Palin is doing what she has been doing with everything else...reaching. I visited a few foreign countries, forget them flying over my head...does that make me a foreign policy expert? It's just stupid.

Gary, that is something. I bet the stars sure a pretty out there. I was sitting on my back patio the other night thinking how it must have been 150 years ago, looking at the stars and not seeing them all b/c of city lights. I wanted it to be like that again, you know. The next morning while making coffee, I thought about what I was thinking the night before. I thought, gosh, I would have to go out to the well and pump my water, get fire wood, and start a fire. Ha. I like Sarah Palin, I think she would roll up her selves and get what does to be done...done.

Anderson:
I live on the Texas-Mexico Border and I can see Mexico from here. And while, i'm not the governor of Texas... I do work for the community. Can I make the same claim as Palin? If not, why not?

Good morning Gary. I so look forward to your story tonight on, what sounds like, Alaska's forgotten island of Little Diomede. I imagine the folks there were happy to see you. Thanks for keeping us informed.

That sounds like an interesting story

Gary,
Man....they always send you to the out of the way places don't they!? LOL I just want to know what makes people want to live way off like that with barely any water or amenities. Plus they are right there at Russia's doorstep. Russia could easily hop on over one day if they decided that they wanted to take over Alaska! They would be the first to go.

Cindy...Ga.

I am not surprised that the Governor hasn't actually been to the island. If she had, she would definitely had some foreign policy experience according to the creative fiction writers, who manange the McCain compaign.

but IS THERE A BRIDGE TO LITTLE DIOMEDE?

John McCain made the wrong decision when he named Sarah Palin as his running mate. I assume he was trying to feed off of the energy generated and the support garnered by Hillary Rodham Clinton in her bid for the White House and to secure the woman vote. Sarah Palin is in a league in which she has no business and it is evident that she doesn't have the trust of Senator McCain. I am supporting the McCain/Palin ticket simply for their stance on same sex marriage and abortion. However, Gov. Palin has the deer in the headlights look when it comes to foreign policy and McCain doesn't seem to connect with main stream citizens when it comes to domestic/economic policies. It is my belief that the moral fabric of our country has to decayed to the point of no return. Our government has left us behind to flounder in the muck and the mire of their decisions over the last few decades. The only thing on which we can always rely and the only way we can survive is to have faith that God loves the people who accept Jesus as their savior and he will always provide for us no matter how difficult the world becomes to live in. Therefore it is my opinion that all of our elected officials are falible and we can't rely on any of them to put our interests first. Our country must turn to God now; He is the only answer. Not only is my opinion but it is also the promise made to us by God. May God bless America.

Hi Gary!
What a "cool" experience!
I just have to ask it though, Did you learn a lot about foreign policy?
XXOO

I think it's sad that John McCain would think so little about the needs of
our country and bad state that the American People are going thru, to go out and this joke of a politicain Sara Palin aka(Rambling Rose) who doesn't have a clue what the hell is going on and don't care about
anything or herself. There no way I would allow this man to make a fool out of me, not just to the American public, but the whole world is laughing at how dumb this looks. And another thing is why we are sitting entertaining this BS, we have left ourselves open for any group or terrorist to attack us, because we are focused on trying to fix this mess that George Bush created alone. We really need to put things in propective. We as a country need to wake and pay attention. Can you amage this woman having the ability to declare war, she can't answer a simple question. I'm affended that McCain would think so little of this to ask her to be his running mate, when there are so many other quailified candidates and woman.

The island’s mayor has heard of her though.

I would hope so! That would be pretty sad if this mayor didn't know who the governor was.

What is staggering is that Republicans celebrate putting forward Presidential (Bush) and now Vice-Presidential (Palin) candidates who have no understanding of global affairs. Who on else on this planet would put forward a candidate with such a gaping lack of knowledge on foreign policy? These people suggest that its all "America First" and "the world is black and white" during potentially one of the most challenging periods in the worlds history. We need our leaders to have the ability and desire to understand the complexities of international diplomacy and foreign affairs. Its not "optional" or "exotic" it is 100% essential for the ongoing well being of this country. The entire planet faces challenges unlike anything ever witnessed before, climate change, shortages of energy, water and other resources, population pressures, habitat loss, terrorism and this ongoing financial crisis. We need someone that is smart enough to realize these are extremely complicated issues which have a huge impact on the US as well as everyone else living here. We have had 8 years of a simpletons world view and it has almost brought this country to its knees. The concept that Palin is remotely qualified to deal with these issues is at first laughable and then secondly terrifying. When will Republicans start putting the well being of this country ahead of their warped sense of "values"?

Seems that Palin is a bigger "superstar" than Barack Obama, with all the attention and SNL skits, what goes around comes around senator Mccain.

neat story.

It is amazing that you look this hard at a VP candidate when you don't ask one critical question about the Presidential candidate's experience. How much experience has Obama had with Russia?? How much with just about any other country?

Oh, I forgot, those aren't softball questions!!

Great article. And I love the polar bear skins in the forefront.

I would like a Sarah Palin and Obama ticket better to be honest.

I can see the moon from my house. I have space traveller experience!

Are we at all suprised over this? This is the same woman who says she opposed the Bridge to Nowhere, but left out the little fact of her keeping the money. Lets not also forget about her selling an expensive plan on eBay, only that didn't happen. It was listed on eBay, didn't sell and then she ended up giving it to a campaign contributor. I am not shocked at all. What does shock me is how many Americans still like her despite her proven lies and proven ignorance.

So much for being on top of the line of communications when Putnin raises his head.
NO TV.. is there internet?

Wow...little running water and has never been visited by an Alaska Governor. They should be treated better.

Milligrock for President...he's the most qualified!

So what are you saying? That Palin was right after all. DUH!

Palin is the least qualified candidate I have seen for any office in my 50 years of voting.

For her to claim that she has foreign policy experience because Russia can be seen from Alaska is an affront to the intelligence of any voter, and nothing more than and a typical stretch of the truth. That McCain could have chosen her shows his inability to perceive what is best for our country. Can you imagine...President Palin.

It's the stuff that heaps well deserved praise on Saturday Night Live's Tina Fey.

Gerry Katz

I doubt she even knows the name of the the island. Nothing against Sara Palin or any other American citizen. But she does not have one single qualification for the job. Who cares so much about the experience as near as I can tell the experienced politicians suck, but she does not seem to be overly intelligent. Something you would want in someone running your economy/life.

Great piece... Now, if we could only get Palin to give some more interviews. I don't wash to bash her. It's not worth it. I want people to actually see who might be the most powerful person in this country at any moment. Let her talk. Give her more interviews. I'm sure she has more great ideas on what we should do in America. I just want people to see the truth. She is not ready to be President of the United States. Please survey World Leaders on their views of their candidates, especially this one.

Fascinating. Now can someone please help me figure out a way to make rent, feed my family economically and get to work each day without having to take out a loan for gas?

lol, like anyone can get a loan these days. We're so screwed, blued and tattooed under a Repbulican rule.

If being able to view Russia from your state qualifies as foreign experience, then anyone who's ever traveled to a foreign country has more experience than Sarah Palin.

Millions of Americans travel aboard every year...I don't think they're listing the travel/vacation on their resumes.

~Garry

If they do not have tv and do not know who Sarah Palin is, how would they know whether or not she has been there?

There goes Sarah, lying again! She made it seem as though she can walk out her door and see Russia!

OBAMA/BIDEN '08

Do people in San Diego give more thought about Mexico than do people in Calias Maine.

Therefore proximity to Russia should cause a great deal of thought to be expended on the topic of Russia – especially by the Governor.

The people who truly mock Palin for this comment are partisan parrots. Being in close proximity to so many stupid people makes me ponder from whence they all come.

Being able to see a remote and isolated part of outlying Russian territory is quite a bit different than being able to understand what happens in Moscow which is, by the way, 4,500 miles out of Sarah Palin's line of vision.

I can see the Russian Embassy from my apartment, does that mean I have diplomatic experiences now... I can see the National Cathedral from my roof, I guess I have enough experience to become a priest... Can anyone else tell me, what experiences do I need to become vice president or president of this backwards country?

I think Palin will make it as a Vice President, I'll go for her.

Clearly this mayor is now qualified to be our Vice President. Also that highlights a fact that may demonstrate why her approval rating is so high. Most Alaskans are the type who wanted to get away from politics and the world, I doubt very many follow it outside the major cities. These sorts of villages are on the total fringe of our society. I imagine it must have been a great adventure to go up there.

Speaking of which, I read an article somewhere about a visit to one of the coldest, inhabited places on earth. It was primarily an eskimo/inuit village. Great read, wish I still had the link.

So what was Bill Clinton's foreign policy experience when he was governor or Arkansas and running for president ?

Oh! you can see russia.
Than you must be a forign policy expert now!!!

I cannot even see Publix from my balcony, and she can see Russia from her hometown.

Kudos Palin! Your Foreign Policy Experience beats my Grocery Views & Skills!

When Palin made that comment about being close to Russia she said it underscored how small the world is and that we have to work with people overseas...a pretty reasonable statement I'd say. Why doesn't the media...especially CNN... put Palin's or McCain's statements in context instead of playing gotcha journalism. Is it too much work, or are you folks in the tank for Obama?

A very accomplished women to be sure. Lot's to be proud of, but clearly over her head in this. I actually felt sorry for her during her interviews.

I can see my boss's office from my desk... I guess that makes me next in line for president of my company!!!!!

I can see a bank from my living room. Does that qualify as "Banking/Financial Experience"? If so, I'd like to add that to my resume. It might come in handy when the company that I work for goes under, lays me off, and closes its doors.

Sarah Palin better call in sick Thursday.

Ecah day the thought of if McCain wins and Palin actually is an heartbeat away from the Presidency scares me each time Palin opens up her mouth!!!!

I hear that during winter there is an ice bridge between Little Diomede and big Diomede. That's how the relatives used to commute to visit family. It's a renewable resource, but not available during what can loosely be called "summer".
This area is definitely remote.

Cindy,

The 1st half of your comment obliterates the 2nd half. Why would Russia want to take over a godforsaken place like Little Diomede? Not much to take over. And obviously they rather spend time in the Caucasus.

Jim, love your comment! Let's all apply to NASA based on your experience

you all are anti-american and when McCain wins you can go live in russia

You've actually BEEN to the island? Now you're qualified to run the country! Congrats.

How many of you knew that Russia was within 2 miles of the United States? Yeah, hahaha, lol let's all make fun (the see the moon joke was freaking hilarious) but you shouldn't (even if you can) joke away relevence.

Red Herrings are nice, but I'm sick of sensationalism on the news. Can you see Russia from Alaska? Yes. What implications does that have and why are they important? Does she have a liason in Russia that she works with for any issues that may arise? What about Russian Military exercises in the area? And american exercises in the area?

I love to laugh as much as the next guy, but if I want to laugh and find something out relevant to the news, I'll watch The Daily Show with Jon Stewart...when I watch CNN I want to be thoroughly and reputably formed. I have seem more typos, bad grammar and sensational B.S. in the past year than I can recall.

My bumper sticker will read "I voted for Hillary". I'm sure advertising revenue and viewer count hit record highs this election season...but quality of content and degree to which viewers and voters were informed is at a record low...which is obvious.

I live here in the Black Hills of South Dakota, not quite as remote as Alaska. I will be running for president of the US in 2012 due to the fact that I can see the presidents faces on Mt. Rushmore from my property. And don't question me, it would be un-American.

"I just want to know what makes people want to live way off like that with barely any water or amenities. "

Maybe because they'be been doing it for 2,000 years?

Well KPO, She did say what if Russia wanted to take over Alaska. That would mean invading the US. I highly doubt if they took over Alaska they would stop there. Also many countries through out history have fought over stupid things. The Israelis and the Palestinians have been fighting over a sliver of land with a mountain on it in the desert for over 2,000 years.

Well, I've been to all 7 continents. Guess that gives me enough foreign policy experience to run any country in the world.

Don't worry abourt Sarah Palin. I am more worry about Joe Byden here is a guy that can't even write his own speeches. Last time I checked he was caught copying a couple of them. This is Obama's first move and first blunder.
By the way is this the same Joe Byden that keeps running for the presidency every four years?

EXCITTING to see the news about Little Diomede. I was a teacher there in the mid 1980's before they built the water tower and the women of the village used to haul ice down from the top of the "rock" for water to do laundry.

Its expensive to go there and no where to stay when you get there so I've never been back in all these years and I've heard that Moses Milligrok died a few years ago. He was a very great leader and very well respected. I wish I could see Little Diomede again.

After living on Little Diomede a while, and looking at Russia and their military war games, I decided to go to Russia a few years later to teach (after Glasnost) and taught in Siberia. Very interesting experience.

I hate to say it but I think I have more information about foreign policy than Palin has. Would you elect me to be vice president?

Do I need a Visa to cross to Little Diomede?
I live in Seattle, that's close to Alaska, that's mean that I can go to Russia via Little Diomede with no papers?.....

I can only assume, this candidate will resign. She is such a danger with her slick attitude – when she talked yesterday with Uncle McCain at her side – she used the word, well – like, and also imitated the voter's question, like, an 8th grader girl at lunch. This is a disaster and if McCain thinks she is Ready to be MY VP – or President – She is not – I have to move over to the BLUE – to Obama. I cannot take this risk for my family and for the country.

Let us build A BRIDGE TO Big Diomede. Then we could spend a billion dollars for agents to staff it like the toll road collector on Palin's bridge.

Keith,

That's very anti-american of you to say!

Anyone who has ever been on that island and looked at Russia is qualified to be VP, including the CNN crew. Maybe McCain should have picked the mayor of Little Diomede to be his running mate!

Isn't it funny how she is boasting about something she has never seen herself. Makes me wonder if she boasting about alot of other things she hasn't experienced. Someone seriously needs to give her a lifeline cause she's gonna need Thursday.

Keith, Anti-American??? Isn't it American to have divergent opinions and be able to express them? Also, your comment lends towards intolerance of others holding their own views unless passed through the keith-o-meter. Please understand that we are all Americans concerned as you are. Vote your conscience and we will vote ours. As a final post script...have you been reading and hearing the convservative commentators, and columnists who are a little shaky also on Gov. Palin? Let's all let our votes count.

I think someone should contact Putin and ask him if he's ever been to Alaska.. or even flown over Alaska in his entire lifetime... since that's where he goes when he "Rears his head"

This is very smart. They should start sending diplomats to Alaska to gain foregin policy experience on Russia. I'm sure Putin is terrified at this idea because all his secrets will be in the open. No Russian can fool an Alaskan. Therefore Bush should send few of his guys to Alaska first before talking to Russians. That kind of foregin policy experience is what they are lacking now.

Okay, now you get to read from a life-long Alaskan who has visited the area in question...To Carol: you heard incorrectly, as if you had read the body of the text, you would have known that most of the relatives have been resettled on the mainland. Further, the Russian military doesn't allow for "visits" as they rarely provide any emergency assistance if needed! To Gary from Canada: no, there isn't a bridge to the island as, again read the text, there are only 150 people there! Continuing, the island is far enough of the Seward Peninsula and the water so inhospitable, that a bridge would be completely unfeasable (unlike the Bridge to Nowhere, in question, which would link a major consumer hub in SW Alaska with its AIRPORT–though I am not in favor of that, either). And finally, although I am not a fan of her, Guv Palin is extremely popular and was voted into office with an overwhelming majority. To outsiders she must seem out of touch and sadly inexperienced, but so were Bush and Clinton (though, again, I am not a supporter and I can't watch the debate on Thursday as I can't stand to see the impending trainwreck and the subsequent embarassment she will suffer).

Keith,

What a bold statement "Anti-American." Just because we know who the better candidate is, does not make us anti-American. In fact, it makes us better informed Americans.

Sarah Palin can handle a gun thats enough foreign experience for me. If I were in the military and Obama became president I would go AWOL.

Keith – what appears to you to be anti-american is actually our very real concern that Sara Palin is in no way fit to be the United States' Vice President. If we didn't care about the country, it would be a non-issue. Think about it.

Keith,

What does having a discussion about a canidates qualifications have to do with being un-american. It is just like the republicans to twist the rights of the american people to debate something as simple as a foreign policy experience question into a commie-pinko liberal fear monger statement like that. I suppose next we will want to raise taxes to pay for a larger government to regulate the view too, huh!

Scott

I can't believe you went there, now you too can be President..........foreign affairs experience and all.

Keith... really??? Anti-American??? You are a fool if you think individuals are anti-American if they do not support the McCain-Palin ticket. I am speechless to this comment and find it amazing anyone would think such a thing.
Please educate yourself or the very least watch your words as you may come-off as ignorant.

Keith,

Read the Bill of Rights. There's nothing anti-American about speaking your mind.

Being narrow-minded, however, makes you look silly. The very concept that being able to see Russia makes you a great expert on foreign policy is outrageous and incredibly transparent.

I've been to Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait. Does that make me an expert on the Middle East? No, absolutely not.

Keith – isn't one of McCain's 62 houses in Russia?

Sarah Palin has little foreign policy experience. She's running for vice-president. Barak Obama has little foreign policy experience. He's running for president. Which one scares me the most? Obama.

Wow, that was about the only fact she has been right on. Keith needs to go live in Russia where people aren't allowed to speak their mind - oh and take McCain with you because that's what Bush and McCain are trying to do.

I pity this country when they elect Barak Obama for president, then we will see inexperience in action. I am sure his extensive experience will have prepared him to deal with Putin or that nut job in Iran. Lets remember one thing Sarah P is running for VP, not president. If you want to throw rocks at her take a hard look at your alternatives on the other side. Out of the four candidates, I will take one who has put on a unifrom and fought for this country. Enjoy the freedom of speech that your veterans provde for you, while you still can. Our enemies are licking there lips at the prospect of an Obama presidency.

Amen Bro. Mason.

That photo is not recent. You might get snow in September, but you wouldn't have deep snow and a solidly frozen sea.

I do favor creating a government bureau on Little Diomede. Bureaucrats who screw up can be promoted there.

You can make fun of Palin but she has more experience than Obama who is running for President...not VP.

This is almost like lying in your resume, saying that you have foreign policy and international relations but never actuallly had it.
Look she will be the second right hand person to the President, to the most powerful person in the world. You should have some idea, if not know more than the president on many issues, you need to start reading and discussing issues that will affect the American people, your job is to look out for the best interest of the American people, you will be an advisor to him and a represantative going to international meetings. You should have an outlook and insight as to what's going on in the world because this will affect any domestic and foreign policy, such as national security, free trade, globalization, and the like.
What's your position and what should we do? these are question that you have an opinion at all time. Hillary did not get where she's at just by looking pretty, she's smarter than McCain and Obama put together.

I am anxious to see the VP debate Thursday night. I believe Joe Biden will eat Palin alive!!!

Why don't you ask why the experienced and knowledgeable Joe Biden doesn't know A. That FDR was NOT the president in 1929 and B. We DIDN'T have television in 1929 so FDR(who wasn't even the president) couldn't even go on TV to calm the public.Had Sarah Palin said that incredibly stupid comment on a network interview you would have crucified her. No network bias??? Yeah right!!!

Keith don't forget..these ARE CNN types..I'm only on it because the article intrigued me and I have nothing against Anderson Cooper..
McCain/Palin

You can't even see Russia from Chicago. What gives Obama foreign policy experience, running for President? Being a community organizer? Lets hold the presidential candidate to the same standard that we hold the vice-presidential candidate.

It seems that I have to remind everyone that SHE IS NOT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT. She has been selected for VP. And her resume has more accomplishments than Barry Obama!! It is funny that the only thing you liberals can talk about is this one comment. Really old news. And I have lost count of the lies that Obama has said. His nickname is right, Both Ways Barack!! He can't make up his mind!!

Palin wasn't relying on the sole proximity of Alaska to Russia to "prove" her foreign policy experience, but surely someone with that proximity is given national security briefs. Russia had been our long time enemy, and in many ways is beginning to show its old self. The strategic location of Alaska surely says something about the national security information given to that state's most executive office. Even if this information is only pertinent to Russia and contingincies plans etc, it is still more than your good ol' friend Barack Obama has. You can argue all day that Obama may or may not have more experience than Palin, but in the end it doesn't matter because Palin is the VP pick and Obama is running for President! This comparison is humorous.

Sarah Palin is great! The fact that the liberals, athiests and immoralists hate her guts with a vengence is a sure sign that she would be an incredible VP. They know this and they are very threatened by the possibility that she will become very popular. That is why the media is filling the airwaves with slandar and why SNL (those scum sucking worms) are filling our TV with fake images of Sarah (via Tina Fay). They can't stand that we might actually get to know who she really is.

I would feel sorry for Sarah Palin if she weren't so arrogant to have tried to run for VP in the first place. When McCain sewed up the primaries and Obama and HRC were still duking it out, I thought this was a win win win scenario. Even if my candidate and camp didn't win, at least the McCain is reasonably intelligent, heroic, honorable and honestly well intentioned. Now, I am so disgusted with the slimyness, the finger pointing and the erratic gun-jumping, I will do anything I can to ensure Obama wins this election. Help us Obama-wan, you're our only hope.

As long as we see things as democrats or republicans, we are going to be in a lot of trouble. We will never be objective if we take sides.

frankly, Sarah Palin, has no idea what has happened to her. she cannot answer one simple question. she does not quality to be in the position you want to put her. Running the only superpower on earth.

You guys, its like your trainer asking you to lift 300 pounds when you are only, 155pounds. its not gonna work. I love republicans as well democrats. I will be objective to to the truth, I am American first.

We are messing this innocent ladie's life. Now they are asking her to cram over 100 pages of foreign policy in a day, to face a man who has been dealing with foreign policy for 35 years.

How is she going to respond to the crisis in Dafur for example? does she know what Dafur is, where it is, it its a country,?
If I were Sarah, I will call in 4 hours before time, on Thursday.

Please Sarah, Call off, or phone it in.!!!

Consider playing-off Governor Palen's comment to explore the foreign policy issues the US is facing in the Arctic. The decreasing polar ice cap is not only opening potential new oil fields, but may well change major shipping routes. The countries bordering the Arctic are already debating border issues and staking claims.

Move beyond the barbs.

Interesting. Going all the way to this little island to make a sarcastic point about Palin's lack of foreign policy experience. Obviously she has not had a lot of foreign policy experience. Big deal. She is not being sold as an expert on foreign policy. She has qualities that compliment her running mate, McCain who IS an expert on foreign policy.

When will CNN or anyone for that matter start looking this critically at the democratic PRESIDENTIAL candidate? Where's all of his extensive foreign policy experience? Where is his experience period? Remember Obama is running for president, Palin is a VP running mate.

Make jabs all you want. It's fine to point out the limitations of the candidates, but at least be objective and equitable.

Gary: Excellent reporting but I'm still scared to death of Palin and McCain!!! Such very, very, very, very, poor judgement on both their parts!!!

"You can see Russia from an island in Alaska!" But she's never even been there. What's sad is that Sarah Palin spouts these things off as if she really knows from first hand knowledge. This is just another example, from her own backyard, that she only knows what the Karlrovian/McCainian handlers tell her.

I think it is absurd not to think as Gov. of Alaska that you would not take into account on a regular basis what your neighbor is doing. That neighbor being Russia. Especially since they have started taking large steps backwards in their public stands. I don't expect the governor of any state to have experience in foreign affairs, but I think Americans need to look at the main issue. Does she have the ability to step into the role of Vice president and work? People seem to forget the President and the VP have advisers. I want an educated person who when confronted with a situation can weigh the options and make an informed decision. It's so sad that their not looking at what really matters what kind of decision maker are the candidates and can they really lead.

I'm really trying to firgue out where Sarah Palin is coming from it seems and sounds like she so far in left field. After hearing Sarah explain again by Katie in her second interview with McCain at her side she still sounds like she rehearsed her lines.

Palin was put in a bad situation and McCain has come off looking like her saviour by jumping in and putting words in her mouth.

Thursday is going to be another test for Palin if she passes will be all on her shoulders, but its really clear that Palin has bitten off more than she can chew and Mccain has a big problem and he refuses to admit this. McCain thinks he can play hide and seek with Palin and speak for her when she can't answer for herself.

I wonder who looks more risky McCain or Senator Obama?

It's 3am and the phone is ringing where is Senator Mccain?

He's out gambling in the casino.....

We need a real leader who can handle a crisis and who will be ready to pick up the phone at 3am. A leader who is calm and shows restraint in a middle of a crisis.

Senator Obama has proven this time and time again.

Obama for President.

Sarah is a beautiful person from all aspect but she never thought or see her as a running mate for a very elderly person (John McCain) this soon...she was taken offguard to be used in a political theater that might end her career if McCain didn't win the presidency. McCain has made an expensive bet in gambling to pick Sarah as his running mate just for the fact that Obama did not pick Hillary as his running mate to anger her supporters by making them become too immune to Obama's candidacy.
If she can see the whole world from her window doesn't give her a stake in foreign policy, there must be an interaction but it is sad that she hasn't even visited that Island she is talking about...the people don't even know their governor...how sad?
Sarah is just a political tool to win votes for McCain and it doesn't seem to be paying for him...they have scripted her and her body language show that she is not buying into it because she has showed the American people that she is capable on her own and up to task to be the vice president, not knowing the enormous demands that comes with being on the ticket which includes talking to the press without calling them "gotcha journalist".
Sarah is a woman but her approach to foreign policy if elected will be of a male model which will make her look more like Dick Cheney thereby undermining the power of President John McCain.

Did you find out anything about the trade missions with Russia that Sarah talked about with Katy? Did you witness any trading going on? If so how did the traders get 'back and forth'?

Perhaps Joe will ask Sarah during the debate.

Funny thing is – Palin just seeing Russia is already more experience than Obama can offer!

Send Keith to Alaska and leave him there.

Do you realize that John McCain is 22 years older than the State of Alaska?

At least Palin is brave enough to be in the spotlight. Any political figure understands and takes the risk that EVERY word they say is subject to scrutiny. You are not allowed to be human and are not allowed to make ONE SINGLE mistake in your choice of wording. If you make one single mistake the media will run with it for months and attempt to ruin you. This being said, you are expected to be even more error-free than Microsoft's Window's Vista! Now....who's brave enough to be VP of the United States? Hmm???

Hey, at least a bridge to Little Diomede would be a bridge to SOMEwhere! Maybe she should ask for an earmark....

I too live in Texas and can see Mexico across the river. I even cross the border into Mexico a couple of times a year. Am I now qualified to be Vice President?

If Plain’s ability to see Russia give her foreign policy experience, that means the Russians who can see the United States can claim foreign policy experience? Ridiculous! This choice speaks directly to McCain flawed judgment, seeking to make political points – putting Country SECOND! The choice was not vetted, it is more like the adolescence impulses of a young child.

No television, running water, no luxuries whatsoever. Should have sent Bill Kurtis. At least he would have discovered the Internet out there.

I used to jump on the band wagon to add my criticism regarding Sarah Palin. But now she does such a great job of discrediting herself that no amount of criticism could move people away from voting for her and McCain as much as her opening her mouth. I now feel sorry for her, she is bright, enthusiastic but so woefully unprepared for the position of VP that her gaffes precede her and unfortunately for their ticket a liability that the US does not need.

"Who else on this planet would put forward a candidate with such a gaping lack of knowledge on foreign policy?"

Dan Stewart, uhh, they're called... Democrats.

The "I can see Russia" is a little bit silly, but doesn't compare with "Roosevelt going on TV to dampen our fears during the depression". If that isn't the modern day version of potato, I don't konw what is. Why does Biden get a bye on that one?

Now that you've explored Governor Palin's little island, when are you going to Kenya where Barack Obama's family lives and talk to all his Muslim relatives who eventually will be visiting the White House should he be elected. I'm sure that would be an interesting visit, also, where perhaps many of them don't have TV, running water, etc. Tit for tat!

I, too have been very close to Little Diomede. I was visiting some friends in Teller, AK. My friend had hiked out to the Russian outpost.
He saw a pair of polar twin babies and the mother. Upon return, he met some locals, and they asked if he had seen any polar bears. He told them what he saw - he later saw the same bears only they were dead. You can bet he never revealed ANYTHING after that! I must say the Northern Lights were unspeakably beautiful!
So Sarah said someone in the crowd was "hollerin' at her"!?!

Dear Gary,
What did you screw up so badly that they exiled you to (almost) Siberia?

The war worries me. The economy worries me. The chance of Sarah & Todd running our country scares the hell out of me. Face facts, McCain is seventy-two, his father died at seventy, grandfather at seventy-one. He was a hard drinking party guy and the years of terrible physical & mental abuse as a pow had to take a toll. In these times or anytime I just won't take the chance on our country's future destiny being left in the Palin's hands.

I happen to love this country we live in but in the last 8 years every thing the US once stood for has been rapidly declining. Oh, so very scary if this woman becomes our vice president and GOD forbid our president. Is the US to become the laughing stock of the world? Use your brains people, this is not a beauty contest or prom queen candidate we are voting for.

I’m an international Flight Attendant. I have been in close to 100 differnt countries. I have meet Presidents, Former Presidents, Prime Ministers, Senators, Congressmen, Queens, and Kings. I have way more Foreign Policy experience than this beauty queen!

I too have Seen Russia from Alaska, wait, I have been to Russia!

Hey CNN....what about the arrogant Obama's utter lack of experience?

I wonder what Obama could see from the community he was supposedly organizing?

Whether Sarah could see Russia or not, she still has more experience than Obama...and much less arrogance than Obama.

We bought Alaska from the Russians for $7.2 million. I wonder if we hadn’t, if Comrade Palinsky would be in their Politburo today claiming that her proximity to the U.S. gives her the international experience to become the successor and running mate to Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev should Vladimir Putin decide Dmitry isn’t quite the hockey dad he thought he claimed to be. Hmmm.

What a wonderful trip.............and I agree with an earlier comment. I would certainly expect Sarah Palin to dig in and work hard to make sure our country gets back to the moral and ethical roots of our great country. It won't be easy and it will take some time, but I feel like she has the heart and stamina to get the job done. I pray that she gets a chance.

McCain/Palin in 2008

A quick message for Jackie Scott above:

It seems that you did as well in English class as you did social studies. Here are a couple of hints for you:

1) Use spell check. Although it only does you good if you can come close to proper words.

2) Only the congress has the authority to “Declare War” not the president (Although we all but seem to have abandoned the constitution on this issue among others).

You want to know what I find scary? Your vote is worth as much as mine. If this is the future of America, the credit crisis is the least of our worries.

One last thought…why all of this hatred between Democrats and Republicans. Are we all that much different? Don’t we realize that we are all just pawns in their battle for power and control. The president has a 25% approval rating which actually looks good compared to the 19% approval rating of congress. They all deserve to be tossed out. In the end, both parties want the same thing, they want to use our money to buy power. They just want to spend it in different ways.

2012 (Anyone-Anyone but a Democrat or a Republican!) I’ll vote for that ticket!

All the trouble you have gone to fact check is awesome! CNN's fact checking is a welcome addition to an otherwise smear driven, sound-biten campaign from both candidates.
Finally information I can trust and use to make my decision.

Any news, comment or analysis coming from CNN has been critical of McCain, Palin or the Clintons, see any pattern here ? I mean, my comment goes to those people with an IQ over 151 like myself, not for those Obamaniacs that put passion before reason and intellect.

I am not even eligible to vote here. Meaning, I am not a Democrat or Republican but this Election did increase my enthusiasm to follow the election. I thought both Parties did a great job in the primaries and have Great Canditates for Election. I thought if all Countries could do something similar to nominate their party representatives.

But the Presidential campaign run by Republicans is frustrating at times because they just don't focus on the issues. Recently Mccain was baby sitting Sarah Palin in Katie Couric's interview. WHen Palin was giving speeches in the initial stages, the Republican crown was repeating everything " Drill baby Drill", Thanks But No Thanks. How is JOhn Mccain going to bring back jobs if he is driving/owning foreign cars. The best interview i have even seen is Palin/Hannity. (YEAH RIGHT!).

Thanks CNN and ANderson for keeping it real.

A very sad reflection on our great nation: We spend so much time on silly comments, instead of trying to see if Governor Palin has the potential to fullfill the office of VP. It should be clear by now she doesn't have experience!

Even sadder is the comment by Brian Mason above. He'd rather choose a Presidential team that wants to tell us what to do in our bedrooms, over one that can get us out of the economic and healthcare messes at home and the lack of true world leadership we suffer from.

you guys are so down on Sarah

she is like totally underestimated.

and she is modest. while you are all making fun of her because you don't think she knows foreign policy even though she (unlike YOU) lives next to RUSSIA, she actually has more experience than you think.

Sarah has spent quite a lot of time in Moscow. Which makes it plain that she actually is interested in Russia and does get it with Putin and all that.

You don't believe me? Look it up. I know that it was Moscow, Idaho but it's still Moscow right? And that counts for something, so just you all back off.

As an immigrant that is now a citizen, I am suprised that the great US of A has a potential VP that has no idea on how the world works outside of her backyard. We should all pray hard for this country and what will happen after Nov. 4th.

Didn't anyone notice the part about Russian miliatry being stationed there? For years we have been concerned about Cuba's proximity and the potential for enemy weapons there, and rightfully so. If Cuba is 90 miles away from our border and we are concerned, why then do we mock the fact that Russia has military establishments 2 miles away from our border? Why do you think Russia would put military out there in the middle of nowhere? Do you think it might have something to do with the U.S. being a ferry ride away? And as governer of Alaska, do you think maybe our government saw fit to brief Palin on any of this? Some of you folks are lowering the bar so far for Palin that you are only shooting yourselves in the foot. If she does even remotely well in the debate, which she probably will do with her background and coaching, then she exceeds all expecations and gets another bump in the polls. This is only compounded if Biden opens his mouth and says dumb things like Roosevelt went on tv when the market crashed, or that Clinton would have been a better pick, or if he resorts to his old tactics of stealing someone else's speech and using it as his own. This election is Obama's to lose, but some of you aren't helping him much. You would be wise to ignore Palin and pretend like she doesn't exist, which is the approach the Obama camp has taken. She's only as powerful as you make her, and your perceived "picking on" her only makes middle America root for her more. Also you must realize that no one votes for a VP, they vote for the top of the ticket. But by criticizing her experience, you are admitting that experience matters, and that only highlights Obama's deficiencies when compared to McCain in that respect. The republican's have baited a trap by putting Palin on the ticket, and all of you are proving yourselves unable to avoid stepping in it.

A physician colleague of mine back in residency was Russian. I actually spoke with him. A good man and a good doctor. Has Gov. Palin ever spoken with a Russian? If not, then I have more Russian foreign policy experience than she does. What a laugh she is.

Lets get back to the real point.

1. Governor Palin has no experience in foreign affairs and I don't care if she can see Russia from her snowmobile or not.

2. Her attempt to pad her Resume was just plain stupid and foolish. Maybe that is the kind of nonsense that got her elected Governor, but now she is playing in the big league and stupid lies will not fly.

3. If she thinks she can get by with off the cuff remarks and shallow statements, she should look at the tape of her interviews to date. She has become the brunt of jokes because as EF Hutton used to say, she earned it.

I think Gov. Palin was nervous and not the usual politican we see..Most of them are very good at lying and sounding intelligent. Just look at the mess we are in and judge them for your self. If she is a fast learner she will learn Charisma and Charm and then be treated like Royality. She will be living in a compond and have loyal followers to make her a multi millionaire. Maybe she will even go to Berlin and give a speach.
Lee Stewart

I am all for asking tough questions of all the candidates. However, it seems as though Gov. Palin has been grilled with very tough and direct questions while Sen. Obama has been handed a bunch of softball questions about his upbringing, how old his mother was shen she got pregnant....I can hear the violins playing in the background...Let's be fair! Both Palin and Obama lack foreign policy experience yet all we hear about is her lack of experience. Does everyone remember Obama's well orchestrated speaches abroad a few months ago to thousands of cheering Europeans – it was only a speach and does not constitute foreign policy. Why is everyone afraid to question Obama's lack of experience?

OK you all have walked through the hole that Palin made for you. Go ahead and mock, jeer, humiliate and cut her throat while you're at it. Show her that she really made a bad decision in accepting McCain's offer because it would not be in her best interest to represent people that basically are no different than a wolfpack running wild somewhere. Do you all know how you sound? You don't deserve someone like her or McCain. You deserve Obama and you just might get him. The only problem for you will be when you decide you don't like him it will be too late.

Fred – last time I checked the Democratic Vice Presidential nominee spelled his name B-i-d-e-n. Perhaps before you offer criticism of Mr. Biden’s writing skills you should sharpen your spelling skills.

The incident you are referring to occurred over 20 years ago. Mr. Biden did not cite the source for stump speech that he gave on one occasion, though he did cite the source on several other occasions. If the same infraction occurred today, it would be a non-issue.

I am still trying to figure out how Obama has foreign policy experince. Sarah doesn't have any, that is obvious. But there are so many that are convinced of Obama's, what is it?

He had a recent Asian, Middle East, and European VACATION with an entourage of media. It was a vacation with alot of photo 'ops' and a couple of speeches that he would reverse or change the next day.

Biden has foreign policy experience, but Obama does not. So why the 'but she would be a heartbeat away from being President'? I would rather a 'heartbeat' away with no experience, then the President having no experience.

I agree with the concern of lacking foreign policy, but it being ignored for one party and a focal point of another. It is not anti-American to ask a question, but can it be asked of both parties instead of just one party?

Great reporting! It's nice to see an investigative reporter actually investigating something! Thanks!!

You can see CNN from Russia.

Hey Briam M, There's room on the Band wangon. Republicans for Obama!

Airspace between Alaska and Russia is a critical issue of which I'm sure Gov Palin is well informed. Since moving to AK in 1971, I remember reading in the local paper of many instances in which Russian military jets have invaded Alaska airspace and been escorted out by planes from Alaskan military bases. In 1983, a passenger plane refueled in Anchorage and was shot down (no survivors) when it got lost and mistakenly trespassed into Russian airspace. There are two large Russian communities in Alaska–one of Old Believers on the Kenai Peninsula and another settlement (not religious) in Delta Junction, the site of our Missile Defense System. There are many Russian-Alaskan business contacts...on two occasions I have helped Russian geologists tour Alaskan mineral deposits. Several Alaskan geologists I know work closely with Russians geologists and have worked cooperatively in both countries. (I'm sure Gov Palin is aware of many other business connections in the State).

Many Russian women have come to Alaska to marry. (Two to good friends of mine.)

All these ties don't make me–or Gov Palin an expert on Russian foreign policy–but probably more aware of that country than most.

And by the way, Russia can also be seen from mainland Alaska in the Teller area of the Seward Peninsula.

Did anyone see the pictures of her recent visit to the mid east? WTH with the bare legs right in the face of the Pakistani and Afghan Presidents? I mean, we're talking about countries where women barely show their face, where female journalists like Hala Ghorani and Christiane Amanpour are always mindful of their appearance.

If she does not have the sense to think about these things...... what can we expect from her on a larger scale?

I swear.... Michelle Obama who isn't even running for offfice would do better PR for the country just by standing next to Barack at international affairs.

For the life of me, I can't figure out why McCain chose a running mate with so little expertise and experience. However, what scares me most is her cutsey attitude – "I'll have to get back to you on that!" How many women have fought for equality and suffrage, and this is what we have representing us? As Charlie Brown would say, "ARRGHH!"

To Brain Mason -

While I do agree with you that abortion and same sex marriage is not exceptable according to the law of grace neither is fornication, lying, and adultry which McCain and Palin both are guility of. So, with that said you have the right to vote for whomever you choose, but if you are basing your decision off that alone then your vote is a wasted vote. While I sin for what it is sin, and God does not see one greater than the other we must remember while he judges all sin he also forgive all sin except for blasphemy. And like God we must look at the whole picture while Mccain may stand for pro-life and same sex marriage he has deceived the American people with lies and corruption that has cost millions of Americans to not only lose their jobs but homes and future financial savings due to another sin that God abhors which is "greed". So, with all that said I will vote for the candidate who cares about the America people as a whole and who does not condon abortion or same sex marriage but leave them the opportunity to make a choice just like God left us the choice to choose Christ. I am so glad that God is not like man that he would immediately cast you to judgement of no return when we sin or make a bad decision but rather lovely correct us and give us a second chance a life of righteousness and eternity with Him. Remember a lot of these people are sinners the ones Jesus came for; not the righteous. So if I say this if any man is without sin let him be the first to cast his stone. Well said by Christ himself.

So we need think before we just vote on just moral alone; but forgiveness as well. Let your light so shine that many will see your good works and that your Heavenly maybe glorified. This is what we should be doing not condemning the sinner.

As governor of Alaska, there you are resposible for trade mission to many countries. Alaska trades with many Asian countries. Our Northern shores is have the opening Arctic ocean and we have treaties that directlyeffect many in our state. The Doimeder forgot the mention the impact the Polar Bear situation will have. The state biologists deal with Russian Biologist quite often. Tonight there will be a Russian research vessal pulling into Nome's port. There have been many many actual not the talking BS diplomancy issues going on here. So there are those that don't know or make light of the experience. The Russian's are testing our military system over our state.

It is now evident that she can INDEED see Russia from Alaska, face it, there's at least one tiny-little truth that came out of that stingy mouth. The only thing sad about it, is that this does not make her an expert on foreign policy.

Hey! Has anybody read Tales of The City by Armistead Maupin? I read about Little Diomedes and Big Diomedes in one of those books. They were writen in the late 70's, early 80's ... I guess Armistead was a Foreign Policy Expert at that time already!

She should have been to the island and set up some defensive installations. After all, the Ruskies could come storming across the ice at any moment! Instead she spent all her time negotiating with the Russians over ownership of the icebergs.

She's a dope. She believes the earth is flat doesn't she? I mean she believes in creationism doesn't she? Don't creationists think the world is flat?

Hey everyone – leave Keith alone. He's obviously not well read, and I seriously doubt that he is reading anything except for his own comment. But, Keith, if you are reading these entries (including this one) please show your love of this country by giving it the respect it deserves. You can start by capitalizing the name, as in America and American.

Brad asks what experience Barack Obama has with Russia or any other country, and laments that that is a softball question. You're right it is a softball. Here's your answer:

Barack Obama worked on securing loose nuclear materials along with Richard Lugar(R – Ind.). The bigest source of these materials? The former Soviet Union. They co-sponsored a bill passed by Congress that led the U.S. to coordinate efforts with other nations to reduce weapon stockpiles and smuggling.

The idea is to seek out and destroy surplus and unguarded stocks of conventional arms in Asia, Europe, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East.

I think Sarah Palin should build a bridge to Little Diomede.

AC- The fact that you sent a reporter to actually see if you can see Russia from Alaska highlights how ridiculous these claims are that you gain foreign policy experience because you can see Russia from your house. I could live with John McCain as president, but when he selected Sarah Palin as a possible substitute for him, after a 15 minute phone conversation(phone it in!), he offended every American principle we have come to believe in.

Gary and co:

We all knew Palin's claim of having foreign policy experience due to her proximity to Russia was a complete lark, from the first time she even brought it up. But THANK YOU for physically taking the time and resources to visit Little Diomede and debunk what little credibility remains in this sad, desperate allegation of foreign policy experience.

I look forward to the segment.

How pathetic!! And we, women, are allowing this to happen in modern America. We should be ashamed of this candidate and the Republican Party.
It is time for us to send a very STRONG message to Washington and the whole World. The McCain and Palin ticket is not a real CHANGE, and nor McCain or Palin are ready to take over this mess that we, Americans, allowed to happen in the first place.

So what exactly is Obama's foreign policy experience or for that matter what was Bill Clinton's foreign policy experience? As everyone should know it is not unusual for a state Governor to have no foreign policy experience. Everyone knows what she meant because Russian military planes routinely overfly parts of Alaska. Give up on this already. Has anyone gone after Sen. Biden for saying Franklin Roosevelt, after the crash in 1927 went on TV to reassure the people? First, it was Hoover and second there was no TV at the time. If Palin said this she would be crucified. I have never in my life seen such slanted reporting in my life. One side can do no right and the other can do no wrong. I am feed up.

bkrane, the house isn't IN Russia...you can just see Russia from it.

All the Obama supporters that responded here are ignorant.
They refuse to look beyond the slick image that Obama portrays. Obama has no substance, can not be trusted. He is not the change we need. He is a socialist that will sell his mother (if she were alive) for a vote.

A vote for Obama is a vote to destroy America.

Dave

It's downright scary to listen to Palin speak in public. I think she is barely qfied to be a governor, but can hold her own up there, but VP, thats just scary. I completely don't get McCains choice here. Great comedy though. I'm looking forward to the next SNL. This almost beats the church lady of the 1980s skits.

"Well KPO, She did say what if Russia wanted to take over Alaska. That would mean invading the US. I highly doubt if they took over Alaska they would stop there. Also many countries through out history have fought over stupid things. The Israelis and the Palestinians have been fighting over a sliver of land with a mountain on it in the desert for over 2,000 years."

Hey Dave,
did you know that Alaska WAS a Russian territory and the Tzars sold it to America for a hatful of gold?? If they want it back, I guess they can just BUY it.. why invade?? But I doubt they will want it back.

"It is better to be thought a fool, than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt." I don't think Palin is not even qualified to be Governor. Based on what I have read, her husband spends a lot of time on the job calling the shots. Is this what the fisherman and snowboarder will do in the White House if McCain wins?

Well I have a globe and can see every nation on the planet. I can even find most of them on the globe pretty easily, I bet Sarah Palin can not say the same.

Hey Mike!
If you are John McCain... Yes! You are qualified... much more than who he selected to run with him this election.

Bob

Un-American? I am so freakin' tired of Americans calling other Americans "un-American" whenever they cannot agree on something. Most Americans seem to have lost their bearings entirely about politics - so it's all about identity, emotional attachment to one party or the other, or personal identification with one candidate or another, to the point where they can no longer separate themselves from their candidate and need to lash out at anyone who disagrees with them.

It's really about the fact that we have all become a nation of selfish whiners who want instant gratification all the time. We want crazy entitlements, a huge military, and yet we don't want to pay the taxes necessary to pay for any of this stuff. It's the same mentality that makes people buy SUV's when they live in Manhattan because it makes them feel tough; buy McMansions that they can't afford because someone offered them a mortgage that was insane on its face; run up credit card bills they'll never be able to pay off to lead a lifestyle that is above their means; and start honking their car horns at you the minute a traffic light turns green as if they were actually waiting with their hand on the horn so that they could honk the minute the light changed.

People in other countries - and I've lived in several of them - don't act this way in their politics. But since I have actual experience living abroad and actually know what I am talking about, I am sure that the people on this site who have never even left their state will call me un-American. I'll take that as a compliment if being "American" means being selfish, ignorant, uninformed, impolite, and uneducated like such a person obviously is.

I am sick of all this. Obama is the media's choice ! I wonder why? Nobody even heard of him just a few years ago. He has never had a real job. It is a sponge, a pupet with too many strings.

Palin never said she was a foriegn policy expert. When asked what foriegn policy experience she had she mentioned the proximity of Alaska to Russia. Don't forget the border with Canada. And she never said that experience qualified her to be VP. You all have made that leap. So Palin said some goofy stuff. Biden asked a guy in a wheel chair to stand up. Biden talked about FDR going on TV during the market crash of '29. FDR wasn't president, and there was no TV. They are all saying things that make us groan, but that doesn't mean anything more than "we all say stupid things sometimes".

I actually like all the candidates. They all bring something unique and valuable to the table.

It's funny. The author criticizes Palin for not traveling to the island, but had she gone as governor, she would have been criticized for wasting tax dollars on such a frivolous trip.

Boy, it's interesting to get a little insight into the mind of a McCain voter. Though I don't really think that all McCain voters support these twisted views as seen in this blog. At least, I hope not.

Governor Palin has a high approval rating because oil is skyrocketing, the Alaska budget is increasing, taxes are almost non existent, and every man, woman and child in Alaska gets more than $2,000 a year because of the oil royalties. She should have a 99% approval rating. I can't think of any other State in the US that wouldn't have a great approval rating for a Governor that provides such benefits. The question isn't whether Governor Sarah Palin is ready to be president, but rather, does anyone in their right mind think that if the Obama-Biden ticket win in November that Governor Palin will be the Republican nominee in 2012. I think not!

"I think someone should contact Putin and ask him if he’s ever been to Alaska.. or even flown over Alaska in his entire lifetime… since that’s where he goes when he “Rears his head”

Gene,
that part of vast Russian terrtory is so remote and unpopulated.. and so C-O-L-D!! I think Putin would rather "REAR HIS HEAD" somewhere else

Brazil is the 10th GOP in the world, and a great partner os USA. I am sure Mrs. Palin does not know what language we speak here and what is the name of our capital city. But it is not her fault. I am also sure that the majority of the americans does not know too! I lived in the USA for 3 years and my friends always ask me if I was spanish speaking and if my capital was Buenos Aires. It is just a matter the the school system does not teach enough about other countries. The school is focus only over North American Geography and History.

The better ticket out there is Obama-McCain if we have to deal with the four nominees in their respective positions only. I disagree and agree with many of the political views of both Candidates. But I think at a time when truly Republicans and Democratics need to come together, we are being pulled apart by a soccer, i mean, hockey mom and her inability to speak without lying and a man bent on doing nothing but fight with character assassinations, that having nothing to with the policies and why we should choose him into presidency.

Its amazing to think that anyone would think to put someone who clearly has no idea what life is like beyond hockey and God. No offense to the people who believe in Jesus, but I don't. And the fact is that I am not alone. So many don't. We have already had a President the last 8 yrs, who clearly cannot relate to the public of this country that is not Christian and white, that now we would have to put up with a twit that will once again bring Church and State closer.

The President and Vice President of the United States are supposed to be the representatives of all the people under it's umbrella. But how can you be a representative if you are excluding over half of the population of your country by talking about God and other personal philosophies that do not apply to them.

Palin is clearly not ready. And for those ready to vote b/c of the republican marriage laws and abortion gives that person no justice, b/c right now when we are dying as a country, does it really matter if you can marry as a homosexual or have an abortion. Frankly, my votes will go to the people i see fit to change the economy which affects my everyday life, rather than to curtail the lives of others I will probably never meet in my lifetime. People need to get their priorities in gear. It's b/c of the average ignorant American that we have allowed Bush to tear our financial world apart. Let's talk about instead how we can teach our children not to make the mistake of getting house they clearly cannot afford and being stupid enough to get themselves in to so much trouble, that i as taxpayer have to pay for them!!

The reason these people live there is t hat most of them are indiginous Alaskan Natives and have undoubtedly lived there for longer than we've been a nation! Not everyone is white, lives in a housing development and drives an SUV. These people live off t he land and will continue to do so long after sarah et al, are dust. Their needs are food, warmth and basics of life. No political climate. Win or lose, Dem or repub, these folks are just who they are. From a 24 year Alaskan.

This would be a fun trip. How do you get to this island? I'm assuming a boat or helicopter, since it appears to be too small for a plane. How long did it take you to get there from... i'm assuming Anchorage?

Do you think Mccain can pick another Vp before the election? He can always keep Sara Palin as his nurse. I think he may need one in about a year. He will be 73 yrs old. Don't you see how much Bush has aged in 8 yrs. Mccain will not last to much longer.

Everytime I see Palin speak it scares me to even think that she could be our vice president. And it just goes to show that McCain isnt qualifed to run this country if the cant even pick a responsible VP.

The problem as I see it is that the american public places too much weight on trivial items when they vote. I do not see how anyone can in their right mind vote for the McCain ticket after the recent events. When I seen one of the comments here that stated how McCain's decision to pick Palin was wrong, but they are voting for him anyway becasue "I am supporting the McCain/Palin ticket simply for their stance on same sex marriage and abortion." This to me is one of the huge problems that is wrong with America. How can you vote for someone because of two things that will not affect your life. You are willing to put someone in the Whitehouse that will make the economy worse and a VP that has no idea of whats going on. Trust me that in putting McCain into office, your life will be affected in a negative way. People need to learn to vote on what really matters and what affects our lives. I am sorry but gay marriage and abortion should be a non issue in determining who to vote for.

As for who is the right candidate? I don't know as I have not seen the right one in my life. I am still waiting for that candidate that wants to be the president because he or she loves their country and wants to see it run correctly versus someone looking to be in a position of power.

Sarah Palin is a joke and as a woman I am offended that the republican party put her on the ticket. It gives women who have experience in a different light now, due largely to the republirats. We are not stupid Senator McCain, and just because she is a woman is no reason to vote for her. The policies that you stand for re outdated and serve the wealthy. There have been so many lies in your campaign its ridiculous. Palin will have her butt handed to her on thurs and i will be laughing the whole time. Maybe she should stick to running her own house, oops im sorry she couldn't do that effectively either.

Gary, what was the price of gas there?

It seems to me that people are still forgetting that northeastern Russia and for that matter Alaska (especially closer to Russia) are sparsely populated areas. Alaska is NOT on Russia's doorstep. Russia's doorstep is in the west of Russia where most of their population, military, and government establishments exist. Moscow is still well over 4,000 miles from Alaska. But more importantly... Why is none of this information in the news!?!?!

Either way... foreign policy experience is about conducting communications with other countries or creating policy to influence them. Living in Alaska does not give someone experience conducting foreign policy with Russia. Living in Key West does not give someone experience conducting foreign policy with Cuba. Living in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, or the many other states that share a border with Canada does not give someone foreign policy experience with Canada.

Therefore if someone wants to claim foreign policy experience because they live in a state bordering another nation, then they need to bring real substance that shows what they have done and what they know. What are their views? What are their policies? Ultimately, it is a politicians' choices that affects our country. I want to know a politicians' policies, so I can figure out what choices they will make.

I don't understand the failure to recognize Republican candidate’s campaign claims to be pro-life for what it is.....campaign rhetoric!
I'm not taking a position on this issue, I'm simply saying that year after year candidates claim they'll repeal abortion yet never do it. Furthermore, we as a society seem content soaking it in then forgetting all about those promises. President Bush made the same promises, yet in eight years, the majority of that time with a Republican House and Senate, he has never proposed a bill to repeal abortion.
Why then will we turn right around and state that we are voting for a candidate because of their stand on abortion? If their convictions lack action then the result is the same!

In the early 1970's, two people crossed from Little Diomede to Big Diomede. One walked across on the ice in winter, and was later committed as a mental patient. Another one (a radio DJ seeking publicity) waited until summer and rowed across in a bathtub. He was not committed. Sounds to me like it should be the other way around. And maybe we should have Andrew Milligrock running for Vice President. He sounds like he's got his head more squarely on his shoulders than Sarah "Walks on Ice" Palin.

One of the most beautiful benefits of being American is the freedom of choice. It amazes me how so many of you were geeked when Hiliary was running for President, but the same individuals are hesitant to support Obama. Is race a major factor in your decision? I love Hiliary, but she lost fair and square and now she's supporting Obama, which is a very honorable thing to do and the right thing to do. That's a great example of solidarity. Palin is ignorant and she's a liar, and the same for little McCain. How can McCain identify with the average american when his lifestyle is not "average?" McCain is out of touch and cannot identify with those of us who work hard to keep food on the table and a shelter over our heads. Palin does not support sex education in schools, and the republicans publicly display her unwed, teenaged daughter to the world as if it's a beautiful thing; however, we look down on other races in the same situation! Look at our economy people. The republicans have destroyed our economy because of greed, and now they're asking for a bailout for the mess that they've created. God is not pleased with the U.S. Especially in regards to racism! God loves us all equally. Barack is the best choice, not McCain-t!

Wow. If McCain really wanted to pick a woman as a running mate, there were thousands who would have been more qualified than Sarah Palin. Moreover, I would prefer a qualified man to an unqualified woman any day. What message will this send to women throughout the US if this poorly educated, uninformed woman is elected to the vice presidency? Don't we deserve better?

People say Palin has no foreign experience – I guess that means she's just tied with Obama...Oh yeah – except she's not even running for president!

This is to Tina:

Keep dreaming dear, because Sarah Palin is a train wreck getting ready to happen. I don't care how much coaching they give her, she is a disater waiting to happen. If McCain dropped dead, there is no way she could run this country. He would have done better if he had pick Romney or Liberman.

hello:

I have lived in Alaska for 35 years and I have never been to Little Diomede either, but then again, I am not a politician.

I do, however, live in a village on the Kenai where the main language is Russian. it is an old Russian dialect, but Russian just the same and one of my grandson's converted and married into the faith.

I live in the original Old Russian Orthodox Old Rite Believers and most of them probably don't even know what is going on anyway, and frankly, they don't care.

So, let's see:

1) Live in a semi-closed community where Russia is main language;
2) sit on "city" council where Russian is spoken but they speak English for this old broad.
3) I help to make decisions regarding certain issues pertaining to the welfare of the community and thus:
4) I have more experience and knowledge with "foreign" affairs than our Gov.
5) When are Mcain's people going to come and interview me for the job of goodwill to Russia?

Thank you for listening to this old baba and bless

Annitta

September 30th, 2008 4:06 pm ET

"Sarah Palin can handle a gun thats enough foreign experience for me. If I were in the military and Obama became president I would go AWOL." -Buddy

Dear Buddy,
I am in the military, currently serving in Iraq. I have been here since May 25th, 2008. Since that time, 100 of our American Servicemembers – my friends, brothers, and sisters, have given their lives so you can say things like that. 100 sets of parents, wives, and children have received a visit or a late-night call informing them of the unthinkable. If we elect another president that makes flippant foreign policy decisions, it will surely be thousands more. If handling a gun is so important to you, why don't you pick up one, grab a plane ticket and join me here? No, you wouldn't do that, would you? You don't have enough courage in you to join the military, just enough to make a sad little anonymous post on the internet. By the way, it's not called AWOL anymore. Its called UA (unauthorized absence).
-Brian, COB Adder, Dhi Qar Province, Iraq

Keith:

These people are NOT anti-American....that are anti-stupid!

All this talk about questioning a candidate's credentials being unAmerican is absolutely ridiculous - and unAmerican, to boot! It should be the DUTY of each American voter to scrutinize the candidates for president and vice president to determine their fitness for office and whether the platforms they advocate are ones they should support through their precious votes. To be an unquestioning voter is the equivalent of being a serf in Tsarist Russia, the modern version of which Sarah Palin has apparently never seen because she has never visited Little Diomede Island! We are supposed to be a republic composed of critically thinking voters, as our Founding Fathers envisioned, not unquestioning serfs or fascist sheep.

To Catherine The Great,

Indeed the Jews would live under different rulers for two thousand years and make periodic rebellions which would be brutally crushed by the then rulers.

Indeed Christianity saw also saw some of the most brutal supression of Judaism as it gained its identity and grew rather hostile to towards Judasim.

Ed, your comments are ridiculous. First of all....come on man, do you not see through the Hillary garbage?? She "supports" Obama, but does she really want him to win?? She (as with MOST politicians, D and R) has alterior motives. You know she wants to run again in 2012. Second. DO NOT BLAME the republicans for the financial crisis. If anything, it's greed on both sides of the aisle. Are you forgetting the fact that Bill Clinton was a big advocator of sub-prime mortgages in the late 90's? Hmmm. Third. This is not a bailout of Wall Street, and those of you who think it is need to WAKE UP and STOP BEING IDIOTS. Don't you get it?? There is a credit crunch for all of america, not just Wall St. If banks are given liquidity, they can then lend to the average american (presumably you, Ed). If not, Ed, how are you going to get that loan to pay for your kids education, or that new car you were eyeing. If you want to call it a bailout, then at least admit that it's a bailout for you and every american in this country. I live in NY and most people here seem to get that. Does that not resonate with the rest of America? I don't understand....

Obama has accomplished nothing as a Senator. Where's his experience? When did he go to Iraq? AFTER he came up with his policy. This man is frighteningly inexperienced, and he's at the top of the ticket. He's dangerously egotistical and arrogant.

I had a lot more to say, but the moderaor is obviously an Obama-ite, so I'll go over to Fair and Balanced and post it there.

If Palin has no experience, what about Obama? He has only been a senator for two years and has no experience running or governing anything. How is he any different than Palin? He's just a smooth talker. Anyone can read a speech that someone else wrote for them.

Buddy – "Sarah Palin can handle a gun thats enough foreign experience for me."

I think this qualifies as the most ignorant comment I've read today.

Hey, my Dad has not only seen Russia from a distance, he has actually VISITED it – now that's a heck of a lot of foreign policy experience! Can he run for VP? Pleeez?
And to Brian Mason who says he is voting for McCain/Palin ticket simply for their stance on same sex marriage and abortion despite the fact that he knows Palin is unqualified: wow. I am truly terrified to think that there are others out there with the same thinking. GOD SAVE US!

I am a business woman (and now former republican) who is so personally embarrassed by Sarah Palin as our “female representation” on any ticket! Shame on McCain for thinking any woman with any brains would fall for this "give'em what they want so you can get what you want" trick. This “All Beauty, No VP Brains” trick from the 72 year old hero an indication McCain is only putting himself first.

Nevermind "anti-American" Keith. Brian Mason's comment above scares the living bejesus out of me.

Tina,
You like Sarah because you think she will get things done? You have an instinct that she would make a good president? Yes, I said PRESIDENT because that's exactly what she would be within a couple years. John is 72 years old. Seventy Freaking Two. The same man who gave info to the enemy FOURTY TWO TIMES when he was a POW. He is a traitor. Back to Sarah, though. She knows nothing about this country, how it is run, or how we interact with the world. That alone, among MANY other reasons, is good enough of a reason not to elect her.

Also Tina, what exactly does "I think she would roll up her selves and get what does to be done…done." mean? I have no idea how she would roll up her "selves" and I absolutely have never heard the phrase "get what does to be done...done" before. In fact, it doesn't even make sense.

Please use your mind, not your gut.

The comment above by Brian Mason is, unfortunately, the sad and delusional view that many Americans share. It's absolutely absurd and it pains me to know that people so ignorant walk the Earth.

Anderson
Did Sarah Palin name the island in the interview, or did she just say “…you can actually see Russia from "land" here in Alaska, from an "island" in Alaska.” If it is the latter, be afraid, be very afraid. Your comments in your "ad" for the piece about Little Diomede are very telling. She is USING Little Diomede for her own puffery, but can't even name the island. As some have said in this blog, forget foreign policy, what about domestic policy? What about HER CONSTITUENTS in Alaska on "an island in Alaska". So many Americans that I have spoken to feel disconnected from their central government, these isolated people have no connection with their own governor, let alone Washington. That seems troubling to me.

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