The striking similarities between Spiro Agnew and Sarah Palin are a bit unnerving. At the time Spiro Agnew was selected as Richard Nixon’s choice for Vice-President, he had been governor of Maryland for “less than two years.” Wikipedia says he was “Running as a reformer and Republican outsider, he took advantage of a bitter split in the Democratic Party and was elected” as a Baltimore County Executive. Spiro Agnew had lost a couple of attempts at public office prior to election as a Baltimore County Executive in 1962.
Sarah Palin has been governor of Alaska for “less than two years,” getting elected in 2006 as a “reformer and Republican outsider.” Sarah Palin served on the Wasilla, Alaska city council and as mayor between 1992 and 2002. After an unsuccessful campaign for lieutenant governor of Alaska in 2002, she chaired the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission from 2003 to 2004.
Spiro Agnew’s role was as an “attack dog” against anti-Vietnam War critics and activists. His job was to defend Richard Nixon’s flawed Vietnam policies. Sarah Palin’s role is as an “attack dog” against anti-Iraq War critics and activists. Her job is to defend “George W. Bush/John McCain” flawed Iraqi War policies.
Spiro Agnew used inflammatory rhetoric in his use of alliteration, such as “nattering nabobs of negativism,” “pusillanimous pussyfooters,” and “hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs of history” when referring to the media. Politico points out Sarah Palin’s role as a media basher.
The Daily Kos and other bloggers have been pointing out these similarities, such as Sarah Palin’s Troopergate.
In 1968 the American people elected Nixon/Agnew but we hope this November the American voters will see through this George Bush/John McCain/Sarah Palin charade and not make the same mistake again. Reading on Walden Bookstore.
