Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

"Going Rogue" is Sarah Palin's summary of life up to her decision to resign as Alaska governor. It is dedicated to 'Patriots who love the U.S.A. as much as I do.' "Going Rogue" consists of six chapter, has 68 color photos, no reference to Levi Johnston (father of her grandson), and no index. The cover would have one believe she wrote the book herself - omitting mention of her ghost writer, Lynn Vincent. About one-quarter is devoted to her early childhood in Alaska. It contains no policy proposals, and ends by thanking (by name) most, if not all, Fox News personages. L.A. Times writers Robin Abcarian and Maeve Reston probably summarized the book best by saying it was all about 'redemption and revenge,' a strange way to thank those who brought her to national visibility. Palin would have readers believe the McCain camp leaders were disorganized and incompetent (dishing the McCain team to make it clear that of her campaign stumbles were their fault?), perhaps even dishonest (billing Palin $50,000 for vetting her background). As for gratefulness to McCain et al - Palin felt being nominated for V.P. was a natural progression (after less than two years as governor). Other details include denying trying to ban any books in the Wasilla library ([...]), though she did fire the librarian for not being supportive enough (rescinded after townspeople protested). In fact, she goes on to claim having a 'special passion for reading' and 'name-drops' Aristotle, Paine, Pascal, Plato, Twain, and others - clearly a effort to undo her pathetic response to Katie Couric's "What books do you read?" (Palin does admit to stumbling during the interview, but also takes a few digs - assessing Couric as having 'low self-esteem' and looking for a 'gotcha moment.') As for her daughter's pregnancy, Palin danced around that one, again blaming the McCain campaign for the manner it was treated, ignoring her wish to keep it quiet. "Going Rogue" claims she welcomed going on Saturday Night Live to show that she could handle humor, yet copies of her campaign e-mails show she was anything but. (Palin looked stiff during her appearance, even refusing to appear in one of the skits.) She claims to have welcomed the Supreme Court 2008 Exxon Valdez decision, saying she'd had the state argue for the victims and the decision went in favor of people - actually the decision reduced punitive damages from $2.5 billion to $500 million. Alaska is described as a haven for those who don't want 'help' from government busybodies, despite receiving $1.84 for every dollar sent to D.C. in 2005 (Tax Foundation). Palin's most intense conflict with McCain managers occurred election night at the Biltmore Hotel - she wanted to speak and 'have the last word;' McCain's campaign leader had the stage lights and power turned off. Then there was her wanting to go to Michigan after the campaign wrote the state off. Other contenders for worst moments include her public opposition to the McCain-Palin campaign abandoning Michigan, her responding to a bogus call from a Canadian comedian posing as French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and the $150,000 'clothes horse' debacle (denied during the campaign, blamed on the campaign in the book). Lacking policy prescriptions, what are readers to derive from "Going Rogue?" The value of the book is it offers readers another view into the candidate's personality, competence, and integrity. McCain campaign operatives have publicly rebutted most of her charges against them - who does one believe? Palin's prior integrity problems (supporting the 'bridge to nowhere' before she opposed it; 'Troopergate,' billing Alaska for her children's travel - even when their presence was not requested; criticizing Obama for the $700 billion bailout that she praised McCain's voting for); her childishness (refusing to shake famed film director Oliver Stone's hand - supporter of Hugo Chavez), support of creationism, and recent paranoia (banning reporters, cell phones, and cameras at an overseas speech and in Milwaukee) do not create the image of an attractive (honest, competent) presidential candidate. Levi Johnston's first-hand assertions about Sarah Palin in an "Atlantic" article don't help Palin's image either - even as a wife, mother, or governor. Regardless, Sarah Palin's recent involvement in District 23 of New York, speaking engagements, the book tour, her otherwise inexplicable resignation as governor, coy comments about her future - all suggest she is running in 2012.