I think if you asked a hundred of us who voted for McCain in 2008 about feeling crappy giving the guy our vote....right now today, more than fifty percent are negative about that vote, and regret it. So this hyped chatter from the news media is having zero effect on us.
I would have voted for Satan himself against Obama. I will stand by that.
Today, most Republican voters will tell you, "I voted for Sarah."
I don't remember a single voice of enthusiasm for McCain, when he won the 2008 Republican primary. Not one.
I remember that Freepers were universally gobsmacked that the worst possible outcome had come to pass, and that we were going to be forced to vote for that quisling weasel.
No doubt, the strategists in the RNC also saw this, and realized that they were headed for a shelacking of historic proportions, if they didn't quickly add a running mate to the ticket who could inspire and energize the base.
Enter Sarah Palin. Not only did she inspire and energize the base, she practically caused a second American revolution on the right. Her impact was so powerful, it threatened to radically alter the balance of power between the people and their government.
She rocked the left-liberal ruling class so hard, they were speechless for nearly a week, before gathering their wits. Only then, did they begin returning fire with ridicule and nastiness.
She had to be destroyed, and she was. Even after her election loss, the left continued to attack her and her family throughout the Obama years. They were (and still are) that afraid of her.