7. Obama’s “change” mantra and sermons on Washington insiders are suddenly null and void due to both VP picks: McCain went for an outsider, Obama went for the classical Uber-insider.
8. As any one who has met her can attest, Palin has a charismatic presence and winning personality that could help whittle away at Obamania.
9. Much of the arsenal of the left-twing critique of the last eight hate-Bush years is starting to evaporate. Both McCain and Palin have or will have sons in Iraq; both are not easily identified as hard-core insensitive Republicans; McCain’s eroding maverick status is rejuvenated with this running-mate pick.
10. Let us hope that energy now becomes the key issue. Given Obama’s sorta sorta not references to gas, nuclear, and coal ”” and not much about drilling, McCain-Palin can really hit hard on natural gas, oil, nuclear, and coal as the perfect U.S.-dominated, at-home transition to alternative fuels that save the treasury and our national security ”” all much more appealing than Obama’s quixotic windmill and solar-panel melodramas.
For today, the timing and choice were inspired; now we await how Gov. Palin fares when the “new,” “transcendent” ”” and vicious ”” leftwing political attacks come.