I am touched by Governor Palin's expression of love for her special needs baby and by Governor Palin's public support for her unmarried, pregnant teenage daughter.  But it is important to understand how compassionate conservatism works:

Previously, as governor, Sarah Palin cut funding to help unmarried teen mothers who couldn't pay the bills and take care of their children.  But now, because she has an unmarried, pregnant teenage daughter, Governor Palin supports such women.

Previously, as governor, Sarah Palin cut funding to help special needs children.  But now, because she has a special needs child, she supports special needs children.

I admire Governor Palin's concern for her family, but we need a president and vice-president who understand that other people's problems matter, too -- who care about people who have problems unlike the president's or vice-president's own personal problems.  That is, we need a president, not an interest group.

I think this is just about all that needs to be said about Palin:  John McCain has spent the last six years arm in arm with George Bush.  Sarah Palin is therefore the perfect runnning mate for him, because she is Alaska's version of George Bush.  Let me count the ways:

-Both Bush and Palin were governors (though Bush was governor for 6 years longer than Palin).

- Both Bush and Palin are right-wing ideologues -- from abortion to stem cell research to tax cuts skewed heavily to the rich.

- Both Bush and Palin believe in divisive wedge politics that stirs up anger and hatred and sets American against American.

- Both Bush and Palin question your patriotism if you disagree with them.

- Both Bush and Palin are uninterested in the serious work of governing.  (E.g., Katrina for Bush, state national guard in "crisis" for Palin)

- Both Bush and Palin abuse power.

- Both Bush and Palin are hypocrites concerning fiscal responsibility and pork

- Both Bush and Palin are oil-state governors who know nothing about energy except that their constituencies profit from oil drilling.

What have I left out?

A good tag would cover at least the following:  extremism (e.g., no abortion rights even for rape or incest victims, no stem cell research, interest in banning books, etc.); divisive partisanship (see the stories on her campaign for mayor of Wasilla); abuse of power (troopergate, police-chief-and-librarian-gate); hypocrisy (bridge to nowhere and earmarks).

The only idea that comes to mind for me is "Alaska's version of George Bush."

I like that because it also captures the way in which the Tucker Carlson's of the world are getting hot for Palin over the thought of her shooting moose, just as they got hot for Bush when they saw pictures of him clearing brush in the noonday sun or driving a pickup truck.  Also, the whole "aw, shucks" thing.  In fact, the more I think of this, the more Palin really does seem just an Alaskan version of Bush.

Anyway:  Anyone have other suggestions?

I'm trying to think of tag lines to attach to Palin (like "more of the same" for McCain).  A good tag would cover at least the following:  extremism (e.g., no abortion rights even for rape or incest victims, no stem cell research, interest in banning books, etc.); divisive partisanship (see the stories on her campaign for mayor of Wasilla); abuse of power (troopergate, police-chief-and-librarian-gate); hypocrisy (bridge to nowhere and earmarks).

The only idea that comes to mind for me is "Alaska's version of George Bush."

I like that because it also captures the way in which the Tucker Carlson's of the world are getting hot for Palin over the thought of her shooting moose, just as they got hot for Bush when they saw pictures of him clearing brush in the noonday sun or driving a pickup truck.  Also, the whole "aw, shucks" thing.  In fact, the more I think of this, the more Palin really does seem just an Alaskan version of Bush.

Anyway:  Anyone have other suggestions?

I'm trying to think of tag lines to attach to Palin (like "more of the same" for McCain).  A good tag would cover at least the following:  extremism (e.g., no abortion rights even for rape or incest victims, no stem cell research, interest in banning books, etc.); divisive partisanship (see the stories on her campaign for mayor of Wasilla); abuse of power (troopergate, police-chief-and-librarian-gate); hypocrisy (bridge to nowhere and earmarks).

The only idea that comes to mind for me is "Alaska's version of George Bush."

I like that because it also captures the way in which the Tucker Carlson's of the world are getting hot for Palin over the thought of her shooting moose, just as they got hot for Bush when they saw pictures of him clearing brush in the noonday sun or driving a pickup truck.  Also, the whole "aw, shucks" thing.  In fact, the more I think of this, the more Palin really does seem just an Alaskan version of Bush.

Anyway:  Anyone have other suggestions?