Tee Off and Have a Cuppa

Sarah Palin is back — really back, in town hall meetings, giving speeches and campaigning. Since her meteoric appearance as an international star in Aug. 2008, the former vice presidential candidate has written a bestseller and become Fox News’ information source for reactionary Americans. That may no longer be enough impetus for an attempt at the White House: Now she has cheering supporters around her despite the fact that she hasn’t even declared her candidacy for the Republican nomination.

But that isn’t enough to dampen the eye-twinkling passions of the tea party movement. Let’s tee off and have a cuppa — Palin is getting into the current debate over the miserable American economy, a subject that translates easily into a campaign against the Washington status quo. It worked once already in the 2010 midterm elections, and Palin may be able to use it effectively in the fight for the Republican nomination.

On the other hand, that’s the sort of tea party that Obama may be able to use to his advantage, as well. Palin and her raving colleagues are driving liberal and moderate voters back into Obama’s fold. The situation is even less advantageous for the Republicans: Since their midterm successes, they now share responsibility for Washington’s failures. And the leadership of the Republican Party is more frightened by Palin and her speeches than they are by Obama.