Palin Is Ready? Please.

The key difference between Obama and Palin is not a question of experience as conservatives keep touting. It is a question of intelligence and knowledge of the issues. Through his debates, countless interviews and meetings with heads of state, it is clear that Obama has a grasp on the issues that are facing our country. His intelligence is undeniable in his education alone.

Palin on the other hand, is a wild card. We won't get a true sense of her intelligence or grasp on the issues until the debate comes around in a few days. Palin should have responded to questions about Russia as follows: "Some pundits have said that my proximity to Russia gives me foreign policy experience, I have to disagree. I do not have a great deal of foreign policy experience, but in this time of trouble my experience handling domestic issues such as the economy are just as, if not more critical." Solves two problems at once, would have shown her as a domestic reformer while quelling the fire about her foreign policy experience. Instead she didn't and fell into a horrible, poorly done spin job.

Dear Mr. Zakaria,
Concerning your piece, "Palin Is Ready? Please." (http://www.newsweek.com/id/161204) and your CNN interview "http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/09/29/zakaria.sarah.palin/index.html"

As you may or may not know, Russia has started to quite regularly send bombers along our Alaskan border and those bombers are then intercepted by our Alaskan based fighter aircraft. This is what Sarah Palin was talking about. She accidentally did not include the words "fighter planes" or "fighters". So, she should have said, "It is from Alaska that we send those fighter planes out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there."

It is fairly obvious that this is what she meant when you consider the sentences before the "send out those" sentence. She says, "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." She says "airspace".

So, if you combine (1) the knowledge that Russian bombers regularly skirt or pass into our airspace and are intercepted by our Alaskan based fighter aircraft and (2) what Sarah Palin said, you then know what she is talking about.

It concerns me a bit that a foreign policy expert such as yourself has no idea what Sarah Palin is talking about when all it takes is a little basic knowledge about military events that occur quite often near. Were you not able to figure this out because you are looking for any way to bring Sarah Palin down? Or is it because you lack knowledge of basic military/foreign affairs knowledge about what happens near Alaska.

For your edification, I have included a link to a story about Russian bombers and U.S. fighter aircraft.

More Russian bombers flying off Alaska coast
16 intercepts by U.S., Canadian jets since July
Apr 8, 2008
http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/04/airforce_pacaf_040608/

Key graphs:

"More and more American and Canadian fighter jets are scrambling and intercepting Russian bombers flying off the Alaskan coast, exacerbating tensions between the former Cold War foes.

There have been 16 such intercepts since July, Pacific Air Forces Commander Gen. Howie Chandler told the Anchorage Daily News on March 27. That compares with just one in 2005, and none in the previous 10 years, Chandler said."


Best of luck to you in your endeavors, but please do a bit more research on international and military affairs. And please examine yourself to determine why a 37 year old software engineer who has never been to Alaska was able to make this connection...but a foreign affairs expert writing for Newsweek was not.

Sincerely,
Mac Peebles

As I write this, my 22 month old daughter is playing at my feet. She and every other child is what this election is about, and i fear for their future because we as humans and Americans are incapable of learning from history. There is no doubt that McCain will bring more of the horrifying GOP politics to our country. Look around, people... Open your eyes! You do realize that you aren't rooting for your football team - right? This isn't the Superbowl, this is the time where we can pick a new direction for our country. Anyone out there who has seen the Palin interviews, done honest research on her, and still thinks she is a good choice for VP, knowing the likelihood of her becoming president, needs to have a serious look in the mirror. I realize it can be confusing with the brilliant political spin doctors out there today, but use your common sense. Don't keep supporting McCain/Palin because you can't bear the thought of admitted you were wrong, don't let your ego send this country further in a direction that will ultmately undermine our economy, quality of life, and global standing. Stop watching Fox News and start using non-partisan websites such as factcheck.org to make your decision.

Thank heavens for Zakaria. There are so few voices of reason left in the mediastream. For those Republican politicians (and voters) for whom partisanship and power means everything, no doubt Sarah Palin's alarming, reckless candidacy is small price to pay for victory. Zakaria is saying what the Democrats are afraid to say, telling the truth about Palin - the real 'straight talk' that everyone needs to hear.

All along I had felt that Palin was not the answer. Now, as I read this article I am amazed that McCain truly put Palin on the ticket. If he really thinks that she is capable of leading this county then I must question his judgement. I do beleieve that she will be just one more reason not to vote for the McCain ticket.

John McCain will lose due to the gamble with Palin. I would think even the hardcore Republican base are scratching thier heads with this pick. Palin has got to hit a home run against Biden, listening to her comments to reporters are completely embarrassing to the party and shows just how bad John McCain's judgement is. Obama and Biden are laying low on the Palin issue, they will just let her self destruct on her own. Gambling in private is fine if your just hurting yourself, but when you gamble with the security of this nation, it becomes dangerous.
I think the reluctance of the Republicans to vote for the bailout is there way to hurt McCain who is making thier party laughable at this point. Nancy pelosi was wrong to say what she said at a time when we need unity, but I do not think the Republicans voting " no" was not related to her at all and is more directed at John McCain. Obama and Biden will win as Americans are too afraid to roll the dice this year.

Zakaria's use of the phrase "to spend more time with her family" is simply the most likely scenario to be used by her / the campaign if McCain finally decides to cut her loose. It isn't Zakaria saying she should go home to be barefoot and pregnant. I'm glad that more members of the media, both liberal and conservative, are finally speaking out on this. (Read the columns on her by conservatives George Will and Kathleen Parker.) McCain did a great disservice to himself and the country by selecting her. If the evangelical right want to cut off their nose to spite their face, i.e., voting for a ticket that offers a more socially conservative slant at the expense of our nations security, then I guess this is their choice, eventhough it amounts to an enormous gamble. McCain's picking of Palin may have energized the base, but it has likely driven away many independents and moderates. He already had the base, albeit grudgingly, so picking Palin will likely amount to a net loss of potential voters.

It is obvious that Palin lacks even a basic understanding of world and national affairs and that McCain's vetting process, if there was one, should have discovered this. Either they didn't vet her or McCain overruled whatever objections his advisors had. Either way, this tells us a lot about this man and his campaign. For those who can't be objective enough to see all of Palin's glaring shortcomings, I wish you the best. I am hopeful, however, that the vast majority of voters will be unwilling to take the risk this ticket poses.

Am I the only one to have noticed that when SP is asked about Russia, she answers about Putin as if he were still the president of Russia?
Heeeeellooooo! Ever heard of Dmitry Medvedev?????
And yes, I do know that Putin is now Prime Minister but I really don't think she knows he's not the president any longer, just like McSame showed he did not know who Zapatero is.
And if you believe either of them has foreign-policy experience, I have a beach front condo in Oklahoma I'd like to talk you into buying too.

It's great to have a female as a vice presidential candidate. That being said, there are many more Republican women far more qualified than she for the job. McCain made a mistake in selecting her, and now it's becoming obvious. Her gaffes are hurting the campaign and may very well cost McCain the election. How great will she be then?

I'm sorry, but the issue here is beyond partisanship, party politics or the election.
The USA is being asked to elect a deputy President who CANNOT STRING A SENTANCE TOGETHER.
Literally. Gibberish.
I take Lil Lady's point about nerves, but if you lose the thread in a TV interview - good luck when it comes to negotiations with China.
I know it's a cliche by this point, but Palin would be one loud unexpected noise away from being President. Is this what 'The Greatest Nation on Earth' deserves?

Really?

Fareed is absolutely correct; and he is the only one I have seen who is willing to state the obvious. John McCain does not deserve to be president; he has demonstrated incredibly poor judgment in his VP pick. Sarah Palin actually does not appear qualified to be Mayor of Wasilla or Governor of Alaska; and it is inconceivable anyone would believe she could be VP of the United States.

Sanford Krolick, Ph.D.

Once again the media uses it's double standard to judge those running. Sarah Palin may lack experience but at least she knows her uncle didn't free Aushwitz or that when she landed oversees in Bosina that she wasn't being shot at. I cannot believe that you will shred this woman on the basis of one bad interview. If this is the kind of story that deserves front page news from an international news org. then it is a sad day in America. The woman was nervous but at least she didn't lie. There is no doubt she needs a class or two in forgein affairs. No doubt. But for the media to continue this circus a week later is absurd. Pratically nothing was said about the above mentioned comments from the other two when they spoke. It's all well and good to get mad at this woman for her lack of experience, but an outright lie can be covered over with a "I mispoke"

If Palin is so wrong for the job, what makes Obama right? He has NO executive experience, NO foreign affairs experience, and has made a career of not voting on controversial subjects.

Zakaria is a liberal. His bias shows at every turn.

Zakaria's rallying comment that Gov. Palin should "spent more time with her family" speaks volumes about his intent and perceptions. Not true because Zakaria says so? Absurd. Why this is getting national cnn front page is beyond the pale.

This analyst's single comment "she shoud spent more time with her family" speaks volumes about his true intent and perspective on Govener Palin. It's not true because Zakaria says so? Absurd. His comments about Alaksa show's he isn't prepared to analyse this race. This pro-Obama hack has an axe to grind - let him do so elsewhere. Why this is getting cnn front page is beyond the pale.

I'm going on record right now to say Palin is the new Dan Quayle.

She'll throw out a few zingers and about 4-5 canned responses at the debate on Thursday (watch how every answer she gives comes back to the same basic point) but little else.

As long as she doesn't act like a complete idiot (which is possible), people will say, "she did pretty well!". President Bush did it in 2000...lowering the bar so much that all he had to do was enunciate clearly and people would be impressed. Palin isn't much different. Remember how excited we were that she could read a teleprompter--I mean, deliver a convention speech to a crowd of cheering supporters? We all know she has no business being a VP candidate, so all she has to do is look mildly competent and people will say she did "better than we expected".

Mark my words because I will return to say, "I told you so".

JM