As IF Times

link Poll: Six in 10 say Sarah Palin would be ineffective as president – On Politics: Covering the US Congress, Governors, and the 2010 Election – USATODAY.com.

Not that this is surprising given the source of the poll.  CBS and Vanity Fair are not normally known for their unbiased reportage.  Nevertheless, let’s take the poll at face value.  Let’s accept that 60% do not think that Palin would be an effective President.  We don’t know exactly what the qualifier of ‘effective’ means. 

Does the measure of effectiveness mean the ability to communicate with the people?  If so, this flies in the face of observed events since Palin commands large boisterous crowds wherever she speaks.  She still dominates headlines whenever she makes a policy statement and she’s not even holding elected office.  Her messages are widely popular as manifest by the election of candidates that she endorses.  More importantly, she connects with the people at an emotional level with her simple, unconfused messages about values which resonate with Americans.  Her messages are consistent and do not contradict each other depending on her audience.  In addition, she does this without the famous teleprompter of another famous politician so renowned for eloquence.

Does effective mean the ability to run and administer a government?  She actually HAS done that and by all accounts, very successfully.  While the affairs of a single state do not equate with the affairs of an entire country, there at least is a track record of success and experience. 

Does effective mean the ability to negotiate the U.S.’s position on the international stage?  This issue may be a leap of faith, but given the rhetoric offered by Palin over the past 2 years on the national stage, it’s a fair guess that she would not be as accommodating to nations that are openly hostile to American interests.  It’s a safe bet that the interests of Americans would take priority over the wants and bleatings of some belligerent nation states.   It’s unlikely that there would be equivocation on the position of America on major issues involving its security.

Does effective mean the ability to restore America’s employment picture and to revive old industries and stimulate new ones?  That’s iffy, but in fairness, that unknown is faced by every President.  From the perspective of how jobs are created and what has made the U.S. the dominant economy for the past 80 or 90 years however, Palin’s capitalist views are more likely to nurture confidence  than the socialist, redistributive policies pushed by the present incumbent. 

Does effective mean the ability to rally Americans and restore the pride and confidence of a nation rather than cowering in regret and apology?  Again, a leap of faith, but judging by the present circumstances however, the bar there is set pretty low. 

Finally, according to the left leaning Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/29/AR2010082903848.html  the President’s approval rating hovers somewhere between 34 and 40 percent, about the same or less than those that approve Palin.  So therefore, as many people think Palin is as qualified as the President!  This is after showing the goods for 2 years.  I’d say the poll should read, “Palin equally qualified as the President”.

link Massive solar storm to hit Earth in 2012 with force of 100m bombs – Yahoo! India News.

Just when you think it’s safe to come out, another imminent disaster for mankind rears its head.  I suppose it’s possible that a solar storm of 100 million bombs will hit earth.  It’s also possible that aliens at this very minute are thinking of nuking the earth with an earth shattering kaboom because it’s obstructing their view of Alpha Centauri as in the old Bugs Bunny cartoon.

There must be a disaster control room somewhere where pessimists congregate to lay out the next calamity to hit man.  Obviously an influential group because over the years, this gang has brought us the following dire warnings, some natural and some man made:

Looming ice age/Global Cooling  http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2010/20100517155839.aspx

Overpopulation  http://www.science.org.ge/3-1/Kapitza.pdf

Food Crisis  http://www.voanews.com/english/news/environment/UN-Expert-Warns-of-Looming-World-Food-Crisis–86256217.html

Water Shortage  http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/07/02/28/the-water-shortage-crisis-in-america–amp-the-world-a-quick-overview-of-a-most-dangerous-crisis.htm

Energy/Oil Crisis  http://futurepositive.synearth.net/facing-the-truth/

Nuclear annihilation  http://www.globalcrisisnews.com/world/castro-warns-of-nuclear-war-breaking-out-very-soon/id=1713/

Banking Crisis  http://www.forbes.com/2010/03/03/banking-crisis-globalization-opinions-contributors-peter-mandelson.html

And of course, Global warming, we won’t need links to that.  It’s a wonder anyone bothers to plan beyond Christmas holidays or make loans longer than one year.  People must have an affinity for darkness and gloom akin to the attraction that teenagers have for horror flicks.  It’s genuinely amazing that man has been able to dodge all these existence ending bullets for all these years.  What’s even more amazing is that doomsayers continue to attract the attention of people, or more precisely, politicians who waste money on dumb programs based on imminent extinction.

If we are to be imminently bombarded by a force of 100 million bombs (  think Austin Powers’ Dr. Evil  ), what exactly are we supposed to do as a species?  It’s probably too late to jump to another planet since the lead time for making enough spaceships is too short.  Especially if they are to be union built.  Even if we could, who would get on board?  Politicians and actors first?  Would there be levels of accommodation in the cabins?  How would you get enough experienced drivers for the journey which could take up to 60 years barring heavy traffic.

It’s more likely that industries will pop up to create deflector shields which block the harm of such an impending calamity.  How, I don’t know, but you can bet government money will be mobilized to find a solution.  Do not laugh at the possibility of an extensive ‘use sunblock’ campaign, harking back to the tin foil hat solution during the nuclear war threat of the 1960’s.  Someone always makes money out of calamities which logically means the public gets fleeced.  Somewhere out there is the next disaster billionaire waiting for his time.

I wonder why there’s not a an equally influential Pollyanna club, that forsees nothing but good things for mankind.  Why doesn’t someone forecast the imminent onset of flowers and rainbows?  What if this looming massive dose of solar activity opens up large areas of the earth which are presently non arable? All of a sudden, the food crisis is solved.  What if the massive amount of sunlight melts icebergs and create not only plenty of fresh water, but also lots of new beachfront property?  I can already forsee a booming market for rose colored glasses.