Sarah Palin

I am reluctant to say much about Sarah Palin because I am indecisive about her prospects.  When she first burst on the scene with McCain's nomination, I knew little about her.  But I was appalled at the way the media attacked her and so my sympathies were with her when she went into the "big speech."  Obviously, she did fantastic and I thought that a real star had been born.

However, her interviews with the MSM (Gibson and Couric) were really quite bad.  We can talk all day about how the McCain team mishandled her (I agree).  But that is not the point.  The point is that, the Couric interview in particular, showed that she has a problem with temperament at the least.  Perhaps, as she seems to argue, she is well-read but was just annoyed with Couric for patronizing her.  If so, her foolish decision to stonewall and not answer the question (instead, she endlessly repeated unrelated talking points) made it appear that she was pretty ignorant on issues that require in-depth reading, such as foreign policy.

The onus was now on Sarah to show that she could master foreign policy issues and major domestic policy issues as well.  Now, a bit of study shows that not only is she quite intelligent on issues that she is studied up on, but she comes across as very complex and nuanced.  This can be seen by googling interviews that she did while governor of AK on the various energy issues affecting the state. 

However, due to her defective interviews, she needs to prove her ability to handle other (besides energy) complex issues with knowlegeability, intelligence, and aplomb.  Either she has studied and knows foreign policy or she hasn't.  If she hasn't, that is not a fatal flaw, but SHE NEEDS TO BE WILLING TO DO THE HARD WORK OF STUDYING THESE ISSUES WITH EXPERTS.  This will take years of work and consultation.  She needs to be conversant with issues like (obviously) the Middle East, Serbia/Kosovo, American/Chinese relations, Korea etc. etc.  She needs to set out her positions on issues like the war on terror, nation building, illegal immigration, dealing with poverty, etc.

Only when the time comes that Palin's enemies are forced to grudgingly admit that she has really become knowledgeable in many new areas will I begin to see her as a viable presidential candidate.

Now, many will say "hold on just a moment," Barack Obama knew relatively little about these important issues.  So true and look at the hole he is digging for America today.  We cannot afford to elect another neophyte to the presidency.  Furthermore, because she is a Republican, she will always be held to a higher standard by the MSM than any Democrat.  This may not be fair, but it is a fact. 

So, while I certainly believe that Sarah is a phenomenal political talent.  And while she certainly appears to be a genuine conservative in her instincts, I am not sure whether she is the great hope that many people want and desire.

Noland