Politics has continued to move down the priority list for most people, and candidates have responded with ever-simpler messages. One might suppose that the press would provide a counter influence, demanding more thorough treatment of complex issues. That has not happened. The press lives in the world of sound bites, and they know that if they spend more than thirty seconds on any issue, their audience is likely to change channels to find something fresh.

Governor Palin has five children, including a baby with Down’s syndrome and an unmarried teenage daughter who is pregnant. The news commentators are now abuzz with the topic of whether it is proper for her to seek national office at the the potential expense of caring for her family. It shouldn’t be an issue.

The recent selection of Governor Sarah Palin as Senator McCain’s running mate in his bid for the Presidency brought immediate criticism that she has no foreign policy experience, and therefore would not be well able to assume the Presidency if McCain died in office. What are the probabilities and consequences?