Branson Hunter
2008-10-02 20:56:52 UTC
Time published a viewpoint under the title Sarah Palin's Foreign
Policy Follies, by Romesh Ratnesar - Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008. Factual
points made in his article should be paid attention to by every
reasonable and prudent voting American. Because considering all the
hullabaloo paid to another young Texas Governor -- oozing with
confidence but lacking direction -- Eighty percent of Americans are
saying "never again." Here is a passage from Ratnesar's article.
"It takes a hard heart not to like Sarah Palin. She has a winning
personal story. She can be poised, charming and funny. As she showed
at the Republican National Convention, her ability to deliver set-
piece speeches — a big part of the job for all politicians, but
especially Presidents — is considerable. On balance, she's probably an
asset to John McCain. But we should stop pretending that she is ready
now or will be ready anytime in the foreseeable future to be Commander
in Chief." [emphasis added]
He also writes, "After watching the foreign-policy portion of her
disastrous Sept. 25 interview with CBS anchor Katie Co uric, "Palin
resembled a high schooler trying to BS her way through a book
report... Is there any situation in which John McCain would ask Palin
for advise on foreign policy? Would she give McCain advise like this
when she appeared to suggest that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir
Putin might be preparing a one-man airborne invasion of Alaska —
downright loony."
Loony indeed. It's disturbing. Sarah Palin could be President in
2009. This must be considered. Given that John McCain has had serious
forms of cancer four times, his elevated age and the hardships, trauma
and his PTSD -- there is a 1 in 3 chance Palin will be sworn in as
president in the next four years. And those odds increase if there is
a second term McCain Administration. Will President Palin sit in the
laps (sorry...) of all those guys what got us into this horrible
financial mess, two botched wars and 2 trillion in war debts? I think
the ultra neoconservative will dictate her foreign policy. After all,
what does she know about driving our economy and running simultaneous
war? First, her town of 4-6 thousand was 26 millions of dollars in
debt when she left office (and still in recovering). Second, she can
see Russia from her home.
Ratnesar also highlights some revelations that came out Palin's recent
interview with Katie Couric. He writes: "Most foreign policy hands —
including members of the current Administration — would have given
Couric the exact opposite answer [regarding the Pakistan situation]
that Palin did. If U.S. officials once praised Pakistanis cooperation
in the war on terror, they almost never do now. But Palin doesn't seem
to have noticed." Rather, she spoke of the political situation and
relations with Pakistan as, well, hunky-dory.
Ratnesar summarizes -- "Palin's response to Couric's questions about
the the goal of spreading democracy in the Islamic world -- Palin
repeated standard Bush platitudes [another third term anybody?]. The
same platitudes that got us into spending 2 trillion dollars in a two
five years wars without any resolution in sight." In other words,
should Palin becomes President -- is a one in three chance she will --
she's be making decisions that effects the entire world. If McCain is
gone, "Don't worry, be happy." The experience she lacks, the
neoconservative -- you know, the same ones that eighty percent of
Americans have had a bellyfull of -- will be there to nudge her in the
direction of no return.
Simply put, Ratnesar is saying "we should expect our leaders to be
fluent in at least the basics of foreign policy. So far, Palin is
still struggling for words." Ratnesar's full commentary can be found
at http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1845116,00.html
Branson
Policy Follies, by Romesh Ratnesar - Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008. Factual
points made in his article should be paid attention to by every
reasonable and prudent voting American. Because considering all the
hullabaloo paid to another young Texas Governor -- oozing with
confidence but lacking direction -- Eighty percent of Americans are
saying "never again." Here is a passage from Ratnesar's article.
"It takes a hard heart not to like Sarah Palin. She has a winning
personal story. She can be poised, charming and funny. As she showed
at the Republican National Convention, her ability to deliver set-
piece speeches — a big part of the job for all politicians, but
especially Presidents — is considerable. On balance, she's probably an
asset to John McCain. But we should stop pretending that she is ready
now or will be ready anytime in the foreseeable future to be Commander
in Chief." [emphasis added]
He also writes, "After watching the foreign-policy portion of her
disastrous Sept. 25 interview with CBS anchor Katie Co uric, "Palin
resembled a high schooler trying to BS her way through a book
report... Is there any situation in which John McCain would ask Palin
for advise on foreign policy? Would she give McCain advise like this
when she appeared to suggest that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir
Putin might be preparing a one-man airborne invasion of Alaska —
downright loony."
Loony indeed. It's disturbing. Sarah Palin could be President in
2009. This must be considered. Given that John McCain has had serious
forms of cancer four times, his elevated age and the hardships, trauma
and his PTSD -- there is a 1 in 3 chance Palin will be sworn in as
president in the next four years. And those odds increase if there is
a second term McCain Administration. Will President Palin sit in the
laps (sorry...) of all those guys what got us into this horrible
financial mess, two botched wars and 2 trillion in war debts? I think
the ultra neoconservative will dictate her foreign policy. After all,
what does she know about driving our economy and running simultaneous
war? First, her town of 4-6 thousand was 26 millions of dollars in
debt when she left office (and still in recovering). Second, she can
see Russia from her home.
Ratnesar also highlights some revelations that came out Palin's recent
interview with Katie Couric. He writes: "Most foreign policy hands —
including members of the current Administration — would have given
Couric the exact opposite answer [regarding the Pakistan situation]
that Palin did. If U.S. officials once praised Pakistanis cooperation
in the war on terror, they almost never do now. But Palin doesn't seem
to have noticed." Rather, she spoke of the political situation and
relations with Pakistan as, well, hunky-dory.
Ratnesar summarizes -- "Palin's response to Couric's questions about
the the goal of spreading democracy in the Islamic world -- Palin
repeated standard Bush platitudes [another third term anybody?]. The
same platitudes that got us into spending 2 trillion dollars in a two
five years wars without any resolution in sight." In other words,
should Palin becomes President -- is a one in three chance she will --
she's be making decisions that effects the entire world. If McCain is
gone, "Don't worry, be happy." The experience she lacks, the
neoconservative -- you know, the same ones that eighty percent of
Americans have had a bellyfull of -- will be there to nudge her in the
direction of no return.
Simply put, Ratnesar is saying "we should expect our leaders to be
fluent in at least the basics of foreign policy. So far, Palin is
still struggling for words." Ratnesar's full commentary can be found
at http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1845116,00.html
Branson