| 01.09.2008 |
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| SAINT PAUL, Minn. – It looks like this is turning into some kind a talking point: On Sunday, in remarks to ABC, Cindy McCain said Sarah Palin had foreign policy experience because the state she governs, Alaska, is near Russia; then, to a fellow CQ reporter, former Bush administration official John Bolton offered the same defense of her, adding proximity to Canada as a qualification. It really is a bemusing strategy. Of all the arguments one could make for John McCain picking Palin, it offers the least. Via Political Animal: "Has Palin ever been to Russia? No. Has she ever demonstrated any expertise on U.S. policy towards Russia? No. Does she have any background in international relations at any level? No. But for Republicans, the fact that she's lived near Russia is somehow a qualification for national office. The mind reels." The strategy is not original, though. Democrats, it must be noted, have offered Barack Obama’s youthful stay in Indonesia as evidence of his own foreign policy experience, which is slightly – slightly – more credible than the Palin argument because at least in his case he actually had been the foreign country in question. A common defense of then-Gov. Bush in 2000, when faced with criticism of his own lack of foreign policy experience, was that he had lived near Mexico, but that was a slightly – slightly – stronger argument because at least there was interaction in that case. For now, it doesn’t look like the Palin camp is fully embracing the talking point, so one can guess they haven't issued it. A Palin spokeswoman offered this to the Wall Street Journal: "Alaska’s geographic location certainly contributes to Governor Palin’s experience since she has dealt with trade and economic issues as a result, but it is only one part of her overall experience." |
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| 14 Comments |
| Hey Kelly, how do you get that Obama has only been in the senate for 184 days? He started serving in the senate in January 2005, you must be looking at the wrong calendar. I won't even dignify your illogical attacks on his and Michelle's patriotism with a response. | ||
| BodhiCat | Homepage | E-Mail | 18.09.2008, 14:06 | ||
| HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!! Cindee Lou McCain is making fun of Palin? Did I get this right? Either she's being totally sarcastic - "Well um, like... um... Alaska is like right near Russia" or she's being her airhead cheerleader sorority girl self and ACTUALLY - honestly - no joke - believes that proximity to the Northeastern Siberian permafrost magically confers foreign policy experience. What's next? Cindee Lou's final exam study strategy: "Um, like... tape the textbook to your head, and like, the stuff in the textbook goes into your brain." |
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| JL | Homepage | E-Mail | 02.09.2008, 22:13 | ||
| It's strange how the debate has become Obama vs Palin. Have Obama and the Democrats given up and accepted the fact McCain is much more suitable and ready to lead than him so they are switching to comparing apples and oranges? If they want to make ads saying "my VP is more experienced than yours" - good luck with that. But when it comes to directly McCain vs Obama - McCain comes out on top and THEY are the ones we're voting for President. No matter how much some Dems are planning for McCain to die. |
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| Andrew | Homepage | E-Mail | 02.09.2008, 19:28 | ||
| Hi! You people furious about McCain's age.How about first German chanceller Konrad Adenauer? Have somebody ever heart about him history illiterates? Yes hi was for 14 years chancellor of West Germany(1949-1963). Born in(1876-1967. When left his position he was at age 87.We still have to fight and deal with Russia. that will never stop. Within70 years communst era 50mil people were killed in east Europe.They will never stop. | ||
| Danuta | Homepage | E-Mail | 02.09.2008, 15:54 | ||
| @Kelly, yoo are a joke. The hypocrisy wityh you Obama haters is at a new level of absurdity. Just go away and wait for the loss. |
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| Jason | Homepage | E-Mail | 02.09.2008, 11:02 | ||
| I am never surprised at the visceral stupidity of republicans and their attemps to foist their ignorance on the general public as a concerted political ideology. they are white supremacists in no uncertain terms and all their twisted logic only serves one purpose. rational discourse whith these subhumans is impossible and more to the point they are a dying breed as america becomes an increasingly brown nation. | ||
| Aaron | Homepage | E-Mail | 02.09.2008, 02:34 | ||
| Try adding up the combined experience of the Republican and Democrat tickets, counting only positions of national importance (Congress, Governor) You may be surprised to find that the Dems have more. |
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| Math | Homepage | 02.09.2008, 01:14 | ||
| Jeff, you are the moron if you want a beauty queen to be a stones throw away from the presidency when the candidate that she would be replacing has cancer. Let's face it, this is a bad decision. Because many of you are already in the tank, you just don't want to accept it. And you have the nerve to be saying Obama needs to answer questions about his church? Get real! Palin needs to answer questions about her abuse of power as Alaska's governor for the past year and a half. She hasn't even been governor of Alaska long enough to have any experience running that state much less foreign policy experience outside of it. BTW, McCain did not want her. He wanted Joe Lieberman. She was a temper tantrum pick because the party elders wanted Romney or Pawlenty and he wanted Lieberman. At the very least, he lacks judgement because he met the woman one time before offering her the job. Given how important this position is, that was very irresponsible. The Republicans have lawyers in Alaska vetting her right now to be able to respond to any issues that arise because they didn't do a thorough vetting before they offered her the job. She's no maverick. She's just a good liar. She ran for governor on a platform that she would be the one to build the bridge to nowhere. She has given numerous interviews in support of the corrupt senator from Alaska. Stop reciting Republican talking points and do your homework if you actually care about what will happen to this country if this beauty queen soccer mom finds herself in unenviable position of being president with no earthly idea of what she's doing. When asked about her readiness to be VP if called upon in March of 2007, she said, "what exactly does the VP do?" Does that sound like competence to you? |
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| kat1park | Homepage | E-Mail | 01.09.2008, 22:14 | ||
| OBama needs to explain a few things. 1. Why did his children attend a hate ridden Church like he did? 2. Why did he maintain a friendship with a known terrorist? 3. Why does he call himself a world person rather than a true American who is concerned about the rest of the world? 4. Why did Michele keep saying she is proud of America rather than I am proud to be an American? 5. Why would he not honor all the most important things American's honor such as the American flag and the Pledge of Alligance? 6. How does he feel qualifed to handle international matters when he only served the Senate for 148 days? 7. What type of financial background does he have to handle the deficit we have now? 8. How does he intend to pay for all these wonderful give-a-ways? 9. Does he intend to keep America a separate nation as most of the US population prefer? |
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| Kelly | Homepage | 01.09.2008, 21:22 | ||
| Hey Jeff, it matters that the President in waiting should have some knowledge about national security. If you are not concerned about the security of your family, don't make a decision on the security of my family. Do us a favor and not vote!!! |
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| Michael | Homepage | E-Mail | 01.09.2008, 20:27 | ||
| Hi, This time it matters because IF McCain does 2 terms, he'll be 80. He is by far the oldest person ever to run for president. So we really need to look at who would be in the White House. The pregnancy is not hers, but you can check out Sara Palin's complete disregard for cancer or another woman's dignity. As my partner has cancer, we were appalled to hear this clip where Sara Palin laughs when a talk radio announcer calls one of her political rivals "a b**** and a cancer". The woman referred to is a cancer survivor. http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=sara+palin+bitch+cancer&hl=en&emb=0# |
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| Deena | Homepage | E-Mail | 01.09.2008, 19:10 | ||
| The relity is Palin has actual experience dealing with command and control management. Senator Obama has no real experience with budgets and decision where he is or was solely responsile. He is one vote in the Senate. As for his VP pick Biden, he voted for the war in Iraq, so did Hillary Clinton. Foreign policy experience is not a function of exposure or travel or through reading a trade agreement, it is a function of being able to understand another persons view point (either foreigner or citizen) and balancing it against your view. Cheers, Todd |
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| Todd | Homepage | E-Mail | 01.09.2008, 17:23 | ||
| Wow this is going to be the second most important in the world with the Second helping her Mccain better watch his back and to top that family values Daughter is pregnant oh wow no thanks no way no how |
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| Kim | Homepage | E-Mail | 01.09.2008, 16:59 | ||
| How much does McCain have, since he is the one running.Why dont you leftwing morons address that fact? How much does Obama have compared to McCain? | ||
| Jeff | Homepage | E-Mail | 01.09.2008, 16:48 | ||