Much of the talk about Sarah Palin's decision to step down as governor of Alaska centers on the question: Why now? In her rambling announcement, Palin mentioned the "full-court press" of attacks aimed at her. It's hard to believe this extremely readable Todd Purdum story in the August issue of Vanity Fair wasn't one of the things she was talking about:

"What does it say about the nature of modern American politics that apublic official who often seems proud of what she does not know is notonly accepted but applauded?" he asks early on. "What does her prominence say about theimportance of having (or lacking) a record of achievement in publiclife? Why did so many skilled veterans of the Republican Party—longregarded as the more adroit team in presidential politics—keep loyallyworking for her election even after they privately realized she wascasual about the truth and totally unfit for the vice-presidency?Perhaps most painful, how could John McCain, one of the cagiestsurvivors in contemporary politics—with a fine appreciation of life’sinjustices and absurdities, a love for the sweep of history, and anoverdeveloped sense of his own integrity and honor—ever have picked aperson whose utter shortage of qualification for her proposed job allbut disqualified him for his?

Purdum continues:

In the aftermath of the November election, the conventional wisdomamong Palin’s supporters in the Republican establishment was that sheshould go home, keep her head down, show that she could governeffectively, and quietly educate herself about foreign and domesticpolicy with the help of a cadre of experienced advisers. She has donenone of this.

Nope. Doesn't look like she'll be doing any of it now either.

It's a great read. Have a look.