Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin has wasted no time in casting a cloud over Russia. In her keynote speech to the party convention in Minnesota, the Alaskan Governor accused Moscow of using energy as a weapon in its disagreements with the
“With Russia wanting to control a vital pipeline in the Caucasus, and to divide and intimidate our European allies by using energy as a weapon, we cannot leave ourselves at the mercy of foreign suppliers,” Palin told supporters in St Paul. The speech was crucial to the relatively unknown Republican, and her way of finally introducing herself to U.S. voters. The pro-life, social conservative, received a thunderous reception from convention goers. But out on the streets, voters were quick to reject her credibility and social conservative views. Thousands of opponents of the Republicans took their message to the streets this week. Repeated clashes between police and demonstrators led to hundreds of arrests, which critics say were unjustified. Showing solidarity, activists set up a 24-hour vigil outside the jailhouse where civilians, journalists and medical personal were kept behind bars.