Babbling Palin ‘makes George Bush sound like Cicero’

As John McCain suspended his campaign in response to the economic crisis, all eyes were on his running-mate Sarah Palin as she squared up to NBC news anchor Katie Couric for her first interview since she was treated with kid gloves by Sean Hannity on Fox News a week ago.

In a two-part interview with Couric, Palin referred to America’s "victory" in Iraq and clarified previous comments she made about how she understood foreign policy because of Alaska’s proximity to Russia. The Washington Post admits Palin "struggled at times and appeared less comfortable than in her earlier sit-down with ABC’s Charles Gibson". Alessandra Stanley in the New York Times agrees, saying Palin’s answers "were surprisingly wobbly: her words tumbled out fast and choppily, like an outboard motor loosened from the stern".

At one point in the interview Couric asked Palin how her experience as Alaskan Governor enhanced her foreign policy credentials. "Well, it certainly does", answered Palin haltingly. "Because our next door neighbors are foreign countries. They're in the state that I am the executive of."

When Couric asked her if she had ever been involved in any negotiations with the Russians, Palin said: "We have trade missions back and forth. It's very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia - as Putin rears his head and comes into the airspace of the United States of America, where do they go? It's Alaska. It is from Alaska that we send those out [sic] to make sure an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation."

"Anyone know what this means?" asks Greg Sargent on Talking Points Memo. "Never mind the image of Putin rearing his head as he floats into Alaskan airspace. Is she saying that American spies who keep an eye on Russia take off from Alaska? What is the woman talking about?"

James Fallows writes in the Atlantic that Palin’s performance was so bad as to inspire pity. "I genuinely feel sorry for Palin," he says. "This really is pathetic... Anyone who has been to high school immediately recognises the terror of facing a pop quiz or an oral exam when you just have no idea what you're talking about."

Dan McLaughlin, a blogger at the influential Red State conservative website, admits "gnashing my teeth" while watching Palin. Referring to the first part of the Couric interview, McLaughlin laments that Palin was unable to name any examples of McCain pushing for more financial regulation in his 26 years as a senator. "He's built an extensive track record of pushing for more regulation,” he writes. “It's not that hard a question".

Even Rod Dreher, a religious-conservative blogger who frequently appears on Fox News and was as recently as last week a Palin supporter, says the Alaskan Governor "was mediocre". Dreher says he felt "embarrassed" listening to Palin "regurgitating talking points mechanically, not thinking. [She’s] just babbling. She makes George W Bush sound like Cicero."

FIRST POSTED SEPTEMBER 26, 2008