McCain's running mate - Sarah Palin

First Impressions.

Wow! Suprising! Smart!

Of course she's from Alaska, another big oil producing state. And with all the government corruption up there with Senator Stevens and his bridge to nowhere, one can definately see pay for play politics at its highest form.

By picking someone three years younger than Obama, McCain just made himself the biggest hypocrite possible. Throughout his campaign he's been knocking Obama for his youth and lack of experience - foreign policy and in everything else. Now he picks someone three years younger than Obama. A person who will take over if something happens to McCain. Someone who has less experience than Obama in politics and Washington.

Obama and the editorials should have a field day with this. If McCain says anything about Obama's lack of experience, Obama only has to point out that McCain feels Palin is capable of taking over as commander-in-chief if something should befall him - because that is the primary role of a VP.

Realistic, rational, best-for-our-country thinking aside, I think McCain's camp made a brilliant choice in choosing a female VP. He should've chosen a women perhaps ten years older just for the experience quotient, but still a good move.

I am sure a number of women and maybe some others who were voting for Hillary because she was a woman, will switch their votes. I don't know how many, but there will definately be some.

As long as Palin is a capable speaker and debater she can only help McCain. I don't know enough about her to know if she is or not. Her speech at next week's Republican Convention will be very telling.

The only way McCain's choice for VP will backfire is if during the VP debate, Biden is able to talk circle arounds Palin much like Kerry did to Bush during their first debate. Adding to that train of thought, Obama's camp will need to remind people that if something happens to the elderly McCain, Palin would be the President. Right now.

I don't think it'll draw away the youth vote from Obama who were voting for Obama because his youthfulness in and of itself symbolized change. The reason: McCain is still have an old geezer with conservative ideals and out of touch with the average American and he'll be making policy not her.

This pick will help McCain and keep the race tight. But it will also make some of McCain's most effective attacks against Obama - inexperience - less effective.

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I think if McCain is elected or even if he fails, four years from now - or eight - she could definately be a top candidate for presidency - if she is capable and not another Dan Quayle. Wow, imagine for the women of this country a Clinton vs. Palin election in 2012 or 2016.

Of course, I've said all this without knowing much about her. Only that she is three years younger than Obama, a woman, governor of Alaska, strong anti-abortionist and has a child in the National Guard. I know nothing about how she runs Alaska. It'll be interesting to learn more.