Time Magazine talks about Palin's "Going Rogue" media blitz. There is a warning in here for those who believe Sarah is yesterday's news.

....when Palin emerged from a self-imposed semi-exile on Nov. 6 to speak before 4,000 fans just outside Milwaukee at what organizers called the largest pro-life gathering in Wisconsin history, two things were abundantly clear: Palin is now a thoroughly professional rogue — and she is going to sell a ton of books. She has become her own reality show.

No argument there. The woman is a combination of the "Beverly Hillbillies", "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous", and "CSI".

Perhaps she could call her reality show "Lifestyles of the Wasilla Hillbillies: An American Crime Scene." Just a thought.

The line began forming at the state fairgrounds more than three hours before the main event and stretched longer than half a mile. The crowd wore buttons bearing her image and passed the time making jokes about the media while eagerly snatching up T-shirts a local talk-radio station was giving away that labeled Palin "America's Conservative Conscience." (Do you know how you can be positive that somebody does NOT know Sarah Palin? When they use the word "conscience" to describe her.)Once inside the cavernous exhibition hall, they chanted, "Sarah!" with growing fervor until their heroine appeared, flexing her distinctive charisma in a killer red dress, high heels and her trademark glasses. The event was closed to the press, and cameras were barred from the hall, not only to preserve the mystery and anticipation before her formal debut but also to protect against unflattering YouTube postings. I bought a public ticket for admittance, as did several other journalists.

Although Palin occasionally faltered and tied herself in verbal knots, the adoring listeners could not have cared less. They laughed at every joke, cheered in all the right places, hushed when Palin suggested a pro-abortion-rights mind-set could lead Democrats to neglect special-needs children or older people. She brought the audience members to their feet with a defiant charge: "Don't let anyone ever tell you to sit down and shut up." (Apparently this is her new catchphrase.)

She denounced America's abortion rate with vehemence and told the group that anyone who supports legalized partial-birth abortion is a "coldhearted extremist" or a "coward." While abortion was her principal target, she sprinkled her outrage all over the place. She went after President Obama, mocking his signature phrase "Change we can believe in" and suggesting he had authorized moving the words "In God we trust" from the face of a new $1 coin to its edge. (In fact, the coin's format was re-engineered several years ago by Republicans in Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush.) (Even Fox News could not let her get away with THAT whopper!)


(Update: You can hear Palin on tape giving that speech about the"In God We Trust" accusation right here. H/T to Bree Palin)

If her facts were off target, her tone hit the spot. Palin is expertly channeling the disenfranchised and disgruntled of the Republican base. As Republican Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa told TIME, "She's the only thing between 2004 and 2009 that's ever given any energy to the Republican Party — No. 1, because she's a woman, and No. 2, because she expresses herself well."

Palin has told friends she stands ready to help candidates in the 2010 elections, despite her negligible influence in the Nov. 3 off-year showings — newly elected GOP governors in New Jersey and Virginia largely rejected her help, and her chosen candidate in a special election for a New York congressional race lost a seat that had been reliably Republican since the Civil War. Nevertheless, she exerts a particular sway on her party's officeholders, goading them to avoid compromise with the President, making it more difficult for Obama to achieve his campaign pledge of bipartisanship in Washington. That's the part of Palin's rogue message her supporters love most of all. (To read the entire article just click the title of this post.)

As crazy as it seems Palin is still a political force in this country. I am dumbfounded by the fact that she has discovered this disaffected group of people who are susceptible to her "charms". And even more surprised that the group seems to be growing ever larger, and attracting the support of the more established Republican politicians who cannot help but notice they are being abandoned by the voters.

So one has to wonder what will become of the Republicans? Can they survive this potential hijacking of their party, or will Sarah Palin help usher in the end of their dynasty? The dynasty, ironically enough, that Ronald Reagan helped to create.

In my opinion the GOP should be courting the likes of Frank Bailey and Levi Johnston and trying desperately to get their stories published. Once Sarah Palin's credibility has been damaged beyond repair the Teabagger's will have lost their figurehead.

I guess they will still have Michell Bachman, but really how long can it be before the people in the white coats come to lock that crazy "rhymes with witch" up?