Matt Ortega

In his first presidential decision since he secured the Republican nomination five months ago, Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) selected an untested, unpredictable and unknown in Governor Sarah Palin. The selection was meant as a cave-in to right-wing Christian conservatives and a desperate, insulting ploy to peel away female voters.

The decision is a “gamble,” writes David Frum at the National Review.

The longer I think about it, the less well this selection sits with me. And I increasingly doubt that it will prove good politics. The Palin choice looks cynical. The wires are showing. [...]

If it were your decision, and you were putting your country first, would you put an untested small-town mayor a heartbeat away from the presidency?

Ramesh Ponnuru was not sold on the Palin selection either. Writing at The Corner for the National Review, Ponnuru called the move “reckless.”

The entire line-up at Power Line is less than enthused with the choice of Palin. Confirming Palin’s selection, John Hinderaker said he was “worried.” Paul Mirengoff noted he was “very disappointed” with the decision citing the thin resume. Scott Johnson echoed those sentiments and writes that he preferred Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty.

Meanwhile, kids, do not smoke whatever it is Jim Geraghty is on because it apparently causes serious delusions and unveils deep-seeded sexist beliefs that Palin was selected to garner the “Maxim magazine vote.”

Picture this scenario…

One month from now, the Palin pick has proven a bonanza for the McCain campaign. A large chunk of Hillary’s 18 million voters have been won over. Conservatives are unified and energized, and the previously-undiscovered “Maxim magazine vote” is suddenly giving McCain large margins among young males.

Also, this blogger hates to interrupt Geraghty spoon-feeding himself the McCain Kool-Aid on Palin but she was for the Bridge to Nowhere before she was against it.