Palin a 'fast study', aides say

Thu, 09/11/2008 - 11:52am

Liberal pundit E.J. Dionne recoils in horror at the following two paragraphs in this New York Times article:

Aides traveling with [Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah] Palin have reported back to associates that she is a fast study -- asking few questions of her policy briefers but quickly repeating back their main points -- who already has considerable ease and experience before cameras.

A former aide in Alaska who had helped prepare Ms. Palin for her campaign debates there said she had a talent for distilling information into digestible sound bites. The aide said she generally prefers light preparatory materials to heavy briefing books, and prefers walking through potential questions and answers with aides to holding mock sessions.

This is to be expected. She is, after all, a successful politician, and she's had about two weeks to prepare for this interview. She has to use her time effectively.

But still, it's not an encouraging description of someone who could very well become the president of the United States someday, is it? Here's hoping she's only tailoring her briefing approach to the situation at hand.

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Palin Unscripted

by Lure D. Lou on Thu, 09/11/2008 - 12:37pm

The barracuda speaking to a group of graduating religious zealots from her former church's missionary-in-training program:

"What I need to do is strike a deal with you guys as you go out throughout Alaska — I can do my part in doing things like working really, really hard to get a natural gas pipeline." Palin said. "Pray about that also. I think God's will has to be done, in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that. But I can do my job there, in developing our natural resources, and doing things like getting the roads paved, making sure our troopers have their cop cars and their uniforms and their guns, and making sure our public schools are funded.

Is that God that I hear laughing?

Sarcasm & Despair

by Sam on Thu, 09/11/2008 - 12:53pm

This is the language of the average American people, either get used to it or lose it. I think the Democratic party needs to accommodate a more religious agenda, maybe they should change their position on abortion or gay marriage, cause obviously American people don't like it. if these are not core issues to democrats let them go, like Capital Punishment, which will exist here as long as it does in Saudi Arabia, just get used to it. maybe in that case they can win elections and protect Evolution Theory, Stem Cell science and other scientific related stuff (which are safe even in Saudi Arabia!)

Saudis Rule!

by Lure D. Lou on Thu, 09/11/2008 - 1:10pm

If the Democrats change all their positions to Republican ones than what would be the point of having elections. If formerly liberal politicians are going to swing Right just to get elected than forget them. The forces of Reason and Liberalism may actually lose out in America...it's happened in other countries as well. Instead of accepting a more religious agenda maybe we should be fighting for a strict separation of Church and State which was the intent of our founders. If the American Taliban takes over then so be it...many of us won't go down without a fight. Belief in God is one thing: using God as a shill for a pipe-line is a disgrace.

And thank-you for the comparison with Saudi Arabia...a role model for everyone to aspire to.

So be it? then what? this is

by Sam on Thu, 09/11/2008 - 3:15pm

So be it? then what? this is a realistic issue, This is politics. We can sit at our computers and shout at people, but in the battleground a politician should fight to win people's vote. What Obama is doing right now is not winning, and I tell you I am impressed too, I was wrong myself understanding people until Palin's phenomenon. Maybe people didn't want Obama's liberal agenda at the first place, maybe it was all about he being a new figure which is old enough now, in comparison to Palin.
And about fighting, remember that you have to fight with people about their belief in non-Separation of Church and State. Probably they don't want to come to YOUR side to fight with THEMSELVES! Obama's talk about Abortion didn't bring support for him but Palin's and her daughter's has brought a lot of support (and I feel desperate about this fact too!). So maybe Democrats should change their side on this issue. I am cool with it, like when Obama talked at AIPAC I was cool with it. I don't see no difference between believing in Biblical Prophecies and instructions. That has become a consensus in the US for long, this can become too.

Democrats only have to learn to lie

by kidzib on Thu, 09/11/2008 - 3:23pm

Republicans have long had no problem lying to the American people; Democrats not so much. Remember Bush's "compassionate conservatism"? How about "no more nation-building" and a commitment to "post-partisan politics"? It's the same crap with McCain. The man says he is going to balance the budget, yet he's proposing a massive tax cut, a continuation of the war in Iraq, and an expansion of the war in Afghanistan. Where's the money gonna come from, Johnny boy? Republicans have never balanced a budget before. All smoke and mirrors. How is McCain gonna pass ANY of his legislative agenda with that massive Democratic congress staring him down? He can't. Everything he is promising is an empty promise. Democrats just need to start making the same empty promises and they'll win every time.

Dear Sam

by Lure D. Lou on Thu, 09/11/2008 - 4:41pm

Nobody's shouting...I am voting for a person who I think best represents my interests...I don't want to vote for someone who doesn't believe in the same things I do nor do I want to vote for a liar. Obama is not my perfect candidate. I am an atheist and I think there is too much God talk in some of what he has to say....its hard for me to listen to. On the other hand his position on Afghanistan is now becoming the consensus one, i.e. that that's where you fight the terrorists, not in Najaf. Winning elections is not the essence of politics...fighting for your positions and learning to effectively compromise is. If the Democrats can't win on simply the mess the Republicans have created than they should at least lose with dignity. If they shift too far to the right they will eventually lose the same base that the barracuda has energized for the Pubs. If Obama sticks to the positions he articulated in the campaign the election will be a real referendum on where the country is at...nothing would be gained for the Dems to fold on their principles. It's hard for countries to look at themselves in the mirror just as it is for people but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet.

Gay marriage

by jgarzik on Thu, 09/11/2008 - 1:13pm

Civil unions are quickly becoming the consensus position, even amongst Republicans.

Palin and Bush

by vjvalk on Thu, 09/11/2008 - 2:45pm

Am I the only one who thinks Palin is eerily reminiscent of George W. Bush? Very conservative, religious, doesn't quite seem up to the job but comes off as someone who relates to ordinary people. I remember back in 2000 people said Bush was a 'quick study' who preferred short briefings to policy details...this is all very, very scary.

OK, so she's a woman, and she actually is (or was) an ordinary person as opposed to just playing one on TV. Nevertheless, if I were the Democrats, I'd find some surrogates to go out there and, with a wink and a nod, say "haven't we seen this show before?"

OMG I'M SO SCARED!

by kidzib on Thu, 09/11/2008 - 3:13pm

Oh, wait. No, I'm not. Look, you can coach her all you want. But one good question and she's toast because all her knowledge is superficial. There's no depth there. She can probably now easily recite McCain's position on the Georgia-Russia situation, but she would be left stuttering like an idiot if you asked her what she thinks of the idea of ceding Abkhazia's Gali district back to Samegrelo authority. Same applies to just about any foreign policy question. Can you imagine her successfully answering any tough question on conflict? "Mrs. Palin, what should be done about the Jewish settlers in Hebron?"; "Mrs. Palin, how would you resolve the situation in Transnistria?"; "Mrs. Palin, does Crimea's large ethnic Russian population pose a long-term risk for Ukraine?"; "Mrs. Palin, what is your position on the current Amarnath Shrine dispute in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir?" I could go on and on. It makes me chuckle just to think about the things I'd ask her!

Well Obama can't answer

by Sam on Thu, 09/11/2008 - 4:04pm

Well Obama can't answer those questions either, these people are not running for Secretary of State or Ambassador of US somewhere, and honestly American people will not only become bored by such question but will resent the person who asks them because they don't have a clue themselves either. It is not a radio quiz show, nor a lecture at Harvard. We should understand this. And above all she will not interview with Keith Olbermann, she will most probably start with some sympathizing foxnews reporter.

One very important thing is for us to stop being sarcastic when referring to her, I agree it is a pick worthy of mocking and down grading John McCain and Republicans when it comes to professional talk, but in from of people, it is a killer. If there is something that people like about her, Obama should go and say he has it better ( and it is hard ) and then goes back to his agenda also to win people like you and me ( well I can't vote! so you alone ) and general democrats.

I disagree

by kidzib on Thu, 09/11/2008 - 4:55pm

Maybe the Abkhazia question is unfair, but the others should all be answerable by a presidential or vice presidential candidate.

Her interview today...

by greatestbusinessman on Thu, 09/11/2008 - 9:48pm

For those who will see the the ABCNEWS interview...look for her behavior, the tone of her voice. How confident is Mrs Palin on the answers she gives you? If she was interviewing for an executive position at your company would you hire her? Her resume is not that strong by the way...