Alaska's largest newspaper endorses Obama

[Lord Poe]

Ouch

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Anchorage Daily News, Alaska's largest newspaper, endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama Sunday after declaring Gov. Sarah Palin "too risky" to be one step away from the Oval Office.

"Like picking (Republican presidential candidate John) McCain for president, putting her one 72-year-old heartbeat from the leadership of the free world is just too risky at this time," The Daily News said.

The newspaper said Obama "brings far more promise to the office. In a time of grave economic crisis, he displays thoughtful analysis, enlists wise counsel and operates with a cool, steady hand."

The Daily News said since the economic crisis has emerged, McCain has "stumbled and fumbled badly" in dealing with it.

"Of the two candidates, Sen. Obama better understands the mortgage meltdown's root causes and has the judgment and intelligence to shape a solution, as well as the leadership to rally the country behind it," the paper said.

The Daily News said Palin has shown the country why she is a success as governor. But the paper said few would argue that Palin is truly ready to step into the job of being president despite her passion, charisma and strong work ethic.

"Gov. Palin's nomination clearly alters the landscape for Alaskans as we survey this race for the presidency — but it does not overwhelm all other judgment. The election, after all is said and done, is not about Sarah Palin, and our sober view is that her running mate, Sen. John McCain, is the wrong choice for president at this critical time for our nation," the paper said.

[wautd]

Ouch

strong work ethic.

Buh? What about troopergate? And last night I heared something on the radio about a new scandal about some oil pipeline.

[Durandal]

I'm not sure about a scandal, but it's definitely an overblown claim. The pipeline hasn't even been built yet, and she's carrying on like it's saved the country from dependence on foreign oil.

[Darth Wong]

Not only has it not been built, but half of it has to go through Canada, and here's this stupid bitch talking about how Alaska's proximity to Russia gives her foreign-policy experience. Open a geography textbook lately, Palin? There's a foreign country that shares a land border with you, and you have to deal with that country in order to get that pipeline built. How many First Nations tribes have you dealt with in British Columbia, you stupid bitch? Have you bothered meeting the BC premier? Have you even visited Canada?

[Napoleon the Clown]

See, Canada doesn't count. It's America Junior. Basically, you're our backwards next door neighbors. You aren't from the wrong side of the tracks, unlike those lazy Mexicans to the south of us, so we trust you with bringing in our newspaper while we're on vacation.[/idiot]


Honestly though, Americans often don't think of Canada as a foreign country because it shares the same language (for the most part) and isn't too terribly different, culturally. Foreign means alien for a lot of people, and Canadians aren't alien to most of the country. There are tons of prominent actors that are from Canada, and the US/Canada border is by far the more porous of the two borders the US has. Russia, on the other hand, is on the other side of the Pacific, speaks a completely different language, and is still largely a mysterious, alien place, to most US residents. As mixed up as people are about Canada, they know even less about how Russia really is. Sad to say, but many US residents don't really see a distinction between Canada and the US. At best, you're the mixed up child or something along those lines. Except when it comes to the Minute Man fuckheads. To them, you're evil threats to the Nation.


I'm personally in agreement that Palin simply isn't prepared for becoming President, should McCain get elected and either kill over or otherwise become incapable of performing his duties as President. Governor of Alaska grants about as much foreign relations experience as being Governor of Florida. Florida has Cuba and the Bahamas just 150 miles to the south of it. And the tapability of a candidate's ass should not be a factor. Obama may be less experienced than McCain, but that also means he's more likely to listen to the advisers he has. That's why they're even there, so the President doesn't need to be an expert in all fields.

[Samuel]

Technically, no. After all, Florida has a stream of foreigners who come in and the occasional actual foreign relations experience. They had the Ethan Gonzales incident about a decade ago. They also have a varied populace over a million people and are next to other American states. All things that put them well above Alaska.

As for the endorsement... wow, do you think Palin will lose her own state? Alaska usually goes Republican... nah- they will stick with it.

[Darth Wong]

See, Canada doesn't count. It's America Junior. Basically, you're our backwards next door neighbors. You aren't from the wrong side of the tracks, unlike those lazy Mexicans to the south of us, so we trust you with bringing in our newspaper while we're on vacation.[/idiot]

Honestly though, Americans often don't think of Canada as a foreign country because it shares the same language (for the most part) and isn't too terribly different, culturally. Foreign means alien for a lot of people, and Canadians aren't alien to most of the country. There are tons of prominent actors that are from Canada, and the US/Canada border is by far the more porous of the two borders the US has. Russia, on the other hand, is on the other side of the Pacific, speaks a completely different language, and is still largely a mysterious, alien place, to most US residents. As mixed up as people are about Canada, they know even less about how Russia really is. Sad to say, but many US residents don't really see a distinction between Canada and the US. At best, you're the mixed up child or something along those lines. Except when it comes to the Minute Man fuckheads. To them, you're evil threats to the Nation.

Canada is foreign for the purposes of having its own national interests and requiring diplomatic contact, which is what really matters. Americans think that other nations are distinguished from America strictly on the basis of ideology, which is a very childish way of looking at the world. International diplomacy works on the basis of finding compromise between disparate national interests, not a clash of ideologies. The very fact that Americans assume Canada's interests must coincide with America's interests because we have similar culture, or that Canada would go along with anything America proposes is part of the problem. And since Sarah Palin seems to assume this as well, it means that she is part of the problem.

[Darth Fanboy]

Devil's Advocate: Alaska's border with Canada isn't unique, as there are ten other states that have borders with Canada. No other state is even close to Russia.

Reality Advocate: But by boasting of proximity to Russia over actual dealings with Canada, all that does is just prove that she is more interested in fluffy soundbytes than the actual issues.