Palin's paradox

I don’t begrudge Mrs. Palin and the whirlwind media tour for the release of her book, “Going Rogue.” It’s a good read. It’s more than 400 pages of talking points distilled into homespun metaphors. Does that constitute a good vision? I’m not so sure. And therein lies the problem with Mrs. Palin’s much-expected run for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination…

These next few months must become Mrs. Palin’s own personal primary – a time when she does some serious policy introspection and fleshes out in her mind what issues will define her presidential run. It’s not enough to list them on a pocket card to recite at local pig roasts. She can only get so far with friendly locals more star-struck than hungry for solutions. Mrs. Palin must add intellectual heft behind her populist stands – drill down what sets her apart and then test it with the populace…

The former Alaska governor’s paradox is not isolated to her alone. This syndrome haunts even the most junior foot soldier in Republican Party ranks. They struggle for substance and depth in an otherwise static party that posts gains in weekly polling tallies only through the missteps of Democrats. In sports, they call that hoping for an ugly win (just ask the Redskins).