Open Sarah Palin thread. Let's begin with this rather unforgiving story about the notes she scribbled on the palm of her hand for an appearance at the Tea Party Convention.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stefan-si ... 52458.html

Yes, I'm feeling smug and superior and giggly about this, it's not nice but there it is. Is this an unfair basis on which to judge her? What if you factor in her harsh comments about the President's preference for teleprompters?

More broadly, is she a viable candidate for Prez or VP in 2012? Or is she up to something else?

EDIT: As usual, Nate Silver has a great analysis.

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2010/02/ ... -help.html

I think the media spends far too much ink/airtime breathlessly pursuing sophomoric issues like these (and I'm including Obama's teleprompter) that could have been spent analyzing more important questions.

All well and good for a comedian to point it out as satire, but there is more important ground to cover that they're not touching with a ten foot pole. I'm not sure of whether it's ignorance or some kind of collective deception-by-omission.

With respect to Palin's candidacy: My biggest single concern is that the other leaders of the world are already prejudiced against her, which could harm situations where international diplomacy is needed. That said, despite all their fawning over Obama, frankly I am still waiting to see meaningful results that we can take to the bank.

Given the general near worthlessness that the last half dozen Presidents have been, maybe not doing much of anything is actually a good thing.

I suppose it depends entirely upon what your judgment of Sarah Palin is? Why is it that you feel smug and superior? Are there supporters of Sarah Palin who frequent DH? I certainly don't t think she's a viable candidate, in terms of being a good candidate, but she could certainly win. And of course, if you put up awful choices beside her, I'd have to vote for her, but she certainly wouldn't be my first, second, or third choice. I simply don't think she's all that bright, and I question her genuine understanding of and committment to conservative principles. In other words, I don't know if she could actually tell you why she believes what she believes and that bothers me a great deal. More substance...less style.

In His Grip,

christian_concern@yahoo.com

We agree.

Wow--even I agree with Gom on this one!

Except that you didn't answer some questions that I asked. I am curious as to your answers.
In His Grip,

Christian_concern@yahoo.com

Hard to believe? Hehehe... I hope this is some evidence toward my not simply being a reflexive idealogue.

In His Grip,

christian_concern@yahoo.com

Don't read too much into it: I'm superior to no one. It gives me pleasure to ridicule Sarah Palin and to see her ridiculed, because I think she is a worthless opportunist without any of the qualities one needs to be a good politician. I understand this puts her in good company in Washington, and I also understand this observation makes me a cheap and petty person.

I think you're too hard on yourself. There's no problem in calling a fool a fool, after all, other than it maybe being rude to do so behind their back. But that right is obviously waived for anyone in the public spotlight or politics. They've chosen to make their lives subject to scrutiny.

There's absolutely no reason at all to apologize in any way here. She is absolutely not capable enough to do the job of running this country and never will be.

I think she is as capable of running the country as Obama--but I think you are correct that she is not capable of running the country.

You think Palin is as intelligent as Obama? You think she has the same educational background as Obama? I know you disagree with Obama, but Palin is just a (well, I can't think of a way to describe Palin without using profanity). She is a caricature of everything women are trying to overcome: an empty head with a great body. She can't even remember what she thinks without writing notes on her hand. It's fine to say you disagree with Obama and wish he weren't our president, but he and Sarah Palin have nothing in common.

I know my bias made me say that and I must confess it was partly a way of getting a response from somebody, but your bias is also there. Palin was a governer of a state. Obama did not have any business experience as far as I can tell except volunteering for Acorn. Almost all the experience Obama had as far as I know was in politics-local then as senator, and he had not been a senator long. Obama uses a monitor when he talks. In my opinon our country would be better off with an empty seat. I laughed with they said congress was shut down by the snow storm and talked about the lack of production I am grateful to be saved from the production of Congress.

Right, and when Lincoln read from a written text when he gave the Gettysburg Address that shows how stupid he was.

So does that make Palin's notes damning or irrelevant?