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# Don’t make excuses
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/dont-make-excuses-editor/
- Published: 2008-09-24T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T21:05:12.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By Dan Kolhoff Santa Monica*

\[Eric\] Cooper claims that Sarah Palin knew there were many versions of the Bush Doctrine and that’s why her answer was correct in the Charlie Gibson interview (“Charlie Gibson’s gaffe,” page 4, Sept. 23). And he says that Gibson was in error. He is forgetting to note that Gibson referred to the Bush Doctrine of September 2002, which was before we invaded Iraq. But even if there were many variations, it comes down to the fact that Palin didn’t have a clue about any Bush Doctrine.

Her answer about what it meant to her was something you would get in a high school class from a student who wasn’t prepared, “His world view?” Why? Because she has never had any interest in history or current affairs. And clearly she has not been paying attention over the past eight years while Bush has served as president. She probably knows little about the rest of the world, which means making excuses for her is dangerous.

Having someone running for the second highest position in the United States who knows little about the rest of the world except for what they picked up in the last few weeks from political aides is criminal.

And it could put all our lives in jeopardy, because the people she will rely upon are the people she decides to put around her, which will more than likely be highly partisan appointees.

She will then have little to draw upon from her own experiences to challenge her political appointees point of view.

Seeing what happened during this current administration shows how dangerous that can be.

Mr. Cooper should not try to manufacture an excuse for Palin when the consequences could be dire.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 24, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/092408.pdf?ref=smdp.com)