not for the faint of heart

Education and critical thought are the only things that will save our species from the yawning black maw of our lesser selves. Too bad many are past saving.

(at a rally in Clearwater, one man hurled a racial epithet at a television cameraman).

Ms. Palin appeared relieved at her exuberant reception. “It’s really great to be around friendly crowds,” she said at a fund-raiser in Boca Raton on Monday evening. “Boy, you guys just get it!”

Ms. Palin was asked if she thought voters who are worried about the economy are turned off by the “attack politics” of bringing up Mr. Ayers on the trail. “It is, though, about the economy about creating jobs and about resource development and energy independence here,” Ms. Palin said. “It comes down to one ticket’s proposal that can be trusted, and another ticket’s proposal to deal with some of these issues and maybe questioning the truthfulness and the intention there. I think it’s very relevant there.”

Elizabeth Dolan, 31, a single mother and waitress, said she counted Mr. Bush among one of the great presidents. “He was really good for my family,” Ms. Dolan said. “We’re hurting financially, but he shares our values just like Sarah Palin does.”