Ce n'est pas une femme serieuse.

Sarah Palin resigned as governor of Alaska, a job with an electoral base smaller than than that of any number of counties in the United States. I don't know if Ms. Palin is going to run for higher office, try to make a fortune from book deals and speaking engagements, or sit at home and learn to knit booties. What I do know is that she had demonstrated, once again, that she is not a serious person.

In the French world, about the worst thing you can say about a person is "Ce n'est pas un homme serieux." This is especially true for politicians and the leaders of large enterprises.

Being a serious person doesn't mean keeping a gloomy look on one's face or speaking in somber tones. It means thinking before one speaks. It means considering various possibilities and the perceptions of various groups. It means understanding that actions, and words, have consequences. It also means living up to one's responsibilities. A serious person doesn't make promises he can't keep, and she tries like hell to keep the promises she has made.

Sarah Palin presented herself to the people of Alaska as a candidate for a four-year term as the governor of their state. She has quit with 18 months to go. This is not the act of a serious person.