Are there any Republicans out there who aren’t buying the Sarah Palin package?  If I concede that her personal life and choices are none of mine or anybody else’s business, if I admit to her detractors' ignorance and arrogance in firing personal shots against her family and her values and if I even confess that there is some morning after regret that the Democratic party did not choose Hillary when they had the chance, nor did the nominee choose her as

a running mate . . .

If I make all of those concessions, can we have a civil and intelligent conversation regarding her qualifications, substance and past record in decision making?

Here are my concerns.  Sarah Palin inherited the Town of Wasilla with a zero budget deficit.  She did not leave it that way.  Under her Governorship, the State of Alaska received more earmark dollars per capita than any other state. How does this reflect on her promise to cut government spending?

As an elected government official, she is sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America, including all of its amendments.  The whole issue of her book banning” is muddied, but this is how I see it at its base.  Whether it was her own plan to remove books from the library in Wasilla, or whether she was asking the question on behalf of concerned constituents is irrelevant.  Freedom of Speech is a constitutional right and her answer to anybody who may have encouraged her to use her power to remove books should have been a flat out “No.”  She might have told them the procedure for reviewing questionable books and recommended they pursue such.

As for attempting to fire (or force into resignation) a civil servant who disagrees with her on an issue of principle – or even if it was a lack of across the board support of Palin’s policy and practice in governing Wasilla, isn’t that a blatant abuse of power?  Isn’t our nation founded on the principal of an individual’s right to question, even oppose government.  Wasn’t that our forefather’s intention as a means of check and balance, a means to keep government for the people by the people?

If you truly believe Sarah Palin has the experience and substance to be second in command, in line to serve as first in command should it be necessary (and this has nothing to do with McCain’s age.  Any of us can fall victim to a fatal accident or illness at any age), don’t you worry that an as yet unknown personal belief or value of Palin might put you in a position of opposition?  How would you feel about her tendency toward a dictatorial style of governing then?

 Finally, if Barak Obama had picked Hillary Clinton as his running mate, can you honestly say that Sarah Palin would be where she is now?