McCain Chooses Palin (who?)

Today John McCain finally named his running mate, just days away from the scheduled Republucan National Convention. In a move that surprised many, McCain named Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, someone seen as an "outsider" within the traditional elements of the Repuiblican party. Also, a woman.

A couple of points:

First of all, I think McCain has dealt himself an injury in that he can no longer use the "experience" argument against Obama, since he’s put someone with even less experience within a heartbeat of the Presidency. And a seventy-two year old heart, at that.

Second, this is a rather obvious attempt to sway renegade Hillary Clinton supporters away from Obama and into McCain’s camp. Are there really that many dissatisfied Clinton hardliners looking for an excuse to vote for John McCain? I rather doubt it; granted, the media usually finds some but they’re really looking. There don’t seem to be that many in real life, especially after Obama’s brilliant speach at the DNC.

Another point: Sarah Palin is under investigation for firing Alaska’s Public Safety Commissioner, over (I think) his failure to fire the state trooper who was her ex-brother-in-law and, by all reports, a real prick. (You confused yet? Does this seem like nothing much to you? Me, too.) The question is, did she do anything illegal in getting rid of the guy, was she acting as a sister and not a governor? I’m not going to express an opinion, because I don’t really have one. Hell, I hadn’t even heard of Sarah Palin when I got up this morning, and have never formed much of an opinion on Alaskan internal politics. So I’m going to give myself, and the country, time to get into the matter before I jump in.

In spite of the legal issues, it’s a good choice, even if it didn’t really succeed in steeling some of Obama’s thunder. McCain didn’t cave in to the conservative wing of his party, who wanted someone more like them; someone such as Mitt Romney, for example. And it is yet one more way to put distance between McCain and the "traditional" Republican party, which isn’t all that popular right now. It’s good to have a woman involved in the race, even if she’s not actually in the race herself. If nothing else, this points out that we as a nation have indeed come a long, long way.

The Blues Viking

The opinions here expressed are mine and if you don’t like them you can get your own damn blog.