MORNING READ

by Walter Alarkon - 09/12/08 9:17 AM ET

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s (R) first television interview as the GOP veep nominee went fairly well and is being unfairly attacked by Barack Obama’s supporters, according to conservative bloggers. But Palin showed in the interview that she wasn’t ready to lead when she unnecessarily rattled the saber toward Russia, write liberal bloggers. With Palin dominating the news and John McCain ahead in polls, Barack Obama needs to figure out a way to take back control of the race, and his backers online suggest how he can do it.

Though Palin faced “fair but hard fastballs” from ABC News’s Charles Gibson, she managed to answer tough foreign policy questions, avoid stumbles and still display her charisma, writes Townhall’s Hugh Hewitt. While her critics said she stumbled when asked about the Bush Doctrine, she was fair to press Gibson for clarification since even conservative thinkers can’t decide whether it refers to democracy promotion or preemptive strikes, writes The Corner’s Andy McCarthy. But Palin seemed nervous when asked about foreign policy, as she resorted to platitudes when talking about Islamic extremists in Pakistan and the September 11 terror attacks, writes Hot Air’s Allahpundit.

Liberal bloggers are keying on Palin’s suggestion that the United States should go to war with Russia if it again invades Georgia. Her stance is the logical extension of McCain’s “unhinged policy” on Russia, writes TalkingPointsMemo’s Josh Marshall. Palin’s readiness for war raises questions over whether she’s ready to lead and reflects poorly on McCain, who has been sending “horrifying signals” about fighting wars in the Middle East and with Russia, writes Ilan Goldenberg at The Huffington Post. Palin’s apparent confusion on foreign policy reminds Daily Kos’s georgia10 of the time Palin acknowledged that she hasn’t focused on the Iraq war because of her state government duties.

Since Obama has fallen behind as McCain’s “maverick” persona has proven powerful with conservative populist voters, the Democrat should stress his own values, character and leadership capabilities, writes linguistics professor George Lakoff at Truthout. But, according to Democratic consultant Joe Trippi, Obama should focus on McCain and instead of himself or Palin. According to TalkLeft’s Big Tent Democrat, Obama should just go back to tying McCain to President Bush.

FROM THE BLOGS:
Palin A Sharp Contrast With Obumble – Hugh Hewitt, Townhall
‘Didn’t Know Bush Doctrine’ Is Canard – A. McCarthy, The Corner
Maybe Palin Was Nervous – Allahpundit, Hot Air
Not Ready – Josh Marshall, TalkingPointsMemo
Moose In The Headlights – georgia10, Daily Kos
Palin’s Dangerous Saber Rattling – I. Goldenberg, HuffPo
Don’t Think of A Maverick – George Lakoff, Truthout
Obama’s Next Move – Joe Trippi, The Plank
Obama on Offense – Big Tent Democrat, TalkLeft