Sarah, Saaaarah, no time is a good time for goodbyes

"It's very important when you consider even national-security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the airspace of the United States of America. Where—where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border. It is from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there. They are right next to—to our state."

- Gov. Sarah Palin, explaining why her state's proximity to Russia gave her foreign policy experience, as she and McCain have repeatedly claimed, during her 3rd ever press interview with Katie Couric.

Airspace indeed.

COURIC: Why isn't it better, Governor Palin, to spend $700 billion helping middle-class families who are struggling with health care, housing, gas and groceries; allow them to spend more and put more money into the economy instead of helping these big financial institutions that played a role in creating this mess?

PALIN: That's why I say I, like every American I'm speaking with, were ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health-care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy, helping the—it's got to be all about job creation, too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So health-care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans. And trade, we've got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive, scary thing. But one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today, we've got to look at that as more opportunity. All those things under the umbrella of job creation. This bailout is a part of that.

Uh.... sure. That's a clear explanation of her views on whether government should step in to prop up private Wall St. firms. That's a maverick alright. But I'm not sure trade is what's scary here.

The chorus calling for Palin to step down from the McCain ticket is getting larger, and almost exclusively from staunch conservatives.

George Will, Charles Krauthammer, David Brooks, David Frum, and the National Review's Kathleen Parker have all expressed the obvious fact that Palin is simply out of her league and some call for her to step down. That's quite a list.

Fareed Zakaria has also called for Palin to step down.

Who'd have thought McCain would, at this critical time in our history, pick a running mate that makes Dan Quayle look like Stephen freaking Hawking by comparison. Way to put your campaign, er.. "Country First".

With columnists of all stripes saying McCain's incendiary temper is liability, and Palin's being from the northernmost state, maybe Starship said it best in their sappy ballad, "Sarah"...

"With fire and ice, the dream won't come true."

(Appologies to Starship)