Sarah Barracuda: A Northern Gal With a Southern Heart

Sarah Palin might be from the Great White North of Alaska. But the more we learn about her political tactics and professional ethics, the more she seems like a character from Karl Rove's Deep South.

As a resident of Alabama, I'm reminded of one of our own "loyal Bushies," U.S. Attorney Alice Martin. Scott Horton, of Harper's magazine, has called Martin perhaps the most corrupt and crooked person in public office. It's starting to look like Palin, John McCain's surprise running mate on the Republican ticket, is going to challenge Martin for that title.

Palin seems to have a knack for going after the livelihoods of people she perceives as enemies. Martin has made frequent use of this tactic, and it's one I'm personally familiar with. Evidence strongly suggests that Martin helped cost me my job at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), after I had worked there for 19 years. My great sin? Writing a blog, on my own time, with my own resources, that deals truthfully with Republican corruption in Alabama.

We've learned that Palin even has a Jack Abramoff problem, just like Governor Bob Riley of Alabama. And like the folks who ramrodded my termination at UAB, Palin hums and haws when irrefutable evidence of wrongdoing surfaces--in the form of an audiotape.

While most of the country has just gotten to know Palin over the past six days, those of us in Alabama feel like we've known her for a long time. She's a character straight from the Great GOP Playbook of Corruption.