A reader writes:
My reaction to that Palin quote, in terms of its use to illuminate her fundamental mindset, is simply "eh." Those words, in that context, sound to me like a throwaway line, the sort of pat response that, down here in the South especially, can be tossed out at any unforeseen life-altering event. A promotion. A firing. Twins. A car wreck. To suggest that this choice of words was specific to her believing her ascension to power and prominence was foretold by God is, at least in this case, just reading too deeply. There's lots of strong evidence of crazy out there. Don't dilute it with the weak.
Another writes:
I have to admit that - even as a near agnostic - her comment "It's God's plan" might also have possibly have been a rare (and probably fake) moment of humility.
Religious types (as I'm sure you've encountered as a church going man) generally do believe that everything that happens is according to God's will. It doesn't always only include what might be viewed as good fortune. She probably would say her child being born with Special Needs is also God's plan, and there are some that wouldn't see that as a blessing. SO - as much as I share your view her that she is a whack job, for me, the "God's plan" comment doesn't necessarily reveal that she is.
Another:
You've neglected another possible explanation, beyond the delusional or Messiah complex. Simply put, nothing short of divine intervention could pull off the miracle of her being named the Veep candidate. Someone without much experience in elected office and none in foreign policy. Someone who doesn't read much of anything newsy and might even be called studiously incurious. A person without even a high-school level grasp of history. Someone from a state that isn't exactly a prize when it comes to delivering electoral votes. Hmmmmm... I beginning to think it HAD to be God's plan.