Thanks for your very sensible post, Gondring. I just want to add the following comments.
There is nothing "deranged" about not liking any particular politician. Quite the opposite actually. Skepticism of ALL politicians is a healthy thing, no matter what their individual points of view. I've met enough of them in my life to know. Conservative, liberal, Dem or Rep, makes no difference. They are first and foremost human beings with all the strengths and weaknesses to which we are all subject.
Anyone who looks for ideological purity to the "nth" degree is playing a fools game, because you will never find it in any politician. Like all human beings, a politician's first concern is self-interest. That is, whatever the politician believes to be in his or her best interest always comes first. Like it or not, believe it or not, the fact is "what's best for the people and nation" is usually pretty far down any politician's list of importance.
So yes, I'm skeptical of Palin. You betcha. So far she's shown me nothing of substance to get excited about. Yes, she's a political conservative, but that's not enough for me. I set the bar for my vote much higher than mere ideology.
Good, thoughtful post.
But she's not a politician. She's me! (Oh, wait, that was Christine O'Nutcase...)
Uh, I mean, she's one of us! </sarc>
So yes, I'm skeptical of Palin. You betcha. So far she's shown me nothing of substance to get excited about. Yes, she's a political conservative, but that's not enough for me. I set the bar for my vote much higher than mere ideology.
You're not alone. My mind is still open, but she's got a lot of convincing to do (not just convincing me, but the electorate in general).
I also set the bar for a presidential candidate a lot higher than mere ideological purity, which is why Sarah Palin is my first choice for Republican nominee.
I don't think you'd be so skeptical of Palin if you did some research into her 20 year record in politics. She's done more in that time, than most career politicians ever have, or ever will.
It's all in her book, "Going Rogue", and is also a matter of public record. If taking the time to read her book is too far a stretch for you, the facts about her life and career are also laid out in the upcoming movie, "The Undefeated".
Availing yourself of the information in either of those sources will go a long way toward showing you that she's got the right kind of character, and the right sort of record of accomplishment to be our president.