By coincidence, I watched Ken Burn's documentary on Long on Netflix yesterday. That clip opens the film. Long was a corrupt socialist demagogue and dictator; but there is no doubt he was an incredibly gifted campaigner and wickedly smart politician that belied his comic rube schtick. (Heck, I caught myself nodding in agreement, and laughing at his stories, thoroughly entertained)
Long's rhetoric and style still strikes a nerve. Palin strikes a nerve. She's got none of the darkness of Long, but, you're right, she's got similar gifts as a campaigner and does at times mine similar political veins.
Long was once asked if fascism would ever come to America. His reply was “yes, but we’ll call it democracy”.
Mariner, your comment on the personal security issue was apropos. I believe most people are still underestimating the stakes and the lengths to which the players will go. We left “business as usual” quite a ways back.