You have to wonder what goes through Paul Ryan's head as he picks up the Wall Street Journal (as you know he does every morning) and sees yet another column lauding his plan to rein in government spending; this time from Sarah Palin.
The presence of the Mama Grizzly on the Wall Street Journal editorial page serves the paper and the celebrity's mutual interests. For Palin, it is yet another attempt (along with her announced trip abroad) to prove her competence to Republicans who see her for what she is: A megalomaniac with no interest or understanding of policy. For the Journal, Palin helps it branch out into less elitist constituencies, as its new owner, Rupert Murdoch, no doubt envisions.
And what about Ryan? I wonder if he OK'd the column before its publication. It doesn't hurt to have the grizzly's growl on your side if you're a Republican with presidential aspirations. The bonus is that, unless Palin's speaking and writing habits widely diverge, she clearly didn't write the column (most big pols don't write their own, to be fair).
Palin and Ryan both have one thing in common that the Journal adores. They both supported the Wall Street bailout, and yet they both benefit from the anti-bailout fever that defines the Tea Party.
Ryan/Palin 2012?
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