A Conversation with Sarah Palin

This is the actual transcript from the Katie Couric interview with Sarah Palin:

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.

It is painfully obvious that Governor Palin has been done a disservice, to be kind, by the Republican party. The idea of seeing this person in the White House would be laughable were it not a realistic possibility. She is without the most rudimentary grasp of the complex issues facing America today. Though this weakness appeals to her neocon handlers, it could leave the rest of us crispy and radioactive.

Her assertion that her proximity to Russia counts as national security experience is on its face too absurd to merit discussion. The McCain camp is wise to sequester their Vice Presidential candidate from the media.

"our next door neighbors are foreign countries. They're in the state that I am the executive of." - Sarah Palin

Reaganomics Final Collpase

Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem.

In the days ahead I will propose removing the roadblocks that have slowed our economy and reduced productivity.

It is my intention to curb the size and influence of the federal establishment

- Ronald Wilson Reagan, Inaugural Address January 20, 1981

After 27 years, Ronald Reagan's argument that governmental meddling impedes the progress and growth of business is finally laid bare. The foundation of this policy is that corporations are fundamentally honest and if left unchecked they will not manipulate the system to make a profit. Clearly, last weeks events have exposed the long term effects of trusting corporate executives to run the most powerful economic machine in the history of mankind.

Those of us grounded in bare facts and logic realized long ago the disastrous consequences of President Reagan's policies. In his New York Time Article "Debunking the Reagan Myth," Paul Krugman wrote:

The Reagan economy was a one-hit wonder. Yes, there was a boom in the mid-1980s, as the economy recovered from a severe recession. But while the rich got much richer, there was little sustained economic improvement for most Americans. By the late 1980s, middle-class incomes were barely higher than they had been a decade before — and the poverty rate had actually risen.

However the best, or rather the worst, was yet to come. Ronald Reagan's policy of leaving rich greedy corporatists was taken to another level when George W. Bush filled his cabinet with corporate executives. These far right wing economic policies have been dragged to the far left by reality. The cry of socialism regarding the financial bailout may be somewhat accurate but the alternative may bankrupt the U.S. economy, a chance the government is not willing to take. America is being taught by Wall street that far right wing economic policies work just about as well as far right wing foreign policies. Eventually, the government will be forced to take over the other industries and move towards a mixed regulated economy.

Currently its up to voters to decide whether to turn left or maintain course and speed......straight down the path of destruction.

Marketing Sarah Palin

The choice of Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate appears to create some advantages among female independents for the Republican ticket. The current marketing strategy goal is to create the perception that she will attract centrist female voters simply because of her gender. Governor Palin is being portrayed as an average blue collar working mom with an unspoken inference that her ideology is mainstream.

The fundamental flaw in the Palin marketing plan is that it's not grounded in reality. Governor Palin holds extreme right wing views on social issues and her foreign policy, though yet still a mystery, is likely to the right of mainstream America . At some point soon she will be forced to expose her ideological views and lay waste to the centrist marketing plan while it is still in its infancy. Her belief that abortion should be banned even in cases of rape and incest and her Bush-like views connecting religion to foreign policy will eventually push the majority of centrist independents into the Obama camp. It will then be clear that choosing her as his running mate has done little more than anchor Senator McCain to the far right wing conservatives.