Sarah Palin: Bush Reincarnated?

James Fallows made this unsettling observation after the first night of Sarah Palin's ABC interview:

".... The truly toxic combination of traits GW Bush brought to decision making was:

1) Ignorance
2) Lack of curiosity
3) "Decisiveness"

That is, he was not broadly informed to begin with (point 1). He did not seek out new information (#2); but he nonetheless prided himself (#3) on making broad, bold decisions quickly, and then sticking to them to show resoluteness.

We don't know for sure about #2 for Palin yet -- she could be a sponge-like absorber of information. But we know about #1 and we can guess, from her demeanor about #3. Most of all we know something about the person who put her in this untenable role."

Fallows' reaction is far from universal but has been echoed by several other respected commentators. (Of course, John McCain's version of "decisiveness" in choosing Sarah Palin certainly qualifies him on that particularly dangerous Bush attribute.) For the sake of the nation, I really wish I could argue with these perceptions, but they have the ring of truth to this humble observer.

- Richard Holcomb