Some thoughts. I won’t fall back on “because she’s an idiot,” or “because she’s a fascist” because, of course, they’re not applicable in any fair sense. She’s not stupid, and she’s not a Nazi.

But still, I don’t like Sarah Palin. I don’t like her because she appeals in large measure to people with who seem to want an America that frankly, I don’t want to see: a country without even a shadow of a doubt about its own correctness, a country that finally no longer has to feign humility. I fear that many of these people would be all too happy to silence, with extreme prejudice, any voice expressing hopes for America that they don’t share, and their support for aggressive and callous domestic policy will be matched, measure for measure, in foreign policy.

I’m concerned that Palin seems to equate style with substance. I’ve seen it before, in Canadian conservative Brian Mulroney, who once said “Style IS substance.” And a large part of her style is to surround herself with buzzwords–pushbutton words–that give the impression her views are wrapped tightly in the flag and anyone who raises a voice in dissent can safely be dismissed as unpatriotic. Style as substance, buzzwords as dialog…we’ve already gone much too far in that direction and she threatens to drag us farther.

I sense that politics for her is a sport, that victory is what matters and talk of “fair play” is nothing more than comfort-food for losers. There’s an aggression, maybe even an anger, behind her that I’m not at all sure would be healthy for the country. This isn’t sexism; I’m dismayed by “win at all costs” no matter where I see it.

Yet despite this ferocious desire to win, I don’t perceive that she’s any better prepared for a campaign now than she was in 2008. I know she hasn’t declared, but she clearly relishes a role in politics and the public spotlight, yet she seems unwilling or unable to grow into that role. Reality TV and talk of running for high office puts her in the company of Donald Trump, not Margaret Thatcher.

So there you go. I’m sure I’ll regret have posted this before the electrons are dry; maybe with some further thought I’d have been able to make a more complete and coherent argument…or maybe not.