Palin makes first US TV Interview

[Flagg]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7611625.stm

The interviewer really put her through her paces and asked her the diffucult questions.

It really concerns me where this fear of Russia is coming from. We all know that Russia didn't make an unprovoked attack on Georgia. She couldn't even say yes to questions such as what would the US do if Israel decided to bomb Irans nuclear facilities or would the US have the right to invade Pakistan if it was believed, terrorists were there.

Sorry, but she is woefully out of her depth. She is as ready to potentially lead America as much as you or I would be.

[Black]

She couldn't even say yes to questions such as what would the US do if Israel decided to bomb Irans nuclear facilities or would the US have the right to invade Pakistan if it was believed, terrorists were there.

That's because there isn't a good answer to either of those questions, and it's good she didn't say "yes" to a "what" question.

[Retroboy]

She's from Alaska. They're a lot closer to the easternmost territories of the old USSR. (dun dun DUNNN).

She kind of lost me with the "But it IS about reform" comment.

And she said "nucular". Ouch. But all told, she didn't embarass herself, she got in the war-on-terror aggressive defense doctrine that is a part of their campaign, and she dodged some potential bullets with non-answers as per standard political response. So, not as bad as it could have been, but I don't think it will change many minds about her.

-- Retro

[Giant Moth]

We cannot second guess israel...

We cannot second guess israel...

We cannot second guess israel...

Eh? Russia WAS NOT unprovoked with attacking Georgia. Christ, this is just a big roundabout of hypocracy. When the US recognices a new country declare independence, they're all happy, but when Russia does and defends their soverignty, that's not allright? Gods, I hate politics.

[Starfisher]

Yuk yuk yuk stupid republicans. :rolleyes: Posts deleted.

I know the US election is tragic comedy for most of the world, but let's at least give discussion a shot first please.

[Flagg]

Okay, back on discussion.

Anyone that watched this interview, has it changed or strengthened any previous views that you had on this VP choice?

[Giant Moth]

Well, it confirms in my eyes(as an ignorant European), that the Mccain administration is warmongering, dangerously close to how I look at the Bush administration. I'm not sure that it is a good thing for America to have that kind of outward look again.

Then again, I read in the newspaper that a poll in Europe shows that any of the two candidates will improve their opinion towards the administration. As long as it isn't Bush, apperently.

[Flagg]

There was a second part of the interview about her view on religion:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7611638.stm

Okay, I admire that she is okay with her son going off to war, im sure a lot of War Mongering politicians wouldn't put themselves or their families asses on the line. At the same time though, it reinforces my belief that she IS pro-war as stated in the first part of this interview. But what is it with her? Either she believes what Lincoln said or she believes that when America goes to war, it's Gods will.

Which is it?

[darkelf]

Moth, I'm not surprised at that poll, basically everyone I know are against Bush and just hopes that whoever wins the election doesn't turn out to be as bad as him.

Now, regarding that interview, from the way it was reported here in Norway, it looks like she is rather anti-Russia and wouldn't really mind an open conflict. And wanting Ukraine and Georgia as a part of NATO isn't exactly the best position to take wrt Russia these days when they've made it abundantly clear they will not tolerate NATO memberships inside the Caucasus. I fully realize that what is reported in Norway may not actually be 100% correct, but they tend to be somewhat reliable and not too prone to misreporting or distorting the facts.

[Kirjava]

Hmmm, I read somewhere (can't for the life of me remember where, but it was this week) that if the rest of the world were voting for the US President (yeah, I know) then Obama would get in by a landslide. There you go, fun fact, make of it what you will.

[Ravenhart]

So, the rest of the world likes Obama. I could go for not being treated like an outright asshole when i travel to Europe. Only reason I have any hesitancy is that he's beginning to sell out much like most politicians do once reaching that point. Saddens me.

Her only foreign relations credential (I forget who said this exactly but i won't take credit) "is Alaska's proximity to Russia," and what she hears at church, which hasn't served anyone well in the last few thousand years, except maybe the Quakers.

Given the last 8 years, we might go for a president who "blinks" a little, which is code word for "think before do." Not blinking is an excuse to do what comes to mind first, and react to international concerns on a knee-jerk basis.

What do you mean, we can't second-guess our allies? we should be more critical of them (and ourselves) than we ought to be of our enemies. And when allies do things that are stupid, we would do well to tell them. International relations is not the same as backing your buddy in a bar fight, even if he is stupid.

If she had answered his "yes, or no" question with a "yes" or a "no," I might at least respect her. Do we really have the right to violate another country's sovereignty to pursue terrorists? I sure as hell don't know, tell me what you think politician who wants my vote. She's no different, tap-dances around the bullshit like the rest of them. If the Mexicans chased an asshole across the border, we'd be pissed.

Task from God? Nook-yew-lar? No thanks, hockey mom. Reminds me of my Catholic mom, who considers her actions a reflection of God's will because she prays. Disgusting.

If Palin ever reads this, know this; you've been played as a card. As the first black candidate, before your selection Obama had history on his side exclusively. An unfair advantage for him no doubt, but he can't help that. McCain could help his VP choice. First woman VP? Smart, McCain, but shame on you for being like the rest of them again. You've been played for your worth to McCain, and nothing more.

[Robert Frazer]

Nook-yew-lar? No thanks, hockey mom. Bitch reminds me...

Etc. etc. etc. ad nauseam et mortis

Wow. The hypocrisy's so thick you could cut it up and sell it as brownies. I'm amazed that people would pontificate that they're tolerant and against prejudice, and have no compunction in stomping about spitting 'redneck' and 'hockey mom' with savage venom, or jump back from religion as though they might catch leprosy from it. It says a lot that you need to start lashing on bluntly offensive terms just in case all of the stupid unwashed who presume to disagree need a mallet to understand.

To illustrate: "Hey, Ravenhart, you dickhead - do you eat fried chicken? Obama's a nigger!" Not very nice, is it? So why should we tolerate it from you? :-\

[FerociousBeast]

Great article debunking many of the internet myths about Palin: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/11/beck.palin/index.html

Targeted myths include:
-"Sarah Palin believes God told her to go to war with Iraq!"
-"She has no experience!"
-"But Obama is running a huge campaign -- Palin was just a small town mayor!"
-"Palin only supports abstinence to be taught in sex-ed!"
-"If she cares about children with special needs, then why did she cut spending on them by 62 percent?"
-"Sarah Palin hates eskimos."

(Posted this in the other Palin thread as well.)

DOUBLE POST

Hahaha! Anyone else notice that the volume control for that video on the BBC site goes to 11?

[Fannin]

Here, here, RF. I'm from West Virginia originally, and despite the fact I'm a knowledgeable, educated commissioned US Naval officer I'm oftentimes assumed to be an ignorant hick due to my speaking mannerisms.

It's nice to see someone who recognizes that racism and prejudice go both ways.

[FerociousBeast]

Well, just watched the OP video. Some very tough questions, and Palin answered with shrill enthusiasm, if not the most thought. But I think just about anyone would be disarmed by the questions and Gibson's "I'm-tired-and-grumpy-and-you're-a-hack" tone.

Not a bad performance from Palin, especially considering it's her first, but she'll need to do better versus Biden.

[Ravenhart]

Kind sir,

"Hey, Ravenhart, you dickhead - do you eat fried chicken? Obama's a nigger!"

1. I don't recall speaking of Obama like some messiah. He's not a fool, and doesn't represent the current state of affairs, but he's selling out like the rest of them too. That brings him into as much question as Palin, in my opinion, but that's not the topic of this thread. If we thrust a crackhead hoodie gangsta into the candidacy, you're damn right I'd criticize him on the basis of the fact that he fits stereotypes which are generally false and prejudiced but are true in this individual's case.

I'm amazed that people would pontificate that they're tolerant and against prejudice, and have no compunction in stomping about spitting 'redneck' and 'hockey mom' with savage venom.

2. If you press ctrl+f, and put in the word "redneck," you will kindly note that it is found for the first time in your post. Are people from the south ignorant, generally? Certainly not, but the current set of ideas put forth by our currently dominant conservatives haven't served us well in the last 8 years. This isn't the time for a frontiersman's attitude towards international politics, "whatever it takes." Once again, I'm criticizing her on the basis of the stereotypes that she, as an individual, is fitting into like a glove.

I live in Florida, love hunting, fishing, sweet tea and all these other "stereotypical" things. But when I see someone working on the same lines as our current president, yes I will tack them to the stereotype that they are fitting, as another of the agents of nearsightedness, self-centeredness and bellicosity.

Hockey mom? Yes, I have an issue with a hockey mom being the second hand to the leader of the free world. Not a hockey mom 30 years ago and now a seasoned political and international relations veteran, but a hockey mom of 2 years ago who is the governor of what still is in a lot of ways a frontier state.

The nature and viewpoints of Palin concern me more than those of Biden because of the rather distinct possibility that John McCain will die in office.

Whether any of these "scandal" stories are true or not, I find her positions to be in line with the previous administration, and her answers in an interview tiptoeing around "yes" and "no." Obama is guilty of the latter as well, no doubt. But the former is the basis on which I would entertain supporting his candidacy as opposed to that of John McCain and Palin.

[Starfisher]

Woah. Calm down Raven. I've snipped some stuff from your posts likely to cause a derail but left most intact.

We all freak out from time to time but let's try to keep it calm.

[craNk]

"We all freak out from time to time"


probably every intelligent being on the planet will freak out if palin becomes president.

[Bonnet]

Seriously, the intolerance in this thread is astounding.

[Ira Aduro]

Crap. I'm dumb. :/ Well, at least I'm happy.

Anyways, I thought this article (http://www.upi.com/news/issueoftheday/2008/09/12/ABCs_Gibson_grilled_Palin_hard_but_it_may_backfire/UPI-81241221234472/) worth reading. Especially the last paragraph.

[Mokinokaro]

Her politics are too close to McCain and Bush, imo. It seems McCain appointed her simply to be a figurehead and grab votes from the Hillary crowd.

That being said, she did handle that interview better than I expected. I may not agree with her politics but she's had a good coach.

[No Surrender]

My initial reactions to Palin:
1) Has no idea why Russia went to war with Georgia
2) Devotion to Israel bordering on slavish
3) Has no idea why parts of the Islamic world are angry at the US
4) Has a very simplistic view of world affairs and geopolitics in general.

To expand on my fourth point, holistically, I get the idea that she's very down-to-earth in the sense that she thinks the US should stand by its allies. While this sounds good in theory, what if Georgia starts shelling South Ossetia again after they're admitted into NATO? Is Georgia really worth going to nuclear war over? Think of it this way: You have a best friend. You stand by him and he stands by you but one day things get out of hand at a party or a bar and he assaults a police officer. At that point, someone going by Palin's philosophy would try to help their friend out by attacking the officer as well whereas it would probably be smarter to try and end the fight. All in all, I think she has a strong sense of loyalty and a sense of right and wrong but global geopolitics plays by different rules. Rules that she'll hopefully become familiar with if she's elected.

[Aussiemoo]

I watched the interview, and was left with the impression that while she is "a quick study" and works well on her feet, sometimes a sharp mind cannot compensate for a lack of concrete knowledge. In terms of foreign relations she starts off at zero, while she may try to dispute that with "commander in chief of the national guard" and "close to Russia" she's only been overseas (literally) once, and has not been interested in international politics until she was picked as VP. I do not believe that everything you need to learn about foreign policy can be taught in 4 months, and I do not believe that a 4 month education is the best that the United States can do.

[Aesaar]

Alaska being close to Russia is hardly foreign relations experience. There isn't much on that side of Russia (less than there is on that part of the Alaskan coast). It's only a bit more than the amount of experience the Premier of Nunavut (Northernmost Canadian province) would get. That is to say, not much.

Though it is worth mentioning Canadian territories are a lot less autonomous than Alaska is.

[Ravenhart]

I know I sound like an unreasonable person spitting at everything I see, but these last 8 years have demonstrated that these ideas are foolish and do not work. Reganomics is over, and this "with us or against us" cowboy approach to world politics will not work anymore.

Yes, I'm perfectly intolerant of fools who are incapable of perceiving it, and also intolerant of people who get swept up in it like the rest of the drones. Thus, I think I'm entitled to be intolerant of Palin, being both imperceptive and a fool.

Before I'm called an intolerant liberal lackie, I'm equally disgusted that Obama hasn't truly been grilled yet. He's selling out and getting dirty with smear campaign bs like the rest of them, and I find that deeply disappointing.

Ira Aduro, how are you dumb? I don't follow.

Bonnet, would you come down from your throne and try to throw something more concrete at me, this whole "eek your intolerant" thing kind of reminds me of Godwin's law. Far too easy; please dispute my claims, not call them names.

[Mikail]

Sorry, but she is woefully out of her depth. She is as ready to potentially lead America as much as you or I would be.
She's being elected to deconstruct the opposition party's programs and policies. She doesn't actually have to do anything.

[Ravenhart]

She's being elected to deconstruct the opposition party's programs and policies. She doesn't actually have to do anything.

This is true, but the reason her potential actions are cause for concern is the fact that McCain will be 72 I believe when and if he is inaugurated.

McCain is a historically honorable man, and has been the naysayer in the Republican party for a long time, but age is age and the possibility of him kicking the bucket in office is quite distinct; thus, I would argue that Palin ought to be heavily evaluated for her persuasions and abilities.

My evaluation? No thanks, see above.

[Nurizeko]

I don't like how she lies blatantly about having no self doubt, that or she doesn't (which is just as worrying).

She overall handled herself okay there, nothing out of the ordinary or unexpected, but I'de rather she was a bit more sincere.


A good leader needs to be able to admit self doubt, and admit mistakes, as well as being enthusiastic, someone who cant admit self doubts to me come across as being a person who won't accept responsibility for their actions, and will blame others.

[Aussiemoo]

She would never admit that she's not ready, and neither would Obama, I really hate the campaigns because they're not real life. Obama has to present himself as a centrist, because there are so many conservatives out there. I don't think he really is a centrist, and I hope he doesn't act like one when he comes to office. Similarly, Palin can't speak her mind, because it will be pounced upon. The real tragedy is, it deserves to be pounced upon, because that's what vetting is - we want someone who is what they seem and not something else.

[rabb14]

Relic Forum policy:

Liberal: Gud
Conservative: BAD GTFO U SUK

I think she held up well, considering. But still, it won't change anything.

[Bonnet]

Raven: I wasn't referring to you, I was referring to craNk.

[Ravenhart]

Raven: I wasn't referring to you, I was referring to craNk.

*acknowledges being defensive*

I've had my say so I'll leave it alone

[Energizer Bunny]

I doubt McCain will be chomping at the bit to let her in front of the media alone again. That Bush doctrine answer was cringeworthy.