Today in Great Ideas

Republican New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who is obviously bored because there's nothing important to do in his state, has made a rather remarkable suggestion: Sarah Palin needs to go unscripted.

He argued that unscripted, even adversarial exchanges with reporters and the public are essential to judging a candidate, and that if Sarah Palin continues to avoid them, "she'll never be president."

..."I think people need to be judged by the way they conduct themselves in the public arena, in a way that is as minimally staged as possible," he said. "That's where you really get to know people."

When it was noted that Ms. Palin has preferred communicating with the public in ways she can control, Mr. Christie said that "rightfully has been criticized."

..."You have to look at it and see, what are they like when they're tested, what are they like when they're not scripted, what are they like when they're pushed," he said. "And I would contend to you that if Governor Palin never does any of those things, she'll never be president, because people in America won't countenance that. They just won't."

I think whether US voters will countenance Palin's carefully scripted shtick is debatable. Less debatable is the fact that Governor Christie apparently doesn't want Sarah Palin to be president and wants the maximum entertainment possible watching her implode.

Because sister's a trainwreck even when she's scripted. And carefully edited.

In all seriousness, this is a terrible idea not because it might be unpropitious for Palin, but because so much of what emanates from the Palin camp contributes to a culture that is dangerous for less privileged and less protected people.

And that's when it's being (allegedly) conscientiously considered.