The Big Cram Session

Not since their school days have Americans ever seen a person cramming so much information into one study session, hoping to learn history and current events at breakneck speed.

However, Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is no ordinary student ... and she's preparing for no ordinary test. Without conceding she has no knowledge of foreign policy, the Republicans have set up meetings with Palin and nine international leaders.

These meetings include time with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. There is also a crash course planned with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger ... who is a personal friend of Palin's running mate, Senator John McCain.

Attempting to spin these meetings in the best light, Republican campaign officials claim Palin is no different from recent candidates who possessed very little -- if any -- knowledge about foreign policy before taking office. They point out that other governors moved into high office with just a tiny amount of knowledge of the world around them.

In the last 40-years there have been three governors who became president ... Jimmy Carter of Georgia, Ronald Reagan of California, and Bill Clinton of Arkansas. There have also been two governors who became vice president ... Spiro Agnew of Maryland, and Nelson Rockefeller of New York.

It is that political spin on the matter that brings up some concerns. In the past the Republican party has been skilled at putting a good spin on things ... it got George W. Bush elected, and re-elected. However, the party of Lincoln and Reagan, blew it this time around. If somebody needs remedial classes, don't do the tutoring in public view.

Having Palin go for meetings at the United Nations is like sitting her on the street corner wearing a dunce hat. Schedule these meeting out of the view of cameras and reporters. Have private meetings in embassy buildings, or just about any other location that is less visible. Where did Palin and McCain meet for their first get-together? There was no media there for that meeting.

In a recent interview with ABC News' Charles Gibson, Palin admitted she had never met a head of state. It would be surprising if she had met with the leaders of other countries. Her political experience has been as an alderman, mayor, and now a governor with less than 2-years on the job. However, Palin also told Gibson she is "ready" and did not question her own ability and experience to be vice president and, if necessary, president.

"I answered him 'yes' (when McCain offered the position) because I have the confidence in that readiness. And knowing that you can't blink. You have to be wired in a way of being so committed to the mission, the mission that we're on, reform of this country, and victory in the war. You can't blink. So, I didn't blink then even, when asked to run as his running mate," Palin told Gibson.

Maybe Palin will blink -- at least once -- when she realizes there are more issues at hand than just "reform of this country and victory in the war." This country is facing an economic crisis where much of the money to resolve this predicament is coming from China. Also there is an energy crisis facing the United States. Palin tried to use that to her advantage, stating Alaska -- where she is governor -- produces nearly 20% of the U.S. domestic supply of energy. On it's face, that sounds pretty good. However, according to the Energy Information Administration, the United States imports 66% of its oil from foreign sources ... meaning that 20% to which Palin referred, isn't very much.

Fact is, neither democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama nor Palin have extensive foreign policy experience because of their limited background in government. Obama has seven years experience on the state level, and three years in the U.S. Senate. Palin spent four years as a city council member in Wasilla, Alaska, then six years as mayor of that city, followed by the last 21 months as governor.

Truth is, McCain and democratic vice presidential candidate Senator Joe Biden have much more experience than Obama and Palin combined.

It's okay to admit one needs to learn more, and it's okay to get the necessary lessons. Be that as it may, when running for political office there is a right way and a wrong way to present it to the public in general, and voters in particular.

Obama did it right by delivering a message to screaming crowds in Berlin. They may or may not have understood what he was saying, but he came off looking good ... very presidential. That's an excellent example of political spin.

Palin did it wrong. Meeting one-on-one with foreign leaders at the United Nations didn't look very vice presidential. Then to make matters worse, she announced she would take no questions from reporters, then wanted to have no reporters in the room; only a a pool photographer and pool videographer. Finally the republicans allowed a reporter in the room, but not before the entire country -- and the world -- knew of the blunder.

It is a very good thing that the election is just 41 days away. Any longer and the candidates may implode much the same way as the U.S. banking system.

" .. or so this news junkie thinks!"