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It is also true that residents of Alaska, home of the secessionist Alaskan Independence Party (with which the Palins are affiliated) and nicknamed "The Last Frontier," like those of "Live Free or Die" New Hampshire and the "Lone Star" state of Texas, share a similar fondness of autonomy. In addition, they also share a propensity for either breeding or attracting slightly off-kilter personality types. Thus to Palin's credit, it takes a certain kind of political savvy to get yourself elected Mayor or Governor, even if it happens to occur in basket-case locales with comparatively wacky electorates.
Nevertheless, her supporters need to get a grip. Truth be told, in Palin, potential GOP converts outside of Alaska are being wooed by an authentic affirmative action horror story written by none other than McCain, who unleashed upon his party, a hideously overvalued token that frankly, provides scant political value in what is now a shrewdly price-conscious electoral marketplace. If Palin, in some manner, symbolizes the “walking around” money the GOP needs to regain its electoral footing, it seems that yet another financial bailout for a bankrupt institution is in the making.
“Republicans are losing market share at an alarming rate,” pointed out former Mitt Romney supporter and eBay executive Meg Whitman during the Governor's Conference. “If we were losing market share at a company like eBay at that rate, heads would roll.”
This clear grasp of the GOP's current position seems to have slipped the minds of wistfully self-deceptive Palin boosters who, in appraising their star’s prospects for leading the GOP back from the precarious brink-of-death condition that she helped induce, seem to have taken Obama’s “yes we can” rallying cry to absurdly perverse extremes.
"I'm really hoping that she'll run for office in 2012; I think she's really what our country needs," announced a supporter at a McCain/Palin rally in Ohio late in the campaign.
"I think in 2012, when Sarah Palin would get elected, I think everything would turn around," avowed another Palin supporter interviewed by NPR.
My guess is that right now, predictions of a Palin presidency seems more wishful thinking than studied forecast. If I'm correct in presuming this, as well as in the assumption about the future or lack thereof, of a Palin-led GOP, then wouldn't the phrase "be careful what you wish for" be in line here?
Perhaps not for the "jerks" -- as Palin has described some critics -- or anyone else who feels scant sympathy for the GOP. If asked whether that lack of sympathy means this jerk thinks Palin should “plow” right through the door of political opportunity to spearhead her party’s rebuilding process. My answer would be clear, concise and unequivocal.
You betcha!
