General of AK National Guard: Palin plays no role in defense activities even when they involve Guard

[jefferson_dem]

National Security Incredibility
08.31.08 -- 10:29PM
By Will Thomas

The AP looked into McCain's latest line about Palin's experience as the commander-in-chief of the Alaska National Guard:

Maj. Gen. Craig Campbell, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard, considers Palin "extremely responsive and smart" and says she is in charge when it comes to in-state services, such as emergencies and natural disasters where the National Guard is the first responder.

But, in an interview with The Associated Press on Sunday, he said he and Palin play no role in national defense activities, even when they involve the Alaska National Guard. The entire operation is under federal control, and the governor is not briefed on situations.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/211941.php

[ErinBerin84]

1. the Palin talking points are not doing so well, and it's only been a few days!

[yourguide]

2. Thats what you get for forgetting to vet.

[jefferson_dem]

3. So now all she's left with is the proximity of AK to Russia.

Hmmm. Lucky for her, that's one talking point that cannot be debunked.

[yourguide]

4. Well hell, I must be an expert on Canada

Living in NY and all.

[sandnsea]

7. Oooh, oooh, I have another country on my resume

I thought I was just qualified to be Ambassador to Mexico, seeing as how I've been to Tijuana and all. But now I see that I'm qualified to be Secretary of State. I forgot about living on the Montana Hi-line for 3 years, just 30 miles from the Canadian border. I interacted with Canadian citizens every day in my job as hotel desk clerk. Yeah, you bet, totally qualified. I'm psyched.

[yourguide]

11. Well, wow...

I can be Ambassador to England, Scotland, Canada, Iceland, Sweden, Italy, & France...check me out.

This is amazing...viva McCain! :rofl::rofl::rofl:

[sandnsea]

15. Actually, if you're that well travelled

I'd probably say you're more qualified to be VP than Palin. ME? Not so much. :rofl:

[yourguide]

16. I lived in Italy for a year as a wee tot...

I must be afforded at least a Secretary of State position based on that.

[jefferson_dem]

8. LOL! True.

Her argument is stupid as fuck on its face. The geography is not very debateable, however.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

9. Palin doesn't set Alaskan foreign policy

Alaska is a state and doesn't have a foreign policy. She can't usurp the authority of the federal government's Department Of State and carry on foreign policy with Russia. As with the National Guard, her authority only extends to matters internal to Alaska.

[ErinBerin84]

10. I posted a Politico article on DU a little while ago

and, reading the comments on Politico (which are always very freeper-like), Repubs are REALLY trying to sell the "Alaska promimity to Russia = foreign policy credentials"! justification. I sincerely hope that they are getting paid by the McCain campaign, but more likely they really ARE that stupid.

[No Elephants]

19. When Russian troops invade Alaska, she'll give them her best smile and pageant wave.

[Cha]

14. Not really, Jeff..someone's already busted in on DU with a map.

Seems Alaska is close to Siberia and Russia is a whole country away.

http://cpmwsrender13.cp.prod.mappoint.net/render-30/getmap.aspx?key=B402E8E7C8F91971DCA5

[ErinBerin84]

17. Even though I know never to underestimate the stupidity of freepers.

I sometimes wonder if the McCain staffers troll politico and test out RW talking points...after all, it was one of the three sites that McCain's handlers "show him" on teh internets, along with RCP and Drudge. And maybe they made Cindy throw it out there today to see if it would go by unscathed, bc people wouldn't want to go to hard on the wifey. It's a real life Colbert episode.

[medicswife]

5. My husband has more National Security cred than she does

from his 6 years in the Army beefed up with 2 15 month deployments.

Sheesh. And I'd bet that a bunch of us wimmins here on this board are now considered qualified as far as economics go. Cause shoot, we've managed a family budget too.

[Cha]

21. As Will Pitt at Truthout states..

"By choosing Palin to be his running mate, McCain stapled his entire campaign to a woman whose shiny right-wing Christian credentials cannot obscure the fact that she has slightly less foreign policy or executive experience than a ham sandwich in the pantry of Air Force One." Will Pitt

http://www.truthout.org/article/the-hollow-man

[JohnnyLib2]

6. Sadly, he's probably on the way out.

One to watch.

[Cha]

12. Thanks, jefferson..and thanks

JoshMarshall @ TPM! They were investigating palin for a while now for some reason and it's paying off like when they busted the DOJ wide open:patriot: :bounce:

[Ichingcarpenter]

13. Who cares she was a member of the PTA that's what counts

She is going down like the levies in New Orleans, the waters of lies
are going flood this campaign till they are left in the Super Dome of Republican neglect
struggling to find food, water, a place to sleep and a place to shit.

[sandnsea]

20. She took on the special interests

that were undermining the PTA. Let's get it right or the freepers will say you're spinning. :)

[No Elephants]

18. Os anyone surprised? She'd make a great Student Council President, though, if she were enrolled

in high school now.

[pdxmom]

22. So the question then becomes what in-state emergencies and

natural disasters has she played a significant role in directing in the past 18 months?