The WP's Jonathan Capehart reacting to what he heard in Nashville:
Sure, Palin brought the Tea Partiers in Nashville to their feet with belittling put-downs of President Obama....And as with any Palin speech, there was plenty of sarcasm....But after having more than a year to learn the ins and outs of national and foreign policy, to fill in the considerable gaps in knowledge that were on display on the campaign trail, you'd think Palin would do more than lean on platitudes and talking points.
"The government that governs the least governs the best,"said the best-selling author and Fox News analyst who quit being governor after just 2 and a half years on the job. "The constitution provides the best road map towards a more perfect union," she noted. And she told the gathered that she wanted Washington to "adopt a pro-market agenda" that "lowers taxes for small business," "support[s] competition and innovation" and "reward[s] hard work."
To win the war on terror, Palin said, "We need a commander in chief, not a professor of law standing at the lectern." She slammed Obama's "misguided thinking that is seen throughout the administration's foreign policy decisions." Palin didn't like that the president "spent a year reaching out to hostile regimes; writing personal letters to dangerous dictators and apologizing for America." Then she said to mounting applause, "It's time for more than just tough talk. Gah, just like you, probably just so tired of hearing the talk, talk, talk. Tired of hearing the talk."
But it was her response to a query during the question-and-answer session that I found worrisome. She was asked what would her top three priorities be if conservatives take over leadership of the House and the Senate. Getting spending under control was one. A restatement of her energy mantra was another. And then there was this:
"And then, I think, kinda tougher to, kinda tougher to put our arms around, but, allowing America's spirit to rise again by not being afraid [applause] not being afraid to kinda go back to some of our roots as a God-fearing nation [applause] where we're not afraid to say, especially in times of potential trouble in the future here, we're not afraid to say, "You know, we don't have all the answers as fallible men and women so it would be wise of us to start seeking some divine intervention again in this country," so that we can be safe and secure and prosperous again."
That's all I needed to hear to be convinced that this raw talent with unending ambition is content to stay unrefined and oblivious to the fact that snark, smirks and sarcasm will only carry her so far.
voices.washingtonpost.com