The reactions to Senator McCain’s pick of Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska to be his running mate are fairly amusing.  I think that some of the over-the-top rhetoric coming from Obama supporters is a measure of exactly how good a pick Governor Palin is for McCain.The AOL News headline asking if Palin is ready “to be a heartbeat away” is perhaps the most amusing thing I’ve seen so far.  How can someone ask if Governor Palin is ready to be “a heartbeat away” without causing voters to worry that Senator Obama wants to be even closer than that?

While the Obama Campaign will do it’s very best to belittle the Governor’s experience, Americans are smart enough to know that her experience is very comparable to Obama’s.  If they attempt to belittle Palin as a person, it will alienate women voters already upset that Senator Clinton never made the Obama ticket.

Finally, if Senator Obama tries to point to his pedigree — educated in the best schools in the country — it will undercut his argument that he’s not among the elite.  In every way there are traps that the Obama Campaign and supporters in general can fall into.  Some have already begun to do so in asking this silly “heartbeat” question.

Think about this as well; there are likely tens of millions of women voters who feel, not only perfectly comfortable, but quite excited about a woman like Governor Palin being just a heartbeat away from becoming the next President.  Why shouldn’t they, she’s every bit as ready to lead as Senator Obama himself, the guy who went back to the “old-boy” network for his VP pick.

Think about it.

Though not yet officially announced, it has been confirmed that Senator McCain has chose Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate.  It’s a surprise choice, even for those like myself who have long supported Senator McCain in his bid to become the POTUS.

It is also, without a doubt, an inspired choice.  Many will not know who Governor Palin is, but those of us who pay attention to national politics know her well.  She was a two-term mayor who, disgusted by corruption in her own party, ran against an incumbent Republican Governor and won.  Since then she has won continual praise from conservatives across the country.

Governor Palin is pro-life, anti-earmark, and a maverick in her own right.  A mother of five, her most recent baby was born with Down’s Syndrome and her oldest son joined the army and will soon be deployed to Iraq.

Does the choice of Governor Palin take experience off the table, as some democrats are now claiming?  It’s a difficult argument to make, because Obama supporters claim that he’s a “fresh face,” someone who can take on the institutional corruption of Washington.  Well, if Senator Obama has enough experience to be president, certainly then Governor Palin has enough to be vice president.

Senator McCain certainly has a great deal more experience than either Senator Obama or Governor Palin combined.  But for to say that McCain’s choice of VP somehow bolsters Obama as a choice for president is a faulty argument.  The two roles, as everyone knows, are vastly different.

Yes, if McCain were to die, Vice President Palin would have to step up, but how often has that happened in history?  And, when it has happened, was the country damaged in any way?

Governor Palin in so many ways is a brilliant choice.   She’s a true leader, a GOP reformer, and highly respected by conservatives.  In addition, choosing Palin over other candidates underscores McCain’s own commitment to change in Washginton.

Certainly, if Governor Palin does not perform well on the national stage, it will hurt Senator McCain’s bid, but those of us who have been watching Governor Palin’s rise to prominence in the GOP know that she’s both tough and inspiring.  This is an unexpected choice, and, for those of us who support his candidacy, a great choice.

*******UPDATE*******

I just saw Governor Palin officially accept the position as McCain’s running mate and she did a great job, starting off a bit slow, but really getting into the groove quickly.  The crowd loved her.

Towards the end, Governor Palin took a moment to thank a couple of women who helped pave the way, Geraldine Ferraro and Senator Clinton.  Now, you might not be fans of either Ferraro or Clinton, but you have to admit that it was a classy thing to do.  Also, it was a smart thing to do because she was signalling to women that she understands their desire, and agrees with it, to see a woman, not just as VP, but someday as president.

I suspect that Biden is looking forward to his opportunity to debate Governor Palin.  I highly recommend he not underestimate her.  Palin is impressive.