Sarah Palin is a Naive Reactionary.

Sarah, Sarah, Sarah. You tried pretty hard, didn’t you, our plucky little frontierswoman ice queen princess hockey mom extraordinaire, but … no. I know you were nervous, forced to answer questions about issues you’ve never considered or perhaps even heard of before three days ago, and I’m sure some folks out there found that endearing: the same folks who are already planning to vote for you because you’re just so darned spunky, and if you faltered at all, it’s only because the big, bad sexists were picking on you!

But I’m not sexist; I just don’t like your views (or your hair, or your voice, or the way some people tell me I look like you). Let’s take something as basic as your response to the question of whether you believe you are experienced enough to be president of the United States:

“I answered him yes, because I have the confidence in that readiness and knowing that you can’t blink. You have to be wired in a way of being so committed to the mission, the mission that we’re on, reform of this country and victory in the war.”

What kind of answer is that? First of all, do you or do you not have the necessary experience? Your answer tells me that you don’t think so, because you didn’t bother to address it, and that you don’t care. Governing this country isn’t a matter of “not blinking,” Governor Palin, and it’s not just a “mission.” Not all of your soon-to-be subjects in the Alaskan States think in terms of the constant militarism of the nation. But for the sake of discussion, we’ll take your indication that you don’t believe experience has anything to do with running the country. As you said:

“We’ve got to remember what the desire is in this nation at this time. It is for no more politics as usual and somebody’s big fat résumé that maybe shows decades and decades in that Washington establishment, where, yes, they’ve had opportunities to meet heads of state.”

While I’m sure you were intending to reference Joe Biden with those eloquent comments, you must realize you’ve also included that stiff old man who lurks behind you at your campaign rallies. Not only that, but you’ve undermined your party’s tired assertion that Obama is too inexperienced to assume the role of president. I suppose now we’ll start to hear that Obama isn’t “wired for the mission” the way you are.

Your naiveté isn’t refreshing, it’s frightening. You’re not campaigning for the head of the Wasilla Hockey Moms, you’re angling for a position that affects the lives of 300 million people. Show a little humility, would you? Frankly, I’d prefer to hear you admit that there are holes in your knowledge (how could there not be?) but that you’re working as hard as you can to understand the issues of the day so you can approach them with the even-minded analysis befitting their serious nature. Instead, you take an overly proud, defensive stance and hope that you can just skate through this. But Ms. Palin, glib assertions that show you have no understanding of the network of ramifications of your positions aren’t going to cut it.