Wade – The significance of the tight connectin between Russia and Alaska didn’t escape me – moored though I may be on the island of Manhattan…The point is that Palin did not provide ANY add-on. She just left it there. When pressed by Gibson for SOMETHING more – he asked how her state’s locale offered her unique insights into the Georgia/Russia conflict – she managed to offer up the thought that it’s a small world…And that we have to hang tight with our neighbors and “allies” ? i.e. Russia? Given her earlier line on Russian aggression, this seemed less than consecutive. But there was NO train of thought in the interview – She wasn’t thinking – she was just trying to avoid making a MISTAKE. DAvid Gergen – Mr. No-Speak-Ill-Of-Anyone-Who-May-One-day-Be-in-POWER defended her FP interview. But his first response to the second interview was telling. He was flummoxed. Palin on the economy was “incoherent.” He dialed it WAY back the next time around but…

For the record – I bet Palin is “smart” as per Kilkenny (hope you noticed that the poster who claimed Fact Check has debunked K’s letter was mistaken). But she’s not someone who’s thought hard about national policy matters and she is deeply provincial. Given Mac’s health, picking her was supremely reckless – Country First?

Check Rich Lowry in the Post today beating up on the generals – Casey , PAce et al – after reading the Woodward book. I think he’s too hard on them though he busts Rummy too – Hard to think – at this point – that there was a seamless learning curve re Iraq. And hard too, to lay it all on the State Dept. The idea of Bush passing calmatives through Keane to Petraeus – Then, having Mr. P. respond “I wish he’d tell it to the Chief(s)!!” …Pretty killing to anyone who wants to pretend W. is going look real good down the line…