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Now that Sarah Palin has made her debut on the national scene, it seems obvious to me that the comparisons to previous vice presidential selections need to stop. Palin is no Dick Cheney, no Dan Quayle, no Geraldine Ferraro, no Spiro Agnew, no Tom Eagleton.
The past Rebublican Convention speakers that Palin most resembles are Marilyn Quayle and Pat Buchanan, who fired up the 1992 assembly with their mean-spirited, nasty attacks.
Palin's curious, self-satisfied sneer each time she leveled a baseless accusation against Obama was disturbing to watch. Her words were an even more disturbing reminder that the Republican party knows no limits when it comes to speaking falsehoods and distortions in support of its candidates.
We can only hope that Palin's sneer -- was it done to prevent the foam from leaking from the corners of her mouth? -- will have the same effect in 2008 that Mrs. Quayle's and Mr. Buchanan's had in 1992.
