Palin on Readiness

"I think because I am a Washington outsider that opponents are going to be looking for a whole lot of things that they can criticize and they can kind of beat the candidate here who chose me as his partner to kinda tear down the ticket," Palin responded. "But as for foreign policy you know I think I am prepared and I know that on Jan. 20 if we are so blessed as to be sworn into office as your president and vice-president, certainly we'll be ready. I'll be ready. I have that confidence. I have that readiness and if you want specifics with specific policy or countries go ahead. You can ask you can play stump the candidate if you want to. But we are ready to serve."

From Political Radar.

Questions about the readiness of a two-year Governor are prudence, not partisan tear-downs. She may think herself "prepared" for foreign policy leadership, but she doesn't offer any reason for anyone else to think so. Not only does her answer neglect to advance the debate, it begins to suggest either ignorance of the difficulties or arrogance in her assumption of readiness to handle them.

The challenge to "stump the candidate" makes matters worse. Specific questions are pointless if they'll get answers as empty as this.

The truth is, she isn't prepared. If President McCain died on the way back from his inaugural, we would have a leadership problem, and any vote for him is a bet that he won't. Many people will be comfortable with that Inauguration Day bet, especially compared with the bet offered by Senator Summit With Anybody. But the more plausible possibility is a Palin Presidency in, say, two years. I'm not sure that errors from incompetence are better than errors from flawed and politicized thinking. At least we would learn something from the latter.

The question was, "please respond to that criticism [of your perceived lack of foreign policy experience] and give us specific skills that you think you have to bring to the White House to rebut that or mitigate that concern."

I think her answer should have been, "I do lack that experience. I've been addressing myself to the duties of the Alaskan Governor to her state's people, and those involve only a peripheral attention to foreign affairs. My duties have always brought new challenges to me, and so far I've met them successfully. Those duties have involved a deep understanding of energy economics, which is one of many topics important to our national security, and my understanding of those is a start on my preparation for these challenges. I wouldn't stand for President myself, but I'm convinced that John McCain is the right man to make the next decisions on the structure of our foreign policy and to lay out the principles for how we go forward, and I'm honored he thinks I can help him attain the Presidency so he can take us forward in these difficult times. If, God forbid, I should have to serve in his place, I would strive to implement the policies and views established by his wisdom. And I would add that my preparation isn't so different from that of the top of the opposing ticket, who would pursue a very different philosophy that can only increase our troubles. So, yes, I lack experience, but I'm learning fast, and I am learning from a basis of sound principles ."

I'm no politician but that sounds more plausible and more to the heart of the matter. I want Candidate Palin to succeed, and have believed that she can, but right now she is falling short of the learning curve I expect of someone who can actually do this job.