Was Palin Hired To Spite Katie Couric?

HOME POLITICS NATIONAL NEWS WORLD ECONOMY SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT Joe Conason Carl Hiaasen Connie Schultz E.J. Dionne Gene Lyons Jonathan Alter April 03, 2012 THE BIG STORY, BY MATT TAYLOR Wisconsin Voters: What Primary? We Want A Recall! Wisconsin Republicans may be voting in their presidential primary Tuesday, but many Badger State voters and activists are looking ahead to Republican Governor Scott Walker's recall election in June, when the Tea Party, the labor unions, and everyone else will deliver their judgment on the most polarizing politician in the Midwest. READ MORE FEATURED COLUMN: DAVID CAY JOHNSTON Why Funding Schools With Gambling Revenue Is A Bad Bet Politicians in both parties are betting that allowing more gambling will make them winners at the polls by raising revenue without appearing to raise taxes. As a longtime student of gambling companies and their regulation, I find these developments troubling. People who want to play should have an honest place to wager. But states should only allow, not encourage, gambling. Basic government services should not depend on gambling revenue, as Texas Governor Rick Perry's school finance proposal did. READ MORE FEATURED COLUMN: MARY SANCHEZ Marco Rubio's Grand GOP Rescue Plan (And Why It Probably Won't Work) Why punish the children of undocumented immigrants when they are eager to be college-educated, tax-paying additions to the U.S. economy? The answer is: because the Tea Party says you should. And Marco Rubio, in his first task to prove what he can do for the GOP, says he's going to set this ship upright. Good luck, senator. You will need it -- if your bill has any substance. READ MORE ANOTHER NEW LOW Sarah Palin Co-Hosting NBC's 'Today' Show (To Spite Katie Couric) Sarah Palin will serve as a co-host on NBC's "Today" show on Tuesday, making her a temporary member of the "lamestream" media that she so frequently derides. NBC, which announced the move on its website on Sunday night, claims that the former Alaska governor will "reveal a different side" of her that viewers have never seen. For her part, however, Palin promised to show at least some of the angry conservatism that made her famous. READ MORE FEATURED COLUMN: JEFF MADRICK The Insane Myth About Government That Won't Die Trust in government now is very low. But trust in government has been falling on balance since the late 1960s and took an especially large hit in the 1970s. The nation hasn't truly regained its confidence in it ever since. In fact, the nation has been vulnerable to mythology and misinformation that has seriously damaged America's future. READ MORE APRIL MADNESS Dozens Arrested Immediately After Kentucky Wins NCAA Tournament Police in Kentucky said they arrested several dozen people following the Wildcats' 67-59 win over Kansas in the NCAA championship game Monday night. Fans filled the streets near the university's Lexington campus within minutes of the game's conclusion. They jumped up and down, screamed, sprayed beer and waved Kentucky flags. Lexington police had arrested several dozen people by the time the game had been over only a few minutes, police spokeswoman Sherelle Roberts said. READ MORE CARTOON OF THE DAY   (c) 2012 Eastern Harbor Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 28 West 27th Street, Suite 502 New York, NY 10001