Thanks all of you for your generous feedback.

Sproing: Yeah, interesting and very true. And I think Palin’s critics need to bring up your points. Also, I think the so-called liberal coastal elites need to defend their turf much more along the lines you mention. I really like your dead-on economics-based take on this.

Kora: Yes!

Kora: I saw (or rather listened via podcast) that episode of Real Time, and I absolutely loathe that shit. I didn’t realize until moments after it happened that I was being manipulated into sympathy, and it made me feel icky.

I’d add one more — the Rovian classic. Never admit you are wrong.

Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

A lie becomes true if you repeat it often enough.

“I said “thanks but no thanks” to the bridge to nowhere” was not really true. But she said it in every single campaign speech. Repeated often enough it took on a life of its own and became seen as part of the story about her.

Liz Cheney has got this down pat as well. In debating people on television she will assert absolute lies. But it takes another news cycle for the fact checking to happen. Television hosts don’t want to waste time with apologies or corrections. So politicians can — and do — say whatever they want. Cite invented facts and statistics. It doesn’t matter. By the time the error is corrected the conversation has moved on to another topic.

Megan McCain on Bill Maher got cornered in her web of lies and her response was to say “I’m the only Republican here” (You meany liberals are beating up on me!) And she even pulled the “I’m just the blond at the table.” Her whining about being the victim immediately brought the men — like Maher — to her defense and moreover the conversation was turned away from the moment when she was caught in a lie.

Regarding #8. “Exaggerate your adversary’s attacks…Never ever fight on the facts.”

Yes. She’s done that countless times and gotten away with it every single time. People who want to believe her believe her. People who want to believe that the media has done/said bad things to her believe what she says. Sometimes in spite of the truth.

Just beware of people forgetting that she’s dangerous… just because a “politician” is a joke, doesn’t mean that they won’t ever get elected into a position of some power. Please see Boris Johnson, the fine mayor of my city, who is a bumbling, Eton-and-Oxford-educated, moron.

Laugh at her, but never forget the power of celebrity, no matter the reason for that celebrity (in Boris’ case, massive political incorrectness that comes off as rather funny; in Palin’s, an extra set of fallopian tubes where the cerebral cortex oughta be, folks).

Her vanity is her weakness. And that is why she will be headed to FOX very soon (may I hereby acknowledge sonofspam, who called it last weekend, and I think he’s right).

She is actually better in a still shot than she is under the bright lights of the TV studio and the distortion of the idiot box itself. All that attractive feminine beauty could evaporate…we need some hardcore underminers–lighting techs, makeup people, hair stylists, wardrobe mistressess–who are willing to sacrifice and fight the good fight. I mean gaslight this bitch into permanent crazy. TV has to eat her alive. Spread the word!