re: #1 makeitstop

I remain flabbergasted that this woman is regarded as a serious candidate by anyone outside of the Crazy Base.

Having said that, I expect her to be the Republican VP candidate when all is said and done.

Betcha not. Romney will be the nominee, and he is not crazy enough to name her. A look at what Palin contributed (or, more accurately put, subtracted), in 2008, would suffice.

Republicans will back Romney over Obama in 2012, no matter who Romney chooses as his running mate. Independents will not be so forgiving. So the logical thing for Romney is to steer a middle course and hope that the economic situation in 2012 plays no better for Obama than 2008 did for McCain.

Not to say that Romney will be hoping for lots of bad news. Just, hoping that the expected bad news will stick to Obama.