Hat tip to Americablog, who posted about this interview earlier today, and CBS Newsblog who transcripted it.
McCain has no energy and little coherence in this interview with Rob Caldwell at WCSH in Maine. About half-way into it, Caldwell asked what experience Palin has in the field of national security. McCain tries to duck it, but eventually blurts out that Palin has experience in "energy!"
"Energy. She knows more about energy than probably anyone else in the United States of America. She's a governor of a state where 20% of America's energy supply comes from there. And we all know that energy is a critical and vital national security issue. We've got to stop sending $700 billion of American money to countries that don't like us very much. She's very well versed on that issue. And, uh, she also happens to represent, be governor of a state that's right next to Russia. She understands Russia."
The first thing that I thought when I heard this was, "Has he ever spoken to Brian Schweitzer?"
The second thing was, "Wow, he's sounding incoherent. No wonder he hasn't done a press conference or town hall in a month, as FoxNews reported earlier this week."
As Steve Benen at CBS Newsblog noted:
Stepping back, it's striking that McCain still, even now, can't answer obvious questions about his own running mate. Caldwell's question was direct, but hardly an unexpected curveball. Indeed, the obvious answer for McCain is that Palin doesn't have a background in national security, but neither do most governors who seek national office, but he's confident in her judgment, her ability to learn quickly, etc.
What's happening to John McCain? He lacks any energy, and in fact, is almost incoherent in this interview.
It's terrifying.