A gentleman on Fark called Sarah Palin the Republican Bill Clinton.

If so, raging about Sarah's scandals simply won't work. Nothing this side of her being on tape calling Obama 'Sambo' is going to sink her.

Here's what I said about it on Fark; sadly, it was way downstream and no one replied to it.

I think CanisNoir made the comparison to describe Palin's ability to look like 'just a regular gal.'

He may be right. Let's see how she does in an unscripted moment before declaring this, though.

Clinton was able to convince enough good ol' boys that despite being a Democrat, he was truly a common man that understood their problems.

Are enough urbanites and inner suburbanites (of all races) buying Palin's narrative -- do they think the girl from Wasilla understands the struggles of non-WASPs and of non-married people?

On the other hand, Obama is sui generis. He has been able to inspire hope among former non-participants in the process -- anyone who looks at voter registration figures and the organizational competence of the campaign will understand that Obama is a game-changing politician unlike any since perhaps JFK.

Clinton in 1992 faced a President who was portrayed as out of touch and who was saddled with a Vice-President that was a walking punchline.

McCain may well drag Palin down due to lingering resentment from 'the base' and due to being portrayed as old and out of touch. But if Palin doesn't embarrass herself, a loss for McCain will mean nothing. She will be the nominee in 2012.

HRC will launch a Kennedy-style insurrection if Obama flails around helplessly a la Carter.

I will add this: Bobby Jindal's stock went up a LOT this past week. I wish he had been in charge in September 2005. If Palin lives up to the 'Caribou Barbie' meme, he will be the frontrunner should he decide to run. If Palin holds her own but doesn't really sparkle like Clinton, Palin is the frontrunner as the right has fallen in love with her.

But let's hold off final judgment until she does an unscripted interview with at least a neutral reporter (Good Morning America is probably going to be softball.)