"Palin's next homework assignment should be studying the origin and meaning of the word "diplomacy.""

SECONDED! But that won't happen.

"And Palin trying to turn having a passport into something elitist is equally ridiculous - and insulting."

It's also just plain ignorant. You need a passport to go to *Canada*! Not because the Canadians demand it but to get back into the USA.

A lot of ordinary folks are getting passports simply because the process has become a lot more time-consuming and expensive than it used to be, so if they need to go to Toronto for some reason they'll be able to get back.

"You don't have to be rich to travel the world -- heck it's cheaper to wander around Europe than most of our U.S. Cities."

You need a different kind of wealth: time.

"Given reports about the money the Palins have charged the state of Alaska for travel, per diems and other personal expenses I think she could have easily travelled abroad if she chose. She didn't - because until a month ago she wasn't going to think about being VP. And it wasn't a priority for the Palins - who cares So just say that instead of making a baseless political jab at - well I'm not sure who she's even addressing that too."

It's all about image, not reality. Rather than discuss issues, policies and plans for change, SP is all about projecting a certain image. The idea is that if you buy the image of "hockey mom" (whatever that is) you won't criticize lack of experience, basic knowledge or even having a coherent policy.

"Palin's words are her own -- and she is accountable just like anyone else."

WELL SAID!

But the policy of the last 8 years has been that Those In Charge are not held accountable for what they do, let alone what they say. It's always Somebody Else's Fault.

"Do you even know what a Tu-95 Bear is? Any of you?"

Why yes, I do.

The following is just from memory.

The Tu-95 is a four-engine turboprop long range bomber designed and built by the Soviets. The first of the series were designed and built in the 1950s, the first ones entering service more than 50 years ago.

The name "Bear" is a NATO designation. Most Eastern bloc military aircraft and seacraft have such names. For example, there's a class of attack submarines called Alphas and a class of missile submarines (boomers) called Yankees.

Tu-95s are most easily recognized by the four sets of counter-rotating propellers on the swept wings. They're old, big, noisy, slow and completely un-stealthy. If push came to shove it's doubtful they could get far into US airspace before being shot down.

According to the article, a handful of them have been conducting routine training exercises near Alaska. In each case they've been detected and escorted away. SOP.

How many similar training exercises does the USA conduct with bombers, spy planes, and submarines? How many foreign countries have uninvited US troops in them?

Palin doesn't know what a TU-95 is. You can count on that.

"Mass transit will work in the US, but it’s going to take time to implement."

Time and a long-term commitment. Imagine the transit systems we'd have if that commitment had been made in the 1970s when it became abundantly clear that the era of cheap petrofuel was over.

"Cheap fuel made automobile transportation the mode of choice."

Yes, but that wasn't the only factor. Many policies were set up to favor the airplane, the auto and the truck over alternatives.

For example, lending policies made it easier to build new houses in the 'burbs than to renovate existing ones. New highways were built with tax dollars. Outfits like National City Lines bought up transit properties with the goal of destroying them.

"the necessity of a weekly shopping trip does not necessitate a daily automobile commute."

Agreed! But there's more.

Is a weekly grocery shopping trip really a necessity? If there's a grocery store on the route of most people's daily commute, they can buy a bag's worth every day or two on the way home. Fresher food and less waste. But that means the grocery stores must be commuter-friendly rather than auto-friendly.

"A combination of transportation methods is probably what we'll be seeing."

We had it once; we can have it again.

"why is using one's looks worse than using one's connections or using one's good health or even using one's brains ? ? ?"

Whether or not it's worse depends on what the job is.

If you or someone you really care about had a life-or-death health crisis, would you want the smartest doctor or the best-looking doctor in charge of the care?

Who do you want to work on your car's brakes, or the airplanes you ride in - the smartest mechanic or the best-looking mechanic?

Who do you want managing your investments, in good times or bad - the smartest broker or the best-looking broker?

"I would submit that we think it is worse because people take credit for their brains. They think they did something to achieve their brains."

And in many cases they did, if you consider "brains" to mean the sum total of intelligence, education, and experience.

"Brains are a gift too. Sure one makes a decision to learn, but one must have the intellectual raw material in the first place."

But it takes more than a decision to learn. In most cases it takes years of training followed by years of experience. And at every level there's the chance of being eliminated.

Would an ordinary-looking man with Sarah Palin's education and experience have even been considered for VP nomination?

The big question is this: Who do you want making the big decisions for our nation's future for the next four years: the smartest candidate or the best-looking candidate?