Newsweek: "Palin Is Ready? Please."

[Bluebear]

McCain says that he always puts country first. In this important case, that is simply not true.

Published Sep 27, 2008
From the magazine issue dated Oct 6, 2008

===


Will someone please put Sarah Palin out of her agony? Is it too much to ask that she come to realize that she wants, in that wonderful phrase in American politics, "to spend more time with her family"? Having stayed in purdah for weeks, she finally agreed to a third interview. CBS's Katie Couric questioned her in her trademark sympathetic style. It didn't help. When asked how living in the state closest to Russia gave her foreign-policy experience, Palin responded thus:

"It's very important when you consider even national-security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the airspace 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."

There is, of course, the sheer absurdity of the premise. Two weeks ago I flew to Tokyo, crossing over the North Pole. Does that make me an expert on Santa Claus? (Thanks, Jon Stewart.) But even beyond that, read the rest of her response. "It is from Alaska that we send out those …" What does this mean? This is not an isolated example. Palin has been given a set of talking points by campaign advisers, simple ideological mantras that she repeats and repeats as long as she can. ("We mustn't blink.") But if forced off those rehearsed lines, what she has to say is often, quite frankly, gibberish...

This is nonsense—a vapid emptying out of every catchphrase about economics that came into her head. Some commentators, like CNN's Campbell Brown, have argued that it's sexist to keep Sarah Palin under wraps, as if she were a delicate flower who might wilt under the bright lights of the modern media. But the more Palin talks, the more we see that it may not be sexism but common sense that's causing the McCain campaign to treat her like a time bomb.


http://www.newsweek.com/id/161204

[Maven]

1. DEVASTATING

And I have the feeling it's the first of many like it.

K/R

[LonelyLRLiberal]

2. A must-read for every voter. Here's the bailout Q&A with Couric, quoted in the article . . .

"Couric asked her a smart question about the proposed $700 billion bailout of the American financial sector. It was designed to see if Palin understood that the problem in this crisis is that credit and liquidity in the financial system has dried up, and that that's why, in the estimation of Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson and Fed chairman Ben Bernanke, the government needs to step in to buy up Wall Street's most toxic liabilities. Here's the entire exchange:

"COURIC: Why isn't it better, Governor Palin, to spend $700 billion helping middle-class families who are struggling with health care, housing, gas and groceries; allow them to spend more and put more money into the economy instead of helping these big financial institutions that played a role in creating this mess?

"PALIN: That's why I say I, like every American I'm speaking with, were ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health-care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy, helping the—it's got to be all about job creation, too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So health-care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans. And trade, we've got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive, scary thing. But one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today, we've got to look at that as more opportunity. All those things under the umbrella of job creation. This bailout is a part of that."

[jimshoes]

4. That's a dialect known as northwestern jibberish.

[LonelyLRLiberal]

18. LOL!

I guess so.

[malaise]

3. But, but, but

Heather Wilson thought her Russia answer to Katie was great and she expects her to do well at the debate.

[Warpy]

7. The best thing I can say about Heather Wilson (R-COW)

is that her Senatorial ambition has left her JOBLESS.

The worst thing is that I see that horrible creature running for governor when Richardson steps down.

[malaise]

9. R-COW

:rofl:

[NM Independent]

19. NOOO!!!!!

Don't even put that hellish scenario out there. This state will die under that uber-bitch's rule.

I. Hate. Her. SOOOOO. Much.

[malaise]

5. Palin is qualified

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/bee0e27ed6

[renate]

12. funny! And was it actually true that she didn't know the capital of China? n/t

:wow:

[Jade Fox]

6. Reading the comments section...

of this article, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Never mind the bizarre defenses of Palin, the torture of the English language utilized in defending her is depressing. Where do these sad, stupid people come from?

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. They come from the massively underfunded public education programs that the Repubs broke in order to

churn out a populace of ignorant workers.

But I suspect you already know that. :)

[Jade Fox]

17. Yes, I did already know that......

but it still amazes me how unaware of their ignorance they seem to be.

The older I get, the more grateful I am for the fairly decent public education I got.

[DeepModem Mom]

8. K&R

[brettdale]

11. Will she end up leaving the ticket?

I mean really, did McCain think by selecting her that would of helped him?

[Toucano]

16. That's a silly fantasy.

But then again, McCain's whole campaign and nomination is a silly fantasy come to life, so I guess anything can happen.

[reprehensor]

13. Ouch.

That's gonna leave a mark.

[D23MIURG23]

14. Its going to be a bad week for McCain.

He has a choice between droping Palin, dropping the debate, or putting this:

PALIN: That's why I say I, like every American I'm speaking with, were ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health-care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy, helping the—it's got to be all about job creation, too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So health-care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans. And trade, we've got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive, scary thing. But one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today, we've got to look at that as more opportunity. All those things under the umbrella of job creation. This bailout is a part of that.

in front of 50 million potential voters.

[Toucano]

15. Tread lightly with this.

First off, it's excellent and spot on.

However, two "elections" of a highly functioning total moron have shown us that attacking the truly stupid and ignorant for their lack of intellect or education can create sympathy for them.

Let's not make her more "relatable" to the mouth-breathing undecideds.