Colombia's Uribe gives Palin a taste of the world

Colombia's President Uribe was one of the heads of state who met with the Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin yesterday.

Palin, a small-town mayor turned Alaska governor turned national candidate, has traveled very little outside of the United States and boasts few foreign-policy credentials.

"Tuesday's tutorials were with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. Palin, wearing Alaska-shaped gold earrings, also consulted for almost 90 minutes with former Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger in his Park Avenue office.

The candidate's staff carefully choreographed her debut onto the international stage, starting each meeting with a brief photo opportunity and allowing no questions. Unscripted moments were kept to a minimum," reports Geraldine Baum.

Click here for the full report of Palin's debut into the world of international affairs.

Comments

[Missy]

Interestingly, "Jim" criticized and pointed out all of the errors "Politico" published in his statement. In addition, Jim implied by his statement that Democrats and Obama supporters are less than intelligent. I think Jim should learn how to spell. He misspelled "enjoyed" and "soccer".

As for the topic under discussion, no candidate running for office really has the knowledge and expertise to be president. None of us know what is like to run the country and what all that job entails. The president has staff, advisors and a cabinet to help him to make the decisions. While I am not fond of our current president, I do believe the job is a massive undertaking and respect his position. I just think that he had horrible advisors who were more concerned about their positions and power than actually providing correct information and caring about our country. The fault also lies with the president in that he didn't seem to do his own research. At any rate, he will be gone at the end of the year. We have one of the hardest choices we ever have to make. Either way, it will be an election of firsts. I just hope I can make up my mind and know who I want to vote for by election day. It may come down to the wire.

[Madison]

Palin is in way, way, way over her head-completely out of her league! no doubt. McCain is much too old to take on our serious problems of today.
OBAMA / BIDEN 08! A WINNING COMBINATION! VOTE FOR THEM!

[Juan Valdes]

I truly wish Obama would have had a chance to meet with president Uribe. Has anyone heard Obama talk about Colombia?!? As a Colombian I was appalled at his profound ignorance of the true issues in Colombia, and the South American continent as a whole. Obama and Hillary both supported blocking a trade agreement with Colombia, who happens to be THE ONLY FRIEND THE US HAS LEFT SOUTH OF PANAMA! Their justification: unresolved murders of union leaders. Did these people take the time to research that there is no difference in these statistics to those of teachers, priests, builders, etc.? I get the impression Obama is willing to say anything as long as it sounds good to the "workers". No matter how drastic the long term implications. It would be interesting if the US had to face a Cuba-type state of 200 million people with leaders that hate them just as much as muslim extremists.

[JT]

If picking a running candidate is any indication of decision making ability McCain wins over Obama hands down.

Palin has definitely improved McCain's chances.

Biden? What was Obama thinking?

[clugs]

"however Obama regularly took questions from the press"

He takes the questions he wants to take and avoids the ones he doesn't. He ignored questions about Jeremiah Wright, Michael Pfleger until they reached a breaking point. He still ignores questions about Rezko, Ayers, and the Iraqi billionaire Nadhmi Auchi.

I agree Palin should take more questions from the press, but what is good for the goose is good for the gander...

[Don Mann]

After meeting Uribe, Palin is now ready to end the drug trafficking problem, and capture FARC, and she'll bomb every country in Latin America to do it, if necessary. Including Spain! (if McCain wants it).

My stump question for Palin:

What language is spoken in Brazil?

[Ron Paul Supporter]

A lot of common counters to Palin's lack of experience they say is Obama's lack of experience... however Obama regularly took questions from the press... McCain messed up with Palin... too bad... vote 3rd party!

[duane]

Mcain seems to act like America owes him the Presidency for his time in captivity. Palin was such a obvious political move. The two of them are the fullest of full of crap. This drilling issue is also a National security issue. What do we have, about 15 years worth of oil left in the U.S.? If we use it all up, what does that mean for our status as the world's super power. The last time I checked, our militay machine uses this great resourse in the form of fuel. If we use it all up, we will have nothing more than a big bone yard.

[jim]

I ejoyed the submission by "Politico." He mocks Palin as a lesser choice than that of "a Air Stewardess." The grammar in this quotation ("a" not "an" and improper capitalization) represents the author's own intelligence and simultaneously reflects the ignorant base of the Democratic Party. I'm not sure there is anything wrong with flight attendants (or for that matter "scoccer moms"). You really have to wonder if you're Obama and these are the type of supporters that are attracted to your message. I can't say I'm surprised.

[Barb Gymer]

uh, she wore earrings shaped like the state of Alaska. C'mon, folks, is she a first grade teacher or a leader. When Condi is traveling the globe speaking to world leaders she looks professional. She's not wearign 'statement' eyeglasses, peep-toed shoes, just got out of bed hair and earring shaped like the US...Sarah looks like a nice lady and is probably real fun at a party, but she doesn't belong on the political worldwide stage. Let's give her a rest. Possibly she can go back to Alaska now...work on that pipeline...or whatever it is that she was REALLY up to there...

[I Quinn]

How absurd. McCain's choice of Palin proves that he is crazy, willing to let a soccer mom be one 72-year-old heartbeat away from the presidency.

[Politico]

I think McCaine would had been better off selecting a Air Stewardess to be his running mate. At least she would have travelled internationally in reality. Does America need a cheer leader for a Veep? Yeah Hamid Karzai the appointed mayor of Kabul whose own country is in a mess will sure provide great insight into international relations and policy matters.

This is a time for people to look beyond gender and at issues. Look beyond race but towards policy because as Americans our destinies are linked together regardless which party we come from.

Those who insist on putting old bad wine in a new bottle will continue to have bad hangovers.

Any political candidate that is willing to stone walll an investigation and refuses to provide access to the media should be dumped.

Palin is nothing but Dick Cheney with big mamary glands and lipstick.

[Bloggie]

silly liberasl rag. why dont you say the same biased crap about Obamas experiance?

Obama choose Biden, who has extensive foreigh policy experience. Obama is a Harvard Law School Grad edited Harvard Law Review. Plain has no experience period and floundered through college. I know you all don't trust intellectuals, but come on Sarah Palin she is an inslut to your intllegence.

[Chessie]

Come on, you don't really expect her to worry her pretty little head over international affairs, do you? It's time the White House was re-decorated and new china patterns chosen.

[Concerned Midwesterner]

With each passing week, McCain / Palin's actions are looking more and more like Bush/Cheney's actions. This is despicable.

[GlacierWoman]

Palin speaks as freely as Obama. Obama can't speak without a teleprompter and we all know that... Why else did he run away from the town hall meetings McCain invited, nay, challenged him to? If he does not have someone write his answers, Obama is a babbling idiot. The key difference is that Palin actually has some executive experience and Obama, well, is famous for being famous.

[ericmiami]

Sarah was a big hit with those world leaders. She traded moose meat recipes with them.

[louis pasteur]

Doen't it seem like the McCain camp is putting together a production of "My Fair Lady" with Gov. Palin playing the part of Eliza Doolittle (better name, Eliza Done Little)? I just hope that her recent foreign affairs cram session sponsored by the U.N. is enough prepartion for Palin to be a heart beat away from the most powerful position in the world.

Just remember governor, "the rain in Spain falls mainly on the plains."

[JF]

Every Republican's answer to anything about Palin is, "well, what about Obama and his experience" blah blah blah, the media's biased blah blah blah. WAAHHHHHH!!!

Everything she does is scripted. They won't let her speak in public. Just read the above article again. How this is not a huge red flag to every single person in the country is mind blowing. Great job America. You're going to do it to yourselves again. You should be very proud.

[kevin]

Country First? Thanks anyway, McCain. How anyone can stand there and say "No more Me First, Country Second" and then start chanting "Drill Baby, Drill" is just beyond hypocritical. The sentiment behind "Drill Baby, Drill" is so "me first" that it makes me ill. McCain and Palin are dangerous hypocrites, and Palin is a real threat to this Country's constitution. What bunk.

[michael]

McCain said he would rather lose an election than lose a war. But by choosing Palin over Romney, he is saying he would rather win an election than save a nation.

[Shiraz Zarihs]

silly liberasl rag. why dont you say the same biased crap about Obamas experiance?

[Also a proud mother of 5]

Way to go Sarah! I am so proud of you. Just be careful with those foreign guys. They sometimes use big words.

[Ken Martial]

McCain was and is a deregulator to serve for the haves in this coutnry. What was his rational to pick up Palin for his running mate? What is Palin afraid of? She has not given any non-scrpited interview. She does not know anything about foreign politcs, not to mention domestic politics. it's laughable she still believes Iraq attacked the US on 9/11. Her son is in Iraq belatedly, for waht?

[Ace_123]

Way to go Star!