Palin's Great Drive-by Diplomacy tour

(Photo: Stan Honda/ AFP-Getty Images)(via The Caucus)
I guess we can add SUV stop and drop-ins to Palin's metaphorical foreign policy credentials. After initally refusing to allow reporters to attend Palin's really awesome meet and greets in New York today, the national press staged a mini-revolt and told the McCain campaign no reporters -- no cameras.

Well of course, that would have defeated the purpose of the staged photo-ops so the campaign relented and allowed the print press limited access. The Caucus has been chronicling the heady meetings. Here's a couple of the more profound moments they were allowed to witness.

Ms. Palin and Mr. Kissinger sat on blue couches, separated by an end table with photographs of President Nixon and President Reagan on it. As photographers were led in, Mr. Kissinger could be heard saying that he gave someone “a lot of credit for what he did in Georgia,” according to a report who was allowed to watch.

“Good, good,’’ Ms. Palin said. “And you’ll give me more insight on that, also, huh? Good.”

And the day started with this earth shaking conversation about Karzai's son.

“What is his name?” Ms. Palin was heard to ask, as she met with Mr. Karzai in the suite of a midtown hotel, according to a pool report.

“Mirwais,” Mr. Karzai replied. “Mirwais, which means, ‘The Light of the House.’”
“Oh nice,” Palin responded.

“He is the only one we have,” Mr. Karzai said.

Then the pool of journalists was escorted out, and the meeting began.

For those of you who are keeping track at home it has now been 40 days since McCain has had an open press conference and it's been 24 days since he introduced his "pit bull with lipstick" Veep to the American public and she has yet to be let off her leash to face the press in an unscripted format.

I guess when the McCain campaign said they weren't going to run a campaign based on the issues, they really weren't kidding.

[More posts daily at The Newshoggers and The Detroit News.]