It must have seemed a dream come true. The path for a minor council member of a village turned city becoming a national figure had been smoother than Dorothy's yellow brick road. But we're not in Alaska anymore, Toto. The seamless tapestry of Sarah Palin's career became an ensnaring web.

The various calamities befalling Governor Palin fall into distinct groups.

Those of her own making were known, or at least knowable. Her penchant for censorship was well documented and could have been discovered by the most superficial background check. Her vigorous backing of the famed Bridge-to-Nowhere was a matter of public record. Her relentless use of her political position to get a former in-law fired as part of a family feud was already a subject of a bipartisan legislative investigation. No violations of truth in lending in any of this. No fine print involved.

Her religion is shared by millions and private beliefs should not concern us as long as they remain a matter of intimate conscience. My own visits to Pentecostal services have been intensely spiritual experiences. The welcoming spirit and generous love have not seemed to me to be appended to holy conspiracy tales or to any embattled fellowship borne of conjured persecution. The joy and noise have been liberating even to me, a confirmed adherent of the Wesleyan tradition. It is true that I have never participated in public exorcisms of witchery, or approved of persecutions of those accused of forbidden magical arts. But even this was already known about Palin.

The mishaps not listed on the label to begin with have been largely imposed upon her. Her astonishing delivery of a convention speech, whether she wrote it or not, portended an untapped ability to communicate core principles with ease. No off-shore drilling needed: the energy was already in barrels and ready for refining. But she was battered to incoherence by distrustful McCain handlers, bullied into a hesitancy that manifested itself in fearful public interviews. The thundering orator was graceless with Gibson, horrible with Hannity, and became comical with Couric. She was beaten into swallowing her tongue. Her handlers have not served her well.

"Mindlessness" has been a bum rap, and her debate with Joe Biden will seem redeeming. The real concern about Governor Palin should be clear as crystal after last Friday's debate. Even more, it should be made apparent by the increasingly eratic behavior of her angry, troubled running mate. The mind is compelled to entertain thoughts of health and heartbeats. The election of the Republican team would bring the nation to a nightmarish possibility.

If anything happened to Sarah Palin, John McCain would become President.

Your turn.