Palin Constructs Somewhat Coherent Responses To Questions; Considers It Victory

From the Kansas City Star:

Sarah Palin barely meets low expectations; that's not a victory

By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

Republican backers such as New York Times columnist David Brooks are kidding themselves. Do they truly think many Americans agree that Sarah Palin "was surpassing all expectations" during Thursday's debate with Joe Biden?

Speaking for the GOP everywhere, Brooks (often a thoughtful commentator from the right) acknowledged in his Friday column that Republicans had been extremely nervous about Palin's appearance Thursday.

They had a right to have low expectations of Palin, given her sputtering non-answers in recent interviews with CBS's Katie Couric.

But Brooks practically clapped himself silly over Palin's performance.

In his most abysmal line of reasoning, Brooks said that Palin had made it "abundantly, unstoppably and relentlessly clear that she was not of Washington, did not admire Washington and knew litle about Washington."

That was an inane tactic by Palin -- who's campaigning to go to Washington, after all ostensibly to join the power elite there in leading this country.

It was even more inane of Brooks to think this line of reasoning struck a chord with Americans.

No, we don't want someone as ill-informed as Palin in Washington. She can toss around terms like "betcha" and "Joe Sixpack" all she wants to make it appear she's one of us.

But Palin, above all else, is a politician. She is going to have to act like one if she gets to Washington. That means hammering out deals and compromises with other people.

Being ignorant of Washington's ways isn't endearing. It's embarrassing for someone who wants to be vice president.

And it's embarrasing that the GOP and its backers such as David Brooks think Palin made headway with this argument Thursday night.