Sarah Palin is riding a wave she can't understand.

Quite frankly, it's the same mistake Obama (and plenty of other Democrats) made.

That mistake is in thinking the discontent of the populace is an endorsement of person pointing it out.

Sarah Palin's experience as mayor means nothing - have you seen the interview with Wasilla's mayor when she basically says the town does nothing (all the police and fire are state-based) and that the town employess show up once a week for their paychecks?

Then there is her experience as governor. ...of the biggest welfare state in the Union. She's never had a budget crisis because of all the oil money flowing in from Exxon, BP, et al. Every citizen gets a check from the government. EVERY CITIZEN OF ALASKA - and the longer you're a resident, the more you get paid.

I mean, here's a woman who think that her folsky "hockey mom" support is something that can translate to effective politics. She derides Obama for reading a teleprompter, yet apparently can't afford index cards and has to write on her hand. She decries political correctness, until someone ELSE uses the word "retarded" (and not even referring to people with mental handicaps) and then she's all "he ought to resign".

On the Democrat side, you have a charismatic orator who can move the masses and get a Nobel Peace Prize out of the deal, but apparently lacks the same skill with his own party enough to get things done.

On the GOP side you have incessant partisan politics (as in not voting for a bill you co-sponsored just because the President suddenly agreed with you) and flip-flops (I'm talking to you Senator McCain).

If that's not an argument for having a viable third party, term-limits, electoral reform and perhaps not voting for a single incumbent, I don't know what is.