This woman is TOUGH, no doubt about it. While raising four kids she became the mayor of Wasilla in Alaska. Then she took up the entire entrenched political aristocracy of Alaska, as symbolized in Ted Stevens on an anti-corruption campaign and BEAT them, while having four kids plus a husband who regularly runs the Iditarod for fun and profit.

I don't know much about the state trooper issues, but the Oil issue is kind of a non-issue. See, Alaska runs on oil, and she has to have ties to the Oil industry to be able to make it. But that she has ties to Oil and still beat out Ted's minions on an anti-corruption campaign tells me that she has what it takes. Given that she ran an on anti-corruption campaign in one of the most corrupt states of the Union and so far is only in trouble over a trooper issue tells me she's clean, and she knows what she's doing. She also took on a good-ol-boy network that truly rivals the old South in the 60s and beat it hands down.

The only real weaknesses she has is lack of exposure (which will end in a drastic hurry), and lack of experience per say. She's been mayor and now Governor. Not a big deal for me since I support Obama and know (and am concerned about) the allegations of lack of experience.

What DOES make me happy about this, is that it's a subtle indicator that McCain is his own man and not Bush III. Sarah Palin is about as un-NeoCon as one can get and it's a signal that he is going a different direction than Bush. Remember, McCain was his own man until he realized that in order to grab the nomination and the president, he has to appease the fanatical authoritarian wing of the GOP that has a death grip on the party. (I've said it before and I'll say it again: Bush is an Authoritarian, NOT a Conservative. True conservatives aren't anything like Bush, and we disgrace conservatives when we link them together).

I've just become excited about this campaign season again. We have good candidates, who are coming out swinging. There are going to be policy differences, exciting debates, and a chance to see America in action as it should be. While I support Obama, I'm thinking that with Palin as his choice, McCain's going to be a lot less of a bogeyman than we think. And I think that we're finally seeing the end of the Bush years, no matter who takes office.

Wow.. a mayor? That's the sort of experience we need one aging, palpitating heartbeat away from the Presidency.

Actual quotes:

Biden: The recent Georgian crisis shows why we should not tie ourselves so closely to authoritarians such as Saakashvili or Nazarbayev.

Palin: Can someone explain to me what the vice-president does?

I actually believe it is a good choice. It will help his campaign (really!).

And this is from someone who intends to vote for Barak Obama.

I agree with your subject line. I would not underestimate her especially against Biden in the VP debate.

Biden has a tendency be longwinded and make gaffes. As such the Obama campaign will have to decide how to handle Sarah Palin in the debate and coach Biden.

Another point though is the McCain had to make peace with conservatives and neocons in the Republican party. They are highly suspicious of McCain. I do not know if this was a good pick to satisfy them.

Same here..

Will break up the female vote AND draw back the libertarian/true conservatives.

Voting for Obama because he inspires me in a way I heard my mom talk about with regard to Kennedy.

"Wow.. a mayor? That's the sort of experience we need one aging, palpitating heartbeat away from the Presidency."

Giuliani was running on mayoral experience and that didn't seem to be a detraction last year when he was the media-crowned Republican candidate.

I really didn't think Mcain would pick Palin, because I really like her and I truly dislike Mcain on some deep visceral level he really bothers me. between the two; I like Obama more, but disagree on some issues, although I admire his speaking abilities and hope he can unite the parties. I wish I could just vote for Palin and Obama and leave Mcain and Biden somewhere else . . .

B-Man:

Giuliani was running on mayoral experience and that didn't seem to be a detraction last year when he was the media-crowned Republican candidate.

Yep. Giuliani was in great shape, right up until the voting started.

If this year is supposed to be about change, she is the only outside the beltway person in the race. I have yet to hear her speak, but unless she turns out to be another Dan Quayle, she might change the dynamic in this race.

I have read some posts where Slate denizons are dismissing her as an air-headed ditz/Beauty Queen. That could be a disasterous strategy to pursue.

Obama/Biden 08