My principle issue with Palin, after starting off as a huge fan, is the strident and demagogic nature of her speeches. More distressing is her lack of grasp of issues. Granted, I am biased. My first conservative hero was WFB, Jr. I have always gravitated more towards the thinking conservatives as opposed to instinctual conservatives (think Pat Buchanan and perhaps Rush). It's not that I don't appreaciate them I just expect a certain intellectual rigor in our leaders.

RR spoke of optimism, even in the darkest days. Just check out his impromptu speech at the convention in '76. His career was believed to be over and here he was addressing the convention against his better judgement.

"This is our challenge; and this is why here in this hall tonight, better than we have ever done before, we have got to quit talking to each other and about each other and go out and communicate to the world that we may be fewer in numbers than we have ever been, but we carry the message they are waiting for.

We must go forth from here united, determined that what a great general said a few years ago is true: There is no substitute for victory, Mr. President."

You know the famous phrase "History begins where you want it to when you want to win an argument." I loved Reagan more than I can say. He was able to be magnanimous because the Republicans had defeated Jimmy Carter, added to their numbers and then elected Bush. But did you ever hear him speak that sweetly when he was talking about the evil empire? He told it like it was with precision and beauty.

Now Palin is not here giving an uplifting speech. She is reacting to a disgusting regime which lies and usurps power and money from all of us, "We, the people". She is giving them the same treatment, which they deserve, that Reagan gave communist governments. Onward, Palin and keep giving 'em hell.

There is also a difference in the tone between Ms. Palin and RR. While Ms. Palin is proud to be the flagbearer of resentment RR was something much different. He sought to uplift and look towards the future. Ms. Palin seeks to score points with vague rhetoric and attack. I will close with his words from his final address before the RNC in 1992. Words that struck me when I first heard them and still inspire me to this day.

"And whatever else history may say about me when I'm gone, I hope it will record that I appealed to your best hopes, not your worst fears, to your confidence rather than your doubts. My dream is that you will travel the road ahead with liberty's lamp guiding your steps and opportunity's arm steadying your way.

My fondest hope for each one of you -- and especially for the young people here -- is that you will love your country, not for her power or wealth, but for her selflessness and her idealism. May each of you have the heart to conceive, the understanding to direct, and the hand to execute works that will make the world a little better for your having been here.

May all of you as Americans never forget your heroic origins, never fail to seek divine guidance, and never lose your natural, God-given optimism.

And finally, my fellow Americans, may every dawn be a great new beginning for America and every evening bring us closer to that shining city upon a hill."