Sarah Palin never served in the military but she was nonetheless deeply moved by the plight of World War II veterans shut out from the national memorial. So what's a half-term governor from Alaska to do except show up at the vets' demonstration in Washington to grab a little attention lend her support to the valiant effort of keeping the government shut down for everybody else?

In a discussion on tonight’s On The Record, Greta Van Susteren proved she’s still Palin’s BFF. Van Susteren pretended (or maybe actually believed) that Palin might really run for the U.S. Senate. Even though a few weeks ago, Palin announced on Fox that she was too worried about her children being corrupted by Washington to run.

This time, Palin said coyly, “Do they have, like, moose huntin’ around here? Are there many, like, fly fishing streams through the city? The things that I’m used to with my lifestyle up in Alaska. It would be quite the tradeoff.”

But, Sarah, all those newspapers you read would be so close at hand! And just think how much easier it will be to promote your War on Christmas book, which must be coming out any day now, eh?

But Van Susteren, still not reading the Tea Party leaves, seemed to think that meant Palin was still mulling over a run. Van Susteren asked, “So how’s it weighing right now?”

Palin was touchingly selfless. If you believed her. She said, “I just want to be here and anywhere else across this great nation that would allow some assistance provided to the good guys. To those who know how to defend our republic, fight for freedom, not let things like his happen where a commander-in-chief would disrespect our military, our vets, by shutting down the memorials that remind us of the cost that they have already paid the price for, for our freedom. So I just want to help the good guys.”

Instead of asking how, exactly, Palin was helping when those “good guys” didn’t want her there, Van Susteren asked for Palin’s “thoughts” on ending the shutdown. Palin's “thoughts?” Keep up the shutdown!

The good guys, those who have already voted and decided to fund essential services in government, they cannot capitulate at this time. They cannot wave a white flag and say, ‘OK, Mr. President and Democrats, you can have your blank check . We are already $17 trillion in debt.’ We can not tell them go ahead, you can have your blank check and keep incurring more and more debt and bankrupt this great country of ours. So number one is the Republicans have to stand strong and not give in.

As she spoke, a banner on the screen read, “SHUTDOWN SOLUTION: PALIN’S PLAN TO RE-OPEN THE GOVERNMENT.”

Palin continued:

It ends with the people at places like this, having their voice heard, telling our leaders that they’d better get their priorities straight. Priorities like, “No, you don’t shut down our World War II Memorial and keep the president’s golf course open at the same time.” (A demeaning picture of a golfing Obama just happened to flash on the screen as she spoke)

Presumably, Palin was talking about the golf course at Andrews Air Force Base. But somehow, despite all those newspapers she reads, she missed the fact that the Andrews Air Force Base golf course is open because it is funded by user fees.

Van Susteren didn’t mention that either, even though the “Obama’s golf course is open, the veterans’ memorial is closed” meme is big right now in the right wing blogosphere.

As a crowd cheered behind her, Palin said, “You don’t make stupid decisions that stick it to the people because the people are being used as pawns.”

Said the woman who had no reason to be there except to use the people as pawns.

Palin held a little American flag as she spoke.

Palin added, “I think the people would say, ‘Thank you good guys for being there, fighting the good fight for the rest of us.’”

Actually, the people say nothing of the sort. A whopping 74% of Americans disapprove of how Congressional Republicans are handling the budget negotiations that are at the heart of the shutdown, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. That’s 13 points higher than the disapproval of Congressional Democrats. A recent Gallup poll found that approval of the Republican Party fell 10 points since last month to a dismal 28%, the lowest ever polled.

But Van Susteren didn’t correct the record.