Russian Life & People Digest
Question by Bashir: Why is Sarah Palin stupid for saying you can see Russia from Alaska?
I mean, I was under the impression that you can see Russia from Alaska if you are standing on the Diomede islands. One Island belongs to the USA and the other to Russia.
Or did she say that she could see Russia from her home?
Answers and Views:
Answer by Jake
maybe it wasn’t literal. a hyperbole of sorts
Read all the answers in the comments.
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Glacierwolf says
I live in Alaska.
Sarah Palin did not say that. It is a quote made byTina Fey from a skit on Saturday Night Live. Duh?
What kind of an %$ #^ does not know the difference between reality and TV Comedy/Fiction?
I am sure your mother and father are proud of you. Not. LOL!!!
Why did you even both to post this? LOL??
Phi Ratio says
Well, there are two things going on. First, she did try to clarify that she meant that there are places in Alaska where you can see Russia. But she did look like an idiot. The real problem was the way she was trying to use that to imply that she had some kind of foreign policy expertise. It's like applying for job as a chef, and telling them in an interview that you make really good pasta, and trying to gloss over the fact that the "pasta" comes from a box of Kraft mac n' cheese. It was very transparent, and made her look stupid.
Part two happened the next weekend on Saturday Night Live. Tina Fey made good use of the incident by saying "I can see Russia from my house," in reference to foreign policy experience. Miss Fey was only bending Palin's words a little bit, and it was truly hilarious, because it demonstrated what we were all thinking already – even many conservatives. Pretty soon, most people remembered Tina Fey's words better than Palin's original words. There seemed to be more truth in the joke than in the actual interview.
pitademon2000 says
Sarah Palin is far from stupid. All that came from people too ignorant about Alaska to understand. Her words were that she could see Russia from her back yard. Meaning that from Alaska you can see Russia, Governor or Iowa cannot say that. Huckabee could not say that, neither could a senator from Illinois. So pundits and those working for Democrats twisted the phrase to make her look ignorant. That is what many political people do, twist your words and fling mud to discredit their opponents. Yes, the Diomede islands are only 3 miles or so apart, but you can also see mainland Russia on a rare good day. Alaska does business with Russia, Japan, and Korea nearly every day. More so than many other states. We have 3-4 international confrences a year. Most aobut how the polar regions are affected by business, weather, and other global impacts. Alaska goes because it is in our interest too, so we go to represent the United States. Not like the Governor of Georgia would know what is in Alaskas best interests.
So really listen to what they all say. Journalists and aides will twist everything about. YOu have your own mind and own worries. make judgement calls for yourself
Rev. Iason Ouabache says
You can't build a foreign policy resume on how many countries border your own.
cameteoritefinder says
Palin said "I can see Russia from my backyard," as a justification for her experience in international politics and relations.
While it may be literally true that one can see Russian territory from Alaskan, two things should be made clear:
1) Palin cannot literally see Russian soil from anywhere near her house.
2) Even if she were able to "See Russia from her backyard," this would give her absolutely no qualifications with regards to, say, dealing with Russia on a political level. It takes more than merely seeing other countries to make one ready to deal with political, economic, and social interplay in an international forum. Simply making such a…crass comment…goes to show how inept she would actually be at such a position. No one I know would go so far as to say "I've looked over the border fence at Mexico: therefore I would be capable of leading this country in international relations with that nation."
It's simply preposterous, and shows a marked lack of maturity.
violetrose1460 says
Because some people these days are just blah
Skookum says
The trouble she got herself into was because she answered that to a question on why she was qualified to be in such a high political office (her foreign policy knowledge). That made it entirely laughable.
Patio of Fun says
The Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia is only about 58 miles wide. It's not a ridiculous statement on her part, I'm sure that Russian and Alaskan fishing vessels encounter each other daily.