I wasn't going to get into this Palin post because those who "like" her repeatedly ignore any information challenging her intellect or competence to be a productive national leader. We have all seen and heard the outrageous comments Palin has made, shockingly inaccurate and immature. I've never heard any other public personage compared to Leno's embarrassingly uninformed "jaywalkers". And despite the efforts of advisors who are trying to close the gaps in her education and groom her for a bright future, here is a very recent Palin profundity from her farewell remarks as Alaska's governor: "It is as throughout all Alaska that big wild good life teeming along the road that is north to the future." (huh?) What conceivable context might lend some meaning to these words?

So I've kept wondering WHY folks would like Palin, other than thinking that her physical beauty or feisty personality are critical attributes for a successful national leader. I think there are literally millions of folks who would vote for her for President tomorrow for one or both of those reasons - whether or not they would realize it or admit it.
But what about the TOTV political forum contributors who like Palin? I have not seen a single defense of her comments about what magazines she reads or her knowledge of geography. Yet I feel certain not a single one would vote for Palin because she is pretty or feisty! So what are their reasons for liking her? From the above posts and earlier threads, this is the best I can come up with:
Sarah Palin is an interesting person; a kind of 'rugged individualist' type who believes in some good American fundamentals; a fresh face who does not deserve to be the subject of unrelentingly vicious, biased, liberal media attacks.

I just don't agree. Those vague personal qualities could be attributed to millions of Americans. As far as being an undeserving victim, the voice of media is one of our greatest assets and often our best source of the truth. We don't always like what they say because of our own biases, but most of the time they just report facts or comment about facts. The thing I've seen forever in the media is the direct relationship between the amount of attention given to a person and the 'outrageous quotient' of that person's statements and actions. Barrels of ink have been used to describe Palin's comments and actions BECAUSE they have been repeatedly outrageous. I think it's healthy to be reminded often of those things which are out there on the extreme rather than in the familiar middle ground. This is not to "make fun" of Ms. Palin, it is simply judging her on the basis of her own comments and actions. And for me, it will not be enough if the 'experts' spin her into an articulate, mature and thoughtful sounding candidate for something. I'm looking for leaders whose intelligence and leadership qualities are their own.