Don't Know Much About National Security

Can we please cut the nonsense?! This notion that Sarah Palin has national security experience and would be a fit commander in chief is laughable. That much was abundantly clear after she stuttered her way through a list of neo-con talking points on ABC News. If she does not win the vice presidency, I'm sure there's a warm chair at AEI or Heritage waiting for her.

Let's be frank: Sarah Palin bombed -- just as I guess she would do to Moscow, were it to send tanks into Moldova or Georgia or the Crimea. Does she have any idea the impression she is making across the globe when she says Russia is not off-limits to a U.S. attack? Then she softened her rhetoric -- saying that she would just slap sanctions on Russia (um, Sarah, we don't do all that much trading with Russia so sanctions really wouldn't work). Obviously Palin was prepared for the Georgia question, which makes her remarks that much downright scarier.

Then there's the Bush doctrine -- remember that phrase? Palin doesn't. Her blank deer-in-headlights look she flashed proved she'd never even heard of it (these were not exactly gotcha questions either). Apparently she is tough on terrorists and solidly pro-Israel, but would not go into specifics. She could not talk in any detail about U.S. commando raids against sovereign Pakistan or whether she is for or against anticipatory self-defense (or whether Article 51 of the UN Charter covers such use of self-defense). She would not get into what she would do as president were Israel to start raining bombs on Natanz, a nuclear reactor in Iran. Her mental capacity betrayed that of a stay-at-home hockey mom, not a serious candidate for any office, much less vice president. Her grasp of world affairs is so bad, so shallow, so slippery, every foreign service officer deployed overseas should be shaking in their boots.

Comments

[darker]

Stupid IS as stupid DOES. Americans elected LAWLESSNESS & CORRUPTION twice: Bush-Cheney.
Republican PUBLICISTS dump SMOKE & MIRRORS on Americn voters, and we bought it!

McCain + Palin = MORE REPUBLICAN DISASTER-- 8 MORE YEARS.

Palin is a glaring KNOW-NOTHING in politics.
Palin is the SMOKE & MIRRORS to distract us from 8 yrs. of REPUBLICAN DISASTERS.

Republicans can't govern nationally, they proved it. THEY MADE A MESS.
No more years for the Republican DISASTER. Republicans DESERVE TO LOSE
WE CANNOT AFFORD ANY MORE REPUBLICANS!

[mrjonessr41]

Most average Americans with a computer, knows more about foreign affairs than Palin. My wife, a stay at home football MOM, would have done a lot better in that interview, and frankly in the VP job than Palin, then she is a Democrat and I have noticed that when you are satisfied with the statis quo, you pay less attention.

[AmyKcan]

No need for a doctorate, serving on a Senate subcommittee, or even reading "Foreign Affairs" or other policy journals. She could have looked up "Bush Doctrine" on Wikipedia!

[Citizenofreality]

They probably aren't too worried about what she knows, anyone watching this closely will see that the people lurking behind her in the shadows are leftovers from the Reagan, Bush and Nixon years. Listen to what she said in the interview, they are telling everyone what their plans are for next four years. They will ramp up a new cold war, engage in skirmishes all over the world, continue to ruin our economy, steal what little wealth the middle class has left and sacrifice our sons and daughters on the altar of their greed. Palin is an empty pantsuit who reads a teleprompter well, and is already well schooled in some of their more nefarious behaviors. WAKE UP AMERICA. You may not have another chance.

[revidero]

"Her mental capacity betrayed that of a stay-at-home hockey mom, not a serious candidate for any office, much less vice president."

As a stay-at-home little league mom, I found this comment a bit offensive. Otherwise, I agree with you completely.

[BaxterJ]

I don't know what the Bush doctine is either. Diference is, I'm posting comments on a website, and she's trying to become 2nd in command of the United States. Were I in her shoes, I'd be studying up.
http://www.entertonement.com/collections/3369/First-Palin-Interview-Pt-1

[scrutiny1]

It's takes more than just "studying up" to be the VP of the U.S.

[RepugsOut08]

I, Sarah Palin, want to be Miss America because...
I think terrorists are bad, and McCain is good.
I live in Alaska, and I can see the Evil Empire from my porch when I'm baking cookies for the hockey team.
President Lincoln said we should make sure that we are on God's side, and I'm happy to report that God told me last night He approves of my message.
I think oil and gas are good, and Polar bears make nice rugs.
It's been getting lots warmer up here in Alaska, and, If I win Miss America, I promise to help bring this warming trend to everyone.
So, to sum up, terrorists bad. McCain, oil and gas good!
Russia bad. God good!
Polar bears bad, except as rugs. Warming good!
Thank you, and God bless the great state of Alaska!

[weareallone]

Awesome! Yup, yup!

[ArgentTrader]

As someone who's actually lived and worked in Russia and traveled extensively in Central/Eastern Europe and the Baltic States, if Sarah Palin is qualified to be VP...then I am imminently qualified to be Secretary of State. I even have a degree in American Foreign Policy that I got from ONE university!

Go Me!!

[wsblake]

Ya know,like I think Sarah Palin's really cool and all, I mean she was in some really cool beauty contests and all,but I mean, you know, I really think Britney would've been better,ya know what I mean...

[nippersdad]

Shut up! No waaaayyy! Like, as if there is any comparison at all between Britney and Paris! Paris already has an energy plan, y'no? AND, I think the Russians would be really impressed with her new pink razor phone hotline thingy. It's hot! Oooh, ooh, plus she could stay at her Grandpop's hotels and save the country major dinero! Energy and deficit probs solved, dude!

[Messenger38]

The reason why Obama - Biden are going to loose the election, is because of the half-hearted lame efforts made by a bunch of extreme liberals claiming to be a "main-stream" liberal. Don't you get it. We can scream McCain & Palin = Bush all day long, but his record shows huge disparities on big issues. For the love of God, Obama voted in line with Bush up to 40% of the time and McCain voted in line as low as 70% in one year.

Then we start screaming about experience. Come on people, Obama can't scream this. Let's be realists and not bone heads. If you want to make a case go after the tangibles where our footing is solidly behind us. Don't be like an attorney who while trying to make his/her case throws out a bunch of BS when he has lagitimate evidence on his/her side... it only makes you look bad and like a liar.

You want to win, go for real areas we can dig our teeth into. Healthcare, independent energy etc... Stay away from the half truths or we'll end up with another 4 years.

[jazzchantoozie]

actually, I think Obama can rightly scream about experience. they've just go to get the goddam message across:

http://www.englandforobama.com/barack-obama-vs-sarah-palin-the-experience-argument

[sboucher]

Thanks for the link. I've been wondering what the rest of the world thinks of this outrage. I wish they'd all start shouting it from the rooftops and in banner headlines that they are downright SCARED by her and McCain.

[ndolomar]

Can someone please tell me when the U.S. went back to war with Russia? I can remember being terrified as a little girl while watching the miniseries "The Day After" and hoping we wouldn't look up one day to see missles flying through the sky. So, now that the conservatives has admitted defeat in the Middle East war, they're attempting to ignite a controversy with Russia again? Is my daughter going to be watching "The Day After: Part 2" in the next four years? Please, America, don't be this dumb -- why would you do this to yourselves?

[aramos]

I guess because Barrack made a speech again in Germany he's an expert on National Security too?

And worse yet, he's the Presidential candidate, he'll be making policy.

[ToonMoene]

> I guess because Barrack made a speech again in Germany he's an expert on
> National Security too?

Ah, I was waiting for this one.

Yes, his speech in Berlin shows that he has a grasp on National Security (for the narrow definition of first defeating the terrorists in the Afghanistan/Pakistan area).

He actually said during this speech that "Afghanistan needs our troops and your troops" to return to normality.

This was in spite of the fact that Angela Merkel had told him that morning that she couldn't promise more troops (she's bound by a democratically elected parliament, after all).

What was amazing (at least to my European ears) was that Obama didn't draw any boos (or angry banners) for that phrase.

In other words, he knows how to inspire allies to do the fighting for US interests.

I'm 51, but he would be the first US President (since JFK) to be successful in this regard.

[monkette]

For anybody questioning what Obama does or doesn't know about national security, lets not overlook a fact.

Obama graduated from Columbia University in 1983 with a political science degree, specializing in international relations. And that's before you factor in that he has a degree from Harvard Law as well.

He's an intelligent man, and better versed in international politics than people give him credit for.

[antioscar]

I am always amazed at the number of America's most intelligent that show up here.

[sudzy]

I am absolutely astounded that the citizens of this country think Sarah Palin is in any way capable of holding the office of vice president. The possibility that she could step into the office of president is not something I could even fathom. She is the most uninformed candidate I have ever seen. I don't understand how she was even considered for a running mate. There are so many competent people in government, and they picked her. It's just outragous.

[Intelligentia]

I'm sorry for your outrage and you are rightly outraged. However, you're ignoring one obvious fact: If you are White in the United States of America, you are automatically qualified for any position from birth. If you don't have the qualifications, the White media will invent them for you and the White majority will fall behind in short order! We, minorities, especially, African-Americans, are hostages to the whims and caprices of the White majority. We know why Obama cannot get angry about all the lies and distortions of White politicians. If he gets angry, he will be labelled the angry Black man who is attacking Whites. Either way, Whites win in the United States of America because of their majority status. It does not matter whether a White Democrat or Republican is in the White House, White are protected. For most Whites, any White man or woman will do, regardless of party affiliation. Ultimately, I am waiting for November 5th to see what happens. Win or lose, we know that Obama is the most qualified candidate in this race! Personally, I do not trust a lot of the Whites who claim to support him. Sometimes, I wonder if they are trying to sabotage him. Will someone tell me why Biden will comment that Hillary would have been a better VP choice than he? If he felt that way, why did he not decline Obama's offer? Obama, watch your back: All those behind you are not necessarily watching your back!

[sagecat]

The statement she made that most disturbed me was when she said we had to "...get to a point in this world where war is NOT going to be a FIRST option. In fact war has got to be, and military strike, a last option." Sarah Palin believes that we have to GET to a point where war is NOT our first option. She seems to believe that war as a first option is valid now. This is frightening.