By now, we've all considered the nightmarish thought that Sarah Palin would become president if John McCain were elected and subsequently incapacitated. And most of us have probably considered the equally disturbing thought that Palin could eventually run for president herself. But Marc Ambinder's post laying out the argument that Sarah Palin is already running for 2012 -- deliberately playing the GOP base against McCain while ostensibly campaigning for him -- still kinda made my blood run cold. "If she wants the job, she's easily the frontrunner to become THE voice of the angry Right in the Wilderness. She is a favorite of talk radio and Fox News conservatives, and speaks their language as only a true member of the club can. (Her recent Limbaugh interview was full of dog whistles that any Dittohead would recognize. Including her actual use of the word ditto.) ... Palin will be the most well-financed candidate aside from Mitt Romney." Man, I didn't need to read that before breakfast.
Reuters, however, presents a scenario that's not quite as chilling but still plenty icky: Sarah Palin could be the next Oprah Winfrey. Noting the V.P. candidate's charisma and ease in front of a camera, "Most industry insiders believe a talk show is the probable route for Palin." Cable news is also mentioned as a possibility, but then there's the best idea in the history of television: "One producer floated the idea -- only half-joking -- of taking advantage of the curiosity surrounding the entire Palin clan and their Alaska setting and packaging 'The Palins': Think 'The Osbournes' meets 'Northern Exposure.'"
The New York Times has a "Sarah Palin's Road to Politics" slide show, including photos of Palin wearing her high school basketball uniform, a demure but twinkly pageant gown, an "I may be broke, but I'm not flat busted" T-shirt, and a disappointingly tasteful 1982 prom dress. (Todd, however, is fully rocking in a ruffly blue shirt and giant bow tie. Awesome.) Oh yeah, and there's also a photo of her getting sworn in as mayor of Wasilla. What that has to do with her "road to politics," I don't know -- you can hardly even see what she's wearing!
Finally, if you missed "President Bush" (Will Ferrell) endorsing the McCain-Palin ticket on "SNL's" Weekend Update Thursday night, the video's below. (David Zurawik at the Baltimore Sun has a partial transcript.) "One part practiced folksy, one part sassy and a little dash of high school bitchy" is about to become my new Twitter bio.
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