Cody Gault '11 explains why much of America needs to get with the times.

New columnist Maggie Henry '14 kicks off her tenure with a look at the political pundit climate before and after Tuscon.

In her blind opposition to President Barrack Obama's every decision, Sarah Palin is inciting a dangerous group of militant lunatics.

There are some things you just don’t say. Like, “that’s retarded.” Don’t say it. Really, just don’t. Oh, unless it’s satire. Then it’s cool … yeah, satire is fair game. At least according to Sarah Palin.

It started with Rahm Emanuel, who, in a private meeting, referred to a group of liberal democrats who wanted to campaign against blue dog democrats as “fucking retarded.” Not exactly something you would expect from a Presidential Chief of Staff, though it may be something you expect from Rahm Emanuel. Sarah Palin was quick to pounce on this indiscretion, calling for his resignation. A bit extreme of a demand in my opinion, but hey, Palin’s a bit extreme of a person. Aside from her suggestion of punishment, I also agreed with her: it was entirely inappropriate, even in a private setting. But Rahm did his best to make amends, meeting with Tim Shriver, the CEO of the Special Olympics, as well as other disability advocates, and making his apologies clear to the public.

Let’s face it: appearances are important. Just ask Sarah Palin.

At the first Tea Party Conference last week in Nashville, the former Alaskan governor and beauty queen gave herself — and the Tea Party — a makeover.

Our new favorite ex-Governor turned Fox News contributor returns in this issue of the Sun to remind you of all her excellent 2009 exploits. Come on, whatever your political ideology, you know you laughed when Glenn Beck read to her what he had written in his diary.

Those of you who flipped through The Sun’s opinion section last week may be under the impression that Cornell suffers from a widespread case of prejudice. Last Tuesday, columnist Andrew Daines ’10 argued that a persistent anti-religious bias permeates our ivory tower. “Faith,” he wrote, “[and] specifically the faith of others, seems to be a source of mistrust on campus.” He continues, “It is an unfortunate and very real feature of our campus life that faith-based political beliefs are often rejected out of hand.”

Over the past year, we have witnessed the rise and fall of Hillary Clinton followed by the rise, and continued rise of Sarah Palin. This bizarre occurrence has caused me to wonder, what is so fundamentally frightening about an intelligent woman?

Having been raised in one of the most shallow, beauty-conscious places in the country (yes, I’m from the O.C.), I empathize with women and the choice they often feel compelled to make between beauty and brains. How is it possible to embody both?

For many women in this country, Sarah Palin, the beauty queen turned hockey-mom-of-five turned politician is an angel sent from heaven to show us the light, to reveal the long-lost secret to female success. She’s everything women want to be; she’s the crème de la crème of feminism.

Last week, presidential candidate John McCain choked on a big fat Viagra pill. From the comfort of my own home, I watched in horror as the dear old geezer coughed and stuttered, his cheeks flushed and his doe eyes brimming with confusion and panic.

They say the greatest sign of insanity is when you repeat an action over and over, expecting different outcomes. Once again, (this time during the second presidential debate), McCain was asked to account for his tacit approval of health insurance companies who cover Viagra for men but not birth control for women.

He’s made the mistake before. But maybe he figured that blabbering like an idiot … again … when asked the question would make the big bad journalists go away for good.

MAVERICK. MAVERICK.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The politically charged investigation into Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is over, and its conclusions are stinging. But the fallout, if any, might not come until Election Day.

A legislative investigator found that Palin violated state ethics laws and abused her power by trying to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper.

The next move may be at the ballot box. The legislative committee that released the report Friday recommends no criminal investigation and has no authority to sanction the governor, the Republican vice presidential nominee.