It's very difficult for a writer on Salon to say nice things about Ms. Palin. Most of the reader discussion of Palin on Salon consists of trite repetition of television talking points.

"You fool! The reasons you adduce for slandering Sarah Palin are trivial compared to mine!"

In truth Ms Palin is representative of a great number of Americans. As long as she is able to tug at their heartstrings, they will forgive her her many divigations.

And, um, I just noticed a more egregious grammatical error on my part. I should have written, "While ENGLISH IS rooted in Anglo-Saxon, the Norman invasion . . . " The Norman invasion was almost certainly NOT rooted in Anglo-Saxon. :)

Maybe she couldn't handle it herself, but it will surely survive as a meme. -- Split infinitive of "surely" dividing up "will survive"

No "to" to be found; Amanda merely placed an adverb before the verb in future tense. That's unexceptionable even among those who would protect the fragile infinitive.

Earlier explication at the link.

it wasn't a divagation that was at issue.

neither was divagation at issue when she tried to fire a librarian in Wasilla who refused to censor material because it did not fit Palin's pentacostal view of the world.

her fundamental lack of knowledge and understanding of national and world political institutions are not "divagations" - they display her unfitness for office because she is simply not intelligent enough to be in a position of power.

the problem, in fact, is her followers, who are also, because they get information from a Republican-funded "news" agency, ill-informed. (the latest talking points from Fox told every anchor to emphasis that Franken, for instance, is not a serious candidate - but Palin is? give me a freaking break.)

she has insulted every sitting republican governor by claiming they are worthless if they are not running for re-election.

her last appointment was struck down by both republicans and democrats. not exactly media talking points - that's reality - because he was unsuited for the job.

her use of her political power for personal vendetta is a fact. this is not the action of someone who is fit to make policy decisions of the gravest importance.

her failure to fund special education while pretending she is so sympathetic to the issues of those with special needs children is not a media talking point. that's a reality of what she did in office.

and as long as she chooses to hold press conferences and pretend she's all "mavericky" while consulting Dick Cheney before her resignation, and then try to present herself as anything other than a political attack dog - she can and will be called on her lies and her attempts to paint herself as something other than an opportunistic narcissist.

EconCCX: "No "to" to be found; Amanda merely placed an adverb before the verb in future tense. That's unexceptionable even among those who would protect the fragile infinitive."

You got me there -- it's not a split infinitive. My mistake! However, it is a verb phrase, and I think Fortini had better less awkward alternatives.

I'm not the grammar police, I just play at being one on Salon.

Renegade Iconoclast: "The reality is that split infinitives had always been fine in English, until some monks in the middle ages decided that, since you can't split an infinitive in Latin, you can't do it in English either."

You got me there -- and I love the analysis of the Star Trek line. How about "to go, in big, bold movement -- or BM, if you will -- where no man has gone before!"

In truth my objection wasn't at the split infinitive, but at the awkward placement of adverb. I found myself asking, "Why is that wrong?" and then I looked up "split infinitive" and it seemed to apply. I didn't know the grammarian controversy over it.

An earlier writer posts:

"In truth Ms Palin is representative of a great number of Americans. As long as she is able to tug at their heartstrings, they will forgive her her many divigations."

Since when do we nominate or idealize our national leaders on the basis of whether or not they "tug at [our] heartstrings"?

This is a typical refrain of Palin supporters, along with the constant, reflexive expressions of perceived victimization (aka WHINING) embodied by their hero.

With Mrs. Palin's abandonment of her "actual responsibilities" in Alaska, I sincerely hope that the era of Sarah Palin, Martyr and Queen of Grievances, is officially over.

Enough already!

The "Iquitarod":

Sarah Palin The Quitter for Half-Term President = 2012-2014-1/2.

She would DEFINITELY find some reason to abandon the White House. Just look at her record - that's how she lives her life.

I was wondering if anyone would call me out on that one. Sure, the aforementioned monks stole a bunch of vocab from Latin, but it ain't Romance unless it's got a bunch of confusing declensions and conjugations. I have a C in Spanish and a D in Latin to prove it.

Oh, and I won a silver medal from taking the National Latin Exam in high school. Go figure.

ReganaD: "Dang. That was very good. I want to send you my member communications, emails, and papers I write for my classes to get that kind of ruthless commentary on the style and structure."

I need extra money to support my addictions (note: they're healthy ones) so feel free to hire me!

ReganaD: "The article would have been a much tighter piece and felt much less rambling and unformed if the author had received similar feedback."

Thanks. From a Google search I discovered that Fortini started with fashion writing. On Salon she's been shifting to political and feminist commentary. Far be it from me to knock a young writer, as I'm no Thomas Pynchon. But I think any writer ought to get the slim book "The Elements of Style" by Strunk & White and commit it to memory.

I think I would not squirm so much, when I hear Palin speak, if she had some humor that was not mocking and jeering at someone else. Sarah takes herself and her family much too seriously. Not that the Letterman crack was not stupid and obnoxious ( I also commented on that before she reached the peak of hysteria over it) and I think mothers of special needs babies are particulary protective, but in general, about all topics, this lady just is too petty and mean spirited and has no cool. Her entire offense is defense. The world is out to get her, etc. etc. etc. I am just tired of her whining and would really be happy if she quietly went off fishing with Todd but I am afraid she is going to become the female equivilent of Rush and we will never hear the end of her. That is why she said in her lame duck talk that she would be effective on the outside and speak up for anyone regardless of party affiliation. That was her entry into the so called O'Rileyesque " no spin zone" of partisan media where she will try to pawn herself off as objective.