EagletonYou're all familiar with the concept of the Overton Window, wherein previously unthinkable ideas can gradually become acceptable, even "sensible"? Well, it looks like that very same phenomenon is happening with the previously unthinkable idea of a presidential candidate scrapping his running mate for the first time since 1972 - and we all know how well that turned out.

As her National Enquirer clown car candidacy rolls on, geysering hot fresh scandals left right and right, speculation about when her new "partner and soulmate" might decide to go in a different direction has been abundant. But instead of being limited to the fever swamps of the liberal blogosphere like all those George W. Bush scandals that we just knew would result in his impeachment or electoral defeat, the Sarah Palin deathwatch has gone mainstream.

The New York Times asked about it:

Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina said that he had heard no discussion about removing Ms. Palin from the ticket.

The LA Times talked about it:

One Republican strategist with close ties to the campaign described the candidate's closest supporters as "keeping their fingers crossed" in hopes that additional information does not force McCain to revisit the decision....

(...)

For McCain, the Friday surprise of introducing Palin resulted in a weekend of buzz and anticipation. But if additional surprises surface about Palin, McCain could face stark choices.

Might he be forced to anger conservatives by dumping Palin? Could he risk an admission of poor judgment, tainting what he has long claimed as a key strength?

US Magazine is polling on it (bottom of the main page if you'd like to cast your own vote).

Hell, even Perez Hilton is in on the action:

John McCain might want to sue his Vice Presidential vetting team!

The crazy shiz people are digging up on Sarah Palin is never ending!

(...)

Should McCain dump Palin?????

What do U think????

Granted, he's not exactly mainstream media, but my point is that the possibility is leaking into popular culture - it's not just a dirty hippie wet dream.

Personally, I agree with Glenn Smith that McCain won't dare dump Palin, no matter how bad the scandals get, but the fact that people are even thinking about this is absolutely devastating to his campaign.  Instead of the usual discussion of a running mate's political pros and cons, we've got a discussion about whether McCain was so reckless, sloppy, and beholden to the religious right that he chose someone completely unsuitable, and whether he's too stubborn and cowardly to admit his mistake.

But whichever choice he makes, he's already lost.

(h/t Mark Nickolas and pontificator)