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Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin walks along the grounds of the United Nations with television news anchor Katie Couric, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008. (AP Photo/CBS News, HO)
by Frank James
In the part of her interview with CBS Evening News's Katie Couric to be shown tonight, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin stuck to her guns that she's not a naif when it comes to foreign policy because Alaska is close to Russia and abuts Canada.
But she added a colorful addendum to her standard line. She evidently believes that if Russian Premier Vladimir Putin ever orders an invasion of the U.S., it will be into Alaskan airspace since it's close to Russia. At least that's how I interpret her comments. What do you think?
COURIC: You've cited Alaska's proximity to Russia as part of your foreign policy experience. What did you mean by that?
PALIN: That Alaska has a very narrow maritime border between a foreign country, Russia, and on our other side, the land-- boundary that we have with-- Canada. It-- it's funny that a comment like that was-- kind of made to-- cari-- I don't know, you know? Reporters--
COURIC: Mock?
PALIN: Yeah, mocked, I guess that's the word, yeah.
COURIC: Explain to me why that enhances your foreign policy credentials.
PALIN: Well, it certainly does because our-- our next door neighbors are foreign countries. They're in the state that I am the executive of. And there in Russia--
COURIC: Have you ever been involved with any negotiations, for example, with the Russians?
PALIN: We have trade missions back and forth. We-- 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-- 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-- to our state.
For any Russian intelligence agents who are scratching their heads after reading this, trust me, you're not alone.







Comments
The Russians are coming! The Russians are coming!
We now know who is going to win this election. Obama/Biden
http://www.boppoll.com
50K and McCain's Bop Count breaks 1,000,000
Posted by: The Russians are coming... | September 25, 2008 3:04 PM
Stupidest VP Ever...
Posted by: MtGreenwoodLeftist | September 25, 2008 3:08 PM
In addition, those of you who live on northern border of Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnasota, New York, Maine, Michigan, or the southern border of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, whether you realize it or not, you also have foreign policy experience.
Posted by: Ryan | September 25, 2008 3:13 PM
I think she's taking credit for foreign policy experience because the US Air Force patrols from bases in Alaska?
I guess I'm a European expert since the Atlantic approaches are patrolled from Cape Cod. Who knew?
Posted by: The Other Ed | September 25, 2008 3:17 PM
Wait till Colbert gets a hold of this interview, what a laugh riot. Get Sarah back up to Alaska S.T.A.T. We need her behind the front lines with her assault rifle to hold off the Ruskies:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Adsx_ZxFVtc
Posted by: dt | September 25, 2008 3:21 PM
What?!?!?!?!? She is as bad (if not worse) than McCain. God help this country if those two idiots win in November.
Posted by: Janstress | September 25, 2008 3:24 PM
OMG.......Please tell me this is a dream and she is not really McSame's VP pick..Can you say air head???
Posted by: Randollph | September 25, 2008 3:25 PM
I used to think the chances were only about 50-50 that, when McCain asked her to run for VP, she replied "Is that like being first runner-up?" The odds have shifted to 75-25.
Posted by: Kenneth Janowski | September 25, 2008 3:28 PM
Sarah--Tells us about how MMGW is a joke and the Polar Bears are doing nicely--this just in:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/09/23/arctic.ice/index.html
Posted by: dt | September 25, 2008 3:37 PM
McCain, it is not to late to switch to Romney.
Posted by: pd | September 25, 2008 3:39 PM
I just don't understand how these "news" people can keep a straight face while interviewing her. They must be very good at poker!
Posted by: lochnessmonster | September 25, 2008 3:44 PM
she makes Dan Quail look like a rocket scientist.
Posted by: alex | September 25, 2008 3:55 PM
Does she really think there would be Top Gun dog fights in Alaska? Why would a military leader risk losing the fighters and bombers when you could just press a button and launch missiles. This person is not qualified to be VP. I don't even think she would make a capable Cabinet member.
Posted by: da truth | September 25, 2008 4:05 PM
Doncha know we need to be prepared in case those Russkies come and try to get one of our caribou?
Posted by: lochnessmonster | September 25, 2008 4:51 PM
You've got to admire this woman, Palin. She doesn't let little things like, competence, insight, knowlede, intelligent thought or the ability to form cogent thoughts into stentences stand in her way.
Posted by: kg123 | September 25, 2008 4:56 PM
God bless Couric, she was mostly able to keep a poker face.
But go back and watch some of the reaction shots. There are moments when you can see just how incredulous she is listening to Palin stutter through another sorry attempt to evade a question.
It’s just not funny anymore. Someone compared watching the interview to watching Ricky Gervais on The Office. Is starts out funny, becomes uncomfortably funny, then suddenly turns almost unbearably humiliating.
Posted by: sw | September 25, 2008 4:59 PM
Another commenter put it that Couric was like an elementary school teacher during a talent show dealing with a child who's messing up so badly that the only important thing is to get the poor kid off the stage without further embarrassment.
Posted by: My Aunt Fanny | September 25, 2008 5:20 PM
Hey people - you can sleep at ease tonight - Governor Bambi Moosekiller commands the Alaska National Guard!
Posted by: Wolfgang | September 25, 2008 5:31 PM
Grow up and put your snark knives away. According to the late Tim Field there are over 75 different types of bullying behaviours.
Reasons targets are bullied (Namie & Namie, 2000):
* Fifty-eight percent are targeted because they stand up to unfair treatment by the bully
* Fifty-six percent are chosen because the bully envies the target's level of competence
* Forty-nine percent are targeted simply because they are nice people
* Forty-six percent are bullied because they are ethical
Posted by: Fallon | September 25, 2008 5:40 PM
Poor Sarah, she didn't graduate from an elite ivy league college.
Poor Sarah, she didn't become a lawyer.
Poor Sarah, she doesn't live in the Beltway.
Poor Sarah, has too many children.
Poor Sarah, has a different lifestyle and doesn't fit in with the Washington crowd.
Poor Sarah, had to work her way up.
Poor Sarah, doesn't vacation in Europe or eat in the right restaurants.
Poor Sarah, doesn't say FDR appeared on tv and led the nation during the depression.
Poor Sarah, doesn't say, "Get used to a nuclear Iran."
Poor Sarah, doesn't lift someone else's speech and present it as her's.
Thanks, Sarah, for being one of us.
Posted by: Lena | September 25, 2008 5:43 PM
I can see the moon from my house. Does that make me an astronaut?
Posted by: Lou | September 25, 2008 5:46 PM
Actually, here's the transcript from the interview.
PALIN: I don't know, you know?
COURIC: Not if you don't. That's why I'm asking you.
But let's move on. Explain to me why that enhances your foreign policy credentials.
PALIN: Well, it certainly does because our-- our next door neighbors are foreign countries.
COURIC: You mean Russia and Canda.
PALIN: Right. They're in the state that I am the executive of.
COURIC: Alaska.
PALIN: Right. And there in Russia--
COURIC: "There in Russia ... what? Nevermind. Let's move on because I don't think I can take much more of this. Have you ever been involved with any negotiations, for example, with the Russians?
PALIN: We have trade missions back and forth.
COURIC: Yes. But I'm asking about negotiations. Have you ever been involved in any with Russia?
PALIN: We-- we do--
COURIC: "We"? Who's "we"? Nevermind, go on...
PALIN: ...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-- where do they go?
COURIC: Where does who go?
PALIN: It's Alaska.
COURIC: Oh, you mean the Russians go to Alaska when Putin rears his head.
PALIN: It's just right over the border.
COURIC: Yes, we've established that.
PALIN: 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-- to our state.
COURIC: So we're spying on Russia from Alaska. Do you order "those" spies?
PALIN: Times up! See you, Katie.
Posted by: Jorge from Bloomington | September 25, 2008 5:47 PM
It's not a wonder that they try to keep her in the closet as much as possible.
Posted by: andy42302 | September 25, 2008 6:19 PM
Fallon- Aah, that poor picked-on Palin. Let's review her comments at the Republican Convention:
I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a "community organizer," except that you have actual responsibilities. I might add that in small towns, we don't quite know what to make of a candidate who lavishes praise on working people when they are listening, and then talks about how bitterly they cling to their religion and guns when those people aren't listening.
We tend to prefer candidates who don't talk about us one way in Scranton and another way in San Francisco.
The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes ... raise payroll taxes ... raise investment income taxes ... raise the death tax ... raise business taxes ... and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars. My sister Heather and her husband have just built a service station that's now opened for business - like millions of others who run small businesses.
How are they going to be any better off if taxes go up? Or maybe you're trying to keep your job at a plant in Michigan or Ohio ... or create jobs with clean coal from Pennsylvania or West Virginia ... or keep a small farm in the family right here in Minnesota.
How are you going to be better off if our opponent adds a massive tax burden to the American economy? Here's how I look at the choice Americans face in this election.
Grow up? So she can throw rocks but we can't throw back because she's a woman, is that it? Geez, everybody just lay off poor Sarah Barracuda. What's the worst she could do, bankrupt the country? From the part that brought you:
Swiftboating 101
Obambi
Obamessiah
The One
Barack "Hussein" Obama
Dr. No
Posted by: dt | September 25, 2008 6:19 PM
mmm, now who would have more experience in dealing with and understanding the issues regarding Mexico.
The gov of Texas, CA, AZ and NM.....or say......Joe Biden?
Posted by: JD | September 25, 2008 6:35 PM
mmm, now who would have more experience in dealing with and understanding the issues regarding Mexico.
The gov of Texas, CA, AZ and NM.....or say......Joe Biden?
Posted by: JD | September 25, 2008 6:36 PM
Poor Sarah.
Poor choice.
Posted by: Kenneth Janowski | September 25, 2008 7:13 PM
HeylittleLena,
Our President/Vice President aren't supposed to be just like us. Remember when every mom and dad used to say that if you study hard and become smart, you too could become President of the United States. But thanks to GW Dimwit, that's no longer true. Our Best and Brightest should be leading my country. I don't want to live in your country where the dim and dimmest are in command! By the way, Lena, Palin's speech was writted by one of Bush's speach writers (provend to be full of holes) and she can't even pronounce the word "nuclear!" Scary, scary stuff!
Posted by: Neal | September 25, 2008 7:53 PM
With this economic crisis going on, and Palin's continued inteptness, McCain must be frantically trying to remember who talked him into picking Palin rather than Romney. Someone is in trouble!
Posted by: rupert | September 25, 2008 8:14 PM
Lena, Go have a beer with whoever you want; I want smart and educated people to run the country, not someone like you.
Posted by: Flo | September 25, 2008 9:04 PM
Palin seems to be about as smart as a box of hair. It's frightening to think that there is a small chance that she could be VP.
Maybe she should ask her witch hunter for help. At this point, magic is the only thing that could help her. Wait...Maybe she should ask the Wizard for Brains?
By the way - I can see Canada from my house. Does McCain have a job for me?
Posted by: Don Buchwalter | September 25, 2008 11:08 PM
What Gov. Palin said about Russia reveals her wisdom. USA must be millitarily strong. We cannot trust Russia as they might even consider invading Alaska for the OIL & GAS.
Just ask the Georgians.
The media must be useless. Why didn't NYT, CBS, MSBSC warn voters that actions must be taken to prevent Wall Street collapse 3 or 4 years ago?? They + Obama are destructive & actually promoting "degradation" as change.
We do not need the slanted media to vet Palin. Alaska's budget is safe and sound with surplus under Gov. Palin.
DEM women Sen. Clinton coudn't even run her own campaign. Look she was $24 Million in debt - like Wall Street needing a bail out.
And who is the press is "mocking"?
McCain-Palin will win to change Washington and also prove the media wrong.
Posted by: Reuel | September 26, 2008 5:52 AM
Memo to all McCain supporters:
Imagine Palin as our president. Remember that McCain put her there, placing political self-interest above national interest.
Remember that McCain promised to take the high road during this campaign. Has he? Is this a person you trust?
Posted by: Bruce Alper | September 27, 2008 9:02 AM
All of you who are supporting Sarah Palin - I have a question. Throughout the interview she kept saying "John McCain says, John McCain believes..." What does SHE believe - what are her opinions??? It looked like she was remembering catch phrases that she was taught to say. Remeber she is going to be our representative to foriegn dignitaries & at times be the deciding vote on laws in Congress. Could any of you learn about foreign affairs, the economy crisis, the health care problems, etc. in 6 weeks??? I could learn about them but that's it. Yes, she governed 670,000 people ( & no one has stilled posted how many of them were registered to vote & how many did vote as quite a few live in the remote areas of Alaska) - tell me what kind of real crisises there were while she was governing????? Governing the United States (which she will be doing if McCain dies) is a heck of alot different. In short she may be like one of us but she is not ready to run our country - if McCain-Palin win - it will be a very sad day for the US - & trust me the world will be wondering what happened to American politics,
Posted by: betty48 | September 27, 2008 1:10 PM