The ubiquitous and delightfully hambone Bill Shatner provides a superb example on the O'Brien "Tonight Show" of how Sarah Palin has moved into the iconic landscape and looks more important to Hollywood than to Washington. The Alaska trope must have magical powers for it to appeal so deeply to the creatures who must ride around on the 5 and the 10. Is it a Sunset Boulevard fantasy vacation? I read the William F. Buckley delicious tale today that in 1964, when Buckley and other insiders were preparing to boost Barry Goldwater to the nomination, they met in secret session in Florida and planned how to separate the GOP right-wing from the John Birchers. The Bircher belief that flouridation of the water was sapping our national strength, more than the Bircher belief that Ike was a Communist agent, compelled the Goldwaterites they they must go forward without the deeply delusional Birchers vote. Shrewd decision.  The conservatives won the nomination, lost the election, shepherded Ronald Reagan, dominated 1981-1988, fostered a new generation unstained by the Birchers loonies.  At the time, they joked they should send all Birchers to Alaska.