Is Russian proximity to Alaska a valid substitute for foreign policy experience?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Does being Governor of a state which contains a small remote island (which one has never been to) from which another small remote island which belongs to Russia is visible from give said person strong foreign policy credentials?

[MaxQue]

Yes, she sees Russia from her window!

[Keystone Phil]

Wow. Just when you thought this one might have been beaten to death in 2008...

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Yes, she sees Russia from her window!

You can see France from Brazil too. Brazil should apply for EU membership.

[MaxQue]

Yes, she sees Russia from her window!

You can see France from Brazil too. Brazil should apply for EU membership.

That was irony, BRTD.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Yes, she sees Russia from her window!

You can see France from Brazil too. Brazil should apply for EU membership.

That was irony, BRTD.

I know. As was my statement.

[Magic 8-Ball]

Of course!  When Putin rears his head in this hemisphere, where do we turn for protection?  Alaska.

[minionofmidas]

Homestate proximity to Ontario and/or Québec sure seems like one.

[Smid]

A better question is - if you believed that someone's foreign policy experience was merely having tea with Ambassadors' wives, would it be irresponsible to appoint that person Secretary of State?

[Lunar]

Russian proximity would be more valid if one was involved in frequent trade missions and other diplomatic exchanges.  Bush, for example, had a small amount of foreign policy experience due to Texas's interactions with the Mexican government.

A better question is - if you believed that someone's foreign policy experience was merely having tea with Ambassadors' wives, would it be irresponsible to appoint that person Secretary of State?

A better question than that would be whether that tea comment was actually what he believes

[tmthforu94]

I could have sworn it was Tina Fey who said this...

[Lunar]

I could have sworn it was Tina Fey who said this...

Fey said "I can see Russia from my house."  Palin repeatedly argued that Russia's proximity to Alaska, such that you can actually see a Russian island from an Alaskan island, mattered somehow.

[tmthforu94]

I could have sworn it was Tina Fey who said this...

Fey said "I can see Russia from my house."  Palin repeatedly argued that Russia's proximity to Alaska, such that you can actually see a Russian island from an Alaskan island, mattered somehow.

What I don't get is, why does everyone keep going on and on about this. I don't believe she specifically said that being close to Russia is foreign policy experience. It would be like someone from Minnesota rambling about how close they were to Canada.

[You kip if you want to...]

I could have sworn it was Tina Fey who said this...

Yeah, I think actual Palin said it in the Charlie Gibson interview and then talked about it more the in Couric interview.

[Lunar]

I could have sworn it was Tina Fey who said this...

Fey said "I can see Russia from my house."  Palin repeatedly argued that Russia's proximity to Alaska, such that you can actually see a Russian island from an Alaskan island, mattered somehow.

What I don't get is, why does everyone keep going on and on about this. I don't believe she specifically said that being close to Russia is foreign policy experience. It would be like someone from Minnesota rambling about how close they were to Canada.

It would be like that, which is why it's stupid.

take this hilarious exchange, which pretty much goes head-to-head with what you said:


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.

[Magic 8-Ball]

I could have sworn it was Tina Fey who said this...

Fey said "I can see Russia from my house."  Palin repeatedly argued that Russia's proximity to Alaska, such that you can actually see a Russian island from an Alaskan island, mattered somehow.

What I don't get is, why does everyone keep going on and on about this. I don't believe she specifically said that being close to Russia is foreign policy experience. It would be like someone from Minnesota rambling about how close they were to Canada.

My post paraphrased what she told Couric in an interview.  She gives a decent explanation for experience by citing trade delegations, but then she followed it up with "when Putin rears his ugly head in US airspace, where does he go?  It's Alaska." as though she personally deals with it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk8moOxzlGQ

[Magic 8-Ball]

Ah, you beat me to it.

It is a little childish for us to keep joking about this, especially their are others who make equally large gaffes (I'm looking at you, Mr. Vice President), but she's such an easy target.

[tmthforu94]

Ah, you beat me to it.

It is a little childish for us to keep joking about this, especially their are others who make equally large gaffes (I'm looking at you, Mr. Vice President), but she's such an easy target.

Ditto
I'm really starting to feel sorry for Palin. She was left in the dust by the McCain campaign. Her chances of becoming President would be much higher if she wasn't the VP nominee.

[YRABNNRM]

Her chances of becoming President would be much higher if she wasn't the VP nominee.

Which is why we can be thankful that she was.

[12th Doctor]

While Palin did attempt to argue, stupidly, that Alaska's proximity to Russia gave her some foreign policy experience, the quote, or anything really close to it, is an utter fabrication.

[Hatman 🍁]

Yes, she sees Russia from her window!

You can see France from Brazil too. Brazil should apply for EU membership.

That was irony, BRTD.

I know. As was my statement.

Please do not confuse irony with sarcasm

[Vepres]

I don't get why people want to pick on Palin so often. There are plenty of other politicians who make gaffes. Vice President Biden comes to mind. Is it because she's a Republican? Because she was relatively unknown before the campaign?

I'm not some bitter conservative or anything, just curious.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

No, but this was still a dumb poll.

[Person Man]

Is being in any of the other substantial fractions of states that shares a border with a foreign country foreign policy expierence? That would mean that being the governor of Washington, North Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Florida (Cuba is only a couple of hours away by boat), Texas, New Mexico or Arizona would qualify as foreign policy expierence.

[JSojourner]

Does being Governor of a state which contains a small remote island (which one has never been to) from which another small remote island which belongs to Russia is visible from give said person strong foreign policy credentials?

BRTD, seriously...what brought this on today?  Has Palin reasserted her gravitas with regard to international affairs?  Or did you get ahold of some bad clams? 

Just askin...