Congratulations Sarah Palin

I'd like to congratulate Sarah Palin on joining an elite club - "influential Republicans". She now joins the ranks of Newt Gingrich, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, Ann Coulter and Sean Hannity - Republicans (or conservatives, if you eschew partisan labels) who have never or no longer hold political office. Without the restraint of responsibility to constituents, influential Republicans can say whatever they want.

For example, Newt Gingrich can make patently disingenuous remarks about Obama's response to the Honduran coup. Never mind that the UN, EU, UK, France, etc. had similar responses, the only responses that matter are the dictators US citizens get riled up about. Ya know, I heard Obama also agrees with Castro and Chavez that the earth is round. Forget analysis of the situation, that would involve questions of political philosophy that weigh the appropriateness of a military coup (admittedly, a loaded term) supported by two branches of the Honduran government against a democratically elected president pushing for a suspension of term limits in a country with a constitution with no mechanism for impeachment. Instead, just (not so) subtly suggest Obama is a totalitarian dictator.

So welcome to the club Palin, with the absence of responsibility comes great power. Then again, holding elected office never really stopped you before.