The cuddly Daniel Larison
objects to my objection of expecting Palin to know much about
foreign policy:
Let's try to remember that this hacktastic
spin came from McCain's campaign and their supporters, and Palin
willingly went along in making this farcical claim on more than one
occasion. It is now supposed to be evidence of journalistic
misconduct to make the mistake of taking the campaign's own idiotic
statements as though they were serious. Duly noted. Whenever the
McCain campaign claims anything about either candidate, we should
assume that it is equally nonsensical and give it no
credence.
Actually, yes. Correct. But don't limit us to McCain. Obama,
whose very philosophy undergirds the origins of the financial
crisis, should face the same scrutiny. One should be skeptical of
all campaign spin. I have the weird expectation that journalists
should spend more time digging on their own, rather than relying on
the opposition research of the campaigns, or mucking around on
television with the latest "lipstick" flap. It's a waste of
everyone's time.
I didn't get much out of the Couric interview, and it's not
because I particularly like Sarah Palin. It's a series of moments
in which Couric refuses to flesh out the character of the person. I
think that's a waste of time and shows a stunning lack of
imagination. Look, if I want to know the policy positions, I check
the website. If I want to understand the thinking behind the policy
positions, I watch the interview. Even if you disagree about what I
think should be asked during one, we'll probably agree that Couric
didn't exactly rise to the occasion, particularly during the
Biden interview.
Then again, to return to foreign policy, James Lucier does an
excellent job in yesterday's
web piece showing that her foreign
policy experience isn't immediately dismissible:
You have a sixth sense about Russian
fighters and bombers intruding into your territory, or daring to
come as close as possible. You are relieved when U.S. military
planes scramble from Elmendorf Air Force Base to escort them back.
Meanwhile, you make nice. You invite the Russians on trade
missions, and you invite them to international conferences.
On August 12, Governor Sarah Palin addressed the 8th Annual
Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region held in
Fairbanks, hosted by U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and
sponsored by the University of Alaska. The Russian parliamentarians
were included along with the Canadian, Danish, Finish, Icelandic,
Norwegian, and Swedish legislators. They focused on human health in
the region, particularly among the indigenous peoples common to all
the nations. They talked about preserving renewable, non-renewable
and alternative resources. Governor Palin reported on Alaska's
progress with the new gas pipeline and with alternative
energy.
George F. Kennan she is not. Claiming she's on McCain's level
is absurd. Then again, claiming Biden is on McCain's level may also
be absurd. Definitely absurd: Claiming Barack Obama is anywhere
near this level.
topics:
Foreign Policy, Trade, Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, Television, Military, Russia, NATO, Energy, Alaska
