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

[eciaccio]

Sarah Palin is the logical end point of the devolution of the U.S. cultural/political system from Richard Nixon, whose corrupt vice-president Spiro Agnew began the attack on our so-called "liberal" media and who claimed to speak for the alleged "silent majority" who were, in reality, white racists and war mongers who confused violent, paranoid jingoism with patriotism.

Dubya was our first modern ignoramus "president," especially following Rhodes Scholar Bill Clinton, but our military-e­ntertainme­nt complex culture has shaped most Americans to mistake the appearance of folksy affability coupled with macho tough talk for leadership, with our historical anti-intel­lectualism causing too many of us to mistake knowledge and articulate speech for elitism and snobbery.

Clearly see what our vacuous sitcoms, "reality" shows, and violent crime dramas tell about us and our values and you will understand how so many Americans can forget about our true economic and ecological crises and be distracted and consumed by ignorant, confused, nasty, "tough-talking" (war-mongering) candidates who put their lust for power ahead of everything else.

Given all of this history and cultural conditioning, it should be no surprise that many Americans today actually think Sarah Palin did very well in part one of her interview with Gibson, and, therefore, will see no problem voting for a McCain/Palin ticket.

[doglove]

Perfectly expressed and perfectly true.

Thank you , eciaccio, I knew I wasn't crazy!

[scrutiny1]

You're right. The question is, "Have Americans been dumbed down beyond repair?"

[forty8r]

McCain + Palin = Bush - Cheney

Chant it!

and pass it on!!!

[djarvis]

No doubt. And yet, McCain says she is very qualified to be commander in chief. Putting Palin a heartbeat away from the presidency is definitely NOT putting country first!!

[Shadow08]

McCain can say that all he wants, but Americans are seeing right through it.

He made a huge error in judgement. Not by picking Palin, but by thinbing he could hoodwink America with her. Give us more credit than that John.

[Deni]

Are they seeing through it? I'm not so sure. I am very afraid I'm going to wake up that first Wednesday in November to see they won.

[pjn]

You are giving Americans way too much credit buddy. They want someone who is "just like us".I got this from a bunch of educated Farifax Co, Virginians - white women. Check out Thursday's WaPo. They don't want someone "smarter than us". After all who do we want to have a beer with? Surely not a highly educated, articulate, thoughtful Black man. Now come on.

[Rescisco]

"And, my friends even more important than winning the election is governing the nation. That is the test of a political party, the acid, final test. When the tumult and the shouting die, when the bands are gone and the lights are dimmed, there is the stark reality of responsibility in an hour of history haunted with those gaunt, grim specters of strife, dissension, and materialism at home and ruthless, inscrutable, and hostile power abroad." -Adlai Stevenson-

[Seattlelite]

I watched in horror last night as the top media people on CNN (David & Candy) tried to NOT say what they saw with their own eyes and heard with their own ears -- which is this women knows SQUAT about foreign policy. "My energy policy knowledge gives me the experience I need in foreign policy"!! WHAT THE HELL? I've been to Canada and Mexico! I'd bet my paycheck she went to some resort part of Mexico like Cancun. Gibson should have asked her if those were vacations or state business.

I don't know why I was shocked at this response from the media, I knew this was coming, the bar has been set SO LOW for this women all she had to do was open her mouth say "foreign policy" and they'd give her credit.

[respectingothers]

This commentary goes to the heart of the significance of this Palin FP interview

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/notion/359634

[Deni]

I'm even more scared after reading some of the comments to the Nation's blog. God. Help. America. We're going to need a miracle.

[KillTheMessenger]

It's time to ask Sting for a new version of "Russians".

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/sting/russians.html

But he needs to replace "Russians" with "Republicans".

These people are scary.

[outsidethebeltway]

Palin is a former Broadcaster. As a 20 year broadcast vet, I can tell you that any industry professional worth their salt can 1) display complete comfort and ease in front of a camera and crowds; 2) make teleprompter script roll off their tongue as though it came from their soul—and if the prompter gets stuck, we can BS our way through to the next segment without blinking; 3) memorize informational sound bites and perfectly regurgitate them in a most intellectually convincing manner.

What I saw in her interview with Charlie Gibson and in the speeches she has given, are her broadcast strengths. She’s good. If you erase the accent and do something about that nasally tone, she “coulda been a contenda”-- right up there with Katie Couric and Barbara Walters (although they’re more traveled and arguably have more knowledge of the issues than she does and might take offense at the comparison).

Here’s the thing, until she shows me more depth of knowledge—which she did not display in the interview --I am certain that –as a broadcaster myself--I could pull off the same "greatest show on earth" that she's been performing these past two weeks.

But let’s take me out of the equation. Why not nominate Campbell Brown for VP. She’s smart and looks good in a skirt. I mean honestly, someone has to convince me that almost any female anchor—save for the one’s on Fox—could pull this “show” off as well, if not better than Gov. Palin.

[ToonMoene]

> But let"s take me out of the equation. Why not nominate Campbell Brown for VP.

What amazed me most about this interview was that Mr. Gibson seemed to know as much, if not more than, the prospective Vice President.

This cannot be right.

[Zubeck]

He knew way more, and of course it's right. Charlie's been at this more than a minute, and he's eminently qualified for his job.
If he had pulled out all the stops she'd have gone down like a rowboat in a tsunami.

[yulyyz]

Back in 2000, a good friend of mine, who was finishing his doctoral studies in history focusing on American politics, and I were discussing the election between George W. Bush and Al Gore. Referring to the average intellectual abilities of American voters, he told me and I quote: “You know, notwithstanding the fact that about only half of the electorate bother to vote, you could put Homer Simpson on the ticket and he would end up at the White House.” I will let you guess who between the two candidates he was talking about. Recently, after seeing so many people going gaga over Sarah Palin, especially given her phenomenal intellectual abilities as displayed with the first part of the ABC interview shown yesterday, I did not realize at the time that he literarily meant what he was saying.

[optech007]

It's amazing what you can find by doing a little research.

"He also outlined what is being called the Bush Doctrine, a promise that all terrorists organizations with global reach will be found, stopped and defeated." - Charlie Gibson, Sept. 21, 2001

[motley2]

Are the people who prepped her for the interview the same crack team that's getting her ready to step up if McCain falls over?

[bronceye]

Jake, Elwood, now Sarah-on a mission from God.

[sposton]

Palin and McCain scare me to my marrow! But how does that differ from Bush - Cheney? The simple fact that one is not ready for being president does not seem to bother enough Americans, even if it scares the rest us along with the majority of the rest of the world. While Palin may be scaring Europeans she is apparently reassuring to many in the American millenarian eschatological crowd and to many others in the swing voter block. Even some democratic women intend to vote for McCain because the VP will be a woman! McCain may win because of her, not in spite of her.

[fem56]

I am a stay at home mom so watch it. I am proud to say that and I pretty much know what the Bush doctrine is and could have answered a number of questions better even though I am no expert on international affairs by any stretch of the imagination. She is obviously trying to parrot what she had been told. She generally believes she can do anything she sets her mind to which may work on the christian high school basketball courts in small town Alaska. She may be able to use her the strength of her will to be a popular govenor of a very sparsely populated state rolling in oil money... at least for a while. The strength of her will also has gotten her in a lot of trouble with a lot of people.

[Kirk59]

How far back in history do we have to go before we find 2 less educated people than McCain/Palin as President and VP? How much longer will the middle class have to suffer, and how much poorer must we become before we realize that stupid but affable leaders are being put in front of us so the Plutocracy behind the scenes can continue to pull the strings? If we thought Bush was an international embarrasment, we are going to be all misty eyed and wishing to have him back after these 2 get on to the world stage.

[energy]

I couldn't agree with you more. How dumb are we really? To think people are out there buying Palin barbie dolls, it is nothing more than disgusting.

[scrutiny1]

Uh, Bush/Cheney. Although Cheney isn't dumb, he's diabolical.

[claylandg]

I remember some from the Obama camp or maybe Obama himself saying how he as president would surround hinself with qualified people to run the country and he would be like a manager of them, Does anyone remember this?? well if this is he statement than i think the palin issue is dead at least for me but of course the media will never bring this to light again. I vote for the top of the ticket who is ready on day one, I'm a life long democrate and Obama isn't ready to lead , not enough experience in alot of areas i don't want another manager in office ( Bush) do you??

[schatsie]

My worst nightmare is that Palin willl resign and McCain will appoint either Rove or Cheney or Jeb Bush..

Don't know much about history.
Don't know much biology.
Don't know much about algebra
Don't know what a slide rule is for...

This works well for a fundamenalist women who is pro creationism, pro abstinence, and pro the road to nowhere....

[WiscActor]

You're a "life long democrate"?? So you would vote for 4 more years of the same failed Bush policies that got the country in the mess that it's it today?? Let's not forget that there is a VERY REAL possibility that McCain will not live long enough to serve out his full term if elected, & guess what?? Slick Sarah would be in charge, & that makes me throw up in my mouth a little...

[laxdan]

I would like a "manager" type of leader, but this time a smart one. Is it realistic to believe one man can be an expert in every field that the president will have to deal with? Not in my opinion. Get a smart leader, with good values and surround him with experts in all the various fields, and let him weigh the inputs and then make a decision based on his values.

[energy]

How can you possibly call yourself a lifelong Democrat who is willing to vote for McCain? Democrats care and have a plan for healthcare, the economy, green technology, the war in Iraq, home forclosures, union bargaining power, the list goes on. If you care about these issues, then you need to vote for Obama. If you believe we as a nation can continue on this destructive path, vote for McCain. Possibly by 2012 we will no longer recognize the middle class and may not be able to recover as a nation. Maybe we will be fighting more wars we cannot afford. The weakening dollar has enormous impact for generations as does our debt. We need Obama and like-minded people to get into office to begin to sort out this disgusting mess. We truly CANNOT AFFORD 4 MORE YEARS OF THESE POLICIES!!!!!!!

[Kirk59]

Bush is an MBA. So am I and I have no business trying to run for office let alone President. Law School is light years harder than Business School and Barack was top of his class at Harvard. His IQ must be 140 or higher. Palin has a BA in Journalism from a C school (her 5th in the 6 long years it took her to earn a degree). The US needs an "elitist" to handle our many complex issues. Someone capable of LEARNING not just spouting off old Republican bromides with folksy charm. This nation has been dumbed down and our leaders reflect it. All of this serves the coprorate monied interests very nicely. Monied interests that have no loyalty to this or any other nation, only to their larger stockholders and themselves. Welcome to our Theocratic Plutocracy. Kids in other countries can read about how our great experiment in self governance failed after 200 years. Pity.
Below is a link for Canadian Citizenship applications. It could be quite busy there after 11/9.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/EnGLIsh/inFORMation/applications/adults.asp

[respectingothers]

I'm as worried as anyone else that this woman could actually end up being our next president. I actually believed it couldn't get any worse than it already is...but..
I would really love if supporters of Obama would stop acting like Republicans and stop exaggerating and distorting!
For as uninformed as i assumed she would be and which she undoubtly proved herself to be...her ability to think on her feet and keep herself from falling flat on her face was truly amazing.
Be realistic and give her credit where it's due. that doesn't have to alter the fact that she is NOT in anyway prepared to be President.

Please God! deliver us Obama!

[GraceNeeded]

You are absolutely right but I think the general population is still trying to get over Senator McCain's recklessness in selecting her as V.P. They have NOT found anyone that can testify to being contacted by the McCain campaign as would be required of a proper vetting and he lied and said they did an FBI check, which the FBI says they don't do. We are still going through the grieving process of first, SHOCK (I keep hitting this whenever I hear what she has to offer.) DENIAL (How could the person I supported in 2000 be so reckless?) ANGER (What the heck? How could he do this to our country?) DEPRESSION (Here we go again...after 8 years of this lack of responsibility for poor decisions, we are going to do it again.) ACCEPTANCE or lack there of (I will NOT believe these polls showing McCain/Palin leading Obama/Biden.) We are all in varying stages and keep regressing to earlier ones when new information erupts from the media.

[Shadow08]

Any quick thinking adolescent can make up excuses and keep from falling on their face. That's nothing. That does not however denote leadership. If the interview with Charlie made her have to sweat even a little, or keep herself on her feet, she's not even remotley ready for VP. She's s rookie from a small town who is in way over her head.

[nomobull]

my nine year old can lie that good and i don't think you want a nine year old in charge.