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Posted
Tuesday, October 14, 2008 10:25 AM
| By
Nayeli Rodriguez
Troopergate is a significantly more severe infraction than anything she's been accused of since we first met Palin (babygate, rape kits, mochagate) and this time we know she's really guilty. This also isn't a partisan attack (although the McCain spokespeople were quick to categorize it that way): A bipartisan committee of Alaska lawmakers handed down the 263-page conclusive report.
My reserved reaction stemmed from a belief that Palin would live this scandal down. She pretty much already has. Part of her appeal is that everyone, whether or not they like and agree with her, knows a Sarah Palin. And it is more likely that she'll ascend to the vice presidency than be taken down by something as universally relatable as wanting to get back at the man who did her sister wrong.
Republican voters aren't so ignorant or permissive as to condone how Palin did what she did, but she's demonstrated a resilient ability to spin positive. Maybe the "no-good brother-in-law" deserved what he got. Maybe Washington and Wall Street abuse their power more than Palin ever dreamed of doing and this ethically unsound move demonstrates her maverick ability to buck the reins. It doesn't matter really: Palin's excuses are secondary to her charms. After the short-lived MSM flogging, I think Palin remains, to many, just one of the folks. And as the story behind her infamous Newsweek cover was quick to announce: That's the real problem.
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