I Don't Get It -- Palin a Bold Pick?

All right, I'll give you this. John McCain's selection of mother-of-five Sarah Palin was surprising. I didn't see it coming, and neither did the media. (FYI -- hateful blubbermouth Rush Limbaugh doesn't count as legitimate media). And going with the Alaskan governor is a pretty strategic move, too.

But bold?

You gotta be kidding me.

More than 80 years since the Scopes trial and almost 150 years since the publication of Darwin's On the Origin of Species, John McCain has selected as his running mate and potential vice president a woman who believes creationism should be taught in the schools.

And not in a discussion about religion, but in science class.

That's not bold.

That's old. As in old school circa 19th century.

We've had eight years where the Bush administration has surreptitiously chosen politics over science, forcing various government scientists and agencies to alter their reports to reflect the administration's views. Are you ready for more of this baloney? Politics over our future? Because it's not just creationism. The fur-wearing, moose-hunting Palin's environmental views are widely different from McCain. In fact, she doesn't even think man has had any impact on the "changing environment." She told Newsmax:

"A changing environment will affect Alaska more than any other state, because of our location. I'm not one, though, who would attribute it to being man-made."

Come on, this is bold? It's basically Mike Huckabee in a dress.

And she wants those who voted for Hillary? First, that's an insult to Hillary's supporters and women in general. What, women can't think for themselves? They're going to vote solely for a woman? Even if she's a woman diametrically opposed to policies that will benefit women? (For a great blog post on this topic, see Sue Katz: Consenting Adult.)

If you were considering voting for John McCain strictly because he's a Republican, go ahead and pull that lever when the chance comes. But if you were leaning to McCain because you're an Independent, who thought he could provide some solid bi-partisan leadership, then you need to think again.

This is no longer the straight-talking maverick that I truly admired. McCain is letting himself be run by the Republican machine, the same slimeballs who gave us the last eight years of the worst president we've ever had.

Bold? I don't think so.