"In order for the satire to have a real effect, Palin's discomfort needed to be palpable and make the audience squirm. Instead, the surge in "SNL's" ratings only amped up her star power."

I dunno about this. I think the joke was definitely on Caribou Barbie on SNL, even though she didn't seem to realize it. Barbie's lack of discomfort spoke volumes, although one might consider that lack of discomfort on SNL an exercise in horror, not satire, when one realizes that such a lack of awareness is a defining characteristic of a woman who could be VPOTUS and, perhaps ulitmately POTUS.

The ratings were up because people were hoping that she would make an ass of herself.

Is that YOU

Miss Minnie Pearl?

-- "Too Skeevy for the Teevee."

Then at least, I would never see or hear her again.

Paradise Lost. Book 1X

Farewell happy fields

where joy forever dwells! Hail horrors! hail,

Infernal World! and thou profoundest Hell, receive thy new Possessor--

One who brings a mind to be changed by place and time.

The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven,

What matter where, if I be still the same, and what I should be, all but less than-.

Whom thunder has made greater?

Here at least we shall be free, the Almighty has not built here for envy and will not drive us hence:

Here we may reign secure; and in my choice, to reign is worth ambition, though in Hell:

Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.-- John Milton.

God willing this will be the last hurrah for both McBush and Caribou Barbie. After their defeat McSame will retire from the Senate and Caribou Barbie will either be removed from office or at least loose re-election as Gov. in a landslide.

They will then simply become footnotes in political history.

Out! gosh darn stain!

OUT! OUT! OUT!

Gong Show

Checked out Sarah's act

And got EMBARRASSED!

Editor! Check please!

Perhaps we've become so inured to all the posturing in rap and reality TV that now, when politicians show us the same type of empty swagger, we simply accept what they're serving, and even cheer them on.

I think you may be on to something here. Your article called to mind the "town-hall" (could that term be any more pretentious and hokey?) Bush/Kerry debate of 2004, when Kerry pointed out that the "Coalition of The Willing" was becoming less willing, or less of a coalition. Bush goes off and starts ranting, "Tell Tony Blair we're goin' it alone! You tell Tony Blair we're goin' alone!" And so on. You can view it on YouTube by clicking on my username below.

I went back and viewed the moment again after reading this article, and I paid close attention to his gestures, his tone of voice, his syntax, and his overall body language. And yes, just like on that night four years ago, his reaction once again reminded me of nothing more than the empty-headed shriveled-nuts 'roid-rage posturing readily available on any edition of WrestleMania.

Twice, this jerkoff got the championship belt. Of course, Scalia & pals jumped into the ring with a metal folding-chair the first time...

I don't have basic cable, so i guess its ok.

I'd rather she just go back to Alaska and get mavericky with the nice folks up there.

North to Alaska...whoops! the gig is up.

...stupid is as a stupid does.

Dear Fox News: Please please hire Sarah Palin asap as she will be available on Nov. 5th and would be a perfect fit with your network. Sean, the man, Hannity will simply drool all over himself to learn that the wolf and moose killing babe/hockey mom/former beauty queen from way up north will be hosting the female version of his show, lies, meanspiritedness and all, and third graders everywhere will be ever so glad to hear that the new celebrity on their daddy's channel isn't half as as smart as they and hopefully, their daddys are. Also, please make sure that Palin is on the air every night, but just in case you haven't noticed, make sure that the teleprompter is working properly and that the guests are not allowed to ask her any questions given the fact that Palin's knowledge of history and current events is just about non-existent. So until such time as Palin as been coached and brought up to speed, it is advised that you invite only folks who totally agree with her. Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, James Dobson, etc immediately come to mind. So, please get the ball rolling on your new hire. Those of us on the left will be ever so grateful knowing that we will never have to see or listen to this fool ever again. Sincerely yous, Joan Conroy

I completely agree with Hannaham, and I've been saying it since her convention speech - somebody give this freak a TV show! She's terribly photogenic, she has the self-confidence of a tidal wave, and reads a teleprompter like nobody's business. It's as if Rush Limbaugh and Oprah spawned a made-for-TV love child. And the fact that she doesn't seem to know anything about world affairs, history, American civics, science, etc., has hardly prevented a cavalcade of similarly vapid men and women from successfully occupying the air waves.

Do it, Sarah! Leave the tundra behind and let your freak flag fly on basic cable for the ignorant, adoring conservative masses! Then at least the rest of us will have the option of ignoring you.

When Chris Matthews was discussing Palin the other night with someone he diverted attention from any criticism of her, while seeming to obliquely refer to the possibility that he might be able to 'get' her to have a job on MSNBC -- he seemed gleeful at the prospect. I may have been reading this in -- but that horrifying thought occurred to me. What he doesn't understand is that Palin is partly responsible for high ratings because she might be the president of the United States; and because her 'sightings' are so rare so far. If she is not in the position of possibly having something to do with our government she will not be nearly as interesting. Her shtick wears thin after awhile. Her blatant, wanton lying and her phony, inexplicably varied, facial and vocal expressions will be, no more fascinating, but shocking -- because of her pathology being allowed to be once again on display -- and, finally, boring.