More Mavericky Honesty

by publius

Lying John McCain calls Lying Sarah Palin the nation's top energy expert. He also noted that she "understands Russia" because Alaska is next to a remote region of that country. Jonathan Martin writes:

Asked what specific national security credentials Palin had, McCain cited her experience dealing with energy issues and went so far as to say she was the country's foremost expert in the field.

"She knows more about energy than probably anyone else in the United States of America," McCain said.

McCain also pointed out that Palin governed a state that neighbors Russia.

She's a joke, and so is he.

Comments

[byrningman]

If there is any justice in this world, he'll pay a price for spouting such patent nonsense. I don't know, it reminds me of the Swift Boat thing a lot, just in the sense that the more absurd their claims the more they get away with it. How is he not laughed out of the room with the Alaska-Russia stuff? Especially as the guy who claims to be Mr. National Security. I don't know what to say anymore. I never much agreed with McCain, but now he just talks total tripe.

[Equal Opportunity Cynic]

And indeed, so is any short-lived "democracy" where this ticket can get a third of the vote, let alone more than half.

[Turbulence]

What I'm curious about is if believes these things that he says. I mean, is it really possible that John McCain doesn't know anyone who knows more about energy than Palin? Talk about devaluing the whole concept of expertise...

[KCinDC]

Any energy expertise Palin does have comes from the wrong viewpoint anyway, much like having two "experts" from the oil industry running things for the last eight years. Alaska's view of energy doesn't exactly match the experience of the rest of the country, where people don't rejoice when the price of oil goes up.

[John (not McCain)]

Why oh why am I never asked my expert opinion on Canada? I've lived within walking distance since 1994. Was Herself of the Frozen North ever within walking distance of Russia?

[byrningman]

Well, to be fair to Palin, her Russian expertise is probably at least equal to the Iraqi expertise of the neocons. So what's the worst that could happen? Oh, right...

[Hogan]

"She knows more about energy than probably anyone else in the United States of America," McCain said.

Mack: When you listen to yourself talk, does it make sense to you?
Kevin: Sometimes!

[rob!]

wow, McCain is REALLY putting all his chips on one number, and telling the dealer to SPIN THAT WHEEL, BABY!

given his penchant for gambling, i guess that's not a surprise--but his rhetoric on Palin is getting crazier and crazier, like how Ann Coulter has to keep topping herself to get attention.

what's next for McCain? if we follow this line of thinking to its (il)logical conclusion, McCain next has to say she's way more qualified to be President than HE is, and he's going to step down and let her run.

[Susan]

It boggles the mind that St. John McSame would claim that lackwit Palin from Tiny Town, Alaska "knows more about energy than probably anyone else in the United States of America." Um, more than people who have a real job working in the industry? More than scientists? Cripes, I probably know more than she does, just from eclectic reading. Why in the world does he get away spouting this crap?

Oh wait, that's right. POW.

[Eric Martin]

Thing is, McCain campaigns on the assumption that the American people are stupid.

The only way you can make the aforementioned arguments about energy policy expertise and foreign policy expertise is by assuming that most of your audience is bone-dumb.

What amazes me is that intelligent people like some of the commenters on this site are able to look past this and still hop on board.

[Equal Opportunity Cynic]

rob! is right that McCain is a gambler, but as Eric Martin says:

Thing is, McCain campaigns on the assumption that the American people are stupid.

I have to wonder if instead of bucking the odds, like a roulette player, he's just taking advantage of a favorable bet.

[JoshA]

I live near a farm and a car repair shop---in fact, I live a lot closer to both than Palin does to Russia.

As such, I am an expect in agriculture and on automobiles as well.

I'm pretty excited. Gonna go move near a doctor's office and become an expert in medicine.

[CaseyL]

Heck, Josh, moved near a specialist's office, like a dermatologist: they make money hand over fist!

[gregm]

It's hard to believe people are even bothering with Palin.

Palin comes out and the first thing she does is ridicule Obama's experience as a community organizer.

Obama responded to her smears and attempts at diminishing his experience appropriately.

Palin traced her career as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, to governor of her state, adding: "I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a `community organizer,' except that you have actual responsibilities."

In an interview with Anderson Cooper on Sept 1 Obama responds to her.

COOPER:Republican critics have said you don't have the experience to handle a situation like this. They in fact have said that Governor Palin has more executive experience, as mayor of a small town and as governor of a big state of Alaska.

What's your response?

OBAMA: Well, you know, my understanding is, is that Governor Palin's town of Wasilla has, I think, 50 employees. We have got 2,500 in this campaign. I think their budget is maybe $12 million a year. You know, we have a budget of about three times that just for the month.

So, I think that our ability to manage large systems and to execute, I think, has been made clear over the last couple of years. And, certainly, in terms of the legislation that I passed just dealing with this issue post-Katrina of how we handle emergency management, the fact that many of my recommendations were adopted and are being put in place as we speak, I think, indicates the degree to which we can provide the kinds of support and good service that the American people expect.
inting out that she has only been mayor of

The way she attacked Obama without provocation is intolerable.

[bedtimeforbonzo]

McCain wore the smug smile of a maverick until the interviewer asked him why Sarah Reformer takes a per diem for living in her own residence as Alaska's governor -- then didn't answer the question.

He said what was really important was that she sold the governor's private luxury jet and fired the governor's personal chef -- not, mind you, that the governor accepts a public subsidy for housing.

Bravo to this interviewer, who asked tougher questions -- and better follow-ups, the key to a good interview -- than most big-market or network types.

Judging from McCain's performance, I wouldn't expect many more Q&A's of this sort and I'd expect both McCain and Palin to limit their availability as much as possible.

Also, don't expect McCain to do much campaigning without Palin -- she's his security blanket. And he's boring as hell without her.

---

Scrolling down to the comment section on the link publius provided reminded me why I don't bother with comment sections in most other places.

Comment 5: "Does anyone know what sort of speech impediment Ariana Huffington has? I can't understand a word that comes out of her mouth."

Comment 11: "McCain now leads in MI. Should've picked Hillary, losers!"

Even our trolls bring more to the plate than this.

[Donald Johnson]

I think this learning through physical proximity thing is why I buy more books than I ever get around to reading. One of the unread ones is by Rupert Sheldrake, who probably explains in scientifico-mystical detail how it all works.

I visited the White House when I was a kid, I think. Maybe I should run.

[gregm]

The other thing that is difficult to swallow is that she continues to claim she killed the Bridge to Nowhere.

Out of all 4 candidates only Obama and Biden voted against the earmark. They did it twice.

[Ugh]

Wheeeeeeee:

EXCLUSIVE: GOV. SARAH PALIN WARNS WAR MAY BE NECESSARY IF RUSSIA INVADES ANOTHER COUNTRY"

[Cowboy Diva]

maybe now would be a good time to recycle the Chuck Norris jokes.

Sarah Palin is a healthcare expert; her tears can cure cancer.

Sarah Palin is a renowned mathematician; she has counted to infinity. Twice.

[byrningman]

EXCLUSIVE: GOV. SARAH PALIN WARNS WAR MAY BE NECESSARY IF RUSSIA INVADES ANOTHER COUNTRY"

Gosh, I hope the interviewer pushed it. The obvious question is "would you be willing to risk war with Russia in order to bring Ukraine and Georgia into NATO?" Why is it important to the USA take that risk? Given that the American military is currently overstretched in the Middle East and Central Asia, how do you propose to back up this willingness to defend Eastern European countries against the world's second- or third-most powerful military? Will you massively increase defense spending and/or bring back conscription? Or are you just talking lame bullet points knowing that I will not challenge you one whit to test your statements against the limitations of reality?

Does the American public realise that the Russians are once again flying regular formations of nuclear-armed bombers over the North Atlantic? That Venezuela is being considered as a staging ground for Russian nuclear bombers (a la Cuba 1962 - does that ring a bell for the Maverick?)? That Russia now has compelling reasons beyond the financial to arm Iran to the teeth?

Do we really want to go back to the 1960s over two tiny provinces of a small country, that don't even want to be part of that country? If Georgia is so democratic, why aren't the undisputed wishes of the South Ossetians and Abkhazians respected?

[byrningman]

Oh dear, I read other excerpts from her interview. IT BURNS! IT BURNS! MY EYES!!!! TEH STUPID BURNS!!!

[gregm]

When Gibson said if under the NATO treaty, the United States would have to go to war if Russia again invaded Georgia, Palin responded: "Perhaps so. I mean, that is the agreement when you are a NATO ally, is if another country is attacked, you're going to be expected to be called upon and help.

This is frightening. How could she possibly expect us to keep that agreement?

This woman is obviously a warmonger. Gibson proposes a what if scenario and she proposes war.

I don't believe she understands the purpose of NATO.

[ResumeMan]

"And we've got to keep an eye on Russia. For Russia to have exerted such pressure in terms of invading a smaller democratic country, unprovoked, is unacceptable," she told ABC News' Charles Gibson in an exclusive interview.

OMFG, we are so doomed if they win. While folks can reasonably question the extent of Russia's response, it is beyond question that they were provoked by Georgia!! That she doesn't know this fundamental fact about an event that happened a month ago is truly scary...

[tim69]

gregm,

I think you have been reading too many lefty websites. Obama made that comment before Palin made hers.

[Fledermaus]

Thing is, McCain campaigns on the assumption that the American people are stupid.

And why exactly do you think that this would be a false assumption?

[Lee]

When questioned about foreign policy experience, Sarah Palin did add additional details. Rather than fall back exclusively on the rationale that Alaska is our closest state to Russia, she actually let Charlie know you can see a hint of Russia from some far flung place in Alaska. They probably cut the part where she mentioned you have to spend hours and hours flying to reach that spot. I am suddenly concerned about the sale of the plane, now, though.

Anyway, thank heavens for the extensive Aleutian Island chain! So she is literally within eyesight of a desolate eastern coast of Russia if she were on one of those islands. Case closed. Everyone should just stop asking any further questions.

[liberal japonicus]

Obama made that comment before Palin made hers.

OMG, Obama can see the future!

Trolls, bring your A game please.

[Meditative_Zebra]

Geez. I just watched a segment of the Palin's interview with Charlie Gibson. It was scary. When he read her one of her previous statements where she said that we are "sending our soldiers on a task from god" she first disagreed that it was a quote (it was) and then immediately diverted into talking about Abraham Lincoln before reciting several evangelical platitudes about how god has a plan for us all.

In the name of science* please let this woman never get anywhere near the White House. Our last president thought god would make sure everything worked out and look at where we are.

byrningman: IT BURNS! IT BURNS! MY EYES!!!! TEH STUPID BURNS!!!

I was warned but I looked anyway. I think that with this interview we may have just administered a lobotomy on our collective polity.

*Wording inspired by South Park.

[tim69]

liberalj,

I am not sure what your point is. gregm, said that Obama was responding to Palin's comments. But that is inaccurate. He made those comments first.

Is that not true? I'm not sure why you think that is playing a game.

[Slartibartfast]

When he read her one of her previous statements where she said that we are "sending our soldiers on a task from god" she first disagreed that it was a quote (it was)

A partial quote. It's not a full quote. Context: not just for breakfast anymore.

Saying we're doing God's will is NOT the same as praying to God that we're doing his will. It's just not, and it's dishonest to pretend that it is.

[Gary Farber]

GIBSON: I'm talking about somebody who's a head of state, who can negotiate for that country. Ever met one?

PALIN: I have not and I think if you go back in history and if you ask that question of many vice presidents, they may have the same answer that I just gave you.

You'd have to go back quite a ways.

John Nance Garner
Henry A. Wallace
Harry S. Truman
Richard M. Nixon
Lyndon B. Johnson
Hubert Horatio Humphrey
Spiro T. Agnew
Gerald Ford
Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller
Walter Mondale
George Herbert Walker Bush
Dan Quayle
Albert Arnold Gore, Jr.
Richard Bruce Cheney

Without double-checking, I'd be surprised if Quayle hadn't met a foreign head of state or two while in the Senate, at least in the sense of being at a function, though I don't know it for a fact right now.

Other than that, I'm also unsure if Spiro Agnew would have as Governor of Maryland, and there's a fine comparison to look up to.

Other than that, the next possibility we'd have to reach all the way back to perhaps John Nance Garner prior to 1933, and I wouldn't exclude the possibility that as a Senator, he also met some foreign heads of state.

Certainly Palin's claim isn't true of any Vice President we'd consider to be part of the modern era, with the possible exceptions of Quayle and Agnew. But, hey: her comparison, not mine.

[marguerite manteau-rao]

This is why it is so important to spread the truth about Sarah Palin:

http://whatsarahthinking.com

Enjoy!

[Bernard Yomtov]

Hey. I've got everyone beat on the proximity deal. I'm a lot less than a mile from Harvard and MIT (and about two miles from BU, for those who hate elitists). So I know pretty much everything.

[john miller]

Slarti, I agree the quote is marginally out of context, but the thought that someone may even consider that our invasion, subjugation and torture of Iraq may in any way be part of God's plan scares the heck out of me, and that that person could end up as President is scarier yet.
YMMV.

[bedtimeforbonzo]

To be fair to Palin -- in regard to going to war to Russia -- it seems to me that she is simply echoing McCain's policy.

[liberal japonicus]

tim69,
Is that not true? I'm not sure why you think that is playing a game.

I don't see any dates, and I just see a bald assertion, but making the generous assumption that you aren't lying like a rug, you are missing the point entirely because it is you are the one playing a game, trying to pretend that assertions by the McCain campaign need to be treated like taking turns at Monopoly. It's that kind of bs that makes all of this simply a game of news cycles. Palin insulted community organizers, and, assuming that you are right about the chronology, the only response that counts is one directly after, like kids playing some card game.

And Slart, could you explain the theological content of this as it relates to God's will? Or is there some reading that has

“God’s will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that.”

represents the same nuanced difference as you suggest? Or is she asking them to pray so God let's them know exactly how s/he feels about the gas pipeline?

[CaseyL]

Obama keeps talking about debating issues that matter to Americans. Well, McCain/Palin are elementally incapable of doing so. Trying to engage them on issues that matter to Americans would be like trying to explain table manners to a 6-month old child while said child is busy flinging mashed yams all over the kitchen.

I've said many a time that Americans don't vote for President on the basis of issues, but of personality.

What I'm not seeing here is how McCain/Palin's personalities are appealing to anyone outside the 30% deadender demographic. If we, in theory, vote for the candidate who is most reassuring, or who most flatters us, or who we think is most like us... in what way do McCain/Palin fit that description to more than that 30%?

Is anyone here - who isn't a troll -thinking of voting for McCain/Palin and, if so, would they be kind enough to explain why?

[bedtimeforbonzo]

I would like to hear Palin asked a question where she may differ from McCain.

For instance, what does he mean when she says our troops in Iraq are doing "God's will," as she said at the pulpit of her church?

And would be going to war with Russia -- if, say, in defense of Georgia -- be "God's will" as well?

And what about the thousands upon thousands of civilian deaths in Iraq? Did God forget about them?

And why should McCain bothered to have picked her? Wouldn't he have done better with God as his running mate?

[hilzoy]

For what it's worth, I thought that in the "plan from God" quote, she was plainly asking people to pray that the Iraq war be a part of God's plan, not asserting that it was. I honestly don't see what's wrong with this. (I think it's tantamount to praying that it be God's will.)

On the other hand, she did seem pretty plainly to say that the pipeline was God's will, which is both presumptuous and bizarre.

[cleek]

she was plainly asking people to pray that the Iraq war be a part of God's plan

prayer is not a plan.

[cleek]

I've got everyone beat on the proximity deal. I'm a lot less than a mile from Harvard and MIT (and about two miles from BU, for those who hate elitists). So I know pretty much everything.

yeah, well my father-in-law was two-time All-American diving champion for S.U., and one of his teammates is a former world record holder in the 200 IM. so, i'm pretty much guaranteed medals in the next Olympics that i choose to participate in.

[Tony P.]

I have been a Democrat for so long, it's sometimes hard to remember why. This year reminds me why:

Democrats may sometimes be stupid, but Republicans always, ALWAYS, insult my intelligence.

--TP

[liberal japonicus]

On the other hand, she did seem pretty plainly to say that the pipeline was God's will, which is both presumptuous and bizarre.

So (and I would address this to anyone who wants to defend her on this) why should she get the benefit of the doubt on her theological views of Iraq? If she comes up with such off the wall crap for a gas pipeline, is she going to somehow create a mental category of 'things to not be sure about when invoking God's will'? Palin's notion of nuance is trying to decide whether it is just God that is pissed at liberals or whether Jesus is pissed as well.

[gregm]

why should she get the benefit of the doubt on her theological views of Iraq?

It's true that she deserves no benefit of the doubt.

Obama has to deal with all kinds of smears against him. After trying to associate Obama with Ayers and Rezko, the Republicans failed to make any headway against these tangential relationships. This however isn't tagential. This is listening to something she actually said and based on that infomation making some logical assumptions.

[Slartibartfast]

On the other hand, she did seem pretty plainly to say that the pipeline was God's will, which is both presumptuous and bizarre.

I thought so, too. I thought that part was much more bizarre than praying that our troops do God's will. But then, I've been around prayer enough, in recent years, to appreciate that one is a request for guidance, where the other one just comes off as a political arm-bar.

[hilzoy]

gregm: I still think it's unfair. And just because someone deserves something doesn't make it right to give it to them.

There are quite enough genuinely appalling things that Palin has said and done without this one.

[Hartmut]

For what it's worth, I thought that in the "plan from God" quote, she was plainly asking people to pray that the Iraq war be a part of God's plan, not asserting that it was. I honestly don't see what's wrong with this. (I think it's tantamount to praying that it be God's will.)

Unfortunately that reminds me of the old joke:
Girl prays before going to sleep, "Please god, make Paris the British capital or I'll get an F in todays test!"
I doubt that Palin meant it in the Lincoln sense (or would even understand what Lincoln meant).

[mds]

But then, I've been around prayer enough, in recent years, to appreciate that one is a request for guidance

And I've been in enough fundamentalist churches to appreciate that, as usual, the answer was presumed to be "yes." Her congregation wasn't sitting there waiting to see if God led them to feel that it was an unjust war. As Christian Zionists, they assume its justice as an axiom. Just because they dress it up in smug false humility doesn't turn it into a riff on Lincoln.

Or perhaps I'm doing them all an injustice, and there's a substantial contingent in the church still wrestling with whether the occupation of Iraq was morally right, since God is unlikely to have directly answered their query via video. Any wagers?

[bedtimeforbonzo]

The View -- yes, The View asks John McCain tough questions today and the Arizona senator looks rattled.