“Drill, Baby, Drill?” Blame Michael Steele

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With environmental disaster unfolding in the Gulf, one would think there might be some reconsideration underway about that whole “Drill, baby, drill” thing. But while many credit former-half-term Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for the line, let’s make sure to give credit where it’s due. It was actually Michael Steele who birthed that humdinger into the world at the Republican National Convention on Sept. 3, 2008.

His speech inspired both Rudy Giuliani and Palin later that night.

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BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

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