One of the biggest cheers Alaska governor and Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin got during her Monday speech at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds came after she complemented the Federal Reserve for saying no to another bailout of a faltering financial institution, Lehman Brothers. She pledged that she and presidential running mate John McCain would use such tough love to end "the mismanagement and abuse in Washington and Wall Street," not to mention "multimillion dollar payouts."
What a difference two days makes. Last night, the Feds decided to pony up $85 billion to save the giant insurance firm AIG from bankruptcy.
Will Palin criticize this move -- one that leaders of both parties have been describing as unfortunate but necessary? Or will she stick with her crowd-rousing Jeffco line? We may find out later today -- but probably not.
This afternoon, McCain and Palin appear together at a "straight-talk town meeting" in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The crowd will undboutedly be friendly; anticipate no hypocrisy charges. And this evening, Palin offers her second nationally televised interview since the end of the Republican National Convention on Fox News' Hannity & Colmes program. In her first, of course, she was treated with deference by ABC's Charlie Gibson, whose manner was gentle as a kitten -- but when she fumbled a question about the Bush doctrine, her supporters acted as if he'd conducted a Mike Wallace-in-the-'70s-style ambush. No danger of that from Sean Hannity -- and no danger that he'll call her on it if she changes her tune about bailouts.
Talk about a bridge to nowhere. -- Michael Roberts
