Look who's prepping Sarah Palin on foreign policy for tomorrow's VP debate

[flpoljunkie]

In the picture above, released by the campaign, she duels with McCain's top foreign policy adviser Randy Schuenemann by Oak Creek, which runs through the senator's Hidden Valley Ranch.

Jonathan Martin 08:39 PM

http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0908/Palin_vs_Schuenemann.html


(Who is Randy Scheunemann, you ask? Better yet, does Sarah Palin have any clue who Randy Scheunemann is? Scheunemann knows Palin is perfect material to be molded by this neocon. Will Gwen Ifill ask her if she knows who her tutor is, if she knows about the Committee to Liberate Iraq and PNAC? I doubt it.)


Randy Scheunemann: McCain Adviser Campaigned for War


Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) speaks with his director of foreign policy and national security Randy Scheunemann (L), as they board McCain's chartered plane at Washington's Ronald Reagan Airport, May 16, 2008. (Associated Press)

By Peter Slevin

CHICAGO -- Randy Scheunemann, the foreign policy adviser to Sen. John McCain who today accused Sen. Barack Obama of a "policy of delusion" toward terrorism, was a prominent advocate of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in the lead-up to the war.

In late 2002, Scheunemann helped create The Committee for the Liberation of Iraq and became the group's executive director. Its mission, pursued with the Bush administration's blessing, was to build public support for the overthrow of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

McCain (R-Ariz.) was on the committee, along with Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.), former Secretary of State George Shultz, retired Army Gen. Wayne A. Downing and former Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.), who described the project at the time as "a group of people who will talk to Americans about why the liberation of Iraq is something the United States ought to do."

Scheunemann is a longtime GOP foreign policy specialist who has also worked on the staffs of former Senate Republican leaders Bob Dole (Kan.) and Trent Lott (Miss.) He was a board member of the neoconservative think tank, the Project for the New American Century, which often reflected the views of Bush administration hardliners.

In recent years, Scheunemann has registered as a lobbyist for several foreign governments, including Georgia, Macedonia and Taiwan, according to published reports. His firm has also lobbied for the National Rife Association and defense contractor Lockheed Martin.

A Washington Post article in November 2002 reported that The Committee for the Liberation of Iraq was being created as the Bush administration was preparing the nation for a likely war that was ultimately launched in March 2003.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/06/17/randy_scheunemann_mccain_advis.html

[sellitman]

1. Where is her paddle?

That is a creek she is speaking from.

[SIMPLYB1980]

7. LoL! Quick Sarah time to buy a paddle.

[eshfemme]

2. Seriously, WTF are they thinking preparing such a locale for her prep?

It makes them look fucking ridiculous and not only that, it doesn't even acclimate her to the environment that the ACTUAL debate's going to be held in.

I'm hoping that Gwen Ifill will be just as successful as Jim Lehrer was in controlling the crowd because if there's no spontaneous feedback from the crowd, we won't be subjected to as much of her snark. Although I think if she turned on the snarky bitchiness, she'd also lose out but I don't want Joe to be forced to take that since he wouldn't be able to defend himself against those types of attacks. Joe's arsenal is on substance and he's also handicapped because of the possible "sexism" he could be accused of if he goes too far. I wish we could live in a perfect world where Joe can bring his full debate power to bear but we don't live in such a world.

[rvablue]

37. I have little doubt

that depsite the rules of not clapping or anything during the debate that the Repubs will have their little trolls planted throughout the audience.

If this is where they are prepping her, bonne chance!

All I could keep thinking last Friday, was that one has to stand up there on that stage under glaring lights that blind you from seeing the audience and there is no cheering section. Plus, half of America already thinks you're an idiot.

PRESSURE!

[Sulawesi]

3. It isn't really "Hidden Valley Ranch" is it? That's a salad dressing!

[flpoljunkie]

12. Indeed, it is. And, located, not in Sedona, but in Cornville.

[Curtland1015]

4. Is that Superman's nemisis General Zod!?!?!?

Kneel before Zod!!!

[Bad Thoughts]

19. It's Will Riker!

He exposed Al Qaeda-Borg collaboration.

[hogwyld]

21. No! It's cmdr. Riker from Star Trek: TNG! n/t

[FatDave]

32. Number one is prepping number two.

And I don't mean that as in "second most powerful in the executive branch".

[mscuedawg]

5. Hmmmm...I thought Reckless/Inexperienced didnt have lobbyists on their payroll.... eom

[blogslut]

6. I've been looking for video on Scheunemann

Has anyone ever heard him speak before the public? I realize he's a scumbag and he's been behind the neocon agenda since the beginning but I have to wonder if he's any sort of expert on debating?

It's one thing to speak before a friendly audience. It's a whole other thing to debate, in front of the nation, with a person that honestly opposes you. He can stuff her wee little head as full of as many facts as he wants, but can he really teach her how to debate?

[CoffeeCat]

9. They're prepping her by...

...honing in her "shucky-darn-folksy" act.

She doesn't know anything. So, they're going to present
us with a caricature.

She's not going to play dumb. She's going to play the
role of the Homecoming Queen who hurls insults, lies
and condescending comments.

I really hope Biden is ready for this.

[flpoljunkie]

13. Yep. She started yesterday with her taunt about hearing Biden's speeches since 2nd grade.

[1776Forever]

16. Here you go........

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1732557/who_is_randy_scheunemann/

Just in time for Halloween - this guy is scary!

[blogslut]

25. Thanks

But what I was hoping for is video of him speaking. I wanna see his chops.

[CoffeeCat]

8. OMG...

Biden could blow her out of the water, by commenting on this photo and
the man in the picture and his PNAC connections. Her head will explode,
and that should wipe the folksy-smirk off of her face that her handlers
have told her to plaster on her face throughout the debate.

"Hi! I'm Sarah Palin! Joe Biden has too much experience!"

She's being trained by the man who helped author the failed foreign
policy that has played out for the last eight years.

I'm hoping Biden capitalizes on this rich opportunity.

She's going to be brazen during the debate--hurling insults
and making degrading comments--while acting like a folksy
tumbleweed.

[OneGrassRoot]

10. "she's going to be brazen during the debate"

That's a great point, and reminded me of her convention speech, and people's reaction afterwards.

Goodness knows I could be wrong, but here's my impression:

It was only her base (and the media) who were drooling over her after the convention. Most independents/undecideds seemed to be turned off by her belligerent, snarky attacks in her speech. It played well to the base...gave them red meat...but did nothing to sway voters to the McCain-Palin ticket.

For those undecideds who didn't see the speech and only heard how "wonderful and real and 'one of us' she is," they have in the interim seen more of her via Tina Fey, Gibson and Couric, and see she is a joke.

I honestly don't think she can do ANYTHING at this point to bring anyone to their side who wasn't already there. She could, however, create a tidal wave of republicans staying home because they can't bring themselves to vote for either candidate.

:)

[Turn CO Blue]

11. "a lobbyist for several foreign governments, including Georgia"

Ah. That's why the McInsane campaign has been ratcheting up rhetoric about the threat of Russia. These people never saw a hardline stance that they didn't want to take.

If I believed in Hell, I'd wish for all the PNAC'ers to go directly to Hell, without passing GO, and without collecting a single dollar.

[olegramps]

14. The Media is failing the American people once again

The Fourth Estate is once again failing the American people by not disclosing the fact that McCain's major advisors are the very same people that engineered our preemtive attack on Iraq. They failed us then and they are failing us once again in not revealing these people's intentions of pursuing the same policies that have brought us to the brink of bankruptcy and destroyed the military.

[olegramps]

15. The Media is failing the American people once again

The Fourth Estate is once again failing the American people by not disclosing the fact that McCain's major advisors are the very same people that engineered our preemtive attack on Iraq. They failed us then and they are failing us once again in not revealing these people's intentions of pursuing the same policies that have brought us to the brink of bankruptcy and destroyed the military.

[1776Forever]

17. Video - Who is Randy Scheunemann

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1732557/who_is_randy_scheunemann/

Scary stuff!

[Starry Messenger]

24. Ooh. Watching this now.

Very informative.

[flpoljunkie]

27. Terrific! Have you this sent to Keith Olbermann?

[e-mail]

[1776Forever]

34. I will do this right now - thanks!

[GalleryGod]

18. Oh! I thought it was Starship Exec. Officer, Will Riker.

Engage, Number One!
:rofl: :patriot: :rofl:

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

20. Shit you beat me to it. I was watching part 7 last week. nt

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

22. "Set phasers on clueless". Sorry I couldn't help it. nt

[Curtland1015]

23. At first I thought Zod... now I'm thinking Billy Mayes.

I wonder if he tried to sell Sarah any "Orange Clean"?

[racaulk]

39. LMAO! That's exactly who I thought it was too!!!

:rofl:

[bbgrunt]

26. actually it's not what you think. Notice how that tree looks

just about ready to fall on her head! "Come stand over here, sarah, you look better in the shade!"

[Overseas]

28. Yet another Uber Lobbyist.

Gosh, what a surprise.

But then she'll have to keep pretending that Russia's attack on Georgia was totally unprovoked.

That Georgia's attack on South Ossetia just didn't happen, I guess. Because that's what Johnny implied when debating Obama. Obama's initial statement said both parties were to blame and Johnny castigated him for that. But Obama was right. Saakashvili's attack on his rebel province gave Russia the excuse they needed.

But Johnny pretended Georgia was totally in the right. Randy earns his keep doesn't he !

[AtomicKitten]

29. "Sarah want a non sequitur?" They are prepping her like a parrot to repeat zingers.

[VolcanoJen]

30. Olbermann was HYSTERICAL last night looking at that first picture.

He mentioned that she might have been better off in a studio rehearsing this shit, than standing outside by a creek. :-)

[Zodiak]

31. It is my opinion that releasing that picture is managing expectations

After all, if you had an internal mock debate to prepare a candidate, would YOU release this picture where the podiums (podia?) are near a creek and Caribou Barbie is wearing a baseball hat?

This was staged to make it look as hokey as possible.....so the expectations get to the point where Sarah only has to speak a few coherent sentences, and she will be declared the winner.

Republicans are VERY good at manipulating images. This picture, when taken at face value, seems to fly in the face of that history, which is what makes me suspicious.

[VolcanoJen]

33. OMG!!

May I please please please steal your sig picture!?? Bassists For Obama, that is AWESOME!!!! Me too, me too, me too!!!

[Zodiak]

35. Steal it at your leisure

But if you do, you must see me play bass on youtube. The price of free stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/user/zodiakironfist

[rvablue]

36. Before we read it over and over again here on Fri.

They are for sure going to have her stand on a box.

In all fairness, I saw Barbara Boxer debate live in 1992 and she stood on a box, too.

Just sayin'.

[treestar]

41. I worked on Boxer's campaign and met her once

I think she's about 4'11."

[jillan]

38. I guarantee you if Palin uses Scheunemann's words at the debate:

That Obama's policy is
" a "policy of delusion" toward terrorism"

Joe Biden will come unglued.

[TornadoTN]

40. Be prepared for the PNAC talking points, left and right

After all, they are simple enough that I *think* Flailin' Palin can repeat ad nauseum.

If that's the case, I fully expect Joe Biden to become Volcano Joe.

[jillan]

42. I can't imagine Biden sitting there (standing?) quietly if she starts with PNAC talking points.

Sorry, Obama handlers, that is asking way too much from Joe.