Mudflats Asks the Right Question: Is Palin McCain's Albatros?

FROM MUDFLATS

Is Palin an Albatross?

20 09 2008

Is Sarah Palin becoming an albatross around the neck of John McCain? Two weeks ago, the thought that we would be asking this question seemed unlikely at best. Alaska’s own ’hockey mom/beauty queen’ governor had become the overnight darling of the political world. She had everything - spunk, principles, smarts, beauty, ethics, and an attitude that was just plain “maverick”. Right?

Never mind that the hearts of progressive Alaskans (and even some Republicans) were gripped with an icy fear that made breathing alone difficult, nevermind shouting, “Noooooooo!” The rest of the world loved Sarah. Lipstick became an iconic symbol of political girl power. Her recent stint as a small town mayor, and her journalism degree from the University of Idaho showed us that ”anyone can be president”. Her eyeglass frames were sold out at retail outlets around the land almost instantly. Pitbulls gained an unlikely place in our hearts. And all of a sudden John McCain didn’t have to grovel, and offer to bus people in from miles away to make his rallies look not so embarrasingly empty. It was a Disney movie - Mrs. Smith Goes to Washington, Cinderella and The Mighty Ducks all rolled into one.

But now, it’s the morning after, and America is starting to have some regrets. Sarah, it seems, has been our “rebound girl” after our escape from a disastrous and abusive long-term relationship with our soon-to-be ex, Dick Cheney. Rebound relationships are normal, but no one expects them to last.

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