"Energy", "Tax" "Lift American Spirits" "Budget cuts" . Seven words on the palm of former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin caused hundreds, maybe thousands of media stories, including many on Newsvine. WHY. Slow news week, mass boredom, partisanship, Palin hate? At a time of massive snowstorms shutting down major cities, new threats from Iran, near death of health care, trillions in debt and other real problems, why the major media fixation on a few words written on a hand?

Most media published photos showing notes on Palin's hand during her speech to the Tea Party convention. notes on talking points for what was a major speech in her political comeback. Palin, former Alaska governor has often been in the news since her unsuccessful run for the vice presidency. She recently refused to rule out running for president in 2012. Palin is one of the most outspoken Republican critics of president Barack Obama,

Most media stories on this "news event" have mocked Palin, called her stupid, unfit to be president. To me this seems much like a scared young boy loudly proclaiming no fear of a dead person yet trembling over the prospect of walking past a cemetery. It is an attempted preemptive strike to take out what they fear will be a strong opponent in 2012. If Palin was really that inept Democrats would welcome her as an opponent of Obama in 2012.

Is there any rational reason a few words would raise such a vociferous storm of partisan protest?