As the Scary Sarah Palin Show rolls into a town near you (if you live in Grand Rapids, Michigan, that is), with the former Alaskan governor, failed Republican VP candidate and inveterate “hockey mom” signing copies of her autobiography Going Rogue: an American Life, it seems timely to pay tribute to all those satirists and lefties who continue to succeed in undermining her. While cheering crowds of fellow American “patriots” greeted a red-blazered and as-ever gung-ho Palin with a roar as she descended from her battle(axe) bus, the anti-Palin book industry was preparing its national lampoon.
First up, over in New York, editors from our friends the Nation simultaneously published their subversion of the Palin autobiography, ingeniously entitled Going Rouge: Sarah Palin — an American Nightmare, the title apparently inspired by a genuine spoonerism made by a US newsreader. The font and graphics brilliantly echo the HarperCollins official book — how many diehard Palinettes will mistakenly pick up a copy of the collection of leftist essays at their nearest Barnes & Noble? We can but hope . . .
As the publishers OR Books say, however, this is not a spoof book, but a collection of serious essays by respected writers to provide a political counterpoint to Palin and “the nightmarish prospect of her continuing to dominate the nation’s political scene”. In the words of Richard Kim, the editor of the Nation:
The cover is a parody of hers and it certainly takes some shots and mocks Sarah Palin, but it is a very serious book and the book itself is not a parody. It is not at all intended as a joke or a parody.
Rather more lighthearted is another Going Rouge, this one a “colouring and activity” book, its title again inspired by the hapless local newsreader. (Can anyone tell me who? I read the story last week but now can’t find it!) Again hitting shelves on 17 November, the same day as Rogue, here you can “dress Sarah for success” or “help Sarah find her way to the White House”. From their website:
Yeah, yeah, we heard all about the Sarah Palin’s Book Going Rogue: an American Life to be launched on Nov 17th. They expect to move 1.5 million copies, and pre-orders have been brisk. We couldn’t let that stand without a fight. There are two sides to every story, but let’s get something clear here — Sarah didn’t write this book either.
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Then, let’s not forget the excellence of Tina Fey‘s campy and uncanny impersonations of Palin on Saturday Night Live last year, which won her an Emmy and, it may not be an exaggeration to say, were instrumental in ensuring a Republican loss (if not the actual Obama win). Fey is said to be reprising her role as Palin to coincide with the autobiography’s release.
Finally — to those readers of a more sensitive disposition, don’t click this link. No, don’t, you won’t like it. Don’t click it. Don’t. Click. This. Link. Oops, oh well, I did warn you! — dare I just mention Hustler’s inspired porno flick Who’s Nailin’ Paylin? Adventures of a Hockey MILF, featuring “actors” spoofing Hillary Clinton, Condi Rice, Todd Palin and, yes, Mrs P herself . . . ?
Rouge faces all round.
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