Sarah Palin Tastes Like Sponge Ice Cream

I’m on vacation…as much as anyone can be with a family that includes two toddlers and two teenagers. We’ve stopped at an Econo Lodge for the night…which in this particular case should be called Cheapo Lodge…but that’s another story.

In the morning we will finish the last leg of a trip to go camping in the mountains. It’s not that far from our NC coast to our mountains, but we divided the trip up in order to spend the Day Out with Thomas and see Bob the Builder. We’ve hung out with Thomas for three years in a row now, and it’s always fun.

This year we made the visit while Thomas and Bob were at the NC Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC. The history of how that old steam engine repair yard became the coolest museum is an interesting story in itself.

Anyway, that is where I found out that Sponge Bob ice cream tastes like Sarah Palin.

While cooling off in the gift shop area and strolling around with a sleeping two year old, I happened to come across a young family peering into the ice cream cooler and trying with great decision making skills to make the correct choice.

The dad made these statements to his little boy, probably around four years old, “You want Sponge Bob ice cream? You don’t know how that tastes. Choose ….” And he proceeded to name some “safe” flavors.

Now, many might say, “Well, the dad was just trying to make sure his son enjoyed his ice cream.”

I say to that, “Uh, no.” You see, parents of children that age understand that if the kid picks a flavor he doesn’t end up liking, he will have to hear said child WHINE…and the money spent on that museum priced ice cream is thrown down the trash can chute along with the distasteful treat, melting at the same time the kid is having his own meltdown.

Why should the father take the risk of putting aside the nominal vanilla ice cream cup in favor of a square yellow treat on a stick with brown pants and bubble gum eyes? Just stick with what’s safe, right?

John McCain's former chief campaign strategist Steve Schmidt, speaking of Gov. Palin, was quoted in an article by CBSNews.com's Stephanie Condon:

"I think she has talents, but my honest view is that she would not be a winning candidate for the Republican party in 2012," he said. "Were she to be the nominee, we could have a catastrophic election result."

And when discussing what Gov. Palin may say about him in her upcoming book, Going Rogue:

"I think it may say I was anti-rogue in the running of the campaign."

Do you see where I’m going with this? Consider what guys like Schmidt risk losing if, “Egads! That Sarah Palin (I mean Sponge Bob) ice cream is awesome!”

They must keep trying to persuade all of us that the usual is good enough or they lose their status, otherwise known as power and money. Play it safe, they say. GET THE VANILLA CUP.

It’s not that those guys really want us to be happy with our choice; they just want to keep their jobs with the people they are trying desperately to convince us to choose!

My kids have had Sponge Bob ice cream before. And I will tell you that if your kids do ever have it, expect them to eat it and wear it and most likely, ask for it again.

Likewise, I have found that truly thinking people, once aware of what Gov. Palin has to offer and give her a taste, raise their eyebrows in astonishment…and ask for her again.

Oh, and that little boy at the museum had the biggest grin on his face when I saw him walk out licking that Sponge Bob ice cream.

Happy Camping, Palination!

(Cross-Posted at The Palination)