Sarah Palin as McCain’s VP pick: time to buy some Obama election futures!

I can say that I was delighted when I heard who John McCain picked to be his Vice President.

What is not to like: she is a governor of a small state (680,000 people) who has held office since 2006; prior to that she was a small town mayor. Not too many people know too much about her, and her selection takes the “experience” argument completely off of the table.

To find out more about this former beauty queen, check out the Huffington Post’s feature.

This is Al Jazeera’s take on things:

You can also see today’s speech (first video gives highlights; the second one gives the speech in its entirety)

Of course, I think of her as basically a dunce who managed to become popular in a small, wide open state.

Yes, she thinks that creation science should be taught in science classrooms.

Just when I thought it was safe to go to Alaska I find this news via Evolution Research – General Evolution News:

The volatile issue of teaching creation science in public schools popped up in the Alaska governor’s race this week when Republican Sarah Palin said she thinks creationism should be taught alongside evolution in the state’s public classrooms.

Palin was answering a question from the moderator near the conclusion of Wednesday night’s televised debate on KAKM Channel 7 when she said, ‘Teach both. You know, don’t be afraid of information. Healthy debate is so important, and it’s so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both.’

“Teach both”???? Based on what? Newsflash: there isn’t one university science department (in a non-sectarian school) that “teaches both”.

She isn’t exactly a “friend of the environment” either:

She isn’t exactly, uh, free of “taint” either:

My thoughts
The Democrats will probably go after her on her record, or rather, lack of it. Sure, what about BHO? Well, BHO had 8 years in the State Senate.

What the Democrats probably won’t touch, but I will, is the huge IQ gap between the respective tickets. Think about it: Palin had a weak major at a mediocre school; Obama was in the Harvard Law Review and taught at the University of Chicago Law School. Biden too has a law degree.

Obama and Biden have demonstrated the ability to think deeply; McCain and Palin are about as intellectually shallow as they come.

True, I was a bit worried that McCain might select a credible female candidate, such as one of these.

But this one?

I seriously doubt that she’ll make any inroads with disaffected Hillary Clinton supporters.

Here is some Democratic reaction.

Barbara Boxer:

The vice president is a heartbeat away from becoming president, so to choose someone with not one hour’s worth of experience on national issues is a dangerous choice.

If John McCain thought that choosing Sarah Palin would attract Hillary Clinton voters, he is badly mistaken.

The only similarity between her and Hillary Clinton is that they are both women. On the issues, they could not be further apart.

Sen. McCain had so many other options if he wanted to put a woman on his ticket, such as Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison or Sen. Olympia Snowe — they would have been an appropriate choice compared to this dangerous choice.

[...]

Sen. Chuck Schumer says:

“After the great success of the Democratic convention, the choice of Sarah Palin is surely a Hail Mary pass. It is a real roll of the dice and shows how John McCain, Karl Rove et al realize what a strong position the Obama-Biden team and Democrats in general are in in this election. Certainly the choice of Palin puts to rest any argument about inexperience on the Democratic team and while Palin is a fine person, her lack of experience makes the thought of her assuming the presidency troubling. I particularly look forward to the Biden-Palin debate in Missouri.”

Me too.

Here are what some conservatives think of her:

Sarah Palin has emerged as John McCain’s vice-presidential running mate. Palin talked to Newsmax magazine for its upcoming September 2008 issue about Alaskan oil, global warming, and John McCain.)

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is a God-fearing, gun-toting former beauty queen who could just become America’s next vice president.

In Alaska, the right to bear arms means staying on top of the food chain. Palin, a lifelong member of the National Rifle Association, hunts, shoots, and fishes.

Husband Todd holds a commercial fishing license for salmon. In the mid-1990s, when Todd got a job working on Alaska’s North Slope, Palin decided to occupy herself by becoming mayor of Wasilla, the state’s fastest-growing community.

As mayor, she gradually grew frustrated with Alaska’s “good ol’ boy” style of governance — so she decided to do something about it. She ran for governor in 2006 and won, defeating popular former Democratic Gov. Tony Knowles.

Palin’s victory made her Alaska’s first female chief executive, and its youngest.

Now, many insiders believe this 44-year-old mother of five would add a strong conservative presence to the GOP ticket.

Palin tells Newsmax that it’s high time Congress allows the development of Alaska’s wealth of oil and gas. She doubts global warming stems from human activity, and she considers herself both a fiscal and social conservative.

What do you think of McCain’s chances, and what should he and the GOP do to win in November?

I believe John McCain will be our next president. To win, he needs to continue his message that America needs leadership devoted to the public interest — not the special interest. The GOP needs to live the planks of its platform, not just offer lip service. [...]

Hmmm, Palin is an intellectual flyweight with no grasp on reality. You know, she does sound like the perfect “average Republican”!!!!