Here is where I defend Christine O’Donnell.

First off:

Federal authorities have opened a criminal investigation of Delaware Republican Christine O’Donnell to determine if the former Senate candidate broke the law by using campaign money to pay personal expenses, according to a person with knowledge of the investigation.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to protect the identity of a client who has been questioned as part of the probe. The case, which has been assigned to two federal prosecutors and two FBI agents in Delaware, has not been brought before a grand jury.

Matt Moran, O’Donnell’s former campaign manager, did not immediately respond Wednesday to questions from The AP. He said earlier this month that the campaign had not been contacted about any investigation and criticized what he called “lies and false-attack rumors.”

What I am about to say I’m not saying because Christine O’Donnell is a Republican, conservative, or a tea bagger favorite but, having watched her press conferences, speeches, assorted television appearances and whatnot, I long ago came to the conclusion that Christine O’Donnell is kind of, well, dumb.

She seems like a lovely person; cute, charming, supremely confident in her know-nothingness, gliding through life on adorableness and Jesus love and sincerity. And not much else. A review of her not-running-for-public-office work history doesn’t turn up much in the way of marketable skills other than the ability to parrot talking points, which, when you actually think about it, does kind of qualify her to be a US Senator. Or the business and economics editor for The Atlantic, for that matter. You look at her eyes when she’s asked a question off the beaten path and you don’t get the feeling that that is  the sound of gears grinding away that you hear. More like the wind rustling through the willows and maybe a sad loon calling from across the lake.

When it comes to the misuse of campaign funds, I think O’Donnell sincerely believes that the people who gave her money to run for office gave it to her with the understanding that she is doing God’s work no matter how long it takes and a rent payment here and an evening of bowling there are just a place to stay and a thing to do during The Perpetual Campaign of Righteousness, for she is the embodiment of the contributors hopes and desires. They want her to use it as she sees fit.

Sure she’s making a living off of the yokels much like Sarah Palin does, but she lacks the white trash feral cynicism of a Palin. O’Donnell’s no Grifter Grizzly, she’s more Blanche Dubois; spiritually pure,  lost in a fantasy and depending on the kindness of strangers.

Bless her heart.