Doesn't everyone believe in freedom?

Conservatives seem to like Mrs. Palin even more than Sen. John McCain or key party Republican leaders like John Bohner and Mitch McConnell.

Whenever I've asked someone why they like Mrs. Palin enough to want her as a leader, most supporters are at a loss to explain why and can only quote things like "she believes in freedom." Well, I think almost all of us believe in that, even those darn socialists.

Fascist leaders and dictators don't, of course, except in their own lives personally.

(George Bush publicly expressed several times he'd rather be dictator than president. That's probably a family trait as his grandfather, Sen. Prescott Bush, was part of a group in the 1930s that tried to overthrow our government and Constitution! It's not often discussed.)

The only other reason I've heard for support of Mrs. Palin is that some people feel "she's one of us," or "we can relate to her."

Is that really a good qualification for leadership? I have a friend in Minneapolis, an exceptional man who is very much "one of us." I think nearly everyone who would meet him would like him. He's even educated and believes in freedom!

Yet I doubt he has the needed skills to be a major political leader.

Perhaps Mrs. Palin would have served her country better by remaining governor of Alaska, where she could defend us from Russians and take care of her little one, who needs special attention. Being on the campaign trail surely must take her away from her son.

A. Martin,

Merrifield