Sorry for the short diary, but in case Dems need any help, here are the talking points in response to McCain's choice of Sarah Palin as VP.
- It's great that John McCain pidked a woman as his VP candidate. However, with all of the much more experienced women in the Republican party, it's not clear he picked the right woman.
- As John McCain celebrates his 72nd birthday, Americans first question about his VP pick would naturally be, can she step in immediately and lead if something were to happen to the Senator. Sarah Palin does not meet that test. Just 18 months ago she was mayor of a town of 5,000. She appears to be a rising political star with a compelling personal story, but the limit of her serious experience is 18 months as governor of a wonderful but very small state. She's never been tested in the crucible of national politics, she's never held a position with a foreign policy component, and she isn't ready to be commander-in-chief. Unless Senator McCain has discovered a cure for aging, this choice will trouble many Americans.
- In the most important decision to date of his presidential campaign, John McCain appears to have panicked.
One final note: leave the ethics issue alone. After reading the WSJ's (I think that's where it was) write up, I don't think there's any there there. Palin's sister-in-law was harrassed and threatened by this guy and even if Palin did something improper, my sense is she behaved honestly and followed instincts that all of us could admire.