Sarah Palin’s speech last night had all the the self-righteousness, jingoism, disingenuous religious pandering, idiocy, and sappiness that one would expect at a Republican National Convention.  In that sense, it was pitch-perfect, staying intensely on message, hitting all of the talking points, and making bigotry and small-mindedness sound like the virtues of our age.  Yay.

And then there were the parts that were just bat-shit insane.  Her introduction of her husband, for instance:

He’s a lifelong commercial fisherman … a production operator in the oil fields of Alaska’s North Slope … a proud member of the United Steel Workers’ Union … and world champion snow machine racer.

Throw in his Yup’ik Eskimo ancestry, and it all makes for quite a package.

Throw in his what? Yeah, let’s just throw that in there, after “world champion snow machine racer.” What does that even mean? He’s got a little redskin in him, but don’t worry, he’s a regular white guy?

And I thought we could muddle through without the governor’s personal chef — although I’ve got to admit that sometimes my kids sure miss her.

This is how rich people conceive of sacrifice.  Firing the help.

I told the Congress “thanks, but no thanks,” for that Bridge to Nowhere.

Actually, she just said “thanks” for the bridge, as the Associated Press points out this morning:

THE FACTS: As mayor of Wasilla, Palin hired a lobbyist and traveled to Washington annually to support earmarks for the town totaling $27 million. In her two years as governor, Alaska has requested nearly $750 million in special federal spending, by far the largest per-capita request in the nation. While Palin notes she rejected plans to build a $398 million bridge from Ketchikan to an island with 50 residents and an airport, that opposition came only after the plan was ridiculed nationally as a “bridge to nowhere.”

Now, there may have been a time when the McCain campaign could claim that the AP was stacked against them, but given that Ron Fournier, the DC bureau chief is in the McBag, that’s a tough sell these days.

This is something you have to admire about Republicans.  A Democrat, a Joe Biden for instance, would feel compelled in this moment to acknowledge his personal failings and humble himself before the office.  Palin just straps on the blinders, digs in her spurs, and repeats every baffling, nonsensical GOP talking point.  About herself. With feeling.