(April 13, 2010 - Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images North America)
Bill O’Reilly of the Fox News Network had former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin on his program The Factor last night to discuss President Obama’s national address regarding the oil spill in the Gulf – now commonly known as the “BP Oil Spill” – all blame being spelled out intentionally by the mainstream media with its word choice. Well done. Score one for the Left.
For as long as Gov Palin has been on the national political scene, she has been very outspoken on “energy” issues and many have trumpeted her grasp of the subject matter even going so far as to call her an “expert” in and where the energy business crosses into political matters. Having served as governor of a state which requires such a background, I have been supremely confident that this was one area where the Palin fanatics were squarely on point.
With that as the background, O’Reilly began a conversation with Gov Palin that focused on the President’s response to the ever-growing environmental catastrophe in the Gulf. Both were highly critical of the administration and referred to the nearly 60 days that have passed with no resolution found or hopes of one on the horizon. After discussing the fringe of the crisis for a few moments, at the 4:30 mark of the interview, O’Reilly asked Palin a direct question. Listen along if you would like…
O’Reilly: “What is your solution? What would you do tonight?”
Here was part of Gov Palin’s response:
“Stop (brief pause)… stopping the gusher. That’s the number one priority of the nation. We need to make sure that all technology is being thrown at this problem.” When asked if that wasn’t the President’s priority she responded… “We haven’t had the assurance by the President that that has been his top priority. Instead what his top priority is Bill… is Cap and Tax. It is using this crisis – not letting it go to waste – but to use this crisis to increase the cost of energy…” Bill then came back with this to get her back on topic and see what he solution to the problem would be… “BP doesn’t know how to stop it. Obama obviously doesn’t know how to stop the leak. Do you know how to stop it?” PAUSE…. Pause… Pause… Palin: “Well then what the federal government should have done is accept the assistance of foreign countries, entrepreneurial Americans who have had solutions that they wanted presented.” O’Reilly: ”Who? Who?” Palin: “THEY can’t even get a phone call returned Bill. (Pause… Pause…) The Dutch. They are known and the NORWEGIAN… They are known for dikes and for cleaning up water and cleaning up spills. They offered to help and yet no. They too with the can’t even get a phone call back. That is what the Norwegian and the Dutch are telling us.”
She then changed focus and said that “We saw this with Katrina… but I’m not going to get into pointing fingers and partisan issues. She went on to add that “government” has its priorities wrong stating, “We need to be focused on National Security – safety of the people is where we need to be funding.”
That’s where she lost me… What does that have to do with the frigging oil spill? She tried to bring the convo back to her expertise as an energy governor in Alaska – which only succeeded in reminding me that she was supposed to be answering the question of – what the hell SHE would have done if she were President of the United States….
Look folks. I try to be as fair as I can around here. I pride myself on consistency and I have to tell you that this was one of the most incoherent and idiotic interviews I have ever seen from a past or present elected official – especially one that fancies herself an “expert” on the topic. She was asked a simple question and offered nothing – zip – zilch – nada.
I am all for being critical of the President’s response. I think it has been slow, but I think more importantly it has been lacking in the department of sharing with the American people exactly what IT (the response) really is/ was/ or will be.
That said, I don’t have an answer. I’m not a deep sea geologist, an oil man, or even someone who can grasp how big the hole in this pipe really is from watching the spill-cam 24-7. Having no solution of my own to offer, I can only be critical of the President for not telling me what it is that HE is attempting to do. Unless I have something to offer as an alternative to the current course of action, my words are rather meaningless now aren’t they?
(January 22, 2010 - Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images North America)
With that in mind… When a publicly-perceived “expert” such as Sarah Palin chimes in on such a discussion, I fully expect that she has some solutions. How could she not? Time served as Governor of oil rich Alaska must have prepared her for the event of such a catastrophe. Right? Isn’t that what great “executives” are supposed to be – prepared for the event of a crisis or catastrophe?
Well if this interview is any indication of the answer to that question I do believe the answer is a resounding N-O! Like the President, she too has had nearly two months to formulate the Palin Plan for disaster relief and recovery, and when asked – she had nothing.
That leads me to two scenarios. 1.) Palin is about as much of an expert on these matters as I am on the human genome project or even the allure of MTV’s The Jersey Shore. Trust me when I tell you that an expert on nucleotides and Pauly D I am not. OR 2.) No one – and by that I mean NO ONE – currently has a solution to this spill.
I am inclined to believe that Governor Palin can probably handle herself over cocktails in a conversation regarding similar matters – perhaps being limited by her lack of access to information regarding the current matter. That said, for a woman of the people as she envisions herself to be – a little honesty would have been refreshing. Save the “focus on national security – the safety of the people” talking point for another day…. thank you very much. How bout trying not to insult the intelligence of conservative America by slipping in a few “rah rah Right Wing” references into a conversation that clearly had your head beneath the surface of the water.
In sum… kudos to Bill O’Reilly for attempting to get an answer out of the Former Alaska Governor. He tried mightily and undoubtedly shook his shed with the rest of us when the segment came to a close. A small note to fellow Right-Wingers commenting on the disaster… Maybe draw up a plan on a napkin or two before you take to the national stage and talk about a lack of a plan from this administration. The last thing incompetence needs is company.
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Did you happen to see the “child prodigy” professor who had the idea involving tires and hydraulic fluid? I’m with you, I’m definately no professional here, but it sure sounded like it was worth a shot! I think maybe she was a Nuclear physicist?? I’d would think anything would be worth trying at this point…
It reminds me of the movie Armageddon where Bruce Willis says “You’re the United States government… come on this is NASA… don’t you have rooms full of people just sitting around thinking shit up?” For an administration (regime) committed to promoting the notion that big government has all the answers, it does seem somewhat ironic that they are at a loss.
I had not heard that theory but I have heard quite a few – the most frequent being blowing the damn thing up. While I don’t know how such an explosion would play out with millions of gallons of oil resting beneath the surface, that is certainly the way they’d do it in a movie:)
Someone above my pay grade is going to have to solve this one. I’d just like to know that we’ve figured out who that someone is to rely upon.
[...] Sarah Palin with O'Reilly on the BP Spill Address [...]
Sarah Palin with O?Reilly on the BP Spill Address…
I found your entry interesting do I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog
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I had begun to like this site, but this article seems completely out of character. You absolutely took her out of context and focused on the weak portion of this interview. Also, how can you criticize her for not having a plan when you so proudly admit that you do not have one either? Why would a strong conservative like you want to attack Sarah like this? You have just lost a fan and loyal reader.
Lenux… I am not sure how I “took anything out of context.” I posted the full interview and suggested that you listen along. I watched the interview back several times and each time I found myself more frustrated with the back and forth between Palin and O’Reilly.
But yes, I did admit that I have no plan and accordingly I have no intention of critiquing the President for his lack of a decent plan at this point. I would however like to know that he is taking every step necessary to find the right people who are capable of formulating a sound plan and when he finds said people I would like him to share that with the American people. I am frustrated with how long that process has taken and how little we have heard – especially when the administration continues to claim that it is “on the job” and “in command.”
As for my statements being “out of character” I fail to see how you could come to such a conclusion. I am inclined to believe that it must be a result of your comfort level with hearing a conservative take a position critical of Gov Palin. You would not be the first to depart my website in such a manner for similar reasons. Regrettable yes. Unexpected no. I will not apologize for being consistent. This was a terrible interview and frankly it did more to chip away at the credibility of Sarah Palin than any orchestrated by the Left and its pal the mainstream media. She was in a favorable setting and was speaking on a matter which many have characterized her as an expert… and she failed miserably.
I hate that you will not be around Lenux but I will not apologize or ever hesitate to call a spade a spade.
I think the over arching issue is the public does not really know or understand what is being done to stop the leak and clean up the mess. Palin may have been vague about her plan to stop the spill and clean up the mess, but she did briefly mention a few of the solutions out just waiting to be taken advantage of. She definitely can’t offer criticism of Obama’s plan, or lack there of, if she herself can not submit a clear plan though. This is definitely as case where I would condone I mild amount of reckless spending to take advantage of every option for clean up that is proven to work, with the government in charge management. Then sort out the bill at the end with BP.
I don’t think the interview was as bad as you say T. Christopher, but that high pitch twangy voice is as annoying as ever. I could not imagine hearing that at press conferences or a Presidential Address for 4 years.
It seems like there is finally some good news with the spill. The Houston Chronicle reports, U.S. ships were being outfitted earlier this month with four pairs of skimming booms airlifted from the Netherlands and should be deployed within days.” Finally a good sign. For all those feeling pretty gloomy about this situation, I recommend a good laugh… Here’s a funny joke, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd0svVWfFbo
I am still a fan of Sarah Palin but I must say I agree in the main. I was somewhat dismayed at her preformance on O’Rielly as well.
This was a golden opportunity for her and she blew it — IMO. Any fool knows Obama can’t plug the damn hole and that he can’t suck it up with a straw — even the Dunce-in-Chief knows that.
But she should have zapped him hard, repeatedly, and clearly on what IS his responsibility: MARSHALLING ALL RESOURCES, foreign and domestic into a coordinaged effort to keep the oil slick out to sea i.e., OFF our coastline — booms,sucking, dredging, dispersing you name it — just do it goddamnit. Second he should be HELPING (instead of hindering) State and local efforts. On both of these (his job)he has FAILED.
She SHOULD have said that — she only kind of hinted at it. For that simple clear critique she would have gotten respect and support (and it might even have given sactimonious Bill something to think about).
His bootlicking efforts to get Obama to come on The Factor are sickening.
Oh I couldn’t agree more B Daniel. In the world of great opportunities – or as this administration aptly framed it – never let a good crisis go to waste – I suppose, and I do believe Gov Palin has wasted her moment to show her brilliance. I mean that with absolute sincerity as well. This is her area. Her wheelhouse. Her resume headline. I was genuinely disappointed hearing that she had so little to offer. I rarely tune in to O’Reilly but was eager to do so just bc this was the topic dejure and she was the guest of choice.
I will add one point as well that I should have included. She did rip the President for not taking the help offered by other nations. Lets just say that he had taken that advice and relied upon foreign nations to solve a domestic crisis. What then would the Hannity’s and Palin’s of the world have had to say about the matter? I thought that was the most broken criticism of the entire interview. Should HE have done so? Of course he should have in the absence of effective solutions of his own, but would many on the Right have destroyed him for it? “You Betcha!”
Point to ponder…. Cuba offered us expert hurricane/flood assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina…. Was Bush wrong not to accept it?
Actually Obama did accept international help from Canada, Germany, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway are all in the Gulf.
I enjoy your site, yes I am a liberal but, I do not like either liberal/conservative sites that just spout insults and name calling. There are many points of view and even if I disagree with someone I can respect them if its a civilized discussion. I voted for him but, that doesnt mean I agree with everything. Unfortunately there are those on both sides that look at their party as perfection, never making a mistake.
Mugatu. I sincerely appreciate your comment and that as a self-described liberal you would have the courage to comment here. I consider myself very much an independent thinker but am in no way an “independent.” I am absolutely a Republican, and I attempt to be the best conservative that I am capable of being. What that typically entails is an effort to remain consistent and to stay away from the hype/talking points of the Right. Sometimes that lands me in hot water among my peers and sometimes that even brings in an individual such as yourself who is simply tired of the BS from both sides. I appreciate your reading my ramblings and for your comment and hope to see you again soon.
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