I will be the first to admit that I wasn’t really happy or excited about John McCain. Excited or not I would have voted for him in November, because the only other option is unacceptable. After a week of listening to the democrats with all of their republican bashing , I was kind of looking forward to seeing who McCain would choose as his running mate. I was thinking former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney or Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, or maybe Tom Ridge. I really didn’t think he would pick Joe Lieberman. When I first heard he had picked Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska I was kind of like hum, not so sure about this one. But the more I heard the more I begin to get excited. Tonight I can say I am THRILLED that John McCain has chosen Gov. Palin as his running mate. I understand that we are voting for a President and not a Vice President. I also understand that if the telephone rings at 3am Senator John McCain will be able to make a quick decision unlike Senator Barack Obama who will have to call his Vice President to get the answer. Now the democrats are questioning whether or not Palin is ready to be President. They say she lacks the experience to be President. Barack Obama does? The Obama campaign said "Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency,". But what they didn’t say is she is also Governor of the state of Alaska. I would say that Gov. Palin has just as much experience and more to be President as Barack Obama does. What experience does Barack Obama have? Hillary Clinton put it best, he has made a speech. Today’s announcement seem to have energized Senator McCain and the Republican party. I can honestly say that I feel much better tonight about the election than I did last night. A self-styled hockey mom and political reformer, Palin has a long history of run-ins with the Alaska GOP, giving her genuine maverick status and reformer credentials that could complement McCain's image. Palin has a record of bipartisan reform. She has a reputation as a maverick for bucking her party's establishment and Alaska's powerful oil industry. Palin campaigned on ethics reform in the 2006 GOP primary to defeat incumbent Gov. Frank Murkowski, who served 22 years in the U.S. Senate before winning the governor's seat in 2002. Obama campaign also said today "Governor Palin shares John McCain's commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade, the agenda of Big Oil and continuing George Bush's failed economic policies. That's not the change we need, it's just more of the same,” change? that’s why Barack Obama chose a 30 year career politician in Washington to be his running mate. Wowwwww now that is change. I wonder if the Obama campaign is running scared? Also very interesting is the remake’s that Senator Hillary Clinton had regarding the chose. “We should all be proud of Governor Sarah Palin's historic nomination, and I congratulate her and Senator McCain," While their policies would take America in the wrong direction, Governor Palin will add an important new voice to the debate.” Palin mentioned Clinton by name in her acceptance speech Friday, saying, "Hillary left 18 million cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling in America. But it turns out the women of America aren't finished yet, and we can shatter that glass ceiling once and for all." As one reporter said today. Clinton's statement reacting to Palin is markedly different than the Obama campaign's initial reaction which made no mention of the historic nature of the Alaska Republican's VP candidacy — instead painting her as woefully inexperienced to be commander-in-chief. The Obama campaign later released a joint statement from both the Illinois senator and his running mate, Joe Biden, praising Palin for making history. I bet the Obama campaign is wondering tonight how they are going to handle Gov. Palin. I think Joe Biden is about to get a run for his money. Now it’s time to get excited about the election.

Have a great night

Go Vols.
Keith