By Bennett Fuson
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I generally try to take everything in stride, but over the last few weeks something has been bothering me that I just can’t shake. This has absolutely nothing to do with me, but almost everything to do with my future. It’s funny how sometimes if you want something really badly, it comes to you in a way that isn’t quite how you pictured it. This is the case for thousands of angry (some could say “bitter”) members of the electorate who were anxious to carry Hillary Clinton to that big house on the Hill but instead received their blessing in the form of one Sarah Palin.

I definitely have my political views set in stone, but seeing as how this is a public forum, I try to stay as bipartisan as possible. However, I must confess that I am legitimately scared of this woman.

What Sarah Palin embodies is certainly not the “strong, powerful woman” image Hillary Clinton tried so hard to push for the past few months. Tina Fey struck not just comedic gold, but a fairly accurate representation with her impression of Palin juxtaposed to Amy Poehler’s Hillary Clinton in the season premiere of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.”

Whereas Hillary took great strides to break the “glass ceiling” of gender discrimination, Palin only seems like she is John McCain’s newest trick pulled out of the metaphoric hat. She certainly boosted McCain’s approval ratings after the Republican National Convention…until she was let loose on the rest of society. I’ve heard some outrageous things, but basing a foreign policy on the fact that one can “see Russia from my house?” That’s not even funny as a joke.

It goes without saying that in the next few weeks, Palin will be tirelessly compared to Clinton in almost every way. And to be honest, I don’t think that’s fair to Hillary. Palin’s political career is blotted with more stains than her son’s hockey jersey, let alone her personal life. It’s certainly not fair to attack her family, so I’m not going to. It is fair game, though, to attack what she deems as “acceptable” action.

Have you heard of the “Bridge to Nowhere?” If you live in the continental United States, chances are the answer is no. So let me fill you in. Palin ran in 2006 for governor of Alaska on a simple promise: build the Gravina Island and Knik Arm bridges that the former administration had started but not completed. As soon as she was in office, Palin scrapped the Gravina Island bridge project and spent only $25 million of the $442 million dollars given to Alaska for the projects. This money was part of what is commonly known as an “earmark” (money given to states by the federal government for specific purposes); Alaska is currently the leading state in “earmark” requests. If this case of missing funds doesn’t upset you in a time of recession, then I don’t know what will.

(A humorous side note: McCain criticized Palin for lobbying for earmarks in her second term on three separate occasions before selecting her for his running mate. His next goal is to remember when the election actually takes place.)

Perhaps what Palin is best known for is her unfailing duty to throw people out of office. In her first term as mayor of the bustling metropolis of Wasilla, she fired the local librarian for opposing library censorship and the chief of police for “not feeling like” he supported her. But her pinnacle of achievement in this issue is one that is currently being fought over. In July, Palin fired her Public Safety Commissioner, Walt Monegan. After the sacking, evidence came to light that Palin had asked Monegan to fire her former brother-in-law. Palin is currently resisting subpoenas by the court to testify on her behalf. And we all thought Nixon could lie.

This was supposed to be a redeeming year for the Republicans, equitable to the USA Olympic Men’s basketball team. The elephant party has been on a losing streak for quite some time now, but there were certainly hopes that John McCain’s “straight talk” could re-align the Republicans on the path to righteousness. But I honestly believe that Sarah Palin’s nomination was a death knoll for the party. Taking her words out of context, it’s almost like putting a pitbull’s paw on the nuclear launch button; now all we have to do is wait for the fallout.

Some hope that Sarah Palin will shatter the “glass ceiling.” If she does, I can only hope I find shelter from the shards.