OMG, I can't believe I left out the biggest thing...

with Palin. Let's get to a little background, shall we? Keep in mind MY background and special interest in international relations please.

1 of my largest issues w/Bush-baby is the fact that the man cannot speak well - and makes up words to boot. You know, I realize a lot of people are the same way - BUT THEY are not representing the most powerful country in the world. HE is the representation we have. And it's been terrible for over 7 years. I have to say, it will be wonderful, come January, that no matter who wins that this issue will disappear for a minimum of 4 years. I cannot wait.

My main issue w/Bush is his style of diplomacy - or lack thereof - and the way foreign policy is handled...or not. In his 2nd term the phrase 'cowboy diplomacy' was coined in the media. Let me just say, they were late on that bandwagon. You can ask H - seriously - because I used that exact phrase in 2001. Let's turn to the facts. Bush took office w/a world approval rating that was very high. One of the 1st summits he attended was on the Kyoto Treaty regarding climate change - aka global warming. Since his speech was basically 'go to hell, we're not doing this', the view of America went in the toilet and the cowboy diplomacy officially began. Fast forward a few months to 9/11. Once again, due to severe circumstances, America held an extremely high approval rating. And you know what? Bush pissed it away again. You look at all foreign policy of any president in the last 30 years, and you know what they WORK on? Middle East PEACE. Did Bush try, at all, to work w/Israel & Palestine during term #1? No - he deemed it unimportant...at the time. So then to 2004 and term #2. In his inauguration speech he then deemed Middle East peace 'worthy' of his attention. Yeah buddy, you've ignored it for 4 years and you think they'll actually listen to you now that you have a load of military troops and hardware in the region. Good luck with that.

So here we are today. I will not even address the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan. We're there and we need it ended effectively. Nobody can argue with that statement. It is just HOW & WHEN that is argued about. And I won't be addressing that one here.

But what I WILL address is Palin's view on military and how it was expressed in her interview w/Charles Gibson. The question was asked something like this: we have troops in Afghanistan - if they have Osama Bin Laden in their sights and he crosses into Pakistan, do you take him out or do you ask permission from Pakistan. Of course she tried to dodge the question, but ended up making the implication that you take him out w/o permission to enter Pakistan - you do what is necessary to protect the American people. OK - here's my beef. You don't say things like this publicly - she's saying that Pakistan has no sovereignty and our interests are first on THEIR soil. How would you feel if Russia tracked someone into Alaska and did the same? I bet Palin would be the 1st to be bitching about THAT one. And she SHOULD BE. Why the double standard? No wonder Americans are hated all around the world. THIS is THE reason America's reputation is completely in the toilet. Big Bad USA stomping around the world doing whatever we please. You know - this MAY be the case, but you don't put it in THESE terms. WAY bad P.R. people.

THIS is reality. The question was silly - base line. Mr. Gibson - this is already worked out between the leaders. It'd be McCain's or Obama's job, ASAP, to make certain that Pakistan OK'd this action before the scenario even presented itself. And hopefully the Bush administration has already taken care of this - but they haven't been the best planners - so it'd best be checked on 1st thing. Using the blackmail only America can afford, this really isn't a problem. But this isn't discussed in the MEDIA. For cryin' out loud man. Have you no love for our reputation world-wide? Granted it's in the toilet, but do you have to make it worse?

In the end, it just simply shows that Palin need severe work on diplomacy. This is not news, she's been Governor of Alaska for less than 2 years. But IF she DOES get that VP office, let's just hope it's worked on and that the 'cowboy diplomacy' doesn't end up continuing. We really can't afford that.