Skip to main content

The Charlie Gibson-Palin interview

Well, the big interview is over...in some ways I am less concerned about Palin...but mostly I feel the way I did before. Some highlights:

Positive
  • She got through it without any major gaffes. To be honest, this was the main goal.
  • Although she wasn't stellar, she showed her ability to think on her feet when given an unexpected question. Sometimes it wasn't pretty, but it wasn't a bloodbath.
  • She was able to pivot the question on "task from God" to pride in her son nicely. It didn't hurt that attention has been paid to how Charlie Gibson twisted her words.

Negative

  • She seemed nervous and tentative. She didn't seem nearly as confident as when giving a speech -- and, let's be honest, did not seem as "Presidential" as Obama.
  • The foreign policy answers seemed rehearsed and wooden. I didn't at all get the feeling the words were coming from her. Even if you're being coached, you need to find a way to translate the information into words that are "yours". She didn't do that, and seemed uninformed.
  • Her earmark answers seemed "politiciany". I felt this was her weakest area. Gibson pointed out that even as Governor, she has accepted hundreds of millions in earmarks...and she didn't have a good answer. I do think this hurts her credibility as a pristine reformer.

All in All...

I'd give her about a B-. It wasn't great, but she passed. The things I worry about most (she's uninformed, she lacks the ability to go toe-to-toe with congressmen or world leaders), I'm still worried about.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Michael Steele delivers GOP weekly address

Here is Michael Steele delivering the weekly Republican address: Transcript: This is Michael Steele, Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Democrats have controlled both branches of government for less than a month. And you have to wonder if all that power has gone to their heads. For the last two weeks, they've been trying to force a massive spending bill through Congress under the guise of economic relief. All of us - Republicans and Democrats - agree the government must act to kick-start the American economy. American families are doing their best to balance their own budgets and pay their mortgages. The fastest way to help those families is by letting them keep more of the money they earn. Individual empowerment: that's how you stimulate the economy. But the Democrats have a different philosophy. Instead of leaving money in the family checkbook, they want to send it to Washington, run it through a slow and inefficient government, and hope that does some good. Wh...
Post a Comment
Read more

On Iraq

Smith: Been to Iraq many times. Had many questions. Met with families who had lost loved ones. Offered ammendment with Democrats to end war and bring troops home. We won the war - Iraq must win the peace. Merkley: Our sons and daughters are the wrong ones to be there - we don't speak the language or understand the culture. I support Obama's plan to leave in 16 months, refocus on central front, Afghantistan.
Post a Comment
Read more