Here and There

The motives for McCain’s picking Alaska Governor Sarah Palin are obvious, but I suppose I should go on record real quick:

• Hungry like a PUMA
• Hoping to dull the sword of novelty
• Aiming to show how “progressive” the GOP is
• Power-playing for … Alaska*

Now, because I believe everyone gets a fair shake, I decided to look in Ms. Palin, since I knew next-to-nothing about her. Sure, I’d heard of her, but mostly in the context of her having been the first governor born after Alaska achieved statehood.

Sounds to me like she’s got a lot of good qualities. She went to journalism school, served on a city council, elbowed her way through the Republican ranks in the state, filing ethics charges like she was chasing a bandit on horseback. She lost a race for lieutenant governor, then unseated a sitting governor in a primary challenge, and beat a former governor in the general election to become governor, less than two years ago.

I don’t see what, besides symbolism, she brings that can stand up to Biden. In a way, this is the payout, justifying the wisdom of Obama’s choice.

Palin may be a rising star, but her trajectory was in no way ready for the national stage. Maybe she (and voters) will prove me wrong, but I just don’t see how this choice is anything other than raw political calculation.

Let the games begin …

* A total of three Electoral College votes, and although McCain did effectively just win the state, it might not be by as much as he hopes.