A political odd couple at DC dinner

Adam Nagourney of the New York Times reminds that a couple of rather intriguing political figures are the featured speakers Saturday night at the Gridiron Dinner, the annual Washington insider-ish gathering of the power elite and various hangers on.

One is former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, who is a Joan of Arc to a rather large segment of conservative America -- and an object of derision for the other part.

She probably only deepened feelings in both camps, with the release of a video today by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

"No one person has all the right answers," the 2008 vice presidential candidate said. "It takes a united nation, and it does take godly counsel, and it takes prayer and answers to prayer -- and a collective humble heart of a nation seeking God's hand of protection and his blessings of prosperity. I think if we can get back to that, our country will be a safer, more prosperous and healthier nation."

The other speaker is Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts, he of the rapier, withering wit, who can lampoon and skewer political foes with the best of them.

They are on opposite poles politically and culturally, so the dinner, supposedly off-the-record, should be fascinating. And that's even before the Salahis try to crash the dinner.