I thought it was anything but a good interview for Sarah Palin. This will most definitely knock a little of the shine off of her performance last week.
When asked if she was qualified in national security matters, she immediately pursued a line about energy policy. She said that being Governor of Alaska was somehow important in foreign policy and dealing with Russia. Gipson then asked her what kind of insight the close proximity to Russia had given her about the Russia/Georgia crisis and she responded, "they're our next door neighbors".
She bombed that question hard.
She also looked like a dear in the headlights on the Bush doctrine question. Gipson asked her if she agreed with it. She asked, "In what respect, Charlie?". He then asked her what her understanding was and she quipped with something like, "you mean his worldview?"
Anyone who's followed the buildup to the invasion of Iraq, knows that the Bush doctrine is the belief that this country has the right to
pre-emptively strike a country we believe may attack us. Gipson explained it as "anticipatory self defense." That belief reversed hundreds of years of American foreign policy precedent. All other Presidents adhered to only striking other countries once we'd been attacked.
I'm not sure she'd ever heard of it and it's been the single most enduring and debated aspect of Bush's foreign policy. Maybe they'll move her back to speeches.
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