Palin means McCain believes he can win
Wow. Who woulda thunk it? Not two days after I pined for a return to conservatism, John McCain picked a pro-life, pro-family, pro-military, pro-national defense, pro-Second Amendment, pro-property rights, pro-free market, pro-energy exploration running mate who is immersed in outside-the-Beltway Reaganism. If that wasn't enough, Governor Sarah Palin is also an athlete and a right handsome woman, to boot.
Judging by my Internet research, Governor Palin's selection has electrified conservatives. I think this is in part because of the way she has actually lived a documented credo of conservatism.
She has certainly set a powerful and inspiring example -- especially with her stands against the corruption that has tarnished the Republican Party -- by challenging a corrupt state system and passing a landmark ethics reform bill. She has actually used her veto and cut budgetary spending. Remember, she was "The One" (pardon the Obama-ism) who killed the $400 million "Bridge to Nowhere," which is probably the only pork project most voters know about.
Much to offer
You will be hearing a lot about Sarah Palin in the days and weeks to come -- even some griping from never-satisfied conservatives as well as neo-cons who wanted a Kay Bailey Hutchinson, Tom Ridge, Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney, or Bobby Gindale as McCain's running mate. But for now, let's examine what Palin brings to the table.
Palin has much to offer McCain. On a non-political level, few can doubt her female factor. She will be the first star athlete and former beauty queen to run on a national ticket. The daughter of a teacher and mother of five, she has an ebullient personality and an excellent TV presence.
Governor Palin is also a pro-life hunter and fisher with an enthusiasm for domestic energy development. And in the much ballyhooed battle for "change" she has the record of reform and the identity of a complete Washington outsider. As a lifelong NRA member, an outdoors woman, and a western governor she may provide the voter magnetism needed in western states such as Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico which are up for grabs.
Based upon her experience as governor, Palin can make the case that the Democrat Party program of higher taxes, more spending, and a government takeover of health care is a proven loser. She will argue that she can bring practical experience from as far outside the Beltway as one can get. And, of course, the presence of a woman on the ticket creates instantaneous excitement and puts into play a segment of Hillary Clinton voters looking for a new champion.
"John McCain picked a pro-life, pro-family, pro-military, pro-national defense, pro-Second Amendment, pro-property rights, pro-free market, pro-energy exploration running mate."
Palin also has what Obama, Biden, and even McCain lack -- a governor's executive office experience. As Commander in Chief of the Alaska National Guard and as the mother of a soldier herself, Governor Palin understands the importance of supporting our military. A bonus is her extensive experience in trade and resources negotiations with Canada.
Palin can also successfully argue that in fact Obama has less experience of every kind than she does, and that Palin has the advantage of sharing McCain's views (and thus being right) on the Iraq surge, Russian ambitions, and the laughable folly of meeting with sponsors of state terrorism.
"The One" is in trouble
In a blunder almost as monumental as picking 36-year inside-the-Beltway political hack Joe Biden as his running mate, Obama and his campaign staff are claiming this sitting Governor, with more experience than Obama in elected office, executive office, and as a commander of military forces, is not sufficiently qualified to be second in line to the presidency. As usual, the Drive-by Media is obligingly parroting the message.
Seems that Obama's elite college education didn't include a course in common sense.
Furthermore, the Obama camp is saying by inference that a woman has to be more qualified to lead than a man -- this must be true, given Obama's near-total lack of experience. The Democrat Party may be counting on women's votes but you had better believe that American women will not stand for this sort of chauvinistic bullying.
No, the Messiah, the Drive-by Media, and Democrat Party handlers have committed a grievous error. Women will rally behind a respectable mother of five, especially if she is under attack from a gang of political thugs and their media lap dogs (I guess you can exclude the uber-radical NOW gang). If you take the time to surf the blogs, you will find that woman are excited over McCain's pick -- and those slinging mud at this capable woman will pay a heavy price.
The fact is, in one day and with a finely-honed political saber, John McCain has cut off Obama's campaign legs at the knees. The proof is that Obama has had to backtrack from his initial denigration of Palin for having "zero experience" and being a former mayor of a "nothing town." He tried to be respectful, but was stutteringly unable to provide a satisfactory answer when asked why his campaign used gutter tactics in the first place.
Down the road
The Democrat Party, even with the considerable support of their Drive-by Media lackeys, cannot win if they pursue a course regarding women that comes straight out of the Taliban handbook. If they had a smidgen of common sense to share amongst themselves, the Left would recognize the fact that there are woman who, although not conservative, are very pleased with this selection, are already looking forward to a woman president in 2012, and will vote Republican.
And despite the reality that leftists will foolishly maintain their wrong-headed "our women" are better than "their women" mentality, Sarah Palin will most definitely draw huge numbers of women voters who might not have previously voted for McCain.
In closing, John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin also tells us something about McCain: he really believes he will win. He picked Palin knowing it will enthuse the Republican Party's conservative base. He can use Palin on offense to make a run at women voters and on defense to blunt the vitriolic Democrat Party attacks. By picking Palin, McCain seems to understand the need to generate enthusiasm and "a new direction" in the campaign.
And she shoots, hunts, fishes, and loves moose stew. Be still, my heart.