Palin Errs While Giving Expert Opinion

By TChris, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 11:28:03 PM EST
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Other than the knowledge gained by keeping a sharp eye on Russia from her hilltop on some Alaskan island, Sarah Palin's only claim to expertise owes to Alaska's abundance of oil. Palin has expertly siphoned off oil revenues for the State of Alaska. That doesn't mean she has the broader expertise in energy policy that she claims.

Palin told a town hall questioner that he did not need to worry about Alaskan oil being exported to other countries.

"In fact," she added, "Congress is pretty strict on, um, export bans of oil and gas especially."

Not so, according to the AP. [more ...]

Congress has never imposed outright bans on oil exports. Congress prohibited exports of Alaska oil in 1973 when the Alaska oil pipeline was built. But that ban was lifted in 1996 when there were large volumes of Alaska oil coming down from the North Slope and U.S. demand was soft. The Alaska ban has never been reinstated.

What else doesn't Palin know about her only field of expertise?

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Palin Errs While Giving Expert Opinion | 16 comments (16 topical)

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hm (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by connecticut yankee on Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 11:35:11 PM EST

Jeez, even I knew that the alaskan import bans were lifted. I guess I get to be the energy expert now.

It's like king of the hill right?

er (none / 0) (#2)
by connecticut yankee on Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 11:35:55 PM EST

er, export.


only if you (none / 0) (#6)
by CoralGables on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 12:17:40 AM EST

are about 500 miles of snow and ice from a foreign country and you can see reared heads from that distance. Oh wait, that would make you a foreign policy expert.

We could have jobs in a future Palin administration. I'm about 100 miles from Cuba. I can handle foreign policy. You have a leg up on energy. Oh wait, neither of us went to middle school with her. We have no chance.


Ack! (5.00 / 1) (#12)
by phatpay on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 05:10:00 AM EST

Ok... this is a bit sucky for me.
I'm from Ketchikan (aka Nowhere), Alaska.
I'm kind of caught here. Or stuck.
I really, really, really do not want to be a Palin apologist. But... this thread... gah!

Palin is not an energy expert
Factual errors about Alaska
Inaccurate Palin quotes

Ok, she's definitely not an energy expert, but I'd imagine that as governor of Alaska she would have a fair amount of knowledge about it's most high profile export. Not expert knowledge, but substantially more than most laymen.

In the Bering Straight there are numerous points between Russia and the U.S. that get pretty close. Much closer than 100 miles, and, like it or not, visible with the naked eye.

I don't believe that Palin ever said she could see Russia from her house. That's Tina Fey's comments you're thinking about.

Does that relate to foreign policy?
Hell no. But, as Americans dissin' on one of the worst veep candidates ever, just put the facts in a little better context. There are enough distortions about Alaska out there as it is.

I do think that the rise in tensions between Russia and the U.S. does coordinate with a rise in Alaska's military readiness and vigilance. A lot of that would have to be communicated to the governor. Was she paying that much attention until she was tapped for veep? I wouldn't expect so, but I would expect that Russia comes up more than you might think in the Governor of Alaska's agenda.

Furthermore, neither Juneau (her governmental residence, approximately 1700 miles from Russia) nor Wasilla (her private residence, approximately 1200 miles from Russia) are on islands. Wasilla is in a valley (the Matunuska-Susitna Valley) so umm no hilltops either. Juneau has some nice hilltops. I'm not sure where the governor's mansion is though.

The point is though, there are so many, many things to catch this woman on try to term them at least correctly. Most are hammering her on stupidity and being out of her league. I got no problem with that. Just come correct.

Also... the troopergate thing is just one issue. She's allowing the Alaskan infrastructure to really fray in dire times. Probably due to excessive campaigning. But they are protesting her in Anchorage (and other places) not for these other issues but public transportation and other issues. Her popularity is declining. Regardless of polls. Not precipitously, but it is declining.


: hm (none / 0) (#15)
by connecticut yankee on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 09:22:37 AM EST

Well, you'd better email this to John McCain because he's been saying she's an energy expert who "knows more than anyone" about the subject.

: declining at the same rate of oil prices (none / 0) (#16)
by Jlvngstn on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 10:53:35 AM EST

conspiratists have at it....

gov. palin (none / 0) (#3)
by cpinva on Thu Oct 09, 2008 at 11:42:40 PM EST

has a field of "expertise"? who knew?

I bet you won't find oil/energy experts... (none / 0) (#4)
by Yotin on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 12:00:37 AM EST

among governors and senators. and what she has is much, much, more than any of the other 3 candidates, particularly Obama.

Ridiculous (5.00 / 2) (#7)
by cal1942 on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 12:20:39 AM EST

Palin is an expert on nothing. If you believe she's an "energy expert," whatever that means, then I'd say you have incedibly low standards.

Inasmuch as knowledge of the science and technology of energy sources are concerned,an incredibly broad area that consists of widely varying and dissimilar disciplines; I wouldn't expect that any of the candidates, including Palin, have that level of knowledge. The fact that she lives in Alaska and has been Governor for a year and a half doesn't mean that years of difficult formal education are obtained by osmosis.

No way of knowing but I'd wager that everything Palin knows about oil and the oil industry could be picked up in a one day seminar, with a long lunch break.


I always cringe (5.00 / 0) (#9)
by JThomas on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 02:17:54 AM EST

when McCain refers to Palin as one of the foremost experts in the US on energy.

It is simply not true..not even close.


: John McCain (none / 0) (#11)
by cal1942 on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 02:42:24 AM EST

AKA Hans Christian Andersen

Yotin is limited to four comments in a (none / 0) (#5)
by Jeralyn on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 12:11:05 AM EST

24 hour period. And warned not to use insults like "Obamabots." You aren't going to convince anyone here, I really wonder why you want to waste your time commenting here.


na (none / 0) (#14)
by connecticut yankee on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 09:18:54 AM EST

If she's a YEC creationist as reported then she doesnt agree with geologists about the source of oil itself. SHe thinks it's all laid down by Noah's flood just a few thousand years ago (3,000?).

Palin, as David Brooks wrote, is a cancer who represents the forces of ignorance.


where do they get the people to attend her (none / 0) (#8)
by thereyougo on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 02:14:13 AM EST

speech rallies? Rural areas? HOw can people stand by and listen to her spewing all the misinformation?

that folksy bs went out with GWB. He sure killed the credibility from anyone coming from the Heartland.

: pffft (none / 0) (#10)
by Faust on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 02:18:16 AM EST

go watch the video Digby posted earlier today if you want to see some of the wonderful people that attend her rallies. Freakin unbelievable what some people will say.

i am reminded of the scene, (none / 0) (#13)
by cpinva on Fri Oct 10, 2008 at 08:36:23 AM EST

in Dickens' "A Christmas Carol", when a well dressed gentleman, upon learning of Scrooge's death and impending funeral, says "well, i'll go, but i must be fed!"

perhaps this explains the attendance at the palin rallies: they're serving free chicken wings and soda?