In case you missed it today, John McCain has tabbed less than 1/2 term Alaska Governor and former mayor of Mitchell, err Wasilla, Alaska, Sarah Palin, as his choice for Vice President. Palin brings to the table slightly more foreign policy experience than me though I could contend that I have traveled more extensively, and as much experience in government as Spiro Agnew (you older folks remember him right?).

So the question should be asked, why? Is McCain going after the Hillary castoffs? Is he going for disgruntled Obama supporters whom are disappointed with his flip flops? Why choose someone with Palin's obviously weak political resume?

Maybe the answer lies with the far right. McCain, far from the golden boy of the right wing, has been trying to win their favor from the start. Years ago he pandered to Jerry Falwell and his Liberty University after initially snubbing them and more recently he tried to gain favor with radical pastor John Hagee in a vain attempt to court the religious right.

Palin brings the conservative chops that McCain is lacking and had been thus far unable to win over. Staunchly pro-life, she appeals to the Conservative base in a way that McCain could never do considering his past voting record. And already conservative blogs are taking notice and singing her praise and along with it giving McCain the bump with conservatives he had been unable to get before. But will that last and will it be enough? And more importantly will everything else she lacks cost him?

I have tried to figure out why McCain chose Palin but no matter what his reasoning was, for me it always comes back to this. Is it smart to choose someone with even less foreign policy experience than his opponent, while using that against him, and then putting her a heartbeat away from the oval office all on his 72nd birthday?

Not quite the expected choice for a party whose main strength in the upcoming election lies in national security and experience...

To discuss this go to Politics and Hypocrisy.