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Ed, first, that was one of the most awkward segues I’ve ever read.

Second, no, Sarah Palin is not Ronald Reagan. There was, is and always will be only one Gipper. She does, however, appear in many ways to be an honorable, credible successor to him, and in fact just may be the closest thing the Republican Party has had to him (in principles, skills, and temperament, rather than resume) since he retired.

Third, if Governor Palin is no Ronald Reagan, the other current probable contenders for the 2012 GOP nomination are for the most part, and I’ll be kind, even less likely prospects.

Fourth, perhaps you hadn’t noticed, but Governor Palin is an adult woman who, in order to become governor, beat her immediate predecessor (the incumbent) in the Republican primary, and then beat his immediate predecessor in the general election. This before anybody much outside of Alaska. This, also, in a year (2006) when a lot of Republican candidates weren’t doing so well. I think she’s probably not entirely ignorant of what she needs to do to win high office against tough competition. I don’t know if it irritates her when would-be advisors write to her as if she were a not particularly bright child, but it definitely irritates me.

Fifth, I remember 2008 and 2009. No, Governor Palin did not just quit. She didn’t get bored with the day-to-day grind of a normal gubernatorial term. If it’d been that, we’re most likely not even having this discussion. Whatever that ugliness was, it was not boring. It’s disingenuous enough for the other side to skip over that. It’s just plain dishonest for anybody on our side to do it.

Sixth and finally, I remember you, Ed. Between you and Governor Palin, if I have to put money on who’s more likely to say or do something stupid and self-destructive in this next election cycle...I’m betting on you.