IMHO Palin Fails Gibson Interview

Charlie Gibson interviewed Sarah Palin. They split it up over several shows, part on World News tonight, more on Nightline tonight and World News tomorrow. I think that 20/20 on Fri at 10 ET will show a full hour of it. You should be able to find some of it on the ABC News site but I'm honestly too laze to find it all there.

Here's a transcript of what I saw on World News tonight..

Based on what I saw so far, I'm frightened.

GIBSON: Have you ever met a foreign head of state?

PALIN: I have not and I think if you go back in history and if you ask that question of many vice presidents, they may have the same answer that I just gave you. But, Charlie, again, we've got to remember what the desire is in this nation at this time. It is for no more politics as usual and somebody's big, fat resume maybe that shows decades and decades in that Washington establishment, where, yes, they've had opportunities to meet heads of state.

You mean like McCain? And as far as previous Vice Presidents you tell me if she's as qualified?

GIBSON: What insight into Russian actions, particularly in the last couple of weeks, does the proximity of the state give you?

PALIN: They're our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska.

Seriously!??! Unfortunately ABC put a cut in there so I don't know what more she said on the topic.

Read her responses in the transcript on whether the Ukraine and Georgia should be admitted to NATO and if we should have to defend them from a Russian incursion. Does she sound like someone who has a clue about what she's talking about?

On Israel and a possibly nuclear Iran she can only repeat the same phrase "We cannot second guess the steps that Israel has to take to defend itself" three times. And if you watch the video, you realize she still can't pronounce "nuclear". Honestly, I think that should be a litmus test for president. Bush would have been eliminated.

In another bit that doesn't quite come through in the transcript, she doesn't know what the Bush doctrine is.

GIBSON: Do you agree with the Bush doctrine?

PALIN: In what respect, Charlie?

GIBSON: The Bush -- well, what do you -- what do you interpret it to be?

PALIN: His world view.

GIBSON: No, the Bush doctrine, enunciated September 2002, before the Iraq war.

PALIN: I believe that what President Bush has attempted to do is rid this world of Islamic extremism, terrorists who are hell bent on destroying our nation. There have been blunders along the way, though. There have been mistakes made. And with new leadership, and that's the beauty of American elections, of course, and democracy, is with new leadership comes opportunity to do things better.

GIBSON: The Bush doctrine, as I understand it, is that we have the right of anticipatory self-defense, that we have the right to a preemptive strike against any other country that we think is going to attack us. Do you agree with that?

PALIN: Charlie, if there is legitimate and enough intelligence that tells us that a strike is imminent against American people, we have every right to defend our country. In fact, the president has the obligation, the duty to defend.

It's really a poor showing.