IT'S LIKE THAT: How She Move

By Jim Shearer on 10/20/2008

If there's one thing I've learned about the upcoming Presidential Election, it's that I'm (usually) not allowed to discuss it with friends and/or family. Despite keeping an open mind when they are talking about their candidate of choice, the conversation-valve is usually clamped shut when I open my mouth. I guess that's one of the disadvantages of coming from a background of one-platform-ponies (not saying standing on one platform is necessarily a bad thing, but when your candidate of choice contradicts many of your own moral beliefs, standing on one platform, and one platform alone, seems a little silly).

(left: Yo, that Sarah Palin got some fresh moves!)

There's one key-figure in this whole race that I'm just dying to talk about though: Sarah Palin. Since being named John McCain's tag-team partner, she's been turned over to the media short-order cooks, who have fried her like a big piece of (almost) Canadian bacon. Does she deserve it? Absolutely. When you're attempting to be the No. 2 Man/Woman for the most powerful country in the world, you damn well better expect criticism, fact digging, comedic beat-downs, and public scorn and ridicule.

I could rattle off a couple dozen reasons why it would freak me out if Sarah Palin sat shotgun in the White Office. But today, I'm not going to diss, I'm going to compliment. This past weekend, Sarah Palin appeared on Saturday Night Live. Her acting wasn't much different than the speeches she delivers on a daily basis (should clue you in on one of the prerequisites of being a politician), but what I was most impressed with was her dance moves. Straight up baby--that's right--her dance moves!

On SNL's Weekend Update, Sarah Palin informed the audience that she was dropping out of a skit she had rehearsed because it might be "bad for the campaign." Amy Poehler decided to give it a go and performed a boast-filled, Sarah-Palin-inspired, gangsta rap number. During the song, I was amazed that Palin actually had some rhythm as she bobbed side-to-side with the beat.

Why was I amazed?

Because throughout years and years of Presidents and VP's gettin' down at their respective victory parties, I haven't seen one sweat-drop of rhythm shimmy through the Oval Office. George W. has had his share of wince-inducing dance performances, and let's not even talk about Al and Tipper painfully trying to just clap along to a song (ew).

Don't get me wrong, it's not like Sarah Palin took out a piece of cardboard and did a head-spin to "Planet Rock," but it is a relief to see a candidate who can actually move to the music.

Do we need some rhythm in the White House? Hell yeah! Is Sarah Palin the one to bring it? Um, this is where I'm supposed to shut up.