Oh, it isn't necessarily Palin's crosshairs map that's put an end to her political career. (I'm very interested in hearing what Palin's bully chorus on am talk radio say in her defense today.) It's the fact that Gifford actually responded by saying (words to the effect) that kind of speech would beget violence. That made Gifford into a type of oracle. Therein lies the news story.

But make no mistake, Palin's political career is over.