[jonrick46]

I would think anyone could figure out why Sarah Palin is speaking at a few McCain fundraisers. Let’s read your best shot at it.

[betty boop]

I would think that increased visibility and credibility for herself with the national party organization could be a reason. But it still looks like she's "slumming" to me ... it makes her look opportunistic in my eyes....

I detest McCain's progressivist ideology. And basically think that political parties are gradually becoming irrelevant anyway. As a voter (who recently changed registration from Republican to Unenrolled), a candidate's character, "message," and track record are everything to me. I rate Sarah Palin high on these criteria; and McCain gets an "F" on all three....

Indeed, McCain was one of the main reasons I left the party. That, and all the angst about the GOP's evident "identity crisis": They seem to be puzzling over whether to be a party that "conserves" our most cherished national values, principles, and liberties, or "progresses" to a big tent philosophy and a cacaphony of different (and competing) voices.

In short, the trend seems to be the GOP is moving away from its historic core for purely pragmatic reasons. But I think, if it does, it will finally die.

I am a constitutional conservative who believes in strictly limited government. I know McCain does not share this belief; but I'd thought that Mrs. Palin does. So it seems to me McCain and Palin are "natural enemies" in the political philosophy department.... Which is why I find her support of him so perplexing.

What's your best shot, jonrick46?

[Norman Greenbaum]

"I would think anyone could figure out why Sarah Palin is speaking at a few McCain fundraisers. Let’s read your best shot at it."

Maybe the word "obligation" or "I owe ya" comes to mind?

Or just maybe Palin is savvy enough to be setting the stage to coalesce the spectrum of (R)'s?