is Sen. John McCains Vice President nominee.
First thoughts:
McCain - Palin ticket is the opposite of the Obama - Biden ticket. A youthful nominee will stand with McCain. An older nominee will stand with Obama. Both choices will round out their respective ticket.
Palin’s Background:
Born in Idaho, her parents moved to Alaska when Sarah was 3 months old
Elected office:
Wasilla City Council 1992 - 96
Wasilla Mayor 1996 - 2002 (Wasilla is a suburb of Anchorage)
Governor of Alaska 2006 - term unexpired
Professional background:
television sports reporter 1987 - 89
co-owned commercial fishing operation 1988 - 2007
Chairwoman, Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission 2003 - 2004
Palin’s good points: Palin’s negatives:
Female - may attract disaffected female Democratic votes.
Younger - than John McCain - Younger than Obama.
Party outsider - burnishes McCains tarnished maverick credentials - independent voters will have a hard choice.
Short history - like Obama, this will mean less opportunity to dig up embarrasing information - less experience than Obama.
Not ethically challenged - apparently has no qualms about exposing her fellow party members unethical activities. Palin filed 2 ethics complaints against fellow Republicans in her home state.
Gold mine or Land Mine?
Best known for bird-dogging members of her own party she may turn out to be the conservatives worst nightmare. Sarah Palin is like an unfinished song, we know some of the words and a note or two, we don't know the final composition. In some ways, she has been the canary in the mine shaft for the GOP. She has alerted the Republican party to the killing miasma of corruption within their ranks. I wonder, can her ethical instincts continue unchecked in close proximity to the GOP political powers?
Who said, "Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer"?
Reading:
The Almanac of American Politics
McCain chooses Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for V.P
