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The advocates of fiscal responsibility gathered at the $549/ticket event cheered the McCain stumper and bail-out supporter with all the gusto that the “Values Voters” showered upon the topless model and sex-tape star who “think[s] it’s great that in America we can choose between ’same-sex marriage’ and ‘opposite marriage’.”

With the popular outrage sparked by the Bush bail-outs, I’ve become more hopeful about the future of economic freedom than I’d been in 20 years. And the tea parties and town-hall protests just buttressed my optimism.

I’m still optimistic, but the reflexive, relativistic, populism-as-the-new-elitism near-worship showered upon Gov. Palin by supposed conservatives and libertarians– people who profess to believe in economic freedom–tempers my optimism.

The problem isn’t simply that the rambling rogue was wrong about the bank bail-out, and it goes beyond her sometimes appearing flaky and non-conversant regarding matters of national policy; it’s that she displays no deep, nuanced, informed, well-considered political philosophy.

Conservatism, particularly its free-market vein, has a strong intellectual heritage. It’s that principled pedigree that provides a foundation for the arguments that can fend off demagogues’ efforts to rob Peter to pay Paul, that illuminate why it’s not good for everybody when you spread the wealth around. Unfortunately, national-level Republicans since Ronald Reagan appear to be largely ignorant of this heritage and have been clearly unable to articulate its principles. America has paid a dear price for such failures. And conservative gushing over Gov. Palin suggests that we’re likely to keep paying it.

In the Fall of 2008, as he was touting his disastrous bank bail-out, former President George Bush XLIII, apparently oblivious to the irony, described himself as “a market-oriented guy“. Nearly a year after leaving office, he said that the bail-out went against his “free-market instincts“, in a speech that made clear that he hasn’t achieved any greater philosophical depth since leaving the White House than he exhibited while he was living there.

A robust, realistic, principled political philosophy can provide guidance in the midst of crisis. The problem with Bush was that he had never developed such a principled philosophy. It is also the problem with Palin.

Kenton County Deputy Judge Executive Scott Kimmich resigned his position in order to continue his campaign for the top spot to replace the retiring Ralph Drees.  Kimmich wrote for and obtained a legal opinion regarding whether “The Hatch Act” applied to him.  When told that it does, Kimmich stepped down.

“The Hatch Act” makes it illegal for anyone employed by a state or local executive agency who works in connection with programs financed in whole or in part by federal loans or grants to run for a partisan office.

According to Rick Robinson, Kimmich’s attorney, the Office of Special Counsel is likely to take a very broad approach when it comes to interpreting “The Hatch Act” in rendering advisory opinions.  When an employee is covered by the act he/she has only three choices: resign the job, quit the race or fight the decision before a merit board.  According to the opinion Kimmich got, he did exactly the right thing.

But what about other candidates on this year’s ballot?  Who else seems to be in the same predicament as Kimmich?

For one, Michael Steward, the Florence police officer who has filed to run against Boone County Sheriff Mike Helmig.  Since much of the funding for police equipment, special details and interdiction programs comes in part from the federal government, it is highly likely that Steward works directly in connection with several programs funded in part by those loans or grants and, as Kimmich, is prevented from running for a partisan office while so employed.

In fact, Steward’s dilemma is now quite clear.  He must either resign from the department, drop out of the race or face serious legal consequences.  Of course he could seek an opinion, as did Kimmich, but in light of Kimmich’s opinion and the narrow window of time in which Steward is operating, this would seem to only prolong the inevitable.

The same problem exists for the Kenton County police officers running against Jailer Terry Karl and Sheriff Chuck Korzenborn.

Kimmich made the right decision for him and his family.  Whether the others will do the same, or drop out of the race, remains to be seen.