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The plot thickens

This whole Sarah Palin deal reminds us of “I Am Charlotte Simmons,” Tom Wolfe’s masterful 2004 novel about big college athletics in the age of the “hookup.” Like the title character, Palin is a small-town girl in flyover country, suddenly thrust into the real world and away from the protection once offered by friends, family and church. They are innocents thrown to the wolves  – drunken frat boys and over-adored athletes in Charlotte’s case and TV newshounds in Sarah’s. Like Charlotte Simmons, Sarah Palin is being forced to make choices to accommodate her new reality. Will they stay true to their morals or succumb to a desire for popularity (Charlotte) or political success (Sarah)? Charlotte makes her choice deep into the novel. Sarah is making hers as we write this. Charlotte toyed with the idea of retreat, a return to security. Sarah? The plot will thicken as more voices urge her to close the book on her vice presidential race.