America's Next President!

Episode 1 of an exciting new reality TV program!

Tonight, we introduce an attractive new contestant: Hockey mom, mother of 5, including an enlisted soldier.

Look how awkward they are!

Call 282828 and text: H) if she's a Hillary, Q) if a Quayle.

This is the level to which McCampaign has sunk.

My nine-year-old daughter's reactions to this program: [McCain] "can't wait for this to end....[referring to Palin] What a bozo!"

My (first) take, as I watch her speak: Palin seems very intelligent, intense, earnest, likable--a cheerleader (the fact is she was a point guard, which certainly earns her points in my book). It is not entirely her fault that she is totally a stranger to the American people--she was quite early in her projected political career (barring scandal). Her speech is much better than McCain's, with much better delivery.


Tea Leaf Time

The two great beneficiaries of McCain's Shocker are Maria Bartiromo and that handful of bettors on the electoral markets who had Sarah Palin, or "none of the above". Bartiromo had an exclusive with Palin a few days ago in Anchorage--a coincidence, or just brilliant reportorial instinct?--which will be re-telecast on CNBC in a few hours.

I have to think there's a net benefit to Palin, though losing in the VP role certainly didn't do much for the career of Geraldine Ferraro. I wish her well, and suggest she reconsider her political allies; I feel that she can be co-opted by the Obama administration for a Cabinet position like Secretary of Commerce.

For McCain, it is a crazy risk, and it totally undermines two areas where he had made substantial progress in recent weeks: 1) moderates of all stripes; and 2) national security voters. I have great respect for group 2)--it is the way people should evaluate Presidential candidates. This pick shows that McCain is a maverick, indeed, in the sense of the old TV show--a riverboat gambler (was that Bret?) We should ritualistically intone that McCain is 72 years old and has had a rough life, and this neophyte stranger is the one who would assume the world's most important job if he kicks.

This will solidify McCain's support among the rabid right going into his convention. I think it's a head fake, with McCampaign going back to the middle afterward (but will the damage be done? I think so.) I also detect that the decision was driven by Cindy and Megan McCain, contrary to the direction of McCain's advisers (who seemed to have coalesced around recommending Pawlenty).