here's an interesting article in what appears to be today's new yorker about the process and networkiness that resulted in mc-cain choosing palin as a running mate
The Political Scene: The Insiders: Reporting & Essays: The New Yorker
you can see that the story is not exactly like the mythology, and that palin is not exactly the "outsider" that she presents herself as being.
strangely, this process is not something i am bothered by in any way ---if anything, it makes sense of the choice and shows that palin is an ambitious person who figured out how to play the conservative network game to her advantage. but figuring out how to network effectively and being either a good choice tactically for vice president or being in any way qualified to actually be vice president are two very different things. but mostly, i oppose almost everything sarah palin stands for politically, and would oppose in the same way anyone who espoused these positions.
you'll notice maybe that the article dodges questions that still surround the vetting process--and that mc-cain had wanted to nominate leiberman, but was more or less told no by the party, which worried about a revolt from the far right/"social conservatives" because leiberman is pro-choice.
but one thing is sure--this choice did not come out of nowhere. the biggest single role seems to have been played by the national review...
but what do you make of this account?
does it have any effect on how you understand palin?