Update II (9/27): Unlike Kathleen Parker, whose article I quoted below, I don’t believe Sarah Palin should drop out of the race, as I’ve been falsely accused.
Thread closed. Discuss the presidential debate (and Sarah Palin, if you must) in this thread.
When this election is over, I think I’ll return to digital music tech blogging. Smaller readership, less interest, and fewer commenters (understatement), but less tense and much more fun. Politics makes people…
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Update @ 12:34 p.m.: I am not alone! Another conservative woman speaks out against Sarah Palin publicly, risking the ire of the masses. Kathleen Parker, author of Save the Males: Why Men Matter, Why Women Should Care, writes:
“Palin’s recent interviews with Charles Gibson, Sean Hannity, and now Katie Couric have all revealed an attractive, earnest, confident candidate. Who Is Clearly Out Of Her League.
“No one hates saying that more than I do. Like so many women, I’ve been pulling for Palin, wishing her the best, hoping she will perform brilliantly. I’ve also noticed that I watch her interviews with the held breath of an anxious parent, my finger poised over the mute button in case it gets too painful. Unfortunately, it often does. My cringe reflex is exhausted…Palin filibusters. She repeats words, filling space with deadwood. Cut the verbiage and there’s not much content there.
…
“If Palin were a man, we’d all be guffawing, just as we do every time Joe Biden tickles the back of his throat with his toes. But because she’s a woman — and the first ever on a Republican presidential ticket — we are reluctant to say what is painfully true.” (Source)
By the way, it appears that some commenters don’t understand the point of this post. Typically happens when readers consider parts but not the whole. I don’t expect VP candidates to have vast foreign policy experience. This post is about Palin’s responses in TV interviews. She put herself out there when she cited Alaska’s proximity to Russia to bolster her foreign policy credentials. She said that. Nobody put words in her month.
Later…Another conservative woman, Peggy Noonan, speaks:
“As for Sarah Palin, the McCain campaign continues to make mistakes. They don’t seem to understand her strengths and weaknesses. The U.N. photo-ops were a staged embarrassment. Keeping the press away made her look infantilized. When she finally began to sit for television interviews, the atmosphere was heightened, every misstep magnified. With Katie Couric she seemed rattled. In the Charlie Gibson interview it was not good when she sounded chirpy discussing possible war with Russia. One should not chirp about such things. Or one wouldn’t if one knew the implications. And knowing the implications is part of what we hire leaders for.”
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At GodBlogCon, my co-presenter Scott Ott said that since John McCain selected Sarah Palin to be his vice-presidential running mate, the role of Vice President has grown. Once perceived as a not-much-to-do job, it’s swelled in importance as detractors cite Palin’s lack of significant executive experience.
I’m one of those detractors, I do admit. I have serious problems with a mother of small children sacrificing them to spend so much time elsewhere. One woman at the convention who disagreed with me said obtaining the vice presidency may be Palin’s “mission field,” or something like that. Perhaps.
You may recall that Palin cited Alaska’s proximity to Russia to bolster her foreign policy credentials. I thought that was odd. Even more odd was her defense of the statement. I’m no fan of Katie Couric, but she was remarkably restrained and polite as Palin tried to explain her comment. Watch and listen to her painful (for me) response (after a 30-second commercial):
Couric: Well, explain to me why that enhances your foreign-policy credentials.
Palin: Well, it certainly does, because our, our next-door neighbors are foreign countries, there in the state that I am the executive of. And there…
Couric: Have you ever been involved in any negotiations, for example, with the Russians?
Palin: We have trade missions back and forth, we do. It’s very important when you consider even national-security issues with Russia. As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where do they go? It’s Alaska. It’s just right over the border. It is from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right next to, they are right next to our state.
I have muddled responses and parts of presentations before, but I’m not running for high office. I’m just a blogger!
The point is Palin has no foreign policy experience, which doesn’t necessarily disqualify her for the vice presidency. When ABC’s Charlie Gibson asked about her foreign policy experience, she could have said “I have none, but…” or “What I do have, Charlie, is plenty of…”
But she didn’t. She resorted to embarrassing, nonsensical fillers.
Question for Palin fans: What’s your opinion of Palin’s foreign policy experience response?
Question for all: Do you think Palin’s being scrutinize to this degree because she’s a woman? Double standard in effect?
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I think a lot of the scrutiny is because she’s a woman. Wait, let me rephrase that, a conservative woman. As far as foreign policy experience, remember she’s not running for President…yet. How much did Bill Clinton have prior to being elected.
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tom-blumer/2008/09/12/obsession-palins-foreign-policy-experience-ignores-total-lack-top-dem-ti
i think palin is being scrutinized b/c she’s on the republican ticket. we have a democrat ticket where the presidential candidate has served 143 days as a senator, was a community organizer (what executive power does that ‘position’ have?) voted ‘present’ a number of times, has associations w/a “God …. america” pastor, members of the fannie mae and freddie mac fiasco in his campaign, bill ayers, tony rezco, and where is the scrutiny about that? the vice presidential candidate has (so far) said it would probably have been a better pick for HRC to be the candidate, asked a wheelchair-bound man to stand up (um, joe, that’s the messiah’s job), said fdr got up in front of the tv when the depression hit (hoover was pres. at the time and there were no tv’s), and said the surge was/would be a failure (wrong on that foreign policy statement). his running mate also has no foreign policy experience but we know it would be: invade pakistan (an ally), meet w/mahmoud w/no preconditions, and surrender.
I believe Palin is as qualified as Obama is.
Quite frankly Condi Rice may have ” foreign policy experience” but what good has that wrought? What good was her “work” with NK who said they would now they won’t. Guess they are firing up their nuke project again now that they got some US aid. Iran will go nuclear too. Many with so called “experince” are utter failures.
Palin would have done better in the interview to state she did not have an over abundance of foreign policy and that her main focus in the beginning of her VP stint would be other issues.
Over the years, Bush has received so much flak for not being a great public speaker. Palin is a much better speaker than Bush ever hoped to be, but still, everyone has an off day. Why do be expect our leaders to be picture perfect? We all know she has no foreign policy experience, she’s governor. Why would she have dealt with foreign leaders? That level of experience, vp or presidential, can only come with the office. Maybe she should say, ‘I’ve got about as much experience as Obama, a former ‘community organizer’ but I’m not running for president. However, being in the vp position will give me exposure to foreign leaders and the more I do, the more I learn. Now, do you want an inexperienced vp with a learning curve or a totally inexperienced and green president whose only experience is organization and writing self glorifying memoirs?’
I think that she should have just summed it up as not having a heck of alot of experience in foreign relations, just as her counterpart on the Democratic ticket. There is no school on how to be president or vice-president of the U.S.
It was a fair question. A door in which she opened by making the proximity statement. Watching the answer to this question again is just painful.
I like Palin. This, however, wasn’t her best answer. As Thomas pointed out, Biden’s answers are consistently gaffe-prone, so Sarah’s doing pretty well.
Katie Couric specifically asked her about Russia. Too bad (on purpose?) she didn’t ask Palin about Canada, because Palin has been negotiating with Canada–a foreign country, last I looked–about getting a natural gas pipeline constructed. (That’s one of those energy sources that Nancy Pelosi wants so bad, because she invested heavily in T. Boone Pickens’ company, so I don’t know why Pelosi isn’t on Palin’s side.) The negotiations with Canada gives Palin more direct foreign policy experience than either Obama or Biden.
The press is doing their best to skewer Palin and burn her over the coals just because she’s a woman who caught the imagination (and potential votes) of a large portion of America and may be dooming their darling Obama to a disappointing loss in November.
Forgot to mention: Foreign policy is the president’s job. That’t an area for the press to be questioning McCain, and McCain has the experience. He didn’t pick Palin for foreign policy.
But Obama has no foreign policy experience, which is why he went with Biden. Or so they say…
Cognitive Dissonance.
Sarah Palin is disaster.
We had soooo many other stellar possibilities here:
Kay Bailey Hutchison
Olympia Snowe
Elizabeth Dole
and last but not least
SUSAN COLLINS. Check out her credentials and then get back to me.
Ok, she had a whole interview, and all I’ve seen in the news is this portion. Yes, it’s rather lame, and yes, that’s why they aired it.
Absolutely, there’s a double standard. Obama gets none of these questions. His background doesn’t get any scrutiny from the MSM. He says stupid things and if weren’t for the blogosphere, no one would every know it.
Yes, there is a double standard. Besides which, her two oldest children are just about close to be grown up and out of the home. There’s a dad who is present and very married to her, and he’s very hands-on.
As for Kay Bailey Hutchison, Olympia Snowe, and Elizabeth Dole. No thank you. Butchison and Dole – they don’t excite me. They’re part of the “insider and pundits” group who don’t seem to have a grasp of reality and what goes on in the lives of average Americans. And Snowe – she’s a Rhino who goes against her Greek Orthodox faith that very much frowns on abortion.
Sarah Palin’s response to this interview has nothing to do with Senator Obama. Geez, you guys would be poor poker players.
Your concerns should be with McCain and Palin.. not someone you are not going to vote for.
This is not a good season for conservatives, which is baffling, but the real angst should be directed at the ones who failed to step up…not the opponent.
Do the Yankees worry about how deep the Mets’ bullpen is? No. They build their own bullpen.
The older two are red herrings at this point, Lola. They’re not at issue. Palin also has an infant and two other minors at home. A hands-on father is wonderful, but I still question the woman’s priorities, as I’m allowed to do as a voter and a fellow Christian.
I don’t understand why Christians and conservatives don’t seem to care about this!
Fair enough Lola, but what about Collins.
I think all that’s going on is that, unlike Obama, Biden, and McCain, Palin is almost an unknown and the press are merely trying to fill in the blanks in a hurry. Funny you should pose this question just now, though; I pointed toward Palin’s obscurity a few days ago as a reason to favor long, grueling campaigns, expensive and irritating as they are. (http://www.civilcommotion.com/?p=70)
Regards,
Bob Felton
I will answer the “question for all,” since I am not a Palin fan.
(If someone believes she is being scrutinized), I certainly don’t think its because she is a woman, or a conservative woman. I see no double-standard. She is part of the serve (attack) and volley of American politics. She CHOSE to enter into this arena.
She said she didn’t blink when asked to be McCain’s running mate. Wow! as LaShawn pointed out she is the mother of 3 young children, one with special needs. How do you not blink? Perhaps its just me, before I undertake any role -I certainly consider its effect on my family first. Hey, before any of you beat me up – her words were she didn’t blink. She didn’t hesitate. So how much thought could she have really taken. That infers to me if you don’t blink about a decision – its a no-brainer, you just do it, and consider the affects later.
I would hope any journalist, etc. interviewing Sarah Palin or any of the other candidates on a Presidential ticket would ask about their experience. Rather the candidate has it or not, its for that individual to be mature enough to answer honestly. Her fans, the GOP, Sean Hannity, Mike Gallagher, Laura Ingraham, really should stop defaulting back to what Obama/Biden has or doesn’t have – the question is being posed to/about Palin. Perhaps, its just me – I teach my children stop concerning yourself with what someone else gets or has, concern yourself with what’s placed in front of you.
Am I bloviating? Pardon me if I am. But, one more thing. Perhaps if the McCain campaign would not have made such the issue as foreign-policy experience, perhaps his running-mate wouldn’t be “scrutinized to this degree.” No, she is not running for President, but, if John McCain felt it to be important certainly he should consider it for his running mate because (if he is elected)she may be called into Presidential service before she can get the “on the job training.” Isn’t that the point he was making about Obama’s lack of foreign policy experience.
I think Palin is getting the heat not because she’s a woman, but because the media has a vested interested in Obama winning. I think that no matter who McCain picked as his VP, the media would be hounding him/her just the same, pointing out some deficiency or another.
As a Christian and conservative, I am interested in how Sarah Palin is able to juggle the demands of motherhood and being the VP. But, I am reminded of Proverbs 31. The woman there was engaged in business, managing her household, and raising children. And, the Prov. 31 woman did have help, after all. From what I glean, Palin has a very supportive husband and family.
I think Sarah Palin is amazing and is very qualified… more qualified to be VP vs. Obama’s “qualifications” to become Commander-In-Chief… that’s for sure.
I think there’s a good argument against her AND Obama though when it comes to lack of experience… so instead, we need to look at their JUDGMENT. Palin has consistently fought corruption… on BOTH sides of the political fence. Obama has never done that for any Democrats or liberals. Sarah Palin has never spent 20 years in a racist and radical church and then pretended she had “no idea” that her pastor was a hate-mongering anti-American. Sarah Palin is not buddies with domestic terrorists. Sarah Palin has proven herself to be who she says she is. And the list goes on.
I think we need to remember that we can’t be judging the candidates on how well they speak… because we can all agree that Obama’s the better speaker (with a teleprompter, that is). We need to actually listen to what they have to say. Sarah Palin has to carefully think out how she words things because the pirrhana’s (sp?) in the mainstream media will take anything and everything she says out of context if she isn’t 100% accurate in how things come across. I think we need to remember that too. She’s doing very well, in my opinion.
Love your blog LaShawn! You’re awesome!
My own governors, here on the pacific Rim, have always had responsibilities to interact on trade (read: money) and defense protocols. The foreign interaction is much, much greater than, say, Delaware or Arkansas and probably Illinois.
You are just plain wrong to dis Gov. Palin’s experience with foreign countries. Alaska is the penultimate international state (I feel like I’m taking you to school on this – did you know that the AK NG has full time troops fully engaged in anti missile defense? Did you know that the AK NG has real life defense responsibilities and missions on the North Slope [Eskimo Scouts, etc.]?
She sounded fine to me in her interviews. She is getting massive support from the public, and remember that it was the Obama campaign that lowed the bar on experience. Palin trumps OBL on experience.
Palin is a dud on the ticket and should not have accepted the offer from McCain. Gimmicks get you but so far. The woman is out of her league and unfortunately I think the McCain camp blew it with this pick. I’m not sure why conversatives keep making excuses for this choice. It’s a reflection on McCain’s management style and judgement. Enough said.
Keep your eye on the birdie, folks. Governor Palin is on a learning curve. And while she ascends she reflects Senator McCain’s executive judgement on how and why he will select people to run his administration. And unless he intends to select some leftovers from prior administrations, EVERYBODY he selects will be part of US Presidential team for the first time.
Governor Palin will not be acting alone as some kind of rogue diplomate overseas the way Senator Obama or Rep. Pelosi Galore does.
Foreign policy experience? What it requires is executing the stated policy. Creating foreign policy doctrine is what the media want to imply a candidate must have—- yet, it isnt what the President does either. It takes an army of diplomats, their philosophical mentors, private citizens who manage tangible foreign interests (aka BUSINESSES), and former officials of prior administrators and think tank intelligentsia to craft a foreign “policy”.
Why are we engaging in puffery of predictabilities about people without any insider experience? I wouldnt trust Obama based on his associations with known violent activists and his sympathies toward violent Moslems and their front groups. His foreign policy decisions will be as lame as Clintons and Carters.
Obama is a national socialist with fascist tendencies. Do i want that in the white house?
McCain knows the ropes on many levels. Is he disappointing as a Republican? Yes. But at least he is a horse trader. A die-hard core Republican would have to have most of his skin ripped off in learning how to compromise and choose the victories that spell LEGACY. That takes practice. Call him a whore or whatever: McCain has survived and risen from the dead many times in Washington.
Obama got elected to the Senate and never really showed up in that shark tank to show he has the stones to survive. He is gone in two weeks if elected— meaning, he will be eaten by the sharks in DC.
To quote “…you are no Jack Kennedy.” and to quote again: “…and hell followed with him.”
Bear1909 out.
Governor Palin basically has two children at home, not five. I do not think Piper and Trig will be “sacrificed”.
Have you taken a good long look at Piper? She is a huge ham. She is two hams. She will thrive on the attention of Secret Service Agents and various persons speaking to her and saying hello all through her days. Piper is no shy flower who shrinks from the spotlight. She glows in the spotlight. She will thrive. If anything, Piper needs a return to Alaska just to keep her grounded: she might self-immolate from having TOO MUCH self-esteem.
So we’re down to Trig. He will also thrive, imo. I have confidence.
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Readiness for office
comes down to principles and judgement. When issues arise, POTUS listens to advice and then decides. I have confidence in Governor Palin’s principles and judgment.
It’s nice that Sen. McCain knows a lot about Russia – yet, when issues with Russia arise, Sen. McCain will still listen to advice and then decide. Same with Venezuela, or wherever or whatever, including domestic issues.
Who has superior principles and judgement: Sen. McCain, Sen. Obama, Sen. Biden?
Who has superior principles and judgment: Gov. Palin, Sen. Obama, Sen. Biden?
America is designed so that civilians run the military. America is designed so that civilians run the government. Do we believe in that design or not?
I’d rather have Gov. Palin, who is much more of a citizen, than a professional politician (like Obama and Biden).
Out of her league? I think not, she has always performed given the task, what has Obama ever done? Nothing. Biden? He thinks FDR was on TV in 1929, clearly not the sharpest tool in the shed.
I love how libs say that she is not qualified (for VP), when she is more qualified that Obama! Does he have foreign experience? NO! Has he ever held an executive position? NO!
And don’t try to say that her inexperience has nothing to do with Obama, how can you criticize her and ignore him? Every negative comment about her experience should be applied to him, if not then you are not being accurate.
I agree with Richard and Zipla. Period.
Also Lola, now that I think about it, just because YOU don’t like Snowe, Hutchison, and Dole..doesn’t make them less qualified than Palin, and you damn sho’ can’t tell me that Palin has more juice than Collins.
Let’s give a cursory glance at Collins (not that it even matters at this point)
Check out her Wikipedia bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Collins
No contest.
Palin has not been a part of the national political scene. From that perspective, she is certainly inexperienced. But she has terrific political instincts. Bush certainly took on the Presidency after 9/11. It is not as if Palin can’t “rise to the occasion.” I am not joining the crowd throwing stones. She is well equipped to handle the learning curve and the job. Far better qualified than Obama. Forget Joe Biden.
Governors do not have foreign policy experience – none of them. Not GW Bush, not Clinton, not Reagan, not Carter, none of them.
The question is silly and designed to trick her into looking bad but she’s stupid to answer it in the way she did. The correct response is to say exactly what I said with my first sentence.
Or alternatively, she could say, Barry Hussien does not have real foreign policy experience, nor does he have any real executive experience.
Plus, Barry Hussien has a muslim name, a muslim father, a muslim step-father. Barry Hussien studied in an Islamic Madrassa as a child and knows who to recite the Islamic Call To Prayer in Arabic. Do you think the American people want a President who has such Islamic sympathies? Duh.
McCain-Palin by a comfortable margin.
Sarah is limited as most low level members of congress would be if pinned against the wall.
But what makes LaShawn and Kathleen experts?
I don’t blame Sarah so much as I do McCain operatives who should prepare her better.
Experienced politicians are very adept at weaseling around a question they don’t have real answers for.
Sarah has not attained that status yet!
Dude, who said I was an expert? I’m a taxpaying voter with an opinion! Since when does forming and expressing an opinion require expertise? What makes YOU an expert to comment on this thread? – Admin
Sadly, I’ve gradually come to agree with Kathleen Parker’s view of S. Palin. She seems like an admirable lady, possessing many talents, poise, graciousness and beauty–but that does not a V.P. make. I’m finding her responses on direct questions just as empty as Obama’s. That really makes me sad.
I agree that “foreign policy experience” is not the measure of a candidate. Before election, none of these could be said to have foreign policy experience: FDR, JFK, Carter, Reagan, Clinton, GWB.
Principles and judgment. I like McCain’s and Palin’s more than Obama’s and Biden’s.
“Plus, Barry Hussien has a muslim name, a muslim father, a muslim step-father. Barry Hussien studied in an Islamic Madrassa as a child and knows who to recite the Islamic Call To Prayer in Arabic. Do you think the American people want a President who has such Islamic sympathies? Duh.”
That has nothing to do with Palin – or better yet, conservatives wanting better representation.
Why do ya’ll change the subject so much?
Have faith. Once Sarah gets her wheels under her, politics in America will take a whole new direction. And I am a former JOHN Kennedy Dem.
On my last history exam, all but four of the questions were of a conceptual nature. Almost none focused upon the substance of mere facts; rather, they focused upon “big picture” orientation.
Is it possible that a naturally bright person can bone up on the facts, but that it is far more important at this stage to have someone with the big picture and a philosophical leaning that is best oriented to taking this country forward?
I just throw this out for discussion while acknowledging that there is legitimate concern over Palin’s readiness to lead.
However, it is also fair to say that I recently saw a video of BO that stunned me with its stumblings and totaly incoherence. If Palin ever delivered such a non-performance, she would be toast. I find this curious.
She was a character hire. Do you trust the foreign policy establishment to make the correct decisions for America? Did said establishment agree with Reagan? My answers are no and no. Give her some time. She’s a talented rookie who will come through in the end.
My aren’t we touchy and immature as well.
You need to get away from you computer a little more.
I support Gov Palin’s candidacy. I’ve been in her shoes, to some degree. I’m very intelligent (MS in Engrg) and have worked at very high levels in my (very male) industry. However, there are times when I’ve been unable to articulate a “gotcha” response back — when I needed it (Sure, hours later, the responses come fast and furiously to myself!) She should practice a way to say I don’t know – (to her credit, she did offer to get some examples for Couric later) and she should have several responses fro her perceived weaknesses (a la the canada suggestion) She HAS negotiated a 40million dollar pipeline agreement that had gone unresolved for years. She is decisive, she is confident. She could use some burnishing. But, she is Authentic and I think that’s what resonates with most people (esp women). She’s not trying to be Mr Slick, she’s just being herself. Why was it OK for Slick Willie to dart, duck, slick over and basically snooker us again and again and again? Why is Joe Biden’s false self-deprecation OK, and all of his outlandish errors? Why is BO, the empty suit with even less experience and ability to articulate (freeform) allowed to get a pass? Do we want a great actor? Or, do we want a real, intelligent, quick study – with character in the assist role? I for one am pulling for Gov Palin.
LaShawn, as a Christian conservative homeschooling mom, yeah, I had concerns about Sarah Palin taking on such a huge job with three children at home (previous commenter seems to have forgotten about Willow?) I firmly believe that a mother belongs with her children, and not away from them 8 hours a day while she works. However, from everything I have seen and read about Governor Palin, that’s exactly where she is: breastfeeding in meetings, helping her daughters with school work in her office, caring Trig in a sling while she works. She’s just like a WAHM, only the family is with her at work instead of work being at home with the family.
Our government was designed to be run by people who had other careers and simply took time off to govern. I think Palin has done an amazing job of having motherhood as her primary career while governing on the side. (And maybe that’s what we need, as opposed to career politicians who keep trying to get more of our money and more of our lives under their control!)
As for the main point, that Palin was silly to say that being governor of Alaska counts as foreign policy experience, I think she only meant as compared to being governor of say, Illinois. As a Texan, I know that every one here deals to some extent with foreign policy, since US relations with Mexico affect our every day lives. So I can imagine that as an Alaskan, and as governor of Alaska, Palin actually does pay more attention to what’s going on in Russia and to US-Russian relations than do the rest of us.
Big Daddy said
“Let’s give a cursory glance at Collins (not that it even matters at this point”…and Olympia Snow
You sure like the Gang of 14 crew don’t ya, somehow I’m not surprized. Democrats prefer it when Republicans act like Democrats.
Is there a Palin fan who can be honest to the topic?
What do you think about her response to Couric?
Stop telling us about BO, JB, and she is such a great gal. Stop telling us just wait and see, she is going to prove that she is/was a great pick.
Is she being scrutinized to a greater degree because she is a woman?
Of course, no one is perfect all the time. I don’t think most people are looking for a “picture perfect” candidate.
I think I have only read 2 responses from Palin fans that have stayed on topic.
She is critiqued more because not only is she a woman, she’s a conservative woman–which qualifies her for treatment worse than Hillary Clinton received.
When Joe Biden recently said of the 1929 stock market crash “FDR got on TV and spoke to the people”, no major media said “Well, Joe FDR wasn’t president then and there was no TV then”. He was allowed to be a boob on TV. Palin would have been absolutely crucified for that. That’s the diff.
CL,
Susan Collins is a Republican. Did you even read the Wiki?
[Perhaps if the McCain campaign would not have made such the issue as foreign-policy experience, perhaps his running-mate wouldn’t be “scrutinized to this degree.” ] I think it’s the very fact that McCain called it an issue and the Dems insisted that it didn’t matter. Experience was a nonissue, to them. Of course, that doesn’t stop the hypocrisy from raging now that McCain has picked a neophyte – although she does actually have much more experice than BO.
THEBIGDODDY – Better representation? Ain’t gonna happen. We have McAmnesty (a liberal republican) and Palin (mainstream conserative but with light experience). The Dems have Barry Hussein (true leftist with radical communist and muslim relationships in his past plus very thin resume) and Biden (tired old liberal warhorse).
I said she could easily deflect such “gotchya” questions by bringing up Barry Hussein’s lack of real experience, i.e., throw it back in the face of the media, who have gone out of their way, for the last 1 1/2 years promoting Barry Hussein as some kind of revelation – when he’s really just a leftist lawyer with very little experience in anything. Except for “community organizing” – i.e. signing up non-registered citizens and non-citizens to vote (see ACORN).
My point for Palin is she SHOULD NOT ANSWER foreign policy questions by saying she has dealt with Canada and Russia. She has but only in very limited ways. The better answer is to say what I said above – “Katie – no governor has real foreign policy experience” and list all our presidents who were governors. Palin is falling for the trap and looking bad because of it.
Palin is unready to serve with distinction as vice president. It is unnecessary to demonize her. She is simply not seasoned enough. I’ve seen several clips of the Couric interview now. In one, during the course of her answer, she looks down at her talking point notes DURING her answer. As a voter, I’m entitled to have little confidence in such a performance.
I’ve seen video of Obama in pure brainlock. The difference between him and Palin? We’ve been watching and listening to Obama for two years. 18 million plus voters have concluded that he is qualified and credible. Only McCain has vouched for Palin, so she has to live up to her billing. Her interview performances are not building confidence and the campaign purposefully limits media access to her because of bias, something they DON’T do with anyone else in the campaign. Why is that? Why was it necessary to change the debate format for the VPs, which they insistend on? Stop making excuses for her, or McCain’s campaign.
The McCain campaign would have no need to “protect” her from the press if it was Collins, Dole, Snow, Fiorina or several others you might think of. Why? Because they are more practiced politicians and better prepared to play at this level than the rookie Sarah Palin. If McCain had vetted her better, they might well have come to the conclusion that she wasn’t ready for this. She was picked for gender and biography. It was a gamble and she turns out to not be a net plus for the ticket. There were other women they could have picked who were arguably more capable choices and who I can confidently say would perform far better with media than she has done thus far.
I am weary of the self righteousness of my conservative brethren who champion responsibility, competence and judgment and excoriate Obama from the peaks of these principles, while blithely ignore what is plainly apparent about Palin, which is that she is not ready. She is not evil, she is reasonably intelligent, she has some political skills. But she is not ready to play politics at this level, a fact proven by the way in which the McCain campaign does everything it can to prevent her from speaking unscripted anywhere near media. If they don’t have enough confidence in their own pick to let her speak, how on earth are the voters supposed to?
Don’t make excuses. She is not ready, and McCain made a bad pick.
Stop telling us about BO, JB, and she is such a great gal. Stop telling us just wait and see, she is going to prove that she is/was a great pick.[Zipla}
I can only wonder if you read my comment. To refresh your mind, here is what I said:
“Is it possible that a naturally bright person can bone up on the facts, but that it is far more important at this stage to have someone with the big picture and a philosophical leaning that is best oriented to taking this country forward?
I just throw this out for discussion while acknowledging that there is legitimate concern over Palin’s readiness to lead.”
Hardly an overwhelming endorsement of Palin. In fact, I am quite neutral on Palin while fascinated by what characteristics are important in a leader.
Incidentally, for you to tell me to stop saying what I want to say – particularly when your comment reveals a very superficial assessment of what I wrote – is highly presumptious and more than a little bit funny.
Aaron – you actually think Barry Hussein is seasoned and ready? He can barely string a complete sentence together without his teleprompter! He’s a frickin joke.
You say the American people have concluded he’s ready? You mean he’s been pushed on the public by Soros and a fawning media who have not asked him “gotchya” questions at all. Our muslim boy faded at the end of the primaries and he will fade near November as well. Remember, he’s a media creation. The “beautiful people” in NY, DC, LA and foriegners want him badly because they are not true Americans. They are post-nationals, transnationals. Most Americans will simply not vote for BHO.
Palin is lightly experienced but she has good, common sense – something we need in Washington. It would be great to see her ruffle the feathers of rich lawyers and pols in DC. We have had enough of elite lawyers in DC and Barry Hussein is a textbook example of a leftist lawyer with no actual realworld experience. He’s just a momma’s boy, searching for his scumbag father and step-father who abandoned the family.
I don’t give a damn about his self-actualization journey. He’s a neo-Marxist with Moooslim sympathies. He would not pass a US Armed Forces background check for classified clearance.
HIS ascendance also is an object lesson to open borders, so-called RINO’s – Barry caters to non-Americans, non-traditional Americans. Mass immigration brings mostly poor, poorly educated 3rd worlders to our country, ready for Democrat social programs. Let ‘em in and register them as Democrats and the Stupid Party goes along with this colonization of the United States. What a joke.
Thanks Aaron for sticking to the subject.
Except for that Fiorina part…I’d have to think about that one.
Regarding Palin’s unfamiliarity with foreign leaders. The slate of foreign leaders changes with elections constantly around the world. If you knew, personally, 50 of the leaders five years ago, you probably only know 20% today. Vice president travels to funerals and meetings abroad as the President’s rep, not as a treaty maker. Most of the meeting of foreign heads of state occurs when THEY come to visit the White House, so, just being there gets the job done. She is presentable, professional, knowledgeable, and inspiring. Foreign dignitaries–many of whom are female–will like her, I think, when they meet her. Indeed, they will seek her out just to tell folks back home they met Palin. Vote for her.
RSG,
Obama’s resume is definitely light. If thats the main criterion for you, then McCain is your pick.
When I say Palin is not ready to be vice president and a heartbeat away from the oval office, its no counter to say neither is Obama. Obama is not on the republican ticket, Palin is. Obama could be retarded, but that doesn’t change one thing about Palin’s unreadiness.
Saying that the media has not questioned Obama is whining. Obama has been the target of vicious attacks by both media and his opponents. He has been on the receiving end of of his fair share of negative. He’s still standing. Deal with it. The same way you might say he has not closed the deal, I’ll say his opponents haven’t either. A candidate that people say is so risky and terrible, his opponents have not been able to make his dirt stick to him? Tough. Thats a shortcoming of the opponent’s campaign and a measure of Obama’s.
Foisted on to the people? I actually think Americans are fairly smart. I find arguments that they are stupid suspect when they are raised as the reason your guy may not be winning.
Most of your post is a lot of insults directed at Obama and non traditional Americans, whatever that means, rather than on some sound rationale about his policies. There is plenty of reason to not support Obama, but your comment is mostly ranty ideologic smear.
Like I said, I don’t have to demonize Palin to recognize that she is not really ready, like you seem to have to demonize Obama.
I’ll give you another metric that helps me make an evaluation of her. I hold her up against the current occupant of the job, Dick Cheney. Like him or hate him, there is not a person in the country who can say he lacks gravitas, acumen or the management and political skills for the job. In my view, he has all by himself elevated the job of the vice president in power and stature. It is by virtue of his performance I think that we are prepared to measure all future VPs. No one would question whether or not Cheney is capable of running the country. You cannot say that about Sarah Palin. You can’t say with complete confidence she is ready to be president if McCain drops dead the day after inauguration. Not if you’re being honest.
Non-traditional Americans = non-white people or those not classified as white.
Aaron – I can not honestly say Barry Hussein ready to be president? I can not. I hate the republican party; I only despise the Democrat party more!
There are no nationalist conservatives anymore. We will have to wait longer until one emgeges on the scene.
Barry has been protected by a fawning media. They DO NOT feature his past associations with anarchists, communists, muslims and the like. Most average people have not even heard of such things about him because most people read thew newspaper and watch CBS, NBC and ABC.
I don’t like McAmnesty – he’s a liberal repub. But I have to vote for him to prevent a leftist with Marxist and Mooslim sympathies from occupying the White House.
And also, “my guy” isn’t losing. The election hasn’t occured yet. Polls are 99% nonsense; just the media making up news to have something to report or one or the other campaigns trying to show their guy is winning. There is no winner yet, the final score has not come in.
PS – Barry Hussein would not likely pass a US armed forces classified background check and yet so many people are willing to vote for him? Curious…..
For starters, anyone recall John Edwards being asked for HIS foreign policy experience when he was the VP pick on Kerry’s team? I don’t and come to think of it, he didn’t have any. But he as a guy with nice hair so I guess it’s all good.
But let’s stick to 2008. What are Biden’s “foreign policy” creds? He’s merely been DEMONSTRABLY WRONG on virtually every foreign policy decision to come before the Senate. “experience” ought to be qualified not just by years served but OUTCOMES.
Palin achieved the biggest breakthrough in 40 years in the pipe-line deal with Canada. Granted, not the same thing as Biden helping us lose in South Vietnam, Biden begin FOR propping up the USSR, against Reagan’s deployment of nukes in Europe, against the freedom fighters in Latin America, against star-wars, and against virtually every modernization of our military… I’m not sure sheer “experience” is enough for Biden.
Finally, the interviews: Barack has never been grilled like Charlie grilled Palin. For the most part he’s been given soft-ball questions about how “he feels” or “what he thinks” – only the Saddleback forum tossed him some fast balls but even then they weren’t particularly sinkers or curves. Palin instead is asked to justify herself, is read partial or faulty quotes and lied to that they are accurate quotes and asked no-win questions that don’t give her a chance to explain her position. “Bush doctrine” is hardly a specific question. You might as well ask Obama if he agrees with “Clinton’s foreign policy” as though THAT was some simple, principle driven thing as opposed to some haphazard ever changing “nuance” atuned to polls not principles.
I think Couric should be fired along with the other 98% of leftist MSM reporters who are completely in the tank for Obama. She addresses Biden as Sen Biden, Obama as Sen Obama, but Palin is not ever recognized as Gov Palin. IMO, the mess this country is in today is a direct result of the media sellout to the America left starting with Walter Cronkite telling the nation that Tet was a great victory for the North Vietnamese. Gov Palin is attacked daily with the most vicious lies and no one seems to care.
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Not one of the MSM reporters seem willing to ask any hard questions of the Democrat candidates. When will we learn why Obama’s only long time friends seem to be terrorists, such as William Ayers?
I believe Sen McCain and Gov Palin are a much better leadership team for America than Sen Obama and Sen Biden and I will vote accordingly.
CL,
Susan Collins is a Republican. Did you even read the Wiki?
Comment by THEBIGDODDY —
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I can barely stand your condescending attitude. OF COURSE I KNOW SHE”S A REPUBLICAN. And I did not have to read Wiki to find that out. I guess you think everyone but you is an idiot. She has a reputation of quite frequently siding with the Democrats, but of course you know (but don’t mention it) and thats why you like her.
sarah palin went and visited troops in the gulf before Obama didn’t; Obama didn’t visit until he was running for president. Sarah Palin went when she sent her National Guard over there
Well said mitchola but wait certain people on here will accuse you of being a palinbot
While I agree that Sarah Palin does not have the foreign policy chops that I would like to see, I was thrilled by her pick because she does see the big picture in regards to our foolish and unnecessary dependence on foreign oil. To my knowledge, Senator Biden has never demonstrated the insight or even concern for this situation (nor Barack Obama) by introducing any piece of legislation that would rectify our crippling dependence. My impression of him is that his foreign policy experience is built on the world *as is*. I want someone like Sarah Palin who sees a different possibility and is willing to act on it, as she has demonstrated by finally getting that long-delayed gas pipeline deal done. I want American energy for a new independence day, namely, I want our foreign policy grounded on the freedom of choice and latitude we haven’t had for decades. How much of our foreign policy is constrained and dictated by our dependence on unfriendly and undemocratic regimes for our energy needs? In my opinion, domestic energy production is *the big issue* of this election,because it directly affects our economy, national security, and foreign policy.I hope, in her debate with Senator Biden, Sarah Palin emphasizes this central issue along with the fact that when we achieve energy independence in a McCain/Palin administration, future foreign policy will, of necessity, be dramatically altered and *everyone* is going to have to learn and adjust to that new reality!
Sarah Palin lacks experience? EXPERIENCE?!?!?! I’m watching a lot of experienced people in D.C. who have no clue what to do while the financial situation melts down. I see experienced people without a hint of how dangerous the world is becoming and how they’ve allowed events to get out of control. I see experienced people asleep at the switch and allow us to get into the same energy fix we were in thirty years go. Experience, yeah. I support Sarah Palin because I sense intelligence, new ideas, integrity and backbone.
CL,
What makes you think I’m a Democrat or that I even like Susan Collins – OR like her because she sides with the Democrats?
What is this based on?
Short points about foreign relations.
Alaska was once Russian.
Islands between Alaska and Russia were invaded and occupied by Japan during WWII. Was not the mainland also attacked?
Alaska has resources desired by Russia and Russia is already staking claims in the waters north of Alaska.
What Alaskan, much less the governor, would not already be considering “what ifs”?
Non-traditional Americans = non-white people or those not classified as white.
Ah, nice try so called “BigDoddy”….by “non-tradtional”, I mean Barry Hussein barely qualifies as an American in my book.
I am for having higher standards and stricter rules on candidates for high office. Barry’s father and step-father were non-Americans and Moooslims and socialist/communist.
Barry Hussein attended an Islamic madrassa in Indonesia – those are well known as radical Islamic factories of extremism, hate and jihad.
I would allow only native born, US citizens, who’s parents were also native born citizens to high office. Immigrants (legal and illegal) often, not always but often have divided loyalties which include their old homeland.
I’m interested in US independence and sovereignty. Period.
Not a “trans-national” momma’s boy search for why daddy and step-daddy deserted his whacked out hippie mother and himself.
I just wanted to add this, Bill Clinton was on the View, you know the show where all those liberal hosts spout off their different views on our world and the one exceptional conservative voice views? Well, any way, Bill said ” the first year a new president would LEARN his office, … could he be talking about the office of president of United States? What do you mean Bill; a president must LEARN his office? He even said that all new presidents come in not knowing the job, you learn as you go. What!!! So, that means anyone can be president and you don’t have to have foreign policy experiences coming in the door? That is great to hear Bill. For a moment there I thought people who obviously never ran for office themselves for some reason think that the job of president and vice president are all knowing jobs, you come in knowing what to do off the back, hmmm. Sure some may have more experience than others, but if you can run a state you have some experience in leadership, don’t you think? Thanks Bill for the honesty! We can use some of that in this country. Now, what bothers me Shawn about you and so many “I’m a bible believing Christian” is, your little faith, your inability to realize that God’s thoughts and ways are not your ways. You want Sarah Palin on a pedestal looking perfect not messing up on any questions she maybe asked, after all she is representing the religious right. Instead she is being just herself, with all the flaws that I would expect for someone just excited to be ask to take the job would have. This is all new to her. I thought that being a Christian was being transparent? She may not be as polished and Barack Obama, Joe Biden and of course McCain, but I still like her. She brings something different to the table.
Kathleen Parker? A conservative? During the 2004 elections she dithered between Bush and Kerry.
Here is an interesting recent column of hers. A key quote:
I worry that [Palin] won’t intellectualize enough. I worry about her certitude and her slight offness. Whatever her charms, anyone in public office who thinks out loud about banning books might be missing some aces in her deck.
I worry about a worldview that might have been shaped in part by a minister who believes that Alaska someday will be home to Christian renegades arriving for the Rapture.
Ah, yes – playing the Narrow-Minded Gap-Toothed Knuckle-Dragging Stupid Christianist Theocrat-on-the-Rampage card. That’s the sort of bigoted nonsense we get in truckloads from the Far Left 24/7. Parker offers no proof of her allegations. Parker offers no proof of any kind.
And this:
I love Obama for his style, grace, intellect and his way with words. I want the healing power that an Obama presidency could deliver to this country.
Oh, brother! Yes – Parker does go on to rip the Messiah in the same column, but the upshot of her piece is that the Chosen One is too intellectual to be President (too good for the country, perhaps?). She calls for Palin to be replaced for her supposed lack of aptitude and for her religious views (do we now have a religious test for office?). But not He Whose Middle Name Must Not Be Mentioned, whose name will be on all 57 states.
Remind me again how Parker is a conservative?
Have any of y’all read the UNEDITED Charlie Gibson/Sarah Palin interview? I don’t know if there’s a similar one for the Couric interview, or if that one was live, but I do know that I lost all respect for Couric when she stated that she hoped (on broadcast TV)that Saddam Hussein would elude those who were hunting him.
The Unedited Gibson Interview: http://marklevinshow.com/gibson-interview/
If Sarah Palin is so horrible, how is it that she managed attract 60,000 people to her campaign rally in Florida ?
If Kathleen Parker makes up her mind based on Katie Couric’s hostile questions, and Charlie Gibsons inquisition…..that’s says more about Kathleen Parker than it does about Palin.
Parker wants more of the same robotic, wonky answers to adversarial questions ?
I thought Palin was fresh and original. Palin kept her cool, and it was a catty tit-for-tat retort to Couric who admitted to “belaboring” the point.
Watch that interview moment again…..Couric winks and admits to “belaboring”…
Couric actually said that word, and all Palin was looking to do was to end Couric’s exhausting “belaboring”.
Kathleen Parker was a big fan of Al Gore during the 2000 elections, and she and Tipper have been friends for years.
Hey RSG,
Barack is a natural born US citizen. His mother was a US citizen. I think if you don’t agree with Obama, disagree with his specific policies or proposals. Don’t continue to repeat racist Internet trash. BTW, I think for this time and complex world that we live in, Gov.Palin is not qualified to be VEEP either. McCain just repeated the mistake that the Dems have done. You don’t nominate somebody based solely on biography, there has to be some substance as well.
Ditto to Michelle @ #37, Mike @ #58, Mwalimu @ #63 & Glamchilfd @ # 66.
Sarah may be “weak” compared to the towers of experience that is the DC insider, including McVain. It is precisely that she doesn’t have much of a track record that I hope she proves to be a pleasant & conservative surprise.
Remember Reagan and his lack of experience — Bedtime for Bonzo et al?
How about Abe Lincoln the country-bumpkin lawyer?
Maybe what is needed is not experience, but the right aptitude & attitude.
Granted the wife as the caregiver role is something to consider….
I’ve considered the following:
)
1) 1 Tim 2 really applies to the body of the church, more so than the public/social life
2) If the husband & wife are willing to “swap” responsibilities, I don’t have a problem with it as long as the children aren’t neglected a nurturing environment.
3) Maybe this is our “Deborah” moment, where men with a pair couldn’t be found to lead, so a woman had to step forward (Judges 4) and thus drive the stake into the temple of Barack.
4) No doubt that McVain, as a “conservative” would be as bad or worse than Dubya, President Palin is bound to be better. Better than even Condi who we once had great hopes for until her pro-choice, pro-AA bent was revealed and her dogged determination to emasculate Israel. (I say President Palin, because we all know it is the VP that pulls the puppet strings a la Cheney
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