From The New York Times on Palin's policy education:
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.
Palin was trained as a broadcast reporter. Among the most important of skills for reporters on camera is relating information quickly and clearly, sometimes from memory. If this were a "presidential" skill, then Keith Olbermann and Bill O'Reilly (WE'LL DO IT LIVE!!1!!11!) would be running against one another. But an ability to quickly memorize talking points is not the same kind of skill as thoughtfully and honestly considering the merits of various policy approaches, and it in no way makes someone "qualified" to be president. What it makes them is an effective public performer. It's the kind of trait many celebrities have.
--A. Serwer
