More Palin stuff

So here’s more that we know:

1. Palin’s time as mayor was demonstrated she was for earmarks before she was against them. She also demonstrated, as a businessperson, why she finds government regulation oppressive. She was also a tough — even vicious — political fighter during the campaign, and ruthless against her enemies after she won. Oh, and she thinks banning books is keen, and heaven help you if you don’t go along with that.
2. She did not belong to the secessionist Alaska Independence Party (AIP) — though her husband did, she hung out with them, and as governor she send a nice recorded greeting to their convention.
3. Palin absorbs foreign policy knowledge by osmosis. Never work for me in college, but, heck, more power to her.

Given that one of the most important things a president gets to do is appoint key advisors and functionaries and officials of the government, one would think that the process used in selecting Palin as the most qualified person to step into John McCain’s shoes should matter, regardless of the blustery denials of it being slapdash, capricious, or solely about identity politics, or the mantra-like assertions that Palin has extensive executive experience, not to mention national security chops.

But, of course, all of this doesn’t really matter. As the McCain campaign itself notes, this election “is not about issues.” It’s about personalities, and making people Trust Your Side and Mistrust The Other Side. There’s a certain degree of truth there — and both sides play that game. But issues should, must matter, and the Republican essential abandonment of them except as they sow fear, uncertainty, and doubt at the Dems is reprehensible.

We’ll see how folks feel after the Great, Bright, Shiny, Highly-Rehearsed-and-Wordsmithed Palin Speech at the RNC convention tonight.