Alas, McCain’s veep pick Sarah Palin is no relation to Michael Palin, who at least has vast experience in foreign relations.

Instead, the GOPpers offer us another pseudo-“maverick,” complete with all the proper pro-gun and anti-choice credentials.

But for now, let’s riff on some lines by the more famous Palin:

“Look, matey, I know a dead political party when I see one, and I’m looking at one right now.

“No no he’s not dead, he’s, he’s restin’! Remarkable party, the Republican, idn’it, ay? Beautiful plumage!”

“The plumage don’t enter into it. It’s stone dead.”

“Nononono, no, no! ‘E’s resting!”

“E’s not restin’! ‘E’s passed on! This Republican Party is no more! He has ceased to be! ‘E’s expired and gone to meet ‘is maker! ‘E’s a stiff! Bereft of life, ‘e rests in peace! ‘Is metabolic processes are now ‘istory! ‘E’s off the twig! ‘E’s kicked the bucket, ‘e’s shuffled off ‘is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin’ choir invisibile!! THIS IS AN EX-PARTY!!”

“Well, I’d better replace it, then.”

Postscript: Perhaps the one outsider who correctly guessed Ms. Palin’s selection was the lucky joker who’d already registered the domain name VPILF.com.