Under pressure

Following this interview with ABC's Charles Gibson — which arguably constitutes Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's first test as to whether she has a clue about issues of actual significance — the McCain camp will no doubt be scrambling to refocus attention on pigs wearing lipstick and similarly irrelevant headlines that distract not only from constructive discourse on critical matters, but also the reality that this campaign ticket has little to offer on those matters.

Sitting across from Gibson, Palin comes across in this video as a nervous high school student unprepared for her first job interview. Three moments that were, in my view, particularly telling:

• When Gibson pressed Palin on how her state's proximity to Russia lends insight into the actions of that nation, Palin responded that "they're our next-door neighbors, and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska." (Likewise, from parts of Washington state, one can see into Canada. I feel so empowered now.)
  
• When asked whether she had ever met a foreign head of state, Palin said she had not but that the desire in this nation was for "no more politics as usual and somebody's big, fat resume that shows decades and decades in that Washington establishment" that would afford such an opportunity. (Right, and certainly her running mate has not campaigned on his resume.)
  
• When Gibson asked Palin whether she agreed with the Bush doctrine, he ultimately ended up having to explain to her what it was. (Cut to the moment where she responds to his question by asking, "In what respect, Charlie?" Perhaps Sarah Palin rather than Frances McDormand should have been cast for the star role in the 1996 dark comedy, "Fargo.")

If this interview is any indication of Palin's future performance in this campaign, the next several weeks should be very interesting.