AND THE NOMINEE FOR VICE-PRESIDENT ON THE REPUBLICAN TICKET IS.... WHO????

So my stint as an odds maker completely backfired. Not only did I do a bad job handicapping this one but Sarah Palin was not even on the radar screen. I won't spend any time trying to figure out where I went wrong; instead I'm trying to figure out what in the world Mr. McCain is thinking? An unknown for VP?? Just how did McCain & Co. arrive at this decision? Let's break it down:

1. The female vote factor. Now this is the part that really ticks me off. It's blatantly obvious what the rationale is here. Hillary left a whole slew of disgruntled women in the wake of her defeat and now the McCain camp can get 'em with a woman VP!! Yeah yeah, that's it! Fabulous idea! Boy it's great, Obama will never see it coming! Wink-wink, nod-nod. The brilliant minds of the McCain camp with a genius idea. When did they make the decision? Last night over cocktails? This is a VP position, not a parlor trick!

2. The tow-the-line factor. Being a Washington outsider and first term governor, Palin is likely not to question the direction of the camp. The maverick that he is, it doesn't seem characteristic of McCain to surround himself with yes-men. Then again, his history does show that he's had a preference for yes-women... I'll leave that one where it is.

3. Perhaps McCain is intentionally committing campaign suicide. Maybe he wants out but doesn't want to bow out voluntarily. Have the hours, miles, and his age caught up with him? Maybe picking a no-name for VP is his way of taking a dive while still appearing to put up a fight.

Well, you have my speculations so I guess we'll just have to wait and see. One thing is for sure, this is the most baffling VP pick I've seen in my lifetime. What are conservatives to do but reluctantly vote the ticket regardless? McCain & Co. are betting that this pick will draw moderates - especially women moderates - to his ticket. To the contrary, I see it as such a lukewarm choice that it will either confuse or turn off moderates to the point that they'll choose instead to get behind the exciting Obama train and ensure it rolls all the way to the White House.