Sarah Palin Notes

Talked to a buddy tonight who used to head the Alaska DOT. He worked with Sarah Palin on many road projects and many community efforts when Gov. Palin was mayor of Wasilla. He said she was one of the most down to earth people he's been around. He said she was very intelligent and extremely charismatic. He has no doubt she's a good governor. But, however, she's in over head as nominee for Vice President of the United States. Let me be clear here, he talked very good about her. Liked her as a person and as a politician. I even tried to poke him a little to get him to be a little more negative on her. He wouldn't do it. All he would say is that she is not ready to be vice president and that he blames the GOP staff for putting someone who is a good person and an up-and-coming Republican star in a position that makes her appear so out of character.

I mention this because he was the first person I've talked to who actually knows her. I've been in politics for over a decade. I've worked extensively with Illinois state politics, many campaigns and national politics. I've worked along side of Senator Paul Simon, Dick Durbin, Barack Obama, Emil Jones and many others. I've been to the White House, to the Rose Garden, to the UN, to Capitol Hill many, many times. It's not something you hear me say on this site, but in my short time in state and federal politics, I've been around some of the most important people in this country. And he's the first person to actually know her or much less to have met her. One person in all my searches for someone who either knows her or has met her.  Nonetheless, he talked well about her and he blamed the party more than anything.

Judging from the very Republican and right wing National Review, his words seem to be a growing consensus for Republicans.

A growing number of Republicans are expressing concern about Sarah Palin’s uneven — and sometimes downright awkward — performances in her limited media appearances.

Conservative columnist Kathleen Parker, a former Palin supporter, says the vice presidential nominee should step aside. Kathryn Jean Lopez, writing for the conservative National Review, says “that’s not a crazy suggestion” and that “something’s gotta change.”

Tony Fabrizio, a GOP strategist, says Palin’s recent CBS appearance isn’t disqualifying but is certainly alarming. “You can’t continue to have interviews like that and not take on water.”