Mrs Palin Goes To Washington
ST PAUL -- Warning that reading this piece is going to be like watching an episode of Generation Kill. You know the outcome -- in this instance, that Sarah Palin nails the speech at the Republican Convention that introduces her to the country -- even as the story unfolds.
Twelve hours earlier. It's still Sarah, Sarah, Sarah here, the mood escalating between now-steady satisfaction in public and underlying anxiety in private. "Steve Schmidt has taken her in hand," a delegate said to the little group, including me, waiting to get into the Minnesota breakfast meeting. He seemed to be bolstering confidence. A woman tried to match his tone by offering an anecdote about her delegation's bus driver. "He's a Republican," she assured us, "and he said last night that he liked her." Inadvertently, the delegate underscored the uncertainty: would other voters besides the Republican delegations take to Sarah Palin?
At a late afternoon reception hosted by Human Rights First, where several retired generals spoke out against the use of torture, I asked Bud McFarlane, national security adviser to Ronald Reagan and now adviser to John McCain, if he thought Sarah Palin had the foreign policy experience to be vice president. When Spiro Agnew resigned, McFarlane said, it had been his responsibility to bring Jerry Ford, who had no foreign policy experience, up to speed. McFarlane had given Ford several thick briefing notebooks and worked with him; but still it had taken six months. "That's how long it takes," McFarlane said, "six months." And he reminded me about Nixon's resignation, and how in his first months in office President Ford had had to meet with the Russians [with Brezhnev to work on the SALT Treaty in November 1974, a year after he succeeded Agnew as Vice President].
Right now "a friend" is working with Palin on foreign affairs, McFarlane said, adding, "Clearly, she is very intelligent." "It's a good sign that she hasn't been afraid to say what she doesn't know and to ask questions." (Presumably, McFarlane and friend have been in touch.) That was Ronald Reagan's strength, McFarlane said. "He [Reagan] knew nothing about arms control or the Middle East, and he was always quick to remind us that." But then McFarlane reiterated the six-month time frame. Like the delegate at the Minnesota breakfast, he would seem to have something about Palin on his mind.
Only hours earlier, I had heard Bud McFarlane speak about "The Use of Smart Power," as opposed to hard and soft power, on a foreign relations panel at the Hubert Humphrey Center at the University of Minnesota. Nina Easton of Fortune, etc. asked questions of Ambassador to the Sudan Richard Williamson, former U.S. trade representative to the U.N. Rob Portman (floated as a potential McCain vice presidential choice), Joe Lieberman and Bud McFarlane. Senator Lieberman did not disappoint; indeed he spoke much better than he did the previous evening to the convention. (Sudden thought: Randy Scheunemann, the Director of Foreign Policy and National Security to the McCain Campaign, was supposed to speak on the panel. Lieberman was the pinch-hitter. Could Scheunemann be McFarlane's friend?)
Nina Easton asked Joe Lieberman how non-military means could attack the problem of Islamic terrorism. "Voters see him [McCain] inclined to the military option," Lieberman said, "but John has a veteran's distaste for military conflict." "John is a reformer," Lieberman continued, "he's gonna take a very fresh look at our foreign and defense agencies -- you can expect a shake-up here." Lieberman was the first panelist to mention a McCain house cleaning, but not the last -- later McFarlane mentioned the State Department -- so this would seem to be something John McCain has been talking about among friends. ("John McCain is going to subject every government agency to a top-to-bottom review, and post the results on the internet, for every American to see," Carly Fiorina says in the Palindome as I'm writing this from the press filing center.)
All the panelists addressed the need for support of schools in the Islamic world -- and addressed the need in such a way that demonstrated the kind of policy experience that comes from years of observation and thinking and conversing with peers in other countries that will be difficult for Sarah Palin to acquire quickly. "There's an idea that's been bouncing around a lot -- Tony Blair had a good idea, to start an education foundation to build public schools in the Islamic world," Lieberman said. John McCain and he had talked to both Tony Blair and his successor Gordon Brown about such a plan. "That's an idea those two prime ministers have had," Lieberman said. "How do you stop the cycle of ideological hatred? You get them in a better school." Such a foundation would have to exercise accountability and ultimately be indigenous, Lieberman added. Again, it's hard to imagine that Sarah Palin could get up to speed fast on the implications and structural issues of such an initiative, especially since she doesn't seem to have a far-ranging, inquiring mind, despite her native intelligence. Specifically on the subject of education, by the by, she hasn't shown much interest, for she hasn't put a chunk of Alaskan oil revenues into her state's schools.
The other issue that all the panelists addressed is the rise of protectionist sentiment, as Rob Portman called it. "It's sad to see trade become a political football," Portman said, before going on to discuss the Central American Free Trade Agreement at some length. Lieberman took up the topic with the South Korean Free Trade Agreement after a historical reprise of how "deeply committed" the Clinton-Gore Administration was to free trade. "Obama has turned his back on a bipartisan policy," Ambassador Williamson said before bringing up the subject of the collapse of the recent Doha talks, when India and China walked out. How does the U.S. recalibrate its relationship to these energy powers? The collapse of Doha is "the canary in the mineshaft," the Ambassador said.
Eight hours later, Governor Palin identifies herself to the nation as "a gal that knows the north slope of Alaska." At this point, there's no reason to think that she does not. But when she alludes to "energy as a weapon in the Caucasus," she sounds coached, just as she does in her encapsulated remarks on Iran, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela and their oil supplies. Seconds later, she returns to what seems to be her own voice when she says that "our opponents" tell us drilling won't solve our problems, "as if we didn't know that already." Energy issues are the geographic center of Palin's speech, in which she deftly combines an introduction of herself and her family, a tribute and an endorsement of John McCain and sly, witty attacks on Barack Obama. The glue is a small-town point of view, however artfully crafted, that is going to be hard for Joe Biden to swallow. But that's what he needs to do, or he will be driving small-town and rural voters into the McCain-Palin camp just as yellow journalism (via the blogosphere) is threatening to do now, and he can campaign from Scranton to Lancaster and back until the cows come home and never deliver Pennsylvania for Obama.
Sarah Palin has a great smile and sparkling eyes behind those (suddenly updated) glasses. She exudes vitality and spunk. Her Midwestern accent heartland Americans are going to love. But most of all she has a wicked sense of humor -- blue collar without the chip on the shoulder that can undercut -- and a fair sense of timing that are going to be her advantages over Joe Biden in St. Louis. That October Debate is the next test for Sarah Palin, unless the media unravels her life story first. The challenge for Joe Biden is to expose the Palin combination of certitude and shallowness without attacking her small-town persona. Biden has to lead undecided voters to ask themselves where they've seen Palin before. The latest surprise in Election 2008 is that it's Sarah Palin, not John McCain, who is Bush III. Of course, she's much more than Bush, and the ways in which she's thrilled many Americans to the core are going to shape the political fortunes of women with eyes on the presidency from this day forward.
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It's truly disturbing how narrow-minded, one-sided and dare I say, partisan Ms. Fowler's article is - not to mention many of the responsers.
Many of your concerns on Palin's foreign policy expericence is in complete juxtaposition to Mr. Obama's experience - and he's looking to occupy the Presidency! Hello? Don't you all realize how obvious this is? His experience, quite literally, can be encapsulated within the last year - largely campaigning for his own interests outside the US - and that's being generous.
As a Republican, I too worry about Palin's foreign policy experience, but she's running for VP. Obama is appealing as he's a nice success story, but he literally has no experience - that worries me more.
This is a democracy and a resume is not necessary to seek public office. A janitor with John Kerry's war chest could make a run for Commander-in-Chief. No candidate will ever be everything to everyone (that would be nice) but on major issues, particularly concerning "experience", Obama is that "janitor." Wake up.
The primary job of the Commander in Chief and by extension, the VP, is the "steering" of the nation-state in relation to other countries. In other words, foreign policy.
It' s a big leap to go from governor of a 600,000 Alaska (about the size of El Paso or Milwaukee) to a FEDERAL Executive position on the international stage.
Palin is grossly under prepared.
Yes, resumes ARE required to run for public office. Would you want a "janitor" to meet with the Russians? Would you want your child to be taught creationism because a janitor is religious?
Palin is really running for Senator Steven's job. He will be forced to retire and then, viola . . .Palin will fill the Republican void. She will win the Senorial seat, but she will not win this November. The candidates all keep their day jobs.
Joebiz, Much of what you mentioned above was assumed by use of a little satire which was a clear knock at our polictical system.
I'm aware that Palin's foreign policy experience is a "little" green, but my point is so is Obama's. You failed to mention that.
When Obama took the stage at the DNC in July '04 he was still a state rep in the Illinois House, not even a Senator. The Democrats, along with every mainstream media outlet, made him out to become the "second coming", and literally launched him onto the political scene. Palin's current rise only mirrors his ascension in regards to political experience.
I don't want to knock what community organizers do as I'm aware of their value particularly as I live in an urban area, however, the reality is the position works under the leadership of a mayor. A mayor's position works under a governor's. To suggest that Palin's experience in governing is less than Obama's is simply wrong. In order to make more sense of her experiences, I'll dummy it down: as governor Palin was a community organizer - but also she oversaw state budgets, environmental, economic, healthcare and educational issues
The irony is McCain has chosen a good, family oriented professional mother of 5 that literally is living many of the problems that face America. I would think Liberals would simpathize or, more accurately, empathize with her struggles as a mother. Instead people are ruthless and it's sadly unbecoming of Americans quite
The tragedy of the post is the subject: Palin must learn about foreign policy. And, learn it from the amiable dunces and boobs that:
1) funded the Contras and returned Nicaragua to the stone-age;
2) cut and run from Beirut and allowed the slaughter of Palestinias at Sabra and Shatila and the deaths of 241 Marines and sailors;
3) failed to understand the ramifications of perestroika and glasnost in the Soviet Union and then taking credit for the results and economic reforms;
4) stated that Grenada and the subsequent invasion, was due to a "threat" to national security;
5) allowed the massacre by US trained Salvadoreans guerrillas at EL Mozote, slaughtering over 1,000 civilians;
6) Gave Iran's theocracy a gift of a Bible to make sure they would cooperate in the arms trades;
7) Spent millions on Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) the Star Wars plan;
8) Intensified the Iran-Iraq War by arming both sides;
9) Armed the Afghani mujahadeen against the Soviets (good) but then turned the other way and allowed the Taliban to ferment and become what they are now (bad);
10) Reagan layed a wreath and paid his respects to interrred Nazi Waffen SS soldiers
For our sake, Palin needs better instructors.
First of all anyone who is going to be vice-president if elected needs more than six months training. A person's view of the world outside our borders should be developed over a period of years out of natural curiosity and apparently she has none. She is just going to taught a lot of buzz words and phrases that she memorizes but mean nothing because she is just parroting ideas and beliefs that someone else has indoctrinated her with. Putin would make mince meat of her, and really any educated, informed person could do the same here. She will never understand this stuff because she has a closed mind which she proved the way she fired anyone that had a different idea than her in all her previous positions. She seems to be a narcistic person just like McCain.
6 weeks.....not 6 months....and lees than that until her debate with Biden..on Foreign Policy...................SHE KNOWS NOTHING>>>>>>>>>>>be scared..be very very scared
We need to get real serious now and look at ALL that's happening!!!!
The government (through Fannie and Freddie) now owns most of our homes!!!
Le'ts stop this 'fiddling' while Rome burns... this is NOT A JOKE!! no matter how much McCain't grins...we are being tooooo petty during some serious times....McCain't nor Pain have vision enough to attack all that ails our -repeat OUR - country...their home, our country?
Watch when she debates Biden that her "answers" to the moderators questions will be parroted talking points that most likely will not address the question at all. Hopefully the people leading the debate will not let these "non-answers" go by and keep at her until she either answers the question or has to admit she doesn't know. Mostly likely they will let her off the hook and move on.
Debates these days are just puff pieces in another format. Both parties stopped using the League of Women Voters debates because they were too non-partisan and too difficult for the candidates. Palin will most likely get a pass as long as she doesn't say anything incredibly stupid.
Worst than that, her Rovian crew will spin her comments as insightful while finding something that Biden says to attack, thus distracting everyone from remembering what they actually saw and heard.
Remember the Kerry/Bush debate in which Bush said he doesn't think about Bin Laden much any more? Probably not but you probably do remember all the right wing - generated hysteria after it as Kerry mentioned that Cheney's daughter was [no secret to anyone] gay and the Cheneys distracted by attacking with [sound familiar?] false outrage.
I will tell you, those who believe that it is obvious that Sarah Palin is an uneducated fraud; a wind-up doll sent out by the Republican Party to shake up the election, and that eventually, every reasonable person will realize it. You are wrong. Otherwise smart, sensible people won't get it - ever.
I am a full-time mother of teenage and school age children, pretty well-educated (certainly far better than Palin), a former employee in a responsible position at a well-known company who now devotes great time and energy into the raising of her children. I have several conservative, Republican relatives who have always professed to me that my choice was incredibly admirable and "the right" choice and yes, a worthwhile sacrifice for any good-thinking mother. These same relatives are now praising the talents, vision and sheer magnificence of all that is Sarah Palin.
Imagine what they say when I ask about her children, who are clearly not being educated or guided by their mother? Well, they acknowledge, she isn't doing a great job with her kids, but she has a higher calling and the party needs her more than her kids right now...and eventually her children will benefit from her position...the president's children always have an advantage, you know...
This point of view is very pervasive...
What you meant to say is that point of view is pathological.
Yes, Sarah Palin has no foreign policy experience, and John McCain's view on foreign policy are just plain scary: "100 years in Iraq", "Bomb, bomb Iran", and his lack of knowledge on geography, etc..
"All the panelists addressed the need for support of schools in the Islamic world"?
I'd prefer that our own kids learn to read and write, thank you.
Read CAREFULLY people. It took Gerald FORD-a person who received his education at U of Michigan SIX MONTHS to get 'up to speed'. SIX MONTHS! Sarah Palin can NOT get 'up to speed' in SIX WEEKS! It's NOT possible. The DEBATE is not a question and answer session-she can't 'pass' , she can TRY one liners, but they would turn a serious debate into a comedy routine and DEFINITELY KILL the McCain/Palin chances. If it didn't murder the campaign outright, it would certainly be an EXCELLENT indicator of McCain's much vaunted JUDGEMENT. I will grant that the McCain advisors will have programmed her with 'pat' answers. I expect to see a regurgitation of the Republican Platform AND John McCain's/Bush's 'one note' solution to SERIOUS Problems.
Another POINT here: Sarah Palin as Governor of Alaska CUT a budget of $62 MILLION for services to children with Special Needs. That budget NOW stands at $3 MILLION. "Friend and advocate in the White House"? I Think NOT.
Let's make NO MISTAKE about this. John McCain and Sarah Palin, in their overweaning desire to 'cut PORK' will throw the baby out with the bathwater and redline and cut FURTHER, programs that are already basically going door to door 'begging' for money. I wanna know how much PORK they're gonna slash off the DEFENSE BUDGET.
"blue collar without the chip on the shoulder"
are you kidding? The sarcasm and nastiness oozing out of my television screen IS eminating directly from that giant size chip. Her demeanor said she HATES anyone from the lower 48 or who holds opinions different from hers.
She and all other extreme right wingers are the counter opposite of the ahmadinejad side with their dreams of theocracy and designs on recreating our public schools to turn out more small minded people like her. Dangerous demagoguery!
Qualified for the presidency yet unprepared for an interview? More than any time in my life, the American people will get the leadership they deserve. I pray that it's what's needed.
Great blog post. It gets right to the point.
Palin is even more Bush than McCain is ..
McCain-Bush, 4 more years
"if it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it ain't a moose"
We need to begin to look at why we need to pay these elected officials so much money and they never get taxed on any of it. Simple fix, FLAT TAX. No body, but, nobody gets around paying taxes if it's a flat 7% across the board, that's an easy fix and it means that the middle class wouldn't be paying in up to 45% of there hard earned money into taxes. Not to mention it would bring our coffers to a surplus in just 4 years. Think about it. I'm an independent and I don't see either politician without fault. Question is, which has less faults? Which will I vote for? I will vote for whomever has the best qualifications. But, I know it doesn't matter, special interest groups have your vote already cast for you.
I have been saying this for along time. I also think if the state would impose a sales tax on everything sold in the state, they could eliminate the state tax taken out of the pay checks and actually make more money using the sales tax.
The tax system has gotten too complex.
" We are in a war that we must win", but, at what expense. Answer: if we don't show that we have won, we will be the country that couldn't win in Vietnam because we pulled out early, and the country that couldn't win in IRAQ because we pulled out early. Not to mention the country that allowed our American Men and Women to become left behind P.O.W.'s again. We can't let that happen, but, we all know we cannot win in this election, we all know that no matter who has the popular vote, our politics are messed up because of the way voting "Really" works in our country. Special interest groups will determine who wins our elections until we send bills to capital hill to get rid of special interest groups all together.
Well John McCain had no problem forgetting about any POWs that were left in Vietnam. It was a mother of a POW in the hallway in Congress that tried to appeal to McCain to not stop looking for them and he pushed her and her wheelchair out of his way and let loose on her with some very bad attitude.
Trouble with the same old democrat rhetoric is statements like " Palin lied", but, about what?
"Palin was dishonest" again about what? If you are going to make the statement how about backing it up with information that is factual.
Palin said she put the jet on E-bay. She didn't say it sold there. McCain made a misake and assumed it sold on E-bay. This is proof that someone needs to do a better job of cluing him in.
Senator Barrack Obama is no Saint either, but, he seems to be on our side as American citizens.
He wants to give people who are having a hard time more money to get along and pay there bills.
How? where's it going to come from? He talks about taxing the rich people and giving to the poor, but, if he taxes the rich and they have loopholes in the tax laws then where is the money coming from?
Answer: anyone, anyone..... hmmmm.... you and me the middle class that are working to keep money in our pockets. Another shining example of the rich get richer while the middle class pays for the lower class to sit on there butts and write stupid blogs. I for one see a way to fix this problem. Quit putting out money overseas, bring back the gold standard, and put more of our hard earned American taxes into schools.
yeah, McCain makes way too many mistakes and assumptions for my comfort. I'd prefer someone who is thoughtful and thorough in his/her statements and responses at least 50% of the time.
She may not have lied about the jet but there are lies of omission too. The rest of that story is it was sold through a broker, she took a million dollar loss and the person who bought is wanting $50000 returned to him because they hid the problems with it that he is having to fix now. A lot of the things she stated about herself were true except she just didn't tell us the rest of the story that wasn't so good. Like when she first became mayor of Wasilla, the population was only about 5500 people and she messed up so bad the first couple of months that she was forced to hire a city manager to help her run the place. There were a group of Wasillians that were attempting to get her recalled because she wanted to fire the librarian as the librarian would not censure some of the books she didn't like. The recall ended by her backing down.
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