Sarah Palin and Pop Culture

Sarah Palin, like or loathe her and/or her politics, will become a pop culture icon for as long as she's running for VP, and even longer if she gets elected.

It's unmistakable that Gov. Palin has had a huge emotional impact on her supporters (as well as her detractors, but that's another story). Yes, we've all heard about her no-nonsense style of governing, her down-to-earth back-story, her unusually-named children, etc., and what it can mean for the politics of the nation. But I argue that her influence will most immediately become manifest in a more People Magazine/The View/Entertainment Tonight kind of way.

Here are a few predictions for the coming pop culture"Sarah-Tsunami:"

• The Ice Woman cometh. The term "Hockey Mom" will be seen on car window and bumper stickers (more like SUV window and bumper stickers), t-shirts, baseball hats, etc. Inevitably, we'll also see the appearance of TV ads for products targeted towards suburban mothers with hockey themes. Hockey in, soccer out.
• That hair! We will soon see a number of red-state women wearing the quasi-beehive look. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I think it looks pretty good on Sarah. Hair stylists will be offering their clients the "Sarah," just as they offered the "Rachel" popularized by Jennifer Aniston from Friends in the early '90's.
• What's in a name? Trig, Track, Willow...math functions, sports facilities, and trees will become sources of hundreds of new baby names. We'll see fewer Madisons and Tylers, and more, well, different names.
• Just when you thought it was so over. Thanks to "first dude" Todd Palin, I predict a second wind for the goat-tee movement.
• But don't call her a dog. "Pit bull with lipstick" will become a term of endearment for some women. I get the idea, but I can't block out the visual of a nasty, growling dog wearing makeup.

I like Sarah Palin. I'm not sure that I would like her as Vice President, but she can't be worse than Cheney. But I really hate that the presidential nominees can choose whomever they like for the second slot. It seems bizarre that McCain (or anyone other nominee) can pluck someone from obscurity for the job of becoming president, should something happen to the president. I don't have a better idea, but the current model still seems wrong.

All the same, I wish Sarah Palin and her family well.