At Least She Made ONE Good Decision

You have no idea how relieved I am by Sarah Palin's recent announcement that she will not be running for President. Not that I thought she had a legitimate chance - she's too polarizing a figure - but it's a relief nonetheless.

The woman is just completely nuts! It's a wonder she can get dressed in the morning. What's truly astounding to me is how many fans and supporters she has. Some of these people must be, on some level, strictly along for the ride - to see what crazy thing she'll do or say next - but others legitimately think she'd be a good politician. How anyone could honestly believe such a thing is beyond me. After all, Sarah Palin has made it astoundingly clear - without even much effort - just how incompetent she is when it comes to managing her personal affairs, never mind the business of an entire nation... for four years. Could you imagine? Anyone who thinks Palin has any idea what she's doing or saying you just kind of have to regard with a bemused smile while you start backing away slowly.

I won't lie: when she was tapped for VP in 2008, I was intrigued. Who was this nobody with no pretension and the no-frills attitude? Then she opened her mouth, and you knew pretty much right away she would never be anything more than a television personality. And let's be honest, that's what she is. I know she's been riding around in a bus for the last few months, claiming she's celebrating history or helping the American people in some obscure way, but really - Sarah Palin just doesn't have the insight, the moxie, or even the common sense to be a leader. She's a talking head, nothing more.

I will say this, though, in her defense: at least she had the sense to stay out of the ring. She's been run through the ringer a few times already, and I think she knew that neither she nor her family could really go through it a second time. Plus, why would she want to? She's already immensely popular, attracting news, cameras, headlines, and attention everywhere she goes, and she's accountable to no one. Her decisions are amusing and puzzling, but they don't really affect anybody.

I wish I had it so lucky.