Has She?, "the intellectual lightweight"

The time has long passed when that war could be won. democracy will never take root in that area and all effort now, as you state, is a waste of life. Our (US) bungling has taken a small but well funded terrorist group and turned it into a massive Islamic religious movement. To crush that will require genocide on a scale that would make Hitler look like an alter boy! To save the part of the world that is not an Islamic theocracy it may come to that but I suspect that would be Armageddon of which the bible speaks.

No matter who they draft as the "poster child" the people now for the most part realize that we will have to fight terrorism on our soil.

Sadly, most are not prepared for that!

Slàinte,   

Patch    

Well, Palin still has 3 years to successfully impress the American voter's psyche, raise money then get nominated. She may be a successful provocateur as long as the media still covers every twit's twitter tweet, but I don't see much importance in her aside from that unless things change. She exists as persona in the great American cultural divide - player in a battle which becomes more incendiary with every Obama policy decision, but has not been limited to nor instigated by him. The conservative side has merely become the more vociferous cultural force of late. Whoever's in the political minority screams the loudest and feels the most trampled upon. Bush was comparted to Hitler, now Obama is. Hyperbole trumps thought and reason and decorum is thrown out the window as we panic over fictions and are obstinate in our unwillingness to see issues in a reasonable light.

People love to ignite their own righteous indignation with some nebulously defined metacause, and in their hysteria will embrace sound bite elucidations, sloganry and jingoism and the pseudo analysis of media hack pundits whose authority and expertise is legitimised only by wide exposure. On the surface, the culture war is nothing if not superficial, and unfortunately for us all, confrontations occur predominately at that level. Its conducive to television, and television is the true American idol to which we pay the daily tribute of our attention. No wonder politicians like Palin gain inroads into the American collective psyche in such a climate. She can convey her ideas in "soundbite-ease", a skill conducive to obfuscation and hiding the extent of one's ignorance.

Palin's popular appeal among some sectors has not thwarted her incompetence in national politics. She was scared away with a few accusations and comes back swinging on a Facebook page where its nice and safe. She's ill equipped mentally and psychologically to handle national leadership and will be elected to high office at our peril.

Unfortunately both she and obama are about equally qualified. Both could do an acceptable job but right now most of the country does not see much hope for either.

Slàinte,    

Patch   

Of course you know I disagree with your assessment of Palin's mental capacity. But how is her being elected at our peril different from what we have now?

Sarah Palin emerged from a two month absence from public view. She gave a private speech, which was heavy on foreign policy, to a group of investors in Hong Kong.

Her 90 minute speech, delivered to an investment conference, touched on issues from financial markets to health care, Afghanistan and U.S China relations. It was generally considered more moderate in tone than any she delivered during the 2008 campaign.

She appears to have been a quicker "study" than obama. I suspected she was undergoing a re-make and it has started. I would guess she will be polished like a fine diamond by 2010/2011 as campaigning picks up!!

Slàinte,    

Patch    

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Patch;

As I stated a Puppet, but then all candidates and potential candidates are Puppets.
Her big advantage is hers malleability combined with her looks.



Camac.

OUR advantage might be a politician that doesn't schmooze with the media or s.i.g.'s and isn't afraid to take on her own party.

For the Republican party to recover, that is exactly what has to happen. I do not know who her promoter's are but would guess the party is involved in the "grooming". I hope she remains her own person and just polishes the presentation. In a year we should know.

Slàinte,    

Patch