Palin has a solid, populist appeal to certain constiuency, thought it doesn't seem to stretch past that. Palin's presence dragged down the most popular conservative in the country. And for moderates on both sides and Democrats she's scary. Frightening.

She has no demonstrable interest in larger political issues and is ethically challenged. She's 44 and hasn't taken an interest in political science or study law, and doesn't seem to be able to manipulate abstract ideas. In interviews she spit out the sound bites, could not respond to questions past that. She appeals to low information folk who vote based upon a one or two word platform - "guns", or "abortion", or "God" and who regard ethical "lapses" as getting one over on the system. Her constiuency seems to regard getting caught as the only sin. NASCAR exemplifies that. She's known as a dirty campaigner even in Alaska, as corrupt a State as there is in the Union.

Where I'm afraid I'm right is that the Republican Party nominates candidates who are basically puppets and can be manipulated by their power structure. GWB isn't smart enough to be a leader of a large political party. Cheney is. Reagan wasn't, and the people around him were the Republican hard core. Bush the First was smart enough to willingly sign off on the agenda of the folks around Reagan. McCain has signed off on the Conservative agenda hook, line and sinker, is old and tired. He would have left the decisions on what and when to implement various programs to the dogmatic decendents of the Reagan troupe, coming out to make an appearance before going back to bed.

I believe Clinton was his own man, one who had a superb sense of self-preservation first and a committment to Democratic Party ideals second. Same with Hillary. And I think Obama is definitely his own person, understanding the the Democratic Party principles and determining for himself issues and priorities.

And I believe Palin is one more in a line of Conservative puppets. Even though damaged goods, and a drag on a national ticket, even though she's burdened with a history of dishonesty, they may try to groom her without being committed to her.

After all, Obama was being groomed by the Democratic power structure long before he became a Senator. I think it was as a leader, though, rather than being brought along to be a water carrier.\

Arf