John Bolton for Palin's VP pick

I read in National Review Online that John Bolton is considering a run for POTUS in 2012. Besides Palin, he's one I would love to see run and would vote for him in a heartbeat. His passion and his strength is (obviously) foreign policy.

I've long thought that Bolton should be Palin's VP pick if she decides to run. I've also thought that one of her perceived shortcomings is her lack of foreign policy experience. Picking Bolton would immensely help her national electability in that regard.

In my opinion, Palin needs to overcome two major hurdles in order to be elected: her "quitting" the governorship; and her perceived lack of foreign policy experience. With this blog I've tried to address both points extensively and will continue to do so.

With his record and experience, Bolton pretty much resolves her foreign policy "shortcoming." In the NR piece, he says China will be a major factor:

This administration, and the Bush administration in its later years, badly handled China — handled it badly on North Korea’s nuclear program and its trade manipulation, including its ongoing discrimination against foreign business and investors. Both administrations have been too deferential to China in dealings across the full spectrum of issues.

On Palin being a potential nominee:

I don’t know enough about her views on foreign policy to comment, but the Republican field is filled with people who would be better than Obama on foreign policy.

I'll take it a step further and say that his statement reads to me that he is angling for a VP pick from the GOP nominee. He praises all potential candidates saying that any of them would be better than Obama. He is non-committal on Palin and says he doesn't know her views on foreign policy, yet you know damn well he knows. He doesn't want to fully support Palin and alienate the GOP nominee if it's not her. He's playing it cool for now and testing the waters, which is fine. He didn't come out and denounce her immediately like most insecure candidates have. I'd venture a guess that he's pretty in line with Palin as far as foreign policy views.

I believe he knows his POTUS campaign would not be very successful considering how popular some of the frontrunners are and how "niche" he is. Pretty much only political junkies have a thorough knowledge of him and his background. He probably would not be able to raise enough money or popularity to be the nominee, but he's laying the groundwork to be picked as the VP.

I've read his biography and will quote it here from time to time. It's compelling and he's an amazing person. He's not as charismatic as Palin (who is), but it's abundantly clear that he's passionate about protecting our country, protecting our troops and keeping America safe. He knows how to play the inside political game, and he knows how to negotiate with foreign diplomats. In short: he's the total foreign policy package.

He did get this zinger about Obama into the NR piece:

After four years of practicing, he’ll almost look like a commander-in-chief.

Haha. Good one. Maybe he is as charismatic as Palin after all.

Obama to Palin: Sit down and shut up

Recently Palin appeared on Sean Hannity's show criticizing Obama's nuclear "strategy." The "strategy" being the controversial practice of telling the world that we won't use nuclear weapons on countries that sign a worthless piece of paper, or on countries who don't have that technology. Palin compared it to kids playing in a schoolyard and telling a bully that if he punches you in the face you won't punch him back.

The problem with the strategy, as Palin notes, is the fact that you're telling your enemies what you're going to do in response to being attacked. This makes us less safe and doesn't protect us. We have to keep our enemies guessing. We may or may not use certain technologies, and we may or may not use them to a certain degree - but we have the option to do whatever we choose. Telling our enemies (and we do have enemies) exactly how we will respond to a direct threat from them is very troubling.

Obama was on Good Morning America this morning interviewed by George Stephanopoulos and Stephanopoulos asked Obama about Palin's criticism. Guess what Obama's response was? A very arrogant, dripping with smugness: "Last I checked, Sarah Palin's not much of an expert on nuclear issues." Interesting response, Obama. I guess he thinks Americans are so stupid that we wouldn't notice that he didn't answer the question. He also brings attention to his own lack of experience in nuclear issues. Tell me your experience Mr. President, please. That should have been Stephanopoulos' next question. Sarah Palin's experience is not the issue. The issue is his dangerous and stupid nuclear strategy that leaves the US and our allies less safe. The issue is bullying our ally Israel into signing a worthless document that will make them less safe in the face of serious legitimate threats. If you take away Palin and listen to her argument on its own, it's a serious counter-point to Obama's strategy and it deserves a response. Obama is telling Americans: "Palin doesn't deserve a response. People who don't have nuclear experience don't deserve a response. People who hold Palin's same views on the subject don't deserve a response." I'm glad this is what my President thinks of Americans.

For the record, Palin does have nuclear experience, way more than Obama did when he was elected President. Palin was Governor of Alaska and there is a nuclear defense facility there. Also she was in charge of the Alaska National Guard - so Obama was wrong.

Here is the Smugness-in-Chief, if you have the stomach:

Palin on a roll with two FB entries today

In the first note she stresses our need to win in Afghanistan, and in the latest note she discusses our need for energy independence. While the administration is taking its eye off the ball with healthcare and the Olympics, Palin brings our focus back to issues that are really pressing right now.

She also calls out Obama for campaigning on Afghanistan as a candidate and now seemingly abandoning it after He Won. I was wondering if anyone voted for him because they agreed with his views on Afghanistan. I bet those people are crushed right now. It also seems like the Left is having a hard time admitting he is a fraud and slimey just like every other corrupt politician out there. He's no different. Just say anything to get elected.

Here are excerpts from her two notes:

Further Proof of the Need for Energy Independence
Today at 7:39pm
The British newspaper The Independent reported today that Gulf oil producers were negotiating with Russia, China, Japan and France to replace the dollar in pricing oil with a basket of currencies.[1] According to the Wall Street Journal, Arab oil officials have denied the story, but even the possibility of such a talk weakens the dollar and renews fears about its continued viability as an international reserve currency.[2] In fact, today a United Nations official called for a new global reserve currency to replace the dollar and end our “privilege” to run up huge deficits.[3] We can see the effect of this in the price of gold, which hit a record high today in response to fears about the weakened dollar.[4]



We Must Win in Afghanistan
Today at 4:57pm
For two years as a candidate, Senator Obama called for more resources for the war in Afghanistan and warned about the consequences of failure. As President, he announced a comprehensive new counterinsurgency strategy and handpicked the right general to execute it. Now General McChrystal is asking for additional troops to implement the strategy announced by President Obama in March. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers in harm's way in Afghanistan right now. We owe it to all those brave Americans serving in uniform to give them the tools they need to complete their mission.

From Sarah's Facebook: "Thoughts from Hong Kong"

Sarah posted this note on her facebook page this evening. It's a long excerpt of the text of her speech. Go to her page to read the whole thing.

Many have asked to see my remarks as presented in Hong Kong. Here is an excerpt:

So far, I’ve given you the view from Main Street, USA. But now I’d like to share with you how a Common Sense Conservative sees the world at large.

Later this year, we will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall – an event that changed not just Europe but the entire world. In a matter of months, millions of people in formerly captive nations were freed to pursue their individual and national ambitions.

The competition that defined the post World War II era was suddenly over. What was once called “the free world” had so much to celebrate – the peaceful end to a great power rivalry and the liberation of so many from tyranny’s grip.

Some, you could say, took the celebration too far. Many spoke of a “peace dividend,” of the need to focus on domestic issues and spend less time, attention and money on endeavors overseas. Many saw a peaceful future, where globalization would break down borders and lead to greater global prosperity. Some argued that state sovereignty would fade – like that was a good thing? – that new non-governmental actors and old international institutions would become dominant in the new world order.

As we all know, that did not happen. Unfortunately, there was no shortage of warning signs that the end of the Cold War did not mean the end of history or the end of conflict. In Europe, the breakup of Yugoslavia resulted in brutal wars in the Balkans. In the Middle East, a war was waged to reverse Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait. North Korea’s nuclear program nearly led to military conflict. In Africa, U.S. embassies were bombed by a group called al Qaeda.

Two weeks ago, America commemorated the 8th anniversary of the savagery of September 11, 2001. The vicious terrorist attacks of that day made clear that what happened in lands far distant from American shores directly affect our security. We came to learn, if we did not know before, that there were violent fanatics who sought not just to kill innocents, but to end our way of life. Their attacks have not been limited to the United States.

They attacked targets in Europe, North Africa and throughout the Middle East. Here in Asia, they killed more than 200 in a single attack in Bali. They bombed the Marriott Hotel and the Australian Embassy in Jakarta. Last year in Mumbai, more than 170 were killed in coordinated attacks in the heart of India’s financial capital. In this struggle with radical Islamic extremists, no part of the world is safe from those who bomb, maim and kill in the service of their twisted vision.

This war – and that is what it is, a war – is not, as some have said, a clash of civilizations. We are not at war with Islam. This is a war within Islam, where a small minority of violent killers seeks to impose their view on the vast majority of Muslims who want the same things all of us want: economic opportunity, education, and the chance to build a better life for themselves and their families. The reality is that al Qaeda and its affiliates have killed scores of innocent Muslim men, women and children. more

Palin slams Obama's spending in debut speech in Asia

From Breitbart:

Palin slams Obama's spending in debut speech in Asia
Breitbart.com
Sep 23 05:27 AM US/Eastern

Former US vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin said the US government was wasting taxpayers' money and could aggravate poverty, said delegates at her first speech outside North America on Wednesday.

Palin, the former governor of Alaska, gave hundreds of financial big-hitters at the CLSA Investors' Forum in Hong Kong a wide-ranging speech that covered Alaska, international terrorism, US economic policy and trade with China.

Her performance, which was closed to the media, divided opinion.

Some of those who attended praised her forthright views on government social and economic intervention and others walked out early in disgust.

"She was brilliant," said a European delegate, on condition of anonymity.

"She said America was spending a lot of money and it was a temporary solution. Normal people are having to pay more and more but things don't get better. The rich will leave the country and the poor will get poorer."

Two US delegates left early, with one saying "it was awful, we couldn't stand it any longer". He declined to be identified.

Palin, who shot to national and international prominence after Senator John McCain picked her as his running mate last year, stepped down as Alaska governor in July but has provided little insight into her future plans.

She is expected to write a book and has said she will travel the country campaigning for candidates who share her political ideology.

In the CLSA speech, which lasted about 75 minutes, Palin also tackled the recent US trade spat with China, a country she said the United States should have the best possible relationship with.

According to delegates, she said US President Barack Obama's administration worsened an already difficult situation when earlier this month he slapped duties on Chinese tire imports blamed for costing American jobs.

They said she praised the economic policies of former US President Ronald Reagan and criticised the current administration for intervening too much during the recent financial crisis.

Although she touched on the threat posed to the United States by terrorism and talked about links with traditional US allies in Asia such as Japan, Australia and South Korea, one Asian delegate complained she devoted too much time to her home state of Alaska.

"It was almost more of a speech promoting investment in Alaska," he said, declining to be named.

"As fund managers we want to hear about the United States as a whole, not just about Alaska. And she criticised Obama a lot but offered no solutions."

Another said he was disappointed that she took only pre-arranged questions.

There were no apparent gaffes though from Palin, who was mocked during last year's presidential campaign for her lack of experience in foreign affairs and for her verbal blunders.

continued...

Palin keynote speaker in Hong Kong financial forum tomorrow

Palin is going to address the 16th CLSA Investor's Forum in Hong Kong tomorrow. This is a high-profile financial forum with a tradition of featuring very high-profile speakers.

Commenting on the former governor's presence at the Hong Kong summit Simone Wheeler, head of communications for CLSA, said she was convinced Mrs Palin would make interesting speaker.

"What we look to do is invite our keynote speakers who we feel are opinion makers, who are newsworthy and who we feel our clients - a very broad international client base - would be interested in hearing from," she said.

"We certainly believe that Sarah Palin will be - she has been in the news - we believe that she will continue to be a newsmaker in the future and therefore someone we feel that is definitely of interest to fund managers.

"She is a controversial figure, so she attracts polarising opinions. And we have received feedback from people that question our decision. But I would have to frame that by saying most of that feedback has come from people in the US who are not our clients."

Previous speakers at the forum include former US president Bill Clinton and vice president Al Gore.

Palin traveling to Asia next month for Financial Forum

From the Wall Street Journal blog, China Journal:

What’s Sarah Palin Doing Next Month? Addressing A Financial Forum In Hong Kong, Of Course
August 31, 2009, 7:01 AM ET

Quick: what do Sarah Palin, Bill Clinton, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have in common?

Quite possibly nothing right now. But come Sept. 23, if all goes according to plan, all three of them will have been keynote speakers at the annual CLSA Investors’ Forum in Hong Kong.

CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets, a Hong Kong-based brokerage, announced Monday that the former Republican candidate for the U.S. vice presidency and, until she resigned last month, governor of Alaska, will address the Sept. 21-25 event in what a press release called “her first international speaking engagement outside North America.”

Palin – who’s never been to East Asia and isn’t exactly famous for her mastery of public speaking or her expertise in finance and international affairs – might seem an unusual choice for an event that, according to CLSA, is “Asia’s premier investment conference providing unrivaled corporate access to 1,300 global fund managers from 32 countries, representing more than $10 trillion in funds under management.” CLSA spokeswoman Simone Wheeler says that orators at the forum often come from outside the securities industry. “Our keynote speakers are always notable luminaries, and they usually address subjects that go beyond finance, such as geopolitics,” she says. “Our goal is to provide investors a diversity of views.”

Indeed, while the forum has hosted its share of finance bigwigs – Alan Greenspan addressed it in 2006, the same year Clinton and Al Gore also spoke, and Michael Milken and Marc Faber have both attended multiple times – it has had a fairly eclectic mix of others, too: Bob Geldof, the rocker turned anti-poverty activist, spoke in 2007, along with Tutu, the Nobel Peace Prize winner from South Africa. CLSA has also hired Sir Elton John, Macy Gray, and Tom Jones in years past as entertainment.

“As the first female governor of Alaska and the youngest person ever elected governor of that state, Palin has broken new ground in U.S. politics and we are delighted that she will make her first visit to Asia to present at the CLSA Investors’ Forum,” CLSA Chairman and CEO Jonathan Slone said in the press release Monday.

Wheeler declines to say whether CLSA is paying Palin for her address. It won’t be open to the media, she says.

–Jason Dean

Palin visits the Alaska National Guard Troops in Kosovo

Palin is in Kosovo this weekend on a tour to visit Alaska National Guard troops in Kosovo. From her website:

A part of Governor Palin’s duties while she is in country is to inspect the troops and ascertain how the experience in Kosovo will better prepare these service members for missions within Alaska and future deployments overseas.

“As commander-in-chief, Governor Palin is the one we look to for leadership and inspiration while serving and defending the sovereign boundaries of Alaska,” said Lt. Gen. (AK) Craig E. Campbell, Adjutant General of the Alaska National Guard. “We thank the commanding general of the Multi-National Task Force East for the invitation to visit and for his hospitality while in country.”

I love that. As commander-in-chief, Palin oversees the National Guard troops for her state. That's what's great about Governors, they have commander-in-chief experience they can use when they're POTUS.

The trip is supposed to last through the weekend, where she'll also visit other troops in other countries. Stay tuned for details.

Palin Stresses Need for Missile Defense

From the Governor's website

Palin Stresses Need for Missile Defense
Importance of Fort Greely

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 09-75

Governor Palin Stresses Need for Strong Missile Defense Capability

April 6, 2009, Juneau, Alaska – Responding to the missile test by North Korea, Governor Sarah Palin today reaffirmed Alaska’s commitment to protecting America from rogue nation missile attacks.

“I am deeply concerned with North Korea’s development and testing program which has clear potential of impacting Alaska, a sovereign state of the United States, with a potentially nuclear armed warhead,” Governor Palin said. “I can’t emphasize enough how important it is that we continue to develop and perfect the global missile defense network. Alaska’s strategic location and the system in place here have proven invaluable in defending the nation.”

Governor Palin stressed the importance of Fort Greely and the need for continued funding for the Missile Defense Agency. The governor is firmly against U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates’ proposed $1.4 billion reduction of the Missile Defense Agency. Greely’s isolated location in Alaska as well as its strategic location in the Pacific allows for maximum security and development of the country’s only ground-based missile defense complex.

“Our early opposition to reduced funding for the Missile Defense Agency is proving to be well-founded during this turbulent time,” Governor Palin said. “I continue to support the development and implementation of a defensive missile shield based in Alaska. We are strategically placed to defend the critical assets of the United States and our allies in the Pacific Theater.”

Governor Palin also requested stimulus funding for the Kodiak Launch Complex. The Kodiak Launch Complex is a commercial rocket launch facility for sub-orbital and orbital space launch vehicles owned and operated by the Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation, a public corporation of the State of Alaska.

Palin meets with international diplomats

Last Friday, Palin met with diplomats to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Alaska's statehood. Among the dignitaries were Sergey Kislyak, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the United States and Haijun Wang, Deputy Director General of the Foreign Affairs Office of China’s Heilongjiang Province - among nine others from around the world.

Meeting, negotiating with, and maintaining good working relationships with international diplomats, business leaders and local politicians is just all in a day's work for Palin. She once again proves that she can hold her own with anybody for the good of Alaska.

What are the chances this will be widely reported in MSM?

Governor Welcomes International Diplomats
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 09-002

January 2, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska – Governor Sarah Palin today is welcoming an international delegation of diplomats who are traveling to Alaska to celebrate Alaska Statehood Day on January 3, 2009. Representatives from several Asian and European countries accepted Governor Palin’s invitation to participate in weekend celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Alaska being admitted to the Union.

“We welcome these representatives with our best Alaska hospitality. We are pleased with their recognition of the importance of our 50th anniversary,” Governor Palin said. “It is a special honor to welcome Ambassador Kislyak and to showcase our state to this high-profile international group.”

Among the traveling dignitaries is Mr. Sergey Kislyak, newly appointed Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the United States, who is making his first visit to Alaska. “I am so pleased to be here this weekend,” Ambassador Kislyak said. “As discussed in my meeting with Governor Palin, it is encouraging to note the similarities between Alaska and the Russian Far East. Our existing commercial connections and the mutually beneficial nature of our professional partnerships can only help provide a measure of stability as, together, we face the global economic challenges that lie ahead.”

Ambassador Kislyak also met with representatives of the Aleut International Association, Institute of the North, Alaska Rule of Law Initiative, National Parks Service, ISER Alaska Chukotka Project, and Turnagain Elementary School Russian Immersion Program, all of whom have been involved in multi-year Russia-related projects.

In addition to Ambassador Kislyak, foreign dignitaries include Yuri Gerasin, Consul General of the Russian Federation; Julian Evans, British Consul General; John Mataira, Consul General of New Zealand; Balazs Bokor, Consul General of Hungary; Sten Arne Rosnes, Consul General of Norway; Haryong Lee, Consul General of Korea; Fred Santos, Consul of The Philippines; Mel Knight, Alberta’s Minister of Energy; Marvin Schneider, Alberta’s Executive Director of the U.S. and Americas; and Haijun Wang, Deputy Director General of the Foreign Affairs Office of China’s Heilongjiang Province. Mr. Wang is leading a four-person delegation from Heilongjiang Province, a sister province to Alaska, and China’s northernmost region.

Members of the Alaska consular corps will also be participating in the weekend events. Among them: Karen Matthias, of Canada; Hideo Fujita, of Japan; Hee-chul Kim, of South Korea; and Jose Luis Cuevas, of Mexico. They will be joined by honorary consuls of the Czech Republic, Poland, Finland, Seychelles, and Norway.

“We are thrilled that so many of our esteemed international friends are joining us for the auspicious occasion of our statehood celebration,” said Kris Perry, director of the Governor’s Office of International Trade. “These trade partners have been critical to the economic development of this state in the last 50 years and have helped grow the market for Alaska exports to a nearly $4 billion enterprise. Their presence here this weekend demonstrates how far Alaska has come in the arena of international commerce, and also how much promise we have for the next 50 years and beyond.”

Photo available at: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/large_photo.php?id=229 Photo caption: Governor Sarah Palin meets with Mr. Sergey Kislyak, newly appointed Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the United States, on his first visit to Alaska. Ambassador Kislyak is part of a large group of foreign dignitaries on hand for weekend celebrations marking Alaska’s 50th anniversary of statehood.