West Hollywood neighborhood may be famously liberal, but when Chad Michael Morrisette, a professional window display designer dressed a mannequin to resemble Sarah Palin, the US Republican vice-presidential candidate, complete with trademark glasses and beehive hairstyle and, hung the effigy by the neck from the eaves of his home for Halloween, it proved too much for even the most liberal of its residents, and the subsequent growing frenzy of protestors and media attention forced him to remove it quickly.

In the run-up to next Tuesday’s election, the display created a disturbance, with counter-protestors circulating overhead in helicopters, leading to a visit by the U.S. Secret Service, though officials held it wasn’t a hate crime and Morrisette had not violated any laws.  Having made his point, which was fast becoming counter-productive, Morrisette removed the effigy when requested by West Hollywood Mayor - Jeffrey Prang.  He will also be removing Republican presidential candidate - John McCain’s effigy, he had protruding from his chimney surrounded in flames.

On their part, someone from the counter protesters created a similar effigy of Morrisette, while a woman in Redondo Beach, included a blood smeared dummy of a stabbed through the neck Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.