Palin the Likable

The funny thing about reading Sarah Palin's biography, is that you can't help but like her. She's cute, sassy, has an interesting biography, and by all accounts, she's been a pretty good governor for the State of Alaska. Even if I disagree with her on some fundamental choices, no one can begrudge her record of reform in Alaska. To be honest, I think it would have been interesting to see her replace the immensely corrupt Senator Ted Stevens when he goes down in flames, and arrive on a national ticket in a few years when she's better prepared. Hell, even her obvious ethics breach makes her likable. Who among us would not use our governing powers to get a jackass brother-in-law fired from the state police? Maybe you have to have had a corrupt cop as a former brother-in-law to understand that, but seriously, I think the more people learn about this ethics investigation, the more people will look past her abuse of power and say, "Well, the guy did have it coming."

And finally (perhaps most disturbingly), Sarah Palin has the Bush-factor going for her. She's plain-spoken and gun-totin'. Of the four of them (Obama, Biden, McCain, and Palin), it isn't difficult to figure out which most Americans would rather share a beer with.

I still think McCain's pick is a cheap and irresponsible political ploy and an insult to real deserving women (like Kay Bailey Hutchinson, a true Hillary equal), but it may pay off. Obama/Biden will have to adjust for this new variable.


File photo: Sarah Palin takes down the bridge to nowhere, as befuddled democrats standby and watch.