| esquire within | - Am I blind?

Seriously, what am I not seeing?

Particularly:

Couric: You’ve said, quote, “John McCain will reform the way Wall Street does business.” Other than supporting stricter regulations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac two years ago, can you give us any more example of his leading the charge for more oversight?

Palin: I think that the example that you just cited, with his warnings two years ago about Fannie and Freddie -- that, that’s paramount. That’s more than a heck of a lot of other senators and representatives did for us.

Couric: But he’s been in Congress for 26 years. He’s been chairman of the powerful Commerce Committee. And he has almost always sided with less regulation, not more.

Palin: He’s also known as "the maverick" though, taking shots from his own party, and certainly taking shots from the other party. Trying to get people to understand what he’s been talking about -- the need to reform government.

Couric: But can you give me any other concrete examples? Because I know you’ve said Barack Obama is a lot of talk and no action. Can you give me any other examples in his 26 years of John McCain truly taking a stand on this?

Palin: I can give you examples of things that John McCain has done, that has shown his foresight, his pragmatism, and his leadership abilities. And that is what America needs today.

Couric: I’m just going to ask you one more time -- not to belabor the point. Specific examples in his 26 years of pushing for more regulation.

Palin: I’ll try to find you some and I’ll bring them to you.

Given her sequestration from the media, we don't have too much to go on, but -- I don't know, call me crazy, I'm starting to see a trend. Does anyone actually believe she knows what she's talking about? That she would make a capable second-in-command or -- heaven forfend -- president?

Only in America would being articulate, well-educated and well-informed be considered a liability in a presidential campaign.

I want -- no, I need -- to understand what it is that people find so inspiring behind that Disney-flick-gone-horribly-wrong allure. I honestly can't wrap my head around it. I mean, okay, there's the whole small town thing, but as a small town kid, I find insulting the idea that she somehow embodies "small town" values and good sense. She's shown some sharp elbows, I'll give her that -- it's not every day that the new mayor of a sleepy town rushes in and demands that top managers prove their loyalty by signing letters of resignation.

But I can tell you one thing: in my hometown of 3,000 people, smack dab in the middle of the Heartland, that shit would not fly. Because that is categorically not how good, honest, small town people come together to make their community a better place.

So, tell me. Please, PLEASE tell me. I'm genuinely desperate to know. If you're not simply excited because of her ultra-conservative social views, then explain to me what you find so remarkable about Sarah Palin. Don't tell me she's a "reformer" or some kind of champion of smaller government or less spending, because we both know that's just not true. I want your rational basis. I want to hear it. I want to know what the heck is going on in your head while you watch her perform so abysmally when confronted with basic questions about the world, her country, current events, her running mate, or even her own opinions.

Well?