Palin has foreign policy experience???

RahmanIV · 02:31 PM

McCain said that Palin's position as Governor and her role as her Commander-in-Chief of the Alaskan National Guard qualifies as "enough" foreign policy experience.

Quote:

McCain touts Palin on foreign affairs

Touting the credentials of his running mate, John McCain and his campaign suggest that Gov. Sarah Palin’s role as commander in chief of the Alaska National Guard qualifies as foreign affairs experience.

It’s been a familiar argument this election cycle, one made by other governors ranging from former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Republican, to Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, a Democrat.

“You're the commander in chief of your National Guard and, in this context, many of us have been to Iraq and Afghanistan. We've been deploying guard over there. We talk to the families of those who have died over there,” Napolitano told The Associated Press in July. “So I think the current crop of governors has more relevant foreign policy experience perhaps than our predecessors.”

That may be true, but there’s a caveat: governors don’t have any command role in overseas deployments, or in the national security and foreign policy decisions surrounding them. That’s the prerogative of the president.

Governors are commanders of their state National Guard units, but their roles are restricted to deployments of soldiers and airmen within their states, said Randy Noller, a spokesman for the National Guard Bureau, the federal defense agency that oversees the Army and Air National Guards. But that hasn’t stopped the McCain campaign from claiming Palin’s role with the state Guard, and her visit to Alaska Guard members in Kuwait last year, as foreign policy experience.

“She’s been the commander of the National Guard, of Alaska’s National Guard, who’s been deployed overseas,’’ said McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds during a heated exchange Monday night with CNN anchor Campbell Brown, adding: “That’s foreign policy experience.”

A day earlier, on "Fox News Sunday," McCain defended Palin’s background with a similar explanation.
“The point is she has been to Kuwait. She has been over there,” he said. “She has been with her troops, the National Guard that she commands, who had been over there and had the experience. I’m proud of her knowledge of these challenges and issues.”

Responding to a question about the link between stateside command of the National Guard and foreign policy experience, Ben Porritt, a spokesman for the McCain campaign on vice presidential matters, took aim at the Democratic presidential nominee, Barack Obama.

“We will stack Palin’s foreign policy credentials against Obama’s any day,” Porritt said. “She understands the surge in Iraq is working. She supports our troops on the front lines. Barack Obama voted against them.” Porritt added that being a governor — who handles budgets and bureaucrats, among other many other things — has long been considered qualification to be in the White House.

Palin herself mentioned her role with the Guard when the Republican senator from Arizona first introduced her as his vice presidential running mate in Dayton, Ohio.

“It was Sen. McCain who refused to hedge his support for our troops in Iraq, regardless of the political costs. And you know what?” the governor said. “As the mother of one of those troops, and as the commander of Alaska's National Guard, that's the kind of man I want as our commander in chief.”

Palin’s son Track enlisted in the Army a year ago and is headed to Iraq later this month.

In Alaska, the Guard's adjutant general, Maj. Gen. E. Craig Campbell, said Palin has been "very supportive" of the National Guard. Before she was even sworn in as governor, she traveled to welcome soldiers returning from Iraq and Kuwait, he said.

The Alaska National Guard, which has about 3,850 members, has units regularly deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan and recently had a small presence in Louisiana, helping with Hurricane Gustav relief, said Alaska Guard spokeswoman Kalei Brooks. The Alaska Guard dispatched a C-17 cargo jet with two HH-60 Pave Hawk search and rescue helicopters in response to a call from fellow Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana.

Only about 18 members of the Guard currently are deployed overseas, but another “large” group is preparing to leave this month, she said. Another small group from the Alaska Air National Guard is returning from Kyrgyzstan, where they guarded air strips.

The state always retains enough of a presence to respond to disasters that come with springtime flooding, wildfires and earthquakes, Brooks said.

“Never at any time do we have soldiers out of Alaska that can’t fulfill that homeland defense role,” she said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/200...politico/13222

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Wowww..unbelievable. If that counts as foreign policy experience, then no wonder the rest of the world hates us.

I've lived in three different countries in my lifetime. That must make me over qualified in foreign policy to the Republicans.

She is an absolute insult to all the soldiers to even suggest that she has foreign policy experience. Gov. Bill Richardson has foreign policy experience. Joe Biden has foreign policy experience. If these are the standards, then Hillary Clinton has more foreign policy experience. Sarah Palin doesn't have shit.

alex1234 · 09-07-2008, 02:32 PM

i still dont understand why Obama is not leading by at least 20 points in the polls

Moonpie · 09-07-2008, 02:57 PM

Rahman,
Voting for Obama is the insult to our military.
Palin's experience trumps Obama's, and he is at the top of the ticket.
My husband is called upon for his foreign policy experience and teaches national security issues. He has also deployed as an advisor and teacher to foreign militaries in the interests of our national security. Therefore, I trust his experience and judgment. Obama would be a disaster, not only because of his breathtaking naivete, but that his "advisors" don't appear to grasp the magnitude of the enemy they are up against.

Make no mistake, I am not "for" the war and had severe reservations about our involvement in it. However, we are at war, and our troops are in harm's way. We are also engaged in a battle of ideologies which we can not afford to lose, much like our grandparents faced on the beginning of WWII. In 1939, there were lots who wanted to appease Hitler and stated involvement would be a mistake. Do you still think those who wanted to appease Hitler were right? What would that have meant for the free world?

Obama has consistently voted against giving our troops the tools and resources they need to complete their mission.

He was against the surge, ignoring the advice and counsel of those Commanders in theatre. Petraeus was right; Obama was wrong; and he still refuses to admit it. Not some one I want making policy decisions in the WH.

Obama wants to appease Iran and Korea and Biden has informed Israel to accept a nuclear Iran. Obama opposes any further development in nuclear technology and would count on our gravest enemies to be truthful and agree to a mutual nuclear disarmament. Yeah, like that isn't beyond naive and simplistic. Obama is frightening in his degree of ignorance.

Obama also wants to halt any further development and research into improvement in combat arms; including systems that are "non-lethal".
He is against ballistic missile defense development. He is no JFK.

Obama wants to add yet another layer of bureaucracy above the QDR to the military. Because that's what the military needs to be efficient, more bureaucracy.

Obama has been silent on any issues with respect to quality of life for military and their families. There is a long list here. His contempt for our military and their families is beyond the pale.

He stumbled and fumbled and generally looked like an idiot on the world stage when the Georgian-Russian crisis bubbled up, barely taking time away from his body-surfing in Hawaii to comment, and when he did, he chastised Georgia for their efforts at self-defense, wanted to defer to the UN (forgetting that Russia has a veto on the Security Council) before retracting and coming up with the same position as McCain-- who hit the right note immediately.

And we're not even getting into his ties with Marxists, fellow travellers and others who hate America. You are judged by the company you keep -- and in Obama's case, it's Wright, Farrakan, Ayers, Kilpatrick and his wife's affection for Saul "Red" Alinsky. Nice crowd he hangs with.

As the joke says, what do Obama and Osama have in common?
>
>
>
Both have friends who have bombed the Pentagon.

Oh, yeah, so, if you're not worried about our safety and security and want to capitulate to terrorists, then yeah, Obama's your man.

And don't even get me started on "universal health care". As a Canadian, I have pretty strong feelings about that, and I thank God I am in the US with a free market and freedom of choice.

RahmanIV · 09-07-2008, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonpie

Rahman,
Voting for Obama is the insult to our military.
Palin's experience trumps Obama's, and he is at the top of the ticket.
My husband is called upon for his foreign policy experience and teaches national security issues. He has also deployed as an advisor and teacher to foreign militaries in the interests of our national security. Therefore, I trust his experience and judgment. Obama would be a disaster, not only because of his breathtaking naivete, but that his "advisors" don't appear to grasp the magnitude of the enemy they are up against.

Make no mistake, I am not "for" the war and had severe reservations about our involvement in it. However, we are at war, and our troops are in harm's way. We are also engaged in a battle of ideologies which we can not afford to lose, much like our grandparents faced on the beginning of WWII. In 1939, there were lots who wanted to appease Hitler and stated involvement would be a mistake. Do you still think those who wanted to appease Hitler were right? What would that have meant for the free world?

Obama has consistently voted against giving our troops the tools and resources they need to complete their mission.

He was against the surge, ignoring the advice and counsel of those Commanders in theatre. Petraeus was right; Obama was wrong; and he still refuses to admit it. Not some one I want making policy decisions in the WH.

Obama wants to appease Iran and Korea and Biden has informed Israel to accept a nuclear Iran. Obama opposes any further development in nuclear technology and would count on our gravest enemies to be truthful and agree to a mutual nuclear disarmament. Yeah, like that isn't beyond naive and simplistic. Obama is frightening in his degree of ignorance.

Obama also wants to halt any further development and research into improvement in combat arms; including systems that are "non-lethal".
He is against ballistic missile defense development. He is no JFK.

Obama wants to add yet another layer of bureaucracy above the QDR to the military. Because that's what the military needs to be efficient, more bureaucracy.

Obama has been silent on any issues with respect to quality of life for military and their families. There is a long list here. His contempt for our military and their families is beyond the pale.

He stumbled and fumbled and generally looked like an idiot on the world stage when the Georgian-Russian crisis bubbled up, barely taking time away from his body-surfing in Hawaii to comment, and when he did, he chastised Georgia for their efforts at self-defense, wanted to defer to the UN (forgetting that Russia has a veto on the Security Council) before retracting and coming up with the same position as McCain-- who hit the right note immediately.

And we're not even getting into his ties with Marxists, fellow travellers and others who hate America. You are judged by the company you keep -- and in Obama's case, it's Wright, Farrakan, Ayers, Kilpatrick and his wife's affection for Saul "Red" Alinsky. Nice crowd he hangs with.

As the joke says, what do Obama and Osama have in common?
>
>
>
Both have friends who have bombed the Pentagon.

Oh, yeah, so, if you're not worried about our safety and security and want to capitulate to terrorists, then yeah, Obama's your man.

And don't even get me started on "universal health care". As a Canadian, I have pretty strong feelings about that, and I thank God I am in the US with a free market and freedom of choice.

Are you serious????
So you're going to support the Republican ticket because Obama has no foreign policy experience. How can you be so disastrous to this country??

What does your husband think of having Sarah Palin has the potential next commander-in-chief? Your husband has more foreign policy experience than Palin yet she is the Vice Presidential nominee.

John McCain is 72 and has fought cancer several times. If he dies in office, you seriously want her leading this nation in a time of war? What if we are at war with Iran or Russia? She has ZERO foreign policy experience. Not a little or few but ZEROO. BIG FAT ZEROO.

She doesn't have any clue what to do. She DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT FOREIGN AFFAIRS!! except probably that Russia is next to Alaska.

I can't believe you are actually comfortable with her on the ticket. If you say just cuz she's a woman, then thats an insult to both your gender and all the barriers women have broken in the political arena.

RahmanIV · 09-07-2008, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonpie

And don't even get me started on "universal health care". As a Canadian, I have pretty strong feelings about that, and I thank God I am in the US with a free market and freedom of choice.

Maybe you're one of those middle class Americans that McCain mentioned that makes between $2 million and $5 million a year. Its most likely that you have health insurance coverage that covers all your hospital bills and health care costs.

Ever had to worry about getting a flu or cold? Or maybe fracturing some bone that might need surgery? Probably not, because you don't have to worry about health insurance.

You've had healthcare covered all your life. Now as a affluent American and previously in Canada under their government health care system. So you really have no f**kin clue about how it feels to be not able to afford health care or have no health insurance and can't afford to go to a hospital.

So save your bumper sticker "socialized medicine" phrases for your right wing nutjobs that are quite happy with their rich elitist selves. I'll fight for the 47 million Americans that live with the paralyzing fear of getting a cold during the winter or have to choose between buying medicine and eating food.

erikasxoxo · 09-07-2008, 05:41 PM

wtf is up w/ moonpie?

I'm gonna go back to watching the US Open now... that'll calm me down

K-Man · 09-07-2008, 06:13 PM

Sounds like everytime Plain gets critized, the menstruating-republican population seems to go crazy. As for the experience, someone posted this already;

Obama:
B.A in political science from Columbia University, with a specialization in international relations
J.D. in Law from Hardvard, graduated magna cum laude; President of the Harvard Law Review
12 years (92-04) teaching constitutional law
7 years State Senator: sponsored more than 800 bills
4 years Senator for Illinos, a state with 12.8 million people

Palin:
Bachelor's in journalism from University of Idaho
4 years Wasilla City Council (8000 people)
6 years Wasilla mayor (8000 people)
1 year "Ethics Commissioner of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission"
20 months governor of a state with 660,000 people

^Don't tell me that qualifies her to be a potential president, on the inevitable day that McCain keels over and dies because he got too excited about his prostate not flaring up. Palin is nothing but a publicity stunt with no substance, and it's just pathetic how people are still attemtping to justify her as a viable candidate, let alone comparing her to Obama!!! Some people are so naive and brainwashed, it makes me want to vomit up my blueberry cereal. Do you really think that the Republicans sat in a circle, and picked her solely based on her experience/education over the rest of the potential Republican nominees??? Yeah I'm sure her vagina had nothing to do with it.

Oh yeah, anyone that compares Obama to 'Osama' because their name happens to rhyme, and tries to associate the two with a loose association, is a fucking idiot who probably takes notes when O'Reily comes on.

Moonpie · 09-07-2008, 06:23 PM

First of all, the use of expletives is unnecessary and diminishes your argument.

Secondly, why don't you take the time to do some thoughtful research instead of making reflexive statements.

Here are a group of well respected Democrats and leaders who were Hillary supporters, including one of our ambassadors appointed under President Clinton. They are supporting McCain and cite his foreign policy experience and integrity. In particular, Ambassador Irwin, who has a great deal of actual foreign policy experience in a difficult portfolio -- listen to what he says about Obama and foreign policy experience in the third video clip near the end.

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/09/0...ss-conference/

Moonpie · 09-07-2008, 06:25 PM

Rahman,
You are making huge assumptions about me and it is offensive.
Secondly, you don't have firsthand experience with universal health care vs. accessible and affordable free-market health care, so I don't think you are qualified to render an opinion that is little more than a childish rant.

Grow up.

maurolv · 09-07-2008, 06:30 PM

Moonpie, I...feel sorry for you. Maybe you should start doing some research.

Oh, and tell your husband to go talk to McCain, maybe he can dump Palin and put your husband in the ticket, at least he has more foreign policy experience than Palin!

Never mind!...I forgot Alaska is close to Russia and that gives you foreign policy experience!

They need you!

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Palin has foreign policy experience???