We all know how far a dead cat bounces – not very far at all. What we are about to learn is how far a live pit bull can bounce and how long it can keep bouncing. A little over two weeks ago, John McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his vice presidential running mate had everyone reaching for their dichotomies. “Bold but risky,” “daring but reckless,” and “brilliant but desperate” were only a few of those being bandied about, and the terms “gamble” and “Hail Mary pass” were used often enough to give the Bishop of Las Vegas a few uneasy turns. With the Republican Convention over, the terms now all begin with the prefix “re-”: revitalized, reenergized, rejuvenated. All of which raises the question: What was it about John McCain that needed this shot in the arm? Was he not, in and of himself, vital enough; did he not have enough energy; and was he simply too old? And the further question of course must be: How does naming to the Republican ticket an Alaskan self-described hockey mom cum pit bull who has become an instant celebrity make John McCain more vital, energetic and youthful. The dangers for McCain are that Palin's celebrity, the very same that he, let's face it, envies in Obama, will eclipse him. Already at the rallies at which they both appear, the shouts of “Sa – rah” are predominate. As she demonstrated at the Republican Convention, she can certainly give a much better speech than McCain. Given that McCain is just a bit challenged by teleprompters (and other newfangled gadgets like computers and ‘googles') it may not sound like that is saying much. However, the fact is that Palin can and did deliver a very good speech indeed, one that McCain will never be able to match. And there is no hope that McCain can ever expect the far right of his party to be as enthusiastic about him as it is for his running mate. The most he can hope for is that he can tap into the enthusiasm that they have for her, use it, and free himself to address the Independents and disaffected Democrats without whom he cannot win the election. The far right are, however, grateful to McCain for giving them Palin. She will keep them busy, and she will also attract the spotlight of the media which otherwise might be focusing on Obama. It is very much like a reversal of two months ago when Obama was on his Grand Tour with the anchors of the major networks, and McCain was left with no one to talk to. Of course that led McCain to the production of Paris Hilton empty-headed celebrity ads, which somehow I think will not be reprised now that another celebrity from the Far North has burst Minerva-like upon the scene. McCain must be relishing the fact that his gamble has worked thus far and that the pit bull is still bouncing. But one cannot help wondering if there isn't a certain sense of ruefulness for a man who has so carefully cultivated an image as a don't-fence-me-in maverick and who so clearly in the past has desired the spotlight for himself to receive second-hand adulation. Still, it will not be so hard to swallow, if it ends in his being President. However, it must also be hard for McCain to face the fact that his own personal narrative is starting to become a bit tired from overuse. The POW story has already entered the annuls of American iconic history - George Washington and the cherry tree, Abe Lincoln walking 20 miles to return a book. But these tales though interesting the first time round, do begin to wear on one when thrust upon the table as a trump card at every occasion. Like religious icons they lose their mystique if they are unveiled and marched through the village on a daily basis. And what must be harder to face is the fact that the personal narrative of his vice presidential choice is such an exquisite never-ending soap opera that his own profile in courage may begin to pale in comparison. How, after all, can McCain be expected to compete with a basketball playing, beauty queen, hockey mom, hunting and fishing mother of five who is perhaps the only governor in the United States who can completely field dress a moose. The POW card begins to look a bit dog-eared when compared to all of that, and you can almost begin to hear the groans each time it is brought out for our respectful adoration. The pit bull bounce has also had an effect on the opposition. Clearly caught off guard like the rest of us by McCain's choice of Palin, the Democrats do not seem to know what to do with her. All of a sudden there is another celebrity on the block and you can hear in Barack Obama's voice a rather exasperated huff. Referring to Palin's claim to have put a stop to the now famous Bridge to Nowhere, Obama recently told a Michigan audience, “You can't just make stuff up. You can't just re-create yourself.” To which one might reply: “Well, yes, Barack, in fact, you can make stuff up. The game is called politics, and stuff gets made up all the time. It is all about creating illusions and using promises as paintbrushes to deftly sketch each person the picture of the future that he or she wants. And, yes, it is audacious of Sarah Palin to make stuff up, but like the word ‘change,' it is a free country and anyone can appropriate the word ‘audacity,' snatch it out of your hand, in fact, any time they like. And furthermore, it might be considered just a bit disingenuous to hear complaints about lofty illusive visions and self-re-creations coming from “The Politician Formerly Known as ‘The One.'” So does it become ‘All about Palin'? Not quite yet. Despite her speeches, like Garbo, the world is still waiting for Palin to speak – without a script. She is about to give her first interview to a major network, and we will have to wait to see what that will bring. But my guess is that the die is cast, and it really makes little difference, within reason, what she says in interviews or in the one debate with Joe Biden. Much like her speech at the convention, there will be people waiting for her to fall on her face, and when she does not and in fact gives a credible performance, then that will be seen as a great success. Don't forget she is now playing under ‘celebrity rules,' and America does not expect its celebrities to be Oxford dons. So there is a very good chance that this pit bull will keep bouncing all the way to the November elections. She will mesmerize the far right to such an extent that John McCain can repackage himself in whatever form it takes to lure Independents and Democrats unhappy with Obama. The choice of Palin as the Republican vice presidential nominee has reemphasized the polarization of American politics and has made it all but certain that the next eight weeks will be less about detailed discussions of plans to solve the major problems facing the nation, and more about personal narratives and hot button issues. And the longer the pit bull bounces, and the more the Democrats seem not to know what to do about it, the greater the chance that some unsuspecting head of state will be offered mooseburgers at some future White House reception. __
