I had posted this several days ago when it was originally put on the Daily Camera's blog. But since it appeared in today's Sunday print edition in a much more readable format, I'm posting it again. I dare say that Palin's lack of knowledge (including her ability to reason coherently) has become even more evident in the last few days. Take her interview with Charlie Gibson, where she flatly explains her support of earmarks for mayors and governors, while at the very same time denouncing them! Dumbfounding. As it happens, the NYT just published a letter of mine on this same topic: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/18/opinion/l18brooks.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Suffering through ABC’s interview with Palin convinces me more than ever she is completely devoid of any mental acumen, which places her at the mercy of those with their own political agendas. The article brings up an interesting side point: Bush runs his presidency like a CEO. Although business people love to brag that their executive abilities provide an excellent resumé for political office, business experience is actually a hindrance in politics, which requires the ability to achieve consensus in order to succeed. Businesses are dictatorships which eliminate dissents with two words: "You're fired!"

The opinion puts a focus on the need for a candidate with knowledge, drawing upon the example of the lack of knowledge and curiosity of bush. Could she change her name to Sarah Bush?

It states some essentials that have been overlooked: that the President is not, if the Constitution counts, a CEO who can act independently; that knowledge and an intelligence that is both broad and deep matter. (We also seem to have forgotten that the match-up is between McCain and Obama; Palin and Biden. Somehow all that has changed so that it is between Palin and Obama, the two bright stars.)

This is an opinion well based in the facts.

This is a commentary and it is clear the author has opinions. I agree that Sarah Palin does not appear as a person who reads widely and thinks about issues regularly.

This opinion piece has no journalistic merit. It provides an opinion without bothering to support it with facts. It ignores the fact that Palin took on the Republican establishment and then the most prominent Democratic old guard member and won both times, while Obama won his Senate seat against a non-entity and has done essentially nothing while in the Senate (giving up his work there to campaign starting in 2007). It ignores the lack of executive experience of both Obama and Biden compared with Palin.

It was almost agonizing to read this about Sarah Palin. It is like a nightmare actually and hard to believe McCain did this and even harder to believe he is running even with Obama. This woman is not qualified for more than the first job she had as mayor of town, which doesn't require much acumen or intelligence. For tiny towns like Wasilla anyway. It is a very lightly populated state and being governor of Alaska, which seems to be a haven for people who just can't or won't make it in most of the United States doesn't give Palin any credibility either. Her interview was painful to watch and she is obviously ignorant for what it takes to be in the position she has been nominated for. She has very chequered background and her ... More »

Very well put, and pointing to the real problems with the Palin nomination.

Sara Palin has MORE command experience than Obama and Biden together.......Mayor, Governor,Command Alaska Nat Guard........Wow..McCain commands a Naval Fighter Squadron...and we have 143 days in the Senate for Obama...talk about "thin" ..............