CNN

That I.Q. is not the whole equation!

How to make up stories and tell them as if they were facts.To lie about anything or any body,at any time.How to murder wildlife for pleasure.

It sure seems like Barack Obama wants the government to solve all the problems in the world. I don't want that. I want the ability to solve my own problems and forge ahead on my own. Stop making other people's problems my problems. He always wants to pass the buck while it seems like Palin can admit her mistakes and head towards letting people manage their lives instead of Washington running them. I still wouldn't vote for Palin, but there are still things to learn from her.

It is quite frightening to me to think that people need to "connect on a gut level" with this or any president. Let's just call it what it is: anti-intellectualism. People said they were drawn to GWB because he was a regular guy that that they could have a beer with. Now the same people are drawn to Palin because she speaks their language. I want a president that is highly educated and one that is able to speak the same language as other highly educated leaders.

The President of the United States should not have to dumb himself down in order to make regular people feel better about themselves.

I hope that I'm not the only person that sees a huge problem with someone who can't even finish a governor's term in Alaska being our President. How is this lady better than Obama? I mean, sure she has a journalism degree from the University of Idaho to Obama's B.A. from Columbia and his J.D. from Harvard, but what else is there? Honestly, I know I'd rather have someone who aspired to be a sportscaster be my president rather than someone who has been helping people his whole life. She doesn't answer questions, she just circle talks for a couple minutes then finishes off her "answer" with a cute catch phrase. This woman has no place in politics, and not because she's a woman, because she doesn't know anything about them. AT ALL.

Yes; How not to just have good looks and nothing between the ears.

Jack,

President Obama could learn from sarah to stick with the one who brought you to the dance – sarah knows her base and tries to please them, President Obama is trying to be too pragmatic and the republicans will never agree to anything he wants, they just want him to fail, so please Presdient Obama stick with your base – public option, or better yet universal health care, get rid of don't ask, don't tell, follow through with a good energy plan, close gitmo and lets start working on jobs – you saved us from a depression, now get our jobs back!!! Obama was handed a mess, he just needs to stick to his guns and get it done his way, I'm with you Mr. President. Gwen

President Obama, please be yourself, don't be like Sarah Palin. We need you.

Should he learn how to lie and deceive the American people? Should he learn how to look only into the interests of a few? Should he learn what to say, even if it is a fallacy, only to be popular? NO, NO, AND NO

The American public is nuts! Everybody was so satisfied under the Bush reign. And I nearly forgot, Palin can see Russia from her house.
If Jesus comes back people will say he ought to clean himself up!
No wonder the country is in the pits!

How about be shallow, be unresponsible in your duties, use fear and hate creating retoric and wink a lot.

President Obama can learn from Sarah Palin that 300,000 astoundingly ignorant people turned out for her first book signing of a book she did not write - and, reportedly, has never read. There's no way Obama should even attempt to relate to the segment of the population that doesn't possess the capacity to understand anything other than inane, often incomprehensible soundbites delivered by a dysfunctional Barbie doll. He's got more vital and profound issues to address and he will do so in a manner fitting for a president.

Fortunately for all of us, the President is trying to be the president of all the people of the US, not just the liberal wing of the Democratic Party. He is not running for office.
Sarah Palin is feeding the enthusiasm of a minority of the minority Republican Party, white rural voters. I fail to see the good in that.

OB is doing just fine - don't change a thing and by the end of next year his approval rating will be in the 30's - just like Bush & just where he should be for ignoring the will of the people - he and his cerebral friends can be 1 termers.

Nothing - abosolutely, northing. The drop in his ratings reflect the various feelings have about the many issues out there and is only to be expected with the intensity of different opinons about how these weighty issues we are facing should be handled. Not to mention the republicans are so into playing politics that they would accidently disagree on something they might even reallly agree on. It is disheartening that people's fears and ignorance are played on so brilliantly to create so much discord. For instance, why or how would any reasonably educated or rational person think the economy could bounce back anywhere near as quickly as it plumeted. I didn't notice any magic wand in Obama's hand when he took the oath of office

Obama could learn a thing or two from Sarah Palin about staying power. His fall in the polls this year is comparable to his rise during the previous year. We haven't really known President Obama for all that long and he's already established a roller coaster of public approval. Sarah was thrust on the scene by McCain as opposed to thrusting herself on the scene, and she just kind of took it in stride and grew on people. Now she continues to grow on people. It's the kind of rise that results in staying power.

Andy Hogan
York, PA

Hopefully nothing at all.

He is your president not mind! He is so far removed from reality and lays in the gutter with all the corrupt politicians in Washington. We need all new people in D.C. and not the self indulgent status quo that we have. Enough of people who look out for themselves and not the people who elect them!

True, Palin SEEMS to be more connected to her grassroots, however, Obama's and her position are difficult to compare. Obama has real life issues to deal with and looking around, I assume that this keeps him pretty busy.
In addition, I don't think that she sold 300K books should be overrated.
Many people might read her stuff for the purpose of entertainment (I do so). She most often comes around as so incredible uninformed and clueless that reading her statements in itself is entertaining. However, just because people read her book doesn't mean they want her as the next president.
It doesn't surprise me that Palin sells better than Hillary. Intellectually not so demanding pieces are easier to digest for the masses and hence sell better than intellectually challenging material.
Coming back to the question what Obama could learn from Palin: not much as far as I'm concerned. Intellectually, Obama is lightyears ahead of Palin and the rest is just personality. Palin is Palin and Obama is Obama. One cannot "fake" his or her persona (or at least one shouldn't attempt it).

Sarah Palin is popular because she's a breth of fresh air. The media fell "in love" with darling Obama and pushed him into office via a wave of popularity amoung the young. The hardworking, responsible, saving, older folks are tired of the entitlement mentality and like what Sarah has said, is saying and represents for the future, ACCOUNTABILITY! Those instant gratification youngsters won't be around to save Obama in 2012.

JACK , As far as I'm concerned, nothing.

Learn? You mean something like learn to quit his job, lose an election, or just go hog-wild rogue and shoot a moose from a helicopter? Get real. Palin is a nutbar that should have stayed in the wrapper.

So since Obama's popularity is at 49%, he should take lessons from someone who's popularity is at 37%?

The thing that makes Palin so seemingly popular is that she is willing to say or do things just to get her side of the aisle fired up, Obama is trying to move america forward as a unit not as bickering factions. While it might seem important temporary popularity isn't everthing. So very little I think

Alex, Como Co

Obama could teach Palin a few things like presence, intelligence, and diversity, hope and faith. As far as Palin teaching Obama, I don't think it can be done. She sold out! Palin could not even keep her commitment to finish her term in Alaska.

Speak your mind openly and honestly rather than speaking your teleprompter. Palin is loved or HATED because she does this 'warts and all.' President Obama should go off-prompter 100% and tell us where he thinks we should go and how he wants to lead us there. He should share his longterm dreams and shortterm goals for America, spoken from his heart. This will also silence (or confirm) the 'socialist' claims of his critics who don't really understand the meaning of the word.

Aren't her poll numbers down too? I think his approval rating will go back up after the Health Reform Bill gets passed. People will see that he can govern and get things done.

Because Ms. Palin abandoned her job, she has no responsibilities. President Obama has thousands of responsibilities, to the American people and the Constitution. It's easy to be charismatic and outrageously opinionated when you have no responsibilities, but much harder when you have an actual job to do.

I believe Mr. Dowd summed it up very well. I voted for President Obama and while I don't believe Sarah Palin is ready to run our country, she obviously connects with as she says "Joe six pack." She relates to the average American and thats why she has so much support. President Obama could learn how to relate to the average American better.

Obama should learn that you can just tell some people anything be it fact or lie .. and they will just follow like a puppy

Yes, he can learn something – whether you are ahead or behind, never quit.

Surely you jest.

Sarah Palin is the political equivalent of Paris Hilton.

I long for the day that the media tires of broadcasting their perky faces and vapid opinions.

This is truelly sad if we think the President of US can learn anything from this crazy and devisive woman who care about no one but herself.

President Obama can learn from Sarah Palin that the unelected political candidate – like the back-up quarterback – will always be the most popular player with some people. Sarah Palin can learn from President Obama that the surest way to see your approval rating drop is to be elected.

Columbus, OH

nothing to learn – but some people like this kind of nothing

Jack,

I was terrified to even open this link and read it. Nothing against Palin or Obama, I just know that the venom on the liberal side can be just as deadly as the conservative side. Being more liberal myself, I will say Obama is not perfect. He does not know everything and there's plenty we can learn from each other and as individuals, we will never agree on everything.

I don't think Obama has anything to learn from Sarah Palin. What I learn from this is that there are a lot of people in this country that are, well, to put it bluntly, not very sharp!

Maybe Obama does not touch everybody in the gut...but he is honest, he is truthful and he can lead this country. She is not honest or truthful and could not lead Alaska. She can't even control Levi Johnston....send her home and don't corrupt Obama with her CRAP! IF Obama needs to learn some things there are better choices....Bill Clinton has a way with the American people, Edward Kennedy had a way with the American people, and there are lots more he can take notes from.

Yes! Democrats can learn from Palin. People take comfort in her simple answers to complex problems. Know your audience. Don't burden them with details they don't want to hear or don't understand.

He can't learn much from her. I understand where Dowd is coming from, but I don't think Palin is someone worth modeling oneself after.

Unless he wants to become a full-blown liar, an anti-intellectual, and an excuse-maker. Keep in mind, if McCain didn't put her on the ticket, we still wouldn't know who she is.

Sarah Palin is pathetic, and I wish you media types would stop talking about her so I can watch the news in peace. Sarah Palin, like the U.S. health care system, is one more reason to leave this country and find a new home overseas.

Sarah Palin so far is someone who does not appear to be tainted by the political structure in the U.S. Whereas Obama is a product of it. Her genuineness comes through. People are still trying to figure out exactly what his agenda for America is. You know where she stands. She just seems more trustworthy. I saw Sarah Palin speak here in Sioux City right before the election last year. I think I might have felt the Chris Matthew's leg tingle that he got from Obama. Obama has been a big disappointment so far. She at least has not gone through that process yet. Looking forward to 2012.

Oh, come on Jack, just because she clicks with those who call her "one of us" doesn't mean we want President Obama to act like a mental midget. Remember the last president everyone wanted to have a beer with? That didn't work out too well.

Pres. Obama, I voted for you. I did not vote for McCain/Palin. You don't need to take anything ques from her. The GOP, right wing loons are a bunch of angry sore losers. Obama 2012.

NO! Palin has nothing to teach except how to strut across a stage and flash a smile for the cameras. Obama uses his head, not tosses it for the crowd!

How to be a quiter in middle of a term.
Anchorage, Ak

Ever since Bush said " If you believe it, it's not a lie", all the republicans really, actually believe that. Since he said that, things have really gone down the toilet in this country.

How to be a quitter when things don't go your way and when you are made a fool of on national television.

He is learning what we all have; there is a larger population of rabid, racist, flat-earth fundamentalists in this country than we thought and that they won't be happy until the USA is pushed back to the 1850's.

Oh, Palin's book is mis-catagorized as non-fiction.
Jim
Cripple Creek CO

Please, there's nothing to learn from this nitwit. We elected an intellect not a beauty queen. She's just the flavor of the month. He's got real problems to solve.

Please President Obama keep ignoring this woman. Even though we may get lucky and she'll run against him in 2012.

Jack, I hate to say this but Sarah Palin excites her base. Candidate Obama did the same thing in a much better way but now as President he has left that position and become a Mr. Suit. I think the lesson he should learn is to get back in his campaign clothes and go up on the HILL and take charge and lead Democratic Senators out of their stupidity.

Absolutely Nothing.

If memory serves me correctly, we voted Mr. Obama in office to run our country, not to host a popularity contest. There is nothing that Sarah Palin could possibly advise our President on…NOTHING! ZERO!

Absolutely nothing! She got nothing between the ear for anyone to learn from. She's a brainless CD player playing the same song over and over. She has nothing intelligent to say about governing. Her comprehension of policy is at the grade school level, though I am insulting my 6th grader by saying that.

Lisa
San Jose,CA

What can Pres Obama learn from Sarah Palin: How to continue what he does best, think before you speak!

I would say he could learn what not to do, but he seems to doing ok on his own when it comes to that..

Jack,

think about it...if President Obama reacts more like he was during the campaign trail then the critics say stop campaigning and start governing. Start acting Presidential! I guess what I hear from this article is that people just need more personal touches from their President that only he can provide!

That there really is a sucker born every minute.

He can learn how to be a goof-ball. Americans have simply become dumb and dumber......if they are unhappy with the president.....we are where we are because of G.W.

How to make bumper-sticker catch-phrases sound like policy to 26% of the nation.

He could acting stupidly, then start acting like someone who doesn't have a chip on his shoulder the size of the moon.

He could learn to appeal to stupid people, but I think he wold have a hard time learning the skill.

Obama could learn how to be a conservative Republican.

Jack,
Palin's massive narcissim has fallen on top of her IQ creating a bizarre wake of idol worship by citizens who are just as vapid as she is.

Obama's lesson: ignore Palin and anyone who supports her by doing your job as you have been doing.

Sorry Jack, but I disagree with both you and Maureen. I've always had a gut level reaction to President Obama. Maybe it's because I read his book, Dreams From My Father. I think his deep emotions have been particularly apparent lately, at the midnight trip to Dover, Delaware where he gave the perfect salute and the Ft. Hood speech. My retired Army officer Republican husband even was moved and refrained from any sarcastic cracks.

President Obama do not be concerned about the people unable to be objective! YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB! I am one of the 49% that agree with you but I believe that number is higher!!!!!!

Obama can learn how to relate to the average person, who outnumber his rich cronies by a wide margin. Sarah Palin does not live in a fancy, rich house in an exclusive neighborhood with a guard station at the end of the street, unlike Obama's Chicago home. Many jokes have been made at her expense, but when it is all said and done Sarah Palin connects more with the people than Obama ever will. And that is why her political future is rising, while Obama's is sinking into obscurity with only a footnote in history as the first black president. And one that really didn't do anything during his 4 years in office.

He can learn how to be both a loser and a quitter (oh wait, he's neither), write a book that then gets promoted for days on television with non-stop coverage on multiple networks that "some politician who wrote a book" is now suddenly news! The fact that she was able to get this much coverage is something the White House should learn how to do, because I have never seen such a feat in my 35 years!

Learn to be a dimwit. After all, sometimes you can be too smart for your own good. But we tried that "president you can drink a beer with" thing already. People who "know" are the people I want in charge. Americans are looking into a mirrow when they look at Sara Palin...sorry.
I think the president is good like he is now.

It is time for Mr. Obama to identify with the common people of the United States, rather than wall street, banks and big business. We elected him now he ignores the people. Big money has him transfixed.

Since he doesn't know SQUAT - he has to learn something!!

If he can learn anything from Sarah Palin,
let it be to keep his mouth shut .
The Republicans are doing a pretty good job of self destruction.

Jack,

I could care less how many books she can sell to her adoring masses. The sad fact is that the lady has a problem with the truth. 'I can see Russia from my house' was not a comic exaggeration it spoke to the heart of who she is - the center of her own universe and a fibber. I welcome the long reel version of her many bloopers, lies and falsehoods in the 2012 campaign. Obama is far from perfect, but can you imagine Palin talking to world leaders and representing America? God help us..............

He can learn not to quit and how to fish and hunt from helicopters.

Sarah Palin is real people. She says it as she sees it. She doesn't lie and most of all that she has values and respect for life. That's something Obama can learn.

how to gift-wrap the next election for the other party.

The question is not what the President can learn. It's what the rest of the citizens can learn.

As a whole, America is a country where some people will devalue superior intellect and honorable integrity (whether it comes from Barack Obama or others) as compared to the lacking intellectual prowess and dishonorable characterizations ... like "death panels" or the "birther movement" (which folks like Palin offer up). We deserve the Congress we have because of America's mental laziness.

I think one the things that President Obama could learn from Sarah Palin is how to listen to the American people instead of Maureen Dowd..

Obama can learn that no matter how intelligent you speak, how educated you are and how many obsticles you've overcome, one fact becomes uncomfortably clear.

There is always a percentage of your fellow man who takes pleasure in telling others how to think, withholding rights from some while securing them for themselves, shooting things that feel pain for sport from the safety of a airborne vehicle, spouting venom at a media that gives you every opportunity you want to state your case, laying blame for a loss on everyone but themselves, utilizing the tenants of our laws as weapons without even knowing what they say and wallowing in hypocrasy after hypocrasy while rejecting any criticism.

Even 'dumb' has a voice, Mr President. It's sometimes just too dumb to use it's power wisely.

Palin can go along stupidfiably simplistic because she has no responsibilities. She abandoned her governorship for money and is rolling in it now. She can say whatever, no one really cares. President Obama has Afghanistan and Pakistan to worry about, unemployment and jobs and takes his responsibilities seriously. He cannot say anything without the republicans jumping on it so he has decided to remain quite....no comparison. I still take Obama any day.

He should learn quitting is good.Quit and wright abook after his second year. First get our troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan.If we did win in Afghanistan,they (terrorist) would just go to another country.Get rid of the Bush tax cuts and lower taxes on the average American.This would give them more to spend, helping small business grow,creating jobs helping our economy

Obama learn for Palin, this has to be the joke of the century. She probably had some one write her book. Her look is what keeps her going not her knowledge of the world

Hey Jack. The question is a no-brainer. There is nothing that Obama can learn from Sarah Palin. The marketing that all the networks are using to push Sarah Palin on us is even more of a no-brainer. STOP ALREADY!!!

Pres Obama can learn from Sarah Palin how to avoid being an irresponsible publicly elected official by servicing his country in every single day of his term.

He can probably learn how to promote himself at the cost of a few jokes here and there if and when he becomes unemployed like Palin. As for now he has country to run. This is silly!!!

Nothing Jack.

Learn about what? How to be a celebrity? We don't need a celebrity, Jack, we need a leader! Moses did not have a high approval rating either, but he led them eventually out of the desert. We pray that Obama can do the same.

What can he learn Jack? He can learn that people don't want change they want someone that will fire them up with .....lies, half truths. He can learn that to get people to listen to you you tell those people what they want to hear and stir up their fears rather than be even keeled and to make educated deductions. Truly scary that Sarah Palin could teach anyone anything.

To be a puppet for a political agenda? In all seriousness though he doesn't need to learn anything from her other than what not to be as a politician. We as a people and a country need to move away from the politicians like George W. Bush and Sarah Palin.

Oh my God let the bashing begin jack!!! The liberals will have a field day with that question!! All i can say is never underestimate your adversary!! If obama doesen't turn this economy around or provide health care reform sarah palin will look pretty good in 2012!!

If he is a smart man he could learn from anyone. He seems to be making a lot of mistakes.
He needs to listen to the people and move further to the center.
We are not getting what we voted for.

Cincinnati, OH

The only thing the President is likely to learn from watching Sarah Palin is the truth of the aphorism that you can fool some people some of the time, and others all of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time. But I suspect he knows this already.

Fortunately most of the people in this country knew this last year at the time of the election. That is why Sarah Palin is selling books in second rate cities. Enough people saw her for what she is and decided she was not ready for the Vice Presidency. she wasn't ready then and nothing has changed in that regard.

Jack, are you kidding me??? Don't even go there; that's like asking Michelangelo to modify Sistine Chapel to include the Burger King!

The President is fine as long as he uses that anti bacterial spray which wards of conservatism of past experience.

President can learn nothing from a governor that couldn't finish her own job everything takes time the government is notably slow the President inherited the largest mess we have ever seen and everyone expects him to clean it all up in less than a year i agree he needs to go faster on some issues but bipartsanism is extinct so it slows everything down Mike

Nothing, she appeals to the idea of women in politics. I still struggle to see why people listen to her or why she won't leave the national spotlight.

Obama can learn absolutely nothing from Palin. Palin panders to the religious right and the simple minded tea bagger folks. Palin can have that crowd. Thank god there's not enough of them to vote Palin into the President's office. Real americans prefer to have an intelligent president like Obama for a change. I for one could not have beared 4 years of Palin after 8 years of Lil Bush.

He can learn to spend a lot of wasteful time and energy addressing/whining/biting back, at those who say anything bad about him. Yeah, that would be a great thing any President could learn from her.

The President can learn from what a politically immature @backward

nation of people he must deal with. Sarah Palin is more of what

Ronald Reagan did to this nation, all personality but very much

responsible for allowing Wall St. to take over our Govt. The people of this

nation must stop looking to be entertained @ grow up.

Let me say-this Thanksgiving I am most Thankful that Palin is not in the White House. Sen. McCain had a low spot when he picked her, and Pres. Obama is doing just fine. She needs to learn from all the young people that "you don't give up when things get a little tough, you keep on and win the hard battles". Pres. Obama did it–and he had more issues than her.

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for a lot of things, but the most important is my right to disagree with politicans and others.
P.S. MY WISHES FOR A GREAT THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND ALL YOUR CREW.

lou

What President Obama could learn from Palin, if anything, would make him a better politician and a worse president. Obama is doing his job, while Palin left hers to become a full time celebrity – and the last thing America needs is more celebrities.

Sam
North Carolina

Jack, I took my liberal brother to see Sarah Palin today at her book signing here on base. After standing in line for 3 and a half hours in the rain, we finally saw her. In that 1 minute exchange she came off as so genuine and sincere, My brother had decided to "dress to impress" in his best shirt and slacks and she immediately complemented him on his attire, asked him his name, shook his hand and said "Thank you Scott for coming, thank you for being here" . After walking out to the car, my brother was practically giddy with excitement and I was in awe of the response that this conservative woman was able to achieve out of my liberal brother . This woman definitely has something about her that speaks to the everyday person, perhaps the President needs to figure out how to do the same.

He needs to learn that he needs to cut spending. Palin's all about that, surplus. Obama, quadrupled the deficit.

No need for Obama to learn anything from Sarah Palin. Everything that she knows about politics is taken directly from high school class elections 101. We’ve all been there and done that. In high school we elected the popular ones. If we were lucky they could think too, but no need for that then. We are not children. If Obama seems less entertaining to the electorate now it is because he is doing the job he was elected to do. If Sarah Palin were president we’d all enjoy the side shows, the way we did with Clinton and Bush. This Thanksgiving I am truly thankful for President Obama.

Palin could teach our President that if you abandon your office to go promote book sales that American citizens will not trust you to a higher office.

Sarah Palin best projects her image when she plays to a live audience. I think Obama does too and he should take his opportunities to engage more often in the public setting.

Tei single best thing pres Obama can learn from S Palin is popularity polls are for people who want to be popular and not do hard work, make tough, informed decisions and lead intelligently.

Nothing...
It's much easier to run a mouth than to govern, and more profitable.
That's why Palin quit her daytime job as a governor.

Jack, the lesson Obama can learn from Palin is nothing if not Ignorance, spoken with passion, is too often mistaken for fact; so, if he want's people to get the real facts, he needs to shut down ignorant peoples arguements. And let's face it, Sarah Palin is as "passionate" as they come.

Lets not forget that every President since WWII except for JFK had an approval rating below 50% at some point in their presidency, and that overall, the faster their ratings fell, the more likely they were to be elected to a second term.

What can President Obama learn from Sarah Palin?

Well, for one thing he can learn what H. L. Mencken once said:

"No one in this world has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby ".

Maybe if Obama ever need glasses, he could ask Sarah for style tips.

Susan – Texas

I hope nothing. Ms. Palin is offers nothing really based on fact or knowledge. The McCain inner circle gave us some knowledge... her book is not non-fiction but tilted the opposite way.

The President certainly can't straighten our eight years of Bush Administration with spending beyond our means..... certainly the Republicans couldn't even spell BALANCED BUDGET, now it's the only thing they can think of. They would rather spend money on a worthless war and deprive American for such things as social security, education, rebuilding our infra-structure, drug cost and now heath care.

Let hope thatf Ms. Palin never win a high office, we will be in major problems.

Jack, I moved to the United States 3 years ago from Europe, just when President Obama was building his case for the Presidency. Since then I firmly believe Obama is doing excellent job for America. But Sadly American public does not have patients. They need to learn from the Europeans.

However I think the ONLY thing Pre. Obama can learn from Sarah Palin is how to hunt...

Wayne Brohier – Los Angeles/Pasadena

In my opinion, President Obama does not need to learn anything from Sarah Palin. I feel confident in what he is attempting to do internationally as well as at home. I would be scared silly to have Sarah Palin with all her down-homeness as a leader. President is Obama is who he is and Sarah is who she is. Take them both at face value and decide for yourself who you would rather have as a representative of our nation.

President Obama can learn one thing and one thing only from Former Governor Sarah Palin: How to govern a state for less than one term.

Palin has realized that people are going to hate you no matter what. So you might as well be hated doing exactly what you want to do no matter what rather than being hated while trying to please everyone. Congressional republicans are not interested in working together in a bi-partisan effort for the American people- they want to see Obama fail. Don't allow republicans to weaken legislation that they will not vote for. Use the majorities in both houses to your advantage. God forbid Palin was President- but if she was... Do you think for a moment she would let Dems weaken legislation then allow them to get way with not voting for the bill? If you asked her "Sarah if you were President with majorities in both houses would you push your agenda though? She would say "You Betcha!" and wink.

I am inferring by way the articles of yourself and Ms Dowd, there is something for our President to "gainfully" learn from Ms. Palin. President Obama understands, realizes, recognizes the "outcomes" of Ms. Palin's events. But, she is speaking to a very limited audience, the very conservative right. And, in a way that is in a very partisan way. She is selling books, ie, she is inceasing her financial wealth. She is doing it for money. I personally have no desires to know or understand what she thinks, how she thinks or what she believes or why she believes anything. She is an opportunist.
Our President understands this. But, he doesn't pick and choose his audience, he knows his audience, the American public. He would no apply Ms. Palin's tactics.

President Obama should make better use of his wife's charm, since a lot of voters seem to be too numb to understand anything else.

Absolutely Nothing. It is like asking Einstein to learn physics from Mr. Bean.

Nothing. She really hasn't offered any solutions except to give us double of what the Bush Administration gave to us. Limited Government for a few.

About as much as you and I could learn from The Octomom.

He can learn a lot from Ms Pailin:
How to govern for THE PEOLPE.
How to be honest in his real plans to change America.
How to love America and be a real President for ALL.

What could he learn? How to cook a mooseburger - rare, medium, or well done? How to tell a crowd that they are the "hard-working" and "real" and "patriotic" Americans? How to quit in the middle of your term? How to blame everybody and anybody for the fact that you don't know what you read or what your running mate did that was 'mavricky' ? How to play the victim card? How to have somebody else write your books for you instead of writing your own? Sarah Palin is a figure head for disgruntled Americans who want to blame somebody – anybody – the 'liberal media', 'big government', 'hollywood', 'the gays', 'the illegal immigrants'.. whoever, whatever - instead of understanding that the world is a big complex place & problems don't usually have one source or 'sound bite' solutions.

He needs to learn by taking a stronger stance on what he believes; because so far I think he has taken us in the right direction; but in politics one must stand strong for principles and focus great energy and emotion in selling your ideas to the people!!
Sarah Palin would be bad for America--but she has learned how to play into a desire for anyone who seems unfazed by media criticism or the pressure to do business as usual!

Putting it quite simply, there's nothing to learn from someone who's not very smart. I didn't learn anything from Bush that wasn't expected. Palin has an edge over Bush, a lil better looking. Reagan who wasn't a scholar was the smartest conservative in the last 40yrs. As for the liberals they've been plagued with the smarter folks except for Carter. The net, Palin just can't be compared to Obama! He, however NEEDS to connect with Americans by communicating more frequently with the burning issues in "layman terms."
Dev

If there is one thing she can teach him it's that trying to please the opposition is a fools errand. I hope he learns this lesson soon before the Republicans sabotage everything useful he is trying to do, find a way to blame it on him in '10, and sweep back into power on lies.

Palin can show Obama that Keep It Simple Stupid is all the average American wants to hear in the United Stupid States Of America.

Pres. Obama can learn next to nothing from Sarah. Stupifyingly Simple Sarah quit her job to entertain us on the celebrity circuit. I want my sober and cerebral President to work on resolving the problems of our country, rather than wooing, educating and entertaining me as he had done on the campaign trail. My approval rating of President Obama is at 90%, after all no one is perfect.

Robyn
Fort Myers, FL

Nothing, nothing good could come from our President emulating the dumbest national figure since the last President. We need a leader who is smarter than us because the problems of this country are smarter than most of us.

Jack, he could learn only two things from her!

1. Moose Hunting

2. The difference between a dead fish and a live fish.

I remember when people wanted to sit down and drink a beer with then-candidate, George Bush! I would rather have a President with the capacity to think cerebrally – in a hugely complex world! I don't need a President who makes me feel viscerally! I need one, like President Obama, to help me understand some of the complexities of our world, while trying to lead us as a nation into a more secure and healthier future

Obama could learn everything from Sarah. He knows nothing about running the country.

Obama's numbers are going down because the novelty to make history of having a black President is starting to wear off.

As much as I admire Obama, it was very evident from the beginning he was 90% style/act and 10% substance/experience.

The sheep may say all they want, Sarah Palin had the highest approval rating of any Governor because she was the opposite. 10% style/refinement and 90% substance/experience.

Absolutely!!! It's simple Jack...you CAN'T please all of the people or even half of the people (in this case) all the time and you have to support your base at all costs. Those are the people that voted for you and you owe them for their support. It is futile to try and win over Republicans and the president neads to learn that...hopefully sooner rather than later. If he wanted to be a "nice guy" he should have become a kindergarten teacher!!!

Hello,

Not much to learn there Jack.

I mean, learning something from Palin is like learning something from T.O. You can't. Unless it's what NOT to do. Besides, anyone who learns anything from these two self-absorbed ignoramuses needs to seriously reevaluate their mental state.

Intelligence and humility are a requisite in my book.

Thanks Jack.

How about some common sense? That woman may not know world politics and may not be presidential material, but she actually ran a State and a City pretty well if you ask an Alaskan. Obama has yet to demonstrate he can run anything. He, not Bush, tripled the debt with a stimulous program that did not keep unemployment at 8%, he bailed out the banks, GM, Chrysler & AIG. He wants to spend even more on nationalizing health care. Cap & trade is national economic suicide.

At this point, she has shown more good judgment than he ever has…

He can't even make a desision on the troop levels, pull'em out or send enough to win. Don't send just enough so that we can't win and our troops keep on spilling American blood for nothing.

He, in my judgment, is a loser. But he sounds smart, so that’s all liberals care about. Sad... geeze America, wake up!

That great observer of the human condition, Wm. Shakespeare has covered everything and everybody including Sarah Palin. Observing her brings this great quote to mind,

“Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more; it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

Now, isn't that perfect?

Jack,

I think it oversimplifyling to say that President Obama might learn a thing or two from Sarah Palin. Maureen Dowd makes several valid points in comparing the "cerebral" to the "visceral." But that is where the comparison ends. Palin plays fast and loose with facts and has limited insight into the mechanics of governing our country. Palin's popularity appeals to the "red meat" eaters who love her fiery rhetoric and flare for the dramatic. Is this what we really want in President Obama? And do we want a "hockey mom" having access to the nuclear missle codes? I don't Jack and I hope most of the American people understand this difference.

Torin
Lawrenceville, Georgia

Probably he could learn how to give sweetheart deals to political supporters when bidding out gas pipeline contracts. She has experience with that.

Sara Palin is like the second string quarteback. Everybody wants her to relieve the started until they get in the game and screw up even worse. There is a reason she is where she is. When it comes down to the critical and strategic thinking it takes to lead our country in the shape it is now she does not have the mental capacity to deliver.

Jack–
I don't want anyone to learn anything from her. To me, she is a frightening phenomenon–a quitter with a catchphrase for every situation that she encounters. Just once, I would like to hear her give a well-thought-out, rational answer to a serious question. And the lying has to stop.

There are three things he can learn from Sarah Palin: (1) how to be a hree dollar bill; (2) how to be a quitter; (3) how to be a whiner.
Tom, New Bern, NC

Not a damn thing! Palin quit her job as governor early, after she had missed so many days the people working in the capital wore, "Where's Sarah?" pins, then she ditched her own fans who waited hours in horrible weather to see her and have her sign their pre-paid books! She just seems to think she can do whatever she wants and call it "rogue" and have people excuse her! If they look at her cross-eyed, they can be assured to be slammed in one of her books! PS.Newsmax, bought up thousands of her books to create a false bestseller! They sell it for $4.95, the price of a good magazine!

He would learn about being a QUITTER! ...and how to make millions of dollars as a lying, fake celebraty.
I'm so glad our President is doing the very, very best he can do, even if he has to sacrifice some of his popularity. No matter what President Obama does...he gets critized. These same people that said he was just a great speaker are now putting him down, now that he is really trying to get this country going again..I WILL BE LOYAL TO OUR PRESIDENT...ALL YOU HATERS WILL BE SURPRISED ABOUT HOW HE WILL SUCCEED FOR OUR COUNTY...I'M GLAD HIS IS EARNING HIS WAY THRU...NOT TELLING LIES AND SELLING BOOKS TO A FICKLE PUBLIC.

I have to disagree with Dowd, I believe Obama is doing the best job that he can at this time. He is using reason over his emotions to make difficult decisions that have been extremely controversial ethically, and morally. Is it not the job of the president to make important decisions like these that will affect all of America and its people? I feel he has considered many possibilities to resolve each issue that has been presented to him and does not require any attributes possessed by Sarah Palin.

What is intelligent about Obama... I am still trying to figure it out...He got into Ivy League schools on quota no doubt...and that surely does not make for an intelligent person..nor presidential material..of which Obama is clearly not.

Palin is a breath of fresh air..and does not need Ivy League degrees to understand what the public needs and wants..She speaks the language we want to hear..plain and simple, slow and steady ...and that is what wins the race...

In these trying times we need a President who has guts with the ability to make a solid decision..again of which Obama has displayed time and time again that he cannot..

Unlike Palin – Obama appears weak and confused..and the world is watching.

What can the President learn from Sarah Palin? Well maybe to quit when things are not to her liking as she did with the Govenorship of Alaska. Or how about how to blame everyone else but hersel when things are tanking while running for office. And maybe, just maybe he is just a little bit busy trying to clean up the mess left by the REPUBLICAN

Jack, the President should play to the emotions of the people, not to their intellect. Plain is riding the Joe six packers all the way to the bank.
Obama is trying to be a leader of substance...no no no. The emotions win every time. Obama has to realize that COMMON SENSE is in exile. If Palin and the sixpackers knew where it was they would kill it. Come on Mr. President go for fluff not substance. The Republicans have been getting the people to vote and act against their own self-interest for decades. The President should not under estimate the power of ignorance. Palin understands that power and she uses it well.

Sarah Palin is the real deal,she does not nees a 100 speach writers to give a 5 min speach. Obama is nothing without his telepromter. He is not the smart one ,his speach writers are. Mrs. Palin is not a puppet,
the president is a puppet to Reid, Palosi , and the rest of the old dems. I would respect him more if he could give a speach without a telepromter. Does he really think people don't know he is reading everything when he talks. Sarah Palin is real, the president is not.

Don't be ridiculous, President Obama is fine the way he is. I'm sure if you asked him this question (even though it is ridiculous) he would be gracious – that is something Palin could learn from the President!!
And I don't believe for a minute President Obama has forgotten how he got in the White House.

*** Pres Obama can learn from Sarah Palin how to avoid being an irresponsible publicly elected official by servicing his country in every single day of his term. ***

Uh, yeah. Until you quit in the middle of it.

Mrs. Palin is a shipwreck waiting to happen. I hope Obama never takes any advice from that fruitcake. He is doing a great Job. The Republicans are slowing everything down. They care more about the future of their party than they do about the future of this country.

One of the things Palin has over Obama is that "character" is not complex and it is not the thing that eloquent speeches are made of. It is simply what we do. That's one of the reasons many in the liberal camp dislike Palin. Its because she reveals a shortcoming in themselves. Remember when Hillary said the only thing that Obama had done was give a great speech? She wasn't too far from the truth. Now even with the best intentions from a President who is obviously sincere in wanting to do the right thing as he see it he does not understand why Palin's plain honesty wins so many people. The thing that is too bad is that his campaign talent is one of the few tools he has to reduce a complex world to a simple solution. He's totally missed the point that jobs are more important than health care. He's missed that small business is the only place to create true employment quickly.

Well, she definitely knows how to inspire the republicans.

You cannot be too detached from the people that voted you in, or the american people for that matter. I'm not sure if this is already happening, but a thirty minute fireside chat to the country would be good, every week or so.

Absolutely 100% NADA. The President is busy being President. I elected him precisely because he is a thinker, a pragmatist and a problem solver: everything Palin is not.

Let's face it: The only reason Palin was EVER asked to join the campaign was because the Republican party wanted to grab the reigns of the women's vote after Hillary lost the Democratic Primary. She was an irresponsible choice by a desperately irrational and fractured Republican party. Palin is doing whatever she can to stay relevant. She reminds me of former Democratic Illinois Governor Rod Blagoevich: Selfishly hungry only for fame and attention and hardly if at all truly concerned about any issues facing this country.

Sean
Chicago, IL

"She sold 300,000 copies of her memoir on the day of its release – one of the best openings ever for a nonfiction book, easily topping people like Hillary Clinton."

Few people gather to watch a streamlined train go by, but thousands will gather to watch it wreck.

He can learn that abstinence, while ideal, is not realistic, and that, although I'm sure he'd certainly rather his daughters wait until they are able to physically AND mentally understand sex, there are methods available today that can be used intelligently and confidently by young women who wish to approach sex with a responsible perspective.

God bless us if the only person Obama can learn from is Palin. She is good for nothing, immature woman from a little state of Alaske who is trying to make money by selling her book, that's why she posed in a sexy outfit on the cover of Newsweek magazine. Obama, on the other hand is anintelligenta nd smart politician. The two are earth and heavens apart. It must not be forgotten that Palin had called Obama someone who was 'pallin' with terrorists.

Nothing, but how to give up on the people that put her in office and she said it doesn't matter about position or money. I guess this is the way she serves the public. Non profit, right!

Meh. While Obama has many things to work on, being like Sarah Palin isn't one of them. Palin's charm is in her simplicity. Obama cannot be what he is not... and he is certainly not a simple man. What your article fails to discuss is while Palin is inspiring to some, she is also reviling to many (and she isn't even the front-runner in her own party). But if Obama can learn one thing from Palin it's that people will stop loving you when you're actually in office (but I bet he already has learned that).

What can President Obama learn? Nothing. He and Palin are in two totally different leagues so there is no comparison. He and his administration are trying to rectify a situation that took at least eight years to create, and it may take that long, if not longer to right this debacle...other than writing a book that is being contested by her former campaigning staff , what is she doing for the American people? Nothing. So what is there for President Obama to learn?

Perhaps a little more common sense 'simplicity' might allow Obama to make decisions & get something done. His 'complex' & 'cerebral' approach to issues seems to have bogged down all of his legislative committments.

Remember, the cerebral/detail-oriented Jimmy Carter was thrown out after 4 years in favor of the common sense & dynamic populism of Ronald Reagan.

I've got news for you Maureen Dowd. You called her stupefyingly simplistic and Obama intelligent. I just think that she is genuine and connects well to the people. Obama is in over his head, and does not seem to know what to do. Please name one thing he has done well since taking over the white house. By this time next year, if unemployment is still over 10 percent. We will have many new people in congress.

Yeah, like what? How to lie, how to quit, how to exploid his kids.
That women has nothing to offer, at least nothing for people with brain.
That is all I have to say about that. Oh one more thing, please do not cover that women no more, don't even say her name anymore. She should jus go away

Hopefully not much. Since the President has two daughters and a wife we can only hope the Obama family does not go down the dysfunctional road that the Palin family has and continues to follow. Since I live in Alaska I have a more truthful view of Palin. This down home knee slappin hockey mom act has woo'd the American public but when she has actually talk to world leaders it will be worse than former Pres GW. President Obama is uncomfortable with personal things pertaining to himself and family Palin is not. I think Palin can learn alot more form Pres. Obama with regards to US and world events. I mean do we want a President that can deal with our economy or a President that thinks a bake sale will solve our natioanl debit?

Don' t associate with people who don't agree with you. Make promises that you know you never have to keep.

It is like asking Warren Buffett what can he learn from Susy Oran about being frugal and saving on groceries! At best Obama can learn from Palin a few juicy gossips! That is it.

President Obama should learn never to be in close contact with Palin giving her the opportunity to double her sell on a new book about him because it sure won't be about her.

President Obama could only learn from superiors, not inferiors!

The only thing President Obama could possibly learn from Sarah Palin is that there is still a large group of voters willing to support the George Bush Jrs., Karl Roves, and Sarah Palins of this world. He needs to watch his back.

Dear Jack:
You betcha! President Obama could learn alot from Sarah Pallin. It might be fun if he would show off his sexy side. Start going around shirtless or develop a croaked smile, but above all conceal his intelligence – it seems too many people do not want a smart thoughtful leader.

Call me crazy, but I want a President who is smarter than I.

He needs to continue what he is doing – leading our country! It is really not a simple task – and any responsible president will go through up and down times! Sarah Palin is hardly the "role model" I would be willing to show my daughter – of leadership, preseverance, intellectual comprehension, love of wild life, or of the huge and complex requirements of government leadership! No comparison, even if Maureen Dowd has a way with words!

What can the President learn from Sarah Palin? How about how to quit when things are not going to his liking as she did with the Govenorship of Alaska. Or how to blame everyone by yourself when things go bad while running for office. Maybe he has be just a little bit busy cleanning up the mess that the Republians left the country in or just doing the busness of the country to be bothered by what small minded, self-important egotist think of him. Sarah Palin should take her book tour and her holier than thou attitutude and head back up to the frozen north, if they will still have her.

Learn from mistakes

esteban he learned that a long time ago,back when he was a community organizer. college degrees or the college a person attends does not mean they will have either the common sense to be president of the USA or the moral courage to stand up to our enemies or make the tough decisions required to fix our economy or create jobs. By sticking to the tired old policies of the left wing of the democratic party Obama has set both the country and himself up for failure.

First of all, Pres Obamas Approval Ratings aren't really that low. That poll only counts for the people who participated in it which probably isn't that many. I think the president is moving the country in the right direction it needs to compete in the 21 century. But i didn't vote in the poll. So to base a report off his approval rating ACTUALLY being below 50% is misleading.

I don't believe Americans today. For the first time in many years they elected a president with a brain in his head and he gets no respect or support from the very people who elected him. It's unbelievable!!!!

Jack,
What can President Obama possibly learn from Palin? How to be a quitter and make money from it?
Let's be real here, the American public needs to realize it's going to take time and hard work to get us out of this mess, both of which Palin has no idea on how to fix, just words that divide our great country.

He could learn how to tell the truth. The reason why Palin is so popular is that she's the real deal. Liberals wouldn't understand this as they're only listening to the bashing the media has been doling out against Mrs. Palin. I know I used to be one of those blind Liberals who followed what the press said about any number of issues. The whole reason they continue to drag Sarah Palin through the mud is that she scares the crap out of them. I've taken the time to research all the "lies" the right purportedly continues to spread and guess what, they aren't so much lies as they are the honest to God truth. Most of the answers I've found came from independent sources that are NOT policiticans.

If Pres Obama could learn anything from her it would be to go back and look at every single one of his campaign promises and make good on them. So far, the only ones he seems to be keeping are the ones that expand government to ridiculous proportions. Get educated people, start researching what is being said BY BOTH SIDES and come to your own conclusions. We're Americans, we don't need the two parties deciding what we think!!!

Hmm . . . Because he is a REALLY smart guy, I am sure President Obama already knows why ms. Palin resonates with her base. She is NOT a 'breth (sic) of fresh air" . . . she is just a prettier version of the same old same old GOPof Cheney and Rowe. That she is folksy and common is fine; I get that – I get her because she thinks and speaks like 'my people' . I know she isn't ignorant, but she is narrow, she sees too little outside her small circle of self and experience, AND she and many who support her truely think that anyone can be president. Because I know her – because she is like 'my people', I also know that in the world we live in today, she hasn't quite grown to presidential status. She is too small in mind and spirit to do the job.

I want – just as some others who've posted have said – the brightest, calmest, most committed and sincere people running the show. NOT lobbyists, and their paid politicians. NOT obstructionists. NOT isolationists. NOT those of narrow experience and world view. I want those who govern to be more committed to finding the right solutions than laying blame. I want those who govern to be inclusive, to find the best in all of America, and not claim that some are better or more true Americans than others. President Obama can learn what makes a true President of ALL America by listening to how much Ms Palin polarizes us and then finding ways to say and do the opposite.

Jack I can't even see how this is a comparison. The president of the United States is trying to not only fix our economy, healthcare, an undeclared war, and our standing in the world. Sarah Palin quit her job to have a book ghost written so she can take a tour signing it for her fans and speaking off cuff remarks to please them as well. Anyone that can see Sarah Palin as a possible POTUS threat in 2012 really needs to do some real thinking and look pass the "pretty face" and a person who blames everything and everybody else for her faults. It's always that wicked left wing media.

Learn? Not so much. But maybe a reminder to be genuine. One thing that Palin has going for her now that she didn't have on the campaign trail that Obama had on the Campaign trail that we don't see as often now is being themselves. When the President did his little dance when he appeared on Ellen it wasn't forced. He was being his own groovy self. Sadly, a lot of the other contenders in the primaries got the wrong lesson from that. Instead of being themselves we saw lots of dancing that wasn't impromptu and in someways very out of place.

Oddly enough, the President isn't in the public eye the same way now that he has real work to do. Perhaps in the holiday season he will address the nation in ways that allow him to show that other side; the one that everyone can identify with. I just hope he doesn't fake it.

Nothing. He apparently knows it all.

What's there to learn from Sarah Palin? If one is not in power, it's always easy to be the "visceral one" to draw attentions from the public. However, if one is in power (as Obama is), then it's better to be the "cerebral one." Intelligence is what's needed to steer this country in the proper heading.

He could learn that we don't want the federal government in every area of our lives.

Obama brings back memories of Jimmy Carter: rear view mirror vision, anguish over world events, gridlock in Congress, and overall gloomy outlook – a real downer for American people.

Sara Palin is attempting to recreate a Ronald Reagan vision: optimistic, simplistic analysis understandable by the average American, wrapped around conservative principals – an upbeat attitude that makes us feel good.

Result in 1980? One of the largest landslide presidential victories unseating a sitting president.

Sure seems like President Obama could learn a lot from Sara Palin.

Your joking me right? Why would the President take pointers from a woman who not only contributed to McCain's presidential loss, resigned from Alaska Govenor just for publicity, and claims that the health care reform bill has Death Panels, but she also has the guts to do it all with a smile on her face. If President Obama should take any pointers, it's what NOT to do from Palin's experiences. Let's not forget that just because his popularity is one point below 50% does not mean he's doing a bad job as president, the American people are just being deluded and impatient due to the obstructionism and fear-mongering the conservatives and Republicans have been making. Wake up people, 49% is not bad when you compare it to the previous presidents who we're in office for close to a year.

President Obama should learn to be persistent. You can't please all people all the time. He has had to hit the ground running on providing opportunities for our country to solve its own problems.

Yes, Mrs. Palin has more time to electrify her base. Would that be because she quit her job mid term and is now on her book tour? Yes, that is really a good way to help create ways for us to grow as a country.

Jo
Atlanta, GA

Jack,
Absolutely nothing. I am surprised you would use their names in the same sentence. She offers nothing to the conversation. Not her fault she just can’t. I am surprised she has not quit her book tour yet. That she knows something about….quitting.

Mike

Jack,
Palin is a quitter that just won't go away. She is just like Dick Cheney, they just won't shut up once they get out of office, both are total losers.

He could lose his base. Sarah Palin's name used in comparison is an insult. to President Obama. She is rogue and still a maverick.As a Christian I love her,but with seperation of church,she's on her own. Icansay the same to Obama,It's his to win or lose. Gene

Jack,
Maybe Obama should quit and set up a facebook account? That would be the easiest way to deal with impossible expectations. He could learn that from Palin, He could stay home and enjoy his lovely family and write a book. Then we would get what we deserve, at least HE tried.

I don't know why Sara Palin is still in the picture. She is not a public figure anymore. All she is doing is promoting her book that is full of lies.
All of you people that are against Obama give him a chance.
He hasn't been in the office even a year. It took Bush 8 years to get us to where we were it will take that long to get us out.
I am glad that president is not rushing troops into war. He needs to justify why our young men and women are loosing their lives in these horrible wars that Bush started.
I think President Obama has done a good job so far. He was delt a bad economy, two wars, banks failing, high unemployment, stock market crash, home foreclosures highest they have ever been, people without insurance need I go on.
JUST GIVE HIM A CHANCE.

He can't learn anything from her. She is way above his league, especially in honesty and ethics. Obama has ruined this Country for decades.

jack, I think the most important thing that the president could learn from pallin is how to quit an elected office and let down all the people that voted for you and then she can teach him how to grab as much cash as you can before the public see's that this is mostly smoke and mirrors.

I, for the life of me, cannot understand why this woman is still in the news. For the love of anything and everything that is sacred and holy about life, I can't fathom why any intelligent person would waste one more second even looking at this woman, let alone reading "her" book. I so agree with Mike Page from SF, a "tale told by an idiot ... and signifying nothing."

Every single American should be grateful that we have the highly intelligent president that we are so fortunate to have. I wish he could be president for the next 20 years.

Admit it Jack. Palin is much better looking than Obama.

True Obama appears to be more complex and knowledgeable, but where has that got us to date. Trillions in Debt and climbing. Maybe we need to get back to basics instead of constant fettering and spending us into the poor house.

Palin may lack the political knowledge but she actually had more experience than Obama on day one as President.

NOTHING, BLOODY NOTHING! THERE IS NOTHING SARAH PALIN HAS WORTH PRESIDENT OBAMA'S TIME.
if it means running the government with the "Kiss" formula, then when it comes to making decisions on war and peace, if Sarah Palin were President, we would have a lot to worry about. Yes, I can understand what Maureen Dowd is talking about and yes, President Obama should be more demonstrative and fight for issues with more passion, but the strength, power, and purpose to live up to campaign promises with respect to Afghan military policy should take time. There are too many examples in history where haste and simple talk got us into wars we should have not been in.
But what is so clear is that Sarah Palin's Kiss formula has no depth and substance, no full understanding of the problems of our country.
And Maureen Dowd should sometimes get off her perch and come down to earth to see what us people look for leadership.

Maybe some fiscal responsibility! Maybe he could learn that a stimulus bill is meant to stimulate, not push your agenda. Maybe he could learn the definition of what a federal republic is. Maybe he should learn what the word "transparent" means. Maybe he should learn that in times of war, people die while you're making up your mind. Maybe he could learn that states loan their power to the central government. Maybe he could learn not to throw away a couple centuries of contract law just so you can appease your buddies. Maybe he can learn...lots. He was an active Senator for how many days before taking over as President? He was too inexperienced then and he's too inexperienced now and he is over his head. He obviously has a LOT he needs to learn.

President Obama is having problem because he's too good and too nice. You can never be a good president if you are too good. There is nothing Obama can learn from Sarah Palin because she has nothing tangible and intelligent to offer for a "good person" like Obama.

Sarah Palin will beat Barack Hussein Obama in 2012 and will be elected President.

Sarah Palin much like G.W. Bush appeals to the average voter while Obama comes across being pretentious and out of touch with the average voter much like Al Gore and John Kerry.

one thing we should all have learned by now is that experience as a community organizer does not prepare a person to make the kind of decisions a president needs to make.

Learn? How about what not to do. Why are we still talking about this woman? She is at the very least a comedy show and the best just another joke from the right.

All that "executive experience" really is paying off for Palin, she just quits the governorship of Alaska, what a joke, I wish the media would just get off this presidential 2012 run hype. She is the most clueless person. I don't want someone less clueless than George Bush to be president. A president should at least be able to form simple sentences on her own and know a little about whats going on in the world. If she weren't so pretty would she be getting so much attenttion?

Palin is a media whore who left office to do a book deal and get rich...nothing more. Obama has a REAl JOB and it is very stressful. He doesn't have time to walk around with a wink and a smile. He has a huge mess to clean up (something more substantial than worrying about Levi Johnston's Playgirl shoot). The rest of the world is laughing at the US Media's obsession with this woman.

He could learn that most people that comment on these articles think that SNL is a cold, hard fact news program (as evidenced by most of these posts)

Learn from Sarah Palin? Jack...Come on.

Mr. Obama's doing fine. He's shored up the free-falling mess the GOP left, his health care bill is about to pass freeing him up for new work. I would hope he'd stop worrying about proving himself able to act cautiously and follow "old-school" advice on the economy like the bailout, though saving the banks was probably a cruel necessity...One which the GOP now wishes to claim was all his and Tim Geitner's idea. I'll be eager to see what's next and I hope he'll focus more on individuals with new homeowner support programs and community economic development.

The GOP can keep Mr. Bush and Ms. Palin, two clowns who prate about responsibility and can't wait to duck both. But then, given the ridiculous attempts to put the economic collapse at Obama's door via Geitner, the GOP isn't much as far as "responsibility" goes. It seems the GOP buck stops on our plate. Whatever screaming fools yell in the meantime we will remember that President Obama picked it up and is running with it.

That patriotism comes from the heart and not from the head or mouth.
That leadership is not aquired. You either have it or you don't.
That sometimes listening is worth much more than a teleprompted speech.
That character and who you associate with matter.
The BEST presidents let the people, not the unions form the agenda.
Leadship often requires REAL bipartisanship as diplayed throughout her political career in Alaska.

How to actually run something successfully. I would not trust Obama to run a McDonald's franchise and he is the leader the free world. I would not vote for Palin for President but she and half the free world could do a better job as President than Obama.

Maturation is extremely important and goofing off is a no-no!

I'll try again since I seem to have been censored last time. oh well, Americans are very, shall we say, afraid of discussion. Anyway, Obama should and could learn nothing from S Palin. He is a brain and she is a drain. Let's not assume that every attention-seeker is worthy of attention. Now go away, Sarah, and stay away.

Obama can learn from Sarah Palin, how be an honstly real and genuine person.

He can learn that you need to dumb things down, make completely false statements emphatically, quit when things aren't going your way, use your looks instead of your intellect and be as divisive and hateful as you can be.
Vincent

Sarah speaks from her heart and gut; not from the teleprompter. He never seems tobe talking about what he believes, but from some prepared statement that someone has prepared for him. Maybe, he is not as intelligent that you are making him out to be.

Reading some of these comments is so sad - so many people just don't get it. Everybody can learn something from someone else - Even Pres. Obama can learn something from Sarah Palin, and vice versa. These folks and their false feelings of superiority, who feel that Sarah Palin and those who support her are beneath them are quicklyl becoming the downfall of this country. They just don't understand how an opposing point of view is equally valid to their own. If they stop with the hateful rhetoric for just a moment, and learn to listen, they might be surprised at what they learn.

Jack,

He can learn from Sarah how to value life (be anti-abortion), respect and appreciate the military (by not bringing terrorists into the US to get press coverage and follow the advice of his generals ), turn the economy around (look at what Sarah did in Alaska!), and not to hang out with terrorist minded radicals.

He can also lears from her not to underestimate people who don't agree with you. His fall will be hard.

Since Sarah Palin is good at filling her books with lies, starting the death pannel lie, the best lesson to learn is do Not make the same mistakes she makes of speaking without thinking.

Obama can learn from Palin that B.S. and lies don't work anyomre.

WHAT? Older folks are tired of entitlement mentality and like what she's saying? The one who said that is an idiot! I'm 73, a VERY independent Independent, on Social Security Retirement and I think she should just stay in Alaska and shut her stupid mouth. I've got a son who makes poor wages while trying to raise his four kids all by himself; if it weren't for entitlement, the five of them would be in DEEP trouble. And I know others who, through no fault of their own, gets government aid. Oh, by the way, she can take Rush to Alaska, too.

Look at what having a average Joe in the whitehouse did to our country. Isn't it funny that republicans clammer to drive our nation into the ground, and then want in turn to elect another clone of the previous.

Sarah Palin teaches us that no substance and all talk and clever sound bites attract the lowest common denominator. Unfortunately, she caters and appeals to the Jerry Springer crowd. Is that what the Republican Party has become? I have the perfect title to her next book: No Brains.. no headaches.

Obama could learn you do not want to be anything like this sloga-slinging, narcisisstic, divisive woman who brings out the worst in America....you in the media know this woman is not even remotely qualified to hold any position of responsibility. I have no clue why you continue to elevate her ego – she is NOT NEWS!!! Please, give us real news and in-depth analysis of issues that are IMPOPRTANT.

Just because she has folksy sayings that tap into the hatred of a certain segment of American society does not mean she deserves coverage – it means we should all be afraid of this ego-driven average person. You lower yourselves to her level by covering her. Does it really matter how many books she sold? Oh, that's right....we should elect her because she wrote a book. Obama wrote a book, but he has a brain – she doesn't.

Not a damn Thing. Palin is a lightweight intellectually. I wish people would stop with all of this she's smart, she's the new leader of the Conservative Movement. If this Person came anywhere near being the President of the United States, you think Bush was an embarassment, you haven't seem anything.

I wonder what the other more qualified Republican women think of her. Palin has sucked all of the oxygen out of the room as far as the men are concerned. Chris Mathews of Hardball and Pat Buchannan think she is just Wonderful.

Shows you how they really think.

Obama could learn from Sarah Palin how to balance a budget! Sheeze... a $1.4 trillion dollar budget deficit compliments of Obama. Obama could learn from Sarah Palin how to create real jobs! The Alaska Highway Pipeline will create jobs in construction, manufacturing, computer science, data processing, and engineering.

Jack – Sarah Palin has taught us the new way that politics is done. The Democrats may have the better message, but the Republicans are much louder and more aggressive with their message and somehow, through all their noise, they are also able to distort reality and present lies and half-truth's as facts. The question isn't if President Obama can learn from Sarah Palin, the real question is...does he WANT to or, to paraphrase Joe Friday, should he 'stick to the facts'? Personally, I'd much rather have an unpopular president who tells it to us like it is than one who is more well-liked and full of BS, like Palin and her GOP cronies are.