(NHN) The Nature of Palin

A thoughtful analysis of Palin's mud-slinging ways. An excerpt:

Thus, behind the candied incandescence of the Palin phenomena, behind the shoutouts to Joe Six Pack, and third graders at the Gladys Wood Elementary School, behind the darn right's and the coy winks is perhaps something scarier -- a rank appeal to our baser instincts at a time when nationwide fear can be manipulated to overrule basic common sense and decency.

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Update: A report from the Alaska legislature today charges Palin with abuse of executive power:

“Such impermissible and repeated contacts,” the report states, “create conflicts of interests for subordinate employees who must choose to either please a superior or run the risk of facing that superior’s displeasure and the possible consequences of that displeasure.” The report concludes that the action was a violation of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act.