All Part of Her Charm

The Guardian feels that the Republican ticket in the present campaign has suffered a "body blow" because John McCain's running mate has been found guilty of ignoring some fuddy-duddy old rules about "ethics" and "public trust". It is a little hard to see why this should make much difference to the nation that elected the present incumbent once, any more than Palin's nanocerebral jabber should be a disadvantage in the country that elected Ronald Reagan twice. Indeed, Palin's breaches of the rules were apparently made in order to give her sister's ex-husband what was coming to him after a bile-spattered divorce and custody case, thus proving her ability not to insist on going by the book when family values are at stake. This attitude will no doubt serve her well in office should she ever have dealings with such dynastic tyrannies as the Saudis, the Bushes and the Clintons. The investigators also noted that Palin's husband "enjoyed extraordinary access to the governor's office and her closest advisers, despite being unelected and having no salaried state post", in accordance with the commands of St Peter and others that wives should be obedient to their husbands. Again, it is difficult to see why God-fearing Americans should have a problem with that.

Still the Guardian is not particularly well known for its insight into the American political psyche (or, arguably, anyone else's). During the last US presidential election, the paper urged its readers to email undecided voters and instruct them to vote against George W Bush, with no very obvious result except for various permutations of fuck off and some unsolicited dental advice.