My question about the Alaska/Russia claim

If Sarah Palin has foreign policy experience because Alaska is near Russia, then is Barack Obama a naval warfare expert because he's from Hawaii?

Comments

[Nuclear]

Actually, Obama was not born in Hawaii.

[Brendan Nyhan]

Not true.

[Nuclear]

Alaska is the first line of defense in our missile interceptor defense system. The 49th Missile Defense Battalion of the Alaska National Guard is the unit that protects the entire nation from ballistic missile attacks. It’s on permanent active duty, unlike other Guard units.

As governor of Alaska, Palin is briefed on highly classified military issues, homeland security, and counterterrorism. Her exposure to classified material may rival even Biden's.

She's also the commander in chief of the Alaska State Defense Force (ASDF), a federally recognized militia incorporated into Homeland Security's counterterrorism plans.

Palin is privy to military and intelligence secrets that are vital to the entire country's defense. Given Alaska's proximity to Russia, she may have security clearances we don't even know about.

[Nuclear]

Thanks for the clarification.

[Howard Craft]

That line -

"Her exposure to classified material may rival even Biden's"

has 45,000 google hits.

Can't wait to see her slay Biden in the debates.

He will be pwned when she unleashes her secret knowledge on him !!!

[The Objective Historian]

Palin has been in elected office longer than Obama, and in executive office for 12 years; Obama 0. Obama claims his campaign is executive office experience. Hah! Making promises he can't keep and making speeches is not governing; it's pandering, i.e., more in the way of advertising experience.

TOH

[Howard Craft]

Yeah, she has four years of experience as a City Counselor.

City population at the time was 4,100.

About the size of Obama's HS.

Of course she wasn't as high up as his principal - that would have been the mayor's equivalent role.

Maybe assistant vice principal.

Then she became principal. Oh, I mean mayor.

[Jinchi]

Nuclear, please cite any official document that names the Governor of Alaska "Commander in Chief" of anything. This is a ridiculously overused phrase, stripped of its actual meaning in the current discussion.

If Palin has any actual knowledge or expertise other than silly platitudes then the McCain campaign needs to get that information to all their talking heads so we can have a real debate on the subject.

[Brendan Nyhan]

Nuclear is cut-and-pasting from an email some random person sent to Jonah Goldberg.

[Howard Craft]

Jonah adds these insightful comments -

"Oh I don't dispute that she has more national security bona fides than the press is making it seem."

"Alaskan governors deal a lot more with international and national security issues than, say the Governor of Arkansas. There are all sorts of treaty issues, missile defense stuff, bases, etc up there. The military is a very big presence."

Yeah, all sorts of stuff.

Very big presence.

The Alaska Army National Guard is composed of approximately 1850 soldiers.

The Alaska State Defense Force is a state force which is apparently similar to those found in 24 other states. No special "Alaskan" mission.

Oy.

[Mike]

No, but moose and grizzly bears also have foreign policy experience.

[karl]

When McCain dies in office there will be in place a cabinet of men and women with plenty of expertise and experience in their positions and all presidents depend upon these persons for their insights and their expertise so the moment McCain's heart stops she steps into the cabinet with all these experts and listens - and she has by that point been sitting in on all cabinet meetings anyway and will have had the opportunity to discuss all issues with all these experienced people. SO the issue of her experience is moot. Same with Obama. If he is elected he will surround himself with experienced veterans who know whats what and will lean on them. That's what good Presidents do - they don't act like they know it all but act to make sure they are surrounded by those who do and will know what is going on - then they listen carefully and make final decisions based on good solid advise. McCain will be appointing persons of this character as well OBama if he is elected.