Well, it would appear that Governor Palin has no intention of going away anytime soon–indeed, there are several Palin stories out today, including an e-mail dust-up with a local paper. Further, she did an interview with Esquire for their March issue, and the magazine has released some quotes to gin up some publicity. Of the five provided, this one struck me especially (she is speaking of cable new coverage, according to the magazine’s web site):
You have to let it go. Even hard news sources, credible news sources — the comment about, you can see Russia from Alaska. You can! You can see Russia from Alaska. Something like that — a factual statement that was taken out of context and mocked — what you have to do is let that go.
Actually, I concur with her: it is best for her to let it go. However, it seems to me that she hasn’t let it go as the fact that she is talking about it underscores, as does her ire at Tina Fey that I noted the other day.
However, the thing about the Russia quote that actually struck me was that while Fey did make a joke out of it (”I can see Russia from my house!”) the fact of the matter is, the Russia quote wasn’t taken out of context. Governor Palin actually cited the proximity of Russia to Alaska as evidence that she was prepared to deal with foreign affairs–and that’s the reason it was mocked, and indeed why it was mockable in the first place. It was hardly a simple geographical observation that was taken totally out of context.
Here’s a refresher, along with the quote in question, from her interview with Charlie Gibson:
GIBSON: What insight into Russian actions, particularly in the last couple of weeks, does the proximity of the state give you?PALIN: They’re our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska.
GIBSON: What insight does that give you into what they’re doing in Georgia?
PALIN: Well, I’m giving you that perspective of how small our world is and how important it is that we work with our allies to keep good relation with all of these countries, especially Russia. We will not repeat a Cold War. We must have good relationship with our allies, pressuring, also, helping us to remind Russia that it’s in their benefit, also, a mutually beneficial relationship for us all to be getting along.
Emphasis mine.
Sphere: Related Content
January 14th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
A recent survey showed 80% of Republicans want Palin to run for president in 2012. 100% of Democrats want her to run. (That was a joke, son.)
January 14th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
I have uncovered irrefutable evidence that Tyrannosaurus Rex, Stegosaurus, Triceratops, and the Ignoramusus Palinicus actually walked side-by-side on the North American continent millennia ago, despite what those stupid Paleontologists have been claiming. Of course, only the Ignoramusus still survives today, as is evidenced by the continued sightings in various news clips and interviews. Scientists suspect that it may be a rare paleolithic survival and last of a dying breed. The Ignoramusus once had the dubious distinction of being the only talking dinosaur. However, since nobody could ever quite follow what the creature was trying to say, some believe it was simply mimicking the sounds of another moribund species, Evangelicus Republicanum, and couldn’t really speak at all. There is now a consensus among experts that, when it came to basic intelligence, Ignoramusus made other dinosaurs look like white-haired German physicists. Sadly, despite its continuing efforts to breed, it would appear that this species is teetering on the brink of extinction, and that the only evidence it ever lived will be a few hilarous Saturday Night Live skits and a pile of really expensive designer clothes that were found hidden in its closet.
January 14th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
First, I take offense at Sarah Palin’s contention that all bloggers are anonymous, and liberal. I pride myself in being independent, and have very conservative views, albeit not “Palin’s conservative views.” Having blogged myself, I can tell you there are many liberal and conservative bloggers.
Second, she should not blame everyone under Christendom for her own faults and shortcomings. The initial humor was only against Palin’s hard conservative views, until she gave the interview to Katie Couric. It became clear after that interview that she simply had no idea of what she was saying. Besides having the ability to give stump speeches, she was an absolute zero. Even George W. Bush is not a zero. Her knowledge of important issues were quite pathetic.
Third, blaming the McCain campaign for how they handled her is also not going to get her anywhere. During the first few weeks, everyone from CNN to the NY Times was hailing on how well the McCain campaign had handled her intro to the national political scene, until she opened her mouth. We now know that the reason was Palin’s incompetence.
Finally, Palin needs to listen to Castellanos, and lie low for a while. She can start reading up on US History, political history, and on policy ranging from political to economic issues. She must bear in mind that Angelina Jolie get’s the same kind of publicity, but no one’s going to elect Jolie. Palin is in danger of becoming a political Angelina Jolie.
January 14th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
All I have to say is “Run baby Run”. Palin is the most authentic candidate to come along in decades. Do we really want to keep voting for the phoneys that we get fed by the parties, Obama, Biden, McCain, the list goes on and on. With Sarah what you see is what you get. Like Ronald Reagan she is smarter than anyone thinks and will be back in 2012, thank God.
January 14th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Why is Sarah Palin still in the spotlight? Because the media keeps putting her there.
For you to imply that she is keeping herself in the spotlight is a little, frankly, ridiculous.
I note that on a day that Palestinian deaths went over 1,000 there was no mention of the Israeli incursion into Gaza in the CNN Web site headlines, but there is a mention of Sarah Palin.
Now on the other hand, the media uses what sells, and Sarah Palin sells. Some people love her. Some people hate her. A lot of people (guys mostly) think she is cute. Her life is well, interesting. Her teenage daughter got pregant. The mother of her son-in-law once removed by marriage (i.e. they aren’t married) got busted for drugs.
January 14th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
I won’t even dignify Skillings response with a retort. Her supporters are wearing blinders.
January 14th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
What I have seen is a semi-literate, half-witted pretty-face who knows nothing about geography, science or world history. She didn’t even know the responsibilities of the office she was seeking in the last election. It’s not that she doesn’t understand national or international issues. She doesn’t even know what those issues are. Palin is the worst kind of politician because she intentionally appeals to our baser, more paranoid instincts. She has to divide in order to win. If she only spoke about what she is doing as governor up in Alaska, the press wouldn’t report her statements. The reason they do continue to report on her is because she insists on making outrageous comments which have nothing at all to do with her current job. She is like a bloody traffic accident on the highway of American politics, and we’re all guilty of rubber-necking.
January 14th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
I’m sorry people, this isn’t a Democrat/Republican thing or a man/woman thing at all. If you thought Palin was a respectable candidate for VP, you are politically illiterate. I can understand if you LIKE her as a person, I can understand if she was the most like you compared to the other candidates, but if you thought she was qualified, you’re just a fool.
January 14th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Sarah Palin needs to let it go. I did not vote for her this time and I won’t if she runs in 2012. She is a dangerous woman. How dare she come out and say things about Tina Fey after she was quoted as saying she was flattered by Tina Fey’s skits and THEN DID SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE!!!!!!!!!
She needs to stay in Alaska and the media needs to quit giving her the time of day!!!!
January 14th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
It’s not a joke. 100% of Democrats would love a self-absorbed neophyte as the Republican nominee in 2012. PR preview: “Almost as bright as an Alaskan night”.
January 14th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
For different reasons, but, both important, both Sarah Palin and Osama Bin Laden should not get press/mention/time.
January 14th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
The comments still don’t get it! Palin is you. Couric reads script. In the business she is called “The Tallent” not the brains. Today news writing is a science. You walk people into desired light and position. There’s propaganda, transfer of persuasion, bandwagoning, card-stacking ect. It really exists. I use this analogy to explain, Mick Jager played no instrument and wrote no music, but he is the voice and the face of the band. He is who everyone knows and relates the band to. The left is making a hugh hub bub about the appointed cabinet, why? Isn’t Obama the ruler? Oh I see, No, he’s just one of several. So why is it that this young women who wanted to serve as one of the many being crucified by the media. Oh I see she’s not one of them, and anyone who is not one of them has to be destroyed. Say who destroyed Brittany Spears? Her manager? The purchased press? The money? Seems this is the third year the press has chosen to destroy a women. Are they sexist as well. Guess we all have to be their little sex objects, yes sir, no SIR. Sarah is the right, and there are many definitions of the right, so stand for her or be counted on the left. But don’t listen to the media they mislead.
January 14th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Those F-in’ Bloggers!! They should not be allowed to blog if they can’t be nice. And those journalist…they need to give my research team time to tell me the right answers. Or accept my answers as the only answers worth thier questions! I can see all of Russia from my Alaskan island and I know just what they are up to! You bet-cha!!
January 14th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
One has to wonder what a political candidate has to do in order to look stupid to some people. Whenever Palin has to speak without the aid of a teleprompter or notes, she can’t put two intelligible sentences together. This is a person who has been in the public eye most of her adult life, yet she has the communication skills of a high school drop-out. The list of prominent Republicans who spoke publicly about Palin’s inadequacies is not a short one, and it’s headed by such people as Peggy Noonan, Christopher Buckley, Colin Powell, Ken Dubenstein, Nancy Eisenhower, Kathleen Parker, and George Will. Paul Krugman, winner of the Nobel Prize for economics, came right out and said it: “Palin is stupid.” So set aside all the questions about her polarizing tactics and dishonesty throughout the campaign. Ignore her questionable behavior as governor of Alaska and blatant affiliations with the Alaskan Independence Party. Her lack of basic intelligence and awareness of the world around her is all you need to know about Sarah Palin. If, in spite of all that, you still think she qualifies to hold national office, I thank God that you represent a shrinking minority in this country.
January 14th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
While the election is over and for the most part everyone has moved on, it seems that sarah cannot for the life of me leave and go back to the normalcy of being a governor and helping the people of alaska, she still finds time to make sounds at microphones.
Why for the life of me is this woman still talking? so what if the public takes aim at her; she was in the spotlight and that is what happens, I guess no one in her little home town told her that? well perhaps she should get more in touch with America: the lower 48
before she explodes.
She didn’t help her case by attacking the media back; the media has more to offer than her and always will it seems at this point that she is talking just to make it in the news, I do not feel one bit for her; doesn’t it matter that I am a Democrat? no it matters that a stable person that has his/her own house in order can talk about issues relating to the country and its’ economy are more important than a hockey mom that wears lipstick..Pit bulls are for walking and guarding homes.. Palin is not good for this country and that is what a lot of people see; a woman who ran off at her mouth about what her opponents would do or NOT do; rather than what her party WOULD do or WOULDN’T do. see ya sarah
January 14th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Meanwhile, many ALASKAN bloggers such as AKMuckraker of themudflats.net , Gryphen of theimmoralminority.blogspot.com , and Linda Kellen Biegel of divasblueoasis.com have noted the urgent need of Alaskan villages in the Alaskan “bush” — running out of food, fuel, and other essentials and so many of them are now without jobs. Life-saving airlifts are difficult, but may be the only thing that will save these people from freezing to death in this colder-than-average Alaskan winter.
What is Sarah Palin’s administration doing about it? Nothing.
To quote AKM (the aforementioned AKMuckraker),
“According to Mr. Tucker the lack of heating oil and food and the resulting threat to life did not count as an emergency to the State of Alaska.
A question. Where is our Governor? What are her priorities? I have heard her concerns about anonymous bloggers, about media coverage, about the legislature, and the gas line. I have seen press releases come out saying “There you go again” to the Anchorage Daily News. I haves seen lots of time and energy focused on how Sarah Palin feels mistreated by the media. But I have not heard one, single, solitary word about Emmonak. I have seen no press releases about what my state’s government is doing to help its people in harm’s way. I have heard big talk about a Rural Subcabinet headed up by our Attorney General, Talis Colberg, and I’ve heard that they’re busy EVALUATING.”
For shame, Sarah Palin. Mind your business, which is being a responsible governor answerable to your people. STOP niggling about how you’re treated by “the media”. If you don’t do something constructive, you won’t have a reputation worthy of wrapping the fish in.
January 14th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
I say boo to you Katie Couric, Oprah, Ellen and all you media who ask The new President to show his dance moves and Slammed Sarah Palin. Especially to that idiot SNL comedian! You all know your ability to be a fair journalist is crap. I know put all of you in the catagory most politicans and I think we all know where they rank.
January 14th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
I think the media likes to highlight Palin because she is a train wreck. Knocked up teen-aged daughter, future in-law who is a druggie etc. She writes her own comedy scripts. What tv reporter/columnist could resist?
January 14th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Give it a rest. Go away Sarah. Don’t complain about the interviews when YOU DIDN’T KNOW the facts. YOU made a fool of yourself. You’re not VP material. And certainly NOT Presidential material.
January 14th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Doesn’t Palin have some official business she should be attending to in the good state of Alaska. The good people of her state should start demanding that she do her job now that her futile attempt to be VP has passed. How does she find time to go through the infinite blogs and wine about how unfairly she was treated. Sarah welcome to the real world of politics, now go home and shut the %$@! up. Enough already.
January 14th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Can someone tell me why Ms. Palin
is sending out tourism promotion materials
via the USPS all of a sudden? Whose
idiotic idea is this?
I live in the SF Bay Area (not friendly
to her, politically) and have NO interest
in visiting that state. Ever. The material
features the seal of the Great State of Alaska,
her photo (!!!) and the form letter is signed,
“Sarah.” Blech.
January 14th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Me thinks she doth protest to much
January 14th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
Well the news media is just Sarah and she can not even see it OH how dumb of her. And she was the one that wanted to go on SNL. SO she has no right to say anything about TINA FEY. At one point I thought she was trying to steal Rachael Rays show from here as she was in her own kitchen cooking Whale Blubber. It was like Sarah was saying LOOK OUT RACHAEL here I come. OMG! the worse was at the Turkey farm! Who the heck wants to see a Turkey being killed? No One I think! And keeping that little baby of hers out late at night and around so many people.I think that was big time STUPID of a mother. I had said before If I was a tax payer in Alaska I would demand that she does her job! I think they are having a lot of problems in Alaska right now as else where I’m sure but she needs to be doing her job and not running all around all over the place on TV and meetings or what ever silly things she thinks she is doing.My self I feel she needs booted out of her job and someone who can do the job be put into her place. Alaska Has the most Molesters of any state and it was on the news infact last night on national TV. Also they are having trouble with their schools. I just think she needs to be more worried about Alaska than she is about her self. ALso She has a little special needs baby as well. This baby needs its mother more than any other little baby does. I think this woman is a real mess and is a very selfish woman.I can not say for anyone else but it looks like an unfit mother to me. Bad enough she has to work but to go all over the country and showing off like she does. She is a real 1st class ASS! There is really no excuse for her now or never. SARAH PLEASE GO AWAY FOR GOOD! BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE