A View From The Hill | Palin's bio serves as a guiltless pleasure and rumor control

If there is one thing I am notorious for, it is my political flip-flopping. As my political beliefs continue to mature, I have decided to live by a new mantra: always hold steadfast beliefs but be wise enough to allow your opinions to change.

I am always up for a debate and have learned to enjoy being corrected. For example, I used to believe global warming did not exist. After many heated email exchanges with a friend who was a biology major, I realized that the world is indeed getting warmer and the nonpartisan science is there to prove it. As much as I like to think I am always open-minded, however, there is one person I will never change my opinion about in any debate. I will never concede or feel badly about supporting one of the most contentious people in politics: Sarah Palin.

Former Alaskan governor and 2008 Vice-Presidential nominee Sarah Palin is one of the most criticized political figures in recent American history. Although the Nov. 17 release of her new book, "Going Rogue," will undoubtedly be overshadowed by the health care debacle that recently passed in House, I am sure the book's premiere will not go unnoticed by some of the media's most snarky members. In a city full of people looking to belittle politicians, it seems ironic that bookstores have signs declaring "Going Rogue: Preorder your copy today!"

Despite all of the negative attention Palin receives, few know who she really is and what she has already accomplished in the political sphere.

Anyone could Google "Sarah Palin" and find out details of her life-how she graduated from University of Idaho with a degree in journalism, met her future husband Todd, and eventually decided to enter into politics in Wasilla, Alaska. Eventually making her way to the governor's seat of Alaska, Palin was chosen by John McCain to be his running-mate. The rest is a mean, cruel, and unfair history.

But there are truths about Palin that haven't made their way into the New York Times.

During these tough economic times, Palin's past should become today's model for effective cost-cutting initiatives. Personally, Palin took a pay cut as mayor, refused the assistance of the previous governor's chef, and drove her own vehicle the 50 miles to work every day. In fact, her gubernatorial expenses were 80 percent below those of her predecessor, Frank Murkowski. Talk about leading by example.

In her 17 years of public service, Palin has successfully separated her personal life from the public she has served. She raised five children in addition to ending wasteful projects such as the "Bridge to Nowhere." Although a registered Republican, Palin ran her gubernatorial candidacy on the following issues: resource development, education and workforce development, public health and safety, and transportation and infrastructure development. That reads like a pretty Democratic agenda to me.

We all know the eyelash-batting, pageant-queen-strutting, baby-toting, moose-burger-eating, NRA-member Palin, but few are aware of the political prowess of this incredibly self-assured woman.

Palin's lack of experience is a weak argument. Although she never roamed the halls of Senate office buildings, Palin's 17 years of public service qualify her for a job in the federal government just as much as, if not more than Barack Obama's years in office could last November. Although I greatly debate whether either candidate was truly prepared to lead our country, the argument is moot when their public service histories are compared.

This article could easily become a book containing all of the personal and political traits and facts that describe Palin. Luckily, multiple books will be available soon. The Palin in these books greatly differs than the one Tina Fey so humorously captured on Saturday Night Live.

When Palin resigned from her position as governor, many criticized her as a sell-out. News that she would be writing a book only made the situation worse. However, when supporting five children and fighting 19 ethics complaints filed against you (which are free to file by the way), a government salary only goes so far. The fact that every single ethics complaint has been dropped makes the $1 million debt Palin incurred a little hard to swallow.

Last time I checked, community organizers, big-time lawyers, and average Joes also write books and live off of the profits, too-it's called the American dream. So don't feel bad reading "Going Rogue," because the author of "The Audacity of Hope" has the same agenda as Palin.

Although I am not a registered Republican and am too scared to shoot a gun, as a young woman, I would like to someday raise a family and rise in power without the fear of David Letterman mocking my children.