Hurricane Palin

First off, I have nothing but positive feelings and well wishes for the Palins. They seem like a typical American family with typical American family challenges, and while Sarah Palin seems to have been tainted by some level of scandal in her short political career, it's probably not substantially more than any other politician.

So, I believe they're decent, well-meaning people. And I believe that family members, especially children, should be totally off-limits to the press.

Second, the media and everyone else needs to be very careful in how they handle her. She needs to be thoroughly investigated, for sure, but if they push too hard, they're going to bring on an onslaught of people who claim sexism and unfairness. They will probably bring this on even if they push nominally hard.

But finally, with these two points in mind, let me say this: wow. There is a big part of me that is thrilled at the prospect of the sheer panic that is going on in the McCain campaign as the unfolding stories behind Palin continue to reveal that she's got a ton of skeletons in her closet.

This is not about Palin. It's about John McCain, and how he made such an important decision based on so little background information.

Of course, this whole thing could backfire and turn Palin into an untouchable saint who bolsters the ticket.

But if she does become a drag on the ticket, or does the almost unthinkable and withdraws- this episode will have demonstrated just how lousy John McCain's judgement is.

Case closed.