I would love to see a woman on the GOP ticket — and I think it would help McCain. But this isn’t the year. When that day comes, I want her to be ready to govern. I do not want to have to invent ten reasons why, depite having only the experience of marriage, or a short, happy, insufficient career in elective office, or being pulled in from some unrelated domain (like HP), she really, really, really is qualified.

Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin, former state champ point guard and Miss Alaska, mother of four, is conservative and popular. Let’s let her gain some experience. If she is ambitious, she will pick a strategic fight or two with her legislature on big economic and policy issues. Meanwhile, some smart D.C. PR firm will not wait for her call. They will offer to help with speech training and message formation designed to get her ready for prime time. And maybe she ought to be given a speech at the convention.