviously, YOU do NOT. Do you think blow-outs only happen under water? Do you want a Gulf-sized oil spill in the AWNR? Onshore oil wells also use blowout preventers that can fail catastrophically, spewing oil and vapor hundreds of feet in the air. That oil goes everywhere until the well can be controlled and it's not an easy-peasy job. A great deal of long term damage can also be caused by onshore wells, and in a pristine area like the AWNR, the environmental and ecological consequences could be deadly for a very long time.
"You even called drilling – safe, environmentally-friendly drilling offshore – as raping the outer continental shelf," Palin said at the debate. "There – with new technology, with tiny footprints even on land, it is safe to drill and we need to do more of that."
So instead of admitting she was wrong about the safety of offshore drilling, she's going to play it as "see, I told you we should drill onshore". .
Somehow. I just don't think she gets it. This disaster is not something she should be taking advantage of. But then, hey, what else can she do? She has ZERO viability as a candidate, she's the most twisted mouthpiece of the right, and she's a quitter. Sounds like the ideal image for the far right. Good luck to Republicans who support and are supported by her.
Hey Sarah Palin: see now why we don't want to drill offshore? Now do you get it?
It's great and wonderful to be able to sit behind a computer now and say see this is why we want to drill on land, but that's not what you wanted to do during the campaign. You were all about offshore drilling. Don't go back on that stance now.
Man, this woman never gets tired of proving how stupid she is.
Let's drill today.
Drilling offshore is one thing. Drilling in the deep, deep, deep is another. Greenies don't like us drilling too close. Spoils their view. Therefore rigs like this are so far out and so deep down that when something goes wrong, we can't send divers down to fix it. Thanks, Greenies.
I'm convinced she doesn't think. Why would anyone makes such outrageous statements at this sensitive time of dealing with a massive destructive oil leak? We are weary of your soundbytes Sarah.
Give us some examples of environmentally-friendly drilling practices, Sarah, I'm especially interested in those "tiny footprints". Offshore, onshore, anywhere. Show us.
She is a foll, and an embarasment to the country
Wonder if Palin remembers Exxon? Don't think that happened in deep waters. And I already know how filthy onland oiling is. Palin won't change though. She's about as closed minded as a robot.
I don't know who is worse... Palin or Beck.
We are at war. War for oil. and now its gushing unstoppable in the gulf, fouling the life and the shores. its as if God said, "you want it that bad, here, drown in it."
I don't see why this wanna be is even in the news. She's not a has been, she's a never was.
I am not a huge fan of palin, but she is right on with this one.
How does she tie her shoes in the morning? Oh, Velcro. Nothing she says makes sense. No, I don't understand how the oil spill would show the necessity to drill in Alaska. Can someone who can walk and talk at the same time explain? Please???
Such a ding a ling, so where are the ideas spewing out of the DEM/REP mouths- just complaints!
So while a DEM president is in the office the REP will just behave like naughty little school kids and ignore their Boss and what about working for the people- just forget that part be anti-Obama until the next election huh that is not why they were elected to represent the party.
If you don't enjoy your job, make enough money or dislike your boss resign otherwise get with the program assist the president and do your job.
she is so childish and immature
So Palin quit being governor of Alaska so she can tweet and post Facebook messages? Wow.
Safe and environmentally-friendly drilling offshore is right!
She's a fool. There is no "safe" way to drill onshore or off. There is always the chance of a environmental disaster. This latest catastrophe is evidence that the oil companies don't give a sh&% about the environments where they drill. If they did, they would know how to stop the disasters and clean up their mess. Do we really want the fait of ANWR in the hands of an oil company? They've done such a good job so far...
We need oil, can't live without it – right now. What we should be doing is looking for renewable alternatives. But the "drillers" only want what is easy and cheap. What are we going to do WHEN we've run out of oil? Do we wait until that day to find an alternative? Do we continue to rely on this outdated technology?
Why on God's earth does anyone continue to care what this blithering idiot says? The BEST way for Republicans to guarantee the re-election of the incompetent Barack Obama is to nominate the likes of a Sarah Palin or a Rand Paul. And God help us if we are stuck with another four years of the insanely incompetent and increasingly inconsequential and irrelevant Barack Obama.
And Palin wants to be President?
We need serious people in positions of authority, not prepubescent, whining attention magnets who only communicate throught twitter and facebook.
You want authority Sarah? Then act like an adult for God's sake.