SARAH TAKES THE REINS

I don't know if you've heard, but Sarah Palin is on a book tour.

So far it is really paying off for her. The book sold 300,000 copies on the first day, she is dominating the news cycles, people are waiting for hours in the cold to see her, and, best of all, her favorables are up.

Democrats are quite understandably...concerned? worried? freaking out? about the whole thing. As with most people, they are turning to impulsive self-comforting by....fundraising.

One of them has apparently gone off the deep end, and another is cheapening their own brand in a desperate bid to cheapen hers. The offensive thing about that cover isn't so much the picture - yeah, it's sexist, but at least they chose a flattering picture - it's the byline. "She's bad news for the GOP - and everyone else, too" Wow. No, there's absolutely no slant whatsoever to that article.

What I love about this is that the media are so desperate for ratings that they are giving her the forum she needs to set the record they created straight. It's a beautiful thing.

The Oprah and Barbara Walters interviews were huge for her (and Oprah) and she was in the driver's seat the whole time. She was calm, relaxed, approachable and open. The first part of her interview with Bill O'Reilly was good - more serious than the first two, but very effective - I look forward to seeing the other two. Her interview with Sean Hannity got phenomenal ratings, and she came across as relaxed, sassy, and smart. So far, she has been appealing, honest and friendly, and the rising approval ratings reflect that.

Judging from Chris Matthews' coverage of her book tour, the tingle up his leg has turned to tinkle down his leg. You know their backs are up against the wall when they toss out the race card. Apparently attracting mostly white people completely de-legitimizes her popularity and makes the thousands of people who came to see her into a smaller group somehow. I'm sure the few people of color who do come out to support her will be lambasted as 'trying to be white', or 'betraying their people' or plain old 'misguided', so does it really matter if there were any there anyway?

It all sort of reminds me of a weasel gnawing off it's own paw to get out of a trap. They are looking at their own demise, but just can't seem to stop.

It's rather pathetic and sad.

It's obvious that they are afraid of her, and it's obvious they are right to be. I find a sweet irony in the fact that Obama's biggest supporter, Oprah, may have well handed his biggest adversary her most effective success to date.

Sweet, indeed.

SARAH PALIN TO GO ON OPRAH

Well, well, well...Sarah Palin is going to be interviewed by Oprah Winfrey on Nov. 16th, according to AP.

On the one hand, I'm disappointed that she is going to contribute to Winfrey's ratings, which are sure to skyrocket on that day. Winfrey refused to have anything to do with Palin during the campaign, saying she didn't want to be political (yeah, because going on the campaign trail with Obama was as apolitical as it gets). But on the other hand, I would just love it if that interview contributed to Palin's book setting sales records. Of course, considering it hit #1 on a number of bestseller lists 7 weeks before it is even released is pretty impressive and speaks well for actual sales without Oprah's help.

Honestly, considering the pre-sales numbers, I'm not sure why Palin decided to go on Winfrey's show. She certainly doesn't need the exposure, and sales for the book will be quite brisk without Winfrey's help.

Perhaps she is looking to change the minds of Winfrey's core followers. It is a good idea to try to win over the critics, but I just don't think Oprah's audience can be swayed. Those who were upset by Winfrey refusing to interview Palin during the campaign, feeling that Winfrey, an outspoken supporter of women's rights, should have given Palin the fair shake other left-wing 'reporters' like Katie Couric denied her, have already left her audience.

Winfrey has a chance to win back those viewers if she gives Palin a fair interview. It's an interesting choice - give Palin a fair interview and win back disaffected viewers, or attack her and try to discredit her to score points for her political cronies.

I would like to think she will give a fair interview, but the ties to the White House run deep, and Palin is seen as a major threat to the denizens of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Not to mention the NeoPravda Media apparatchik would probably nominate Winfrey for a prize if she manages to damage Palin in the interview. Honestly, considering the current climate, I'm surprised the White House is allowing Winfrey to give Palin a forum at all.

So the question is, will Winfrey stick to her winning formula of friendly but probing interviews that will give people a fuller, more honest view of Sarah, or will she follow Couric and Gibson's lead and patronize and try to stump her to score political points?

Whatever the outcome, watching two of the most famous women in America go head to head should be fascinating.