I regret that I had not previously put into full form here the thoughts I had been emailing around to some old mentors, some weeks ago, about a Sarah Palin spot on the Republican ticket.  Well, I have only private emails to assert my claim to history to having "got there" before most everyone else did, but I won't bother to stop to revel in the distinction.

 

     Instead, I'm reveling in the excitement of this truly Out-of-the-Box choice on Sen. McCain's part, a choice that actually makes great sense for his ticket-- and the governance of this nation in 2009 and beyond.

 

     This is one of those beautiful times when a non-cynical position nevertheless has the delightful quality of fulfilling all sorts of goals a cynic would, standing in McCain's shoes, hope to accomplish.  It dropped a bomb on top of Obama's acceptance speech in Denver.  It changes the whole "mandate" of diversity that the Obama Democrats and their media enablers have assumed and promoted throughout this campaign.  It makes a possibly irresisitible pitch to millions of disaffected "PUMAs" in the Democratic party who are furious at the cavalier treatment Hillary Clinton received from so many pundits and activists who should fairly, given their policy goals and principles, have been at least understandingly supportive of Sen. Clinton's bid for the nomination-- but who instead seemed bent from the start on sabotaging it.  Palin's selection simultaneously changes the whole narrative of "change", putting a fresh, youthful face on the ticket who  radiates an authentic folksiness miles away from Obama's arugula-chomping upper-middle-class  elitism while also having a bearing (and the resume to back it up) that demonstrates real chops in the leadership department.

 

     I won't hesitate to admit that, nominally speaking, Palin's resume is "thin" by the usual requirements of the job-description.  If she were already into her second term as governor, it might be easier to immunize her, and McCain, from the charges that are coming in about her "inexperience."  But then, the Democrats are the ones who have thrown caution to the wind by nominating a man who began his Presidential campaign only two years flat into his Senate term.  By nominating Obama, they have changed the narrative, and the GOP can hardly be equitably blamed for putting someone of similar age and nominal years of service to Obama in the second slot on their ticket! 

 

     What's more, Palin's experience is executive, not only as governor but as mayor and, importantly, in her role as the state's oil commissioner.  Her road to the governor's mansion (if that's what they call it in Alaska!) was certainly harder than Obama's path to the US Senate, and her actions there have been more noteworthy.  She has demonstrated expertise in at least one area of policy that is of more vital interest-- and political viability-- than ever:  Energy.  On this topic alone her formidable background may grant her a decisive impact in her debate with Joe Biden. 

 

     Better still, her corruption-fighting and fiscal purging prove her to be a real soulmate for John McCain, in a way that Mitt Romney (whatever his charms) could never have been.  For all the advantages she brings to the ticket in terms of the ancillary excitements of her gender, youth, and outsider status, the best thing of all is that, shockingly, McCain has managed to put together a ticket that redoubles those qualities that are best in himself.  By selecting Palin, McCain proves anew that he is indeed the rule-breaking maverick who goes by his gut rather than by simple calculation.  That the pundits are acting more thunderstruck than they should be (Palin's name, after all, had at least been in early mention!) doesn't ruin the fun, though it's a nasty (if predictable) turn that some of them are taking up the Palin pick as sudden proof of "desperation" in the McCain campaign.  Rubbish.  Everyone knows the roll McCain has been on of late, and how increasingly sweaty the brows inside the Democratic fold are getting.  When all the stars are supposed to be aligned for the Democrats this fall, where's that big Mike Dukakis-style 17 point lead Barack's supposed to be basking in?

 

     The Republican Convention is suddenly going to be big.  America will tune in to learn something about this right-wing Tina Fey.  Suddenly, everyone finds, there's a real future for the Republicans in this election after all.  At first glance, it's because McCain is offering voters an alternate chance to "make history."  But upon deeper inspection, voters will find that they have the opportunity to put two radically individual people in the executive branch who will bring a level of independence, integrity, competence, and practicality to government that we truly have not seen in a very long time.  History making, indeed.