Aides traveling with Ms. Palin have reported back to associates that she is a fast study — asking few questions of her policy briefers but quickly repeating back their main points — who already has considerable ease and experience before cameras.

Plus, she’s pretty like a myna bird!

When I am nominated for the Presidency, which, I swear, is inevitable, I will nominate a tape recorder from some remote place like Alaska, Montana, or Albany as my vice president. Then I will put lipstick on it. [The New York Times]