"Republicans smelled a political dawn..." Tenth Anniversary: Waltz or Schmaltz?

On September 3, 2008, searching, many supposed, for a VP nominee with experience to counter a perceived lack of that quality in Democratic candidate Obama, only not still another old white male, the GOP bypassed Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney, Charlie Crist, Bobby Jindal and Joe Lieberman to nominate Sarah Palin as political maverick John McCain's running mate.

Republicans sniffed a political dawn. Key
to winning? An off'ring who'd offset their honky.
The Pachyderm longed for a candidate wonky:
"No green nominee'll help John hobble the Donkey."
Instead, tone-deaf pols pounded gongs in the wrong key:
the twee GOP pinned the Palin on Don Qui.