Comment from Ratings:   Reality can be hard to face. Presenting a strong posture discourages attack. This writer is naive and misleading. He/She also ought to take a course in logic. If A then B does not leapfrog to if A then Q. A person who is strong is not promoting world war. Get real.

by Terry Chase (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1 comments) on Sunday, Sep 14, 2008 at 11:12:15 AM

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The writer is right on here. Brinksmanship between WMD laden states is madness and the casual way she did it was even more insane.

by Steven Leser (255 articles, 58 quicklinks, 38 diaries, 2147 comments [63 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Sunday, Sep 14, 2008 at 5:01:14 PM

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Your point is well taken:  It shows the frivolousness and potential emptiness of her views, but, indirectly, but maybe not so indirectly, it tells far more about McCain's recklessness and cynicism about leading this country.

by Nathan Nahm (9 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 138 comments [60 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Sunday, Sep 14, 2008 at 1:22:44 PM

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Yes, Nathan, I totally agree with you; this reckless political choice tells of the (lack of) judgement that is frightening on McCain's part.  Those who do not recognize the danger of Palin's lack of depth of thinking, her lack of knowlege of policies and history and thoughtless and reckless quips demonstrate how lacking the needed reflective logical thought process is for a a true leader.  Palin's isolation from the real world is a reflection of McCain's own out-of-touch from the world position.  Sometimes, I even wonder if the poor ole soul even has a clue how out-of-touch he really is.  

This lack of reality must be a separate issue from his serving his counrty - that was admirable, but, clearly the path he has chosen to take has caused a erosion of respect some formerly had for him. Lying is not honorable or becoming a soldier!   

Clearly the country's safety is not McCain's first concern - those that buy in to that spin are dumber than I thought Americans could possibly be!

by MentalMagic (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 16 comments) on Sunday, Sep 14, 2008 at 3:17:25 PM

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Bob's piece may be a bit simplified, implying Palin like to bring about world war, but it actually illustrate something far more dangerous about this lady from the remote and wild land.

That Palin knows zilch about the US federal and world order is clear even to my 10 year old kid. That she has no basic knowledge of NATO, that most fundamental of security arrangement of the past 65 years, is truely frightening. She said she supports Ukraine joining NATO (part of the Bush doctrine, but she admiit she knows nothing of the Bush doctrine either!). She said it with such ease. That's becasue she does not know Ukraine is right next to Russia and is embroiled with highly emotional ethnic and geopolitical conflicts like many of the former Soviet states. Like Georgia, actual military conflict between Ukraine and Russia is a real possibility anytime the next decade. If Ukraine is part of NATO, that will commit the US and its NATO allied against Russia, a world war could result. European and Canadian NATO members have opposed Ukraine joining NATO, a sensible rejection of this dangerous Bush doctrine of maintaining US hegemony.

Now I'd like to ask Ms Palin: "What is it about Ukraine, a poor backward country 10,000 km away, that can justify a world war with millions of American casulties, even nuclear holocaust?" She clearly has no idea of fundamental US and NATO interests. And that makes her utterly frightening as VP and possibly president.

One this single answer alone, she must resign as VP candidate.

by TomK (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 330 comments [22 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Sunday, Sep 14, 2008 at 1:32:07 PM

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Both US parties are pushing for the admission of Georgia & Ukraine into NATO. If either country becomes a NATO member, & is attacked -- by Russia or anyone else -- all other NATO members are obligated to defend it. That's what a "mutual security pact" is all about.

Palin does indeed represent something that's unusually dangerous. But in many ways, she's exactly in line with Bush policies; and in many ways, the Democratic Party is also very much in line with Bush policies. And on this matter of "war with Russia," all of them basically agree: they want to admit Georgia to NATO, which means accepting the consequences of that decision -- which might be war with Russia.

Liberals are attacking Palin for responding to Gibson's interview question in a rather casual manner ("Perhaps, Charlie!"). But the substance of what she said is exactly the position of both US parties. In other words, this particular attack on Palin is invalid -- basically a red herring. If you don't want war with Russia, you should be angry not at Palin in particular, but at BOTH American big business parties, because her position is no different than theirs, regarding the NATO admission of these former Soviet republics.

by Richard Mynick (2 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 1552 comments [255 recommended, 5 rejected]) on Sunday, Sep 14, 2008 at 2:23:00 PM

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... this is like saying that Chomsky and Bush are both pro-Israel, which they are. But the way in which they are pro-Israel is completely different.

Obama and others might be in favor in principle of Georgia and other former Soviet Satellite states joining NATO, but they would not do so if any of these states were embroiled in a civil war, let alone one involving Russia. In fact, it has been the general policy of NATO to not admit states that have these kinds of issues going in for reasons that are all too obvious.

This is completely different from what Palin and McCain have said on the subject. They are in favor of Georgia and Ukraine joining NATO specifically because they enjoy the idea of confronting Russia. They welcome becoming embroiled in another country's civil wars for some reason.

by Steven Leser (255 articles, 58 quicklinks, 38 diaries, 2147 comments [63 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Sunday, Sep 14, 2008 at 5:07:19 PM

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Comment from Ratings:   Remember Our Blessed Mothers words to the children of Fatima!

Our Greatest Presidents were murdered. Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy were our greatest Presidents of the USA.

This article is important for every human being to read! I believe that if it were really known why JFK was murdered in by a person in TX, Lee Harvey Oswald, and it being known that Lee had been married to a person from Russia, and it also being known that he had made some trips in RUSSIA before these horrible things took place in our history, then we might have known that it was done by the Russians!

I would like Robert McElvaine to watch the movie made on Our Lady of Fatima, then think about JFK and his life's works and then tell all of the people that you don't have to worry anymore about Fatima and Our Lady's telling the children that many souls will be lost......

Do you think that Russia has changed? I don't think so!

Do you believe in the tooth fairy? The love of money is terrible! The hatred of our fellow man is horrible. What about Barack Obama's little half brother who lives in Africa? Why doesn't Obama help his little brother? Why isn't he concerned when mothers are allowing doctors to murder their little babies? Just whose side is He on!

I don't think that Obama is on my side! I believe that he is for the rich and not for the poor! Actions speak louder than words. If you talk like you LOVE your brother and don't even send him a few dollars if he needs it, then what would you do for a stranger down the street! If you don't want the second in line as a vice president a person who had more time in the Senate, a person who had a lot of time to help the poor, a person who in my case thinks a lot like I do on things, I wouldn't vote for him if he gave me a billion dollars!

I am for Peace! I am for wars if they are for pushed down men. Our country is broken. The rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer. Our children are being made dumb by the amount of drugs that the President and Obama have taken in their lives, they are getting rich while their brothers are starving!

Has anything really changed about Russia? (NO) Communism is spreading around the world! Our people are being made sicker by all of those cell phones, those computers, these TV's, those radios, Etcetera!!!!

What we people have to do is get down on our knees and pray to God that he will put a good strong man in office that will beat all of the GWB and DC! We need people in the government to send the president bills and then he will either vote for it or against it. We don't need anymore of those bills that sneak EARMARKS through them! We WANT A WORKING Govt! We need a Good man to be in the white house! We also need a balanced white house! I think that this time I would like for John McCain to get into the white house! I also would like to see his vice president be a lady, one who represents the CHRISTIAN attitudes that I was brought up with!

by nestacal (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 39 comments) on Sunday, Sep 14, 2008 at 4:29:33 PM

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Comment from Ratings:   We need more articles like this one

by Steven Leser (255 articles, 58 quicklinks, 38 diaries, 2147 comments [63 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Sunday, Sep 14, 2008 at 5:01:45 PM

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have nothing to compare....  Here are the questions Gibson asked Obama...

Obama interview:
http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=5000184

How does it feel to break a glass ceiling?
How does it feel to "win"?
How does your family feel about your “winning” breaking a glass ceiling?
Who will be your VP?
Should you choose Hillary Clinton as VP?
Will you accept public finance?
What issues is your campaign about?
Will you visit Iraq?
Will you debate McCain at a town hall?
What did you think of your competitor’s [Clinton] speech?

  Ahh  wasn't that nice?

I wonder how Obama would have answered the questions Gibson gave Palin???

Do you have enough qualifications for the job you’re seeking? Specifically since you have only been a Senator for a very short period of time, and have 0 executive experience where your decision in the heat of the moment would become policy?

How did you decide to run for the highest office in the United States?  Did you ever think no I am not qualified for this? And you didn’t say to yourself, am I experienced enough? Am I ready?  Doesn’t that take some hubris?

This is not just about community organizing, This is running a government on an international scale.  Since you have never had to make an executive decision regarding military, EVER, do you have sufficient credentials?

National security is a whole lot more than running a get out to vote campaign.

Do you believe the United States should try to restore Georgian sovereignty over South Ossetia and Abkhazia?

Do you believe Russia's actions were unprovoked?

What insight into Russian actions particularly in the last couple weeks does being the senator of IL give you?

You have stated that you are in favor of putting Georgia and Ukraine in NATO.  you STILL hold that view?

Under the NATO treaty, wouldn’t we then have to go to war if Russia went into Georgia?

Do you consider a nuclear Iran to be an existential threat to Israel?  -If So, what should we do about a nuclear Iran?

What if Israel decided it felt threatened and need to take out the Iranian nuclear facilities? Would you tell them they can not defend themselves?

We talk on the anniversary of 9/11. Why do you think those hijackers attacked? Why did they want to hurt us?

Do you agree with the Bush doctrine? Do you want to answer the question before you know what I am asking?

 

Anyway, you get the point.....  At least I hope you do.

Ciao, CZ

by steve scheetz (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 829 comments [52 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Monday, Sep 15, 2008 at 7:47:36 AM

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Maybe the people of America havent been hit by the war yet. Maybe it has'nt touched enough people at home yet. Why would Americans even contemplate the The Lone Ranger and Tonto? It's  insanity! http://theharvardview.blogspot.com/

by Lew Ranger (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 48 comments) on Monday, Sep 15, 2008 at 7:50:37 AM

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Comment from Ratings:   While I agree whole-heartedly with the author's point, I think the obscure reference to a beauty pageant Palin participated in that took place in the year 1984 and the slogan from the novel 1984 "war is peace" somewhat dilutes it. As far as willingness to confront Russia over its policies regarding Georgia displaying "strength", that writer needs to "get real". The hidden agenda is petroleum, pure and simple. Given the likelihood McCain will become incapacitated in office, Palin's lack of knowledge or previous interest in foreign policy is appalling.

by Maxwell (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 409 comments [85 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Monday, Sep 15, 2008 at 7:54:32 AM

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The offset "I want to bring about world war" looks misleadingly like an actual quote.

by Maxwell (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 409 comments [85 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Monday, Sep 15, 2008 at 8:11:49 AM

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Comment from Ratings:   This is a deceptive headline that looks like a quote. I agree she is a warmonger, but you lose all credibility for the article when you use that headline. This is poor journalism, identical to the rightwing smear machine, when it could have been very informative and helpful by simply citing all her war responses and letting the readers make the obvious conclusions. Shame on you and on Rob for featuring that headline.

by Pedro Tama (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 4 comments) on Monday, Sep 15, 2008 at 3:51:28 PM

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