Politics | 09/30/2008 11:00 am
New Yorker Spoofs Palin and Alaska's Proximity to Russia

We definitely haven’t heard the end of the jokes about Sarah Palin using her state’s proximity to Russia as a boost to her foreign policy credentials.
Tina Fey (on SNL: "I can see Russia from my house!") is not the only one poking some fun at the Alaska governor for her repeatedly saying her executive experience as head of that state, and dealings with foreign neighbors (Canada and Russia) give more foreign policy weight to her resume. Now, The New Yorker is also weighing in.
The magazine’s latest cover features Palin looking through her window in Alaska with binoculars, trying to see Russia — or Russians.
Recently asked by "CBS Evening News" anchor Katie Couric how that geographical proximity gives her foreign policy credentials, Palin responded: "Well, it certainly does, because our, our next-door neighbors are foreign countries, there in the state that I am the executive of. And there …"
Couric: "Have you ever been involved in any negotiations, for example, with the Russians?"
Palin: "We have trade missions back and forth, we do. It’s very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia. As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where do they go? It’s Alaska. It’s just right over the border. It is from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there, they are right next to our state."
In Fey’s latest spoof on John McCain’s vice-presidential running mate this past week on "Saturday Night Live," she took part in another skit with "SNL" regular Amy Poehler, who played Couric.
Poehler: "On foreign policy, I want to give you one more chance to explain your claim that you have foreign policy experience based on Alaska’s proximity to Russia. What did you mean by that?"
Fey: "Well, Alaska and Russia are only separated by a narrow maritime border (using her hands to illustrate). You got Alaska here, this right here is water, and this is Russia. So, we keep an eye on them."
Poehler: "And how do you do that exactly?"
Fey: "Every morning, when Alaskans wake up, one of the first things they do is look outside to see if there are any Russians hanging around. And if there are, you gotta go up to them and ask, ‘What are you doing here?’ and if they can’t give you a good reason, it’s our responsibility to say, you know, ‘Shoo! Get back over there!’"























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