== Margaret Thatcher and "reception" == 
 I've seen several UK-based and US-based commentators/columnists note an eerie similarity between Palin and Thatcher, such as these articles:  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/09/04/do0404.xml and http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122143727571134335.html?mod=special_page_campaign2008_mostpop . This should be touched on in the reception section, particulalry in light of the claims the "intense scrutiny" was only a result of Palin being a new political commodity. Obama who was similarly unknown received little to no scrutiny by the mainstream media outside of Fox news. It took them a year to find out about his racist, bigot of a reverend despite Wright's very well known controversial church and speeches and controversial associations, like Farrahkan, and the fact that video evidence of his extremist views were readily available.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by     

 Further, I have serious issues with the claims that "only republicans" have seen the attacks on Palin as unfair. Highly notable and visible democrats like Kirsten Powers and Geraldine Ferraro, among many others, have come out condeming the unfair media attacks on Palin.