The Continued Endless Fascination With Sarah Palin

Let's try a hypothetical. Let's say for whatever reason the field for 2012 on the Democratic side didn't include President Obama. Let's say that I wrote a column that said that not only does Chris Dodd not have a chance to win but nominating him would be the worst thing the Democratic party could do. I think the reaction would go something like this. Next you will tell us that it's a good idea for race car drivers to wear seat belts. My point is that generally when a politician really is toxic you need not say it because it's obvious.

A couple days ago, Jeffrey Mayer tried to make this sort of a case against Sarah Palin. Now, like I just said, the way I think about it, if you have to say it, then the whole notion is dicey. Frankly, no one knows what will happen in four years. So, the idea that anyone can predict the future presidency prospects of anyone is a bit ridiculous. Yet, this piece is another in a long line of media scrutiny on everything Sarah Palin. We are now more than six months since the election and so far at least, everyone's fascination with the governor has not waned one bit.

So, my question is why is there so much fascination, both supporters and detractors alike, with the presidency prospects of Sarah Palin. Never has a failed Vice Presidential pick been the subject of so much fascination, speculation, and endless analysis.

Now, I continue to find Governor Palin to be endlessly fascinating but my fascination continues to revolve around the same set of unique qualities (winning a state championship on a bad ankle, going from PTA mom to governor, hunting wild game, etc.) So, unless I want to write the same post over and over, I have said all I can about her fascinating persona.

So, now, I much more fascinated in the media's endless fascination with her. Nearly four years out, she is already the subject of endless scrutiny and speculation about her chances at the presidency. Now think about that for a second. Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, and Bobby Jindal are all just as legitimate a candidates. Yet, none of their potential candidacies have received one tenth the scrutiny that Palin's has. That's because they aren't nearly the fascinating persona that Governor Palin is.

So, what is the fascination? In my opinion, it's because Governor Palin goes against almost all general types. She is unlike almost all politicos to ever come on the scene. First, she only recently gained any political ambition. Her entire career is mostly the result of accidents and happenstance. She didn't gain her political power through any connections. She comes from a faraway place that most people know little about. Her husband isn't merely a champion athlete but in "snow machine racing". Her political resume and list of accomplishment is the envy of most, and that's something that her opponents would rather not admit. Finally, she is comfortable in her political philosophy and she makes no excuses or equivocations for her belief system.

So, since most can't write about how they are fascinated with her, they make up topics mostly as an excuse to simply write about her. That's why there is an "analysis" that says she not only can't be president FOUR YEARS FROM NOW, but would be the worst idea any Republican could make in 2012 as the piece by Mayer does. Most of this pseudo analysis four years out is really nothing more than an excuse to write endlessly about a persona that most of the media and public find as endlessly fascinating as I do.