by Ken Bradford

Created on: November 07, 2008   Last Updated: November 25, 2008

Will Sarah Palin get a second chance at the presidency?

As Sarah Palin arrived back in her home state of Alaska, the John McCain team and evidently the entire Republican party were busy doing everything in their power to place the blame for an embarrassing defeat on the shoulders of the vice presidential candidate.

Sarah Palin was sworn in as Alaska's youngest and first woman governor in December 2006 and in August 2008, she was selected as John McCain's vice-presidential running mate. Her only prior experience in public office was being on the city council of Wasilla City, Alaska and later serving two terms as the mayor of Wasilla City. It is important to note here that in 2007, the estimated population of Wasilla City was fewer than 10,000.

It is clear that either the McCain team knew very little about Sarah Palin before her selection or they were attempting to send a clear message that the Republican Party ticket intended to show the world they were truly "mavericks", as Senator McCain proudly announced at many of his campaign appearances.

In the famous CBS News interview with Katie Couric, it is obvious that Sarah Palin was lost and had not been adequately prepared for the interview. When Katie Couric asked her to explain more fully why she felt Alaska's proximity to Russia added to her foreign policy experience, here is what Sarah Palin said - "Well, it certainly does, because our, our next-door neighbors are foreign countries, there in the state that I am the executive of. And there"

It is easy to understand how many American citizens were frightened about the possibility of Sarah Palin, not only becoming vice president, but more importantly becoming the President of the United States. Sarah Palin had never been out of the United States and only obtained her passport in 2007. When questioned as to why she waited so long to obtain a passport, Governor Palin replied that she received her education on other countries from books.

So, did John McCain know from the very beginning, over two years ago, that the election of another Republican president would require some kind of miracle? Did the Republican Party intentionally "set up" Sarah Palin to take the fall?

Sarah Palin lost her chance at replacing Dick Cheney, but she did still have the luxury of returning to Alaska as Governor. Only time will tell whether or not her popularity in that state will survive the beating she has taken from those who complimented and supported her throughout the presidential campaign and have now turned on her like a pack of wolves.

Governor Palin was not the right choice, but she took the bait and became enchanted over the possibility of holding a higher office. As far as Governor Palin's chances of ever being taken seriously in future presidential campaigns, it seems that she may have burned that bridge behind her by placing her trust and her political career in the hands of the wrong people.

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