Governor Palin disappeared this afternoon, purportedly to work on her VP acceptance speech. My guess is that she will withdraw this evening or in the morning.

The revelations about Palin’s abuse of the gubernatorial power in Alaska (Troopergate) will be the impetus and the desire to be with her family will be the public reason.

The biggest casualty of the Palin matter: McCain’s judgment.

If he insists that she stay on the ticket, and she agrees, then McCain will confirm not only his lack of judgment, but his inability to change course in the face of disaster.

Update (9/20/2008): Time to eat crow. I grossly overestimated the intelligence of the Republican rank and file, as well as its leadership. Its embrace of McCain and Palin simply goes to demonstrate the utter unfitness and unworthiness of today’s Republican Party to lead the nation.