Like most Americans, I was shocked when John McCain picked an unknown (at least unknown outside of Alaska) running mate with very little experience and very few qualifications. And the more we learned about her, the less intelligent that choice seems to have been.

So far her less-than-admirable moments have been: trying to get a state employee fired for personal reasons; trying to find out how to ban books in the local library; saying she opposed the Bridge to Nowhere when in fact she endorsed it and only withdrew her support when the Congress turned it down; billing the state for per diem expenses when in fact she was working out of her home; opposing abortion for any reason, including rape and incest; saying that, in regard to Iraq, we were on “a mission from God.”

The list seems to go on and on, with new things turning up every day. I was trying to think what this reminded me of, and then it came to me: “American Idol.” How many times have you seen mediocre performers with limited talent stay on the show and even rise to the top because “America loves them”?

Welcome to “American Idol,” Ms. Palin. You may even top Sanjaya.

Stephen Allen

Belfast