Analysis: Palin a fellow maverick, but a risky pick

It gets worse, Peter: She has been the governor for less than 2 years. She took office in early 2007.

What about her strong Pro Life stance?!?!?!?

If you want to win Hillary voters, I believe many won't appreciate the woman VP nod because of her pro life stance. I don't buy this pick as wooing women voters because of this reason.

Also, it seems plausible to believe people who supported Hillary wanted the first woman president to be chosen - someone they feel strongly about and believe in. I'm not sure how thrilled these voters would be if the first woman president backed into the position via some unforeseen passing of the president.

"She will have to establish her own credibility as a future president, without the benefit of the 19 months that Obama has spent on the campaign trail."

I agree it is a risky pick, and the inexperience of Gov. Palin is a fair issue.
But to say that Obama has credibility as President, because he ran for President for 19 months, makes little sesne.

I'm so annoyed by the constant sexism when the women candidates are being discussed by the journalists. Palin has more executive experience than all the other 3 males in both tickets.

So insulting to women. Unreal.

I'm so annoyed by the constant sexism when the women candidates are being discussed by the journalists. Palin has more executive experience than all the other 3 males in both tickets.

Palin makes Dan Quayle look overqualified.

It's funny how your article mentions the selection process of "misguided frenzied speculation" being "engineered" by the McCain campaign to draw attention to the process more than the selection, when Obama did the EXACT samething. Text messanging...how juvenile. The media bias towards Obama is so obvious that you continue to lose credibility everytime you open the cap to your pen and begin to write. Try to at least call it 70/30 or better yet 60/40, than the 100/0 which you and all your colleagues are doing today. The more biased you are in your coverage the more you push voters away from Obama. You can keep the college kids. They won't be there on Tuesday night anyway.

Some other issues with Palin: Alaska's Republican Party is a mess; Palin handpicked two candidates to run in the Republican Primary this week against the two of the most senior members of Congress: Stevens (Senate) and Young (House). Both of Palin's picks lost; one in a landslide to Stevens and the other in a squeaker to Young. Palin will have to run her V.P. campaign nationally while ignoring the two Republican candidates running for the US Senate and House from Alaska; not good. Also, Palin has been consistantly anti choice and I doubt that, knowing this, many feminists will vote for her in November.

Per usual a one sided story. BTW when you are going to plagerize the Phrase "McCain will have a hard time persuading people that he chose the most qualified person to be a heartbeat away from the presidency" at least try to be less obvoius. That line was pretty much the same line to Obama campaing just came out with.

Spot-on analysis.

I'm one of those republicans that was looking to McCain to pick Romney. I am not pleased and have decided to not vote for McCain because of this. It is the last poke in the republican eye from Sen McCain that I am taking. I am withholding my money, time, and effort from the republican presidential campaign this year.

In a time of such economic turmoil, we really needed an economic expert on the ticket. We also needed the fundraising ability of Romney's supporters, and a few key states such as Mcihigan, Nevada, and Colorado.

This pick of an inexperienced VP who has been doing very little to support McCain when compared to Romney is indeed a poke in the eye to republicans. A fateful one, because I'm afraid that this means Obama will be be our next President.

I doubt any women who supported Hillary would vote for an anti-choice, conservative candidate! I certainly would not.

Its one thing to chose a vp candidate to balance the ticket, but its something very different to chose someone purely because of their gender. Objectively, this person does not have, by McCain's own definition, the experience to be one heartbeat from the president's office. If Obama had made a similar choice the Republicans would have relentlessly hammered at the obvious "pandering and desperation" of this move!

On the other hand I hear that there are women who will vote for McCain purely because of the gender of his vp selection - using that logic maybe McCain should have selected a hot body builder - he might have been able to pull over even more votes!

Nothing about her recent scandals surrounding the firing of her ex-brother-in-law?That would seem to be the real 'risk' in the Palin pick.

What a great pick! She is smart, articulate, fiscally responsible, dynamic and a role model for girls. Obama is a former state senator and community activist and has been in the Senate for 143 days before announcing his run. He isn't ready to be anything. McCain should win solidly.

She's more qualified than Obama, and much more genuine. I will vote for the Republican ticket this election for the first time in my life.

Palin has limited executive experience however she still has more than Obama. That being said it would be a blunder to continue with direct comparisions to his lack of demonstrated leadership. Additionally she is in the VP slot and not presidential slot so that has to be weighed as well. With Obama if he were to be elected then he needs the executive experience. If McCain is elected then he needs the executive experience, the VP choices are relatively minor there. The VP needs to be an extension and shepard of policy more than anything.

I like the fact that she has gone against some entrenched people in her own party to fight for something that is right and against corruption. It should be interesting to learn more about her.

The Palin pick showcases McCain's poor judgement under pressure.

Peter Canellos is still pushing the thoroughly discredited mainstream storyline that McCain is a "maverick". He voted with the Bushies 90+ % of the time and he capitulated on everything on which he initially took a stand, including torture. Stop proliferating the myth that McCain is a maverick. It's baloney!

Perhaps, she is just what the Republicans need. I for one am voting for Obama anyway and love Sen. J. Biden. I have no idea if she would sway away a Democratic pro Hiliary voter, I think the Democratics will remailn unified and strong for Obama and Biden.

This choice only reinforces my concerns about McCain, realized in just about every decision he's made during the 2008 campaign. It is now clear that he wanted someone whose lack of national experience, working relationships, and influence would limit their capacity to form strong views and challenge the myopic way of thinking he's prone to. More than most, John McCain needed someone to counter his weaknesses, but it is clear he could not tolerate such an influence. It hints alarmingly of the Bush administration's intolerance for competing views and information.

oh god! please don't give me more sexism complains.

All of you diehard lefties can give up the ghost. McCain now wins in a landslide. Ha, ha, ha! It will be interesting to see the negatives that are created about her by the bow-ties at the Globe during the next few days.

I'm just trying to picture that same meek little lady who just spoke with McCain trying to talk to people in Dorchester, nevermind in Kabul, Moscow, or Pyongyang.

I'll bet she makes great cookies though.

John McCain’s pick of Sarah Palin is a SOLID one for REAL Conservatives, and announcing the pick today is a strategic masterpiece, knocking out Barack Obama/Joe Biden’s after convention euphoria!.

Did I mention that I loved EVERYTHING she said after being introduced by John McCain?

EVERYTHING!! OsiSpeaks[dot]com

If Senator John McCain is thinking he will pick up the disgruntle votes of
Democrats who wanted and ONLY wanted Hillary Rodman Clinton on the
ticket is sadly mistaken in my opinion. Gov. Palin can't even come close
to being the woman of Sen. Hillary Rodman Clinton's statue. Sen. Clinton is
one of the most extrordinary woman of our times. Not only Democrats but
Republican, Independents alike, will follow her, and vote into the office for
President, Sen. Obama. Then and only then will all Americans be on their
way to a better life in these United States.

Actually, what's really sexist is to assume that disaffected female Hillary Clinton supporters will vote McCain just because he picked a woman, any woman, to be on his ticket.

On the contrary, seeing Palin there, and knowing McCain picked her specifically to attract these voters, I think they will be quite aware of just how much she ISN'T Hillary. Hillary's supporters, whether you agree with their unhappiness at the primary outcome or not, are too smart and too passionate to be taken by such a transparent ploy.

Executive experience is tremendously over-rated. What we need in the White House are fresh ideas and President willing to surround himself with the advisers who have the experience and pull to help put those ideas into action. Obama's choice for VP, while risky due to Biden's tendency to run his mouth, shows that Obama is willing to recognize his need to surround himself with individuals who can help him get his message and ideas to pass.

McCain's choice, however, is most certainly an attempt to gain votes from undecided women, and perhaps to try to steal some of the Hillary Clinton supporters who dislike Obama. However, a choice as conservative as Palin is likely to have the opposite affect, and convince those voters that Obama is still the best choice for their interests. She may allow him to strengthen his pull among Republicans who did not trust him, but they were unlikely to vote for Obama either way. In short, Palin does not help McCain gain votes, and may in fact drive some of the "fence" voters away.

It seems hypocritical to me to, on the one hand, argue that Obama has too little experience to lead the nation and, on the other hand, nominate as second in command a person who has served in an elected post just two years as governor and several years as mayor of a town of only 5,000. Heaven for bid something were to happen to McCain, the leader of the free world, Ms. Palin, will have, in her entire political career, personally garnered the votes of maybe 150000 people. If it is McCain's judgment that his VP nominee is ready to be president, then he can no longer raise any question about Obama's experience.

Obama spokeman Bill Burton said "Experience is being taken off the table considering you're putting someone within a heartbeat of the presidency with the thinnest foreign policy experience in history," . At least try to come with you own stuff. Let me guess you are not voting for McCain.

hey, boston.com:

it really doesnt help the flow of "discussion" when one's post is only added to the webpage a half hour after submisison.

please allow real-time comment posting. this is stupid.

And we all know how important it is for someone to have 'executive experience' … just look at the great job that former Governor Shrub has done in his two terms!! Good thinking.

Typical Liberal Wacko slant. She is the candidate you Dem's needed and wanted.
She is more qualified to run something than Hussein Obama. You guys just lost the female vote and you know it. She is a woman that most voting age woman can identify with. Her husband is a Union guy. She will make that goofball Biden look silly. I would have gone in a different direction but after looking at her total package -it's a knockout.

It's funny to read all the above response that women won't vote for a McCain/Palin ticket that a written and signed by men. Guess what "guys", I'm voting for them and so is 11 other Hillary supports in my office. At least the republicans are showing that they want to break the glass ceiling. VP or President, neither has every been occupied by a woman until this November. Maybe next time Obama. Oh ya, if you are going to speak about a woman's point of view, first you at least need to be one.

What is surprising is that he didn't choose Cheney. Or, he could have chosen W and then resigned on Inauguration Day to allow another four years of bliss. The 22nd Amendment says no one can be elected for three terms, it says nothing about serving. By the way, what a gutless choice.

This is just my simple question, but is it only me who thinks some republican publicists are writing in good comments about Sarah Palin in this comment board? I am relatively well educated and well informed person. I read paper, listened the radio news, and try to keep up with the current politics and the world affair. But it is difficult to know who she is and what her history is if you are not from Alaska. I can sort of understand people like me saying "who is she?" "She is not qualified!" only because we don't know much about her. At the same time, some folks seem to know Palin's political accomplishments as well as her personal characters as soon as the news of the VP pick appeared. Are these people all from Alaska? More I think of it, more I can picture some hired republicans are typing all favorable comments, and madly posting as many media comments as possible.

What blows my mind is that a creationist like Palin could be taken seriously on the ticket. She talks about teaching both sides of the debate -- but creationism just is not science, and has no place in a science curriculum. I think it will play out as a poor choice. A female Christian Right politician will do more to alienate Hillary supporters than a moderate male.

Yes. His big first decision.. and THIS is the best he could do? If elected, she may well end up as President. That is ridiculously frightening. It is a desperate and defensive pick -- just the kind of leadership we need, not.

Hillary supporters won't go for it for many reasons... most they will not allow Hillary to work as hard as she did and come as far as she did to have this unknown waltz in to the job on a prayer and a heart attack.

Excellent choice! You see that it is republicans who respect women and minority, in actions, not just in words. Democrats threw away their perfect chance to nominate a women candidate.

It is said that many of Hillary's supporters are uneducated white women. Any of them who vote for McCain will certainly prove this to be true! Wake up. BTW, like McCain, 'TheBird' has some obvious anger issues ... settle down.

It is hilarious how ignore people on here really are. It was a great strategy because it reassures the conservative base, she is outside the beltway, she has executive experience, and it is a better choice than dry Pawlenty and flip flop Mitt, who the Dems would have used his attacks on McCain just as Repubs did with Biden and Obama. Instead of rhetoric of reform, there it is right there.

to the 11 hillary supporters who plan to vote for mccain-palin: have you lost your mind? evidently, you don't mind the fact that mccain doesn't support equal pay for women. go check his comments on the ledbetter legistlation. and what about vetoing support for emergency access to contraception for rape survivors? he vetoed that, too. planned parenthood funding? yep. vetoed that, too. you can't possibly support team hillary and then turn around and ignore these facts. if you do, it just proves that you were only picking hilary because she had ovaries. and to that i say get out of the democratic party - or any party, for that matter - we don't need any more pea-sized morons voting at the polls. i'll take a thinking republican whose views differ from mine over a stupid democrat who doesn't know the issues of the op candidates

Going into the VP selection, I though Obama would look to add an experienced politician, especialaly with foreign affairs--someone who would help to offset his inexperience--And he did in Joe Biden.

I thought McCain would add a (younger) conservative, someone who was especially strong on domestic policy (like a Romney). I am not sure what he got with Palin. If anything he reduced the advantage he had in the area of experience.
Just 2 years as Govenor of a very rural state--this is real head scratcher...

Republican publicists hired to put comments on Boston.com in the most liberal of all states? Talk about a stupid statement. Why would the RNC spend money on hiring publicists to put posting on this board that favor Palin when no national republican has ever even come close to winning in this state? Well-educated Republicans who can type and believe in the Palin pick do live in Massachusetts albeit a small minority of us (the reason why this state is in the financial toilet and jobs are leaving). Any guesses on which cabinet post Deval will take if Obama gets elected? I'm thinking Secretary of State.....oh ya...he said he wasn't interested in a position in Washington if Obama gets elected. I forgot when I say him on stage Wednesday night.

Palin is under investigation for allegedly using her position to try to can her ex-brother-in-law from a state trooper job. Some thought this killed her chances of getting the VP nod from McCain. As we're seeing today, it has had no effect on her future political trajectory at all. Time will tell if the governor with no national political experience can rise to the challenge that faces her now.

"Typical liberal wacko slant" Do you really expect anyone to believe you are concerned about the future of this country when you refer to Barack Obama, a US born Christian who has spent his entire adult life trying to help people in this country as "Hussein Obama" . John McCain is also a good man but you do him and this country no good with your hateful and bigoted remarks. Grow up!

McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his VP running mate simply reinforces his apparent obsession with beauty queens.

From Obama's speech to McCain's VP announcement was an overnight journey from the sublime to the ridiculous.

#36, The internet brings all kinds of information to those who look. Palin is notsome ghost t who just appeared, she has a long history and quite a bit of accomplishment. The ones prattling on about her lack of experience her corruption etc. are the ones that are blowing smoke. The conservative base is very excited about this woman and are burning up the internet trying to find out more about her. Even a quick jaunt to wikipedia will fill in a lot of holes, at least until the DNC netroots get there and sart posting their own "updates".

I only have one comment, the idea that she was picked solely to attract the female Hillary voters is absurd. She was picked because she resonates with the conservatives McCain needs to win, she offsets his abortion stance and Men and Women alike in flyover country will find her to be an extraordinary women.

The extent to which she has already invigorated the conservatives is obvious by the intensity and the vitriolic personal nature of the attacks on her already being aired on many MSM sites. Compared to the Washington Post site, or the AP or several other sites I have been reading this morning the Globe is tame, you would think that the cloven hoofed one had taken human form and come to kill us all.

And 35, your political naivete is showing, had you been following this election cycle at all you would know that most constitutional scholars interpret the 22nd as denying the exPOTUS a place on any future ticket. This was discussed ad nauseum during hillarys run because of the prospect of a VP Bill.

The phrase "mitigated against" is solecistic. You mean "militated against".

typical republican move. Just like when they replaced Thurgood Marshall with Clarence Thomas. And they said he was qualify too. This is a republican version of affirmative action.

What is missing in the discussion of experience is Obama successful 18 month campaign to win the nomination. Isn't that evidence of executive experience?

It's all up to Biden now if there is a debate and he can put her away. She will look like a deer caught in your headlights up against Biden.

Would Palin have been selected if her first name was Samuel rather than Sarah? Obviously not. Gender should not be the first factor in choosing a VP. In fact, it probably shouldn't be a factor at all. McCain has clearly discriminated against more qualified male candidates. He is also attempting a marketing ploy by adding attractive packaging to a worn out product. Will it work? Perhaps. Unfortunately, in America you can fool most of the people most of the time.

Come on now give her a break: she was runner-up for the Miss Alaska title, won Miss Congeniality in that contest, and plays the flute.

She is one McCain heart-attack away from being President of the USA. Nervous anyone?

Congratulations go out to Tina Fey for her nomination as the presumptive Vice President of the Republican Party! Oh wait, that's not Tina Fey? Really? The current Alaskan governor who has NO foreign policy experience? Has been in office less than TWO years? Her husband works for British Petroleum, and Alaska just conveniently signed a multi-BILLION dollar deal with a Canadian firm (as well as BP) for the exploration of gas resources there? Not to mention that she admits to having SMOKED POT when she was young...gee, I wonder if the Dems will unload on Tina...er, Sarah...the way the Republicans tried to do so on Clinton?!
No offense, but the only Palin who has ever mattered is Michael Palin from Monty Python's Flying Circus!!!!

VP Palin will be a breath of fresh air to the normal Washington politics scene. I don't know much about her, but what I am hearing so far, I like. So what if she doesn't have all that much experience. Half of Washington has experience and look where that has gotten us!!! Pro-lifer, anti-Gay -- AWESOME. All Christians should get behind this ticket, especially when you have a governor like Patrick with his warped sense of morals beckoning for Obama.

Maybe McCain was so impressed with his credentials and seeing his own committment to the war on terror, thought to himself (to rephrase that famous quote from the Duke of Wellington): " history will record that the war on terror was won on the basketball courts of Wasilla, Alaska." Think Putin is quaking in his boots at the prospect of either dealing with Obama-Biden or McCain-Palin? McCain lost me; I'm writing in Mitt's name in November. At least this cemented Hilary's presidential dreams. Obama will win, and either Mitt or Obama will win in 2012.

Most of us Women appreciate her strength in protecting American life and family and Aren't pro-
"choice" choice being the operative misused word since my sons baby nor my son had no choice in his girlfriends "choice" even though we affered to adopt, pay everything, pay for her college etc etc.
Ahhh but a rare osprey embryo has more protection, or a dinosaur egg because of it's rarity...when did humans because of their populous becaome mere shaft in the wind?

Most of us Women appreciate her strength in protecting American life and family and Aren't pro-
"choice" choice being the operative misused word since my sons baby nor my son had no choice in his girlfriends "choice" even though we affered to adopt, pay everything, pay for her college etc etc.
Ahhh but a rare osprey embryo has more protection, or a dinosaur egg because of it's rarity...when did humans because of their populous becaome mere shaft in the wind?

Most of us Women appreciate her strength in protecting American life and family and Aren't pro-
"choice" choice being the operative misused word since my sons baby nor my son had no choice in his girlfriends "choice" even though we affered to adopt, pay everything, pay for her college etc etc.
Ahhh but a rare osprey embryo has more protection, or a dinosaur egg because of it's rarity...when did humans because of their populous becaome mere shaft in the wind?

Brilliant! Just Brilliant! I cannot wait until the her first debate against Joe (Flip/Flop, Inept, xxx) Biden.
I have been told that she can drop a Grizlly at 200 meters with her first shot.
Happy Days are here again, Ronnie Reagan.

You are wrong, Peter, in that McCain will be dogged by this decision being "more about him than the person he chose." The problem is specifically that he obviously did not make this choice in the best interest of the country, but in his own best interest of what he thinks he needs to be elected. Which brings me to your next written mistake: Please don't assume that this soccer mom is an "obvious bridge" to Hillary supporters. That is most insulting, almost as insulting as McCain's decision. This unknown is no Hillary Clinton. There is a difference between one woman to the next, not just where they are concerned.

I am an independent. I have not yet made my mind up about who gets my vote. But, I'll tell you, Mr. McCain just made my decision a little easier. To the poster that said Ms. Palin has more experience than Obama. I'm confused by that statement. Since when does a Governor, of a state that is basically an island, for only 2 yrs. have more executive experience than a Senator, with double the years in office?

I am also concerned about the fact that this person just had a baby in April '08. A baby with handicaps. This is a huge parental responsibility. I know she was chosen to represent the common person. To get "change" into Washington, but how normal is she? She was a finalist for the Miss Alaska pagent, has 5 kids and how many nannies? She is not a "soccer" mom like they are trying to sell it. I think that mr. mccain just shot himself in the foot.

huh? He didn't pick Romney? Giuliani? What the hell were the last eight months for? Weren't these the best and the brightest? He picked a hockey mom from Alaska? That's so Hollywood of him. She may be bright, she may be pretty, she may be tough...but she's no Margaret Thatcher or Elizabeth Dole. Those women could run countries. She's a bumpkin. She's got five kids, one who is special needs. This is the oddest choice I have ever seen in politics. It's like selecting my neighbor?

Obviously the Dems all pan the pick. The Republicans all praise the pick. But seriously. Does running a small state population wise give you more 'executive experience than being a Senator? And if being a Senator isn't valuable enough experience, WTF is John McCain running on. Mitt Romney was a governor for twice the time as her...two years out of the four he was elected for. I'm stunned he wasn't picked. Totally baffled.

This country is totally screwed!

I am totally unprepared to vote for either pary's candidates, Republican or Democrat.I see no clear advantage that one pres. candidate has over the other. Both strive sooo... hard to want to pres. For what selfish reason.
I just finished D,K.Goodwins" bio. of Lincoln. At the time he did not appear to the best candidate to be Pres. But he turned out to be a most capable man that led this country through perilous times. I can't see any clear oustanding characteristics in either party's candidate today, is there something that we cannot see? I wish I knew what it is or was or will be.

The dynamic in this election has changed from "experience" to "change"....the McCain campaign recognizes this and is appealing to the call for change while energizing the social conservative base of the Republican party.

BTW, she is as experienced (if not more so) than Obama.

This is a risky gambit, but I love the pick!

Why has this website left out the story about her being investivated by her own sate and facing impeachment.

Well, given her gender, youth and conservative values, it remains to be seen whether the JM's choice of SP will be seen as creative & intelligent or cynical & naive.

I, for one am looking forward to both the presidential and vice-presidential debates.

How crazy are the conservatives!? There are more qualified and intelligent women capable of being a vice president within the republican party who isn't a simple minded whack job. Snowe, Colins?

What a fumble for McCain, who couldn't afford one. Sarah Palin sounds like a decent person, but she's a darling of the religious right and after 8 years, mainstream Americans are fed up with them. Hillary partisans are not going to cross over to vote for an anti-abortion religious conservative who shares little with them but a second X chromosome. Smart women know that we don't need another Terri Schiavo, we need an energy plan.

What's worse is that McCain has just de-fanged himself on the issue of Obama's inexperience, which is the only card he was still holding. I can't believe McCain chose a running mate who made me and others react by asking "governor WHO? of WHAT?"

I've talked to several Hillary supporters, and many of them are now going for the McCain/Palin ticket.

I loved the liberal slant in here calling it "preposterous", the older women feminists are just tired of waiting for a woman in the White House, and they're willing to sacrifice some of their positions for that goal.

I think Gov Palin is a VERY poor choice for McCain - a true Hail Mary pass in an attempt to win the election. This is a candidate who has said not only that she has no experience in foreign affairs but also that she has no INTEREST in foreign affairs!! She was mayor of a town in Alaska of 5,000 people and has been governor for 2.5 years of a state with fewer people than some congressional districts in Florida. In addition, her extreme right positions are very very troubling to everyone woman I know - she will solidify the neoconservative right but will do little to assure the moderate voters in the country! She pales in comparison to Hillary, who has spoken ardently for women's rights for decades. I will not vote for the McCain ticket simply because one of the candidates happens to wear a skirt. I find it insulting that John McCain has chosen her with the expectation that women will flock to his side - I VOTE ON THE BASIS OF THE ISSUES and will stay far far away from the McCain/Palin ticket this November!

In terms of comparative executive experience, so far Obama has simultaneously run a brilliant national campaign for the presidency and a well regarded U.S. Senate office. I'll bet he has more people working for him than there are state government employees in all of Alaska.

She totally undercuts McCain's main point of attack on Obama; she's got even less time in office then Obama does.

As to the idea that she has "executive" experience, if that's what we're counting, McCain doesn't have any of that either.

Comment to Christine...
Good to know you and the eleven other women in your office are making a well informed decision with your vote. You likely never even heard of this governor until today, but just because she is a woman she deserves your vote? Do you miss the point that McCain will be your president and not Palin?

As for the "glass ceiling idea" you must be fairly young to think the Republicans are leading the charge. Check the history books or go on Google and look up Geraldine Ferraro. She was the Democratic VP candidate in 1984 with Walter Mondale.

More importantly, you choose to completely dismiss the "glass ceiling" being shattered by the Democrats. There has NEVER been a major party African American nominee.

Everyone deserves the right to vote; including you Christine. Republican or Democrat, it is your decision. But please, for the good of all of us, please show greater value in your vote. Should the next leader of the free world be judged worthy of our support based solely on gender or race?

Executive experience my eye! Being the governor of Alaska for less than two years makes Mayor Kwambi Kilpatrick of Detroit look like a ringer. Really!!! I mean, Alaska has what, like 300 people and 6,000 polar bears?!?! Give me a break here. This is nothing more than deliberate pandering, and all of us should be offended by this.

"Just throw any woman in there. If she can wear a pant-suit, she can swing Hillary supporters"

-McCain (behind closed door interview)

"Doing a heck of a job, McBushie!"

What better proof that McSame will be just a third term for George W. Bush. Like the kids hired to mismanage the reconstruction of Iraq and the lawyers hired for the Injustice Department, and on and on and on, Sarah Palin was VERY clearly picked for her ideological "purity" rather than competence.

This certainly says a lot about McSame's judgement -- none of it good. The cast of "Northern Exposure" had more experience and broader perspectives! This is the person that McSame's honestly(?) thinks can take over as leader of the free world on a moment's notice wprAnd what a stick in the eye for Kay Bailey Hutchinson. Although I don't like her politics, even aside from being a woman, she would have made a formidable contender.

From what I have read Alaska still received the money that would have funded the "Bridge to nowhere" after the bill was not passed. If Gov Palin turned that money down then I that god for this strong leadership. However, when it comes to experience I am amazed when I read that she was Mayor of a city of only 5,000 and that Alaska has a total population close to Austin Texas. I like John McCain and would have Voted for him back in 2000 and 2004 if he was the Republican candidate. I now worry about how old he is and what can happen. Remember back in 2000 that Cheney received a clean bill of health in the summer but right after the election he had to go back into the hospital to have work done on his heart right after the election. I cant wait until 2019 when term limits are applied. Then people that are have dead like Senator Bryd will be sent home for good. That is a laugh. I am sure they will postpone term limits just like the Gramm/Rudman bill was going to automatically cut spending.

Unbelieveable! A mom with 5 kids, one an infant with special needs is absolutely the WORST choice ever! Who is going to mother your children when John McCain dies of old age?!?!? No body can have it all-You choose to be a mother of 5 or you choose to be VP or Pres. A VP is required to travel extensively (who's gonna take of the kids? The fisherman?)

Great joke, John! Do we get the real VP Sunday or Monday? This almost Miss Alaska will not really work.

McBushie

We get shrub with a great looking dame!

You can bet this will never be published.

If you ask me she is over qualified. Prom queen, homecoming queen and
little miss Alaska .

Who else better to lead our Country is something would happen to the President.