A PALEN in the White House?!

Sarah Palin. My last name is Palen. It's pronounced the same, spelled almost the same, probably originated in the same village in Luxembourg. We're probably related. Well, I guess her husband and I are.

Despite her cool last name (and its obviously incorrect spelling), I'd rather not see Gov. Palin as our next Vice President. The reality is Sen. McCain is old. Ageism? Maybe. But the reality is he is old. Really old. And he's had health problems. We know how much the presidency ages a person - even W has gray hair now - will McCain really be able to lead for the next four years, or god help us, eight? So, its very prudent to consider the possibility of his Vice President actually taking over the post at some point. So, President Palin (it does have a nice ring to it...)? Even Vice President Palin. VP Palin, who until 2006 was mayor of a town of around 8,000 people, then the governor of Alaska, a state of around 670,000 people. Is the McCain camp still using the lack of experience argument against Obama?

Given her lack of experience I, and everyone else in America, can't help but wonder: WTF? Well, she does add some things to the ticket. Her values appeal to the evangelical Christian right (yawn). She can also help the "Hey - We're for Change Too!" campaign ploy. And, in case you haven't heard, she is a woman. We women are still up in arms over Hillary's defeat, so we'll happily vote for the next pair of X chromosomes we see. Wrong. Thanks for the shameless pandering, but no thanks, Sen. McCain. First, Palin is no Hillary. Hillary has years of experience in domestic and foreign policy - as first lady in both Arkansas and D.C., and as a U.S. Senator. Palin has years of experience in Wasilla, Alaska politics. Second, Palin does not represent women's interests. Yes, I know there are plenty of socially conservative women voters who hate their bodies and the choices they can make with them as much as their male counterparts. But these women won't vote for Obama in November anyway. For the rest of us, those of us who supported Hillary, the fact Palin is a woman won't make an ounce of difference. The fact that she's a social conservative will.

Maybe someday we'll see a PalEn in the White House, but I hope not in January 2009.