Hail to the Chief?

Sarah Palin doesn't really need to care if she and McCain win or lose. (And by this time next week, we'll know for sure.) Because she's been launched into political fame and may be on the next Republican ticket as well, only this time as president.

I know. The same woman who can see Russia from her house.

But Republicans see things a little differently:

"Ms. Palin, of Alaska, has had a rocky time since being named as Senator John McCain’s running mate, but to many conservatives her future remains bright. If Mr. McCain wins, she will give the social conservative movement a seat inside the White House. If he loses, she could emerge as a standard bearer for the movement and a potential presidential candidate in 2012, albeit one who will need to address her considerable political damage."

2012 might not be enough time to make people forget about Tina Fey's awesome impersonations. And although I'd love to see more of them, I don't want Palin in the White House as legitimately elected president in order to get that. Seriously, we don't have other good candidates? There's no other extremely qualified, likeable candidate out there?

Former Bush strategist Matthew Dowd points out:

"She’s an attractive woman who can give a great speech, but the American public doesn’t view her much beyond that. She’s vastly unpopular among moderate and independent voters, and while she could be in a position to be popular among an increasingly smaller Republican Party, she’s got to figure out a way to extend that and figure out a way to strengthen her weaknesses."

My guess is that, if McCain isn't elected, by 2012 the craze for Palin will have slowed so the public isn't clamoring for her anymore. But what if it were 2012--Palin vs. Clinton? Could we get Tina Fey and Amy Poehler on the campaign trail instead?