How can it be that former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ life is ruined because his subordinates fired their subordinates for selfish partisan reasons, whereas Sarah Palin will chug on unaffected, and maybe right on into the vice president’s office? You’re thinking that it’s because she has better highlights. But the truth is that Sarah Palin is smarter than Alberto Gonzales. Way. And she could teach the poor guy a thing or two about picking your way through a firing scandal.

Slate reveals the special cocktail of panache, spin, deceit, and denial required to completely bungle the job, and still skate away unharmed. 

Read the full story here.