SARAH PALIN CORRECTION

It has been pointed out to me that the comparison I posted between Palin and Teddy Roosevelt was not really accurate, because, although those facts were true, they were not the full story. Roosevelt had much more experience that the comparison ignores. My friend, who prefers to remain anonymous, points to David Frum's comments on this comparison, which are apt, so I'll just quote him:

"And can we please stop this silly TR analogy? In 1900, Theodore Roosevelt had already (1) established himself as one of the country's leading experts on military affairs, (2) served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy and worked ferociously to modernize the American fleet, (3) taken on the then-overwhelming problem of corruption both as New York police commissioner and as a civil service commissioner (in the latter job he was so successful that he was re-appointed by a Democratic president), (4) raised and led a regiment in war, and (5) been elected governor of the nation's largest state. "Nobody said "Teddy WHO?" when the Republicans put him on the ticket ..."

Good point.