Palin on SNL: Post-Weekend Wingnut Roundup

Sarah Palin’s appearance on Saturday Night Live preoccupied rightward-leaning political observers for a few hours before Colin Powell’s endorsement of Obama changed the subject. But they were an amusing few hours, as conservatives — underscoring how badly things appear to be going for the McCain campaign in its final weeks — pondered the question of whether the cameo might “help” somehow. The verdict was mixed.

At the recently-redesigned Blog of the Year 2004, John “Assrocket” Hinderaker was severely worried early Saturday evening:

It’s a mistake, I’m afraid. It’s not that I lack confidence in Governor Palin; I don’t. But I think it’s almost always a mistake to visit an enemy’s home turf without a clear understanding that you are among enemies.

Afterwards, Hinderaker breathed a small sigh of relief, noting that “It could have been worse.” (Reaction on the Powerline Forum discussion was mixed, with one reader hailing the VP nominee’s dancing skillz. “Having Palin pump her arms to the rap song was great,” wrote peterike, “because she looked totally natural doing it. Compare that to the clip of Obama “dancing” with Ellen Degeneres. He looked like an awkward idiot.”

Sundries agreed, surmising that “she just brought raising the roof back into vogue.” She observed as well that the “ice-water in [Palin's] veins” — acquired from her time (no kidding) as a sportscaster — “helped her in both Saturday Night Live skits tonight. Hoo-eee! Does she ever have an otherworldly self-confidence.”

Others in the World of Wingnuttia were similarly dazzled. Katherine Lopez at the National Review‘s Corner relays an e-mail from a reader and Palin fan who thinks Palin settled all doubts about her leadership abilities by enduring barbs from Alec Baldwin.

“I watched Governor Palin on SNL last night. Though I was uncomfortable with all the slams against her as she stood and sat there during the skits, I came away with even more admiration for her. She can stand with those that are vehemently opposed to her, yet show grace, humor and strength. That is exactly the kind of strength, poise and conviction of values that we desperately need in the highest office of our land.”