Palin is Back - And Palin'erer Than Ever!

I briefly lamented that Palin's resignation could mean good bye from the spotlight of politics, and how on a certain level I'd be disappointed.

But, baby, is she back - and better than ever!

The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama’s “death panel” so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their “level of productivity in society,” whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil.

Oh, this is too classic.

I find that most politicians know where the The Line is, and know how to just get close enough to it that they'll stay on the right side of it, but give their supporters enough of a hint to eagerly cross it. This whole birther movement is a great example. Take Giuliani's comments for example:

"I've actually seen a birth certificate that kind of satisfies me that he was born in the United States," he said. "I don't get the issue. I don't know why they're pushing it as far as they are. ... To pick false issues like that hurts us more than it hurts the other side."

He's not saying Obama isn't a citizen. He's even saying he's seen a birth certificate, and heck, there's not really an issue here. But, still, he uses language "kind of satisfies me." This leaves the door wide open for his constituents to read this as: See, even Rudy doesn't think Obama's a citizen - he just can't come right out and say it.

This political maneuver fires up the base, but leaves the politician on the side of truth. Politicians across the the spectrum do this, not just Republicans.

But not Palin, she has no patience for this sort of tactic. As she did in the campaign, she's perfectly glad to repeat a bold face lie, as she's doing here (and she's the one telling folks quit making things up).

What "death panels" are we talking about - and why exactly are they in quotes? Is she quoting from some source? Same goes for “level of productivity in society” - the quotes imply that text is in the bill, but of course it isn't.

This tactic of bold face lying, shouldn't work. But, the amazing part is, it does. People honestly believe that Obama, and our system of checks and balances are capable of setting up a death panels - whatever that would even mean.

Both sides of the debate should be outraged by tactics like this. The Democrats for obvious reasons, and the Republicans because this makes their cause against the bill look like it's all manufactured lies, and of course it isn't. There are legitimate issues with this bill, and focusing on fakes ones no doubt takes away from the real issues.

As always - I'm split on activity like this. The part of me that sneaks a peak at the tabloids in the check out line at the supermarket, loves this. The part of me that thinks our country deserves serious debate about a serious issue is just plain annoyed.