It takes a lot of intelligence to convey humor like that in both writing and delivery. Contrast that the OB’s flat monologue at the Al Smith dinner last year.
It also takes being yourself, even in front of your enemies. Takes a lot of self-confidence to do that. Obama is so contrived and phony he comes across (to me, anyway) as almost goofy sometimes.
Contrast that to Palin and even McCain at that same Al Smith dinner you mentioned. McCain was funny as heck that night.
A sense of humor is certainly an index of intelligence, but it is more profoundly indicative of a sense of perspective. Sarah Palin certainly possesses such perspective. The reason Obama struggles with humor is because his perspective begins and ends at the end of his nose.
That was what biting humor is all about.
She’s not a bit bitter, either! Contrast THAT with any attempt at humor by “that sucker,” (the term he used for both the fly he killed, the turkey he didn’t) Obama.