A tribute to Sarah PALIN

Appearing as nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof, the Alaska Governor was visibly shaken by the heat of facing her first real interview without throngs of adoring fans cheering her on. And it wasn't pretty! Enjoy this rundown headlines and selected blurbs!

Associated Press - Palin tries to defend qualifications in interview

John McCain running mate Sarah Palin sought Thursday to defend her qualifications but struggled with foreign policy, unable to describe President Bush's doctrine of pre-emptive strikes against threatening nations and acknowledging she's never met a foreign head of state.

New York Times -- In First Big Interview, Palin Says, ‘I’m Ready’

At times visibly nervous, at others appearing to hew so closely to prepared answers that she used the exact same phrases repeatedly, Ms. Palin most visibly stumbled when she was asked by Mr. Gibson if she agreed with the Bush doctrine. Ms. Palin did not seem to know what he was talking about. Mr. Gibson, sounding like an impatient teacher, informed her that it meant the right of “anticipatory self-defense.”

The Los Angeles Times -- Sarah Palin's interview with Charles Gibson on ABC

Still, the inevitable parsing and analysis of Palin’s answers and performance in this interview, however tempting, is almost beside the point. In this case, her actions, or non-actions, have spoken much louder than any words. She didn’t blink, she told Gibson, when McCain asked her to join his ticket. But she certainly blinked after. What sort of reform-minded politician waits two weeks before giving an interview?

Boston Herald -- With Sarah Palin at the plate, Charlie Gibson throws hard

Gibson asked Palin if she agreed with the Bush doctrine and Palin appeared confused, and asked for clarification. “The Bush doctrine, as I understand it, is that we have the right of anticipatory self-defense,” Gibson said.

The doctrine, however, includes several other terrorism-related foreign policy principles of the administration formed in reaction to the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

Gibson asked he if she’s ever met a foreign head of state. “I have not,” Palin said.

He asked what insight into Russian actions “does the proximity of the state give you?”

Palin said “you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska.”

Editor & Publisher -- Press Reviews Palin Performance on ABC

"Asked whether she agreed with that, Palin said: 'In what respect, Charlie?' Gibson pressed her for an interpretation of it. She said: 'His world view.' That prompted Gibson to say 'no, the Bush doctrine, enunciated September 2002, before the Iraq war' and describe it to her."

BBC Online -- A little of real Palin revealed

Many questions were really left unanswered. Her religious beliefs were only briefly touched on. She clarified her earlier comments that suggested the Iraq war was ordained by God himself, talking instead about a plan for good and a reference to God-given rights. Enough not to alienate an agnostic, or to offend the evangelical vote.

In the end, this interview is unlikely to dramatically alter already strongly held perceptions.

Huffington Post -- Sarah Palin, The Bush Doctrine, and Why It's Smart To Be Dumb (Commentary)

I'm not saying that every American besides Governor Palin knows what the Bush Doctrine is. Hell, I wasn't sure I knew what it was until Charlie Gibson confirmed it for me. But then again, I'm not a Republican governor who's running for national office.

Now, if Joe Biden had said this on national TV, the election would be over. Obama would either be calling Hillary Clinton and begging her to take over the #2 slot or he'd be busy getting to work on his concession speech.

But these are the Republicans, they of vaunted attack machines and vast right-wing conspiracies. Masters of spin, purveyors of semi-libelous commercials, wizards of righteous indignation and instigators of class warfare. If Sarah Palin doesn't know what the Bush Doctrine is, well, my goodness, neither do a lot of hardworking, God-fearing hockey moms out there in the heartland. They don't have time to read those fancy city newspapers with lots of big words explaining the Bush Doctrine. They're not eggheads like Barack Obama and Joe Biden, those elitist intellectuals who sit around studying doctrines while raising taxes on hardworking Americans like you and me.

You think Governor Palin is going to waste her time reading books about the Bush Doctrine? No, she's busy with the responsibilities that come with being governor of the great state of Alaska. She's got moose to field-dress, bridges to nowhere to say "No" to, jets to sell on eBay. Maybe community organizers have the time to talk about the Bush Doctrine. But Sarah Palin's too busy trying to reform Washington. By way of Alaska.