SARAH?  AGAIN? – AT 9:21 A.M. ET:  Sarah Palin is apparently under consideration to be secretary of veterans affairs.  From ABC News: 

Sarah Palin is under consideration for secretary of veterans affairs, a close Palin aide and a top Donald Trump transition official told ABC News.

The Palin aide said that Palin recently told Trump transition officials, "I feel as though the megaphone I have been provided can be used in a productive and positive way to help those desperately in need."

The Department of Veterans Affairs is the largest government agency, with over 300,000 federal employees and a budget of $182 billion for 2017.

Palin's son-in-law and Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer posted a SarahPAC video to his Facebook page earlier this week, with excerpts from a speech she gave that heavily focuses on her work with veterans and her connection to the community. Her eldest son, Track Palin, served in Iraq in 2008. The video, which is not new, seems to clearly show her interest in the position, and in he speech she hits the VA "bureaucracy," saying it is "killing our vets."

The speech includes Sarah Palin's ideas on reforming the VA, including improved health care, using military skills to return to the workforce and securing their benefits. The speech also includes a criticism of Barack Obama.

COMMENT:  Obviously, eyebrows will be raised.  Sarah has a way of being controversial, and has brought some legitimate criticism on herself. 

But consider:  She was governor of Alaska, an executive position, with remarkably high approval ratings.  She has a demonstrated commitment to vets.  Her son is a veteran.  Her son-in-law has received the nation's highest medal.  True, her campaign for vice president in 2008 showed her unready for the national political stage, but her managerial record is fine, her passion is in the right place, and, when properly prepared, she is a great communicator. 

Confirmation might be a problem, and a serious one.  Dems would probably vote against her as a solid bloc.  And Sarah's lesser antics could chip away enough GOP votes to deny her the position.  I personally think she'd do a capable job, but Trump might understandably decide that the controversy wouldn't be worth it.

December 30,  2016