Is Palin qualified to be President?
Click the play button to see what Jack and our viewers had to say. (PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
There is a reason the McCain campaign keeps Governor Sarah Palin away from the press.
This is a direct excerpt from Katie Couric's One-On-One interview with Sarah Palin, which aired Wednesday on CBS.
COURIC: Why isn’t it better, Governor Palin, to spend $700 billion helping middle-class families struggling with health care, housing, gas and groceries? … Instead of helping these big financial institutions that played a role in creating this mess?
PALIN: Ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health care reform that is needed to help shore up the economy– Oh, it’s got to be about job creation too. So health care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions.
Watch: Cafferty: Palin fit to be president?
If McCain wins, this woman will be a 72-year- old heartbeat away from being president of the United States.
Here’s my question to you: Is Governor Sarah Palin qualified to be president?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Bit from Alabama writes:
No, Jack. As Conservative Columnist Kathleen Parker states it: "Only Palin can save McCain, her party, and the country she loves. She can bow out for personal reasons, perhaps because she wants to spend more time with her newborn. No one would criticize a mother who puts her family first."
Larry writes:
No. But I feel sorry and embarrassed for Sarah. McCain has sucked her into an 'opportunity' akin to a sub-prime mortgage situation on a house she cannot afford.
Ron writes:
Finally, someone in politics has appeared that can make G.W. look like an intellectual.
Andrea from Malagash, Nova Scotia writes:
As an American, living in Canada, I cannot agree with you more about Sarah Palin's sorry, sorry, sorry interview with Katie Couric. The real question here is "What was McCain thinking?"
Rachel writes:
Absolutely not. McCain should be ashamed of himself for making such a joke out of the Presidential election. Palin's interview with Katie Couric was the most pitiful thing I've ever seen. If she really loves her country, she needs to dismiss herself from this election. It would just be the right thing to do.
Tom writes:
Sarah Palin makes Dan Quayle look like a genius.
Laurie from Eau Claire, Wisconsin writes:
No, but Saturday Night Live would sure appreciate it!
@jackcafferty on Twitter
Come on, Jack. Do you really have to ask?
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She needs to go back to Alaska and keep an eye on the scary Russians!
Duh. She can see Russia from her porch. Who in Washington can say that? Come to think of, who in Washington would want to say that?
She's no more qualified than Marge Simpson.
No.
she is not qualified to be the dog catcher or mayor or governor or president of the pta maybe she might qualify for the fan club president of her preacher who cast out witches or witchcraft from her
No
On the list of qualified candidates, she is one step above McCain's other favorites- Paris Hilton and Britney Spears!
Jack,
I think your resume is more impressive. Seriously!
In plain english NO!!!!!!!!!!!
Jack,
I do not know if she has seen Washington D.C. but since she has seen New York City, She must be able to be mayor. Are you Kidding?
Katie Couric ....KATIE COURIC ate her for lunch during the interview on CBS. Is there any doubt why the woman is being kept from the press?
Probably not. If she was, McCain wouldn't keep her under close wraps to keep her inexperience with news media and her limited geographical perspective from becoming too well known. How sad that the Republicans will not trust a woman to be a strong witness for their agenda!
Sarah Palin isn't quailfed to be an ESPN commentator.
Kenneth Chadbourn N.C.
Jack,
No she is not qualified as far as I have seen. I don't feel she is qualified to be Govenor of Alaska. I think we should find out if she ever held an office in the PTA in Alaska. I just can't figure out how she made it as far as she has. One thing she has educated me on is the definition of foreign policy.............. just think how well qualified all of Americais with all of the foreign people flying over us all the time. i am laughing my self silly at McCain Insane pick for VP.
Judie
St. Augustine, Fl
Yes, she is more qualified the Biden. She has run a State, while Biden in 1929 was watching President Roosevelt on TV, even though he wasn't president yet and there wasn't any television. At least Sarah Palin deals with reality, not fantasy.
Palin wasn't qualified to be mayor of Wasilla, AK. Personally, I feel sorry for this woman. She was used by a dishonorable old man who saw her as what? His last best chance to be President, no matter what the cost? This is very sad. Hopefully enough Americans see it too, though I don't have much faith in "us" anymore, either.
Absolutely not! Listening to her attempt to respond to questions makes me cringe and feel sorry for her! She sound like a grade schooler trying to bluff an oral quiz, knowing she has not prepared for it. It's embarrassing to listen to an adult who displays such a lack of knowledge- Iknow kids who are more knowledgeable!
Thanks, but no thanks.
Pat
Elkmont, Alabama
Jack, Only if an intelligent life forms takes up residence in her body.
Jack,
Yes! – President of the PTA!
About as much as I am Jack.
No way, in fact they don't seem to know what to do with her. They really don't want her to debate, give interviews or even open her mouth. God help us if she were president & it could happen.
Famous Words "Now More Than Ever." "This is our Country."
John Melloncamp
Yes, the President of Alaska
Yes Jack; she is qualified to be the President of Russia. Russia is closer to Alaska (and you can see from there to boot) than the lower 48 states that most of us live in.
Palin meets the age and citizenship requirements specified in our Constitution to become President, however she fails to meet the experience and intelligence criteria to be leader of the free world. Agreed, Dubya has lowered the bar on the latter of those and look where that's got us.
Dear Jack,
I wish everybody would get off the "experience" wagon when evaluating Palin's qualifications for VP. What she has or has not done doesn't matter. It's what she knows and what she thinks. She knows so little about Foriegn Policy that she actually thinks that looking across the Bering Straights at Russia gives her all the information she needs to deal with foreign powers. She has shown that she knows absolutely nothing about economics beyond balancing a family budget and she thinks that is all she needs to know to run our government. She know so little about American history that she is bound to repeat the mistakes of the past. Is she qualified to be President? If so I am too because I write you all the time and give you my opinion. Vote for Dan NY
Jack
If you are referring to President of the PTA or local Alaska High School then yes, she is qualified. There isn't a hint so far that she is qualified to be President or Vice President of the USA.
Have you seen who she beat out for Governor? No wonder she has a high approval rating in Alaska. There just doesn't seem to be any political competition.
I know a good number of folks from the great State of Alaska, and they are thinking about a recall. She has embarrassed Alaskans, as well as women, and even pit bulls.
How Palin is where she is today boggles my mind. I wouldn't vote her to be President of any PTA!! She can't speak coherently on her own.
Couric asked her SIMPLE questions and she couldn't even form a complete sentence. What would she do if Barbara Walters interviewed her? CRY!
This is getting old.....She is unqualified and should go back to Alaska if they still want her. Saturday Night Live is going to have a field day with her and it is MCCain's FAULT!! Palin is just being used.
I don't know about the President, but she'd make a great Miss America. I keep waiting to hear her say "Whirrled Peas".
Jack;
The citizens should pay attention to this question, because, McCain, in lieu of the meltdown of the economy will soon dissappear.
If America believes that the president should be a high-flying, wolf killing, outdoor type. Sure.
I believe that this country has spiraled down a vortex of oblivion, after 8 years of Bush, and now, the new kid in town, Sara Palin – "Who is clueless" in all regards.
ES
CNN the Game Show News, that's what you guys soumd like now! All for show and nothing in regards to serving the public. With the biggest thing since the Great Depression with the banking fiasco, CNN is all preoccupied with getting battle comments, finger pinting and gossip comments. What the heck is that all about. Where CNN should be reportingthe facts to the average American who is looking for help, you follow the political games. How could you investigative reporters NOT come up with what really happened. And while you are at it, please explain to me why Congress couldn't impose some kind of act that would take the president right out of the picture and they themselves make a bill to help in thebailout with out all the politics. How could they even imagine they have to fight and compromise themselves for political reasons. Where they should stang up and say NO compensation packages and every week I want the new management here to explain their progress before gettingthe next round of relief! Make is simple and accountable. What seem to be the problem. How could you ignore the American people for sensationalism for your news instead of reporting the American casualty...joe public again!!
Get off of the Game Show news and back to reporting, please!!!
Hi Jack,
God help us. No. (I don't think McCain is qualified to be President, either, but next to Sarah he looks like Einstein.)
No, but Saturday Night Live would sure appreciate it!
Jack,
Naaka (No in Inuktitut)
After watching Sarah Palin Interview with Katie Couric from CBS News, John MaCain has made a great mistake and damage the credibility of the Grand Old Party to pick electable leaders.
No. But I feel sorry and embarrased for Sarah. McCain has sucked her into an 'opportunity' akin to a sub-prime mortgage situation on a house she cannot afford.
Now after hearing her two interviews [I don't count the fox interview be cause evened I could have come away looking good from that] I feel that she is deftly not qualified to be president. That is what she would be if something would happen to McCain or he decides not to show up.
Sarah Palin seems like a very nice person... she'd make a good friend and neighbor. She seems like a real "go-getter" one who would go to the ends of the earth to find answers....BUT................
I shudder to think of her as President! Not now with this world as it is. I don't even see McCain handling it - or Obama either! (Where's HILLARY? AL GORE? ) Perhaps some years down the road she'd be fine. To have her as our Commander-in-Chief, head of the entire free world now...no way!
The next BIG question is: will she be able to fit back into the little
box she came from? Her world has really opened up these past
few weeks.
Do pigs fly?
Come on Jack!! She's NOT qualified to be Vice President!! It's really reallllly scarey to think that this is possible, I sure hope for the good of this country that people can see beyond her good looks, because really that's all she's got.
Jack,
After enduring 8 years of a one term Governor that has destroyed the American dream for all it's legal citizens, I don't think so. At this stage in our country's history a Palin Presidency would be like reliving the Bush Presidency, because of her knowledge of the day to day operations of the Federal Government...
C.I. New York
Jack,
Naaka (No in Inuktitut)
After watching Sarah Palin Interview with Katie Couric from CBS News, John MaCain has made a great mistake and damage the credibility of the Grand Old Party to pick electable leaders.
Jack,
Sarah Palin has more experience in politics than Senator Obama. Gov. Palin has given direct orders to her state and I feel she understands how to consider options, listen to her advisors, and make a decision.
And excuse me, the democratic party can't talk about her inexperience when they have nominated a one term senator.
No way, No how, No Palin. She is not qualified to be President. The only thing she is maybe qualified for is President of the Putin Fan Club. "Russia is just over there", can be her slogan.
Jack: Why of course.....She is a pitbull with lipstick.
Not at all. Not anymore then myself being qualified to build the space shuttle in my back yard. It's to bad that in our society all the qualified people to run the country don't want the job. Having to work with all of the corrupt congress boneheads. Like George Carlin said, "Garbage in , garbage out."
No Jack!
I never thought I woul'd see the day in my lifetime, where someone running for President, or Vice President, woul'd be less experienced than the one we elected 8 years ago! Go figure!
Jack
Come on, everyone knows Palin's pick was a last desperate attempt at the Presidency for McCain.. She is not capable of being president. I wouldnt trust her to lead me down a dark alley...
Jack let her anwers question from the press.Then i will evaluate her.
Ohons Kevin
Sarah Palin is absolutely unqualified to be president. When questioned about her foreign policy experience she said her state is between Russia and Canada, and when that answer wasn't good enough she stated that their planes fly over her state! She is uninformed in all areas of politics, which is why they are hiding her from the press. If Sarah Palin becomes president we will certainly see a continuation of our failing economy.
She is way out of her league! From what I've have seen and heard from her, I'm amazed that she can even manage Alaska. From her lips I've heard an exaggerating, dishonest barracuda who lacks an ability to discuss intelligently national and international policy. As an older woman I would love to see a woman VP or President in my lifetime. But NOT Sarah Palin.
It's much too soon to ask a question like this, Jack. On paper, Sarah Palin has more executive experience than McCain, Obama, Biden, Hillary, or any other on the hill. Let's see what happens during the debate, and the interviews and answers she gives to questions by unbiased reporters, if any can be found. I need to know all the facts. Rushing to judgement is what lemmings do; not independents. Check back with me November 4th.
Frankly Jack, I have never been much of a fan of Katy Couric.... but I would have to say that yesterday's interview shows that Katy is immensely more qualified for the job than Sarah Palin.
With all of this "Me-me-I-I" stuff, if I didn't know better, i would think Palin was Guiliani in drag again!
SARAH PALIN IS ABSOLUTELY NOT QUALIFIED TO BE PREZ OR VP. IT' S OBVIOUS, THAT SHE IS WAY OUT OF HER LEAGUE. SMALL TOWN ALASKA IS THE RIGHT PLACE FOR HER. MCCAIN HAS DONE HER A GREAT DISSERVICE BY PUTTING HER ON THE TICKET JUST TO GET A 2 WEEK JOLT. HE REALLY ALWAYS THINKS OF HIMSELF AND IS REALLY NOT A NICE PERSON, VERY SELFISH. HE WOULD BE AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER IN THE OVAL OFFICE. MAYBE NOT AS BAD AS BUSH, BUT VERY CLOSE.
If McCain says Obama is not qualified to be the U.S. President because of his lack of experience, then Palin is not qualified to be the U.S. President. That is what he meant.
WOW, Palin isn't less qualifies, she is more qualified. I can't believe you censor people's comments on here, when they disagree with CNN or yourself.
Obama's six month Congressional period hardly qualifies him for President, Palin is far better qualified.
If there's bail out to be talked about, perhaps it should be about bailing the ship of fools out of jail whose greed and disregard for common people got your country into this fiasco. And no to all of it.
Are you serious? It makes my head explode to think what will happen to this country if McCain is elected president, and Palin Vice President. Don't tax my brain with such horrifying thoughts.
Sorry, Sara Palin was a very, very poor choice and McCain's judgment scares me. Palin should have known her limitations and McCain should have vetted her more carefully. I have never seen our country in such a jumbled mess! The Obama/Biden slate is our only choice.
From what I know about her... NO! She has been so sequestered and insulated from the vetting process that all she is to me is a pretty face with an attitude. She might be fantastic, but there's been too much control about what we know and don't know, and that's pretty scary. We've had enough of "administrative control" for the last 8 years, we need a true breath of fresh air, unencumbered by a lot of misinformation and hype. Flat out, I don't trust this administration or this government... period. A truly sad commentary about where we live and where we are as a republic.
Avon Lake, Ohio
No Jack!
I never thought I woul'd see the day in my lifetime, where someone running for President, or Vice President, woul'd be less qualified than the one we elected 8 years ago! Go figure!
We can ship her off to her own little island where she can be President, Mayor, Governor and citizen all at once. Every time Palin opens that mouth of hers, I swear I see an new Black hole in the Universe. It's a miracle she doesn't get hurt running around in that big brain of hers.
I have seen better interviews from people off the street at random than Palin's interviews with Katie Couric.
No. We've just had 8 years of uneducated, unenlightened, belligerent leadership, and she would only continue that legacy. You've heard the expression, "the elephant in the room;" I'm more concerned about the mess the elephant left behind.
Being fair,because I don't know her,but what I have seen. NO ! When has it been where you keep the press from a candidate where the press is all a lot of folks will see and hear about her.
We all need to pray for this country. How do this country let someone be even thought of as V P when its been said it took her 7 years to get a B D. We all know that she is not the one. We all know it.
The Bible, God was directly involved in the selections of kings, priest and judges. Today God is just as concerned about who leads the nations of this world. This will probably be the most important Presidential election of our lifetime. As important as it is for us to vote....it is just as important that we PRAY. There are less than 40 days left in this election, it is important that we lift our voices up to the Lord in one accord, making our request made known unto God! For the remaining days...... make a commitment to pray at least once a day for your candidate of choice. .
Father we ask for your forgiveness for our sins. Let your Kingdom come and Your will be done in this presidential election process. Your word states that we are to pray for all men who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives. We lift up Sen Obama to You, along with his entire campaign staff and volunteers. Let him not walk in the path of the ungodly, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful but let his delight be in Your law that he may meditate on Your word night and day. Direct his heart, let Your anointing rest upon him, let him always find time to seek Your will and direction for his life, strengthen his mind, body and soul. Fill him with your spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, courage might and knowledge.
Convict those who use ungodly campaign tactics or resort to
Jack,
The answer is a resounding NO NO NO. Furthermore, he who placed her in such a position is an IDIOT.
Jack, she wasn't qualified to be mayor of Wasilla. Were Dan Quayle and her separated at birth?
Goodness NO NO NO NO NO!!!
There is an old saying in the South about “opening your mouth and letting the world see how big of a fool you really are.” I think that Palin has passed the test on that at least. with an A+.
"And I can see Putin's plane!"
Hi Jack,
Need to share this! As I was watching the interview it felt awful. It looked and sounded like a teacher telling her students who is the bad guy and the good guy in the schoolyard. Even the language used was not even sophisticated to begin with! It is terrible! And to say never second guess an ally! I stop! I rest my case and my ears! I can not hear this anymore!!!
Diane Dagenais Turbide
NO!!!!! All you have to do is watch her last interview with Katie Couric to see that.
About as much as that Pitbull she talked about. You know the one with lipstick.
I think McCain picked Palin, so the public might, by comparison, think that his buddy the outgoing President Bush looks qualified and literate. But to answer your question.... not by a long shot.
Sarah Palin is not qualified to be Vice President, let alone President. While energetic, her overall communication skills are poor. Her lack of education needed at this level is very obvious. Her post-high school education is not at all evident. I have seen many very intelligent, well-rounded people who do not have a college degree that I would trust with a high office. Sarah Palin is nowhere close to these talented individuals.
And so is every American. Even the not so smart ones. Cause they saw Russian not from the backyards but from their TV's and Mission Impossible in the movies. Now that's foreign policy.
While personally I don't believe she is qualified to be my President. I think it is important to recognize the FACT that after what will be eight years of "W" our standards have significantly declined. I recently heard someone make the statement "Truth is whatever I can get you to believe and the easiest person to convince is the individual who is already on my side for other reasons." While this comment wasn't made in the context of politics I think it's quite appropriate for the situation. That is what really bothers me about having a party system and the ever growing dedication / obsessiveness toward these entities that some people have toward them. Its scary to think that someone would put the cause of party control over the cause of the good of people. Its sad to think that individuals are influence to vote based on the fear of rejection. Party affiliation should never be a policy factor because Parties are nothing more than a blanket for party perceptions. These parties utilize hot-topic issues like abortion to entice or anger individuals to join their cause and are used as reminders (based on fear) of why those individuals should remain loyal when loyalty is being tested. Palin is nothing more than a rally cry for the McCain campaign.
Jack, since you usually select responses that are witty or full of passion, but rarely choose those based upon mastery of the subject matter, I must doubt that mine will be read on air. Other than requiring the President to be an U.S. born citizen and at least 35, there is no official, written job description or list of qualifications for the Presidency. Our founding fathers had no clue regarding today's state-of-the-art job placement techniques developed, validated, and used by Industrial/Organizational Psychologists. Too few people care about or are aware of how accurate some selection tools are in predicting successful job applicants. The Presidency, while enormously important, is still just another government position for which standards can be established and for which effective selection tools can be developed. Until this is done, regardless of how wonderful or pitiful one might believe her to be, Ms. Palin is as qualified as any other 35 year old U.S. born citizen.
Absolutely NOT. It should be obvious after she couldn't give a coherent answer when asked if she had ever spoken with Putin. She sounded like a fifth grader giving his first book report. Do we really want someone so mis-informed (or just plain stupid) to represent us. We allready are getting rid of a president who cannot put a complete sentence together.
No, while she is a govenor she has very limited knowledge about National Affairs (policies).
Get real Jack ! You ask the strangest questions.
What with Joe Biden with his foot always in his mouth, you dare to question someone who is careful if she is qualified?
Obama sure isn't qualified. And he's at the top of the dem's ticket ! Where the logic in that? Huh ?
At least Sarah will have a chance to get her "seal egs" – if obama was to win , ( BIG IF ! ) do we have to hold our breath while he gets his "sea legs" ? hmmmmmmmmm What a thought.
And all this while the nation needs a leader. hmmmmmmmmm THINK ABOUT this ! A pause for thought !
Sarah has more experience and qualification than Joe – who incidently she happens to be in the opposing position for. hmmmmm
In response to your question, NO I do not see in her the quality, knowledge, world view that was as Americans except in our United States Vice President. Sarah Palin does not process the education, i.e. the vocabulary required to articulate the views of an administration. Her interview with Katie K. the small portion I saw was an embarrassment to herself as well as Senator John McCain. She just does not have the need exposure; she is a nice small town Governor in middle America with a limited world view.
Jack, seriously, have you seen any of her interviews? Enough said.
No way is she qualified. Just because she is Governor and was a mayor doesn't make her qualified. Did we not hear her response as to her foreign policy credentials? Come on now.
Jack, I think a better question would have been... "How soon do you think after the Vice Presidential debates will John McCain dump Sarah Palin and ask Joe Lieberman to be his running mate?"
No! She may shoot like Cheney which is scary enough but she doesn't have the acumen of a political leader let alone the savvy of a political strategist. She is not proper for the position!
I am scared to death, first McCain is to old, he should be enjoying retirement, his pick for VP shows us his judgement is impaired!
Trick question, right Jack?
Absolutely, she's qualified... She's an expert on foreign policy. She's the only American who knows that both Russia and Canada are a part of the stae she's the Executive of... At least, that's what she told Katie Couric.
She also knows about McCain's track record in fighting too much deregulation... She told Katie she'd find some examples and bring them to her.
Qualified? I wonder how she got elected Govenor of Alaska.
Hello Jack.
Thanks but no Thanks.
She should go back to Alaska and keep an eye on Russia. I think you know they are moving and you can see them. That interview that she did yesterday. I still can not understand what in the world she was talking about.
Are you kidding???? Absolutely, Positively NOT!!!! The mere thought of her as president scares me to death. We've seen what happens when someone mediocre has the job...do we really want to go for worse???
I've always regarded our politics, to a great degree, as sport. And like
all you other junkies, I get drawn in. But, this Sarah thing beats all!
Especially how all those cheering Republicans welcomed this
McCain zinger. And now they want her to step down? What then
about his next zany choice? Maybe a night-before-election change
next time. Republicans, you are something ,really sporting, to behold.
jack,this woman makes me nervous she thinks seeing russia is a reason to run the u.s i can see the univ.of pittsburgh from my house does that mean im a professor come on!
Jack, Sarah Palin undoubtedly is not ready to be president. McCain made a serious mistake in choosing her. Watching the interviews that she did with Katie Couric and Charles Gibson I could tell that she lacked experience in foreign policy. She also did not know where McCain stood on the issues. That is why his campaign has kept her away from the press. But, by doing this Palin will not have the practice that she needs to prepare for interviews and most importantly the debate with Senator Biden. If Palin continues to stumble the public’s confidence in her will decrease. If she can’t be trusted she won’t be taken seriously. And as a result of this McCain could lose the election.
Not at all! This is why the McCain camp has sheltered her from reporter's questions.
The thoughts of this woman one heartbeat away from the Presidency sends cold chills down my spine. What was McCain thinking or was he thinking? I'm voting for Obama but the Republican party has many fine capable woman – Elizabeth Dole, Kay Baily Hutchison, Condie Rice to name a few. Sen. McCain should finish this next 39 days out and then he and Cindy should get in one of their 13 cars and take a motor trip of America where perhaps they would get some sort of clue as to what is exactly going on !!!!!
She is an embarrassment to Americans! McCain showed he has poor judgement by choosing her. Now if Americans were not caught up in their racist attitudes the polls would have him buried. He has also neglected to realize the enormous youth vote with unlisted cell #s that are not polled. Stay in Palin, comedians need 2 nuts in Office.
Absolutely NOT!! Even if she can cram for the exam (with the Bush people tutoring her) she has no depth of knowledge on issues. I am troubled by her perky lack of doubt about her ability to assume command of the world's only superpower. I am troubled by her literal-minded Christian dogmatism. I am troubled that McCain promised he would choose someone for his vice-president who is qualified to take over the presidency on a moment's notice, but then he chose Palin. I question his lack of judgement.
I do not want my next president to be the guy who graduated at the bottom of his class at the naval academy, paired with a vice president who attended 6 colleges to get her journalism degree. We have had 8 years of experience with mediocrity and it has been nothing short of tragic. Think of the example we set. We don't teach our children anything about the importance of a good education when we reward mediocrity. Why do we allow conservatives to denigrate intellectuals?
This time I want someone smarter than me to be my president. I want someone who studied seriously and succeeded at college and was at the top of his class in law school and taught constitutional law. I'm voting for Obama and Biden.
Considering she thinks living next to Russia and Canada gives her foreign policy experience, I could assume that everyone with a head on their shoulders can say NO! How could she be ready to run or co-run the country when she can't answer reporters questions? How can she possibly be the right person to run the country if McCain had an accident? How could anyone in there right mind vote for someone that nobody knows about!? She got voted as governor of Alaska for a reason, and I'm sure they are good reasons for that state. However, that doesn't automatically qualify you for the #2 seat in the US government, just as being a POW doesn't qualify you to be in the top seat.
Yes, Sarah Palin is qualified to be President. President of Alaska and John McCain can be her V.P. , when they succeed from the union. Then they can build a bridge to Russia.
I HAVE NOT MADE THAT COMMENT BEFORE!
i
Bill Pie Hamilton Square, NJ
No! However after this mess, she would be lucky if she was elected President of the Moose Lodge.
Jack, Her readiness for president is no longer a question, even the die hard conservatives like David Brooks, George Will, David Frum, and Parker have admitted that she is a total liability. The question is should she drop out for the sake of her party?
I would like to remind everyone that Ronald Reagan was born in 1911 and was President from 1980-1988. He was older than John McCain when he started his second term. So let's talk about Sarah Palin in the context she is running. VP...Obama is the one lacking experience to be President. He says he was against the war in Iraq when he wasn't even in the senate and therefore was not privia to the information John McCain, Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden had when they voted for the war.
Please, America, be very wary of this woman. Somebody who is rendered nearly speechless by Katie Couric is scarcely ready to take on any influential role in the government of what I still believe remains the greatest nation on earth ... despite its current greed-hungry and bickering "leadership."
Haha, don't make me laugh and gag at the same time with that question. Of course she isn't qualified to be President OR Vice President, are you kidding me?
In fact to be honest with you... the thought of her in either office scares the living hell of me... and I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way.
*Obama/Biden 08*
If all the Vice President does is slip into the shadows and do nothing else, then, yes. As it is, though, the VP has a large role to play in the Senate, and–most importantly–MUST be ready at a moment's notice to take over the Presidency. For this reason, the VP, I think, should be even more qualified to be President than the President himself. Using that reasoning, Sarah Palin is immensely UNqualified to be anything other than a hockey mom. There's a group on Facebook called "My Dog Is More Qualified to be Vice President than Sarah Palin." It's oh, so true.
The question appears to be strangely immaterial. Since joining the ticket, Sarah Palin has solidified the Republican base for John McCain more effectively than even he could have hoped for. Her obvious lack of substantive understanding of several issues has been acutely apparent in the few interviews she's given so far, but these are subsequently blamed on the biased, "liberal" media. And why has she only provided 3 interviews? According to McCain's campaign manager Rick Davis, it's because she's not shown enough "deference". So is she qualified to be president? Well, millions of Americans seem to think so. God help us.
Originally, I had my doubts about Sarah Palin's lack of qualifications to be President. Since her three television interviews, I have absolutely no doubt that she is the most woefully unqualified person every chosen to be on the ticket.
The McCain campaign has been coaching her for weeks now and if that is best she can do in response to relatively simple questions such as the one Katie Couric asked her regarding her foreign policy credentials, I now question not only her qualifications, but her ability to graps even the simplest of questions.
In addition, her demeanor was painfully embarassing to witness even by someone who is not a supporter. It was like watching a deer in headlights combined with a flustered school girl. The way she handles herself was almost juvenile. This is not a beauty contest, this is the second most important job in the United States and Sarah Palin is woefully unqualified both by knowledge and temperament to be Vice President.
I want some of what Jim Johnston is smoking.
Jim Johnston September 26th, 2008 3:05 pm ET
Yes, she is more qualified the Biden. She has run a State, while Biden in 1929 was watching President Roosevelt on TV, even though he wasn’t president yet and there wasn’t any television. At least Sarah Palin deals with reality, not fantasy.
I gone from anger and amazement, to overwhelming sympathy for this woman. She is in way, way over her head, and its not really her fault. She has no more capacity, in fact, far less, than I have to be a VP, let alone President, and I'm Canadian ... which I guess makes me an expert in foreign affairs though ...
All kidding aside, this is very sad. This woman has been abused by the impetuous caprice of the idiot who is her running mate. Being a hero does not qualify you to be president, nor to make smart decisions.
Of Course!
We in the GOP feel she is a dramatic impovement over our current incumbent VP Dick "Darth Vadar" Cheney. She's a more accomplished marksman and she can spell potatow with the best of us.
No. Its a simple as that
President of what?
Jack- I saw the interview with Katie Couric & it scared the h- out of me. She sounded exactly like the blonde in the Miss Teenage America contest. I don't dislike McCain, but Palin is the least qualified candidate I've ever heard in every respect. Can anyone posibly imagine her in talks with Russia, Iran, Pakistan etc. I'm sure all of our enimies pray she gets elected. WE should pray that she doesn't. Make your votes count.
David, Las Vegas
Are you kidding????? God help us if that ever happens!!!!
I have National Security Experience! At least as much as she does. I live in Arizona and previously in California so every time someone from Mexico rears their ugly head and comes into the US they came into the state where I lived..........that is what she gave as experience.
You've got to be joking! NO!
Jack
It is a big no. Sara Palin is not even qualified to become a history teacher in a middle school. It is high time that we bring legislation in selecting the VP candidate. McCain could have very well outsourced the VP candidate rather than selecting such an imcompetant candidate.
what?
I don't think anyone could honestly be comfortable with the idea of someone dumber than Bush being a heartbeat away from the presidency of a 72-year-old heart.
No she is not. At this time of great crisis for the country, maybe the pig would be better lipstick or no lipstick
I mean come on Jack! Do americans leave their brains on the nighstand when they wake up in the morning? How can anyone honestly believe this individual is remotely qualified to be vice president, president or even in charge of anything. Im just baffled. We need people in charge who can actually analyze and come up with a plan that solves real problems and the Mccain-Palin ticket, putting issues aside, is clearly not ready to do anything.
I don't believe so! I don't even know how she became Gov. I do know why the McCain campaigne kept her away from the media, she comes across stumbling trying to remember how the campainge told her to answer. She has NO experiance dealing with other nations. She stated that her state sends planes to protect the border, but that is not true! It is the military that is in charge of protecting those borders. Too many lies! Too many bridges to nowhere! Thanks but no thanks!
Lord, what a scary thought !! I can't believe that she is still in the running.
Jack, If you consider an Ice-Hockey Mom that is sheltered from media and public exposure and will attain the highest office in the world with just the SLIGHTEST of health issues of John McCain...No, I do NOT feel she is qualified.
Page in Boise, Idaho
I read this joke on another blog: The rancher was asked his opinion of Palin. He said she was a post turtle. When queried about what a post turtle was, the rancher replied, "A post turtle is a turtle on a fence post. It doesn't belong up there, had nothing to do up there, could not have gotten there by itself. I wonder what idiot put it there?"
Get the hook quick!
Some one said the other day rather than cut the check for 700 Billion dollars , this would be enough money to pay every tax paying citizen in the united states over 18 yrs of age an estimated $400,000.00. Send out these checks, we will pay off our mortgages, changes , buy new cars and get the county moving quite quickly... Why not it our money anyway.
Oh God no ! After all we have seen I don't even think she is qualified to be the Govenor of Alaska. This would be a joke if it wasn't so deadly serious....
If I knew I didn't have to be qualified I would have started campaigning months ago! Poor Palin, does she know that just because men think she looks nice doesn't mean she's qualified to be V.P.? We think Bush is bad, just think how bad it will be if Palin is in office! She'll be too preoccupied caring for her grandchild and her own little one...
Carbondale, IL
(Go Salukis!)
With each interview, it becomes sadly more apparent that Gov. Palin is not qualified for either VP or God forbid, President, Jack.
I say sadly because it is so obvious how out of her depth she is and with each answer she flounders with, it becomes even more obvious, painful to watch and downright frightening that she could possibly be elected to the second highest office of our country.
Is this a trick question? She's proven she can't even speak clearly in an interview, let alone bring qualified judgement to serious issues. Oh wait, neither can Bush. So yes then I guess Sarah, the female version of Bush, is ready to lead!
What a joke and a bad one at that.
I think it is the usual Republican distraction manuver that Bush & Chaney use so well.
Coverage of her should stop.
Mike
Watch her interview with Catie Couric and decide for yourself. Most American's have as much foreign policy experience, since we have to interact with Latinos or others of foreign descent every day. I think that the job requires a little more than what she has demonstrated to the press with her few interviews.
No. But in all fairness, no one should be a target to scrutiny for the benefit of any Political Party. My advise to Sarah Palin is realize that you are over your head and back out gracefully.
There's a joke circulating the internet about Sarah Palin:
Sarah Palin is a post turtle. What's a post turtle? When you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that's a post turtle. You know she didn't get there by herself, she doesn't belong up there, she won't know what to do while she's up there and you wonder what kind of moron put her there in the first place.
Let's carry the reality TV thing just one step further. Let's drop her in Eye-Rack (where she says she has been) and see if she can find her way home. Should be safe seeing as how victory is at hand and all that.
I am much more qualified to be President. I have traveled the world, fought for my country, and have talked to leaders. When I see and hear Gov. Palin, I can only find myself believing we are in a Disney movie. I was a Navy Pilot inst. in VA-174 out of Cecil Field, during Nam and I can honestly say that the selection of Palin was just out of McCain's playbook or was that his very full black book? It shows the instability of John McCain. Perhaps that is why he was passed over for Admiral and should never be selected as Commander in Chief.
You can see from Palin's choreographed comments she has been allowed to make to the press there is no sense in having a vice presidential debate as we have already seen how unprepared for the job she is. I have no doubt she is a good governor for Alaska but unprepared for the national stage. That makes two from the same party not ready for the White House. Vote Wisely!
Jack let me remind all of us that the main job description of the president of the united States is to proctect the constitution. After spending 6 years in so many different school to get BA in journalism, I don't know how much Mrs Palin knows about the US constitution. If she cannot stand the heat from the media, how can she stand the heat from foreign leaders such as Russian current prime minister and former president Putin. Just to picture her standing up against the North Korean regime or conducting the peace process between Israel and Palestine freaks me out. May be she can have tea with Assad of Syria or Moubarak of Egypt.
Springfield Illinois.
Jack,
Palin is absolutely unqualified. Have the Conservatives and Republicans lost thier minds?. We see what can happen to our Nation when unqualified people become President and VP. What is going on in our country. Palin is not only unqualified she is clueless, Mccain has demonstrated to US just how unqualified he is. if these two jokers get elected God help us all
Palin sounds awfully familiar – George Bush with an updo. She's about as dumb. Pretty soon the GOP will invent a catchphrase for her too, like compassionate conservatism was popular for Bush. We saw how well that worked for the first responders who volunteered at the WTC site on 9/11, as well as the victims of Katrina. Perhaps her motto could be "Palin's Pablum."
Bellmore, New York
It's getting harder and harder to watch her interviews. She doesn't appear to have any more than an inch deep grasp of national and international issues. She's a big fish in the little pond of Alaska that will never be as successful as Nemo in finding her place among the big global fish in the ocean. God help America if she ends up our leader.
Even sports fans can quote more about their favorite players than Palin can about her own running mate, let alone any in depth understanding of foreign policy or the economy. Palin had 3 1/2 weeks to cram for the test of Vice President, and she still lacks an in-depth, individual viewpoint on major issues.
When probed to name any major achievement of McCain's, Palin still recites that he's a 'maverick'. If Palin can't take 15 minutes of her time to read McCain's resume, how can we possibly believe she will prepare herself to lead?
-Lola
St. Petersburg, Fl
We expect our national leaders to be coherent about basic matters, like foreign policy. Govenor Palin's reply to Ms Couric's questions about Russia and Israel was distressing as well as confusing. How could a candidate for President choose such an obviously unqualified person to be a heart beat from the Presidency.
I think anyone with even minor sensibilities can see that this was a huge mistake. She consistently sounds like a mesh of talking points gone bad. At this point I am not sure that she has any opinions of her own and she has not been able to sound learned.
This recent comments about "putin rearing his head" is the final straw for me. I just cannot believe the guile of the GOP expecting us to elect her to our 2nd highest office. I liked Palin initially, but I was never fooled.
Now, I am more convinced than ever that she is entirely not qualified and the McCain campaign's attempt to coach her up has produced this mumbling mess of talking points.
This my friends, is a true travesty.
I don't believe Sarah Palin is remotely qualified to be President or Vice President. Aside from lacking experience, she isn't credible, articulate or able to work without a script.
Watching the Palin interview from GMA with Katie Couric was simply painful. It was akin to a really bad job interview and Palin was the applicant who was unable to coherently answer a single question being put to her. Palin's responses to the foreign policy questions were like the applicant trying to verbally "pad her experience" where she clearly had none.
I wouldn't hire her!
A resounding NO!!! Her views, her ideology as well as her limited appeal are definite negatives. She does not have the broad based knowledge, background and qualifications to run a country this large and complex.
If Palen were truly "ready to lead" as she and McBush claim, then as a vice president, she should be able to step in when McBush is not available. So, why didn't he send Palin to the debate, and he could have stayed in Washington.
No, she can see the moon from Alaska, so I think she is more
qualified to be an astronaut. Let's shoot her into space. Then we
won't have to watch her embarass herself trying to answer questions
about foreign policy. She can tell us how pretty Alaska looks from
outer space.
Sarah Palin's answers questions very simplistic like a child. In her interview with Katie, she talks about Russia in our airspace like a child talking about why is the sky blue. She talks about Israel and they are the "good guys" and should not be "second guessed" like kids watching a western and they know the good guys because they have on a white hat. Sarah seems like a nice person and likeable, but you cant solve our country's problems and world problems with a hug or a smile (even if you have lipstick on). She is not qualified, and is constantly making statements that causes her to be ridiculed.
Palin isn't even qualified to be interviewed on camera.
Is Obama?
Of course, you would never ask that. The Constitution requires that the President be 35 or over and born in the US. You and I and many readers here are ‘qualified’, and that is the easy answer.
Palin fills both criteria. She has far more executive experience compared to Obama’s NONE. But neither she nor Obama are even close to being the most qualified, compared to the many persons we COULD have on the tickets, and you and everyone else knows it
AS was said in the Wizard of Oz, where Palin would fit right in Jack. The wizard asks the scarecrow what he wanted, and it was a "BRAIN" That is what Palin lacks Jack. Maybe she should follow the yellow brick road.
I really don't have much confidence in her ability to run the country. One might argue that she has an 80+% approval rating in Alaska. What do you think anyone's approval rating would be if you doubled state revenues and removed sales and income taxes. Everything has been paid for by federal earmarks. Alaska is the largest per-capita recipient of federal earmarks lobbying for $750 million over 2 years. Oh by the way she kept the money for the bridge to nowhere. Alaska has benefited at the expense of the rest of the country, how patriotic.
Oh and on the suspension of the debate, wasn't it suggested they bump the Vice Presidential Debate for the postponed Presidential Debate? It doesn't sound like the McCain campaign has much faith in her abilities either.
Tim – Cedar Rapids, Iowa
I can not believe we are even having a discussion about her being qualified to be president. The woman is a disaster, she has nothing in her head, she obviously thinks on a very basic level. She is fine when it comes to distorting the truth or flat out lying. The question should be is John McCain qualified to be president,after having made her his choice to be vice president. I have many doubts about the man myself. Even here in Choteau, Montana I have noticed only the very hard core of the repug faithful have McCain signs in their yards. And most are just McCain signs not the McCain/Palin combo signs. She is an idiot...
Lord,what a scary thought !! I can't believe that she is still in the running.
No! she is not qualified. She doesn't know how to answer a question with intelligence she reminds me of teenager who is trying to be something she isn't. She may perhaps be capable of being a small town Mayor, but she's certainly not ready for the national/ international stage. She does not represent the many intelligent women I know.
D. Wood
Virginia
Her latest interview with Katie Couric was painful to watch. My 10 year son has a larger vocabulary than Palin does. In her defense however, my son also separates things between "good guys" and "bad guys". So essentially she speaks on the level of a 5th grader. She's so not ready it isn't funny, it is TERRIFYING!
How do we know the answer to that, we haven't had the opportunity to get to know her. She is under lock and key, and when they do give her permission to speak, (yes she needs permission), she comes off so confused that all you can feel is pity for her. It's very unfortunate.
NO. But the Republican Party would never admitted, they were going after those 18 millions quack in the ceiling that Hillary had, and now it has back fired on them, be careful what you ask for you just might get it, and t hey did. Thank, Winnie
Jack,
Sure, Palin is qualified, by constitutional definition.
But then, so is Dubya.
The question isn't whether Palin is qualified to be President. The question is, "Is a woman who champions her own daughter's reproductive choices while actively working to take that choice away from all other American women the sort of person we want anywhere near the White House?"
Jackson
Rome, GA
As much as I am,I have run a small company.That's enough qualification to be vice president in this flawed government.
are you kidding me ? remember that beauty queen that stumbled on her answer and made a fool of herself ? Remind you of someone ?Did you hear Sarah Palin with "i can see Russia from different places in Alaska ". Geez, unbelievable..does this sound like someone who could be commander-in-chief ? It is funny if it weren't so darn scary..!!!!!!!!! If he wanted a woman..why not Christiane Amanpour ? Now, she is qualified and has been out of the country more than once...
It has become apparent, even to a number of conservatives that originally supported her, that she doesn't have what it takes. Anytime she gets off script, she is in big trouble.
Stupid question. Sarah Palin is McCain's VP nominee. McCain is the one running for President, not Palin.
If McCain invented the Blackberry; Palin invented the manure spreader.
Miami, FL
NO!
She is not qualified at the national level for anything other than reading a speech.
No! Let me just say send her home, Alaskans will take a hit for the team-sorry America!
Umm ... I think you know the answer to this one, Jack.
She most definitely is not qualified to be president. This is even more concerning as McCain seems to get weaker (physically, mentally and politically) with every day.
She is a truly scary thought as president. No doubt a nice enough person in her own circle ... Alaska, which is where she should return pronto.
By definition, all persons 35yrs. and older, and are born in America are qualified. Would Sarah Palin make a good president? THANKS, BUT NO THANKS!
It friightenes me to think that she could be our "Commander In Chief"
Come on folks, can we set ourselves up to put her second in command, If she moves up the totem pole will we be lead by another Bush administration because she's gonna need some help and we are not going to know who that help might be.
Bettye B.
Thomasville, Ga
Jack, Sarah Palin undoubtedly is not ready to be president. McCain made a serious mistake in choosing her. Watching the interviews that she did with Katie Couric and Charles Gibson I could tell that she lacked experience in foreign policy. She also did not know where McCain stood on the issues. That is why his campaign has kept her away from the press. But, by doing this Palin will not have the practice that she needs to prepare for interviews and most importantly the debate with Senator Biden. If Palin continues to stumble the public’s confidence in her will decrease. If she can’t be trusted she won’t be taken seriously. And as a result of this McCain could lose the election.
She reminds me a lot of our current president. Way in over her head. Like a deer caught in the headlights. That's why we have this mess on our hands now. GB Troy
No.
The prospect frightens me. I know there is a learning curve, but I think it would be easier for a chicken to learn to play piano than for Sarah Palin to become a competent leader of the free world. She is in so over her head and not aware enough to know it. But, John McCain should.
She has foreign affairs experience, because when planes take off from Russia, which is only eight miles away, she said they have to look up and watch because it is flying over Alaska. I believe this gives her terrorism experience as well . She has been Governor of Alaska for two years and in that time Russia has never attacked her state.
So Jack wouldn't you feel more comfortable with her as VP, or maybe even President?
NO! She needs to stay in Alaska where they seem to appreciate her.
Sister Sarah is not qualified to even be the governor of Alaska! Her performance with Katie was horrific and scary!
Sarah Palin is about as qualified to be the President of the United
States, as Dennis Kucinich is qualified to run the Pentagon.
Did the Russians really put McCain up to this? Oh I know, Palin IS the Deadliest Catch!
Jack,
The answer to your question is a simple NO. But I have to say that as a Democrat, I kind of feel sorry for her given the way the McCain camp is using her and setting her up to look like an imbecile. It is a real sad state of affairs when campaign surrogates look right into the camera and defend her interview performances when it is so obvious that she not only can't answer the questions, but that the campaign has failed miserably in prepping her. I could have prepped her better for these interviews and her upcoming debate with Joe Biden. John McCain and his minions are doing this well meaning, albeit unprepared, American a tremendous disservice. Worst case scenario – she and McCain get elected and the unfortunate happens making it necessary for Sarah Palin take over the office of the Presidency. This would be sad for the United States, but it would be unfair to her.
Robert
North Port, FL
Seems the only thing the foreign leaders could manage to say about her is that she was gorgeous, which, was their kind way of saying you have no brains! Honestly, I don't think she could manage my tiny town of 5800 so I am certain she cannot manager the USA!
Are we sure she is an earthling? Maybe she fell out of a UFO. Either that or they through her out.
Palin isn't qualified to be mayor of Wasilla. She makes Miss South Carolina look like Albert Einstein.
If anyone thinks that Caribou Barbie is ready to be President, then I've got a bridge to no where to sell you.
Is she qualified to be President, Vice President, The White Phone Operator, NO!!! NO!!! NO!!!
This is not Americas Next Top Model!
Jack, I'll try to find you some good reasons why she's qualified to be President and I'll bring them to you.
Stop asking questions like is she ready to be president...She is not ready to be a Vice President thats her job and she is terrible.
I am afraid McCain will order Pizza on the red phone and set bombs off all over the world. Now I am afraid Sarah Palins head will explode from all the air in there. The VP can't be just another pretty face. Tina Fey is probably more qualified then Sarah Palin.
Her candidacy is a joke!
She doesn't appear to be qualified to be governor of Alaska, much less Vice President or President of these United States.
It would appear that Alaska has a much lower threshold of qualifications for its top governmental position.
Yes, she's quaified. As for your opinion..Was it just asked?
No; She is frightening!!!!! YIKES
Four years ago, I had a passport, and while traveling abroad, I saw Tony Blair in a hotel lobby. That's two ways I have more foreign policy experience than Sarah Palin.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.... you got to be kidding.
NO!!!!!!! She is a GOPAC trainee that is waaaay out of her league.
She is qualified to be the President....
of the Mickey Mouse Club. That's it. what the hell is going on up the in Alaska to elect such a flake?
You are kidding, right? Right??
I just love Jack Cafferty
I would love to see a woman as president or VP, DEFINITELY NOT SARAH PALIN
Jack S
she ia more qualified than Barack Obama and she as spent alot of time as mayor and Governor. Obama has spent most of his time running for president
I am concluding that Sarah Palin was incorrectly nominated for the vice-presidency. She is more properly qualified to be the next Mrs. America,.
I can't believe this is happening. I'm very afraid!!
Quite simply, no–she is not qualified to be President, Vice President or even Press Secretary! The most disappointing thing is that millions of people will vote for the McCain/Palin ticket and not take into account the Katie Couric interview...SHE IS NOT READY TO LEAD THIS GREAT COUNTRY!
I believe this woman was chosen because McCain is trying to throw the race. Why should he even consider facing these problems. She is his way out and he has lost my vote.
No. She's not qualified to be the Governor of Alaska either.
No, more of us (Alaskans) than you can imagine do not think Sara Palin is remotely qualified to be Vice President of the United States. Why? Mayor of Wasilla. Have you ever visited Wasilla? I've been there dozens of times and if you blink, you'll miss it. She's been governor less than 20 months and her administration is not inclusive of minorities or women (all white males). She seems to avoid minorities whenever possible and her meeting at the UN is the closest she has ever been to that many people of color in her life!
Oh, BTW, please check-out her claim regarding her visit to Russia on trade missions per Katie Couric's interview. Never happened.
It is more and more apparent everyday that the only reason this lady was picked to be vice-presidential candidate is that Hillary wasn't! Sorry McCain, but she is no Hillary! -I'm definately voting Obama!!!!
She is not qualified to be president. As a woman, every time she opens her mouth, I am embarrassed. She cannot seem to answer any questions in a way that makes sense. I am scared, very scared.
I'm far more concerned about McCain's judgement. In a nation filled with really great candidates for VP, THIS is who he picked? I don't want this brand of judgment running our country.
Absolutely not. It is not merely that Palin very clearly shows that she is not able to answer a question with a coherent thought, it is also that the thoughts she struggles to assemble are very clearly snippets of someone else's prep sessions with her. This is a frightening prospect, I am only thankful that the honeymoon is ending for her and we are back in reality. Thank you for not letting Wolf gloss that over - we cannot feel bad for her because she is unprepared. This is a Presidential election, not a reality show. Lives, fortunes, and the fate of nations are all at stake.
PUTIN WOULD SCRATCH HIS HEAD AND WALK AWAY FROM HER, CONFUSED!
It is not in the Constitution that our candidates have to have an certain amount of years of experience, or a Doctorate in Foreign policy. Maybe it should be OK that a normal person, that hasn't been jaded by years of "playing the political game", should be in charge. It's not like any president goes at the job alone, they have a slew of advisors. I am a supporter of Obama, but I also think that maybe this is a bit of a non issue.
At long last Palin is being exposed for the shameless ratings ploy she was. She is incapable of so much as a coherent sentence when asked soft ball questions by a neutered press fearful of being taken to task for its lack of deference. The VP needs to be intellectually bullet proof not a vacuous ping pong ball with lipstick.
Jack,
Thanks but no thanks to Palin!
Mccain lost my vote when he made the Palin announcement.
Mccain has been scared, hidding her away as if she were Ann Frank, scared that someone just might ASK HER A QUESTION.
If you can't defend yourself and your policy decisions, you simply cannot defend our nation..
I think Tina Fey would do just as good,maybe better if you ask me..
No! Sarah Palin is not qualified to be President! She isn't even close to being qualified to be Vice President! In fact, John McCain is a D student, so he is not qualified to be President, and President Bush isn't qualified to be the President either!
Sure she's qualified. But then I believed in the tooth fairy, and then there was Tammy Faye Baker so why not. Get real!! Owen in SD
I am terrified. Terrified to think that we all may have to contend with this woman after Nov. 4, 2008. She has been described as "gutsy" – and rightly so. Anyone who would put themselves in this position, knowing that they are unqualified and basically a "high functioning moron" (thanks for the very accurate descriptor), has way more guts than sense. It is painfully obvious that McCain pulled her out of obscurity as a desperate ploy to win this election because Obama did not chose Hillary as his running mate, not in the best interest of our country. I hate to think about the possibilities of MaCain/Palin in the White House. I shudder to think that the American people will allow that to happen. Please put the foolish hangups to the side for the good of our country! She is NO WHERE NEAR qualified for the Vice Presidency and I am ashamed of Alaskans for electing her as their governor. Surely there was some other Republican woman that was actually intelligent for McCain to snag if being a Republican woman was the only qualifier in his running mate pick. Republican women every where should be insulted more than anyone else, but all Americans should realize that this is what McCain thinks of us. We are not mindless idiots!
Palin is in no way fit to be President, Vice-president, or even president of the PTA. Palin has showed us that her political career is a fun-filled escapade in a rural part of the world where very little happens. Mccain is trying to super-impose a Hillary-type figure for womens votes and that is an unequivocal insult by people who think women and liberals are too dumb to notice. Obama is lacking in experience but i truly believe his intentions and motives are in the right place, and his undeniable intelligence will make leaps and bounds.
NO!! I have always voted in presidential elections, but never been politically active. This year I am. As bad as the last 8 years have been under Bush, our nation will completely colapse under McCain/Palin. I am so worried that I am even volunteering for the Democratic Party this year. I was a previous Hillary supporter but Palin is not the woman we need to see in office. I am truly worried for the future of my children and grandchildren. Why can't people see the false persona she is putting forth. For that matter both her and McCain – nothing but lies and more lies. I haven't been this frightened since Nixon ran for office and won.
I have all reasons to doubt if Sarah Palin is actually ready to be president.
Hi Jack
Palin is not qualified to make a consenince decision for me or anyone else in america. I am ashamed to be a women at this point, I know more qualified grade school students... this becomming a joke and if the Republicans think that all american women black or white are buying into this uneducated womens experience they will be in for a rude awaking on November 4th. Keep up your good work Jack and continue to speak the truth, to many news journlist are being phoney about this entire mess. OBAMA all the way!!!!
No. Nothing else is needed to say.
No. All you need to see is her last three (only three interviews) Not knowing what the Bush Doctrine is the least of the problems, the fact that she will be number two to a 72 year old man is frightening.
Pathetic, is not the word to describe Sarah Palin's answer to Katie Couric's question. "Spectacularly Pathetic" would be more appropriate. John McCain is running a disengenous campaign by putting a woefully inept, ill-informed and governmentally "insecure" woman on the national stage. Her lack of readiness is AMPLIFIED. She will be "twisting in the wind" – til November 4 when she'll hopefully get a reprieve and return to her moose hunting, fish traps and oil rigs.
Jack,
I agree with you; it is the most pathetic piece of interview any Vice Presidential candidate has ever given.
In fact, Katie Couric's expression and face speaks volumes about the interview.
Ok. Sarah Palin doesn't know a lot about foreign affairs and national affairs. But this~~~
It is getting from bad to worse.
I am hoping that America wakes up soon.
Radha
I'm scared to death about this choice McCain has made in Palin. Any interview I have ever heard with her has been a joke. She doesn't understand most of the questions and I don't think she even understands what her answers are. I believe the Rep. have given her a script and she follows it no matter what the question is. McCain is on an ego trip and he things all of us women are stupid to think that just because Palin is a women we are going to vote for her, I'd rather not vote. I am 61 years old, have never missed voting and have always voted for the man I believed in regardless of his party and I do not believe in McCain and especially Palin. Oh, my heart aches just thinking about those two.
Jack,
This woman is PATHETIC!!! Watching her thought processes is like watching a game of Pong. It is totally insulting to even be asked to listen to her – much less consider her Veep material.
Rebecca
Milford, VA
my 10 year old pit-bull has more experience than Sarah Palin, at least he shuts up when i tell him to.
NO! NO! absolutly NOT!
She is not qualified to be president!
What was she doing, speaking in tongues?
What next!!. Lord help us!
Yep! Palin Qualified, more than Obama. She's got something on her Resume. Obama don't!
Funny. Unfortunately, really funny and sad. Sounds like she blends stale 'talking points' with sheer and utter nonsense! How ignorant...I know other AK women that are much more involved and educated (worldly) than their incumbant. It is painful to watch
The answer is NO If for no other reason, so Jack's head doesn't explode!
I could not put a finger on what her interview reminded me of...but I have have suddenly recalled... it's like deja vu, Jack. Miss South Carolina 's grand debut during the pageant.
It is obvious that Sarah Palin is clueless about the most pressing issues facing America. From the fact that Palin knows nothing about the Bush Doctrine to her rambling non-answer to Katie Couric on the 700 billion dollar bail out–we see another GW Bush ultra-conservative Republican trying to get elected on personality alone. God help the American people if they fall for this stunt again!
Doesn't America Get It?? She's not qualified to run Wasilla, Alaska, much less America. We've been waiting for her to speak and so far it's been photo opts and rambling non-coherent air . Wake up America!!!
That's not as scary as the fact that Obama is only one step away from the Pres. while Palin is two steps. You shouldn't worry about the heartbeat that might not happen, you should worry about the heartbeat that will happen if Obama is elected.
Sarah Palin is about as qualified to be VP as I am. The only way she got to be mayor and then governor was due to her looks and her "barracuda" personality. It certainly wasn't due to her brains. And what does that say about McBush picking her for VP.......he's brain dead!
Jack:
Heck NO!!! Palin is definitely NOT qualified to hold the office of VP!! I am ready to regergitate from all the "bull" about her being ready to serve. As you stated, "It's pathetic" for any intelligent person to think that she is!Thank you for
your honest and objective views! You are the reason I watch CNN because you epitomize the "No Bull/No Bias" slogan! Keep on telling it like it really is!
I don't think she's qualified. I believe she has too much to worry about, like her own problems. She said that she will cooperate with the troopergate investigation, now she's not. The McCain campaign built a wall around her and the troopergate. Alaskans are worried too. Many are not happy, that's why there will be a "Hold Palin Accountable Rally" protest tomorrow here in Anchorage.
Jack,
First I wanted to tell you that you are the Bomb ( that means = good for you old guys)
Ms. Palin is getting the education of a lifetime. Waht is really scary is that she also must know that she is not readybut ego is a dangerous thing.
John McShame is gambling with his Campaign and he will Gamble with our country We deserve better.
Mike
No, she isn't qualified. We need someone leading this country who is incredibly smart, well educated and has good judgment and an even temper.... that's not her.
Just because the American public wants to have a beer with her... uh... or whatever (wink wink) is not qualification.
Sarah Palin would do herself, her family, and the nation a great service if she would resign from the campaign to go home to Alaska to take care of her family, especially her pregnant daughter, and the son with Downs Syndrome. America would be filled with sympathy for her and congratulate her for putting her family and the country first.
Jack,
If she can't face the press then she is not qualified to be Govoner of Alaska and certinally not Vice President!!!!!!!! I'm a gay man that lives in rural Alabama I face my worst critics EVERYDAY! Lets see her try it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dear Jack,
I am glad you are bringing light to the Palin story. I would never vote for Mccain based on his vp choice. This is scary stuff watching her speak. It gives a bad name to women.
No she is not. Being a "hockey mom", maverick, and mother of a disabled child do not make her qualified. Although McCain is running for president, Palin must be ready to step in if necessary. McCain said "country first" but I'm afraid he put winning the campaign first.
Spring, TX
She is no more qualified to be President than I am qualified to be a heart surgeon. I have seen lots of hospitals, and been in a few operating rooms, but no one would want me to operate on them.
What I saw in Govenor Palin's answers to Katie Couric further substantiaed my belief that she is responding to questions with "sound bites". These are in no way well thought out answers. In fact they do not even address the question. It is very scary to think, if McCain were to be elected, how close to the presidency she would be.
That she is not qualified was clear to me on day two of McCain's announcement that she was his chosen running mate. What is even more frightening than her appalling lack of of basic knowledge about anything, even current events, is John McCain's decision making ability. He obviously only chose her for the short term bump she'd bring to his lackluster campaign. No thought was given to long term considerations like what would he do with her if he won. He's the one with the lack of leadership skills. She's just in way over her moose killing head. Presidential absolutely not.
Jackie
American living abroad
Again please, what did she say? I guess I don't understand "Alaskan"-I speak English.
Palin is a glass menagerie, not a vice president, and certainly not a president. She’s a fragile figurine, and McCain should keep her locked up tightly in his showcase, if she knows what’s good for him, out of earshot. Thank Katie Couric for that interview, which helps unmask the truth behind the mascara: She’s unprepared to face the dangers of the world, unprepared to answer questions, and unprepared to lead. She’s a glass menagerie, that’s it. How can this be more obvious. I only pray she’ll get more chances to speak, so America if it can get its head out of the ozone, can make an informed, intelligent choice. The future of the world could weigh on it.
Paris Hilton is more qualified to be President than Palin. At least Paris has banking experience.
No Jack. No one would be too distraught if she decided to go back to governing Alaska, mothering her newborn baby and helping her 17- year old pregnant daughter prepare for marriage and motherhood.
You cannot look me in the eye and tell me that this was the BEST person the GOP could find when they looked for a VP candidate. There are far better qualified Republicans (male and female). If this is their best shot, we have a lot to worry about in the Republican party. I thing they just wanted to throw a bone out there and see how many people would bite. As a woman, I am insulted that they would pick her and try to sell her as the BEST person qualified. Sucking up to the female voters is what they are doing and thinking they can cash in on the Hillary supporter (me), but I see through their smoke and mirrors. Obama's got my vote.
At this point I feel sorry for Palin, embarrasing herself like that.
After were starting to hear her speak , one must conclude she only answered the request because she was called to duty by her country; by John McCain rather.
She was not ready, she knew, but McCain insisted on a bad poker hand.
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Dear Mr. Cafferty-
You are absolutely right!!! I began to share your concerns after the Charlie Gibson interview. In each interview, Palin looked like a deer (or should I say moose) caught in the headlites. She is unprepared and does not actually exhibit any confidence when answering these questions. I can honestly say that eventhough I don't support her or McCain, I felt sorry for her. I would never want to be in that position. By selecting her as his running mate, McCain demonstrated that he does not put country first by selecting the most qualified running mate. Instead, he put his campaign first by rallying the Republican base which seems to be fading now.
I enjoy your commentaries. Keep up the great work!!!
-Gregg from California
Of course she's not qualified. When McCain picked her, I was very angry – it was a real insult to all of the women that ARE QUALIFIED to be President. Look at Hillary or Condi – even Nancy Pelosi – these women are experienced and smart. McCain has Carly Fiorina advising him – she's smart and experienced as a CEO of HP – she's met all the world leaders – what about her? Anyway, I don't want someone who is so 'fresh' that they have never been to Washington, I want someone who knows how to get things done in Washington and that understands the world situation as well as the one at home. In other words, I don't want someone like me (although I think I know more about the world than Palin) – I want someone smarter than I am or than the average person to be President.
She's as qualified as Obama. She may be one heart-beat away if elected, but Obama will already be there if elected. What's worse, puting an inexperienced gas-bag in office, or a highly experienced war hero with an unexperienced gas-bag as back-up? Let the nation decide.
OMG can you imagine if Palin would become president. She simply does not know anything... period. She talks out of both sides of her mouth and actually I don't understand what she is saying. .....Picking someone for VP isn't like picking out clothes and then deciding it don't fit.. Send her back to Alaska where she belongs next to Russia. Have Cheney and Bush take her along with them when they leave.
President of an Alaskan "Creationist Club" or "moose dressing" club perhaps. Of the United States? This is a just another contemptible step by the party that hates government to prove how little respect they have for real government.
What amazes me is there are people that have seen these clips, seen her answer these questions incoherently, and say "Yes Jack....she has more experience then Obama!". Are these people delusional or just unwilling to accept that this woman is way out of her league?
Sure Biden is prone to exaggerating.... I don't think he really believes that FDR was the the tube, but at least when he talks, I can UNDERSTAND what the man says....this woman talks, and the language is English, but the sentences don't make sense.
Bill
Woodbury, NJ
She is not ready to be president. Period.
Jack,
You are right on. Thanks for saying what every other journilist is afraid to say about Palin, the truth!
If voters thought she was informed before this interview, surely after seeing this, they have to see just how pathetic she really is. Scares the hell out of me also.. She is an insult to intelligent women everywhere. She's to Hillary Clinton.
No, she is not qualified!! If she gets elected, I think Russia would be a place to live.....
She believes that she can pray out "witchcraft" and that by living in a border state you get foreign policy credintials. In a time when this country needs intelligent, well-thought-out plans and diplomacy they (Republicans) have nominated a smart mouthed, uninformed and sacrastic individual.
When John McCain called Sarah Palin to tell her she was his pick for VP, she should have refused him and said: "Oh no, not me", I cannot do it , I'm not qualified."
She isn't qualified and its a huge failing on her part not to have enough self-knowledge to realize that she's not.
It's also a huge failing on John McCain's part to have picked her in the first place. Talk about judgement.! This pick is going to really hurt him as the election nears.
This isn't a Dan Quale situation. Dan Quale was way ahead of Sarah Palin.
No way. This Republican Presidential and Vice Presidential canidates remind me of the OJ Simpson Trail you cannot look away. It is just to unbelievable, you don't know whats going to occurr next. I sit watching with my mouth open. It's like a Large Mole on a persons face, I just keep starring at it unable to look away. Shame on her for even considering becoming Vice President. What an embarrassment to the Country, let alone a women.
Jim Johnson 3:05 pm ET
Quote
"Yes, she is more qualified the Biden. She has run a State, while Biden in 1929 was watching President Roosevelt on TV".
Where did you go to school... must be the sameone Palin attended. Your remarks are really dumb.
We just endured 8 years of "Bushisms" that were humorous for a time and made some people a living off them, but can we bear an era of "Palinisms"? Enough is enough. We already bear the brunt of the jokes in the political world and frankly, I don't want to see my airspace filled with "Putinisms"
Will – Anchorage,AK
Were it not for the righteous indignation with which a few desperate neo-cons still defend her, I would actually feel sorry for Sarah Palin. Thanks to her, and Senator McCain's political grandstanding in Washington during the bailout negotiations, the McCain campaign is dying a slow, painful death. It's almost not fair.
at risk of offending blondes...have concluded that Palin dyes her hair brown but is really a "blonde"
No, the only reason she is on the ticket is to appeal to the Christian Voters. There are plenty of other experienced people that would of fit the mold to keep the Christian Colation happy.
I am a Christian and I am voting for the best intrest of our country. I have never voted Democrat before but the country is so bad right now we need a change.
I cannot in good faith elect a creationist. I will never take away their right to believe it, but it does show me a fundamental distrust of reason on Palin's part. I have faith in Reason, and think it's the only thing between us and chaos, feudalism, or nuclear war.
She might be qualified to be President of the NRA but then any idiot can shoot a gun. McCain only proved his incompetence through his selection of Palin and it has nothing to do with the fact she's a woman. She makes no sense. Just read her answer. What?
Watching the unintelligible interview clip of Palin, all I could think of was the response Miss South Carolina Teen USA gave to the question of why one fifth of Americans could not locate the United States on a Map. She was running for Miss Teen USA. This woman is the nominee for Vice President of the United States! I wonder if Palin can find the US on a map.
No I feel sorry for her, keeping her in isolation has reduced her confidence. She needs more exposure; she could probably learn more in the next eight years and try again in 2012. The sad thing is they are using this woman to promote their agenda while sacrificing her confidence.
Jack,
It is obvious that she is so far over her head in this game. Every time she speaks the door opens a little further letting the light shine in. The depth of her understanding on the big issues of our day is very shallow.
Dear Jack:
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, for telling it like it is; what is wrong with everyone; have we lost our minds? I am also a retired educator of 30 years, nevermind, being an african american, but please help me to understand what are we as americans thinking about? If, Sarah Paulin was a democrat, I would be compeled to vote republican! That should say it for everyone who loves this great country. It is as if, we are playing a dangersous game, or McCain really thinks we the american people are simply the biggest fools in the entire universe. Sarah Paulin as Vice President is simply SCARRY! Lord help us!
While I am a strong believer that women can govern as well as men if not better, acumen is still required to do so. Sarah Palin is not at all qualified to be anywhere near this.
It is really sad that McCain & his team has turned this critical democratic process of electing our president into a parody. We need to stop this soon to gain some self respect back for us as Americans.
From Eden Prairie, MN:
Palin is more qualified than most and a lot of qualified people will not take the job because they lack the courage to try.
Like news talking heads, most are spectators and feel it is their mission in life to magnify the small short comings of those who do things that take courage.
Unlike the talking heads, she has had a life and it was not one of watching what others did but rather on filled with success and failure.
Palin has stood up to large problems and will continue to do so in the future.
Palin's courage and convictions will see here through any national crisis.
Jack, let me just say this – She's nice to look at though. This is just how it is in the world; you can't have the best of both worlds. Although, I think Bush is the great exception, no looks and no brain.
The real question, Jack Cafferty are you qualified to tell the news as a bi-ist newsman, I am not interested in your opinion that you want Obama, let the voters decide for themselves who they want. Jack Cafferty you are getting to old to be a newsman. You looked like a raving child that is not getting what he wants. CNN should be ashamed putting you on the air, even Wolf looked at you fun.
She is absolutely not qualified. More importantly, McCain's complete lack of judgment in choosing her shows he is equally unqualified for the Presidency. This ticket scares the hell outta me.
This question is a joke. If her name were Sam Palin and ‘He’ held the same values as ‘She’ does, no one would even be asking it! This woman is the Anti-Christ.
Governor Palin's fervent ramblings are highly reminiscent of those of that South Carolina Miss Teen USA contestant when confronted with a relevant issue question. Maybe it's just a characteristic of beauty pageant contestants to fumble around when interviewed since Palin is one.
Rob
Oviedo, FL
Of course she’s qualified to be President. She sold a plane on e-bay didn’t she? I could just see President Palin speaking at the United Nations telling all the world leaders, "And you know that bridge to no where? I told Congress thanks but no thanks".
Oh my goodness – I don't know if I should laugh or cry when she talks. I do know that she is not the answer to the question "who can best lead our country in a time of economic, environmental, & international plight?" How dare John McCain put our country last with this choice.
Jack, You just went off the Richter scale on this one.....FINALLY!!! Someone in the media is finally calling foul on this nomination!!! Everyone that I know has been screaming about this for weeks. The American people have been focusing their fear on this bail out. They are so upset that the Bush Administration has put our country in such dyer straights. What about the position that John McCain has put our country in by nominating this unqualified candidate? The Palin pick was a irresponsible gimmick. God save us all.
I feel like these Katie Couric interview bits are clips from a movie about to be released: "How a small town beauty queen from Alaska ends up President of the United States, starring Goldie Hawn and Steve Martin." It is frightening and embarrassing!
Elizabeth, Port Angeles, WA
No, she isn't qualified to be president, vice president or the governor of a state – maybe she could bea figurehead mayor of a small town. I could do a better job answering questions and putting forth John McCain's talking points and I don't even agree with them or John McCain. Selecting Sarah Palin for a VP nominee shows a total disregard for America and lousy judgement. I don't want McCain to give me any of that, "Country First," crock either. McCain has not been putting country first since 2004.
I think the fact that the Republicans picked this woman as the VP running mate for John McCain, and their insistence that she is more than experienced enough to hold the position (after going on and on about how Barack Obama is not), is insulting. It's an insult to the intelligence of the American people, and an insult to the numbers of better qualified female politicians in the Republican Party.
Are you kidding, Obama has no expierence with anything. NOTHING!!! Obama thinks there are 57 states and Biden said that FDR was president in 1929 and that hew went on TV. C'mon Obama voted present on 152 issues. Are you kidding me, he is the heart beat. Palin has run a state. Obama has been a community orginizer.
Jack – Totally identify with your view on Palin and your response to Wolf Blitzer's "soft shoe" response to your view – there is one word to describe most of the responses to the questions asked by Katie Couric – it is – "Incoherent."
Jack,
I could not agree with you more in your statements about Gov. Palin. This women needs to go back to college for the idiot courses in history, government and politics. Maybe a refresher in child care won't hurt either. Let's be realistic and realize that any mother or father who is so power hunger that they would expose their child to national scorn to satisfy their own ego is NOT what this country needs. If she has so little regard for the feelings of her own children do you really think she would have any regard for the needs, feeling or wants of the American public.
If you only need them for a six-week campaign with the intention of having a lame-duck VP like Dan Quale, at least ensure that they will add value to the campaign!!
At least vet the candidate through some public speaking and think-on-your feet assessments, because that's all a campaign is!
To the question at hand... Jack, the answer is obvious! I'd pull my children out of the school where she ran the PTA !!
Thank you Jack for replaying that very revealing clip of the Palin-Couric interview. And if you'd like to save America (and perhaps even the world) please replay it – and your commentary on it- every hour until election day. If Sarah Palin is qualified to be president then the office has lost all prestige, rationale, and relevance.
Sarah Presient of the USA?! After a moron at the helm and a oil theif as his sidekick...would we notice Sarah Palin? The nightmare would go on...and on ..and on. God help us...if He is still willing.
I don't believe Sarah Palin is qualified to be Vice President because each interview or speech will either be a nail biter, because she is not up to speed on the issues, or it will become fodder for more jokes about inarticulate politicians when she stumbles over simple statements. We have had eight years of that situation, with President Bush, and I don't want four more.
If Sara Palin were qualified to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency then why didn’t McCain propose that she debate tonight in his place because he was “too busy” solving the Wall Street crisis. The answer is obvious, not even John McCain thinks she is qualified to assume the highest office in the country. John McCain has shown the American people the quality of his judgment once again, and it is terribly flawed.
Chris
Albuquerque, New Mexico
My pinky finger has more knowledge than her! People would have A Lot more respect for her if she would just admit that she had no knowledge of certain issues. People respect the truth. Can you imagine if & when she gets in the White House? She'll sweep sh$t underneath the rug just to save face! America wake up & vote for the best candidate – regardless of race!!!!
I don't see why you're even trying, Jack. It seems to me that those who want to vote for the McCain/Palin ticket are going to do so regardless of how little qualification she shows for the job.
Jack, not at all, i watched her stutter her way out of the interview with Katie, she needs to be able to speak without any slangs ors slurrs, shows lack of education to me, or maybe that is the eskimo way. There are more qualified republicans than her, and i am definately full Democrat...
how can you be qualified for the high office in the world if you attended more than 12 different colleges!!!!!! GOD BLESS AMERICA
Jack.... for once out of 8 years can we elect an intellectual, inspirational and pragmatic leader. Palin is not even ready for a pop quiz let alone the Vice Presidency! I just can not elect ignorant leaders and this includes Mccain! I am taking my chances with obama!
corin
washington,dc
The only recognizable qualification Sarah Palin has is the fact she is a woman in the US government. As a young American woman I find the GOP decision to taut this woman as potential VP of the US patronizing and insulting. If the Republicans believe women will vote for McCain due to his teaming up with Palin, they are grandly mistaken. This woman has no substantial experience, horrid articulation and should go back to what she did best: smiling cluelessly at beauty contest judges, not American voters.
Miami, FL
I am Zimbabwean who fled to Canada. I wonder where you Americans will flee to.
PATHETIC
No way, no how..Pretty face, but that doesn't cut it. Hell, I live across the border of Mexico and I can see the Mexicans over there, but that sure as hell qualifies me as having foreign policy knowledge. What is wrong with this woman. Me thinks she is in la la land.
NOOOOOOO!!!!!! It just gets scarier by the day, and I can't imagine what they were thinking of to put her in such a position. The thing that scares me the most is that so many people seem to think she is just great. What the hell is wrong with this country? Like I keep saying The USA is simply "dumbing down" and we are in BIG trouble.
Palin is as qualified to be VP or the Pres as a pig with lipstick.
Katie Curic deserves an OSCAR for her performance during the Palin interview. How Curic kept from bursting out in a big belly laugh during the interview is beyond me. I've watched Curic a half dozen times in the last 2 days trying to see if I can detect a faint glimpse of a smile. It's not there. So give that girl an Oscar !! You know that as soon as Palin cleared the set Curic was doubled over gasping for air.
Larry
Well, I guess she would be qualified if she can see the WHITE HOUSE FROM ALASKA!!!
every time cnn airs palins interview with katie couric i'm not sure if i'm if i'm watching cnn or someone changed the channel to saturday night live which ever channel it is i get a good lough every time.
Like so many other self-deluded, self-righteous clowns, she speaks with the dull-eyed, straight-faced confidence of the truly ignorant.
The Republican establishment pawned George W. Bush on us by the same methodology in which they are attempting to pawn Palin off on us via Mc-Cain.
Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame me.
Benita Edwards
Houston, TX
I could abide a president that disagrees with some of the things I agree with such as a trade policy, abortion or other matters but to have chosen Palin is the height of cynicism and a pandering to the voter. His choice puts into question his basic judgement as a presidential candidate. Does he think we are stupid? It would seem so. It's a shame that McCain will go down in history as the candidate who chose Palin and all of his positive actions in the Congress will be over shadowed by this one thing. . . . a forgotten politician.
Mike Rosen
Oberlin, OH
I never bought into Palin's supposed 'qualifications' but now I just feel bad for her and her family. She is absolutely out of her league and clearly not qualified to be president, but this should not reflect poorly on her as a person. The blame goes to John McCain for showing such poor judgment in his choice. The McCain campaign is imploding and his VP choice ignited the fuse. His 'Politics First' approach has demonstrated his poor judgment; Just look at his actions these past two weeks.
Palin is a small town mayor at best, you are one of the few reasons I watch cnn. wolf is a jerk trying to defend her . maybe he loves her.
That's not a serious question is it? NO!!!!!!!
As a female I don't know whether to laugh or cry over the women the McCain campaign has chosen to foist on the public. On one hand, they have chosen a VP candidate that should make John McCain look like a genius, but doesn't. They both just look equally incompetent.
On the other hand, they chose Carly Fiorina to help with McCain's weakness on the economic issues, and she says he's not qualified to run a business, after she flamed out at HP. Who chose these women??? The qualified women in the Republican party must be screaming in their cloak rooms... or showers at home.
What a circus!!!
Jack,
It is so sad to see John McCain make a selection that was based upon tactical election goals by pandering to the women who feel it is time for one of their own and for the religious conservative vote.
Maybe Wasilla but if I was an Alaskan, I would have some "splaining to do" of how she became governor.
Gary
Atlanta, GA
If Sarah Palin is qualified to be President then we might as well cut stae and federal funding to our educational institutions because clearly, a good education is not a prerequisite for the job. Seriously, if she can reach the highest office in the land then what does that convey to our children about the need for a good education to reach their aspirations? This would be the biggest boon to the dummying down of America.
SARAH IS MAKING IT UP AS SHE GO'S ALONG AND IT SHOWS. IT DOSN'T SAY TO MUCH FOR THE GUY THAT CHOSE HER AS A RUNNING MATE. IT MAKES ME VERY SCARED.
I think that because she hasn't campaigned like this before and there are so many issues to learn and tackle as well as deal with the hectic pace that the campaign demands, she is burnt out.
One would hope that most Americans demand that their leaders either ARE or atleast do a good job PRETENDING TO BE experts on the issues that concern the nation. So it's one thing to speak in platitudes at a campaign rally in front of your party faithful, but at some point you have to speak with authority on atleast ONE issue.
Perhaps she hasnt had much time to sit down and be educated on the issues because of her schedule, or perhaps she isn't as studious as the others and needs more time to learn than others might require?
Either way, she seems to be in over her head and it won't be nice when more and more conservative leaders and commentators start to jump ship if she cant speak with any depth on the issues.
Jack,
No wonder she doesn't do interviews, after the few we have seen so far. It was bad enough that we (not me) elected Bush to a second term, what would the world think of us if she was in the White House a heart beat away from being president?
I am not sure she is even qualified to be governor of Alaska! A VP candidate should, as a minimum, be able to answer a question with a coherent sentence. Surely McCain could have done better in his selection of his VP choice.
No way. She would be qualified to run for Moose catcher in Cooke County, only because we don"t have any Moose.
No way. I do agree with Chris Rock (Larry King yesterday) that after you listen to her for a couple of minutes, you feel sorry for her. She is so far over her head that it is painful to watch. I think the decision to put her on the ticket is yet another example that McCain has lost it.
Come on Jack, She must go back to school to study Geography!!!
GT.
I think Palin is qualified. She is straight foreward and honest, and you know as well as I do that the president does not make decisions without hundreds of advisors. So what if she had a bad day when interviewed by Katie Couric. What about Biden's slip ups? How many times has he gone back and tried to smooth over the times when he put his foot in his mouth?
“you can not enter a 7-11 or a Dunkin’ Donuts unless you have an Indian accent.” – Biden Jan 2007
Or asking a paraplegic to stand up (sept 2008)
Or the commercial criticizing McCain's computer illiteracy (sept 2008)
need I go on?
How many times has Sara Palin put her foot in her mouth like this?
Only if she's allowed to have notes attached to the foreheads of interviewers and different heads of states also she would need a constant feed in her ear from someone who knows how to answer unprepped questions directed to her. In other words she'll need to become a stepford V.P.
This is the third mail I've sent to your blog.
I understand that there are thousands more but is not even shown in your blog either.
Peter
Miami
And one more thing..... isn't this the same woman that stood perfectly still as someone prayed for her protection from "witchcraft?" Things that make you say Hmmmm.........
No, she is absolutely is not qualified to be VP or President should anything happen to McCain. She has demonstrated that she cant take the heat and she would fall apart if she did not have the chance to rehearse. I can not help but wonder if McCain's attempt to postpone the debate had anything to do with trying to buy more time to get it together. She looks like a deer in headlights in interviews and that is not who I want in the white house.
Anna Binyon
Stay at Home Mom and Small Business Owner
Chico California
Palin needs to get back to Alaska and finish the brigde no nowhere !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nope, then again she would probably be an improvement over the last 8 years but that ain't no comparison. I guess at this point anything would be better than where we are now.
I'll have to answer that question with one of my own. If the Drilla from Wasilla ever becomes President, who is going to be the one to pull this puppet's strings? Without a great deal of help, she would end up being impeached in a matter of weeks if not days.
Sarah Palin missed the mark. As they say in golf – different hole placement and it's a good putt. She just answered the wrong question. Is that a problem?
NO! she is clueless. every time she opens her mouth to speaks, she proves how clueless she is over and over again!
It's a sad and scary thought of having Governor Palin as a VP and potential President. This was not someone caught in the head lights or just nervous about a national interview. This was a person whose language and lack of grammar laced with "bad guys", "rotting corpses", "victory in Iraq", and numerous other verbal statements which made me shiver at the thought of her trying to lead our country. This confirms my feelings that this is someone focused on a CAUSE and it's not in the best interest of our citizens, the country or our important world relationships. It's all about herself and those around her. Governor Palin appears to only have people she likes and all the rest she hates. There is no one in between.
Jack , what part of "NO" doesn't America understand?? The "N" or the "O"... the "John" or the "McCain"? Not only is she not qualified, but McCain's judgement in selecting her proves that he isn't the sharpest knife in the steak drawer either.
I agree with you Jack, Sarah Palin's answer on the Wall St. bailout was pathetic. But, no more pathetic than John McCain's selection of her for VP in the first place.
Terri
Evansville, IN
No. We've suffered through 8 years of a less than able administration that has done untold harm to the US. It's beyond me how anyone could cast a vote that risks the potential of a Palin presidency. How arrogant and blind we Americans can be!
What hppens when she has to face some of the more confrontational interviewers from the newspapers and television?
No... and Republicans know it. In fact, the Republicans should be FURIOUS with McCain, if for nothing else, for putting them in a position where they have to dance and perpetuate this embarrassing charade. Come re-election time they'll all have to defend their own words in this YouTube age. Within a single month, McCain has done far more damage (politically) to the Republican brand than even George Bush!
NO THANKS, BUT NO, THANKS !!
As Forrest Gump would say "stupid is as stupid does" she is barely qualified to be a citizen of Alaska, in my sixty eight years I've never saw anyone that was as under qualified for anything as is Palin, dumber than a rock and all the other sayings fit her to a tee, what a shame to even consider that she could be president. It is no wonder that the republicans can vote for her, they voted for dumb and dumber that we have in the White House now, should tell you Jack that it doesn't take a very smart person to inpress the republicans. Bush and Chaney IQ equals sixty. IQ of McBush and Palin forty five. McBush half as smart as Bush and Moose Palin on the same level as Shotgun Chaney
Jack – Is Palin is ready to be pres? No, No and HELL No!!
In the old days of a vp attending ceremony's and shaking hands I'd be ok having here in that role alone. . . but not now when VPs do real business . . especially when she would also a heart beat away from the 72 yr old cancer survivor. Holy Crap!
I must admit, I shake my head over the 4x% of my countrymen and women who support people like this blindly. I thought we might have learned our lesson after our lovely last 8 years but apparently not.
Thanks for pushing so hard on these key points when many other newsmen are not – – esp your partner Wolf!
Thanks for asking these questions . . very few announcers, including your man Wolf are
Jack
It is certainly scary even considering the thought of it. The interview question she was asked is something anybody on the street can give a coherent answer to. Considering the fact that this wasn't even in a hostile environment makes me feel more disturbed of the thought of her becoming a leader of the greatest nation on earth. If McCain/Palin are elected America is doomed. America please please wake up.
I can see why they have kept Palin from reporters. Palin answer to important questions seems to wonder off somewhere else, and lost me by the second sentence. I feel as though she should step down now while ahead to avoid further embarrassment. Honestly, but no one will say...Palin needs to be with her young special child at this crucial time of development in his life.
P.S. Let's get BUSH out of the White House tomorrow. If anyone in history should ever be impeached it should be him.
A resounding NO!
What's wrong with this picture is, Palin herself should be aware by now, that she is out of her league, and she seems to be completely overwhelmed with no confidence as to her answers.
If I were approached by someone that asked me to do any job that I wasn't ready for, I would, and most people would, decline realizing that the future ramifications would only get worse, as you tried to promote yourself to a job you couldn't do.
In what respect, Jack?
I'll have to look into that and get back to ya!
I tremble with fear to think of the possibility of this hockey mom being leader of the United States, chosen at the whim of a 72-yr old ill man whom i would not trust to drive my car! She is transparent and what we see s NOT good! Wake up America! Before it's too late for all of us.
Jo-Marie Garland
Titusville, Florida
Sarah Palin struggled so in the interview with Katie Couric that I'm a democrat and I felt bad for her. She's so not ready for the highest office in America. She knows it and the media knows it. Shame on her party for using her to "excite" the republican party base then dropping the support she needs to prepare herself to become a serious potential candidate for the office of the Vice-Presidency. The Republican political machine is chewing her up and will spit her out.
I'm the same age as John McCain and had many friends die in the war that he served in. But to pick a woman that doesn't know what she is saying and then back her up. I feel sorry for the people that elected her and anyone that votes for her. I live in Colorado and she would not last a week out here. For John McCain to stand behind her and check out her butt un national TV says it all
Hmm, lets see...no military service, no law degree, no experience whatsoever in government at the Federal level, and she seems oblivious to the complicated problems our country faces. Is she qualified? Unfortunately, she is, according to the Constitution. Thgat is scary. What is more scary, there are people that will vote for her. Be afraid, be VERY afraid!
Being President is about leadership and example.
Palin's 17-year-old is pregnant.
Palin is under investigation for a politically-motivated firing.
Enough said?!
Federal Way, WA Sarah Palin is frightening. Yesterday I was with a group of women friends and we ranged in age from mid-50s to late 60s. We were in complete and total agreement that Sarah Palin was the most absurd nominee for national office in our collective memory. Yes, we all could/would/did support a woman running for the highest office in the land but, please, not Sarah. I am insulted if the the Republicans thought they could get my vote by nominating THAT woman. I am almost embarrassed for her whenever she opens her mouth. I have seen teen agers at HS debate tournaments better prepared than she was – and certainly more articulate. She must not be elected!
There should be an entrance exam required for ALL potential nominess for President and Vice-President. They should have above average knowledge on many fronts, foreign policy, economics, domestic policy, etc... If they flunk sorry.... go back to Alaska. Next....
Ultimately, I think the question goes beyond Palin's qualifications to be president to the issue of McCain's judgement in selecting her to be his running mate. Clearly, he picked her to bump up his ratings in the polls. It shows how little he cares about the credentials of the presidency and the welfare of the American public. Following his line of reasoning, I would surmise he'd pick Hulk Hogan as Secretary of Defense and Paris Hilton as Secretary of State. ((with no disrespect intended for either Hogan or Hilton)).
As you said, It is very scary to think that Sarah Palin is "just one 72 year old heartbeat away from our Presidency".
NO she is NOT QUALIFIED !
Everytime I see Gov. Palin on tv, I cringe. Its gotten to the point where I am just waiting for the next big gaffe. If she becomes VP, the only industry to bennefit will be late night comics who will have a bonaza of new material every hour. Comics First. Way to go Sen. McCain. If I were not struggling to pay my bills, obtain health insurance and worry about people I know in Iraq, then the jokes would be hillarious.
The answer to your question is obviously NO. She is certainly not qualified to be the vice president let alone the president if that were to happen. The real question is however, is John McCain qulified to be the president if he makes such obviously flawed and purely political judgments such as choosing her to be his running mate? Does his decision to run with Sarah Palin and his decision to suspend his campaign in order to appear as some sort of leader during this crisis tell us something about what we can expect if he were elected? YES! That he makes risky, from the gut, impatient, and purely political decisions all the time. Sound like any president in recent history?
Jack,
Your reaction to Palin's 'interview' as "pathetic" and "scary" should be the gut response of any person with an independent thought! Her answer was actually an upgrade to her response on Katie's question regarding Russia. The image of Putin's head flaoting over Alaska reminds me an alien encounter from an episode of Star Trek. What questions did McCain actually ask her in the 15 minute vetting interview? The shocking reality is that MCCain may actaully believe seeing Russia from Alaska does indeed qualify her as having foreign policy experience.
Beam me up Scottie
Putting Sarah Palin on the ticket has completely backfired on the McCain campaign, which makes me question his judgement as the commander in chief. If she cracks under the pressure of Katie and Charlie what will happen when she has to make tough decisions affecting the American people.
No Sarah Palin is not qualified to be VP. I have heard Jr. High School students sound more intelligent than her.
P.S. – I forgot to mention that I'm from Utah.
Jack that was the most uncomfortable footage of video I ever saw. I'm a Obama supporter and I felt sorry for her. I see why the Mccain campaign was going nuts when any reporter ask her a question. McCain should tell her to go back to Alaska and be on call until after the election.
President? Not even President of the PTA. Go back to you ALASKA 90210 life.
This is serious business and not a Hollywood TV show. But I don't think even hollywood writers could have come up with a show like this. UNBELEIVABLE but great for a laugh.....(LOL) UNBELIEVABLE.
I'm watching a redo of My Fair Lady. Starring role John McCain as Professor Higgins educating Sarah Palin, a.k.a Eliza Dolittle. Sarah Palin is not educated or well articulated. Even a street vendor selling flowers is more educated. Oh by the way, I think I'm qualified to be Vice President, I live on Long Island and I can see Europe from my house.
Jack,
This demonstrates to America that the republican operatives are not interested in winning the election; which they would be losing by a landslide if OBAMA were a white person, they have there fangs set in ALASKA and the NATURAL resources there OIL and GAS. SARAH PALIN is the vehilcle for them to acheive their greedy objective, she is too naïve to realize that now.
The DAnger is she would be a heart beat away from a cancer surviving, 73 year old for President. It is apperent that the republican party did not intend to be competative in this race; Question – Does that make America a naïve racist irresponsible society in view of the world? WHAT OTHER CIVILIZED NATION WILL RESPECT US NOW?
Jack, Sarah Palin, absolutely is not qualified to be VP!!! She is DUMB!
No she certainly is not qualified. Why has she been treated with such kid gloves until now?? Hats off to Katie for putting Palin on the hot seat. Has the TV media and the public at large become so used to having everything dumbed down in the last 8 years that this woman can pass for a serious potential leader of the free world? What happened to having our political leaders being the best and brightest? We have one chance to get intelligence back in the White House – since Bill Clinton – and that is Barack Obama. As a former Hillary supporter and baby boomer educator I can unequivocally say that the world is laughing at us – including China and Russia who are licking their chops in anticipation of a McCain/Palin ticket.
Regarding message #216. My last name is definitely not Clinton (:
Prominent conservative columnist Kathleen Parker, an early supporter of Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin, said Friday recent interviews have shown the Alaska governor is "out of her league" and should leave the GOP presidential ticket for the good of the party.The criticism in Parker's Friday column is the latest in a recent string of negative assessments toward the McCain-Palin candidacy from prominent conservatives.It was fun while it lasted," It was fun while it lasted," Parker writes. "Palin’s recent interviews with Charles Gibson, Sean Hannity, and now Katie Couric have all revealed an attractive, earnest, confident candidate. Who is clearly out of her league.
April/Delaware
I don't think you can make that decision after evaluating one excerpt from an interview. Mr. Cafferty, if this is the benchmark, then we must ask the same question of both parties and their candidates. Is Joe Biden qualified? He seems to have problems almost daily with answering simple questions concerning current and past events, and has embarrassed the Obama campaign several times in the last few months. While it is obvious that your segment is not unbiased and is completely steadfast in an unethical effort to slander those candidates on the right, can we not at least apply the same criteria on both sides of the isle? Whatever happened to ethics in journalism?
I've stood on a mountain top and was told I could see multiple states. I should choose one and run for Governor.
The McCain campaign has insulted women by thinking having a skirt on his ticket is all that is necessary to win out votes. I almost feel sorry for Sarah Palin.
somebody must have put something into my drink,.nothing that is happening right now in America is right-side-up; Democrats are working with Bush; Republicans have nominated the only person possible that could make Dan Quayle seem intelligent to be their VP; and apparently since I live next door to a DOCTOR and have played golf with him I can now perform surgery. Alice has left Wonderland!!
NO !
Not only is Sarah Palin NOT qualified to be VP, but who out there still thinks that John McCain , with all of these bizarre decisions is qualified to be President ??? His knowledge and handling of the economic situation is pathetic. Appearing on TV stating the fundamentals are strong one day and then rushing to Washington to be there for the bailout is pathetic.
The American public better wake up and pay attention. McCain-Palin is
not change, it is one mistake after another .
Palin needs to stand up and use her own voice before the forces around her completely destroy her as a person. i would like to hear her stand up and say...we are not bailing out these crooks. Let the chips fall where they may and lets go back to the reality where if you can't afford to put meat on the table...shoot a moose. Lets all go back to living within our means. Then mccain might have a chance.
Hell no, she is not qualified. She can be a librarian in some
tiny town in Alaska. She needs to get back to
fishing and hunting, which she is qualified.
God save us from John McBush and Sarah P.
Florida
No, No,No...Sorry.
I agree with you Jack. I cannot believe that this person is running for one of our governments highest office and is unable to answer the questions she is asked but elaborates on an entirely different subject.
Of course if you listened to the presidents remarks on the bail out and saw the vast expanse of unknowing in his eyes you could put him and Sarah Palin in a round room and tell them to find a corner and neither one of them would know that there are no corners in a round room.
Thanks for letting me sound off,
Paul Cheramie
Palin for VP. Heck no. She is pathetic. John McCain picking her is a slap in the face to all women and Americans. We (Americans) must be the laughing stock of the world. God help us if McCain should win.
Palin has shattered the notion that any American can become president. Not her, no way. At least she has taught us that there is a bar that one must rise above to be a suitable candidate. That bar is certainly much higher than Sarah Palin's.
Absolutely not. When is it that we needed a person to be "LIKE US" to equal being qualified for such an important job? When did we forget about looking for someone smarter, intellegent and able to manage extreme situations than ourselves? Dont special jobs require special people with exceptional skills? I think so. Obama looks and I believe is that exceptional person I think we NEED in there.
Jack,
I couldn't agree with you more that the idea that Sarah Palin would be a heart beat away from the Presidency is horrifying. Even Repulicans agree on what George Bush has done to this country and she makes him look like a scholar. Everyone no matter what party you are with should be terrified at the prospect of her running our country and God knows we all witnessed what we never thought could happen when John F. Kennedy was taken from us. Thanks Jack for keeping us informed so we can make an educated decision when we go into the polls to cast our votes on November 4, 2008.
She talks like a 5th grader and we are screwed if she is put in a place anywhere near the Presidency.
Jack+++Sara Palin is out of her league! The Katie Curic interview showed just how much she is in way over her head. She very obviously does not know what she is talking about! I am embarrassed for Mrs. Palin+++Terry
President of what–soccer moms international? Cut me a break. All I can say is that anyone who votes for her and McCain is a total IMBECILE. Palin is nothing less than a total insult to the intelligent female race. God forbid if McCain gets elected, then croaks. You may as well either (1) move to Canada or (2) go hang yourself. Palin is beyond pathetic. I think she should go back to Alaska, shoot some moose, and take care of that kid of hers with Down Syndrome which she chose to keep.
Not no, but HELL NO!!! We cannot have our country run by someone whose only qualification is being a "Hockey Mom". You may as well have the teen contestant from MISS TEEN USA of 2007 who was clueless about geography to run for governor of ALASKA!!
The constitution has only three requirements for an individual to become President/Vice President. Article II Section I states that No person except a natural born citizen, having attained to the age of thirty five years, and been fourteen Years a resident within the United States may become President of The United States. There for I believe that she is qualified to become President. The better question might have been is she qualified to be a good President? My answer to that is NO. I'm surprised that she is a governor!
NO, no, no. Totally unqualified. My God, if McCain wanted a woman he had many choices. Of course, maybe he did ask some and their answer was " no ". I guess we'll never know.
I really cannot believe that this woman is allowing all of this to happen to her and her family. Yes, her family. This has to rub off on them. Hearing all of the negative comments against their mother has to be hard on them. If she was concerned about any of this, at all, she would just pull out of the campaign. That would really be the smart thing to do.
If McCain doesn't have enough brains to remove her then she should show the country that she has enough brains to know she is not qualified.
McCain made a very huge mistake by chosing Governor Sarah Miss Alaska Congeniality Palin as VP candidate, she is not up to the task, at all.
Jack,
I really don't understand why you bash Sarah Palin so much about being a heart beat away from the presidency, while the incompetent Barrach Obama is the actual Nominee on the Democratic side. It is so obvious how bias you are for the Democrats. It is really unclear to me how someone that is so un-professional as yourself ever got the job you have. I think your a complete IDIOT.
Mark
No...I don't want her answering the phone at three oclock in the morning.
The answer is NO! He thought by choosing her, he would tap into the Hilary voters in a big way. Well let me tell you, this Hilary girl will be voting for Obama, even if it is with my last dying breath. To choose a VP that is so far from qualified for the job of president, and yes that is how you have to look at, is irresponsible to say the least. McCain seems to get more desperate with ever breath. I could do a better job. I am a American living in Canada, but I still vote in all elections. For him to think that the American public, especially women are so uninformed and uneducated, that we would vote for his ticket just because she is a woman is simply a insult to all women and the American public. She cannot even do a simple interview without screwing it up. I can tell you if he is elected by some miracle, I will not being moving back to the US as planned. There will be no home for me to return to. All I can say is God Help Us if they get in.
Connie
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Let's just say this- I think I'd rather have Bush stay in office than have that woman be president.
She is less qualified than W. And that's saying something.
NO! Nothing left to say. JUST NO.
Palin isn't qualified to walk my daughter to end of my drive way to put her on a school bus. I see now why they have been keeping her away from the media. She makes no sense and scares me more than Dick Chaney in his undisclosed location!
Darryl
NC
Sarah Palin is getting more and more ridiculous with her pretense that she knows what's going on in the United States, more less what 's going on around the world. Shame, shame, shame for anybody that thinks she can be a president of the United States of America. She is PITIFUL!!! With her two cents bit of knowledge she should have turned down the offer when asked to go on McCain's ticket.
I watched the interview with Katie Couric and thought I was watching another Saturday Night Live skit. What are other countries thinking now? If she was to become the V.P.on my next trip out of the country I'm wearing a Toronto Maple Leaf t-shirt.
Yes, Jack, aliens HAVE landed, and taken the form of Sarah Palin.
It scares the hell out of me also. Another scary thing is that enough ignorant, uninformed people in this country will vote Republican simply because they won't take time to think for themselves, and she COULD be vice president.
The thought of her being president makes as much sense as a third Bush term!!
I watched this her interview under protest.( the wife wanted to hear her interview after my comment about a article of her interviews at the memorial in NY) It was like watching a train wreck. I could not stop twitching for a half hour. Please don't show anymore of that interview- I have a doctors note. My wife just smiled and said a few more and there will be no need to worry about the election. I dont know if my body will contiue to function – being dumded down any more like that.
Dear Jack
Sara Palin's interview with Katie Couric left me dumbfounded.It scares me that someone so unprepared could actually become the vice-president of the U.S. God help us!!!
Susan
Is this a joke, Palin for President? This must be a joke beacuse when i ask myself this question i find myself laughing to the point of tears. I would rather vote for Hitler than Palin. At least Hitler knew a little about government and politics. Quelified? I think a more appropiate question would be "Where do the Republicans find these people"? First we vote in the genuis thats is President Bush and now people want Palin and McCain? Either someone is playin a cruel joke or i have gone insane. PATHETIC, ABSOLUTELY PATHETIC!!! If we vote these imbasiles that is Palin and McCain i am moving from the U.S. to Canada. At least i would be able to get things done there.
No, no and no! In fact, I'm not sure she's even qualified to be a community organizer, let alone the governor of Alaska. If McCain insists on surrounding himself with beauty queens, he should audition for the Price is Right and leave the running of this country to the adults.
She makes Dan Quayle look brilliant.
Jack – We live in a democracy and we are all going into this election with our eyes wide open. If McCain is elected president of this country and Palin takes over due to an unfortunate event, those who voted for them get what they deserve and the rest of us get to suffer along with the majority's decision. God help us.
btw: I'm from Atlanta
Jack,
As a devout democrat, I am certainly biased to say no. But honestly, how could we ever know? We've seen her for a total of fifteen minutes respondiing to questions and heard her stump speech which is the same over and over again. Mr. McCain, who claims she is the best candidate, has really done her a horrible disservice by keeping her out of view. If he wins, will he accompany her on all of her VP trips as well?
Jeff
Flint, MI
No she is not qualify, anybody that has to go to the U.N. and get a crash course in one day in foreign affairs with the situation we are in America and how we are viewed all over the world, I dont think so. The republican party pick her to get Hillary's womens votes and they are still behind, the plan backfired and now they are stuck with her.
Jack, She is not qualified to be VP
1 if the bus driver Obama has no experience his co-pilot Biden has the experience to drive the bus
2 If McCain has experience his co-pilot does not have any experience.
3 the US highway is too long to drive with an inexperienced co-pilot
Palin is ready to be President of the United States like I'm ready to conduct open heart surgery....and I'm a Law Student. Commentators have been saying she's "out of her league" – but I think that's far too polite, in reality – she's in a galaxy far, far away.
Jack. The look on Katie Couric's face said it all. Palin is more like Bush than John McCain - A Highly Functional Moron.
Seriously, why is that two Magna Cum Laude Harvad grads are being pitted against two Community College rejects? The Republicans talk about values, but it seems that Competence, Knowledge and Credibility didn't make the list.
If anything, Bush is the eternal litmus test for putting imbeciles in charge. His batting average should indicate how McCain and Palin would do. It's time for a Change. Let's vote for Competence and Prudence.
If Palin is qualified then we are all qualified!!!
Jack, I was appalled when I saw the clips of the interview. It reminded me of the beauty contestant who was all over the web a few years ago, spouting bits and pieces of platitudes in response to a question. She couldn't put a noun and verb together to form a sentence. Palin did the same thing. I thought her answer about Alaska being "bordered" by two foreign nations (Russia and Canada) qualifed her as having foreign relations experience. It was beyond a SNL sketch with Tina Fey.Thusly and hence!
I was truly embarassed for her and for the Republican Party and fearful that she could be, as you say, a heartbeat away from the presidency. I literally sat there watching with my jaw dropping. I give Katie Couric credit for being able to control herself during the interview and not laught out loud!!
Kathleen in Elgin
Tragically over 40% of our electorate seem to think she is. The woman cannot sit for a few minutes of interview time without making a complete fool of herself. This reflects just as badly on Sen. McCain for making such an unconsidered choice for a running mate and believing no one will notice. Apparently he is right about a frighteningly large portion of voters.
Jack, on the basis of the Katie Couric interview excerpt you have just provided, there is absolutely no doubt whatsoever that the answer to your question is an emphatic, "No."
No... Thanks for all your efforts to cut thru the GOP's
perception management machine.
Jack, is this a trick question? In a phrase...not just no, but Hell No!
BJ
Atlanta
Maybe John McCain should have chosen Katie as his running mate!
Straight Talk ?? Sarah Palin has absolutely no communication skills at all. As an independent I really tried to give her a chance, but this woman can't put one coherent sentence together. She doesn't know what foriegn policy experience is, she doesn't know what the Bush doctrine is, and we now know she knows nothing about economics. She doesn't try to answer questions using her own mind, she tries to plug in pre-recorded responses, talking points, and conservative mantra's. If McCain dies while in office, our country will be run by a beautiful woman with "family values". This excuse for a VP proves that the McCain administration is not about bringing in smart people with great ideas for America.
No, she definitely isn't qualified. The real question has to be about John McCain's judgment. Does he really think Sarah Palin is qualified to take over the Presidency should that be necessary? Does he really think the is a "leading expert on energy issues"?
Come on John. The "Straight-Talk Express" appears to have been derailed for months now.
Not anymore qualified than lipstick is qualified to be president. Actually, Jack, I take that back. Lipstick, in that interview with Katie Couric, would at least give an honorable and honest silent responses [because lipstick obviously can't talk]. And in my view that is a whole lot better than giving bull. Confusing, headache-creating bull to say the least. So, sadly, Lipstick is more qualified than Palin. I know...so very sad.
How did she become the Governor of Alaska? It doesn't make sense.
In my opinion,Sarah Palin is not qualified to be vice president or president, but she was not chosen for that purpose. She was chosen to get McCain elected, and for a few weeks it appeared that the strategy might work. She was chosen for her looks, her gender, and her energy, and obviously not for her intellect. And because she is not, in my opinion, an intellectual heavyweight, I do not believe that she is aware that she will never wield any power, or make any policy, on a national level. The handlers who surround McCain would see to that, should the worst happen, and these people are elected, and John McCain cannot serve out his term . She is a token,intended to appeal to women and the religious right wing, and tokens are never qualified for the positions to which they are promoted by cynical people.
Jack,
You are so in the tank for the democrats, CNN should be ashamed, they should have Newt Gingrich or any conservative on to balance out. your comments. I never hear any outrage when Joe Biden says that Roosevelt was on TV in 1929, or when Biden said Roosevelt spoke to the country abour the bad economic times when he was not the president, do you think Biden is qualified to be president? Sad, Sad, Sad.
Bill i think you got this one wrong, the question is not about sarah palin being qualified. The question is "who do you think is smarter Sarah Palin or the group of people that nominated her for that position? They all need to contact Paris Hilton for classes on the Economy
Palin is about as qualified to be The President of The United States of America as Jack Cafferty is to be a Wal-Mart greeter.
Jack,
The question for me is not only is she qualified but the views she hold as a woman. One of the most important issue on the table for me is
Roe vs. Wade, I do not believe in abortions for myself but I do not want all women facing the fact that it could be overturned. She has the war bug, let's blow them up. She does not see gray areas everything is black and white. Compromise is out of the questions if it does not fit in her belief system. THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS.
I never thought the day would come that we could fair worse than Bush 2, but McCain and Palin are proving to be just that. When I hear McCain speak, it's just like a repeat of the last 8 years. When I hear Palin speak, I want to ask her to repeat it 8 times so that I can attempt to understand what she's trying to say! As an educated woman who would love to see a woman in the White House, I am so embarrassed. This country can't afford to be led by the MCPAIN CAMP.
From a 20 year Community Activist who knows how to answer Couric's question!
Sarah Palin answers, when she is interviewed, always leave me trying to guess what she really wanted to say. Her comments, most of the time sound incoherent to me.
My lack of understanding could be due to the fact that my native language is Spanish and that my MBA was in accouting and not in Alaska/Russian/Canadian Foreign Affairs or Finance.
Nevertheless, I keep wondering why McAin selected her to be his VP.
Jack, although I don't always agree with all you say, I enjoy your commentaries.
Palin definitely is qualified, no question. Her answer is as good as anyone from the democratic ticket.
Also, look who was interviewing Palin… a liberal.
Palin's like the beautiful dessert on the cart in an expensive restaurant that the head waiter rolls in front of you and highly recommends. Looks great, sounds great but when you taste it, you realize it's just an expensive illusion of the real thing.
Governor Palin is more qualified than Barack H. Obama. Is Obama qualified?
Jack, 8 years of George Bush was not enough of a wake up call for the right wing who vote based solely on a candidate's religious affiliation and stance on abortion. Candidates who parrot the party mantra "Cut Taxes... Marriage is Between a Man and a Woman... Traditional Family Values... Fight Them Over There... Bwak"
Republicans are running from the republican brand en mas and calling themselves members of the "GOP party" and yet here they go again. Palin is is not George Bush light she actually makes GWB look like a statesman and a scholar and yet the right seems transfixed by her eye wear and down to earth manner of speech.
8 years ago they gave us Bush now this? Republicans don't seem to think very highly of the office of President of the United States of America or the American people or they would be as scared as I am of the prospect of having her as the Commander in Chief.
Jack,
Is Palin ready, I think that she...did you see the football game last night, how about the weather, did you know??? wait, I'm confused what's the question? That's an unfair question Jack, John Mccain didn't brief me on that one ahead of time.
Scott
Atlanta
Watching Palin answer Katie Couric's questions the other night reminds me of that Youtube video of Ms. South Carolina trying to answer a question about americans not being able to find their own country on a map. She's nowhere near ready.
Apparently George Torres didn't watch smiling Joe Biden dazzeling everyone with his take on history!!
YES..If you are qualified for the Cafferty file. I am sure she can take over the President's office on day one.
Regardless of the conditions. She is A smart woman.
Margie
A couple days ago I saw a 5 year old girl respond like an adult on camera without a teleprompter which shocked the interviewer. Sarah Palin reminded me of a Beauty Contestant responding to her last question. No, from the beginning I did not see her as VP, and blogged to that effect saying that John McCain was insensitive in placing her and her family affairs in the public eye.
You did not ask the question if McCain was qualified to be President? My answer would be No!. Secretary of Defense? Possibly.
Cafferty, you suck! Sure she gave a bad interview. But your unprofessional commentary on her was uncalled for. I can't believe a national media guy lost his cool and called a candidate 'Pathetic. You are the pathetic one for letting your personal views skew your judgement. What qualifies someone to be Vice President or President? Everyone has their own opinion. You should try to dial yours down a little bit. Obama doesn't have much experience either and you are giving him a free pass. I think she'll do fine and you need to stop openly campaigning for McCain to die. Calm down, grow up, and shut up.
Cafferty, What was that fit all about Palin you just threw? She made her point. The bailout encompassed everything! Katie Couric is the one I questionned. Duh, wasn't she the naive little reporter who dared to anchor at big-time news? Seems Katie & Palin have more in common than you think, hence all the "gotcha questions" . Maybe it will throw the scent off her. What did you expect from Palin? "Political posturing"? Alot of us here in Wisconsin are pretty pissed at having to bail out Wall Street but we know it's about health, jobs, salaries, insurance, etc. too.
Ms. Palin is about as qualified to become President of the US as Richard Simmons is to become a brain surgeon!
In all seriousness, one would think that in the time since she was announced as the Republican VP candidate, her handlers would have at least briefed her on the basics of national and international issues.
My guess is that, God forbid, should McCain win this election, Ms. Palin will be remanded to a 'hockey mom', yet again. This overall situation does'nt speak well of McCain's attitude toward women.
I am so sick of the news media saying Palin is one heart beat from the presidency. What makes Obama any better than Palin? I am a democrat, I have been associated with the Young Democrats of Kentucky and I am a male. I have been watching the news media for 25 years and my generation has not put us in this situation it is your generation Jack that has done this to America. If your so High and mighty you fix, stop hiding behind the anchor desk.
qualified to be president? if the ability to butcher a moose is the main presidential criteria; absolutely! if not, watch out America! ms. palin makes a great speech but beyond that she's an empty suit. in her CBS interview she seemed liked a peter principled traineewho was in way over her head.
can you imagine someone asking joe biden or hillary clinton to be their running mate under the condition that they not talk to the media because they are not qualified to do so? where is your self respect ms. palin?
john mccain says country first and then puts sarah palin in a position to be a heartbeat away from the presidency. how can anyone take his candidacy seriously? his choice of sarah palin makes bush senior's choice of dan quayle one of the great executive decisions in modern times.
Saul, new york city
Are you kidding this, person is from the planet wamboni.
she sounds like a manure salesman with a mouthful of free samples.
Please God watch over us.
Jack,
Just when I thought Bush was a big enough embarassment for the country, enter Sarah Palin. At what point does McCain say,
"oops, my bad"? He won't. It is more important to just stick with your guns and don't appear weak. Just ask Bush.
I have been involved in politics in Canada for 37 years right up to minister and prime minister level, including prep for debates etc. I am a dual citizen.
While observing McCain yesteday I could not help but notice that Joe Liberman was his right hand man all day. Meanwhile SP, who has been hiding from the press, was giving interviews that were bizare to say the least. It is evident that she has not been prepared by her handlers otherwise she would have had solid responses and anyone could have seen those questions comming. Look closely at the footage of yesterday of Liberman.
Liberman was the top pick for VP but this was a no go. I sense that the campaign is now letting SP sink herself and given the crisis...exaserbated by McCain...there could be a bail out of SP with the excuse that everyting has changed and he must have JL as his VP. Given what has happened so far anything is possible.
Think this is out to lunch? Look what Bush did to Powell on WMDs.
My friends around the world are very concerned what will happen if McCain is president. International relations will be a disaster . This and the economy are critical for the success of the US. The world is saying "Enough" and wants Obama. A hot head warrior president is not what the US needs. The American voter better start understanding the issues beyond their boarder...the economic and political payback could make the current crisis look like a walk in the park. The world has had it with US nonsense.
Saturday Night Live understood the Sarah Palin joke. Democrats have been laughing out loud since McCain's VP selection. I wonder when will the Republician American voters get the joke.
I hope they put her on Are you smarter than a fifth grader before the debate. She is a complete ebarrassment to our state of Alaska!!! The debate with Biden will be better than watching the World Series. We will need a moderator just to tell us what she is actually trying to say in her stupid answers.
About as qualified as I am! I'm a dual citizen (US / Canadian) having lived a long time in each country. I have tavelled to Spain, China, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Mexico, Scotland, England, all over the Us and Canada – so you can see I have extensive foreign relations experience! I think I can answer a question so listeners can understand the answer! But to put humor aside, The Vice Presidency is too important to have Sarah Palin in this position – much less as President. Too put Sarah Palin forward to the world as someone to lead the US is an embarrassment.
She's obviously zones out when questions are asked of her. She rambles on & on, on & on, on & on. With her rambling on & on I think she forgets about the questions being asked
How do I think she's unqualified? Let me count the ways!
Much as I loathe George W. Bush for the swagger, the ineptitude, and the outright lies with which he has brought our once-great country to the brink of ruin, I literally pray for his health. The prospect of Cheney at the (official) helm is truly terrifying.
Similarly, were John McCain elected, I would have to say a Rosary a day for his already questionable health. Ms. Palin seems to have the swagger down pat, AND the ineptitude insofar as she is fathoms out of her depth. And lies? They seem to trip from her tongue! Coupled with her theatrical religious zeal and "end times" beliefs, she seems capable of deploying a few nukes without much forethought or concern for repercussions. And then there's the environment....
In a word, NO! I am now 73 yrs old (1 yr older than McCain), have been following politics for 56 years, and have never witnessed such a totally reckless choice for VP–this from a man 72 years old who has had a virulent form of cancer 4 times. This same man stated a few months ago that his 1st qualification for a VP is readiness to be president, when the transcendental issue of our time is the war on terror. Add to that our current economic meltdown and we have as grave a situation confronting the next president than has faced anyone entering the office since FDR in 1933. To have gambled the future of this country on this unqualified woman has caused me to lose every iota of respect I had formerly had for Mr. McCain, which was considerable.
If the Republican ticket wins through a terrible lack of judgement on the part of the American people I will almost feel like leaving the country or jumping off a cliff somewhere.
i think every vp and pres hopeful should take a iq test,,ha! the total of palin and mccain prob dont add up to 200..help!!!!!!!!!!
NO!!! Palen is a twit who should go home and make a moose sandwich for lunch! And McCain should go home and take out the trash for addict Cindy at her 7 houses!!! Don"t the Republicans have anyone with two brain cell to rub together to make a spark? After 8 years of stupid George,give me a break!
This cuts to the heart of the matter. None of the other issues raised-gender, mother, etc.-have any bearing on her qualifications to be Vice President, or possibly President of the United States. This interview, unlike giving speeches, required her to think about her responses, and the results show. She is clearly not ready to be Vice President, and is certainly not the most qualified person John McCann could have picked for his running mate.
Its to bad when Palin was being sworn in as Govornor of Alaska and her pastor was exorcizing the witches from her life that he didn't call upon them to magically give her some brains For example her claim that when Putin lifts his head into the airspace of Alaska or being on the border with Canada gives her the right to claim a knowledge and understanding of foreign policy. When she metioned air space the first thing that came to my mind....was AIR HEAD!
I hope we the people never have to answer that question. Even some of the GOP's are now having second thoughts. She was not thoroughly vetted. The two carefully choreographed and scripted interviews she has given with ABC and CBS are frightening. I wonder how much of those interviews were left on the cutting room floor to make them appear better than they really were. There isn't enough smoke and mirrors in the world to hide the fact that she is not qualified. And this is not about her being a woman.
Jack, as a lifelong Republican I am appalled at Senator McCain's lack of vision in picking Sarah Palin as his running mate. Have we gotten so desperate that we have to throw a ("Hillary Hopeful") Hail Mary pass with someone so out of touch with reality that she lists 'seeing Russia from my back door' as foreign policy experience? The whole 'prenancy/flying back to Alaska for 10 hours' made me question her judgement–after seeing that pathetic Katie Couric interview all I have to ask is 'Do we have a credible alternative' to these two? I don't agree with some of Obama's views–but it's clear to me that he's the least of evils in this election...
NO She is not! I hope they keep her cause she is doing a great job of helping the democrats. I can't wait for the VP debates!
Seriously Jack, I can't see the republicans putting up much more of Palin. I would THINK they would ask her to step down before the VP debate. If she doesn't, the debate will be oh so painful to watch, she is so out of her league. She just may find herself deep in that moose stew, again.
Why are we still debating this question? The answer is obviously still no. It is an embarrassing situation for the McCain camp I'm sure...the woman who was supposed to provide a surge to the oval office could be out interviewed by most 5th graders. I know my 5th grader has better responses to Palin's interview questions than she does. The more she talks the worse things go for her and the McCain camp. It's sad to know how little she really understands about what is going on in our country. Alaska can have her back!
Kate
Denver
Not even close. If she was a man, she would not have been seriously considered for the position. It is just political pandering at it's worst, so much for country first.
She would be on my shortlist to be the new President of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce.
Jack,
I can see the moon from my backyard. I am now qualified to work for NASA.
I have balanced my checkbook for over ten years and managed to keep my debts to a minimum, would you trust me to be CEO of a financial institution where your money is deposited? Hell no you wouldn't!!! Palin may be ready in eight years but anyone who is really listening without bias knows this woman is a joke.
Only President of the PTA.
Jack,
I like Sarah Palin. I too, am a western woman, capable of taking big game ,field dressing it, cooking it at cold camp and staying warm in the furs . I too have had a pregnant teen-age daughter and I too have wrestled with the issue of a pregnancy test that could reveal a child with Downs . I'm sure she loves God, her family , and her country. Is she ready to lead the free world? No.
There is a difference between having your foot in your mouth and your head up your A**.
Don't try to BS your way through an answer. All it does is focus a spotlight on your weaknesses.
The palen women has the same cheerleader mentality as geroge bush. They will grab an opportunity to grab a megaphone, leap up on a pile of rocks and begin chanting buzz lines to be chanted back by a crowd. The words have no substance.
I thought I's just pass right out as a Veteran when she met with the foreign leaders and wanted to give her a HUG! And he said, "I see why the Americans go for you you're very beautiful."
I am sure the above comment about her being mistakenly noninated, that just has to be true.
The more I learn about Sarah Palin the more disgusted and distressed I am with her politics.
Her comments to Katie Couric last night were pathetic! I have never heard such a mumbo-jumbo of inarticulate gibberish from a wannabe elected offical. It was as if she learned a whole lot of new, big words and was trying to use them ,all at once, in a sentence!
As a middle aged, woman, she insults my intelligence and sense of human dignity and empathy to the core.
The NY Times reported today she made Wasilla rape victims pay for their own forensic rape analysis kits. Not only does that demonstrate an amazing lack of compassion but its probabaly illegal too. Rape is an act of violence, thats why its called assault.
If elected, Palin will continue to assault the American people with her dangeroulsy myopic views and hard hearted policies.
Jack,
That would depend upon how the word "qualified" is qualified. Actually, I have to wonder if a case can be made under the 20th Amendment concerning fitness for office. I suppose she would do O.K. on the VIP funeral circuit so perhaps if we limited her duties to schmoozing folks at those VIP events and ask for someone else to handle the day to day operations at that infamous undisclosed location.
Jack,
Gov. Palin, while a runner-up beauty is not qualified to be the Vice President much less possibly President of the United States.
I understand where she is coming from. Obviously, she is not experience or knowledgeable enough for this position or she is very nervous. This reminds me of the Miss Teem South Carolina incoherent speech about “US Americans don’t have maps….” I think she should resign from this position to save herself and her family from further embarrassment.
absolutely not....we must look incredibly stupid to the world. It's frightening to think that McCain and Palin could be in the White House. My first thought about the Palin choice was that McCain had realized that he was not going to be elected and Palin would be a perfect excuse for the loss....now I don't think he is bright enough to have made that decision. Can McCain change his mind and choose a different running mate?
Jeanne
Lisbon Falls, Maine
Absolutely NOT!
Kathleen Parker said it best:
If BS were a currency on Wall Street, she could single handedly bail out everyone!
I've heard all the platitudes, disjointed sentences and misplaced talking points I can absorb without exploding.
She's not even at High School level. After 8 years of Bushisms, providing fodder for comics around the world, this bumbling moose hunter will put to rest any doubts about American stupidity!
Jack i hope i don’t offend anyone by saying this but seeing john Mccain & Sarah Palin is like looking at the US Olympic track team failing to pass the stick. In this case no one goes home to train for another race we can’t afford to make mistakes running a country
Ugh, not so much...
jack , if anybody belive she is qualified he must be insane
Jack,
Absolutely! You are such a biased liberal it's unbelievable! She is a very intelligent, articulate woman who has accomplished a heck of a lot in a short period of time. Liberal democrats are all so deathly afraid of what she has injected into this campaign – energizing the conservative republicans. And she doesn't make idiotic statements daily like Joe Biden – what a joke he is! How about picking apart his statements? Obama must be rethinking that decision, while McCain is not. She's going to eat his lunch during their debate. I'd love for you to come on afterwards and admit you were wrong about her....but we all know you won't.
I enjoy hearing a political commentator actually call a spade a spade!!!
We need more men and women who worry less about political correctness and more about honest commentary. As a Canadian I salute you and ask you to to come North!!! We could use some honest commentary in our election coverage.
Thanks!!!!
Absolutely not...as a 43 year old hockey mom with 3 children and a small business owner I feel I have they same experience level as Sarah Palin and I would have told McCain to pick a more experienced and qualified candidate, as Sarah Palin should have done!
Absolutely not.
HEAVENS NO she isn't qualified to be president. I'm am literally sick to my stomach at the thought. It is breathtakingly frightening. We elected GB just because he wore a cowboy hat and acted like a good-ol, aw schucks-type everyman that we could all relate to. Well, I've seen cowboys and he is not one. The same bunch of fools is about to head to polls again. We need to wake up and make some intelligent choices. I am also profoundly disappointed in McCain. I thought he wanted to put Country First. His choice proves he was looking out for number one and counting on the ignorance and stupidity of Americans.
As my father used to say, not only out of the league, not even in the same ballpark....
Now more than ever, we need to raise the bar, not lower it.
One word, Mr. Cafferty: No!
How can anyone be confident in her ability to be president, let alone vice-president, when her idea of foreign policy is being governor of state that borders two foreign countries?
What’s even more scary is the fact the McCain campaign doesn’t seem capable of properly preparing her for these situations. Good luck in the your debate, Governor Palin.
If this is what our country has to offer in leadership...we are in trouble!
Not anymore than I am.
Barbara
Milton, Fla
I agree, Palin is not a polished speaker or politician, but Jack get over yourself!!!! You feel qualified to run down others when many of the comments you make make you sound like a moron and you have been doing this same job for years! Don't believe you were even honored with the offer to be a VP candidate on any ticket–you could run Biden a close race on verbal misstatements. Get over your arrogance, most Americans are watching her instead of you. Cut her a little slack-CNN has certainly cut you a little. Has it ever occurred to you that with all your rantings that you have only one vote. You can't change the outcome of the election anymore than I can. Not sure how long CNN can afford your antics without giving up market share.
It not about experience, it is about competence... and I do not see the kind of competence necessary to be Vice President or second in line for the Presidency. Some Vice Presidents were only required to be a mouth piece for the President, but we need more from the next Vice President. We need a person who can give a credible argument, and represent opposing viewpoints, to the next President about critical issues ranging from national defense to the national economy. Sarah Palin may have been good for Alaska, but the U.S. is a lot more than oil businesses and moose hunters. Sarah Palin can not argue for the nation, because she does not understand the rest of the nation. She does not understand the rest of the U.S., and I do not see her gaining any competence under the veil of political cover being used by the Republican party.
Technically quallified but certainly not fit for the job.
It is very frightening to think that Sarah Palin could be the Vice President, and mind boggling that she could be President. The American people deserve so much more. And more importantly, what kind of judgement was John McCain using when he picked her as his running mate. His choice says so much about him, I can't trust any of his choices.
Absolutely not. Since Bush has been president, people have become so accustomed to mediocrity that it (mediocrity) has become the norm for our leaders.
I am a 70 year old feminist who really appreciates your candor!
I'm a 67 yr old female. I was blonde at one time. Sara Palin puts "dumb blondes" jokes to shame. Not to mention whats his name, thats running with her.
Sure she is experienced enough. Our past two presidents have been governors She is the governor of Alaska, and has more experience with politics than Obama. I don't think you should be so critical of her. Just because she didn't take classes in public speech does not mean she will be bad at the job. Obama will bring our country more socialism than it has ever seen before. Our country will move into a China like state. Sarah Palin is the change that needs to happen, and John McCain is the only presidential candidate that has actually worked with both of the major political parties. We need someone who understands the problems facing us. They are our best choice to keep the United States a free and open society. By the way, I am an independent. I do not believe either party holds America's interest. It is only with a mixture of the parties that we can achieve good balance between the far left and far right. Hitler was an accomplished orator, and look what happened there. We need more than a good speech, we need good judgment.
Well, that depends on what your definition of qualified is! If you are referring to being wealthy and having the backing of one of the two parties that run this nation then the answer is yes. If you are referring to having the experience, education, and common sense when it comes to foreign policy, economics, history, English, Geography, or basic ability to form a rational decision then the Answer is NO, not even close! The sad thing is if she was a candidate for the independent party then we wouldn't even know here name! Who is running for the other parties anyway? Why are we not seeing anything about their stance on the issues? Why are we not seeing them in the Debates? I would like to see a story about why we have officially become a “Two Party Nation“ when it comes to the Presidential choice!
Half my life I have conducted business across the world. The one consistent theme from the rest of the world is how Americans are out of touch with global geopolitics. Yes, Ms. Palin’s ignorance just confirmed even Alaska’s vast icy moos land is not enough to isolate us from international relations that affect our way of life.
Ms. Palin, there is more dignity in bowing out of McCain’s Hell Mary play for the sake of America. You can not be the possible person who could be Vice President.... and President.
From the first time I saw Govenor Palin, up until today she has not inspired me with any of her comments or ludicrous rambling ons. She does not qualify to run this country with only a bachlors degree, which took her six years to receive, Is this a joke are a very bad dream. Maybe if and when she can answer a straight question, we can then ask a second one with hopes that it will get answered. Miami Fl
There is no way this woman is qualified to be president. We have enough trouble with the current president. This woman knows nothin about anything political. Her spotlight glory is over, it was cute in the beginning for kicks and giggles but this is serious. The next president has our kids future in their hands. It's not fair for them to have to suffer for the dumb decisions that are made now. We need a real president, who will take care of the needs of the people. I feel that Mccain/Palin are playing games with our lives (like Russian Roulette). This is coming from a single mom who juggles everything. Let Palin stay at home with the kids and be a powerhouse there. We need Barack Obama, he gets us!!!
Yes! Jack she is definately qualified to be president of the Moose Association.
This lady is the ultimate joke!
Based on the fact that Americans elected and re-elected George W. Bush I would have to say that Governor Sarah Palin is more than qualified. They are both morons. Apparently, being a bumbling idiot and a religious zealot with absolutely no knowledge of economics or familiarity with foreign affairs makes for a perfect candidate for the job.
Clearly Sarah Palin cannot think on her feet and should have realized by now that not all of the world's problems can be resolved by reduced taxes and government spending. McCain's "Straight Talk" motto has been deeply compromised with his VP pick.
sarah palin does not need one step away from any office least of all the presidency. this woman cannot answer a question ( what few times mccain has allowed her to talk to reporters) without rambling in at least five directions none of which connect or make any sense. do we want his woman possibly becoming president at some point and holding nuclear release codes?
Brian from Georgia....at least Biden is allowed to speak....he may have made some gaffes, but a least he's a foreign policy expert with plenty of experience.
Jack, are you serious? I saw the interviews, and you saw the interviews. She is not even qualified to be a Social Studies Teacher let alone a Vice President/President of the United States of America. I am so disappointed in the Republican Party. I am even more disappointed at Senator McCain for picking this Cheerleader as Vice President. I am frustrated. I have lost interested in voting Republican this November after I saw the Pain interviews and what a train wreck it has become.
Corsano A.
Fort Lauderdale FL
I am voting for Obama-Biden I wanna be clear on that. Watching Sarah Palin in action or should I say nonaction during thos einterviews, I don't know whether to feel sorry for her or to laugh. This woman is CLEARLY a 'fish out of water'. Why couldn't she just focus on her job in Alaska where the corruption rarely comes to light and then if it does, they will vote you in anyway.
A big fat NO with or without lipstick on it.
Palin is as dangerous a candidate to become vice-president as one would not hope for.
She is potentially more dangerous than George W. Bush, should she have to fill the shoes of John McCain.
“Save us from the (prom) Queen”!
No, she is obviously not qualified to be our VP, and it's frightening that she would be first in line to be president if McCain is elected. It's also very sad to see her inarticulateness and lack of basic knowledge about world affairs and domestic issues on display for millions of Americans to watch. I feel sorry for her. However, in watching her display ignorance and inability to express a complete thought, we are all seeing firsthand the result of John McCain's well-known impetuous, "maverick" decision-making style. Do we really need four or more years of that in the White House?
The only person she is more qualified then is Bush, at least she has some semblance of a brain – but she is just not educated enough or experienced enough, plus – she talks more like a wind-up toy.
No Way, Sara Palin fails to answer questions using common sense , she dances around when asked questions. She is a risky Mccain choice , America, come 5th November send her back to Alaska, she is a disgrace to America.
Can't wait to see her crying in the debate with Joe Bidden next week.
Come on Jack! You know the answer to that. Can you imagine this person mumbling and babbling and saying incoherences in front of Vladimir Putin? Putin would order the invassion of the United States the next day.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO .....
I thought that the Bush, Cheney, Rove bunch had embarressed the republican party and that know one could out do them......
Behold Palin ............... We keep hearing that she is being "handled".
I have voted for republicans and democrants and I am over 70 years old. John McCain keeps giving reasons for not voting for him.
Palin is the straw that broke the camels back ...
Buckeye Bill
The answer is simple, NO! What really needs to be asked though is if McCain is qualified to be president? Since when does being a POW make you qualified to run a country??? Oh wait, he was nearly last in his naval academy class. That must count for something! And I am so tired of hearing people compare Palin to Obama when it comes to experience. I guess education doesn't count for anything in that case either. There's no comparison. They are not even in the same league of intelligence! But hey, let's have her lead our country into the ground. It can't be any worse than what she's done for Alaska.
HELL NO!!
After watching palin's latest interview, I'm convinced that she's a complete nut.
Palin clearly does not have a clue about our domestic and foreign policiy issues. Mccain did not put "country first", rather he put his campaign first and our country in grave danger with the palin pick.
We all should be very concern. SHAME ON YOU MCCAIN.
alison
Jack,
I teach high school history. Palin sounds like the essays I read where the student obviously didn't prepare and so they fumble around incoherently....throw in a few words they remembered hearing in class..., and then complain when they get a low grade.
Sarah Palin is no more qualified for this position than any of my students. She ought to do the right thing and quit the campaign...now that's patriotism.
Absolutely not! Apparently the 6 colleges she attended in 5 years taught conflicting skills concerning sentence structure and line of logic presentations in a Q&A environment.
To all the people who are responding with the qualifications as noted in the Constitution -THOSE ARE THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS!!! Are you that captivated by Sarah Palin that you want to reduce the qualifications to age and citizenship. We must raise our standards. It that is all it takes to be Prez or VP, then OBAMA also meets the minimum qualifications. Stop letting your racism show!
As long as we are willing to risk that she never has to assume the presidency. Of the 18 presidents elected since 1900, only 5 left office early (not including Wilson who stayed in office although was apparently completely disabled by a stroke). So that's not even a 30% chance. I say roll the dice, what the hell. What could happen? Jeez you'd think this was something important.
The answer is "No" for those who don't know a sarcasm when they read it.
if mouthi tasking was the only requirement for the the v.p. spot, ms. palin just might make it, she is able to answer multiple questions she had prepared to answer without even touching the one you ask
Hell No!
She is an embarrassment to small town American as well as American women. Half the time I could not understand what she was trying to say to Katie Couric she sounded like a blithering idiot! This is the best that McCain could do..I think not.
YES she is ready to be president--> of the PTA and hockey moms! The McCain campaign is a JOKE!!!
Yeah, if you want the country to go "nowhere"....
NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT. I can't believe the answer that she gave either. John McCain doesn,t know how much of a mistake he made when he picked her as his running mate but it's like the old saying goes you make the bed now lay in it. I think my 7 year old daughter could have a better answer and would be a better V.P. pick. OBAMA 4 PRESIDENT!!!
Those of us, the base of the Republican Party, the conservatives that Gov. Palin rallied during the RNC, have not changed our minds about Gov. Palin and don't plan to. You are forgetting, Mr. Cafferty, that Gov. Palin still has more executive experience than your top choice for President. Sen. Obama is a very experienced speaker, I'll give you that, but I cannot afford a vote based on eloquent oratation or charisma. I am supporting Palin because I have confindence that she can execute sound judgement and make decisions that reflect the ideas and values of conservative Americans. One only has to look at the liberal media and Hollywoods reaction to Gov. Palin, to know that she is the real deal. They litterally hate her and all that she represents because it goes against everything on their, and of course Obama's, liberal agenda.
I have a lot at stake in this election. My family. My vote will be for McCain and Palin. I am a 40 year old, stay at home mom, and, last time I checked, I was the swing vote.
Michelle Diller Mowery
No, no. Selecting Palin for VP slot is a cruel joke. I am a white woman and am insulted to think the GOP could try to court any of us in this way. Just 39 more days and we will have President-Elect Obama. Thanks to God.
Democrat in Bermuda
No MS Palin, No McCain and NO NO Republicans!!!!
I realize republican's are wanting to win a prize. But the people of American are just plain sick of the all the lairs.
Honor and the brightest person was what I thought what was needed be President. How can you ask for anyone to trust anyone with Republican on there name. Bully the American people to the point of stepping on people backs to get what you want. I am so depressed and sadden by all this hunger to win at all cost.
Sarah Palin is not qualified to be President. As a teacher, I've seen far more articulate answers on foreign and domestic policy from high school freshmen. The thought that McCain would place the United States in jeopardy by choosing this woman is appalling.
Is it me or was she checking her notes for the "answer" of that question?
Totally incompetent and disaster waiting to happen.
No way, Jack!! She's so out of touch just like John McCain. McCain chose Palin to get back at Obama, using her as a pawn because Obama chose Biden as his running mate instead of Clinton. Shame on you, John McCain. Thanks, but no thanks, Sarah Palin is NOT qualified to be Vice President, nor President. This is scary: If she were President, where would she lead this country, on that "Bridge to Nowhere"? Again, thanks, but no thanks!
Capitol Hill sources are stating that senior McCain people are more than concerned about Palin. The campaign has held a mock debate and a mock press conference; both are being described as "disastrous." One senior McCain aide was quoted as saying, "What are we going to do?" The McCain people want to move this first debate to some later, undetermined date, possibly never. People on the inside are saying the Alaska Governor is "clueless."
Bay Area, CA
I thought Mccain was out of touch but Palin has outdone him.
Lets just say the Barracuda is proving to be nothing more than a helpless little guppy.
I know a third grader who is more prepared...............
Sara Palin's lack of both experience and knowledge render her clearly unqualified to be Vice President of the Unites States and a heartbeat away from the Presidency. Her comments regarding the crisis on Wall Street reveal that she has very little understanding of the role of our government in the American economy, but they were not near as unconvincing as the support she presented for her having sufficient international experience to be Vice President. She claimed that the close proximity of Alaska to Russia was evidence of her having experience in international affairs. Nice try, Sarah, but I remain unconvinced that you are ready to be our Vice President. I think that John McCain will regret his seemingly impulsive decision to choose her to be his running mate.
I'm a foreigner that is well travelled and educated. It is such a shame that McSame and the entire Republican clan cannot do better. Palin could not even win a moyoral election in my country, let alone a governor. USCIS gives us such a hard time to obtain the legal papers to stay here at a very high cost and look at who is going to be their president........LOL. I'm a white male that voted Republican in the past but this time is GO OBAMA GO!!!! This election is still for Obama to lose cos McSame has NO BRAIN!!!!!
My 9 yr old is better qaulified. Gov Palin needs to go back to Alaska and enroll in some evening college courses in History, Economics, etc. Shoot....I'm more qaulifed than Palin. Military spouses can be in charge of a budget and stay within the budget and we don't overspend!
She's barely qualified to be John McCain's intern.
She is starting to sound like that 17-year-old Miss South Carolina Teen.
Is she qualified? I would feel safer with Sarah Palin back in Alaska sitting on her front porch with her rifle guarding us from a Russian attack than giving her or McCain the keys to th White House.
No. Every time she has been interviewed, I don't understand what she's trying to say. The thought of her being Vice President scares me.
Of course she isn't qualified, and it is so painfully obvious that I know McCain realizes it. The reason he chose her was because he wanted to use her appeal as a woman to win the election, and his political manipulation will not go unpunished by the voters!
The Palin choice was one of tactics. Romney would have been a far more appropriate choice, then, McCain would have had the economy part down packed: so economy and national security would have been McCain's strengths, and would have given him the Presidency; But, with most of these immaturely minded voters of the US (Hillary was robbed of Democratic Nomination), he chose Palin, who provides a bit of that ridiculous vote. I mean, Palin and Obama have been made a point of reference more than Palin and Biden... Point made 🙂
Sarah WHO? The GOP should put her pagent sash back on her and slap her on a flot while they parade her around. Bush can do some cheerleading too! My Mayor is more qualified.
Sasha
Rapid City
South Dakota
McCain picked Palin, is McCain qualified to be president?
NO / NO / NO
She should step down, but even that will not help McCain.
picked better candidates. Gov. Palin has eliminated herself with this interview and McCAIN should be judged on his choice of running mate.
We have to examine his credibility in light of this
She is not qualified!!!!!!! and I wonder about John McCain's judgement or rather lack of it !!!!!!
Jack,
When did Obama become so qualified to be president? He is great on the teleprompter but hey, how many albums did Mili Vanilli sell before we found out they were lip sinking?
He is one hearbeat away from being a felon that could not even vote, much less run for office. The heartbeat of a cop catching him with that cocaine he used with the marijuanna chaser!
You wont put this up because its true!
Sarah Palin is an embarassment to politics. She sounds like a broken automaton. She's dangerous for America
-Gerard Canta
N. Arlington NJ
Definately not qualified and her selection was a major statement about McCain's judgement. Jack is 100% correct. A+ for this one.
As an ex- Infantry 1Sgt I proudly dealt with many brand new officers who exercised better leadership qualities, and displayed a broader knowledge base to communicate and make decisions–also I wish that she could have taken several of my courses in World History and Government when I was a Social Studies teacher.
Jack,
As a Republican I'm not at all convinced about Palin as VP, however I'm more disturbed with Barney Frank. Please tell Barney to comb his hair, straighten his tie, and put in his dentures prior to announcing anything for the democrats.
Absolutely Not!!!
We've had eight years of an executive who cannot form a sentence. Now we get a VP that cannoa form a thought either? This person will do nothing more than further polarize our country. Remember the SDS? I'm sure she doesn't . But if she gets to be in that heartbeat situation you can bet our relative 35 plus years without the radical left will come to a screeching halt. Scared?? I find it incomprensible that she has even gotten this far!
She's just as qualified to be President as Mike Brown was to be the head of FEMA and Harriet Myers was to be on the Supreme Court. McCain has proven that his ability to choose qualified candidates ranks right up there with George Bush.
AAAAAHHHHH!!! Thats is scarier than any horror film I've ever seen!!
fairbanks, ak
From Montville, NJ
No, she is DEFINITELY NOT qualified to be president. And if she were asked today if she is "interested" in becoming V.P., her answer would probably be "no". It's obvious she's lost her confidence and SHE knows that we all know that too! It's pathetic...I'm starting to feel sorry for her. Wow! I never thoght I'd say this but Hillary Clinton looks REAL good to me right now!
Jack, this is really scary. I recently was sworn in to become United States citizen. If Palin/McCain get elected I will renounce my US citizenship and go back to my country.
Does anyone wonder if Palin was injected into all this just to bring about support of the Independents and Hillary supporters; and the McCain camp is counting on her incompetency to result in her "dropping out" of this at the last moment? Would everyone then be more willing to then accept Lieberman as his running mate. Just a thought.
Jack,
THANK YOU!!!!! THANK YOU !!!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!! Finally someone with guts has stated something on national television that is overwhelmingly obvious to the rest of us.
Of course she's not qualified. Neither was George W. Bush. Apparently qualifications aren't necessary in Presidential politics anymore. People would rather shoot a moose and drink a beer with the president than expect he or she might actually be capable of steering our ship.
Unfortunately when someone speaks reasonably and with patient, steady temperament about matters of global consequence they are labeled elitist and liberal. It's an awful joke. May God help us find sanity.
Thanks again for not letting Wolf gloss over your much needed criticism of this evidently incompetent candidate.
Define "President". Of what? Of The Moonlit Bunny Ranch? The MILFY Governors Assoc?
In either case, I'd lean toward Kathleen Sebelius or Jennifer Granholm, so the answer to your question is an unequivocal "NOT".
Jack-it is a disgrace that she was not vetted and found to be so lacking in basic US policy. I can imagine when asked to run that her response wouldn't be"I'm not qualified" but rather"If my country needs me and you think I'm ready"
Shame on John McCain and his staff for not finding another energetic breath of fresh air with global knowledge. I believe she is doing her best and failing miserably and this is sad. She needs to go back to AK and the Republicans need to replace her NOW!!!
Boca Raton Fl
Trophy wife Cindy, Trophy Vice President Sarah. Enough said
Sarah Palin as president is a very scary thought.
She is a bad choice for McCain.
Sherri
Scottsdale, AZ
She is going to break down into tears during her debate with Biden. Dear God, what was McCain thinking.
No. McCain's choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate is one of the most cynical acts perpetrated on this great nation. One wonders how someone who puts "country first" could subject us to the significant possibility of her leadership. Palin's ambitions exceed her capabilities and she should quit before she melts down further under pressure to perform signficantly beyond her ability.
I am truly sick of you pompous immortals spouting how Palin is only one 72 year old heart beat from the presidency. No one is guaranteed their next heart beat; and, if McCain were to get elected, it wouldn't be the first time that we all concerned ourselves of the well being of our commander in chief knowing who sits as their replacement, i.e., potatoe. One thing for sure, it is my opinion that CNN's ability to provide unbiased reporting truly is just a heartbeat away, Caferty.
She is as qualified as my seven year old grandson, who knows more
about politic than she does. But to answer your question, "Hell O!"
Fannie,
Knoxville, TN.
Jack,
We have got to think about who we are talking about here....also we need to think about the economy......it is all about the country!!!! Sarah Palin sounds like this!! She has proven herself as a fool!!! She is a joke!!! Other countries watching our election and they are laughing, it is an entertainment for them because of McCain and Palin clowns!!!
Scott,
Just because she didn't take public speech classes, we should give her a break. Sweety, this has nothing to do with speech classes. This person will be a representative of the United States. If she can't utter a sentence correctly, that is not speech class.... It's English 101.... better known as FRESHMEN ENGLISH!!!!!!!!!!
This woman opens her mouth and nothing comes out. They say she's had such a hectic schedule she hasn't been able to "prepare" or "study" to be able to answer these types of questions.
How could she possibly be ready to be vice-president or president!?
Would you allow someone claiming to be a brain surgeon who had to quickly "study" first operate on your brain?!
OY!!
Jack this lady is on something and like you said if the nation cant see that thay deserve everything her and john mccain throw at them
Are you kidding me? We are in for big trouble if this dumb team gets elected to the two highest offices in the country. Every time she opens her idiotic mouth, she spills trash.
Jack,
I wonder if all of this week's economic activity is not a smoke screen to get the Democrats to join forces with George Bush?
John McCain going to Washington to become the savior of the economy
is part of that ploy to help McCain and his less than qualified running mate, Sarah Palin.
Opponent
Like President Clinton said, "Democrats should not talk bad about Sarah Palin"......
You are so right Mr. President she clearly will do all the damage on her own; she has totally self-destructed.
Hell, McCain should vote for Obama if he (McCain) really wishes to 'put country first' he should by pulling the voting lever for his 'Opponent'....
Sarah Palin sounds exactly like Ms. South Carolina during her interview at the Ms. USA pageant. Perhaps Palin can get some tips from her. What has this country come to ? What in the hell was John McCain thinking? It truly makes me wonder about the choices and decisions he makes and will make if he takes the seat in the White House. It's frightening.
My party has fallen and fallen hard… picking a woman based on looks alone is something I never thought I’d see.
I’m afraid picking Palin has sent the Republican Party back 100 years.
Obama has now secured my vote.
-Corrected
Absolutely not. It's insulting to all of us that she is in this race.
No will can deny that we have a lot of problems to handle in this country. So McCain responds with, "My answer to our problems is Sarah Palin!"
Is McCain out of touch? Dumber than Palin? Or giving us all the finger?
Carol Yeargin
Wendell, NC
I was horrified as I listened to Palin respond to Couric's question with shallow, memorized talking points that were imbedded in linguistically challenged spurts. She seemed oblivious to the fact that she was sharing with the nation her lack of experience, her lack of understanding of basic issues, and her inability to convey information in an articulate, intelligible manner. Of course she's not qualified to be president OR vice president.
Janice South Carolina
No ...it is really unbeleivable that McCain has picked this person to be his vp for the U.S.A. . Does he think the people of this country are so
stupid that they would vote for him,when he can't even pick a qualified person for vice president?Keep on keeping them honest , Jack.
You do a great job.Thank you.
Jack,
I am greatly concerned about Americas slide towards socialism by bailing out wall street. Why not give every American citizen $2 million dollars to boost the economy, it's a better way to spend $700,000,000.00 dollars. I know as a citizen, if my bank account becomes overdrawn or my expenses become more than my income I am in trouble. However wall street gets greedy and it needs to be bailed out, why?
Jeff in Wisconsin
P.S. I would not say, thanks but no thanks to $2 million dollars!
Palin's not qualified. McCain had 4 months to pick a VP. Shame on McCain that this is the best he gave us. Hopefully, we don't give him any more important decisions to make.
Jack:
I'll give it to you in two words, hell no! If people vote McCain into office, we all better hope and pray that McCain stays healthy for four years. It scares the hell out of me to think this lady will be a heartbeat away from the Presidency, she doesn't have a clue as to what she is doing. God help us all if McCain get elected.
I feel ashamed this person was representing us in the UN. I know now why Hillary did not want to attack her and Bill asked dems to leave her alone. She has enough problems of her own. She should go back to Alaska and take care of herself and her family.
Wasn't it David Brooks who said Sarah palin was no more qualified than any of the first 100 names in the DC phone book? That pretty much sums up my feelings as well.
deb
mesa,az
I think she is out of her leauge, not for prime time. god help us all.
UNABLE (Palin) is proof positive of UNSTABLE (McCain).
Go" Doyle"""" I love your comments....
Let's see about our "Experienced" Congress and Senate..FIRE them all.....This is a disgrace that the "United States of DEBT" has to live with for many years to come because of our congress and senate and house and whatever!!!!!!!!! God help our children and grandchildren on what they did!!!!!!
I would feel sorry for her except she has been so vindictive, negative and lying through her teeth against Barack that I feel nothing but scorn towards her.
Sara Pallin is not qualified to be president of anything. John McCain should recognize that he made a mistake, send Pallin back to Alaska and select another running mate.
I used to give answers like that on a final exam when I had skipped class all year and had crammed for a test the night before. No coherent thoughts, no specifc examples, just garble the talking points among some other words and smile. If she had said "Ahh, Bach!" like Hawkeye told Rader to do on MASH, it would have made more sense. As a mentor once told me "It is much better to be thought of as an idiot, than to open your mouth and prove it"
John McCain's pandering to the the extreme right and religious right by putting Palin on the ticket puts the country at risk and says "Elect Me "(McCain) first, Country second.
No, when I saw the interview then I ask myself why cannot Katie Couric run for VP, she is better looking and much smarter....
About as much as I am. I am about twice her age and have my savings
with AIG and Washington Mutual so that must quallify me for something??
I went to Alaska and i saw Russia and Canada. iIhave actually been
to Canada. More qualifications. ? I only have 4 children, tho.
NO, PALIN IS NOT QUALIFIED!!
Not only is Sarah Palin not qualified to be VP of the USA, she is not qualified to represent today's women on political matters. I am embarassed for Ms. Palin when I see her inability to answer simple questions put to her in interviews. As a Canadian woman who follows US politics, I would do a better job of actually answering the questions posed by the media.
The only votes Sarah Palin is going to get with her answers are ones of PITY.
Shame on you Republicans for putting this woman into such a position!!
I'm not sure. But I'll get back to ya.
No, not even close. The Katie/Palin interview was painful to watch.
sarah palin isn't qualified to hold any office least of all the presidency. what few times mccain has allowed her to speak to the press, she can't even answer a question. she rambles on in five different directions none of which answer the question she was asked nor even relate to each other. do we want her having to step in as president and holding our nucelar release codes? she can't make up her mind which way to answer aneasier question much less one like that. she's proven that she is not honest. she says things that the press prove are lies. but what really amazes me is the number of people in the u.s. who are willing to vote for her. what is wrong with them?????
tammy in ky.
What Palin should have said was, "I'll try to find you a better vice president and get back to you."
For the sake of the nation's security, she should step down and go back to Alaska to keep an eye on Putin's head in case it invades our airspace again.
Jack, this is an insult to our intelligence! Its pathetic! If leaving in Alaska makes you a foreign policy expert, then we are doomed. None of them(Sarah & Mccain) seems to know anything, not the homes he owns or the economy, she can not face some hard questions from fellow Americans, how can she stand tough against seasoned foreign leaders. Save us some grief and vote Obama! Enough already!!
Loved the part where Palin said that the reason why she and McCain have made so much progress with uneducated people is "because uneducated people don't tend to think as much and find it easier to support her"! Thank you Sarah for clarifing this for all of us smart folk who just couldn't figure this out!
palin dont have a clue to president, she think because she sees a plane in the sky from russia she an expert. that tattoo from fantacy islands can be president
Yes!
The hatred and fear for Sarah Palin spewing from Democrats will ensure that she is elected. Democrats forget that she is admired and loved by half the voters.
Oh, I get it. Couric was fooled. That was Tina Fey.
Jack, in short, absolutely not. I would tend to agree that we haven't seen enough of her to know what she's all about, but I would think that that alone ought to scare us. If the Republicans won't let her be who she wants, say what she wants and when she wants, there's an obvious protection element going on.
Supporters of McCain have been saying since what feels like time immemorial that Barack Obama doesn't have the experience to lead this country in a time of great crisis; well at least he's all over the place, telling folks where he stands and what we need to hear right now. Sarah Palin is typically nowhere to be found in that regard, and as for Joe Biden, should something terrible happen to the future President Obama, at least we know who he is and what he would do.
No....But she did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night !!
Nope, it's a shame.
I am not sure what's more painful\embarrassing, watching a Palin's interview or a McCain's speech on his personal faith.
Absolutely Palin is qaulified to be President. Especially, if Obama is.
And since when did Russia and Canada become part of Alaska? ....
No ! . Can't wait until vice pres debates. then I won't miss Saturday night live. Tina Frey for vice president.
Tripper of PA and others are right on the mark about the lack of realistic qualifications for the office of President of the United States. This is not a trivial issue. Are we now so ignorant about our government and world affairs that we treat this like a personality contest?
Statements that Palin has more experience than or is more qualified than Obama only reveal lack of any knowledge or understanding of who this man is and what he has accomplished. Read! Think!
I am voting for Obama but God forbid that McCain is elected and Paulin ever became president! She is a joke and is totally unqualified to be the commander in chief of this great country!
VP Barbie.
I don’t blame Sarah Palin; I place the blame on John McCain. His choice of Mrs. Palin seemed to be more of a stunt and not thought out. And her last rounds of interviews seem to confirm this. John Mc’Cain is not a loose cannon but a loose nuke that needs to be secured. After seeing him this week, he has proven he is not fit to lead.
To Jennifer in Winnipeg September 26th, 2008 3:02 pm ET
She’s no more qualified than Marge Simpson.
You are insulting Marge Simpson!
No, she has neither the experience nor the intellect to be president. I'm not even running for VP, and I knew that Kissinger supports talking to Iran without provisions, as do all the other former secretaries of state who appeared at CNNs recent forum. Maybe if Palin had watched that show, as I did, instead of wasting time memorizing some empty talking points, she would have known, too.
She is a brash decision made by an otherwise impulsive man. The answer to your question is no. I will give him points for wanting to have good looking women around him. It appears to be a habit. That has always been my preference as well.
I watched it and I was shocked on how much Palin stuttered and tripped over her words. Katie couldn't trip up Bush as much as she did Palin.
Palin is NOT qualified to be president, or even vice president for that matter.
Is this bailout going to be like the agriculture bail of the 80's. We are still paying the farmers even thoough they have proffit margins which compair to the oil companys. Should the taxpayer be responsible to insure they make 100 yealds and thnpay for the excess.
Barbie has changed her hair color.
Jack, I'm coming after your job, I can see your house from my map!
She's a light weight in every respect ! She has no qualifications
for this job ; We're talking about the Vice-Presidency of the most
powerful country in the world, NOT YOUR LOCAL " PTA " .
NO! Not by a long shot. The more I learn about her, the further away I want to get from her and her politics. Of course, I'm a liberal. I have no idea what the average conservative or evangelical thinks about her. I think she'd appeal to those with less education. This is just another example of McCain's bad judgement I hope America is smart enough not to put these people in office. They may make Bush look like a dream come true in comparison.
Heavens, no. And the real issue here is that there are many, many worthwhile republicans that could have been named, many of them women. And while not a republican myself, if you'd asked me three years ago would I vote for McCain, I would have said yes as he seemed to be a nice, middle of the road sort of guy. His about face leaves me not trusting him and the naming of Sarah Palin as the VP candidate most likely to take over as president due to McCain being the oldest candidate...PLEASE! What a mess we have on our hands.
Sarah Palin is not qualified to mow my lawn, let alone run my country.
We need to be really afraid! Don't you think there are foreign governments who would love the chance to take advantage of "President Palin".
OMG
Oh my god, no. It's terrifying how uninformed and unintelligent she is. That was barely English. I am actually scared about what will happen if McCain wins and then something happens to him. We will have a bumbling buffoon as President.
I feel sorry for the woman. She obviously is so blindly ambitious that she accepted his offer (without blinking apparently) without any idea what she was getting into. Did McCain vet her at all? Did he know about the witch-hunting minister, the pregnant daughter, the lack of scholarship, the trooper-gate scandal, the fact that she appointed her unqualified girlfriends to important positions in her state, that she actively pursued all the earmarks she could get? This was bound to blow up in his face. She needs to go back to Alaska and do whatever it is she does there. She can chalk this up to a bad experience in the "big, bad world" and have a happy life. Her family is in crisis. She might be able to help them. She can't do a darn thing for us. Except go away.
Of course she isn't qualified. I can't believe we're having this conversation.
Jack,
Her answers in the past few interviews make absolutely no sense. McCain has made a mockery of our electoral process by choosing her.
"It’s much too soon to ask a question like this, Jack. On paper, Sarah Palin has more executive experience than McCain, Obama, Biden, Hillary, or any other on the hill. Let’s see what happens during the debate, and the interviews and answers she gives to questions by unbiased reporters, if any can be found. I need to know all the facts. Rushing to judgement is what lemmings do; not independents. Check back with me November 4th."
She has faced 3 interviews in the media, including one of the most biased Hannity, and is being cloistered from the media. You will never know the facts if McPalin campaign has their way!
Perhaps her husband was more involved with her than we think. Most toastmasters could give an acceptable response.
Jack:
That’s a BIG “NO GO” for Palin. She is not qualified!!!!!!!!!, it is time for her to go back to Alaska and watch Russia from her house. LOL
Ty, Kansas City, Missouri.
I think McCain should let Sarah Palin do many more news interviews,then Obama could coast all the way to the White House,laughing.
Sarah Palin hasn't a clue. As a woman I am appalled at the lack of responsibility on McCain's part to choose a person who is just not mature enough, who is not informed enough and who seems to be easily brought off base to be his vice president. It goes in the face of all americans, and especially women that of all the educated well informed and experienced women to pick from he picks a pretty face with a very naive black and white view of things that seems to only parrot whatever is told to her. She seems to have no new ideas for what really needs to be done. She's a Buzz word wizard at best.
Is this just a bad dream or......How on earth can it even be a possibility that this woman could become the president of the United States???
How can the American people EVER trust McCain in anything after he showed what poor judgement he has? Picking this poor lady out from nowhere and think that she would be up to the task??? This job is NOT to be taken lightly and she didn't even hesitate when she was asked.........She should have.......
Barbro Ask-Upmark
Salinas/Ca
NOT IN MY LIFE TIME
I am truly frightened by her. How could McCain be so reckless? He doesn not put the well-being of this country above his ambition.
I'm sure Governor Sarah Palin is a nice person, but she is not qualified to be Commander-in-Chief and President of the United States. Jack, we are talking about the most powerful position in the world – not president of the local PTA.
Is this a trick question?
Yes! President of my high school alma mata Hockyey Moms' club. I said high school for a reason. She'd make a great president. The girls and their moms would love her.
It is really sad that a great country like the US can't find someone that would compliment the candidate and who would be able to step in if the need presented itself. I don't think a hockey mon from alaska is the right choise and the more she speaks the more it is apprent that John has made a hugh mistake.
Is that a rhetorical question? The lady thinks that b/c her stat borders Russia she is an expert in foreign affairs!!! I live next to a doctor Jack – Can I perform your surgeries???
September 26th, 2008 3:05 pm ET
Sarah Palin isn’t quailfed to be an ESPN commentator.
Kenneth Chadbourn N.C.
LOL now that was funny......hell, I think I am more qualified for VP than Palin...is this some kind of a joke and at the last minute the GOP is going to be like "SURPRISE, we don't actually have a candidate, all you American people just got Punk'd." Obama, please save us all!
As a woman I am very embarrassed about Palin. I cringed when I heard her answers to Katie Couric's questions. I did not think she expressed a coherent thought and I thought she was over eager to please. But even worse, I don't think she knows how little she really knows. It goes to show you that it is better to express your authentic self even if it is wrong than allow people to spoon-feed you a steady diet of sound bites. Be authentic!
An impulsive president with an eager to please vice-president is a dangerous combination for our country--especially given the challenges we face..
I'm a junior in college and I'm more qualified.
You shouldnt be so frightened. Bill Clinton had little experience in foreign affairs and he did just fiene. No one person runs this country. He/she surrounds himself with people they deem to have experience in those specific composites. Barack Obame doesnt have much more, if any foreign affairs experience than does Sarah.
Foreign affairs is an on the job training post job anyway. The world leaders keep changing and no one single philosophy works. Sarah is smart, clever, a quick learn and cute.
Even Jack Kennedy took Jackie along with him when meeting world leaders because she charmed them. We would be just fine with Saarah. I think her judgement is quite good.
Thank you, Cafferty, for being a journalist. We need to know what this women is about, if she is going to be VP of our country.
Intelligent Americans vote for candidates regardless of race, gender, religion, even party.
Intelligent Americans who have seen the greatness and the failure of several Presidencies surely have a heads up to a candidate who shames intelligent women in this country just with her place on the Republican ticket. I can only shake my head and wonder what
John McCain was thinking of.
Naomi Miller, Arizona
Was George W?
In about twenty years. For now she can keep an eye on Russia from her home and do somemore helicopter hunting and book censoring and building God's gas line.
Ron in Ohio
I'm following your request to leave a comment on your blog mainly for one reason:
TO SAY THANK YOU!
You've done something I'm missing in the media, in politic and public life in genaral:
Being honest!
For every person having at least the tiniest, slightest interest in politics and the ability to process information it is OBVIOUS that this women is NOT qualified to be the president of the United States of America. And yes, the thought of her being vp or even president scares the living youknowwhat out of me.
By choosing her as a running mate, McCain has ultimatley disqualified himself for the presidency (as with so many other decisions he made).
Avoiding to speak of this is not good journalism. We NEED you guys to speak out. It is not unfair or biased to call her out. There are facts, like the tape you showed. There is proof for her incompentence!
It is time for the media, and this ultimately means the people working in and for the media, to take a break and think about the responsibility the media carries in a free society. Without the media, the dream dies.
We need people like you!
Greetings from Germany
Jörg
PS: It is a shame for Blitzer that he tried to make things fluffy and soft again. OH MY GOD, someone spoke his mind! How could we?!? We have to be neutral again! Really, watching something like this – it hurts!
Qualified to be president? Shes not qualified to be interviewed!!! I think for the sake of her family, Senator McCain and for the sake of the country she needs to step down and McCain needs to find someone who can govern more then 100,000 people...
Asset.
No, Sarah Palin is not even close to being qualified for vice president, let alone president. McCain has lost everything – his integrity, reputation, respect, conscience, patriotism. And then he threw in the towel with an extremely angry and destructive "gesture": Palin.
Sarah Palin scares my faith out of me. I like for my leaders to be at least as smart as me and that is a low expectation. Why don't more people see how utterly foolish she is?
Jack, your kidding.........right?
Definitely not. She is really showing why it took 6 years and 6 colleges to obtain a Bachelor degree in Journalism. As a professional working mother of 2, Sarah Palin represents nothing to me or most of those around me. Considering she was a television sportscaster and a governer, she should be comfortable in front of a camera, so I don't think it's "stage fright" making her seem so stupid. That McCain thought that women would relate to her is absurd. I would have to think that most of the evangelicals would think she should be at home taking care of her children, especially the special needs newborn.
Oops. Yes, she is qualified to be vice president.
Well if sarah would talk we might come to some kind of conclusion. However based on what she did say, I would say qualified to be president of alaskan moms of sportskids (AMOS). or president of the wisilla chamber of hunting partners (senior fellow). president of the commission on how to raise a lot of children without losing an eyelash, fingernail and not smearing your lipstick. ( very difficult to do,therefore I can handle the white house at least as good as george W.)...OH My We Could be in trouble ig this zoo ticket wins.
Mr,Cafferty we need a good cleaning out of government they are there for to many years they should only be aloud to serve two terms.We the tax payer should not be bailing any body out they should never been able to get this far, and the ceos should not get tingone red sent.I think they should have all there money taken away and made to live on 6.75 and hour and see how long they all last, thats all of government see how long they last with out that silver spoon in the mouth! I'm supporting my husband and myself on wal-mart pay so you tell me how this is affecting all of us REAL DAM BAD!