Immediate takes on the Palin-Gibson interview
Charlie Gibson seemed annoyed to have to participate, like it was below his pay grade. He kept plowing through his questions, not interested in much follow-up and not interested in having a conversation. It seemed apparent to me that his questions -- while mostly fair -- were designed to elicit gotcha moments.
Sarah Palin seemed nervous and a little defensive, as if she was expecting more of the same treatment from the press that she's already received. I don't think she hurt herself terribly, nor did she help herself much.
The interview was so tightly (and badly) edited that I think we missed a lot of context. I hope ABC will make the entire interview available.
Palin's worst answer was in the context of national security experience: to paraphrase, I have experience with Russia because on a clear day we can see Russia from Alaska.
Her best answer was about her son's departure for Iraq. That's when she could shine as a human being and a mom, not just a vice president.
Palin handled his questions about her religious statements, but I think Gibson's decision to ask them will backfire on the left, as they discover that those statements resonate with the heartland of America.
She seemed knowledgeable about the Russia-Georgia conflict. I agreed with her take on a potential Israel-Iran showdown, though I wished she would have indicated that our relationship with Israel is such that we would be talking about potential military options before they were implemented.
There seems to be some concern about her answer about the "Bush Doctrine," but I had the same reaction she did: which part, Charlie? If you ask a hundred people (normal people, not hyperactive partisans) about the definition of the "Bush Doctrine," I'll bet you get a hundred different answers.
Sarah Palin seemed nervous and a little defensive, as if she was expecting more of the same treatment from the press that she's already received. I don't think she hurt herself terribly, nor did she help herself much.
The interview was so tightly (and badly) edited that I think we missed a lot of context. I hope ABC will make the entire interview available.
Palin's worst answer was in the context of national security experience: to paraphrase, I have experience with Russia because on a clear day we can see Russia from Alaska.
Her best answer was about her son's departure for Iraq. That's when she could shine as a human being and a mom, not just a vice president.
Palin handled his questions about her religious statements, but I think Gibson's decision to ask them will backfire on the left, as they discover that those statements resonate with the heartland of America.
She seemed knowledgeable about the Russia-Georgia conflict. I agreed with her take on a potential Israel-Iran showdown, though I wished she would have indicated that our relationship with Israel is such that we would be talking about potential military options before they were implemented.
There seems to be some concern about her answer about the "Bush Doctrine," but I had the same reaction she did: which part, Charlie? If you ask a hundred people (normal people, not hyperactive partisans) about the definition of the "Bush Doctrine," I'll bet you get a hundred different answers.
Labels: Charlie Gibson, Sarah Palin
posted by Ken @ 8:02 PM
11 Comments:
At 9/11/2008 9:31 PM,
Anonymous said…
I imagine a lot of people wouldn't know about the Bush Doctrine, but someone running for the VP should. It is an elemental aspect of our current foriegn policy. I don't expect everyone to know, but I certainly expect a candidate to better qualified.
She did well in the interview, for a hocky mom. As a candidate, not good at all. Scary. And she was NOT knowledgeable about Georgia conflect, and I noticed he asked her again if she felt it was unprovoked. There has been controversy that Georgia a significant role in the confrontation. There was even a US student who was stuck over there, and declared it was the Russian govt she thanked. No, Palin is clueless.
At 9/11/2008 9:45 PM,
Anonymous said…
Her lack of knowledge of world affairs would be laughable if she was an actor, but she hopes to be the Vice President of the world's most powerful nation. She has no experience and her answers, Alaskans can see Russia so she is qualified to lead this nation, reveal her lack of understanding. She might be a great mom and she brings enthusiasm, but she is not campaigning to be team mom. Listen to her and then listen to McCain or Obama or Biden. She doesn't belong in the same room as these three and selecting her was NOT putting country first. It was putting politics first. No one can, and no one has, mounted a reasoned defense of her selection--other than politics. And that is insufficient and irresponsible!
At 9/11/2008 9:45 PM,
Ken said…
But which part of the "Bush Doctrine" was he asking about? The preemptive defense part? The democracy-building part? The with-us-or-against-us part? I just pulled those three out of the top of my head, and I would argue that it's NOT reasonable for Palin to know what he's talking about because he could be talking about a lot of different things.
As for the discussions about provocation regarding Georgia, I have heard these discussions and will admit to having insufficient knowledge to form an opinion. But Palin would not be the only world figure to hold the same opinion, and I hardly see where it's illegitimate.
At 9/11/2008 9:48 PM,
Ken said…
Listen to her and then listen to McCain or Obama or Biden. She doesn't belong in the same room as these three
Against Obama, she more than holds her own -- Obama hardly has more experience than Palin. Against Biden? He can BS fine because he's been around the block a few times, but he doesn't exactly have a stellar track record for original thought...
At 9/11/2008 11:17 PM,
Anonymous said…
Palin completely botched the interview and gave terrifying answers. I was surprised to hear her say America might have to war against Russia. Why are Palin and McCain both so hell-bent on going to war? We'd had enough. Palin cannot sit still in her seat she gets so hot headed! What a transparent mess; a joke. Obama and Biden are refreshing, thoughtful leaders ready to enable America to do great things.
Please, give it up. Even you conservatives MUST see through the lies. Truly think about how the outcome will be should you choose McCain. Let your ego go and make the choice that will truly improve America in unimagined ways.
At 9/12/2008 6:38 AM,
Anonymous said…
As to Palin v Obama on foreign-policy experience ... Sarah has yet to meet a head of state from another country. Barack frequently and directly has addressed issues from Iran and Israel (which he visited a month ago) to the Georgian/Russina conflict. There is no comparison. Granted Obama has limited experience, but Palin has NONE. (By-the-by, news reports weeks ago confirmed that Georgia shelled civilian areas in a breakaway region where Russian soldiers were stationed. That opened the door to an occupation.)
At 9/12/2008 8:21 AM,
Ken said…
Let your ego go and make the choice that will truly improve America in unimagined ways.
All hail the man who will part the waters, heal the planet, and cause all peoples of the world to lay down their weapons to sing kumbaya.
Granted Obama has limited experience, but Palin has NONE.
OK. And which one is running for president?
At 9/12/2008 8:43 AM,
Cheryl Hagedorn said…
for a woman who didn't HAVE to know specifics until 2 weeks ago, I thought she did okay. Biden's been at FOREVER and Obama for almost two years. For pity's sake, this was her first interview. Let her spend some time with the advisors and the notebooks now that she's not holding McCain's hand or sending her son off to war. Give her a chance.
At 9/12/2008 3:55 PM,
Anonymous said…
Wake up Pinko's?!, there are four
(4) progressive doctrines that have evolved with regard to the "Bush Doctrine" as it pertains to dealing with 9/11....
Evolution of political doctrines as it relates to dynamic world events such as Islamofascism must grow and evolve with the conflict, and despite socialistic democrat commie propaganda, Bush hasn't been static with regard to the doctrine.
Why don't we just give the libs there own country, and let the HIV propogate!!!!!
Pathos is the breakfast of the left
B
At 9/13/2008 4:00 PM,
Anonymous said…
I fail to see how anyone can take Palin seriously!
for a woman who didn't HAVE to know specifics until 2 weeks ago, I thought she did okay.
You can NOT read a "Foreign Policy For Dummies" book and cliffnote your way into office. Obama has spent four years in the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee.
Now, we're all humans, and I don't expect any one candidate to have all the answers. But Palin being picked as the VP is the most stunningly obvious political move and it is rather scary that republicans would stoop so low. Palin does not complement McCain in anyway save an energy booster upper for this campaign. Obama's experienece may not be as extensive as one who spent 25+ years in Congress, but he brings a fresh perspective, an understanding of today's people and today's culture, and Biden complements his idealism with the experience needed to carry out his plans.
I am awestruck and inspired by huge interest the younger generation (my generation) is with this election process. But it is not their responisbility to know what the Bush Doctrine is, it is the elected officials. I'm not buying it one bit.
I totally get cheering for the underdog in a baseball game. I'd love to see the Pirates beat the Yankees any day. But seriously, our future hangs in the balance in this election... we can't afford to pick incorrectly again.
At 9/15/2008 9:00 AM,
Ken said…
Anon 4:00 -- I find your comments very interesting.
I agree that Cheryl Hagedorn's comment above was setting the bar way too low. But I find it funny that you're so worked up over a vice presidential candidate who is teamed up with the presidential candidate with decades of foreign policy experience, yet you think "four years in the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee" (much of it spent campaigning for president) is sufficient for your party's presidential candidate.
You are making a big deal about the vice presidential pick because that's the only way you can claim that Obama is ready for the presidency. John McCain is ready now, but you're essentially admitting that Joe Biden will be holding Obama's hand for the next four years.
I also laugh at your assertion that Palin is only a political move and brings nothing to the campaign. It just demonstrates (for the 1,827th time in the last month) how much you dismiss and misunderstand the heartland of our country. She is causing a shockwave in the GOP (and by extension, the Dems) because she's normal and she (as you termed it) brings a fresh perspective, an understanding of today's people and today's culture.
I agree that he brings a fresh perspective, just as any newcomer to the national stage would bring -- just as Palin brings. But his policy proposals are as old as Al Gore's expired medication prescriptions.
Obama displays no experience and nothing new (look at his very boilerplate Democrat policies), yet you buy into the media narrative that he brings change.
And that last line: "our future hangs in the balance in this election"? Puhlease. I hear that every four years. Every election is important. No election will determine whether our country collapses upon itself.
Let me finish by asking the question I asked a few days ago? Between Obama and Palin, which one is running for president? Call me crazy, but it sure seems like there's a difference.
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