By Danny

Sep 24, 2008 6:18pm

Laura Bush Calls Palin ‘Quick Study’

ABC News’ Lisa Chinn Reports: First Lady Laura Bush told CNN on Wednesday that McCain running mate Sarah Palin does not have foreign policy experience but downplayed its significance by saying that the Alaska governor is a "quick study."

"Well, obviously, of course, she does not have that," said Mrs. Bush when asked if Palin has foreign policy experience. "That has not been her role, but I think that she is a very quick study and fortunately John McCain does have that experience."

Asked if Palin has been treated unfairly, Mrs. Bush, replied, "I do believe so. But it is to be expected," adding, "I think that Sarah Palin is plenty tough, and I think that is what we will find out."

User Comments

Do we really want someone who has NO EXPERIENCE, “oh but she is a quick study”……as VP? Not Now, Not Today, No Thanks.

Posted by: Chipo1965 | September 24, 2008, 6:30 pm 6:30 pm

Chipo1965 stated: “do we really want someone who has no experience?”
I’d rather have an inexperienced VP than an inexperienced president. Barack Obama is quite a bit more inexperienced than Palin.

Posted by: DW2734 | September 24, 2008, 6:37 pm 6:37 pm

No doubt Laura would also consider her husband a ‘quick study’? lol
Sarah Falin a ‘quick study’ who has kept in a bubble from the Press FOR WEEKS?
A so-called ‘quick study’ college grad IS NOT enough for the magnitude of BOTH domestic and international challenges the nation faces.
Sarah Falin is too ‘green’ and McCaint is too old; and they BOTH lack the level of mental breath to handle America’s present problems.
US badly needs a President with the IVV — Intelligence, Vision and VIGOR!
US needs University graduates who are able to handle complex problems!

Posted by: Patriot | September 24, 2008, 6:37 pm 6:37 pm

This is really funny. Obama is a lot smarten then Palin. Obama actual went to a good school AND finished at the top of his class. He was editor of one of the most prestigous law journals and the republicans claim he isn’t ready to be President but the C average Palin will be. Go figure!

Posted by: The Unshrub | September 24, 2008, 6:38 pm 6:38 pm

DW – I have no response for you, because if you truly believe your statement you have no sense and if you are just saying that because you will vote for McCain-Palin, and facts don’t matter to you, nothing I say will resonate with you.

Posted by: Chipo1965 | September 24, 2008, 6:40 pm 6:40 pm

Was she comparing her to the genius she married? A quick study means Palin knew nothing before.

Posted by: bhciapol | September 24, 2008, 6:40 pm 6:40 pm

This is sad, probably the first thing Laura has been allowed to say in 8 years that she actually believes. “Does Sarah Have Foreign policy experience?….. “of course not”

Posted by: Chipo1965 | September 24, 2008, 6:42 pm 6:42 pm

Don’t confuse Time on Task with effective experience!
The Harvard grad and University prof, Obama, EASILY has more effective experience than BOTH McCaint-Falin combined!
Meaningful Experience that leads to broad vision and good judgment is a product of INTELLIGENCE and Time on Task!
Just spending a generation in Washington (Time on Task) without the requisite Intelligence/Aptitude is not the kind of experience that America needs, John McCaint.
Bush has 8 years of Presidential experience; and what has he done for America but head the nation into one disaster after another.
And McCaint was with bush over 90% of the BAD JUDGMENT time!

Posted by: Patriot | September 24, 2008, 6:44 pm 6:44 pm

All she can say is I am ready and blink of an eye. In other words she is ready to push the button in the blink of an eye for nuclear war.

Posted by: Rose Szymanski | September 24, 2008, 6:46 pm 6:46 pm

I wonder if this bit of fluff was predisdent of her high school freshmen class maybe that’s her qualification. With these two I hope they have God in there hip pockets they will need HIM

Posted by: Rose Szymanski | September 24, 2008, 6:50 pm 6:50 pm

Let the eye-rolling begin!

Posted by: Katie O in Houston, TX | September 24, 2008, 6:57 pm 6:57 pm

John McCain and Sarah Palin have both told us that she is completely qualified. She said “I have that readiness, that preparedness, I have the confidence that I am ready to lead the country if need be”

Posted by: Truth Matters | September 24, 2008, 7:19 pm 7:19 pm

Palin has more experience than Obama and he is running for the Presidential spot.
Then again, Obama is a communist so will take direction from his commrades and needs no experience to follow orders.

Posted by: mary | September 24, 2008, 7:23 pm 7:23 pm

“quick study,” eh? funny, that’s exactly what Laura’s husband said about Harriet Miers when he tried to foist her on us as Supreme Court Justice. didn’t seem to matter that she didn’t know Constitutional Law – she was a “quick study.” well, Palin doesn’t know economics, foreign policy, American history, ethics, or – apparently – energy – good thing she’s a “quick study,” ’cause she’ll need a Master’s Degree by January if McCain puts KoolAid in our water and he ends up winning the election.

Posted by: bajacalla | September 24, 2008, 7:28 pm 7:28 pm

Laura Bush forgot to mention that her husband did not know who the Prime Minister of Canada was when he first took office in 2001.
He took a lot of flack for not knowing
Prime Minister Chretien of Canada.
Also, Obama did not know that the Prime Minister is not called President in Canada.
Also, there are 50 states not 57 as described by Obama on the campaign trail during the Primary Election.

Posted by: SF | September 24, 2008, 7:28 pm 7:28 pm

Mary wake up on a better day of the mcbush ticket Obama has more knowledge than the both of them put together. here on one side is puff and fluff on the other side is knowledge and more knowledge

Posted by: Rose Szymanski | September 24, 2008, 7:41 pm 7:41 pm

LMAO, Palin has more experience than Obama??? Two years as a GOVERNOR, no real federal experience, versus THREE YEARS as a US senator and SEVEN YEARS as a state senator?
Wake up, people.

Posted by: lolololol | September 24, 2008, 8:57 pm 8:57 pm

a quick study? well, it’s clear that she knows how to pull a trigger& kill a moose… maybe a polar bear. oh yes, I’m ready for this person to be a heartbeat away from the leader of my country. no way! I would be more comfortable with richard nixon coming back!

Posted by: is this for real? | September 24, 2008, 10:36 pm 10:36 pm

QUICK STUDY?????????
SERIOUSLY ????????????
ARE THEY CRAZY ????????????
SEND HER BACK TO ALASKA AND MAKE HER ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE ABUSE OF AUTHORITY CHARGES AND PAYING HERSELF PER DIEMS ON THE TAXPAYERS WHILE SHE WAS AT HOME, AND SENDING HER HUSBAND IN TO DO HER JOB WITHOUT HIM BEING ELECTED TO THE OFFICE. THIS IS THE CRAZIEST CAMPAIGN
EVER !!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: American for Change | September 24, 2008, 10:45 pm 10:45 pm

I am sick and tired of people pointing to Sen. Palin’s inexperience as a bad thing. She is new to all of this, THAT is what makes her so good! Would you rather have an old, battered pair of shoes with a broken heel, or a nice new pair of brand new heels? It’s a no brainer! Come on, people…what Mrs. Bush meant is that Sen. Palin will pick it up as she goes along, and she will!

Posted by: Marcie D. | September 24, 2008, 10:54 pm 10:54 pm

What is obviously is many consider Palin a sexual threat and therefore villify her without cause. Look at it. A top governor featured in article after article during the last 12 months gets selected as a VP nominee. Nothing new, except she is also drop dead gorgeous and stealing the attention away from the likes of . . . dare we say it, Campbell Brown? No wonder Campbell is her biggest critic. Come on.

Posted by: Jeff | September 24, 2008, 11:09 pm 11:09 pm

Quick study Bush put all of his private companies in the financial toilet and no the United States. This is a near exact repeat of the fall of the USSR.
We do not need McCain the Class Clown who graduated 894 out of 899 or a student trainee for V.P.
Do you trust your life to a surgeon that graduated in the bottom 1% of his class?
Do you trust your life to a pilot that graduated in the bottom 1% of his class?
Do you trust your life to the nuclear engineer that graduated in the bottom 1% of his class?
Then why trust your country to a man that graduated in the bottom 1% of his class?
After all he did take down 5 airplanes. Does that make him Flying Ace? I guess it doen’s count if you are the pilot of all 5 airplanes. A little more attention to the school work and the basics and maybe, just maybe, he would have stayed up in the air more often.
And, then there is the little Savings and Loan debacle that Mr. McCain received a spanking by the Senate. Now that is some good experience.
Why is there no evidence of Trig Palin being born on April 19 at Mat-Su Hospital? Whay has the Palin doctor disappeared from the Hospital register.
Harry

Posted by: Harry Johnson | September 25, 2008, 12:19 am 12:19 am

McCain missed the mark by not selecting Governor Pawlenty.
Harry

Posted by: Harry Johnson | September 25, 2008, 12:23 am 12:23 am

In this case : take me for VP !
I am even a quicker study, at least I did not need 5 different schools before finishing my degree as Palin had to do !
Seriously : let’s stop this stupid game. With the country in shambles we need the most intelligent and best people at the top. This disqualifies McCain/Palin as they will not be able to fix the mess another “incompetent” party colleague made.

Posted by: melanie | September 25, 2008, 3:17 am 3:17 am

When Obama takes time to find out details, or make a decision, he’s called pragmatic, calculating, careful…. When Gov. Palin does it, she’s called inexperienced, and dismissed as a joke. It is sad that young people think this is acceptable. From my adult point of view Obama and Palin are equally qualified for the opportunity to become a President, but unqualified to be President. Only an incumbent President can make that claim! I will not vote for Obama because he is supported 100% by radical “social justice” groups. I think he is probably a good guy, but I don’t like his supporters.

Posted by: disillusioned2008 | September 25, 2008, 7:37 am 7:37 am

John McCain and Sarah Palin have both told us that she is completely qualified. She said “I have that readiness, that preparedness, I have the confidence that I am ready to lead the country if need be”
as if it were a wrestling match,its the presidency stupid.and it takes inlelligence both of which they dont have

Posted by: 4real | September 25, 2008, 8:39 am 8:39 am

John McCain and Sarah Palin have both told us that she is completely qualified. She said “I have that readiness, that preparedness, I have the confidence that I am ready to lead the country if need be”
as if it were a wrestling match,its the presidency stupid.and it takes inlelligence both of which they dont have

Posted by: 4real | September 25, 2008, 8:39 am 8:39 am

Finally a Repug telling the truth.
Truth hurts doesn’t it repugs?
Obama – the only clear choice
Obama/Biden ’till 2024

Posted by: Jenna | September 25, 2008, 9:46 am 9:46 am

I thought Thompson said at the GOP Convention, and I quote “THis is no time for on the job training” which is exactly what Palin is getting.
Obama
1st in his Harvard Law class
Taught constitutional law
8 years as a State Senator
4 years as a US Senator
vetted by the American people for 2 years
McCain
Keating 5 (McCain went against regulations for the Savings and Loan scandal which cost the american taxpayer 200 billion dollrs
26 years as a deregulator
5th from the bottom of his class
Confused about foreign policy
Confused about Economics
Confused about his campaign
Palin:
5 years and 6 colleges to get a 2 year Journalism degree.
What losers the Repugs are this year.
Obama will be our next President.
Biden will be our next Vice President.
Even Bush wants to pick Obama’s brain about the economy and will probably steal his ideas and claim them for his own or give McSame credit. Of course he had to invite McSame along too – how would that look?

Posted by: Jenna | September 25, 2008, 9:50 am 9:50 am

Waddaya gonna do McSame? Suspend a crisis because you don’t know how to handle it?
Dispicable.
Obama/Biden ’till 2024.

Posted by: Jenna | September 25, 2008, 9:51 am 9:51 am

Jenna, you are so sad and frankly a stupid and severly uniformed. I really pitty people like you!

Posted by: BHSOB | September 25, 2008, 10:05 am 10:05 am

OBAMA IS THE QUICK STUDY !!!! WITHOUT HIS TELEPROMPTER, HE IS LOST.

Posted by: JON | September 25, 2008, 10:10 am 10:10 am

anyone judging Palin for a lack of experience and giving Obama a pass is an idiot, plain, simple, part and parcel. simple and shut.
next issue?
btw: the chick is smoking hot.

Posted by: mogulus | September 25, 2008, 10:11 am 10:11 am

After reading a few of these comments it becomes obvious that the Libs are beside themselves with fear of little old Sara Palin. She has more guts and talent than all these dummies posting remarks trying to denegrade her. Not only that but she’s a real tough cookie, these idiots posting negative remarks couldn’t carry her luggage. I never realized just how viscious these liberals could be. lighten up a bit and keep swimming in that Obama tank.

Posted by: greyfox | September 25, 2008, 10:53 am 10:53 am

A quick study?? Pick it up as she goes?? My God, woman…this is not cramming for World Affairs 101! This is Advanced Politics! This it the leadership of the free world! Thankfully, it seems that more and more Americans are seeing through this attempt to foist dangerous inexperience on as as “a fresh start.”

Posted by: Firstson | September 25, 2008, 11:29 am 11:29 am

Apologies for the misspellings. I was writing in haste, and in anger!

Posted by: firstson | September 25, 2008, 11:31 am 11:31 am

I believe Barack is showing strong qualifications to be our next President. He is Presidential, knows the issues, is calm under pressure, and young enough to deal with the 24/7 demands. I admire his bringing himself to this point, and I feel strongly that he will be a great prez!

Posted by: Martha Tompkins | September 25, 2008, 11:40 am 11:40 am

Goodness, the evil lurking deep within the liberals is pouring forth today. Being a governor is not enough for these people, huh? Well how about Bill Clinton, a governor from Arkansas with no foreign policy experience except for skipping out on his military duty to play at Oxford in England? Oh, but he was soooo smart, and good looking (that is definitely a matter of opinion)and he was a good talker! Now that’s what I call experience in foreign policy..not! Well, Sarah Palin is smart, and extremely attractive and is as Mrs. Bush states, an accomplished ‘quick study.” That is a sign of intelligence when someone can think quickly on their feet. To dispel this lady with such unbridled jealousy for her rise to be a nominee is telling as to the depths Democrats are willing to fall. What happened to the philosophy of, “You can be anything you want to be in America if you work hard?”
Obama is the empty suit in the room with many blank pages as to his life and I for one am not willing to see him in the Oval office on such questionable records or sparse biography but it is for certain the Democrats have done nothing but scrounge for dirt on Gov. Palin for the last month…very nervous is the read for this.

Posted by: Carol | September 25, 2008, 12:03 pm 12:03 pm

Obama “calm under pressure”…Good heavens, the man is a dithering, stuttering fool without his teleprompter as the Saddleback interview clearly showed and other impromtu interviews. I’ve had enough of ivy league lawyers running this country into the ground with their socialist, Marxist engineering. We need a down-to-earth outsider who is willing to kick butt in Washington and Sarah Palin has proven she can kick butt even in her own party whereas Obama is too frightened and scared to even debate McCain in townhall meetings without his telepromter and you think he is going to clean up Washington???He’s just a man-child kowtowing to Ahmadinijad, Hamas, Hezbollahs and Osama bin Landen. They all want Obama to win because they know he is weak on national security. Say what you want about GWB-there has been NO terrorist attack on America the whole time he has been President. That will change when Obama becomes President and the Islamofascists know this. I lived in Saudi Arabia – I know their agenda. Listen to Ahmadinijad’s speech and Obama’s speeches. It’s identical.

Posted by: Naomi | September 25, 2008, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm

Which would you rather have, a quick learner or a president who visited
all 57 States, except 2,
Hawaii and Alaska (for those who can’t
count, that’s 2) or a VP stated on CBS
news that FDR went on TV to talk to
the AMerican people about the depression
in 1929-(Again for you history illiterates, Hoover was president in
1929 and there was no commercial TV.
I will vote for the quick study.

Posted by: THEAMEN | September 25, 2008, 1:27 pm 1:27 pm

Please explain to me what experience Obama has which will help him in running a country? btw, what is a community organizer? He is of course a good talker, I’ll admit. I’d like to hear him speak without a teleprompter, though. Sarah has intelligence and experience (as a Governor, as was Bill Clinton). GO SARAH – the “tolerant” and “compassionate” dems are shivering in their boots because of your popularity and they think you’ll make them lose the election, which is why they are attacking you in such a vicious (and often extremely vulgar) manner. Soooo unclassy!

Posted by: Juanita | September 25, 2008, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm

Posted by: BaxterJ | September 25, 2008, 1:57 pm 1:57 pm

It amazes me how everyone is so quick to point out that Palin has no foreign policy experience and she is running for vice president. While you don’t hear the same about Obama, who has zero foreign policy experience, and is running for president. Unless of course, you count the week he took to tour Europe. In which case, you can send Palin to Europe for two weeks and she’ll have twice the foreign policy experience Obama has.

Posted by: Richard | September 25, 2008, 2:05 pm 2:05 pm

All of you libs were quick to blow off the fact that Bush graduated Harvard with a higher GPA than Kerry. Now it seems that Obama is the superior choice because of his education. Well, it seems to me that Sarah is pretty sharp and would likely have had no problem graduating from Harvard had she been able to get financing from some middle-eastern terrorist as did Obama. I’m just thankful that I have a choice in this election that doesn’t include an Ivy League grad. Wasn’t it these guys that got us in the situation that we’re in? I myself am an educated person and have long believed that to be a asset; however, I’m also smart enough to admit that a different approach isn’t such a bad idea at this point. Vote for the ticket that doesn’t have an Ivy League lawyer on it! They’ve already done enough damage to our great nation.

Posted by: Davidj | September 25, 2008, 3:35 pm 3:35 pm

out of a population of 300 million,
we must have better candidates, let’s find them before november!

Posted by: Brian | September 25, 2008, 10:28 pm 10:28 pm

Gov. Palin has excellent track record.
Look!. Whicle many CEO’s in WALL STREET are corrupt and their organisations in financial crisis, Alaska under Palin is safe and sopund financially. She has been faithful in little so she will be faithful in much.
Obama? Nothing but protests, blame, finger pointing and treachery.
Unfit even to remain as senator.

Posted by: Reuel | September 27, 2008, 11:37 pm 11:37 pm

These 4 years, not really going to matter who gets picked. By the time elections roll around again, depending who’s in office, someone will be blamed. So if Obama gets elected, in 4 years we’re going to hear “democrats didn’t do squat”, and vice versa if McCain gets elected.
So let’s focus on the economy a little. Someone told me that out of the $700 billion, everyone person over 21 would get $250k. Sounds good, but we would all be poor. The value of that $250k would be…well, less. INFLATION.
Yes, the bill didn’t pass, so draft a new one. In my theory, there CAN be up to a total of 3. One that is shot down by democrats (first one), one shot down by republicans, and one compromised one.
With that said, once the economy turns around (whenever that happens), we should start seeing a change. Of course that will not be an overnight change, but gradually build.
This election is about the lesser of two evils. I read a majority of these posts. Palin is quick with her mouth, I agree. Though, is that better than someone that looks for his cue cards when addressing an issue?
Oh hell, get Barbara Walters to interview Palin and Obama.

Posted by: 12218 | September 30, 2008, 3:10 am 3:10 am

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