I don’t despise Sarah Palin.

It has been mentioned, more than once, that critics of the former vice presidential candidate and present Alaskan governor despise her, loathe, hate, abhor her. The right wing radio loves to make her a victim. In fact, I think that she just suffers from delusions of adequacy.

When she is not making headlines, I give her little thought. I am more concerned that someone of such limited capabilities could be given serious consideration to be President of the United States.

We still haven’t recuperated from eight years of George W. Bush, another political figure that I don’t despise. But, as a lover of my country, I shudder when such incompetence is in the White House, and we have had more than our share of that in the last three decades.

George Bush is a man with whom many Americans said that they would enjoy having a beer. For the future, my suggestion is that with men like Bush and women like Palin, have the beer, but vote for someone else.

The notion that our leaders be regular folks, just like you and me, is absurd. I want leadership much smarter, more capable, more temperate than me.

I certainly would not enjoy the responsibility of determining which button should be pressed, nor would I look forward to high-level meetings with the heads of state from Russia, Iran, Palestine, Israel and Pakistan to name a few nations. I am delighted that Barack Obama is assuming that role, a man with finesse in the art of diplomacy, a feat that seemed to elude his predecessor. Bush not only lacked the skill or intellectual skills to perform those tasks, he had Dick Cheney lurking in the background. Just as some would enjoy a beer with Bush, I would run in horror if in the proximity of Dick Cheney, a man who more closely resembles those stereotype Nazis in old WWII movies. And anyone who would name Cheney as their vice Presidential choice has already compromised his role as President, just as a candidate selecting Sarah Palin reveals that political catering trumps competence.

All this talk about Sarah Palin withdrawing as Governor of Alaska to place herself for a Presidential run is rather terrifying. Her rambling incoherent speech last week made her interview with Katie Couric seen almost Byronic. As she rambled on about her curious resignation, she engaged me and frightened me, at once. At one point she boasted that she didn’t want Alaska left with a lame duck governor. But Civics 101 would have instructed her that being a first term Governor does not make you a lame duck, just a woman determined not to run for re-election and not giving us a clue of her real motivation.

She has criticized the media for commenting on her family. Off limits, she has said, and under ordinary circumstances she would be right. But it was Palin who paraded her clan, including her pregnant teenage daughter and the stud boyfriend, at the Republican convention, before a national audience. She opened the door – exploiting her dysfunctional family, and then cried foul when the press went in the same door.

I have continually stated that the Republicans should offer responsible opposition. No one should have a free ride and Obama knows that. But to date, we have had Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich and Sarah Palin. Where is John McCain, the man garnered nearly 60,000,000 votes in the last election? I didn’t vote for McCain and can’t imagine under what circumstances that I would, but he is a responsible opponent.

The GOP has been hunting for candidates…and they have become an endangered species – most going down with an open fly. But Palin’s rambling resignation as Governor is hardly the tone to inspire a run for the prize, but with things so desperate for the Grand Old Party they really are making lemons out of lemonade.

I’m sure Fox won’t let Ms. Palin slip into obscurity. Look for a book deal and choreographed appearances on conservative radio and TV...but nothing would serve her as well as a Civics class in an Alaska community college.

You see Sarah…I don’t despise you. Your popularity baffles me and I hope that my country will never have to live thru another term like we were given with George W. Bush…TWICE. We deserve better than you, Sarah.

Margaret Chase Smith, for many years the only woman in the United States Senate, was once asked by a reporter what she would do if she woke up in the White House. Senator Smith replied, “I would apologize to the President’s wife and then go home.” Good advice someone might give to the Governor of Alaska.

I’m David Rothenberg…out on a limb!