Joan, how is that house gate expose coming?

One minute, you're skating past a statute of limitations which expired five years ago. The next, you're a GOP titan.

Ah, the twists and turns of politics, and fate.

Have a nice break.

You deserve it after maintaining your cool against the dunderheads Matthews subjects us to.

Can you ask him to quit interrupting you and let you finish your point? *g*

One communist supporting another.

Are you Sarah's pimp, because this is going beyond laughable and into stalker territory. You know, she is only capable of being enraptured of herself. Textbook narcissism. Not even intelligent enough to offer up a few wrinkles. Just plain narcissism.

But hey, if you can be fascinated and entranced by someone so banal, then more power to you. Myself, I'm a bit more demanding of the object of my affection.

No, to paraphrase Khrushchev, you can go on the Palin websites and see the really "hopeless" supporters.

I think of Oliver Wendell Holmes, and his quote from the Ken Burns' Civil War series. "In our youths, our hearts were touched with fire."

Seriously, it's been a lot of fun -- including the enthusiasm of others. I've made three donations in my life -- to McCain/Palin, the Sarah PAC, and Doug Hoffman. Next up, if we win Tuesday: Marco Rubio in Florida.

By the way, I'm a little rusty on paleontology, but I think Joan has it wrong with a reference to "cro-magnons." Jeri Thompson, Marco Rubio, Sarah Palin. The cro-magnons might have survived better if they looked anything like that. :)

Interesting. So, it seems you give your political loyalties to those who have big tits and overly made-up faces. Nice. Hey, there is no shame in being politically p-whipped. It's not like other men are any different. Good for you! At least you're honest about it.

I think that this is exactly what we need. Regardless of who wins, Scozzafava has taken a stand that hopefully many others will take after her. We cannot allow right-wing nuts like Palin and her ilk to hijack what should be an impassioned conversation between intelligent people. As soon as John McCain ceded control of the party to Palin, Rush and the like, he destroyed the chance for intelligent conversation between the parties in Washington.

Rooting for Owens on Tuesday!

Also, new reader/commenter on the site. Also, a friend of your daughter. Psyched to have found a new, intelligent blog. Thanks.

I've tried to explain this out over the past 1,475 letters.

Palin for me was like Jackson's victory at Chalmette in 1814. A clap of thunder in a clear blue sky.

Her pro-life deeds, volunteer son in Iraq, conservatism, and style and panache hooked me instantly, and didn't let go.

I saw Reagan as a child, Bush I as a young adult, and Palin last year. She was as impressive as Reagan, more so than Bush. In terms of enthusiasm, there was no comparison. Her crowd, and its reaction to her, was off the charts.

I don't mind a little joke here and there about her looks, but I added Marco Rubio to balance it out. Speaking of which, the Rubio donation should be much easier than the others to sell to my spouse. :)

that's really the problem, isn't it.

We always need new folks with new ideas!

Readerreader tries to explain his obsession: "I've tried to explain this out over the past 1,475 letters. Palin for me was like Jackson's victory at Chalmette in 1814. A clap of thunder in a clear blue sky. Her pro-life deeds, volunteer son in Iraq, conservatism, and style and panache hooked me instantly, and didn't let go."

Ahh, yes, those pro-life deeds -- if only words had as much meaning as deeds: "While running for governor in 2006, Mrs. Palin identified herself as "pro-contraception" and said she would support funding for abstinence-until-marriage education programs." But then, this was before her daughter start playing hide-the-weinie with her sleep-in-boy friend. And that volunteer duty in Iraq?? Wow, patriotic or what?? Just like all those young men in the 60s who 'volunteered' to serve in 'Nam -- hell, beats going to jail, and the charges get dropped. Clean slate, and it helps if you get a good assiginment. And if the panache and style of a small town crook and big time narcissist turn your crank (and obviously it does, big time), then Sarah is all yours.

And by the by, reader, the Battle at Chalmette was January 8th, 1814. Just saying . . .

January 8, 1815, dag-nabbit!! That'll teach me to be a smarty-pants.

1815? I'll have to blame that one on Johnny Horton's lyrics.

Here are three substantive points.

1. Palin is the most Jacksonesque politician of my lifetime. He was from the west, and disdained by the east. He favored balanced budgeting (opposing infrastructure projects of his time), and insisted government land be purchased not with paper, but with gold.

Palin is staking out similar themes, with opposition to big spending, and advocacy of sound currency. She incites the same opposition passions from the 19th century -- from those who wish to encumber the country's finances, and devalue the dollar.

Palin comes to these unorthodox conclusions using the same tool as Jackson: common sense.

2. Yes, you say, but isn't it bad form for the GOP to abandon its "moderates"? No, not really. I think it's the opposite. If you have support from people like me, you can fire things up and then work back to the center. If you start at the center and alienate the base, the GOP will never win anything.

3. Yes, you say, but isn't unfair to campaign "against" Barack Obama on spending and monetarism -- after all, he inherited the mess from Bush?

I disagree, going forward. Mr. Obama chose to spend $700 billion on the stimulus. He briefly proposed some ag subsidy reductions on rich farmers (a trifle, but symbolic), but pulled even that when congressional land barons said no. He re-appointed Mr. Bernanke, who is on record opposing a constant money supply in response to recessionary pressure.

In short, there is a good debate shaping up here. That's why I sent a few dollars to Hoffman. Of course, the fact that it helped propel Gov. Palin into the headlines didn't hurt either. It was a win-win, from where I sit.