Ms. Quayle

So is too soon to start calling McCain's VP choice, Sarah Palin, Ms. Quayle?  Kinda hard to avoid making that comparison, isn't it.  For a candidate who postured themselves based on their experience, this seems like a really dumb choice.

First off, since when did Alaska matter in a presidential election?  It always goes republican.  Always.  Those are the safest electoral votes in the country, and even if they were at risk, you only lose 3.

Second, I can understand picking someone younger, but why pick someone whom nobody outside the state of Alaska knows? For those who do know who she is, she is usually referred to as "the woman who defeated Frank Murkowski."  If you wanted to pick someone young, why not pick someone who is better known, and who comes from a state with a lot of electoral votes.  Didn't they check to see if anyone from NY, California, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Florida or Massachusetts was available?  Strange.

Which leads us to the obvious reason he picked her:  She is a woman.    This is almost a desperate plea to different yourself like the Democrats.  This is the GOP saying "Me too!  We are not just a bunch of old white dudes!"  Truth is, for the most part you are, but that shouldn't make you unelectable.  

Picking a VP seems easy enough:  find the best person for the job; find someone who has solid experience which complements the Presidential Candidates.  If it is a tie between several good candidates, then pick the one from the region of the country you need the most help.

I know little about Sarah Palin, but I suspect her accomplishments and appeal could have easily been met by someone from a state which you do not have to worry too much about losing their 3 votes.