Next Time McCain Says Palin Commanded the Alaska Guard, Laugh

On Wednesday, ABC News' Charlie Gibson interviewed John McCain. An excerpt:

GIBSON: Senator, since I've been following politics, every single presidential nominee has said that the first quality they look for in a vice presidential pick is the capability and the readiness to take over as president. Can you look the country straight in the eye and say Sarah Palin has the qualities and has enough experience to be commander in chief?

MCCAIN: Oh, absolutely. Having been the governor of our largest state, the commander of their National Guard.

Later in the interview, McCain said, "Governor Palin knows the surge has succeeded. She's the commander of the Alaskan National Guard."

We now interrupt the spin for some facts. After interviewing the service commander of the Alaska National Guard, McClatchy newspapers reports, "Palin has never personally ordered the state guard to do anything." Nothing. Absolutely nothing. It appears she has no command experience whatsoever. The news service notes, "The governor has granted [the service commander] the authority to act on his own in most cases, including life-or-death emergencies -- when a quick response is required -- and minor day-to-day operations."

So it's clear: when McCain and his surrogates talk about Palin's experience, the only honorable course is to not mention the Alaska National Guard.

Comments

no, you cant' talk about this fact... because its sexist and degrading to women.

More degrading then using women for a political gimmick in order to garner votes from a party that hates you.

More degrading then making jokes about a teenage girl, and your "friend" Hillary Clinton

More degrading then leaving your disabled wife for a young pretty heiress

Posted by: TRW on 09/03/08 at 7:18 PM Respond

The only time the Alaskan National Guard gets called into action is when someone's sled dogs are on the loose... or a crab fisherman has a little too much to drink and has to be escorted home.

Posted by: Guy Incognito on 09/03/08 at 9:47 PM Respond

FX,外国為替, 外為FX・外国為替（外為）取引システムを、安心・安全・お気軽にご利用ください。FX，外為商品情報も充実、株式会社エムジェイの公式サイト。

Posted by: 為替 on 09/04/08 at 12:32 AM Respond

What that guy ^ said.

Posted by: Marky Mark on 09/04/08 at 9:07 AM Respond

State governors have no authority over National Guard troops that are deployed in a war zone, so the author's comments and interview with the Alaska National Guard commander are irrelevant. We wouldn't have a very effective military command overseas if every state governor had to issue instructions to the myriad of State National Guard units deployed.

Posted by: SC on 09/04/08 at 1:09 PM Respond

Wow! Sarah Palin has so much experience she can actually go and place Putin in Prison buy just looking at him. She is a champion of everyone including Caribou and polar bears that she actually wears their fur. A champion of the Environment that she dismisses global warming even if her state is shrinking. She believes that God called for the War in Iraq and other wars so that your children can die for the Corporations and the Rich. She will drill for oil until every last drop is used so that we will have to plead with the Arabs for mercy. Great woman and the idiots will fall for this charade that will cloud their minds and march to their death in defense of a false ambition.

Posted by: lucero1946 on 09/04/08 at 6:35 PM Respond

As a member of the AKNG I would like to say that Sarah Palin is the commander of the Alaska National Guard. The national guard is state controlled until deployment oversea's. So the state is responsible for the budget, training and making sure we are ready for deployment at all times. The Alaska National Guard is the most deployed Guard in the country.

Posted by: rideak on 10/17/08 at 3:59 PM Respond