To the Editor:

Last week's "View" column repeated many of the same mythical, and mostly untrue, elements of the failed Palin / McCain campaign and the ongoing Saga of Sarah. Fortunately, nearly all of her public speeches and interviews are available online, so you can judge for yourself.

"Extreme hardball interviews" from Katie Couric and Charlie Gibson? Laughable. The interviews during the campaign were, for the most part, routine questions about her ideas and experience. Remember, she had been on the national stage all of about 20 minutes up until then. Charlie appeared peevish and irritable, and she irritated, with his question about "The Bush Doctrine". He let her wander around for a while before specifying what part of the Bush Doctrine he was referring to. That's about as tough as he got. Some of her answers were standard fare (reduce taxes, create jobs) and others were bizarre or showed a lack of preparation and forethought (Putin's eyes, Russian neighbors, and those Supreme Court decisions...hmmm).

Despite her complaining, and that of her supporters, that she was being made to look foolish by the liberal media agenda, she was at times composed and better prepared, but she proved altogether too inconsistent and inexperienced to be considered for national office. And, though this may come as shock, the Internet is awash with unfounded rumors about nearly anyone known to man. Did you know, for example, that President Barack Obama was not born in the United States, is a Muslim terrorist seeking to destroy the United States and has fathered two black children? It's all true! Also, I'm not sure how to discern necessary ridicule from "unnecessary ridicule" when it comes to late night TV. It seems much milder than what one hears on the radio every day for 10 hours or more non-stop. But they're not talking about Sarah. They're talking about our leaders who have been elected and are serving in their elected positions.

I agree that it's difficult to predict political futures (who would have guessed what the McCain 2008 campaign would look like after McCain 2000?), but, at present, Sarah Palin has the mantle of a loser and a quitter. Even her ardent supporters may no longer be so quick to compare her to Abe Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt. With apologies to Barry Goldwater, in your heart, you know she's wrong for America.

Dan Oppenheimer