Let kick this off….

Well, I guess if I am going to provide my opinion, why not enter the circus which is the 2008 US Election. 

As someone who does not have a horse in this race, sitting back, being a general observer has certainly been entertaining and sometimes bewildering.   Lets take our ‘femme de jour’, Sara Palin.  Now at this point, I do not have enough information outside of the ’spin zone’ to allow me to formulate a proper opinion of this person.  I do however, have a one or two judgements regarding her entry into this process. 

Without a doubt, Her entry onto the national stage will benfit only one person; Sara Palin.  This is the biggest opportunity any politician could dream of.  The attacks she is suffering and the amateurish way in which the McCain campaign has been managed will do nothing to effect this woman’s long term aspirations.  The public has a short memory and any failure earned by the Republican party will not fall on someone who was chosen to be the VP.    In time, we may look back at this moment in the Palin political history with the same light as many folks do with Mr. Obama’s speech at the 2004 Democratic convention.  It was the first time for many, to be introduced to Mr. Obama and he used that momentum, in part, to propell his presidential run.  There really is no reason why this cannot be the case for Sara Palin.  By all accounts she has caught the attention of the base.  Her look, ’values’, family  and the fact that she is a woman (yes, I said it) could potentially create a new type of Repbulican that can inspire just as Obama has. 

Lets look at the tools she possesses right now. 

 1) She is folksy.  This is a powerfull tool when you consider that is the only tool “W” had in his arsenal.  As long as the general public considers whether a candidate would make a good beer-drinking partner, this quality is key.

2) She is a good speaker, the last few Republican candidates left something to be desired in this department.  Regardless of whether you agree with her politics, you have to admit she carries herself very well at the podium.

3) She is quite young.  With all this talk of ‘experience’, she is doing nothing but gaining it now.  Each shot that is taken at her, each interview and each debate will do nothing but prepare her for the future.  And if you want to be technical, if you compare her to Hilary at this age, she does have more experience out of the gate.

4) She is the “Anti-Hilary”.  For all the talk of glass ceilings and trying to win PUMAs, she is the exact opposite of what Hilary projects.  At this point there is only one similarity, if you ignor the fact that they are politicians and by definition self serving, they both appear to be intelligent.

To all republicans, your mesiah may have arrived, but because of your current leader’s transgressions, you will need to servce penants for at least 4 to 8 years.