Now for the first time, all the best moments of Sarah Palin’s interviews captured on this one video, starring Sarah Palin, Charlies Gibson, Katie Couric, Sean Hannity, and special guest appearance from John McCain himself!
An indispensable and definitive collection of Sarah Palin showcasing the passionate genius of the “new face” of the Republican party.
Listen now and you’ll think about a lovely free set of Ginzo knives – while they last. Or is it “Ginzoo”? Well, anyway – they are as sharp as . . . Sarah Palin.
So tonight we will be treated to (subjected to) another evening of Katie Couric interviewing Sarah Palin.
I was listening to the radio on the way home from work a couple of days ago. A woman caller was telling the talk show host that our future leaders should be those folks who start out as PTA moms, work their way to city leadership . . . well, we know where this is going. Of course she used Sarah Palin as a shinning example of this type of new leadership in American. According to her, all we need is a little more Sarah Palin.
When the caller said that integrity was much more important than qualifications, the talk show host challanged her with the choice of having brain surgery performed by a neurosurgeon who was board certified vs her family doctor, the woman simply would not answer. Shades of things to come Thursday night, I suppose.
The caller flitted, she hemmed, she hawed, she changed the subject but bottom line she refused to acknowledge the obvious – of course qualifications matter. Surely the woman wouldn’t get on a jet flown by Sarah Palin; although she seems quite taken with the “Straight-Talk Express.”
Well . . . singing to the choir I suppose. Let’s hope that we can teach our children to have more common sense, then again to keep our economy on track someone does have to buy the Amish heaters of the world.
CBS News Exclusive: Palin Talks About Biden, Age
COLUMBUS, Ohio (CBS) ― CBS News anchor Katie Couric continues her series of interviews with Republican Vice Presidential nominee, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Tonight, Couric gets an exclusive behind-the-scenes visit with Palin on the campaign trail.
Sarah Palin: And I do look forward to Thursday night, debating Senator Joe Biden. We are going to talk about those new ideas, new energy for America. I am looking forward to meeting him too. I’ve never met him before, but I have been hearing about his senate speeches since I was in like second grade.
Couric: You made a funny comment. You said you’ve been listening to Joe Biden’s speeches since you were in second grade. Something like that?
Sarah Palin: Yea, its been since like ’72. Yea.
Couric: When you have a 72 year-old running mate is that kind of a risky thing to say? Insinuating that Joe Biden’s been around a while.
Sarah Palin: Oh no. It’s nothing negative at all. He has got a lot of experience. Just stating a fact there that we’ve been hearing his speeches for all these years. He’s got a tremendous amount of experience. And I am the new energy, the new face, the new ideas. And he’s got the experience based on the many many years in the senate. And the voters are going to have a choice there in what it is they want in these next four years.
What are the McCain people thinking? Sarah Palin screws up her interview with Katie Couric so they send her back but this time with her daddy at her side to hold her hand? It makes Palin look so incompetent. I can’t imagine having a bad day as the lead attorney in a trial and then having my boss come sit by my side and interject when he thinks I’m screwing up again. Or even worse, he’d tell the judge and jury what I really meant by my rambling opening statement the day before. Yes, that jury is really going to trust me after that.
This second interview with Couric will only fool the same fools who plan on voting for McCain anyway , i.e., 1) wealthy doesn’t want any chance of increased taxes, 2) Crazy Right Religious Holy-Roller Voter, or 3) identity voter, I’m dumb so I vote dumb.
What if something happens to McCain? Will the McCain folks just keep going Weekend at Bernie’s style?
“Palin’s joint appearance last night with running mate John McCain on The CBS Evening News With Katie Couric was a public-relations disaster, conveying the impression of a father coming to the defense of his naïve daughter who had gotten into trouble at school.”
He couldn’t help interrupting a question asked to her, and he went on a bit before realizing the boo-boo: “I’ll let Gov. Palin speak for herself.”
When she did, she said this: “Not only am I ready but willing and able to serve as vice president with Sen. McCain if Americans so bless us and privilege us with the opportunity of serving them, ready with my executive experience as a city mayor and manager, as a governor, as a commissioner, a regulator of oil and gas.”
And now, after exposing herself to a total of three TV questioners (the third was Fox News’ Sean Hannity), she shows up with her running mate. It was impossible not to draw the impression that he was there to make sure she didn’t falter again.
And in the Enquirer’s comments, “By the way you forgot to mention how she turned to look at him when she spoke a guess seeking her dads approval.”
Rational thinking independent voters are going to run to Obama in droves. I can’t imagine what’s in store for us Thursday if McCain is still playing to his “base.”
Oh, one last thing – some classic projection. Beth Shaw over at www.rightpundits.comis so tired of Obama that “his voice grates” when she hears him. As an avid (or is that rabid?) McCain voter she knows political manipulation when she sees it, “There’s obvious hope that they (the Obama campaign) can take the election through a manipulation of the people they believe to be too dumb to see the game they are playing.”
Katie Couric: Over the weekend, Gov. Palin, you said the U.S. should absolutely launch cross-border attacks from Afghanistan into Pakistan to, quote, “stop the terrorists from coming any further in.” Now, that’s almost the exact position that Barack Obama has taken and that you, Sen. McCain, have criticized as something you do not say out loud. So, Gov. Palin, are you two on the same page on this?
Sarah Palin: We had a great discussion with President Zardari as we talked about what it is that America can and should be doing together to make sure that the terrorists do not cross borders and do not ultimately put themselves in a position of attacking America again or her allies. And we will do what we have to do to secure the United States of America and her allies.
Couric: Is that something you shouldn’t say out loud, Sen. McCain?
John McCain: Of course not. But, look, I understand this day and age of “gotcha” journalism. Is that a pizza place? In a conversation with someone who you didn’t hear … the question very well, you don’t know the context of the conversation, grab a phrase. Gov. Palin and I agree that you don’t announce that you’re going to attack another country …
Couric: Are you sorry you said it?
McCain: … and the fact …
Couric: Governor?
McCain: Wait a minute. Before you say, “is she sorry she said it,” this was a “gotcha” sound bite that, look …
Couric: It wasn’t a “gotcha.” She was talking to a voter.
McCain: No, she was in a conversation with a group of people and talking back and forth. And … I’ll let Gov. Palin speak for herself.
Palin: Well, it … in fact, you’re absolutely right on. In the context, this was a voter, a constituent, hollering out a question from across an area asking, “What are you gonna do about Pakistan? You better have an answer to Pakistan.” I said we’re gonna do what we have to do to protect the United States of America.
Couric: But you were pretty specific about what you wanted to do, cross-border …
Palin: Well, as Sen. McCain is suggesting here, also, never would our administration get out there and show our cards to terrorists, in this case, to enemies and let them know what the game plan was, not when that could ultimately adversely affect a plan to keep America secure.
Couric: What did you learn from that experience?
Palin: That this is all about “gotcha” journalism. A lot of it is. But that’s okay, too.
Couric: Gov. Palin, since our last interview, you’ve gotten a lot of flak. Some Republicans have said you’re not prepared; you’re not ready for prime-time. People have questioned your readiness since that interview. And I’m curious …
Palin: Yeah.
Couric: … to hear your reaction.
Palin: Well, not only am I ready, but willing and able to serve as vice-president with Sen. McCain if Americans so bless us and privilege us with the opportunity of serving them, ready with my executive experience as a city mayor and manager, as a governor, as a commissioner, a regulator of oil and gas.
McCain: This is not the first time that I’ve seen a governor being questioned by some quote, “expert.” I remember that Ronald Reagan was a “cowboy.” President Clinton was a governor of a very small state that had “no experience” either. (laughter) I remember how easy it was gonna be for Bush I to defeat him. I still recall, whoops, that one. But the point is I’ve seen underestimation before. I’m very proud of the excitement that Gov. Palin has ignited with our party and around this country. It is a … level of excitement and enthusiasm, frankly, that I haven’t seen before. And I’d like to attribute it to me. But the fact is that she has done incredible job. And I’m so proud of the work that she’s doing.
Watch Sarah Palin and Katie Couric on Saturday Night Live on September 27, 2008.
Tina Fey returned to Saturday Night Live to reprise her widely hailed impersonation of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. The sketch focused on an interview Palin recently gave to CBS News’ Katie Couric, including the discussion regarding Russia. Amy Poehler, who played Hillary Clinton in the previous skit, plays the role of Katie Couric. See the new SNL skit below.
Read the transcript and watch the video of Sarah Palin being interviewed by Katie Couric. This is the interview that was on last night September 25. It dealt with foreign policy.
As Anderson Cooper of CNN said, “Coming up — the interview everyone is talking about. You have to see it to believe it.”
Transcript of Katie Couric Interview of Sarah Palin, night 2:
Katie Couric: As we stand before this august building and institution, what do you see as the role of the United States in the world?
Sarah Palin: I see the United States as being a force for good in the world. And as Ronald Reagan used to talk about, America being the beacon of light and hope for those who are seeking democratic values and tolerance and freedom. I see our country being able to represent those things that can be looked to … as that leadership, that light needed across the world.
Couric: In preparing for this conversation, a lot of our viewers … and Internet users wanted to know why you did not get a passport until last year. And they wondered if that indicated a lack of interest and curiosity in the world.
Palin: I’m not one of those who maybe came from a background of, you know, kids who perhaps graduate college and their parents give them a passport and give them a backpack and say go off and travel the world.
No, I’ve worked all my life. In fact, I usually had two jobs all my life until I had kids. I was not a part of, I guess, that culture. The way that I have understood the world is through education, through books, through mediums that have provided me a lot of perspective on the world.
Couric: Gov. Palin, you’ve had a very busy week. And you’re meeting with many world leaders. You met with President Karzai of Afghanistan. I know the McCain campaign has called for a surge in Afghanistan. But that country is, as you know, dramatically different than Iraq. Why do you believe additional troops, U.S. troops, will solve the problem there?
Palin: Because we can’t afford to lose in Afghanistan, as we cannot afford to lose in Iraq, either, these central fronts on the war on terror. And I asked President Karzai, “Is that what you are seeking, also? That strategy that has worked in Iraq that John McCain had pushed for, more troops? A counterinsurgency strategy?” And he said, “yes.” And he also showed great appreciation for what America and American troops are providing in his country.
Couric: The United States is deeply unpopular in Pakistan. Do you think the Pakistani government is protecting al Qaeda within its borders?
Palin: I don’t believe that new President Zardari has that mission at all. But no, the Pakistani people also, they want freedom. They want democratic values to be allowed in their country, also. They understand the dangers of terrorists having a stronghold in regions of their country, also. And I believe that they, too, want to rid not only their country, but the world, of violent Islamic terrorists.
Couric: You’ve cited Alaska’s proximity to Russia as part of your foreign policy experience. What did you mean by that?
Sarah 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’s funny that a comment like that was kinda made to … I don’t know, you know … reporters.
Couric: Mocked?
Palin: Yeah, mocked, I guess that’s the word, yeah.
Couric: Well, explain to me why that enhances your foreign-policy credentials.
Palin: We don’t have to second-guess what their efforts would be if they believe … that it is in their country and their allies, including us, all of our best interests to fight against a regime, especially Iran, who would seek to wipe them off the face of the earth. It is obvious to me who the good guys are in this one and who the bad guys are. The bad guys are the ones who say Israel is a stinking corpse and should be wiped off the face of the earth. That’s not a good guy who is saying that. Now, one who would seek to protect the good guys in this, the leaders of Israel and her friends, her allies, including the United States, in my world, those are the good guys.
Palin: Well, it certainly does, because our, our next-door neighbors are foreign countries, there in the state that I am the executive of. And there…
Couric: Have you ever been involved in any negotiations, for example, with the Russians?
Palin: We have trade missions back and forth, 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 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 our state.
Couric: When President Bush ran for office, he opposed nation-building. But he has spent, as you know, much of his presidency promoting democracy around the world. What lessons have you learned from Iraq? And how specifically will you try to spread democracy throughout the world?
Palin: Specifically, we will make every effort possible to help spread democracy for those who desire freedom, independence, tolerance, respect for equality. That is the whole goal here in fighting terrorism also. It’s not just to keep the people safe, but to be able to usher in democratic values and ideals around this, around the world.
Couric: You met yesterday with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who is for direct diplomacy with both Iran and Syria. Do you believe the U.S. should negotiate with leaders like President Assad and Ahmadinejad?
Palin: I think, with Ahmadinejad, personally, he is not one to negotiate with. You can’t just sit down with him with no preconditions being met. Barack Obama is so off-base in his proclamation that he would meet with some of these leaders around our world who would seek to destroy America and that, and without preconditions being met. That’s beyond naïve. And it’s beyond bad judgment.
Couric: Are you saying Henry Kissinger …
Palin: It’s dangerous.
Couric: … is naïve for supporting that?
Palin: I’ve never heard Henry Kissinger say, “Yeah, I’ll meet with these leaders without preconditions being met.” Diplomacy is about doing a lot of background work first and shoring up allies and positions and figuring out what sanctions perhaps could be implemented if things weren’t gonna go right. That’s part of diplomacy.
Couric: You recently said three times that you would never, quote, “second guess” Israel if that country decided to attack Iran. Why not?
Palin: We shouldn’t second guess Israel’s security efforts because we cannot ever afford to send a message that we would allow a second Holocaust, for one. Israel has got to have the opportunity and the ability to protect itself. They are our closest ally in the Mideast. We need them. They need us. And we shouldn’t second guess their efforts.
Couric: You don’t think the United States is within its rights to express its position to Israel? And if that means second-guessing or discussing an option?
Palin: No, abso … we need to express our rights and our concerns and …
Read report detailing Palin’s briefings on Russian jet incursions
2 Lesbos Goin At It 