As a leader, I think Sarah Palin is ...

The Frink Panel is a diverse group of local people in their 20s and 30s who share their thoughts on current events and local topics every week in Ink.

On Tuesday, Sarah Palin’s much-anticipated memoir, "Going Rogue: An American Life," was released.

The book, along with her appearance Monday, Nov. 16, on Oprah Winfrey’s program, fortifies Palin’s position as one of the best-known Republicans on the planet and raises new interest in her political prospects going forward.

"What the book does is give her the freedom to explore whether or not she can actually be a viable presidential candidate," said Kansas state Rep. Arlen Siegfreid, an Olathe Republican.

That Palin is receiving so much attention for the book is sparking speculation about what her future might hold, just as Gen. Colin Powell’s book in 1995 fueled talk that he would seek the presidency the next year.

"I don’t know that the book will make that much difference one way or the other," said University of Missouri-Columbia political scientist Jay Dow. "I honestly just don’t think it’s very easy to come back after a losing campaign."

Publication of an autobiography may not paper over Palin’s chief problem in 2008, which was her lack of readiness, said University of Texas political scientist Bruce Buchanan.

"I still think she has a preparation problem," Buchanan said.

Palin will tour for about three weeks in a bus painted with the cover of the book to places where she can expect friendly receptions: Roanoke, Va., Sioux Falls, S.D., Sioux City, Iowa, Noblesville, Ind., Washington, Pa., and Fort Bragg, N.C.

No stops are planned in Missouri or Kansas, although Palin is expected to appear in Salina, Kan., in February.

At 413 pages (with color photographs adding 16 more), "Going Rogue" already ranks as the top-selling book at Amazon.com.

Read Steve Kraske's complete story here.

As a leader, I think Sarah Palin is ...

Christopher OConnor

... a joke.

She represents everything bad about the Republican Party, and makes it more difficult for true spokespeople like myself - visionaries, nay prophets, actually, with an eye toward a future of staying out of people's lives and wallets simultaneously - to cut through the clutter.

She has those same "charming" Obama-esque qualities that make her equally as reprehensible to me - a tenuous grasp of the issues (at best), an abounding hypocrisy to do as I say, not as I do, and the irritating need to hear their own voice ad nauseam although there is nothing of substance coming out.

In fact, they would be an ideal ticket. Maybe if they each keep boycotting news organizations, soon we will never have to hear from them again.
Suzanne Borders

... a joke.

Actually, she's more than a joke - she's the epitome of everything that is wrong with America, right down to her famous ignorance.

She is what every foreigner feels all Americans are like: naively fearless, cocksure, full of adolescent bravado and empty of wisdom, factual, logical behavoir.

If she is elected to the office of the U.S. President, mark my words, we will fall HARD from our first world status. If she is elected president, I will waste NO TIME leaving this country, before life as we know it falls apart.
Chrissy Wunderlich

... in need of some more polishing.
Courtney Hartmann

... a joke.

It's just tough to look at her in a serious, lead-our-country kind of way when every time I see her, I have to tell myself, it's not Tina Fey.
Stephen Capps

... a joke.

She still has no experience. Quitting during your first large political appointment and writing a book doesn't somehow give you all kinds of wisdom and ability.

If doing a book tour was what we wanted in a president, I'm sure we could find someone better qualified.

I won't say that she can't make a good president, but I will say that she can't right now. And without a lot of work, I honestly don't think she ever will.
Josh Thomas

... in need of some more polishing.
Kadi Schantz

... a joke.

Way too conservative, anti-women's rights, anti-animal rights - not to mention basically stupid!
Michael Travis ...

... a joke.

Obviously, she is pretty. That fact makes people more inclined to like her.

It is unfortunate because she seems to be an idiot and a hypocrite.

The last thing we need is for her to become president and accidentally finish the job that George W. Bush began of destroying our nation.
Alana DeForest

... just what the Republican party needs.

She continues their marginalization into a negative, closed minded, small tent organization that will keep losing moderate voters that decide elections.

I hope she's the Republican candidate in 2012. Can you imagine her and O at the debates?
Tony Sapad

... a joke.

I'd rather have Tina Fey be President. Palin had a taste of national politics and wants more.

Since she doesn't come from an affluent family, like Dubya, being a dummy alone won't work for her.

She needs to win over America with her hypocritical views.
Gina Edwards

... in need of some more polishing.
Michael Gomez

... in need of some more polishing.

I think Sarah Palin is best suited for being Paula Dean's bacon-wrapping assistant or the host of a makeover segment on "Good Mornig Wasilla."

Apparently her new book is filled with awesome assault rifle word finds and Mad Libs about how to resign any position.

Her career needs a celebrity sex tape... "A Night With Sarah Palin," "A Ticket to Saradise", "Saranormal Activity." Hello, is this thing on?

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V Holecek @ 6:45pm November 22nd, 2009

Sarah Palin is functionally dead from the neck up. Let's be serious on this, kids, there really is no such thing as "going rogue" as a government employee that doesn't constitute you being a threat to national security, or at the very least gets you fired. To claim otherwise is an insult to even the average person's intelligence.

Sure, its all a pompous charade, but I don't really think its been anything else for much longer than Palin has been on the scene. She just gave the whole travesty a designer look...

tahall62 @ 10:44pm November 22nd, 2009

"...naively fearless, cocksure, full of adolescent bravado and empty of wisdom, factual, logical behavoir."

Wow. That sounds exactly like a self-absorbed 24 year old from Westport!

I'm certainly no fan of Sarah Palin, but I'm pretty sure she knows how to spell "behavior".

Bleu_C @ 4:21am January 16th, 2010

It's somehow true that Sarah Palin retired as the governor of Alaska last summer to pursue a career in television. The thought of Sarah Palin joining FOX News…it makes me want to vomit. None of the cable news networks are watchable, and this violates the 8th Amendment's provision against cruel and unusual punishment. Hannity, Beck, Bill O (or Skeezix, if you will), Ingraham, Von Sustern…they're all intolerable. I'd give payday loans to get that channel off the air.