My gripes with erstwhile GOP presidential nominee John McCain are well-known and well-documented on this blog. I anticipated having to hold my nose with an industrial size clothespin due to his positions on the issues (especially immigration), and because his reaching across the aisle to work with Democrats led to the same result as any past "bipartisanship" in American history (namely, the American people getting screwed). I figured the stench would get worse when he selected his VP, most like another boring old white guy with tons of baggage. Romney would have brought a wealth of economic and private-sector experience, but his own pointed criticisms of McCain in the primaries would have filled up a thousand Dem-cong attack ads. Tom Ridge or Joe Lieberman would have caused an outright conservative revolt due to their pro-choice beliefs, and would likely have led to an Obama win in a landslide similar to the one Reagan won in 1980. Mike Huckabee might have placated the evangelical wing of the party, but he has an almost Democrat-esque smarmy attitude and righteous indignation should anyone question the great Huck-ster. Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty would have been the next best choice, as he is a solid conservative governor with high approval ratings in a purple state that he might have swung to the GOP, but he strikes me as someone not quite ready for prime-time. I think that, in a few more years, he might make a good top of the ticket candidate, or failing that, a good Senator.
In sum, most conservatives, present company included, had given up any hope of having a conservative to vote for from either party in either the top or second spot on the ticket. So imagine my surprise when John McCain picked Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. At the ripe old age of 44, she is an extremely attractive and telegenic mother of 5, a staunch conservative, and someone who has more executive experience than the Obamessiah. Even more than that, Palin has a record of actual reform working in the best interests of the people that does NOT include sticking her finger in the eye of conservatives at every opportunity...so what's not to like? Judging from the initial reactions throughout the blogosphere, conservatives love the pick, the Dem-cong all have a serious case of heartburn, and this election just got substantially more interesting. While Palin isn't perfect, I think and hope that Palin will do very well on the campaign trail, and will provide a stark contrast to angry ol' Joe Biden from Delaware, and I will feel much better pulling the lever for McCain in the fall with her on the ticket.
UPDATE: To quote Rush Limbaugh, it looks like this pick was, indeed, a home run. Since McCain has elected to accept public financing for the general election, his last day to raise money from private donors in Sunday. Since selecting Palin, McCain reports fundraising of over $7 million and counting and an increae in volunteerism for the campaign. Home run indeed. :)
