Obama sucks.

[Heald]

Yeah, this is exactly what I wanted to wake up to.

Roy, don't say 'this debate doesn't belong in this thread' and then continue debating it. I could easily refute and argue against some of your opinions you've put in this thread but it isn't the right thread. Be the bigger man and take your own advice.

Otherwise, I feel this thread is accelerating towards something I'd expect to see in Mt. Moon. I like a shitstorm as much as the next asshole, but I'm a mod, and therefore have to keep the peace. If you want to scream and swear at each other, take it to Mt. Moon. If, God forbid, any of you have anything intelligent to add to the discussion, then by all means, post it.

Anyway, for the benefit of Rudy: the video is of real Palin (not Tina Fey) saying that she can see Russia from Alaska in response to a question asking her depth into Russia's politics and actions. So yeah, she's an idiot. I'll underestimate her all I want, thank you very much, although I also know that roughly half of the USA is also stupid enough to vote for her.

[Roy Karrde]

Yeah, this is exactly what I wanted to wake up to.

Roy, don't say 'this debate doesn't belong in this thread' and then continue debating it. I could easily refute and argue against some of your opinions you've put in this thread but it isn't the right thread. Be the bigger man and take your own advice.

Otherwise, I feel this thread is accelerating towards something I'd expect to see in Mt. Moon. I like a shitstorm as much as the next asshole, but I'm a mod, and therefore have to keep the peace. If you want to scream and swear at each other, take it to Mt. Moon. If, God forbid, any of you have anything intelligent to add to the discussion, then by all means, post it.

That is very true, I'll re frame from Health Care from now on.

Anyway, for the benefit of Rudy: the video is of real Palin (not Tina Fey) saying that she can see Russia from Alaska in response to a question asking her depth into Russia's politics and actions. So yeah, she's an idiot.

No where did I see her say "I can see Russia from Alaska" she said and I quote "They are our neighbors, and you can actually see Russia from land, here in Alaska" which is true, and if say Mexico was acting up and invading countries, and Rick Perry was running for President or Vice President I would expect him to bring up Mexico's proximity to Texas as one of the main reasons he has more political experience and knowledge of Mexico than his opponent.

[Heald]

No where did I see her say "I can see Russia from Alaska" she said and I quote "They are our neighbors, and you can actually see Russia from land, here in Alaska" which is true, and if say Mexico was acting up and invading countries, and Rick Perry was running for President or Vice President I would expect him to bring up Mexico's proximity to the United States as one of the main reasons he has more political experience and knowledge of Mexico than his opponent.

So she is saying that 'one could see Russia from Alaska' and since she lives in Alaska, either she has actually seen Russia herself from Alaska (therefore confirming that she has seen Russia from Alaska) or, despite living in Alaska, has never seen Russia and is only relying on what someone else has told her.

Now, she was asked what insight she had into Russia's politics and actions. Her first answer was that one, not her personally, could see Russia from Alaska. Therefore, any Alaskan who can see and happens to be facing Russia is now automatically qualified to give insight into Russia's politics and actions? I'm sorry, but no amount of weaseling from even the most blind follower of Palin can excuse her from such a ridiculous answer. Granted, if she had said it last, after a real answer into what real insight she has, then fine, but the fact she decided to open her answer with that is just moronic. Hell, on a clear day, I can see France from the British coast, does that qualify me as an expert in French politics? No, in fact, I only have a very basic knowledge of French politics, pretty much all of which comes from reading the news. Funnily enough, being able to see a different country from your homeland does not somehow give you a psychic link to that country's politics, no matter how hard Sarah Palin and her equally idiotic fan base want to believe it.

Now, the point about Russia's proximity to Alaska might be equatable to Mexico's proximity to Texas, except that the part of Russia Alaska is adjacent to is thousands of miles of meaningless, uninhabited wasteland. Granted, some military manoeuvres by Russia take place there, but any more than the usual sabre-rattling we've come to expect from the Russians? How much of a threat it is to the USA is debatable, and an invasion by Russia is incredibly unlikely.

There is also the fact that most of Russia's political action occurs in Moscow, and if we're using proximity as a factor, both New York City and Juneau are about 4500 miles away from Moscow.

The point is, it is a ridiculous argument to say that Palin has any kind of Russian political expertise because Alaskans can see Russia.

[Roy Karrde]

So she is saying that 'one could see Russia from Alaska' and since she lives in Alaska, either she has actually seen Russia herself from Alaska (therefore confirming that she has seen Russia from Alaska) or, despite living in Alaska, has never seen Russia and is only relying on what someone else has told her.

Well living in Texas, I have never seen the border with my own eyes that doesn't mean I can't see it from El Paso. Now I have no idea how Palin learned of this, but the visibility of Russia from certain areas of Alaska most likely is a documented fact just as the visibility of the border from El Paso is a documented fact down here.

Now, she was asked what insight she had into Russia's politics and actions. Her first answer was that one, not her personally, could see Russia from Alaska. Therefore, any Alaskan who can see and happens to be facing Russia is now automatically qualified to give insight into Russia's politics and actions?

No, she was giving a example of the closeness of Russia, which plays into a very large factor of why a Governor of Alaska would have insight into Russian Political Action and Politics.

I'm sorry, but no amount of weaseling from even the most blind follower of Palin can excuse her from such a ridiculous answer. Granted, if she had said it last, after a real answer into what real insight she has, then fine, but the fact she decided to open her answer with that is just moronic. Hell, on a clear day, I can see France from the British coast, does that qualify me as an expert in French politics? No, in fact, I only have a very basic knowledge of French politics, pretty much all of which comes from reading the news. Funnily enough, being able to see a different country from your homeland does not somehow give you a psychic link to that country's politics, no matter how hard Sarah Palin and her equally idiotic fan base want to believe it.

Lets play this out, if France was buzzing across British ships, and coming dangerously close to the British homeland, making threatening gesters, and overall taking a very belligerent attitude toward Britain. Do you think the British Prime Minister would have a direct focus on what was happening in France, from the Political Situation to the Military Situation? Of course. As if France were to make one wrong move, and a international incident were to happen, Britain would be on the front line of a possible war with France.

It is idiotic of her detractors to not believe the Governor of Alaska, a state that is very much it's own country due to how disconnected it is from the rest of the United States, would not have his or her focus directed toward a neighboring country that could at any moment launch a attack that would place Alaska directly on the front lines of World War 3.

Now, the point about Russia's proximity to Alaska might be equatable to Mexico's proximity to Texas, except that the part of Russia Alaska is adjacent to is thousands of miles of meaningless, uninhabited wasteland.

Which means absolutely nothing since we are talking about war planes and missiles, not troops.

Granted, some military manoeuvres by Russia take place there, but any more than the usual sabre-rattling we've come to expect from the Russians? How much of a threat it is to the USA is debatable, and an invasion by Russia is incredibly unlikely.

It's debatable because it is a inconvenient truth for you. It may be sabre rattling, but you have a maniac in power in Russia at the moment which had just invaded a neighboring country, while tensions were escalating with the west because of our missile program. At any moment during the Georgia crisis, Putin could believe that the US support for Georgia was tantamount to war and decide to take us out. Hell at any point in the last 10 years Putin could go off the deep end and decide to blow us away. That is the risk you take when you have such a maniac in power, and as the Governor on the state that would be on the front line of such a war, she would have much more insight into the comings and goings of Russia, than a Freshman Senator from Illinois. You would have to, just as the current Governor of Texas has much more insight into the gang wars happening right across the Texas border, than the Governor of New York. It is the height of stupidity not to believe a Governor would not have every eye focused on what is happening in his or her own back yard.

There is also the fact that most of Russia's political action occurs in Moscow, and if we're using proximity as a factor, both New York City and Juneau are about 4500 miles away from Moscow.

Yet Moscow has shown that they will use military aggression against Alaska first, not New York State.

The point is, it is a ridiculous argument to say that Palin has any kind of Russian political expertise because Alaskans can see Russia.

It is just a ridiculous argument to take what she is saying at face value and not see the nuance of it.