The political world was rocked off its axis as Gov. Sarah Palin (Alaska) was chosen by Sen. John McCain as the Republican vice-presidential candidate, pending convention approval. Palin had been believed to only be on the fringes of McCain's VP shortlist at most. The selection was a clear play to both conservatives and to ex-Hillary Clinton candidacy supporters.
Palin is a first-term governor of Alaska, noted for her state government reform focus and support of oil drilling in a section of the ANWR refuge. She generally follows the conservative line on most issues including abortion, though she self-identifies more as a pro-woman feminist complete with a membership in the Feminists for Life. (Disclaimer: This blogger has a paid membership in the FFL.)
On a second side note, Palin also won a Republican candidate poll here on DCAbloob several months ago. That said, it was clearly the effort of more overt pro-Palin bloggers that actually pushed her into the political consciousness. I had thought that Palin would make a good counterpart to Joe Biden but that a controversy over her firing of a state public safety commissioner would take her out of the running. So much for that thought.
At any rate, John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin and apparent reembrace of a mainstream reform agenda bodes well for the Republican ticket. Whatever else may be said, one conclusion now must be made.... we're not in Bush/Cheney land anymore.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Links: Fox News, Washington Times, Washington PostLabels: elections, john mccain, politics, sarah palin, vice-president
