Sarah Palin, Rogue Five Year Old, Runs Rampant Across American Living Room

Like a five year old unleashed, Sarah Palin on Monday is bringing her rogue spirit to a small or medium sized town not near you to promote the new book she had no hand in writing. Her tour provides an opportunity for her to reintroduce herself to the American public; the assumption is that we didn't get the true Sarah last time around but now we will see her as she is. Unfiltered, and strong.

We imagine this would work swell if Sarah has been spending her time halfway out of the spotlight perfecting a variant of alchemy, finding a way to turn her lesser qualities (like vast ignorance) into something approaching wisdom and knowledge. Of course doing that involves time and focus, and when you are busy not writing your memoirs, and devoting all your attention to not writing your own memoirs (you know, bringing the ghost writer another cup of tea or slice of deer meat), and while keeping a close focus on your many children, there is little opportunity to sit down and actually do a little learning about the ways and means of the world.

The hard right has convinced themselves that the left is afraid to have Sarah unleashed upon the political scape, and that her obvious capabilities (put your 3D glasses on) have the detractors intimidated. The detractors are waiting for her to have some unscripted moments, where her own tongue will deja vu us back to remembering why she is not now vice president.

Her three-week, 14-state tour, to be kicked off Monday by an appearance on “Oprah,”is an opportunity to recapture the narrative of her own career, keep her political options open and make heaps of money in the process.

(L.A. Times)

Just how much of an opportunity America gives this political five year old to run rogue will be interesting to see. From excerpts and purported facts leaked from the book, her grasp of the truth still seems to be wanting, with every major and minor misdeed laid at the hands of others. It's never her fault, or her responsibility, and if you would just conform your mind to her version of reality, and listen, all will be well.

It reminds us of the child of a friend we know. We will occasionally ask her "How was your day?" and if her mother is not around, we are often fed the most elaborate concoction of stories that render that day's life in kindergarten as some sort of Lord of the Flies redux. When the mother asks the same question, it's all cookies and milk and happy face stickers from the teacher.

Somewhere, someone is lying, with the five year old mind content to offer the most meandering and farcical answers to the simplest of queries. Unfortunately for Sarah, the world is run by adults.