Yawnnnnnnn……

While I still have concerns about Sarah Palin’s actual credentials for her recent VP nod, I think I’m going to have to take exception to some of the “dirt” being dug up on her.

The five big things that have come out so far (according to MSNBC and other news reports):

• Her unmarried 17-year-old daughter, Bristol, is pregnant. Really, is this any of our business? It shows irresponsibility on the part of her daughter, and a failure of the abstinence-only programs mom’s in favor of in our schools (along with intelligent design).
• Palin sought pork-barrel projects for her city and state, contrary to her reformist image. Yeah? So what? Every politician looks for pork. One person’s pork is another person’s vitally necessary project. It's the American way.
• She has acknowledged smoking marijuana in the past. Aside from sex, which might explain the five kids with weird names (no nasty comments about me not liking kids, I’m one of five and I have 10 nieces and nephews) and her own daughter’s recent “condition,” it seems to me smoking pot might be the only decent way to spend the winters in Alaska. And Alaska decriminalized pot possession (up to 4 ounces) in 2003. So even if she and Todd (hubby) were toking up in the mansion two weeks ago, it's not illegal.
• A private attorney is authorized to spend $95,000 of state money to defend her against accusations of abuse of power. I’ve heard two sides to this story, and I’m sure there’s a third, fourth and fifth out there somewhere. If she was dumb enough to actually leave a paper trail, well, she’s dumb enough to kill John McCain’s campaign in other ways.
• Her husband once belonged to a fringe political group in Alaska, with some members supporting secession from the United States. This one kinda bothers me. Some members supported it, but did Todd? But, as Sam Seaborn said on The West Wing when Charlie Young told him he’d never advocated the violent overthrow of the U.S. government, “Why the hell not?”

The GOP defends her by citing her executive experience as a town mayor and big state governor. As for being mayor (Wasilla, pop. 8,471) and governor (Alaska, population 683,400 budget, about $9 billion) let us compare:

• Michael Sessions, then 18, was elected mayor of Hillsdale, Mich. (pop. 8,200) in 2005
• J.J. Raynor, University of North Carolina’s (enrollment 28,136, Go Heels!) student body president
• Austin Mayor Will Wynn, population 690,200 (16th largest city)

Hell, the District at 68.3 square miles only has 100,000 fewer residents, but a population density 9,000 times higher, and a $9.4 billion budget. Fenty for President!! Or, Fenty for Vice President!!

Seriously, 97 percent of all statistics are made up and 53.4 percent can be made to say anything you want.

Political campaigns are suppose to be about ideas. The only requirements to be president (or vice president) are that you be 35 years old, a natural born citizen and 14 years a resident of the United States. Everything else is gravy.

(But I still don't think she's a good choice.)