Paging David Brooks

Tom Friedman nails it:

How in the world can conservative commentators write with a straight face that this woman should be vice president of the United States? Do these people understand what serious trouble our country is in right now?

Dreher sighs and agrees. Actually, David has publicly said that Palin is not qualified to be vice-president or president. I heard him say so last Monday. But he does not apparently draw the obvious conclusion from this. The only non-negotiable criterion for the vice-presidency is an ability at a moment's notice to become the president, if the worst happens. Palin fails by that criterion. Fails. And the only reason Palin is where she is is because John McCain selected her after thinking about it for two minutes and meeting her once.

So McCain's first presidential level decision was not just a poor one. It was a disqualifying one. This was pass/fail. McCain failed. If you do not believe that Palin is qualified for the job McCain selected her for, then there are only two conclusions: either you cannot support McCain or you do not believe the presidency of the United States is a serious job. So which one is it, David? You have four weeks to let us know.