As Gov. Sarah Palin came on stage just now with her husband, I couldn’t help but think of that couple in the TV show “Men in Trees,” you know, the NY book agent and the burly fisherman.
12:31: Very strong start. She does not seem the least bit nervous. Strong voice. Very confident.
12:33: McCain stressed her reformism and maverick tendencies in his introduction. As she speaks, introducing her husband and family, the normal-American-family needle is pegging on maximum.
12:37: She’s against earmarks and said no to the “Bridge to Nowhere.” She just got the Club for Growth’s backing, I’m sure.
12:38: She said she got into government for the right reasons: “And the right reason is to challenge the status quo and to serve the common good.” The Obama “change” mantra has just switched sides.
12:40: Several pundits have worried about Palin meeting Joe Biden in the VP candidate debate. After 10 minutes watching Sarah Palin, I’d say there’s not much to worry about.
12:42: There’s that damn word again. Can’t any politician pronounce “nuclear” correctly?
12:44: She just thanked Geraldine Ferraro and Hillary Clinton. Mentions the 18 million cracks Hillary made in the glass ceiling and predicted she and McCain would crack it once and for all.
12:45: She’s through. All in all, very impressive performance. You never know when a newcomer might trip up the stairs or push the podium over. She’s going through the handshake line like a pro right now. I think a lot of doubts have been dispelled in the last 15 minutes.
MORE: I can’t remember where I read it this morning or I’d give credit, but someone wrote that French twists and glasses will become the next fashion fad.
SMOOTH: At 1 p.m., while Palin still works the crowd signing autographs, someone gave her a small American flag to sign. Instead of signing the flag, she immediately signed the stick to which the flag was attached. That may not seem significant to most liberals, but conservatives will recognize it as an instinctive desire not to deface the nation’s standard.
