That's right, folks.  The pitbull may have a ready supply of lipstick, but is banned by the McCain campaign from watching television, surfing the internet and reading newspapers.

Because, the campaign has told her, she would get depressed.

Palin has become the ultimate "low information candidate".

But I wonder...is it because seeing yourself vilified in writing (or read from the teleprompter) by 80% of the journalists, commentators and bloggers in the world (including many conservatives) something which would make the supremely confident and blithely righteous Palin rue her decision not to blink before joining the ticket, or is it because she has such a low threshold for processing information they are afraid she couldn't quote an op-ed or news piece?  Or is it that she is as smart as they claim, but are afraid she has an independent streak and will see the error of her ways and stray off-message?

Imagine if the feisty Palin (who only 7 months ago was interviewed without babysitters by Newsweek) read all that has been written and heard all that has been said disparaging the tactics of the campaign which appears to the rest of us, at least, to govern and manipulate her every thought and action?  That's not mavericky, that's puppetry.  Do the people who know and love Sarah Palin best really think she is a tool by nature?  And if she's not, then why does she continue to allow herself to be branded as one?

Bill Kristol was right - the campaign should let Sarah Palin be herself.  But I think what the McCain campaign and the GOP hierarchy fear most is, if they let her be herself, she might end up packing her bags and heading back to Alaska, where she is the decider and can say and do anything she wants.

The McCain campaign is like the Borg.  They are trying to assimilate Palin.  If she is weak, she will succumb.  But if she is a real pitbull - lipstick or no lipstick - she will resist.