Comments on: Coast Guard Keeps Palin Safe

By: John

John — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:00:35 +0000

Amy, Thanks for the great article. I was assigned to an MSST and provided security for President Bush. It is a great assignment.

One thing, you used the phrase “boat’s mate.” It’s actually Boatswain’s Mate.

By: Derek

Derek — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:07:00 +0000

When you can claim that being mayor of a town smaller than most medium-sized colleges, and then Governor of a state with about the same number of people as the lower fifth of the island of Manhattan, makes you ready to potentially be president, and people don’t all piss on themselves with laughter, while being a U.S. Senator, two-term state Senator, and constitutional law scholar, means you’re “untested”.

By: John

John — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 03:05:47 +0000

John Doe may be correct that Coast Guard MSST units carry alternate weaponry for disabling fire, but MSST units aren’t the only units that use the boats.

As the Coast Guard Fact sheet referenced at the end of the article states: The 457 Defender Class boats currently in operation are assigned to the Coast Guards Maritime Safety and Security Teams (MSST), Maritime Security Response Team (MSRT), Marine Safety Units (MSU), and Small Boat Stations throughout the Coast Guard.

By: Amy Armstrong

Amy Armstrong — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 19:11:25 +0000

This is Amy Armstrong, lead writer for this website and author of the article regarding Coast Guard operations on Lake Lucille during Palin’s brief visit home. The Coast Guard public affairs specialist referred to in John Doe’s comment is Sara Francis, CG public affairs specialist, later quoted in the article. If John Doe could provide documentation of the assertion in his comment, I will bring it to Petty Officer First Class Francis for clarification. Thanks.

By: John Doe

John Doe — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:58:47 +0000

This statement is false:
“A Coast Guard public affairs specialist later told me it is standard equipment on that class of patrol boats. It is used for laying down suppression fire or shooting out an engine of an opposing vessel if necessary while conducting security-oriented missions.”

The weapon is not used for shooting out engines. Coast Guard MSST units carry alternate weaponry for disabling fire.

By: Jim D

Jim D — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 10:32:55 +0000

I’m amused by people criticizing Governor Palin’s experience level. Do you really think that Senator Obama’s few years in the Illinois legislature and 143 days in the US Senate trump Sarah Palin’s resume? Is it his community organizer experience that pushes him over the top for you?

Try to be objective in this. I’m not a member of either party. I look at the candidates records, not just the rhetoric they throw around while they stump for votes.

Obama is the least qualified person I’ve ever seen run for president. I’m appalled that someone with such a thin resume, so little experience, and a thorough indoctrination in Marxist philosophy is even being considered. It’s like people are voting for an American Idol contestant rather than hiring someone for the most important job in the world.

Since all of the candidates are human, there will be no perfect candidate.

We need to pick the best of what we have to choose from.

Can I think of someone I’d rather vote for than John McCain? Yes. But it isn’t Barack Obama.