Palinode

PALINode - appropriately, a formal statement of retraction.

Jumpin' Jeebus, this didn't take long.

LA Times Headline:
McCain's choice of Palin is a risk

It is simply surreal that McCain, in one fell swoop, could turn what was a fairly significant political advantage, judgement and experience, into a political liability. His pick of Palin reeks of political tactic, not of putting the country first. McCain has succeeded in revving up the base a little, but this will ebb shortly. He has just created a huge problem with independents...the voices of the conservative right are not being kind about Palin. The chorus will only grow louder, as McCain simply does not have the deep ties within the Republican party to quell what is sure to be out and out groaning over the next weeks.

McCain and the republicans have sunk tens of millions of dollars into a campaign designed to make Obama look risky and unprepared. Now it is McCain who looks unprepared - he met Palin only twice for a few moments each time before her selection? Now it is McCain who looks risky - a governor for less than two years of a state with 600,000 people a heartbeat away from leader of the free world? Now it is McCain who puts politics above country - Obama chose wisely. Biden as VP signals a seriousness about governing and signals that we will have a healthy national debate about foreign policy. Palin may help McCain excite the base, but if elected on election day, her carriage turns back into a pumpkin.

Stunned is still my reaction, and I remain convinced that this will implode on McCain in the not too distant future.