Palin for President: contender or pretender?

Sarah Palin has suggested that she is considering running for President in 2012, demurely conceding to the The New York Times that she is “candidly” deliberating a campaign that she believes could beat Barack Obama. That means that Sarah Palin, star of her own reality show, self-proclaimed hockey mom and the woman who accidentally invented the word ‘refudiate’ could potentially be the new leader of the free world.

Since Palin was launched onto the national stage in 2008, her popularity has been simultaneously understandable and utterly mystifying. She is someone whom America wants to talk about, what with her contributions to Fox News, her daughter’s appearance on Dancing with the Stars, and her forthcoming book tour. But all of this seems mere gossip rather than serious news, gossip about a woman who has become internationally known not for her political skill or experience but for her media gaffes, family drama and excellent portrayal by Tina Fey on Saturday Night Live. Is this the kind of person the Republican Party wants representing them in the next election? Is this the kind of person whom Americans want running their country?

I simply can’t envisage, in a serious and democratic election, why anyone with an ounce of sanity would vote for someone who recently told an interviewer that America must “stand with [their] North Korean allies”. Someone whose affiliation with the Tea Party movement makes even her own party members wary. Someone who has been told, on no uncertain terms, by former First Lady Barbara Bush to “stay in Alaska”. The prospect of Palin as President seems a complete reversal of the common sense shown by the voters that elected Barack Obama two years ago, because, bias aside, Sarah Palin is simply not qualified for the job. She lacks the credibility and experience of Barack Obama and other potential candidates. Republicans know this: they don’t think she can win. Surely a presidential campaign would therefore be a waste of time, effort, and considerable amounts of dollars that could be put to use elsewhere.

Palin undeniably has some admirable qualities: a commendable work ethic, steely determination (demonstrated by the dedication of her supporters in voting for her daughter Bristol on Dancing with the Stars: she finished second), popular appeal, and reasonable charisma. But, unfortunately, those are not the sole prerequisites of a President. The ability to be taken seriously is surely of reasonable importance, as is significant political experience. It’s up to the American public to discern whether Palin has all of these, but I think I’ll side with Barbara Bush on this one: I sincerely hope that Alaska has the honour of Palin’s presence for a good many years to come.