NOVEMBER 10, 2008

       A little over a week since the U.S. election and the claws are out in the Republican party. Did Sarah Palin cost John McCain his chance at presidency? Was she too high maintenance? Was she too clueless about world events?

       One day after the votes were tallied, McCain’s camp started lashing out with accusations against his former running mate. But Palin’s people said it might just be bitterness on McCain’s part and that’s the reason for the low blows.

       From claims she didn’t know Africa was a continent, to criticism about the Quebec radio station that pranked the vice-presidential candidate, making headlines around the world, the gloves are off from outside the political world and even Palin’s own party.

       Either way, it doesn’t look like Palin is leaving the political scene anytime soon. Even before election night, Palin was rumoured to be planning her campaign for 2012, the year of the next U.S. election.

       Palin now has four years to brush up on current events and attempt to wipe clean the slate of the embarrassment that was her 2008 campaign. From prank phone calls, to disastrous interviews, Palin was the subject of ridicule throughout the months leading up to November’s vote.

       Even if Palin is able to redeem herself, will she be able to shake the image of ditsy fashionista? Will people vote for her only for comedic value? Did people vote for her last week in the hopes of getting her elected so she could make a fool of herself? Did the entertainment value of having a vice-president as peculiar as Palin get her votes?

       No matter what happens, Palin made history like president-elect Barack Obama. But Palin’s legacy might be a little more shameful. After all she went through during the campaign it might be hard to ever take her seriously.