Nixon was thin-skinned, took conflict personally and was famously "petty, spiteful, and vindictive". Dubya is all that too, albeit more personable. I've known people who worked with Nixon, and get that he was very clever, perhaps even brilliant (even sans Kissinger). Reagan, OTOH, had Alzheimer's (and many expert handlers, including HW Bush, who is a brilliant CIA wonk). I think of Dubya+Cheney as Nixon+Reagan+Kissinger.

Anyway, I share the concerns about Ms. Palin's fitness for service that highlyunlikely, J. Reb McRedneck, Xrandadu Hutman and Svutlov have expressed. And I agree with Paris Pace that Palin seems a lot like Dubya. What she's missing is her Cheney, and some debate training. Perhaps a few years with Coulter or O'Reilly would do the trick, and some tweaking of her meds.

Like ScepticalGeek, I suspect a setup. Although Readerreader may be doing it for the lulz, there are enough Americans who apparently support her in that Diana-fan way to seriously frighten me. And then there's the concern about the fallout (no pun intended) from the next "9/11".

OTOH, perhaps I'm just shell-shocked.

I know what Joan would really like for her birthday. A little Sarah Palin turd that she could put under a microscope and examine and examine and examine. Oh, that would be so much better than a pony!

Ok ok, if you were trying to demonstrate that Palin supporters and/or republicans are juvenile little cretins who have nothing of value to say, you've definitely succeeded. Well played, sir!

"As for how the Palins financed their home on Wasilla’s Lake Lucille, Van Flein says they used a combination of personal savings, equity from the sale of their prior home and conventional bank financing to build the house — like millions of American families. The deeds of trust are recordable public records. Basic journalism and fact checking would confirm this.'”

Wow, basic journalism. What a concept. Why don't you try it some time, Joan?

With what Sarah Palin did, I don't read the American Spectator often but RawStory had the link. It is a pretty good article, maybe the trolls here can take off and go lurk on Mr. Hillyers article for a while.

Palin's Dereliction of Duty Quin Hillyer

http://spectator.org/blog/2009/07/03/palins-dereliction-of-duty

One last post about "Virtue." I have never known of any legitimate writer (current or historical) who crowed about what a good writer he or she is. As I wrote earlier about my father's service, and the service of the pilots I've known through him, reticence, and even humility, are abiding characteristic of the truly heroic.

Preening braggarts simply cannot be taken seriously, because no amount of logic or evidence will ever penetrate their massive cocoon of self-regard.

I am an Alaskan now living in California. I attended an Assembly of God church in Anchorage, much like Sarah's church, throughout my teen years.

Here is what I think Salon readers do not understand:

Sarah Palin is doing God's will. That's why she doesn't have to have experience, be educated, speak coherently, or act consistently. If she follows the teachings of this kind of church, then she must believe that God is directing her every step, he is giving her the words to say, and if the wise are confounded, it is because, well, who can understand God's will?

This is what makes her such a dangerous person. She appeals to those who also believe that intellect and knowledge are not important, that God works in mysterious ways, and that God puts world leaders into place. If she has risen to this level, it must be God's will. We must not underestimate how high a person like this can rise and how much damage they can do once in power. Who believed George W. Bush could have ever been re-elected?

I am an atheist now, but seeing Sarah Palin rise to any position beyond hockey mom almost makes me believe in God.

This is simply a letter that puts the media on notice. It informs them that they will have to answer for their rumor mongering from now on. And frankly, the rumor mongering on Palin's Wasilla house has reached a level that makes the National Enquirer look saintly. Unfortunately, Miss Walsh has decided to join this circus.

No one has done more for spreading obscure internet blog rumors and bringing full light, focus and attention to them in the accredited legitimate media than Sarah Palin herself. During the presidential campaign she center court attention to a bum rumor that Trigg was actually her daughter Britol's baby. Hardly anyone even knew the rumor existed until Sarah told the world about it and then wrongfully accused the media as spreading this nonsense. Even during her long discombogulated speech about resigning as governor, Sarah felt compelled to tell the world there had been some viscious comments made about her baby son Trigg. Something everyone was scratching their collective heads about because no one knew what she was even referring to. This paranoia and obsession with stupid and unfounded charges against her is a major distraction to any serious policy ideas she may have and portrays her to be thin skinned and even weak minded. Can anyone imagine this nut case as the VP of our country? Shame on John McCain for being so desperate to become President that he would allow his staff to convince him to run with Sarah in order to pander to the extreme right wing on his party. This woman is very flawed and flighty.

An "odd" "menacing" letter? This is simply a letter that puts the media on notice. It informs them that they will have to answer for their rumor mongering from now on.

Yes, that's why it's odd and menacing. Odd, because this "lawyer" clearly does not understand the 1st amendment, which allows for all sorts of rumor mongering about public figures. And menacing, because he's trying to make a threat, even though it's based on nothing.

Unfortunately, Miss Walsh has decided to join this circus.

Joan did not join the rumor mongering. She is merely discussing the odd, menacing letter released from Palin's "lawyer" as one more aspect of the Palin freakshow. As she stated in her op-ed, she does not believe there's anything to "housegate."