Blogs » Skye Rivers's blog
Skye Rivers

PALIN EXPLAINS HER FOREIGN POLICY CREDENTIALS - TRANSCRIPT

Posted 7 weeks 3 days ago by Skye Rivers

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.

 

  • Delicious
  • Digg
  • StumbleUpon
  • Propeller
  • Reddit
  • Magnoliacom
  • Newsvine
  • Furl
  • Facebook
  • Google
  • Yahoo
  • Technorati
  • Icerocket

Thoughts

Palin

Submitted on September 30th, 2008 by Pablo

I have worked and lived in Alaska. So I do know what is going on up there for the most part.

There is a large Russian community there as well.

But Palin did a horrible job of explaining what she is responsible for.

Its a case where she has limited foreign affairs which is overseen by the State Department.

But she should stop trying to make 30 second sound bites and also stop trying to make the limited decisions that she does make more than what they are.

Yes she oversees Trade and Maritime issues and does make National Guard deployment within the state decisions based on Pentagon requests and requirements. Generally its a blank check but she is in the loop.

She should just be honest about it. Its not that much what she does in Foreign Affairs. Its limited and she has the state Department who acts as her Oversight.

But those limited items is more than Obama. She is just trying to make more of what she does to make experience more than it is.

Thus why she looked bad and her answers are no good.

She just needs to be honest about her role.

She approves a negociations that a committee gives and she may meet with those foreign delegations maybe once a year or two.

Simply, she is a governor. Her roll in foreign affairs is limited. She gets limited National security briefings which effect her state or any other State department talks which effect her state. She gets to input her wishes but basically does not do direct talks.

That is the truth. Its just too bad that her handlers are pushing her to exaggerate what she is and it makes her look very bad and ditzy by the people of the country.

Rom

Submitted on September 30th, 2008 by Skye Rivers

She didn't sound "sound"......... understand... I understand nerves and all, but holy god, this is the office of VP... NOT a random CEO interview. Tina Fey got it right.

Geography

Submitted on September 30th, 2008 by rom12921

not a good answer.

We know, at least I hope most Americans do, that Alaska is bordered by Canada and across the Bering Strait from Russia....not real insightful.

Palin

Submitted on September 29th, 2008 by Pablo

Palin was right but she did not give the best answer to the question.

It is true that Palin as governor of Alaska is in Pentigon and State Department circles when it comes to National Security issues.

Basically, Russia violates Alaskan Air Space or threatens the air space roughly once every 14 months. Its on the rise now as Putin is trying to rebuild their military power from oil money. Its killing their economy again because Russia is not spending their wealth on infastructure to promote small business or other free market items which will self support itself.

So Palin is right that she over sees direct, negociations with Russia over trade and maritime issues. This is allowed by the State Department or in conjuntion with the State Department.

California, Arizona and Texas have the same type of issues with Mexico.

So it does give Palin insight and she does get some National Security briefings and does get to make some decisions about National security for her State. As limited as that is, it still is more than what Obama or even Biden can lay claim to.

Palin just needs to explain herself more completely and stop trying to make her answers fit into a 30 second sound bite. Because some of the issues are complex and can not be given in that manner.