Who Will Be John McCain's Choice For Vice President?

As with Obama's decision to pick Joe Biden as a running mate, it's hard to steer away from conventional wisdom when it comes to the choice John McCain will make in the next day or so. I fully expect Mac to pull safely from the short list of candidates that pundits swat back and forth like a slow-motion, snooze-inducing shuttlecock. Will it be Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, Tom Ridge or Charlie Crist? Sure, it's fun to talk about more dramatic possibilities like Colon Powell, Rudi, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Joe Lieberman or Condoleezza Rice, but I expect McCain to combat B.H. Obama's hollow promise of undefined change with an old-fashioned recipe of two WASPs with stingers.

My prediction: Minnesota Governor, Tim Pawlenty.

Pawlenty is a safe choice who will certainly lock up Minnesota as a red state and probably bring Wisconsin in tow. OK, now that I've taken care of that, let's talk about the choice that I think McCain SHOULD make.

My preference: Alaska Governor, Sarah Palin

In my mind Palin is the perfect choice for a number of reasons.

• She is a woman who may force disenfranchised Hillary supporters to consider punching a chad intentionally for the GOP.
• She is a young, fresh face added to the mix. Talk to me about change!
• Her shocking addition to the ticket would focus the human interest/social barrier angle on the McCain campaign.
• She supports the 2nd amendment.
• She can pull in conservatives with her pro-life stance.
• Like McCain, she is an environmentalist.
• She has a history of fiscal conservatism.
• She is not linked to the "unpopular" Bush administration.
• While she lacks "experience," it is less an issue as V.P.
• She is easy on the eyes.
• And she gets her picture taken with dead bears.

Come on, John. Think outside of the box on this one. You have a chance to make real history! Add Sarah to the ticket and let's take it to the White House . . .