McCain hits a home run with his VP selection!

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is wonderful selection. Beautiful and bright to be sure. But she's an exceptional compliment to McCain's maverick style and incredibly fluent in conservative principles and ideals.


And her actual, real experience with leadership even makes Barack Hussein Obama's thin record as a community organizer look especially weak.


From the Official Press Release:


U.S. Senator John McCain today announced that he has selected Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to be his running mate and to serve as his vice president.


Governor Palin is a tough executive who has demonstrated during her time in office that she is ready to be president. She has brought Republicans and Democrats together within her Administration and has a record of delivering on the change and reform that we need in Washington.


Governor Palin has challenged the influence of the big oil companies while fighting for the development of new energy resources. She leads a state that matters to every one of us -- Alaska has significant energy resources and she has been a leader in the fight to make America energy independent.


In Alaska, Governor Palin challenged a corrupt system and passed a landmark ethics reform bill. She has actually used her veto and cut budgetary spending. She put a stop to the "bridge to nowhere" that would have cost taxpayers $400 million dollars.


As the head of Alaska's National Guard and as the mother of a soldier herself, Governor Palin understands what it takes to lead our nation and she understands the importance of supporting our troops.


Governor Palin has the record of reform and bipartisanship that others can only speak of. Her experience in shaking up the status quo is exactly what is needed in Washington today.






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AP: McCain chooses Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for V.P.


FACTBOX: Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, McCain running mate


OBAMA: Campaign shoots itself in the foot again by dissing small town America and dismissing the importance of executive leadership at the state level.


ROVE: Karl notes that McCain advisers decided that while they have done well in holding polls close to this point they could not count on that same dynamic to continue through the remainder of the race and that this bold move changes the dynamics dramatically though the final results won't be in for another 67 days.


PALIN: In introductory speech, note it's always easy in politics to avoid a risk but, "a ship in harbor is safe but that's not why a ship is built".


SABATO: The Crystal Ball is "overwhelmed"!


BORGER: Lefty commentator Gloria Borger notes that the Republicans have just satisfied a 20 year itch - in 1968 they nominated Spiro Agnew, in 1988 it was Dan Quayle and, now, in 2008, Sarah Palin - chosing a dynamic running mate over the more DC experienced VP counterparts on the Democrat side those same years and that, in each of the prior times, was a winner, and, this time, plays out similarly with Biden following in the historically losing role of Lloyd Bentsen & Co.


DISTANCE: This isn't just a home run for McCain ... it's of the tape measure variety


ANGER: Palpable from the left. Those not outright furious with the selection show signs of despair. That sense of desperation and their initial flailing against the pick is a sure sign that it was the right move at the right time.


NRO: David Frum repeating Democrat sexist talking points, "But question: If it were your decision, and you were putting your country first, would you put an untested small-town mayor a heartbeat away from the presidency?" - she's a Governor! She compliments McCain's experience on foreign affairs and DOD with her knowledge of the Alaskan oil economy and American towns. Would the same question be asked of Ed Rendell or other equivalent?


There are three major tests for VP candidates. The first was her introduction today. The second will be her speech at the RNC on Wednesday night. The third will be her debate against Joe Biden. She aced the first, will near certainly do well on #2 and the third - with Joe Biden sneering - holds good promise as well.