John McCain’s choice of Alaska governor Sarah Palin seems not only unlikely, but foolish.  I don’t understand his reasoning.  Does he think that Hillary voters will support a woman who is pro-life?  And a life-long member of the NRA?  And does he believe that the social conservatives he’s wooing will be comfortable with a female leader–any female leader? 

There are other problems with his choice. Although squeaky clean herself and a reformer to boot, Palin is from one of the most corrupt state governments in the nation.  Alaska is the embarrassed home of the “Bridge to Nowhere,” and it seems that every other political figure there is under indictment.  It is not logical or fair that she should suffer from “guilt by association,” but it is inevitable that she will, to some extent.

Then there is the fact that Alaska is more than a little removed in the minds of most Americans, and is home to only 670,000 people.  It is difficult to picture Alaska bringing much in the way of votes or national support for the GOP.

But the most significant difficulty with McCain’s choice of Palin is that he is 72, with significant health issues.  She is a young and vigorous change-agent, but totally inexperienced in national politics and has no foreign policy experience.  One phrase that we’re going to hear a lot in this campaign is “one heartbeat away from the Presidency”–as in, “Do we really want someone that inexperienced one heartbeat away from the Presidency–especially somebody who might actually become the President?”  For this reason alone, Sarah Palin should have been taken off McCain’s short list early on.

Senator Charles Shumer described McCain’s choice as “a hail Mary pass.”  I would have to agree.  It has desperation written all over it.