What? No mainstream media covering this? Shocking!

[kandrathe]

The obvious answer is "Which one of Bush's doctrines?"

Small nit: The Bush Doctrine is actually fairly well defined albeit rather broad. The correct political answer would be "Which part of the Bush Doctrine?" I would also disagree that this question is anywhere close to a gotcha moment question other than the fact that she painted herself into it by pretending she knew what she was talking about.

I don't see it as so interconnected, covering;

1) unilateral withdrawals from the ABM treaty and the Kyoto Protocol,
2) the policy that the United States had the right to secure itself against countries that harbor or give aid to terrorist groups,
3) that the United States should depose foreign regimes that represented a potential or perceived threat to the security of the United States, even if that threat was not immediate,
4) and, spreading democracy around the world, especially in the Middle East, as a strategy for combating terrorism.

If you think Charley saw them as connected, then, yes, I would modify the right answer to be, "Which part of the Bush doctrine?" And, if Charley would have said, "All of it." Then I believe the correct response should have been, "Do you have 20 minutes for my full analysis, or do you just want a pithy sound bite for your highlights reel?" He obviously either didn't mean all of it, or she called him on the trap. He clarified by citing a particular date the term was coined. Objection your honor! leading the witness! She answered as if he had asked, "What do you think of Bush's foreign policies?", which is actually pretty much what 1-4 are above. After his disdainful, pained and disappointed reply, he indicated that he meant #3, preemptive war. But, perhaps, being called out on the "vagueness trap", he quickly had to redirect the question toward one that could be answered. If you want a pointed answer, you should give a pointed question.

I have only one question for Mr. Melon... in 27 parts. Discuss the foundations of modern global business systems. Part one: Define and differentiate... the three economic philosophies... of capitalism, socialism and communism... as pertains to: A... management fundamentals; B... organizing and staffing; C... labor management; and D... production and operations.

To quote Charles Krauthammer, who coined the term "Bush Doctrine" in an article he wrote on that date given by Gibson, in the Washington Post, Sept 2008, "Yes, Sarah Palin didn't know what it is. But neither does Charlie Gibson. And at least she didn't pretend to know -- while he looked down his nose and over his glasses with weary disdain... In doing so, he captured perfectly the establishment snobbery and intellectual condescension that has characterized the chattering classes' reaction to {Palin}"

It seemed to me that Professor Gibson took it upon himself to give an impromptu oral exam to little Sarah Palin. How would we do on it?