Short term, perhaps I am a cock-eyed optimist. Barring some dramatic collapse of Obama and his campaign, he is on course to win in November. But long term, I am really concerned about not just what was unleashed by the Palin nomination, but the who and the why.

John McCain is no a caricature, he is someone who has had long political career and, after one brief moment in the sum in 2000, and an a guttsy run in the Republican primaries this year, has come tantalizing close to the prize.

McCain's personal instincts in a choice for Vice President appear to have been reasonable. There were four possible choices other than Palin, any one of which would have made sense: Romney, Ridge, Lieberman and Pwalenty.

While Romney would have been the most politically logical from a Republican Party sense, one expects that personal antipathy made him unacceptable to McCain. Ridge and Lieberman were both pro-choice and thus unacceptable to the Republican base. That left Pwalenty who was passed anti-choice and governor of a state that went for Kerry in 2004 and which McCain was initialing targeting. But the choice was Palin in what was thought to be a gesture towards disgruntled Hillary Clinton backers but can now be viewed as more red meat for the Republican base.

Here’s what really concerns this optimist: the next time. 2012.

Some of the scenes of the past week have been really scary. The shouts from the crowds at the Palin-McCain events are terrifying: “Kill him” and “traitor.” The worst visual was that of a sheriff, in full black uniform ablaze with insignia, whipping up the crowd.

I thought at the time, that the wearing of the uniform when speaking at a political rally was way, way over the top and it now appears that, in fact, there is some official concern from the Justice Department about that because of federal funding received by the sheriff’s department.

But the real question, and for now is - given Sarah Palin is who she is - who was it that sold her to McCain? The fact that McCain’s campaign is being run by the K-Street lobbyist gang is no secret. These people have made millions for themselves and billions for their clients. These interests are not going to away should MObama be elected. These interests have absolutely no shame about what they have done to the tenor of this election and even the McCain campaign. And having used the same tactics in 2000 and 2004, one set-back this year won’t deter them in future years. It will only be a goad for further action in future campaigns.

Their conclusion will be not that Sarah Palin failed them, but the democratic process did. Although some of their income may be damaged by an Obama win, the interests they represent won’t be going away. They will be there the next time, that I fear.

Obama will be faced with the most difficult set of problems since the Great Depression. Whether we get a “Greatest Depression” or not in the coming years, things are not going to change over-night. Huey Long, Palin’s spiritual predecessor, once remarked, that when totalitarianism comes to American it won’t be from communism but from fascism.

Whatever penalities are suffered by the Sherriff in Florida who spoke for her campaign in his back shirted uniform, he may very well be the face of the next campaign. Sarah Palin will be there Saint Joan and if Obama fails to rally the country, resentments will be riding even higher.

Friday, McCain finally seemed to understand what his campaign, particularly the Palin pick, had unleashed. He may try to tamp down emotions for now. But if Obama wins as expected, he will be old news on November 5. Sarah Palin, despite Troopergate, won’t be. The financial interests that stocked McCain’s campaign with lobbyists, won’t be.

Expect after an Obama victory a new right wing extremist movement, better financed and more vitriolic then ever before. In the aftermath of WW II, right wing fanatics founded the World Anti-Communist League whose progeny included Joe McCarthy and Roy Cohn. The right wing extremist were better net-worked than most realized, or could cope with. Today, I wonder, along with Yeats, what rough beast is slouching towards Bethlehem to be born.

Sarah Palin as Saint Joan? A demented preacher prayed that she be protected from witchcraft. We had better pray for protection from the forces that produced Sarah Palin.

Someone once remarked to Lincoln, that he prayed that God was on the Union’s side during the Civil War. Lincoln replied, that he prayed not the God was on our side, but that we were on His. Good advice. We, and Obama, will need all the help we can get.

Pray, brothers and sisters. Pray

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