Ross Douthat is surely right that it does not benefit the Democrats to have “a debate (which the McCain campaign plainly wants to have) over the relative qualifications and accomplishments of Barack Obama and the Republican vice-presidential nominee.” It’s particularly problematic because Palin’s critics are repeating many of the same charges that were directed at Obama (i.e. she’s charismatic but light on substance). Reminding the public of those critiques in order to challenge a potential VP seems like a poor decision to me.