"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 there, they are right next to our state."
That was Sarah Palin's response to Katie Couric's question: "Have you ever been involved in any negotiations, for example, with the Russians?" Was that a coherent answer? No way! Was that answer embarrassing to Palin? Yes, was it ever. That answer was one of the reasons, Kathleen Parker, a conservative columnist who initially celebrated McCain's choice for vice president, concludes that Palin is not qualified for the office and suggests she bow out gracefully by withdrawing her candidacy. When Couric commented, "But you said never second guess them (the Israelis)," Palin gave an equally embarrassing response.
"We don't have to second-guess what their efforts would be if they believe ... that it is in their country and their allies, including us, all of our best interests to fight against a regime, especially Iran, who would seek to wipe them off the face of the earth. It is obvious to me who the good guys are in this one and who the bad guys are. The bad guys are th ones who say Israel is a stinking corpse and should be wiped off the face of the earth. That's not a good guy who is saying that. Now, one who would seek to protect the good guys in this, the leaders of Israel and her friends, her allies, including the United States, in my world those are the good guys."
"I have a vast variety of sources where we get our news too. Alaska isn't a foreign country, where, it's kind of suggested and it seems like, 'Wow, how could you keep in touch with what the rest of Washington, D.C. may be thinking and doing when you live up there in Alaska?' Believe me, Alaska is like a microcosm of America." That was Palin's ridiculous response when Couric asked her to name a specific newspaper or magazine she reads. When she was unable to name a single publication, she tried to bluff her way out with this gobbledygook. Palin would have looked better had she named Playboy.
At first, I too was enthusiastic about McCain's choice of Palin. But, at the rate things are going, I'm afraid Palin is in for a complete meltdown. Unlike Parker, I'm not ready to suggest she step down. That may change when I watch the Palin-Biden debate on Thursday. Here is why I'm not ready to give up on Palin.
Palin is what she is - just a hockey mom who became the mayor of a small town and then got herself elected governor of Alaska. Here is how Newt Gingrich defended her resume: "She has a stronger resume than Obama. She's been a real mayor, he hasn't. She has been a real governor, he hasn't. She's been in charge of the Alaskan National Guard, he hasn't. She was a whistleblower who defeated an incumbent mayor. He has never once shown that kind of courage. She's a whistleblower who turned in the chairman of her own party and got him fined $12,000. I've never seen Obama do one thing like that. She took on the incumbent governor of her own party and beat him, and then she beat a former Democratic governor in the general election. I don't know of a single thing Obama's done except talk and write."
Does her lack of economic and foreign policy experience disqualify her to be president? Most certainly not. Should McCain be elected president and die while in office, Palin would take over and most assuredly rely on the counsel of the president's cabinet and the other presidential advisers. The business of the country would go on much as if McCain were still in office.
So what if Palin believes God created the earth in six calendar days and that in the beginning there was one man, one woman and a snake. In my lifetime I've had a number of friends who believed that. So what if she's opposed to abortions without exception. The Supreme Court and a majority of Congress will never go along with her on that. So, she would appoint conservative justices to the Supreme Court. To that I say, good for her.
While she's not the brightest star on the horizon, neither for that matter is McCain, Obama or Biden. She's just dimmer than the others. Unfortunately for the voters, the brightest star, Michael Bloomberg, is not in the picture. The United States will not be sucked into a black hole should Palin end up with the presidency.
"When the stock market crashed, Franklin D. Roosevelt got on the television and didn't just talk about the, you know, the princes of greed." Another stupid remark from Palin? Nope, that one came from her opponent. Apparently, Joe Biden doesn't know that the stock market crash of 1929 happened before FDR became president in 1933. And Biden doesn't seem to know that there was no television during FDR's time.
"They get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations." Did Palin say that? Nope, that was Obama making a stupid remark about working-class voters in old industrial towns decimated by job losses. And while we're recalling stupid remarks, who can forget the claim by Al Gore, that prophet of climate gloom and doom, that he invented the internet.
I say to Palin, "Sarah! Stop embarrassing yourself!" When questioned during an interviw, don't try to bluff your way through with an incoherent answer which leaves us wondering if you know what the hell you're talking about. Just admit your shortcomings! Then keep your answers short and don't ramble on and on. You could have and should have answered Katie Couric's question about your foreign affairs experience sort of like this:
"Katie, I must admit that I do not have any experience in foreign affairs. But you and your viewers can rest assured that if something happened to John (McCain) that forced me to assume the presidency, I would rely on the expertise of the president's cabinet, the national security adviser, and the other advisers on the presidential staff before making any domestic or foreign policy decisions. Dont worry, Katie, the country will be in good hands."
With an answer like that, you will avoid embarrassing yourself. With an answer like that, the voters will not hold your shortcomings against you. An answer like that will instill voter confidence in your candidacy. If you can't admit your shortcomings, you will continue to embarrass yourself. And if you can't admit your shortcomings, you should not be a candidate for any office.
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