what happened to the oblique slams on Obama in your posts? Have you finally given up?

Politically savvy? She kicked the entrenched bums out of her own party.

Democrat crud sticks together; they look out for each other.

Sarah has unfathomable intelligence.

She knows how to put sparkle into a campaign.

McCain had the right idea. I thank him for putting her on the national scene.

Unfortunately McCain was like Bush 41 in that he didn't want it.

McCain praised Obama at every turn instead of kicking ass.

sarah is going to be queen of the maypole - link at sig

It offers a perspective on Palin without either idealizing or "trashing" her.

Where I work there are all kinds of professional women who are successful, including "breeders." I hope that women in politics will some day represent the same diversity that I see at work--the same diversity that male politicians already enjoy indeed!

I think Obama is doing well in competently pursuing his agenda. I just disagree with a couple important aspects of it.

1. Bernacke should not be permitted to continue printing money -- the reports I read indicate that much of that printing is pent up in bank reserves, and when it comes on line is likely to produce a monetary bubble; i.e., double dip recession. 2. He needs to propose either tax hikes or spending cuts, starting with Medicare. There's no joy in that, but 1.8 Billion this year and 1.4 Billion in deficit spending is unacceptable.

His health and carbon plans are still in early stages, I think, relative to Senate resistance. I'm reserving judgment on those.

and get behind a patriot; Sarah loves this country and wants the best for it.

Instead of the African Mugabe-type mentality who hates this country and wants to tear it asunder.

We won't let Obama finish the job but he has time to do a great amount of damage (with a Democrat Congress.)

Remember, Obama has a distrust of capitalism, freedom and individual rights (warnings were given before the election.)

Question: who was the most barely literate, disdained-by-elite presidential figure of the 19th century?

Answer: Andrew Jackson.

Why was he popular? Because he held the line in the fog at Chalmette and prevented British troops known for their rape and marauding during the continental war with Napoleon from reaching New Orleans. People always held that in their hearts, and he was mobbed by admirers until the day of his death.

How many governors do you know who send their 18 year old sons to the front lines in the fifth year of a "lost" war and tell interviewers that they well up with tears when they see soldiers in uniform in airports? I can give you a statistic on my second question: how many women past 40 who have an unexpected Down Syndrome pregnancy even allow the child to live? Answer: 10%.

Yes, there is intellect, and I think Sarah Palin has it. There is also grit. Do you go to sleep at night wondering whether a son will survive the war tomorrow? Sarah Palin does. Do you have a special needs child, with all that this entails? Think about the time and commitment Sarah will devote to her beloved youngest son, and look how she adores him.

So, you can list all of her supposed missteps, or things you don't like about her. It won't change my opinion. And yes, I hope she runs for president because I think she has a talent for her chosen field of government, and shares my values closely.

Let's not debate further. We're obviously at an impasse. I know it well, from nearly every other debate I have had on Salon. :)

until the next Great Surge of America Ingenuity...think cold fusion, or cars that run on dirt...something like that.

Lacks Penetrability (obviously)

The experience of being with a person with a narcissistic character disorder is one of being kept away, warded off. Often this is accompanied by a body tightness or tension. Extreme self-reference is dominant in the narcissistic characters, so that whatever one says is immediately transformed by that person into a story or fantasy about herself (or himself). One feels like a stimulus to a response which excludes participation.

Rejects Interpretation

Cannot Tolerate Criticism

Cannot Integrate Synthetic Approach

Low Empathetic Capacity

Takes Pride In Having No Needs

The narcissistic character rejects feelings of need for another human being, for experiencing such needs can unleash rage and envy that could flood the weak ego structure. Narcissistic characters often take pride in having no needs, while doing a great deal for others. "I can do it" is often their motto. If their own needs for sympathy or relatedness are kindled, this often is experienced as a blow to their self-esteem, and can lead to depression and loss of energy.

Lacks Sense of History or Process

Narcissistic characters experience history in a marginal way. Situations are not really experienced because every situation is met out of the weak ego's complex of low esteem. Consequently, historical process is only assimulated to the extent that it aggrandizes the ego. Another class of events remembered with great tenacity are those which wounded the ego's self-esteem.

History is also distorted. We have seen how the narcissistci character can distort interpretations; this can extend to extensive lying. For the internal-grandiose pressure so overwhelms the ego that it causes the ego to meet situations not with a realistic response, but with lies that meet the inner demands of omnipotence. Thus it is not what actually happens historically that is of importance to the narcissistic character, as much as how that event meets--or can be twisted into meaning--inner, grandiose pressure.

How many governors do you know who send their 18 year old sons to the front lines in the fifth year of a "lost" war and tell interviewers that they well up with tears when they see soldiers in uniform in airports?

How many parents would intentionally send their children into a meatgrinder designed by war criminals to murder other people's families and call it "keeping us free?" Only the arrogantly ignorant and stupid among us.

It's not enough to have good intentions. McNamara proved that.