Is Russian proximity to Alaska a valid substitute for foreign policy experience?

[Smid]

A better question is - if you believed that someone's foreign policy experience was merely having tea with Ambassadors' wives, would it be irresponsible to appoint that person Secretary of State?

A better question than that would be whether that tea comment was actually what he believes

For someone who wanted to change the way politics was played, I would assume that he wasn't lying about what he thought.

[Lunar]

Or maybe he was lying when he said he wanted to change the way politics was played too 

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

As to what prompted this: I found an old copy of GQ near my apartment with a post-election interview that consisted of her repeatedly saying that the mockings were unfair because you can see Russia from Alaska, which made me laugh.

While Palin did attempt to argue, stupidly, that Alaska's proximity to Russia gave her some foreign policy experience, the quote, or anything really close to it, is an utter fabrication.

If you're referring to her saying that she could see Russia from her house, of course, that was from SNL! No one was trying to pass it off as a legitimate quote. She did however say you could see Russia from Alaska, which while technically true is a giant red herring and completely misses the point, it's kind of like saying George McGovern almost became President.

Palin could've made a valid point if she focused only on trade, pointed out that Alaska is the only state in such proximity to foreign countries, and also must deal with Canada with trade with the lower 48 states. The proble which made it insanely stupid was when she tried to act like this gave her any sort of national security credentials, which would be humorous even during the Cold War.

[Coburn In 2012]

She had to negotiate many treaties with Russia and Canada.  obama and hair plugs never did.

[GLPman]

Russian proximity to Alaska is exactly like Florida's proximity to Cuba. So interpret that however you wish.

[Badger]

Wow. Just when you thought this one might have been beaten to death in 2008...

Seriously. Shouldn't this cutting edge topic be on one of the 2008 election discussion boards?

[Brittain33]

Is being in any of the other substantial fractions of states that shares a border with a foreign country foreign policy expierence? That would mean that being the governor of Washington, North Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Florida (Cuba is only a couple of hours away by boat), Texas, New Mexico or Arizona would qualify as foreign policy expierence.

Being Governor of Texas did give George W. Bush some perspective on Mexico and immigration in general... although that turned out to be not relevant to the foreign policy issues that actually popped up during his Presidency.

[Brittain33]

Russian proximity to Alaska is exactly like Florida's proximity to Cuba.

Florida's proximity to Cuba wouldn't matter much if it weren't a gateway for hundreds of thousands--or is it more than a million?--former residents of Cuba, and a residence for many of them and their descendants.

[minionofmidas]

Russian proximity to Alaska is exactly like Florida's proximity to Cuba. So interpret that however you wish.

More like Florida's proximity to the United Kingdom (in the form of Bermuda).

[Brittain33]

You can see France from Brazil too.

Boy, is this jarring to read today.

[the artist formerly known as catmusic]

Yes, she sees Russia from her window!

That was my favorite 2008 joke!

[Stranger in a strange land]

That reminds me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR9V_aOCga0&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Ftwitturly%2Ecom%2Furl%2F13f48c7ded5c36e2c2732974cb9a9e8b%2F&feature=player_embedded

[Mechaman]

Yes, almost as much so as knowing that Africa is in fact a country, lol!