Can someone tell us how it is that people see moral distinctions—and they do—among the use of teleprompter (evil), speech text (acceptable, but not as cool as off-the-cuff) and, now, the crib-notes on Palin’s palm?
We value the off-the-cuff remarks so fondly. But do we also believe that thinking about what wants to say ahead of time is a sin?
Speechwriters should be first and best at pointing out the intellectual inconsistency, sentimentality and utter foolishness of this American attitude.