Cheney: Picking Palin in 2008 was a 'mistake'
(CNN) – Sen. John McCain made a mistake in 2008 by picking then-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate, former Vice President Dick Cheney said in an interview that aired Sunday.
Cheney led the vice presidential search for Gerald Ford in 1976, and again for George W. Bush in 2000. That last search resulted in Cheney himself being selected, and he served as Bush's number two for eight years.
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On Sunday, Cheney said Palin failed to meet the number one requirement for a vice president: a readiness to step into the top job if needed.
"Based on her background, she was only governor for two years, I don't think she passed that test of being ready to take over. And I think that was a mistake," Cheney said in an interview with ABC News.
Cheney, who said he knows and likes Palin, argued that considerations about which demographic a potential candidate could help pull in clouded the 2008 decision to put Palin on the ticket.
"Those are important issues but they should never be allowed to override that first proposition and I think that's one of the problems that McCain had," Cheney said.
READ MORE: McCain, Liz Cheney push back on Palin 'mistake'
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How long until she attacks Cheney for being a Washington insider? By Monday, at least. She cannot keep her mouth shut.
The sound that you are hearing is the result of the Palin fawners' heads exploding.
why are all the chicken hawks in washington lately ,draft dodgers reunion
Hm! Cheney picked himself to be VP to G. Bush. That's politics for ya!!!
Picking Dick Cheney in 2000 over George Shultz was the mistake !
Palin was and is an embarrasement to the Republican Party. Her pick goes along the lines of 'Tea-Party' zealous
and dumb attracting dumber like minded folk. How I still cringe when this lady speaks or comments on topics she
she knows little to nothing about but is paid by 'news' corp Fox to present insight on political events. I will take
the GOP more seriously once they back-away from Palin,Santorum,Bauchmann,Beck,Lambaugh and other
backward minded folk, your only as good as those you surround yourself with.
That is the funniest headline I've read all year.
Nice, one mistake calling amother mistake a mistake. Bush picking Cheney as a VP was certainly a mistake. The sheeple voting in Bush for 2 terms was an even bigger one.
And yet, after an extensive review John McCain chose that woman over Mitt Romney. One has to wonder why. Just sayin.
You can't put one past Cheney, can you! Most people figured that out in 2008.
Why is Cheney still talking - and acting as though he was a great leader? I'm not personally a Sarah Palin fan but, I think Cheney is one of the least like former VP's - and for a good reason.
Palin a bad choice? yah think?
May be Romney should ask Cheney to lead the vice presidential search. Oh gosh! who might the VP candidate be? 😛
Now he's saying she was a bad choice. So when McCain was running he defended her. I can't stand this guy.
Cheney is right. Picking Palin was a mistake. It destroyed McCain's credibility. Republicans are making another mistake with Romney. Romney will not pass the vetting process for vice president, but bought his way into the Republican nomination. He is losing to Obama in 10 out of 12 swing states, including Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida. He is losing to Obama in Wisconsin even though Scott Walker won the recall election. He embarrassed himself on the London trip, showing that he is not ready for prime time. With Romney leading the way, the Republican Party is going to be as irrelevant as the California Republican Party.
Finally, something Dick Cheney is actually qualified to comment upon: being a bad Vice President.
Seriously... Why is that IRRITANT Cheney still being given TV time? I do believe the REPUBLICAN PARTY should go on a 40-year RETREAT ... isomewhere n the wilderness.
Palin a bad pick, ok now tell us something that the entire planet doesn' know...
Having watched miss Palin since 2008 it appears Sarah has never understood the constitution , history, or how government works . She is a favorite among the tea party and those who want to stop Obama at any cost . Maybe another book deal or reality tv show to keep that beautiful face explaining the simple realities to a way back to a time that never existed .
Hey Dick, your babbling and attacks of Palin is after the fact! We all knew that she didn't possess what it takes to be VP buy the entire GOP including you supported and defended her all the way to the end. Let's face it, there's a lot of traits that a candidate needs to possess to be a good VP and those traits includes an understanding of government, knowing your constitution, having a knowledge of world history, knowing how our economy works and last but not least, having a love for country which includes respecting and caring for all of your citizens regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion, sex and sexual orientation. Plus you must have some integrity and sound character. I'm afraid I'm yet to see a republican who possesses these traits.
Cheney said Palin failed to meet the number one requirement for a vice president: a readiness to step into the top job if needed. I thought the #1 requirement was A BRAIN.
Finally I agree with something Cheny says. Palin was a disaster. She is too stupid to ever be president.
The biggest mistake in 2008, was OBAMA
I thought he had a heart problem not a brain problem. Good God the rest of the U.S. knew this as soon as she opened her mouth. The Republicans should be happy however because they created another millionaire.
Who VP choice was worse? Bush (Cheney) or McCain's (Palin)? Cheney had 13% approval rating.