Is it Palin Time?

There are pundits out there today asking, in light of the GOP defeat Tuesday, where does it leave Sarah Palin? Practically speaking, it leaves her as Governor of Alaska. Yet there's more than that. She may well be in the best position to lead the Republican Party from the ashes.

I know that many folks think her selection to the ticket was a mistake. I am not one of them. She's spunky, she has swagger, and she's conservative. Those are the great qualities of an inspiring leader. As such, I'm going to go out on a limb and point out comparisons between her and that great Republican, Ronald Reagan.

He was underrated too, at one point, and look what he achieved. He was seen as an unlearned hack, but he studied and learned, ending up the last century's greatest speaker for liberty and dignity. He was seen as being on the fringe right, only to make the rest of the nation see the truths of conservatism to the point of his election as President. His passion drove that. Her passion can do the same, if channeled properly.

Now's the time, Governor. Time to come from the northwest, the final American frontier, and show a little frontier justice. Give Americans a clear choice opposite the liberal Democrats. Go on the attack. Make it happen.

Why? Because you can. How else did you get this far?

Send Sarah!

The McCain campaign has decided to give up on Michigan. Whether this is a good move or not I can't comment on; I doubt myself that he can carry my home state and not knowing the exact nature of his resources, he may well have the right idea in spending them elsewhere. But I am reminded of his view on attacking Pakistan (Pak-ess-tan, as Barack calls it): never tell an opponent what you might do.

Don't overtly give up on Michigan, Senator. This will only help the Obama campaign paint you as uncaring about its plight. But if you need to reallocate resources, then attack Michigan on the cheap. In this case, send your vice presidential nominee as she encourages you to do. Send Sarah here.

Face it, John. She's the best thing you've got going for you right now. You don't inspire many folks, including me. I was only intending to vote for you because the alternative was completely unpalatable. But Governor Palin is sincere, homespun, fresh, and without that Washington political glare. She plays to an audience better than you. Use that, as you had started to but for whatever reason backed away from, becuse it's your best chance.

Send Sarah to Michigan. And Ohio and Pennsylvania and Virginia and Florida. Send her before the voters send the wrong message to you.

Like Kissing Your Sister?

It's been said that a tie is liking kissing your sister, and the pundits are calling last night's Vice Presidential debate a tie. Maybe so, maybe no; I rather think Sarah Palin took the day by a teensy bit, but I am, admittedly, partisan.

Still, she was the one who had something to prove. Say what you want about Joe Biden, he has been in the Senate since 1972 and is a known quality. Governor Palin is not, honestly, and everyone has been waiting for her to commit a major gaffe. She did not, and even showed no fear in going on the offensive a time or two. Indeed I thought that she rather held back, trying to measure her remarks for safety's sake.

Sure, she ignored some questions for the sake of empacizing the party line, but so did Biden, and anyway, no candidate should ever let a moderator overshadow or control the types of comments they would like to make. It's their one chance to address Americans generally, and I'm not going to hold it against anyone if they tacitly set the format aside for the sake of sound bites. It's just good strategy.

She didn't look like an airhead or make a mistake; neither did Biden. Yet he had wiggle room and she did not; on that point alone, Sarah Palin won. But will it be enough for November?