I'd hit that like the fist of an angry god...

Here's an important piece of advice: If it looks like it's going to be McCain/Palin anyway (and that should be a "no brainer" for Team McCain), McCain should announce NOW or VERY SOON, rather than later towards the convention. There's currently a growing chorus for Obama/Hillary (as VP) ticket (in fact the Dems are likely aware of the Palin phenomenon). If the GOP waits while movement for Hillary as VP grows -- even worse until after it is solidified that Hillary will/could be VP pick -- selecting Palin will be portrayed by Dems/liberal media more as a reaction by GOP selecting its own female (overshawdoing Palin's own remarkable assets), rather than McCain taking the lead on this. Selecting Palin now or early (contrary to the punditocracy) will mean McCain will be seen as driving the course of this campaign overwhelmingly, and the DEMS will be seen as merely reacting. And, there's absoultely no down-side to this because even if Hillary is a no-go as VP for Obama, the GOP gains by acting early. McCain the maverick. Palin the maverick. Do it now!

There's no reason, and actually substantial negative, in McCain waiting to see what the Dems do first insofar as his picking Palin as VP, because, no matter who Obama picks, Palin is by far (and I mean far) the best pick for McCain and the GOP, especially in this time of GOP woes. The GOP can be seen as the party of real 'change' (albeit I hate that mantra, change, change, bla bla), while not really having to change from GOP core conservative values, which Palin more than represents.

In light of the current oil/energy situation, as well as the disaffected female Hillary voters situation, and growing focus on McCain's age and health, Palin is more than perfect -- now.

(Perhaps Team McCain is already on to this.)

IF she's so great, shouldn't she be running for President?

McCain isn't a Maverick. He's a flip flopping, cancer ridden, corporate bought, non-war veteran. Repubs fail again, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Religious Right pushes his illness-ridden husk of a body into office. All in time for her to become the actual first female president. Weeeee!!!Hillary still doesn't get it!

Anon - I agree with the last half of your post. With McCain's age and health issues the Republican's could trump the Democrats with the first female president. I love it - Go McCain/Palin.

Palin recently gave birth to her fifth child who was born with Down Syndrome. I can't see that she'd have time to commit to becoming John McCain VP running mate.

A non-war veteran?

I love teh Internets. You can say anything anonymously, even if it makes no sense!!!

I think Ted's right, McCain needs to act soon.

Former Cong. JD Hayworth says Kasich is the best choice - http://www.jdhayworth.com/blog/?p=35

Politically OK, imho, with one exception. Apparently she's a 'climate change' adherent.

Well I guess it sucks to be in industry the next 4 years no matter how you slice it.

She's gorgeous. I'd wear a flag pin for her.

Kasich's days are over. He's also too brash -- still.

I highly recommend Meg Whitman for VP.

Much easier on the eyes than Geraldine.

She has five children with Down Syndrome? Isn't there a certain point that you reach when you realize that it's just not going to work out? I would think that she'd take the hint after Corky 3.0 or so.

She has one child with Down's - her newborn. A newborn is a newborn, they are going to require time and attention regardless.

New baby or no baby, Palin is a GREAT choice for VP -- and that's coming from a traditional, christian, stay-at-home, homeschooling mom. Yes new ones take lots of attention, and special needs even more. But having watched Palin and seeing the first four turn out okay, I'm convinced that she's very much in control of how her family is raised and how the state of Alaska is run. If you don't know very much about her, you need to visit the www.palinforvp.net site. For those who are thinking that a woman with babies can't be VP (or Pres is McCain doesn't make it), please explain how Queen Elizabeth (or any other queen for that matter i.e. Cleopatra) managed to stay on the throne, give birth, and rule one of the most powerful countries in the world all at the sometime.

If he picks her, he'll pick up the Hillary voters and Obama will be lucky to get 180 electoral votes.

So is military service important to the left this year? Seems like they can never decide.

Def. not a McCain, he is NOT a conservative, but, of the 3 left, he is most conservative. Of the 2 most likely, it's not even close.

Besides, professionally, its a race between a hero, and a zero. Did you know Osama57 has less professional accomplishments than McCauley Caulkin?

I love Sarah Palin.

I watched a video of her, and she reminded me of reagan's optomism.

Juneau? Palin's seldom in Juneau. She stays in Wasilla.

Right now she's in Anchorage promoting the AGIA farce.

Kelly, but when was he there exactly? Was she not in Juneau the other day?

Holy cow! All right, maybe Maverick could get my vote.

But he'd have to walk in the rain sans overcoat during January and promise to give William Harrison's inaugural address.

Sarah Palin is my choice for Vice President. She has and is coming through for the people of Alaska. She has a phenomenonal 86% very positive approval rating. She is wholesome, conservative, family-oriented, and ethical. She shines beautifully from inside out. I lived in Alaska for a few years. Am back in my home State of Kansas now. Wish we had Sarah here to clean up ethical issues and big spending. We definitely need her in Washington, D.C.

Sarah Palin for VP???? That is incredibly ridiculous - kind of like hiring a toddler to be president of Gerber Foods.

Lifelong Democrat here. I am so crossing over to vote for McCain if she's the VP.

Sarah has said on numerous occasions that she has no interest in the Veep job. But I think in a few years she might be ready -- after she brings North Slope gas to market with AGIA and cleans up the corrupt bastards running the Alaska Republican Party.

Sarah Palin for VP???? That is incredibly ridiculous - kind of like hiring a toddler to be president of Gerber Foods.

And uhhhh...the 46 yr old Barack Blunder Obama is the *perfect* age for the top spot.

Yum......and I mean real woman softness yum. Not Michelle Obama Hillary Rodham look at a photo of Che yum.
Now I need to know more about her.

Palin has straightforward said she'd be interested to serve as VP. There's no doubt bout that. Moreover she has a family friendly husband -- who she calls "first dude" -- and strong family support system.

Why all the talk about Bobby Jindal as VP, when you can get Palin, who is Jindal on steroids!

"I'd hit that like the fist of an angry god..."
LOL LOL LOL I'll cosign that one!!!!

but on a serious note.if McCain chooses her, the Democratic party will split right down the middle, and then it will be the Greatest Dem primary-EVER followed by the sweetest GE upsets, EVER!!!

That McCain is a smart guy. Invite some potential Veeps for a Memorial Day cookout, then watch both the Right and Left media to gauge their reactions. Meanwhile, the next generation of leading Republicans are all gathered in one place, discussing whatever they want to.

Bluenight, yes he is a smart guy....the entire press corp. is talking about the Memorial Day ranch event, while his VP vetter is in Alaska actually looking at someone actually on the list.

No way. If McCain picks her it totally undercuts his message that he's the steady hand. He won't be able to attack Obama as a neophyte unworthy of the president's desk if his own VP is no better.

Will he get women with Palin? Nah. If he picked her, he'd still be a GOP candidate with a HUGE gender gap issue. Unless Obama totally blows it with the Clintonistas he'll heal that rift.

Finally, if McCain picks Palin, he'll leave open the opportunity for Obama to pick Sebelius or McCaskill. Then where's the advantage? He'd have the same gender balance AND be on the right side of social issues from the perspective of most women.

Bad idea.

K-Lo wrote in #17: "I watched a video of her, and she reminded me of reagan's optomism."

I agree. I have watched several of her videos that have been uploaded on YouTube. She speaks very well and isn't the slight bit pretentious. No one would ever call Sarah an "elitist".

Did you know that she let the Governor's Chef go when she first took office because she didn't want anyone else cooking dinner for her family? It saved Alaska over $45,000 a year too.

http://community.adn.com/adn/node/124285

Interesting... If McCain looks for female VP, best timing to declare would be soon after Obama gets majority of delegates, maybe end of next week. That would catch Democrats with pants down...

There is also another way to attract female vote; promise at least 1/3 females in his cabinet. For example, keep Condi Rice, Fiorina as Trade and Whitman as Treasury. Those ladies can do the job...

You have got to be kidding! This lady, with all her problems, brings us ALASKA ? Not to speak of pandering to the female vote. How about co vice-presidents with Jindal, Palin and some other minority , to balance off the septegenarian bloc? No ideas, no concepts, no bold initiatives, just pieces of this and that to get elected. THEN we will see if anybody knows anything about anything.
No wonder the GOP is screwed this year.

FWIW I have a 2 year old son with Down Syndrome. When they are less than 18 months they are just like any other baby (same size, eats, cries, poops, sleeps, etc) - indeed their tendency to be placid can actually make them easier babies to deal with (IMHO). I'm just saying that an infant with Down Syndrome shouldn't disqualify her - if she can handle governor with 5 kids, she can be VP as well. Go Sarah!!!

Are you aware of the fact that Sarah Palin-Chavez proposed and pushed through the largest socialistic tax increase in the history of the world? It's a 400% increase on the state's #1 taxpayer that funds roughly 90% of the state's budget. (See ACES)

Speaking of budgets... do you know that she increased the fy09 operating budget by 23%?

And what do you think of her left-wing socialist energy rebate debit card for $100.00 and utility reductions for every Alaskan resident? And people wonder why she has high approval ratings... ha! If you can't figure that out, you've never been to Alaska were people love free money from the government!!!

There's been noted buzz of late on rising GOP star Louisiana Gov Bobby Jindal as a McCain prospective Veep. Certainly Jindal is more than very good, However, I believe there's some "strategerie" going on here. The "real" beneficiary of the Jindal talk is the other rising GOP star, Alaska Gov Sarah Palin. Palin's got everything that Jindal has (new/exciting, wildly popular, ethics and spending reformer, core conservative etc.) and more -- mother of 5 w/remarkable bio, she's 8 yrs older than Jindal, Alaska energy issue, and set to garner the disenfranchised female Hillary voter (I don't believe Dem leaders can dump Obama).

Getting Jindal's name out first -- at Team McCain's BBQ for instance -- sets the stage for the obvious choice, Palin. For example, albeit Rush Limbaugh introduced Palin's name, and later Jindal's as good Veep choices, of late Rush has been praising the name of Jindal while on his very same shows discussing at great length the frustrated female Hillary voter and the global warming hysteria/need for energy development, without mentioning Palin's name as the obvious beneficiary of those two issues. Rush walks a fine line, introducing Palin, yet can't, at least yet, reiterate much, knowing that his praises may be counter-productive to many a swing, moderate and/or formerly Dem voter (who's against Obama and switching to McCain). Moreover, while I feel that Palin has more real accomplishment, experience and qualification than Obama (and Hillary combined, albeit w/Obama the bar is pretty low), the only potential argument against Palin is she's a newbie to the national scene. By having Jindal out there first as a VP prospect "passing" the "experience" and "new to the national scene" test, implicitly passes Palin as well. (For that matter Palin's got as much if not more experience and accomplishment than Florida Gov Crist who's only been Gov for 2 yrs -- and the media has been touting Crist as a VP prospect.)

That's my thinking at least.

Sounds very promising!

Mmmmm... let's see. She was on the city council and mayor of Wasilla (population 5,469 in 2000), an Alaska Oil and Gas Commissioner for 9 months, and now Governor of Alaska for a little over a year.

National experience and expertise? None.

International experience? None.

If the GOP is seriously looking at Sarah as a VP candidate, they are truly desperate.

You go back to the debates in the gubernatorial race and it is obvious the Dems could run SpongeBob Square Pants up there and make Palin look foolish.

Palin does well because Alaskans are not the sharpest tools in the shed. She is actually a fraud being perpetuated by a few. Her experience is sparce and she has proven to be sophmoric and tripe. If the American public gets a 5 on a 1-10 scale of gullibility, your typical Alaskan scores a 2.

Palin literally knew nothing in terms of details during debates. She had her platitudes and talking point fluff. That can fly nationally but only if you are articulate and know how to sound kowledgeable even when you are not. Palin is quite incompetent, she does not know how to do that unlike say, Obama, who is very good at it.

Incidently, Obama is slowly starting to be exposed. If this country was not caught up in an Iraq backlash, Obama would be in trouble. As it is, 2008 should be a runaway for the Dems in the current atmosphere. The fact McCain appears to be ahead in states worth around 200 electoral votes is a testament to how weak a candidate Obama is.

And Palin, Chavez in drag is not being seriously considered by the way.

In answer to post #14

For those who are thinking that a woman with babies can't be VP (or Pres is McCain doesn't make it), please explain how Queen Elizabeth (or any other queen for that matter i.e. Cleopatra) managed to stay on the throne, give birth, and rule one of the most powerful countries in the world all at the sometime.

Since you are a "homeschooling mum" I suggest that, before you teach them anything about Queen Elizabeth, you do a quick check on Wiki. Elizabeth was sometimes known as "the Virgin Queen" - Virginia was named after her. As you might imagine this would not have stuck if she was known to have given birth to children.

You will occasionally find oddballs who claim that she did bear children, but all the conventional histories will tell you that she never married or had any offspring.

And, at that time England was not one of the world's major powers (in Europe that would have been Spain, together with the Holy Roman Empire and France). Nevertheless she did a formidable job in a situation where disaster waited whichever way she turned, and where her own personal judgement could have led to the loss of her own life and the complete destruction of her country.

If the GOP is seriously looking at Sarah as a VP candidate, they are truly desperate.

Desperate? Compared to who? Obama? Gee, maybe you'd better go back and look at Barack "No Show" Obama's painfully thin resume and very long record of fearless, principled "Present" votes both in Illinois and in DC. Obama has been in the Senate for just over three years...and he's been running for Prez for two of them. That doesn't leave much time for Senate business, doesn't it?

Hell, buddy, Prince Charming is supposed to be the chairman of the European Affairs subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (at least that's what's painted on his office door), which also deals with Afghanistan issues. However, he has yet to schedule any substantive hearings despite his mantra that Afghanistan is where the "real war" is.

Then again, Nature Boy also thinks Afghanis speak Arabic...

He should pick her if for no other reason than she is hot! Us poor American guys (I should rephrase that and say straight guys) have never had a Pres. or VP to drool over!

From Kansas--

I am reading some sexism and prejudice in the comments.

Whatever, I am planning on barricading for safety. Kansas is between Kansas City, Missouri and Denver, Colorado. I heard Denver is bringing in and training almost 800 extra police officers from surrounding towns in anticipation of possible rioting there at the Democrat convention. Kansas is the Land of Oz, rather Obama. People by the thousands literally stood out in the rain here that turned to sleet and snow to caucus for him.

Kinda hard to make myself vote for McCain. But way easier if Romney is on the ticket. No other VP prospective nominee can get me fired up enough to vote for McCain. But Palin, well, I think if she makes the ticket, I could get almost as fired up. I'd probably vote for that. Not so sure about any of the other possibles. Except Huckabee, I am sure I would NOT vote for that.

I'm from NY and Palin would be the perfect VP for all the reasons mentioned. Politically she fits into the current landscape and from a practical point of few, McCain needs a governor on the ticket. She has not only has street cred with her triumphs in the treacherous political mine fields of Alaska, but she would bring instant celebrity status to the ticket with reactions like "Wow, who is this and where has she been hiding?" Moreover, she can (if she wants) open the doors to environmentally friendly ways to quench American's thirst for energy from THE energy rich state. She might be weak in foreign issues, but so is Obama. If Palin is not the VP choice, she should be asked to give the keynote speech at the convention -- she IS the future of the Republican party.

I would LOVE for her to be on the ticket! It would be an inspired choice. I'd like Jindal too, but his state really, really needs him right now.

For the Democrat trolls: go pound sand. Enjoy the video of Michelle Obama cursing out white people that's coming out soon.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/139335/page/1

"Ever the populist, Palin has asked the legislature to pass a bill that would give every resident $1,200 to help pay for gasoline. This proposal isn't a slam-dunk either, but no doubt Hugo Chavez would be proud."

The only reason I'd kick her out of bed is to do her on the floor.

Palin is a horrible choice, for several reasons.

First, her popularity in Alaska stems in major part from generally good conditions in the state, which isn't going to do much good for her elsewhere because (1) she can't really take much credit for bringing those conditions about in the first place, and (2) she can't bring those conditions about elsewhere as vice president. You're not going to be able to convince people to vote McCain-Palin on the ground that things are going well in Alaska. And you definitely can't persuade people to vote McCain-Palin based on the fantasy you have that Palin will be able to counterbalance McCain's embarrassing ignorance of economics, or that she'll be able to persuade McCain to adopt good economic policies (or at least avoid bad ones). If McCain is shaky enough on that ground that he needs someone like Palin to help him, you're doomed---(i) the voters already prefer the Democrats to the Republicans when it comes to economic issues; (ii) if economics is important, the voters will want a president who doesn't need to be taught what to believe; (iii) McCain is not exactly known for being persuaded, so even if Palin knows how to make it morning again in America, it won't do any good because McCain is the one who calls the shots and doesn't like to be told what to believe, certainly not by some youngster.

Second, the rest of her popularity comes from her (deserved) reputation for being ethical and a straight shooter. That won't last if she becomes McCain's running mate. A running mate is basically a glorified press secretary for the presidential nominee, and a vice president is basically a glorified press secretary for the president. She'll have to support the countless stupid and left-wing things McCain does and says, and that's going to cost her her reputation for integrity (as well as her reputation as a conservative, but that's a separate issue, which I'll discuss below). A vice president can't afford to have integrity or independent judgment---a vice president's job is to support the president. You can't have the president looking over his shoulder and wondering if the veep is going to knife him in the back, the way McCain has knifed conservatives in the back for the last two-and-a-half decades.

Third, a lot of the goodwill she's built up will evaporate if she quits the job she was only pretty recently elected to do. It'll make it look like she doesn't care all that much about the people of Alaska. (How much good can she do for Alaska as vice president?) Or it'll make her look like a flake---taking on this huge job and then dropping it like a hot potato when a new job offer comes up. Worse, Palin's lieutenant governor Sean Parnell is now running for Congress, and he might well win, because he's challenging a man who's both liberal and corrupt. If Parnell wins, and if Palin is elected vice president, then the people of Alaska are going to wind up with a governor they never voted for---not Palin, and not Parnell. That's not going to sit so well with Alaskans.

Fourth, it must be said that Palin is not a good speaker. There's something too cutesy about the way she speaks. It's hard to take seriously someone with a voice like hers, especially bearing in mind that the vice president is first in line of succession to the presidency. I can't imagine terrorists and rogue states being afraid of Sarah Palin. She doesn't exactly have "Iron Lady" written all over her. If you disagree, you'll be in the minority. Sure, she's got backbone. Sure, she's got conviction. So what? You'd have to be a blind Republican loyalist to think that anyone who wants to see Amerians dead will fear the wrath of Sarah Palin. Republicans seem to have only one reason to elect McCain: they feel safer with him as president (unpredictable lunatic though he is) than with Obama as president. Sarah Palin is not going to make the swing voters feel safe.

Fifth, Palin will become substantively less conservative if she becomes McCain's running mate. A lot of issues are going to come up over the years, and Palin's job will be to support the president. She can't just refuse to answer the questions that'll be put to her about McCain's amnesty bill, his tireless quest to repeal the First Amendment, or his wreck-the-economy measures to combat global warming. So what happens later, if she runs for some office other than vice president? Is she just going to turn her back on all the times she made public statements supporting McCain's liberal positions? There's no way she can do that. So whatever liberal positions she adopts when she joins McCain, she'll have to stick to those positions when the McCain albatross has finally disappeared. So we can kiss goodbye whatever benefit we were supposed to get from the fact that the pre-vice-presidency Sarah Palin was a conservative. (I of course concede that I won't vote for McCain no matter whom he nominates.)

Sixth, as already pointed out, Palin doesn't have enough experience in government. For those of us who think that experience is important when you're one heartbeat away from the biggest job in the world, Palin is a non-starter. She simply isn't qualified for the job. For those of you who (unlike me) are Republican loyalists, Palin is unacceptable because you're going to spend the next few months saying that Obama isn't qualified because he has no experience (even though he's been in public life since 1997), and you're going to look like hypocrites when you say that Palin is nonetheless prepared. The distinction you plan to draw between Obama's legislative experience (just one voice out of many) and Palin's executive experience (being essentially in charge of a city and then a state) won't persuade anybody. Sure, she's had executive experience, but to my knowledge she has no experience at all of any kind on national-security issues or foreign affairs, and in any event the problems of a city or state with a tiny population simply don't compare to the issues with which people deal in national politics, affecting all of us. I don't mean to pump Obama up---I think he's as good for this country as gingivitis---but I want you all to see what counterarguments you'll be up against. You can't convincingly argue that Palin is qualified to be a hearbeat away from the presidency, or that she's more qualified than Obama (apart from the fact that Obama is wrong on all the issues---which is not going to help you persuade swing voters, because swing voters don't believe that Obama is wrong on all the issues). McCain campaign can't keep up this "ready from day one" garbage---the one thing that's supposed to REALLY distinguish him from Obama---if he picks a running mate with Palin's meager resume.

No on Palin. And I can hardly believe anyone is even having this discussion.

You have to be nuts to even think she would be good for the US. So many of us couldn't wait to have her as Governor, she was a conservative. Boy were we mistaken. Right now she is acting like that pretty, popular high school girl. You should hear the giggling on the call in talk-shows. We have learned she is NOT a conservative. She spends more money and has more "give away" programs then a Kennedy could think up. She is becoming a Hugo Chevez of Alaska. Really look at what is happening up here in ALaska. DON'T just read the Anchorage Daily News, they are as much a liberal paper as the NY Times, read Voice of the Times online to see what the conservatives are saying. The media choose McCain for us, don't let them pick the VP too. She is very pretty but has a couple assistance that advise her in the wrong direction. 70% of the people in the state don't have a clue on what is happening. They like the give-away programs so in a way she is buying their approval.

Bottom line, with Palin as VP, McCain WINS.
Without Palin, McCain likely does not win.
Case closed.

Q&A How can McCain SIMULTANEOUSLY attract both Hillary AND Bob Barr voters? Answer: PALIN Veep!

This inept governor Sarah Palin has a high approval from the un educated, sound bite crowd. Sure it's all fun and games to terrorizing and taxing private industry 400%, successfully becoming the highest taxing regime in the world. Chavez would be Proud Palin invited 1200 new friends to ride the government gravy train and help grow government. She has continued giving every special intrest group just what they want or more. Sarah has created an atmosphere of hate and discontent in the state of Alaska between the people and the legislators. She continues with baseless accusations and directs negative media towards the Alaska House and Senate Members. She just recently tried to oust the Chairman of the Republican Party of Alaska. Side Note: The Lt Governor announced he was running against the Senior Republican Congressman. This guy has provided no service in his present position. Sarah was voted in for being nothing more than a fresh face.

The fact that she has NO experience and NO creditability was not considered in the debate. We are now reaping the consequences of electing someone quite incompetent to do this job. Note: Don't Blame Me- I Didn't Vote for Her.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxQiIzS49D8&feature=related

Evangelicals will rally to McCain. They must help defeat Obama, who believes in infanticide, or the killing of babies who survive abortion. He is the most extreme leftist ever to run for the Presidency.

Republicans MUST unite to defeat Obama. Study him closely to understand his psyche. This is a cold idealogical man. He reminds me of Trotsky without the MSM and Oprah throwing up smokescreens.

From all of the negative chatter about Sarah Palin, she must have struck a hard note with the Dems, and must be their greatest threat.

Go Sarah!

Oh, by the way, challenging Palin's credentials for the VP slot is irrelevant because she has far more on-job experience than Obama - he's a socialist and he's running for president. If Palin is not qualified, what makes anyone think Obama is qualified to be President? (hint: he's not qualified)

There may be more qualified male or female candidates for Veep, but Sarah looks pretty good so far.

Like I said before, go Sarah!

Hey Syrin,

What's the beef with Palin? I'm guessing you have a government job in Juneau, but I suppose I could be wrong. :)

Such vitriol I find more of characteristic of the left based on my blogging experience.

It's almost a pathological thing.

A commenter on another post says it much better than I can:

"They say McCain reads the blogs, so here goes --

Senator McCain- Don't let the campaign kibbitzers muddle things up.

First and foremost, Sarah Palin shares your values. She killed the bridge to nowhere. Need we say more?

As for the politics, Sarah Palin transcends geography. Her constituency, like yours, goes beyond state lines.

She will get your ticket access to voters all over the country based on who she is and what she stands for. Because she's young, a woman, a mother with young kids, she will grab media attention more than any other potential candidate.

Gov. Palin also has a son in the active duty military. You have very wisely taken your son's service in Iraq off the table as a campaign talking point. That is and should be respected. But others can talk about it and reflect on what it means.

A McCain-Palin administration would be the first in memory which has family members in uniform during wartime from both the President and Vice President. That would be a powerful statement as to the importance of national service, especially in uniform.

Most importantly, any Vice President should be ready to step up and serve in the event she is needed. Frankly, who is really ever ready? Gov. Palin is as ready as anybody, she is a quick learner, and in her public career has exhibited the courage and decisiveness needed for a great leader.

Godspeed to you in your campaign and in making this important decision."

I can see it all now, Alaska Gov Sarah Palin's husband, Todd, introducing Sarah as the next Vice President of the United States at the Republican National Convention later this summer, to the tune of Shania Twain's "She's Not Just a Pretty Face".

Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMlcZDorjuE

Just imagine!!! (Dems, eat your heart out)

While there are plenty of issues facing the McCain campaign, one near and dear to my heart is the selection of running mate. Unlike most years, the number two slot could play a pivotal role in this election. For Obama, the right choice could help him overcome his significant lack of experience, and for McCain, it could help alleviate concerns that he would be Bush the Third. To help avoid that albratross, McCain must choose a running mate who can attract Republican-weary voters. There are few Republicans today who can attract the middle. One of them is McCain. Other notables are Arnold Schwarzenegger (who is not eligible), Colin Powell, Mike Huckabee and Rudy Giuliani. Of this list, only Powell and Giuliani could give McCain the "WOW factor" (to borrow from Dick Morris).

Powell would be a great choice, but his fence-riding actions of late indicate he's not interested in reentering politics, at least not on behalf of McCain. Without more interest, Powell cannot be a serious consideration.

Giuliani, on the other hand, might be a fantastic choice. While most have already discounted him - either because of the poor strategy of his campaign or because he was too much like McCain - I believe Giuliani is now the right choice, for several reasons:

1. He's got serious name recognition;

2. He's youthful enough;

3. He put's New York in play;

4. He is pro-national defense;

5. He carries little baggage of the Bush adminstration, but most of all;

6. He's popular with moderate voters across the country.

With these important factors, McCain would be a fool to ignore Rudy.

http://keep1600.wordpress.com

The WOW choice is Palin. Even Dick Morris agrees. Guiliani is a white dude so it wouldn't work.

Plus, more important, are Palin's accomplishments and what she brings just coincidentally is what McCain needs now for this particular election.

She with McCain will be the David that slays the Obama Goliath.

And, she'll do it with baby Trig under one arm.

http://www.bluetidalwave.com/2008/06/sarah-pallin-for-vice-president.html

We are all for Palin for vp nominee. GRRRRRR.

Hey Tom and Juan,
I live in ALASKA, I have known Sarah Heath and Todd Palin all their lives. My beef about an incompetent woman named Sarah Palin. She is a fraud! She can't accomplish a simple task as a governor of a small state so she has created an atmoshpere of hate and pitting groups against each other. You people think she can be a VP, how with her looks? You have lost your FLIPPIN minds! Ignorance KILLS! She is not smart, conservative or prolife. She is not an upstanding parent or community member. I know who her oldest children were sent to live so to get them out of Sarah's way. I know who Sarah had an affair with also. I know that Sarah Palin is the most insecure individual that I have ever met! The national GOP and McCain has NO intention on placing Sarah Palin who is the symbol of ignorance over substance in a position such as VP.
Listen to my radio program

Hey John, pick Jodi Rell, Republican Governor from Connecticut...We don't want her anymore.

I'll even vote for you if you do. ;)

You know she is the best choice for McCain when you read people here who are obviously dems trying to masquerade as repubs and denigrate her.Thats proof positive they know with her McCain will win!!! Go get 'em Sarah!

Please McCain, pick her now!! I'm an Independent who was leaning to McCain, but this is the "dream" ticket!! I've just recently been learning about Sarah Palin and I love her!! She is a fiscal conservative.She's pro-life.She's against gay marriage, but has given benefits to same sex partners in her state siting the fact that she has many gay friends.Her first veto in office was to stop a ban that would deny gay people benefits!She has fought corruption even within her own party.As soon as she entered as Governor she sold a private jet the previous administration had bought with the state's money. It took her three tries, but she sold it on ebay : )She's a wonderful mother of five and her eldest son is currently serving in Iraq plus she has a special needs son,she's been a lifetime member of the NRA. She has balanced the budget in her state, and moved in the right direction towards energy independence. McCain has the best energy plan ever created and she is right there in agreeance. Some say she isn't experienced enough,but she has much more experience than Senator Obama. She has executive experience which is a plus. She would add excitement to the ticket giving McCain a historical ticket. I think Sarah Palin is McCain's best shot at winning so the experience shouldn't be an issue given the fact that if Obama wins we get a President with far less experience than Governor Palin. I really hope McCain picks her. She truly is a remarkable woman! McCain/Palin08!

Gov. Palin seems like a great candidate and a smart choice for VP. If McCain picks her it'll definately seal the deal against BO (Barrack Obama).

Of course those who choose to defame other people without merit could be subject to a libel suit.

^^^ Proof? Or are you just disappointed she fired somebody you liked...

wow, its hard to believe all this bitter cruelty and evil that is expressed by liberals. how sad it must be to have that in your hearts.

Palin would be a brilliant pick! We would be thrilled!! Everyone I know! Someone a real catholic could vote for and a great Hillary supporters attractor!

Michael Barone

What a brilliant move! She's the absolute greatest! NcCain / Palin are a shoo-in!

I think the democrats need to be sure not to walk into any traps like kerry did with cheney's gay daughter. It is VERY foolish to attack her on anything but policy decisions.

Well, McCain......you did it. I bet Obama is probably rolling over this morning and catching a few more winks. Why shouldn't he? I'd say this will be the nail in McCain's coffin the Dems have been looking for.

Great National Post article on Palin!: http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/story.html?id=756799

Nice forecasting!

By choosing this woman as his v.p., McCann has definitely dug his own grave. There are lots of negative things that will now surface about this woman, and McCann should have done a great deal more research on her. Republicans are trying very hard to praise his choice, but behind closed doors they are rolling their eyes and predicting doom for the Republican party.

A Warning for Barack Obama. You are going to have to watch your emotional sense of Sarah Palin. People like her, conservatives, are just following rules in their consideration for others. They are rules as in a competition or sporting event, rules that must be obeyed and that derive from fear of judgment from authority, not from any real empathy for the pain and suffering of others. For all conservatives have had their natural emotions wiped from their psyches and replaced by fear of punishment for disobeying rules, fear and guilt inculcated as "conscience" by fear of punishment at a young age. Rather than caring about people as I know you do, Barack, out of genuine empathy, they care about how they are seen and judged in the way that they treat people. Much will be made about McCain and Palin's attitudes toward people during Hurricane Gustav. There are limits as to how much you can thwart the perception of the electorate towards her and McCain's sympathy for victims of the storm, for visible statements of concern and supporting deeds speak for themselves are hard to contradict in people's minds whatever their motive. Reality is the unrehearsed response by conservatives to what happened during Hurricane Katrina. Counterbalance their kind act political theatre during this storm when all eyes are upon them as best you can within the limits of political reality. But you must not, yourself, not even for a moment, become emotionally connected toward Palin as a fellow caring individual in any way, for that misplaced identification of her with yourself would be emotionally fatal to the proper attitude you must have towards her no more than a player on the Bush, Rove, Limbaugh conservative gang that seeks four more years of power, four more years that will destroy us all. She is no more than the sheep's clothing of the wolf, never more in your mind than an enemy of the people that must be defeated in her efforts to get McCain into the White House.
Ruth Calabria matrix-evolutions

Yeah, they did no vetting...