Blink: Bernard Avishai On Palin As Bush 4.0

Never really traveled abroad. Thinks foreign policy means standing up for freedom. Thinks freedom means standing against (and killing as many as possible of the) evil people who attack our way of life, control our oil, etc.  Thinks this is God’s work.  Reveres military people. (Runs for higher office in the reflected prestige of a war hero).  Loves Israel, while preached to by ministers who think Jews are punished for rejecting Christianity.

Comes from an oil state.  Thinks energy policy means building (or giving tax breaks for building) infrastructure to further the ways oil companies bring supplies to market.  Silent about climate change.  Knows how to mock elitists, with their policy papers, difficult math and dirty books. Suggests the free-wheeling culture of “pundits” serves Democrats, but counting on cable news, right-wing talk shows, etc., to whip up enthusiasm and organize.

Counting, especially, on television “dream teams” defining their job as scoring how political gambits play, rather than reporting whether claims are true.