Craving Palin

The crowds that flock to see Palin wherever she goes have found something different in her: authenticity, charisma, and hope. Too bad these qualities are "different" in American politics, but the palpable craving for them explains much of people's continuing interest in her.

So says The Weekly Standard. But perhaps crowds flock to see Palin for the same reason they flock to see Joe-Joe the Dog Faced Man on the Alaska state fair's midway. She is pure entertainment and the comedy gift that keeps giving. But Sarah is an albatross that will haunt Republicans through the next few election cycles. Conservative social stands such as on abortion, crime, and welfare may well be in sync with what most Americans believe and I believe it is indeed possible to win a national election on such a platform. However, leaders of unimpeachable integrity and competence must articulate those stands as well as the kitchen-table concerns of average struggling Americans for them to compete with the Democrats. Palin falls short in those areas. Some minor scandals from her home state has dragged her down. And Sarah, an affirmative action selection if there ever was one, takes pride in her inability to speak simply and clearly.

My guess is that there will be a Palin boomlet in New Hampshire in 2012 that will soon fizzle when the Republican voters come to their senses.