a photo opp or raising awareness?

Only time will tell of course but this looks like nothing more than a photo op done at the expense of a very sick old woman. Palin is trying to paint herself as the next Ronald Reagan and being able to give the appearance of a relationship between herself and Thatcher would help to reinforce that image. Someone mentioned that she met with Billy Graham, who is also elderly, but the *difference* is that the Rev. Graham was capable of having a conversation with Mrs. Palin during that meeting. According to Thatcher's daughter, her mother was unable to finish a sentence two years ago and we all know that this illness is progressive. Palin is not out to raise awareness of this illness...she is out to raise awareness of herself standing next to a former world leader who should not be taken advantage of like that.

Here I am catching up again, a day late and a dollar short, so to speak... Well it could be a photo opp, could be that Palin genuinely admires Thatcher. My reaction to the meeting is "whatever". As for dementia, it is very sad. I hope that if I get it, I have the presence to shoot myself or something before it gets to the point where I don't recognize anybody. Well, maybe something less messy than shooting...

I knew she was going over, but I had no idea why. Thatcher was elected around the time I first really started becoming politically aware, but still pretty green. she seemed to me as you said, to be a pretty strong intelligent woman. She was to me the quintessential British "strong" woman figure. As to her policies, I know she was a pretty staunchly strong national defense type, no nonsense, "fighting the communists" type. As to her domestic policies and what she did for (or to) the U.K. I couldn't really say. Regardless of her politics, she was a pretty good person I guess, shame to see her fall to this, I had no idea it even happened. Is Palin trying to keep her feet in the political waters? Perhaps. Right now she is just a news analyst and an activist. She may well still run in the republican primaries in 2012, though I think realization she knows deep down she won't win. Not that I dislike her, because I don't know her and from what I do see, as just another human being on the planet, she seems like "my kinda people". I wouldn't vote for her in the primaries because she would be too divisive and we disagree too much on issues of foreign policy, national security, civil liberties and natural law. I plan on supporting Ron Paul.

If one is a fan of Palin, no doubt they would hope that the strength and intelligence of Margaret Thatcher will appear to be a shared trait. At least fans would hope that undecideds would think that. If one is not a fan, one could easily addopt the opinion that Palin is exploiting a famous figure with a horrible illness. If Terry Pratchett is also at the affair, perhaps it could raise awareness. I don't see Palin as thinking so much about public awareness and fundraising for something other than herself. Just my opinion....

Palin is the best thing that ever happened to that side of the pond. Bow.

Hello, Judith. Call me cynical, but I just think Sarah Palin wants to keep her name out there. Don't think it will do either lady much good, however you look at it.

Even in later term dimentia, the person still knows a lot of what happened BEFORE. I would have LOVED to sit down with Reagan even in his later years. I am not sure how Palin is taking advantage by visiting her. Maybe she has a true curiosity about Ms Thatcher, I know I do.

First of all, I must apologize, I thought I'd already responded to this discussion! I haven't been quite with it lately since my surgery. Anyway, are you kidding me...Sister Sarah, or "Saint Sarah", as Newsweek called her, "raising awareness"...roflmfao? She wants to raise awareness of herself and raise her bank account at the same time, that's about it. On the other hand, she just might raise awareness of how opportunistic she is, taking advantage of a sick old lady who is nothing but a shell of her former self! Annie