Who's Your Daddy?

Throughout modern history, the Republicans have promoted themselves as the 'daddy party', the people who would best protect Americans in times of peril. So it was a gift from heaven that after taking office, and fully ignoring all signs and warnings concerning al Qaeda, the GOP was able to transform the 9/11 disaster they helped enable into an enduring asset for that military deserter, George W. Bush. Hey, you take what's given.

The logical heir to this mantle was John McCain, a man whose instincts may indeed be honorable, but whose resolve (Hanoi Hilton-induced or otherwise), is sorely lacking. He can talk the talk, but never walks the walk. He is the ultimate paradox--the war hero who wound up with the personal character of a quisling.

Into this breach tonight marched Sarah Palin, striding confidently to the podium in Minneapolis. The party held its breath. Would she be able to maintain composure...even remain upright...under the rigor of delivering a scathing speech that had been authored weeks before for whomever McCain chose?

The answer was a resounding yes. Not only did she deliver, but she relished the very lines that any vice president is assigned...the ones that would 'tear the face off' the opposing presidential candidate. There was no need to rise to a challenge. She was already in her element.

From the moment the spin doctors decided their response to criticism of the Palin nomination, the game plan has been comically transparent. Every GOP spokesperson would challenge questions about Palin's qualifications by comparing them to Obama's. If you can make the battle your VP against their presidential candidate, you have won the fight. Because your presidential contender then rises above the level of that face off. He stands alone. From the perspective of pure argument, the strategy is nearly foolproof.

Nearly.

But now, there will be a new battle for the GOP to fight. McCain himself...the queen of flip-floppers...the 'hero' who decided to surrender to the attacks on his family that made his own wife weep in 2000...the man who felt 'manly' by viciously attacking the teen aged child of the Clintons--that coward must now step onto the same stage to prove himself not the equal of Obama...but of Palin. Because as of now, the pants in the GOP family are worn by Palin.

The war hero...the darling of the media...the driver of the Straight Talk Express...must now prove himself to be the pilot of his own ticket. The question could come to vex Republicans--exactly who's your Daddy?