ABC Gibson Palin Interview: Two Views Of Reality

TW: I would ask you to take the time to at least watch the condensed highlights piece. Then ask yourself understanding this is not someone interviewing for admission to undergrad this the potential POTUS come Feb 2009:

Brief video highlights http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z75QSExE0jU

Where is the nuance typically associated with a Prez or VP?
Where is any intellectual depth expressed?
The "Dave" analogy- do not her responses seem like barely understood recitations of programmed bullet points?

Ultimately to me the two perspectives below effectively frame where we stand. You either rationalize and dismiss the ignorance and rant against the media's fault for bothering to ask or you are deeply concerned. Note both perspectives are those of pundits affiliated with right-wing organizations

Lisa Shiffren from National Review (conservative mag)
"...the Bush Doctrine is a multi-faceted policy, not clearly defined, and only intermittently adhered to in any of its particulars..{It is}...inside DC/foreign policy establishment jargon. It is not used widely in the media, even in more serious discussions of whichever aspect is under scrutiny. So a well read state-level political leader, who followed the Bush Administration foreign policy in, say, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the WSJ, or on ABC news (God help us), would not necessarily have a deep field of references. It was the clearest "gotcha" moment of the interview.

Is it fair to ask a would-be vice president these questions? Sure. But I just don't recall seeing anyone quiz Barack Obama on the details of any particular set of policies early on (or later). And, for the record, it just looks condescending and inappropriate for one of the great minds of the national media to sit, notebook in hand, quizzing this younger woman, as someone said, as if she were a grad student. Just physically, in those chairs, him leaning back and her leaning in, costs her the appearance of power. This is not how we usually get to know Governors. Did anyone do this to Bill Clinton when he came from the hinterland? Jimmy Carter? (That might have been helpful...)

Actually, the set up made the previously invariably likeable Charlie Gibson seem like a condescending jerk. Uh oh...there goes the brand."

From Norm Ornstein (scholar at the AEI- a prime neo-con "think"-tank)
"She had me at hello Charley-- had me scared to death. Not a single doubt that she is ready to be president-- everyone, no matter how experienced, should have doubts about the ability to take that job. A combination of utter inexperience and utter arrogance is about the worst possible combination I can imagine. Not knowing what the Bush Doctrine is would be bad enough, but saying unequivocally that Georgia should be in NATO-- meaning we would now perhaps be in a state of war with Russia-- and then without a beat saying that military action should be the last resort-- shows a series of knowledge and logic gaps that ought to shake every foreign policy specialist, liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican, to his or her roots. Maybe they can force feed her enough facts to skate through a debate, and maybe her self-confidence will still play well with many voters, but this first cut performance underscores our worst fears.