She is the perfect mouthpiece for the men who actually pull her strings-a female incarnation of the carefully constructed GOP political persona

The external veneer: attractive, earnest and engaging in a "just folks" kind of way that masks breathtaking ambition, total lack of introspection, blind certainty, and no small dose of vindictive meanness.

She possesses the requisite public religiosity, professing deep commitment to Christian ideals that stand in stark contrast to her actual deeds.

She is the bride to the Frankenstein that is George Bush: a person to be manipulated and exploited via an overblown ego and belief of divine appointment.

The McCain values and respects Sarah Palin so much that she had to learn that her campaign was pulling out of Michigan through the MSM she reads for information.

Now, Sarah, go back up on that stage and flirt and be cute, we respect your intelligence, your fortitude, we really do, just do not offer any opinions that we haven't written out for you....

I for one don't think Sarah's dumb at all, I think the GOP thinks their voters are.

Are much easier to manipulate once they get in office. The GOP is going for control here,. These two are not now, nor will ever be, in charge of much.

Another thoughtful post of yours upstream got me thinking again back to one of my central questions about the fate of our American way of life: What compels us as a nation to act as we do? Do we have free will? How much is external manipulation or the subconscious id run rampant?

First, I believe in a natural progression for all things. Call me a Buddhist or an engineer, but eventually everything falls apart. It could be that all democracies fall into authoritarianism. That was the Founder's read of history. Ultimately one sub group gains power, and to keep acquiring power they must break the democratic covenant.

But I'm not sure how deliberate the process is, at least at the beginning. I also question most conspiracy theories about the Rich. They have great power, no doubt, and great influence, but they are not in control. That doesn't mean they aren't scheming away, like the rest of us. In general, I don't think Humanity is good enough to define the outcome of all events.

The Iraqs didn't exactly turn out in the Neocon's favor, and I think we will see that the only real beneficiary of the financial crisis will be China. The American Masters of the Universe are in for some tough times.

Mass media and the accompanying mass marketing has been a bad influence on our critical thinking and literary traditions, especially our sense of history. To me, the central premise for Orwell's 1984 was the removal of history as the teacher of cause and effect. The well documented (going back to the days of the Roman Empire) anti intellectual tendencies of certain religions isn't helpful either.

Was the dumbed down consumer mindset developed as a tool of authoritarianism? Or was it just a way to sell lots of crap that became more and more corrosive to critical thought as the marketing dosage increased? It's plausible for someone like Rove to come along and see how the same techniques could be used to cement a political majority.

Which brings me to Newt Gingrich and GOPAC. I heard that Sarah Palin went to GOPAC where they train up and coming Republican politicians. I wonder what they are learning? Is it politics as just another product for mass consumption?

The ultra elitist snobby review of Sarah Palin, as some kind of dumb shit woman, represents the reason I'm voting for Senator Clinton and not Obama, or, McCain. If push comes to shove, and I have to vote for one of the two (i.e., if I cannot get a write in ballot), then I may vote for Palin just for the hell of it, to let snobs like Conason know that she's not stupid. It's clear that she is intelligent. She is the symbol of the kind of woman politician the GOP has produced over the years. They more often that not look good, but not necessarily always; they are very, very task oriented people; as in her case, they've been successful but very busy mothers; they've risen through the ranks of the political process, often starting at PTA, or school groups; then to city council positions; treasurers, clerks, etc; then, as in Palin's case, mayoral or city manager position; then state office; and, governor being one of them.

It is indicative of the Ultra Liberal Elite to diminish the capabilities, and experience, just about any governor, regardless of state size, or, large city mayor, has over Obama. They not only are in on the initiation of legislation which affects those entities, but have probably done so far more times than Obama has as they rose to the top. Obama did what he always does when the "the most severe economic crisis ... since the Great Depression" faced our nation ... he slid around and kept campaigning. McCain does what he does: he was engaged in initiating, negotiating, or moving legislation forward which is a product of compromise and reaching "across the aisle."

Obama has used many people in his life ... ministers, for one thing, are the dominant and vocal and liberal even radical speakers for HIM. He never actually says, publicly, that yes, Rev. Wright speaks for him; that Bill Ayers represents a radical liberal from the 60s figure, who again, says and does radical things; same for Farrakhan and the same, undoubtedly, for someone in Pakistan, whom he met while there, who was the guy who verbalized radical Islamic thought, or actions. I would be willing to bet that one thing that lured Obama to Pakistan in 1981 was that he had Pakistani and Indian friends who spoke of the jihad under way in that country against the Russians.

The GOP women who rise to the Senate, for instance, are very successful. They STILL keep their hands in raising a family. They often would not have an abortion because whether for religious reasons, or personal squeamishness, they don't have abortions, but keep the children, even if it means hardship. They are multi talented and multi tasking. They make critical decisions which affects lives VERY DIRECTLY, Joe.

There are undoubtedly decisions which Palin has made in Wasilla and the State of Alaska, which HAVE VERY DEFINITELY affected the citizens of those places. And it is very interesting, I think, to look at the answer to the question John McLaughlin (The McLaughlin Group), asked three weeks ago about Palin: has she taken her own PERSONAL VIEWS on abortion, for instance, or what kinds of things to teach in schools, TO THE LEVEL OF INITIATION AND SPONSORSHIP OF LEGISLATION PUTTING INTO EFFECT HER PERSONAL VIEWS ON THOSE MATTERS?

And, if you listen to how she answers such questions, she ALMOST ALWAYS prefaces her answer with: "Personally, I would not have an abortion ... but I have not pushed my ideas down the throats of Alaskans because Alaskans like to determine their own fate." Or words to that effect. THAT's also Sarah Palin.

I will hope that the several million hard core Clinton centrists elect to write her name in, if they can.

It is time the Democrats splintered into: Center Democrats, and Liberal Democrats. Let the latter fight for their own skins. Senator Clinton won more red counties than anyone since Al Gore, and she may have actually surpassed his "red county" wins. Joe Conason, sadly, perhaps even Joan Walsh, et al, level their charges of stupidity towards the McCain-Palin because they like those candidates.

This is why Center Democrats should break from the Party.

It is time that those who feel Ron Paul is the best Candidate for Libertarian Republicanism, to vote for Ron Paul by write in. Or, Bob Barr, for official Libertarian nomination. Or, whomever the Natural Law Party might put up for President. Same for Socialists. Same for the Greens. It is a mistake to think such votes are a wasted vote. If several million of us vote for Clinton on write in, we WILL show the DNC that they had better listen more carefully to the 17+ million of us who voted for Clinton (49.1% for Clinton 49.9% for Obama). About 600,000 votes difference.

Center Dems need to blow apart the rigged caucus system, too.

Primaries are important to allow every vote to count for Party voters.

Whoever wins, I won't any more support Ultra Liberal candidates of the Dems. I hope others will walk away from the Party, too. Whoever wins, wins. But I won't in this lifetime vote for Obama. I most likely also will not vote for McCain. But at least McCain has worked as a senator. Obama has just more or less been a mental masturbator senator. Who needs that?