Count me in the ranks of those who are befuddled at the apparent lack of judgment of Gov. Palin. I was astonished when reading that she has five children, one of them a 4-month old special needs child, and agreed first to the 24-hour fishbowl existence of a presidential race, and ultimately to be second in line to the most powerful position in the world. And THEN to find that she already knew her 17-year old was five months pregnant when she agreed to this insane marathon. Sorry, folks, but as a parent myself, I think she is out of bounds. Many of us don't live in Jerry Springer Nation, and think an unwed, pregnant, 17-year old high school student is a tragedy. For the Conservative Republicans to try and tell me that Jerry Springer Nation is the default in this country is just insulting and scary. Madame Palin has just demonstrated to me that she doesn't have a handle on her own family. Consequently, she certainly won't be able to justify to me her right to get a handle on a country the size of the US of A, with all its mighty responsibilities.

It has become commonplace for Conservatives to be very vocal about their expectations regarding a certain level of behavior and morals from the rest of the great unwashed. It is also commonplace for Conservatives to be quite sanctimonious about their own behavior. We have got quite used to the pot calling the kettle black and people in glass houses throwing stones. Nevertheless, there is something very off-putting and unsavory about the charade surrounding the hourly revelations regarding Gov. Sarah Palin.

That charade, as it is being presented to the rest of us, is that by being a parent to a pregnant, unmarried 17-year old you are just being "normal", and therefore worthy of leading the rest of the world. I have to confess I simply don't understand this sales pitch, and I'm not buying. I've experienced 8 years of George W. Bush, who was sold as the kind of guy with whom you'd like to have a beer. You know, he cuts his own brush and likes to stride around in cowboy boots. Well, it's been painful watching him "leading" the rest of the world, and some of you know exactly what I'm talking about.

I would really like to be sold someone I can admire in a positive way, someone who values excellence, someone who can represent me on the world stage and not make me cringe. Sarah Palin has a messy life, and she's already making me cringe because it's all out there, front and center. And Sen. John McCain and the rest of the Republican party are also making me cringe because they apparently think this messy life is something we should all be able to overlook -- because it's NORMAL.

After all the bloviating from the Conservatives about morals and higher standards and living a clean life and family values, it's astonishing that the best they can come up with to partner with Sen. McCain is someone who misses the mark by a mile. I never watch Jerry Springer because it's so appalling; it's even more appalling that American politics, at least on the Republican side, has devolved to the same level.

The morning after Gov. Sarah Palin's debut and speech that apparently blew the good people of the United States right out of the water, I bumped into a friend in a discount clothing store. I always suspected she was of a conservative stripe, but when the conversation wound around to the Republican convention the night before, some mischievous fairy gave me truth serum.

"You mean Gov. Sarah Barracuda?" I asked.

"YES!" said my friend, "Isn't she great!"

"NO!" was my immediate response, "I thought she was terrible! A Tom Delay/Karl Rove combo in a skirt and high heels! She reminded me of those bitchy queen bees who ruled everyone in high school, all sarcasm and cutting, malicious laughter. I agree with Obama -- this country is so much better than the Republicans want it to be and Palin promises just more of the same -- division and rancor. No, I thought she was awful."

My friend, who had been backing away from me throughout this diatribe, now squeaked at me from across three racks of clothing, "Hillary was just like that....!"

"Certainly not!" I whipped back. "Hillary paid her dues, and proved her intelligence and ability to play with the big boys. Hillary has devoted her life to improving America. There's NO comparison!"

My friend, now on the far side of the main aisle, was staring at me like a deer caught in the headlights. "O-OK, bye!" she stuttered, and then turned and ran.