Clearly, Palin is nuts, and it's entirely possible there's a scandal brewing.

That said, the conventional wisdom is still playing catchup on just how much big-time politics have changed. It still takes some substance to make the city council, but anyone can get elected to statewide or national office. Anyone. Schwarzenegger, Ventura, Palin...Obama. They all figured something out, and it's the part contained in that VF piece where he relates a conversation between Palin and her opponent in the Republican primary in which she basically says gee, Bob, you know so much about the issues and have so many smart things to say, "but then I look out on the audience and I wonder, does any of this matter?"

The obvious answer is: no. It does not matter. The facts don't matter, the truth doesn't matter, substance doesn't matter, policy doesn't matter. Getting elected governor or president is almost entirely a function of TQ and money and the ability to speak in a way that connects with people.

Now, I don't think Palin can be elected president. I think she's going to prove to be the test case of just how utterly vapid a campaign/candidate can be and still actually win. But I don't think whether or not she resigns as governor has anything to do with that. Maybe a tiny bit, but she can overcome that much just with the advantage of having years and years to fundraise and build support.

I doubt she actually wins the nomination, but it wouldn't surprise me all that much, and what happened yesterday won't factor in at all, imo.

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