When I told Judy about MCain's pick, she really thought I was pulling her leg. I had to say "really" three times before she realized this has really happened.Quickly going through the Alaska blogs and national lefty blogs, I'll make a first set of observations -- Outside Alaska:
1) Palin is NOT in the pocket of big oil.
2) She is NOT a fiscal conservative.
3) Howie Klein, who always amazes me at how much he knows about so many states on so many levels, has the best national-level post on Sarah's big ticket liabilities I've read yet. He misses it on some stuff, though.
4) I am tired of national reporters calling me and asking, "Is it true that Palin's 17-year-old daughter is pregnant?" Thanks, Lydabots, for starting that one last spring, when you were pissed at Sarah for more stuff than you could handle.
5) People outside of Alaska totally, TOTALLY misunderstand Alaska and Alaska politics.
6) Troopergate, with a fine light turned upon it, isn't on a timeline that will influence this election as much as some outsiders are already hoping.
And some observations on how this might influence our Alaska races:
1) It changes everything.
2) Alaskans will rally around Palin in the face of unfair criticism of her administration and character. This will help GOP races in November all around Alaska.
3) Combined with the national attention directed on Stevens in September and October, we will be in the news more than at any time since Joe Hazelwood slimed us into the national spotlight.
