I am just so thrilled that John McCain chose Sarah Palin. The wrinkled white haired dude took the riskier, bolder, more interesting path, and, not that it’s the point, will make history. For that matter he/she have now gone on the record inviting all of the disaffected Hillary voters to cross over and vote for McCain/Palin. Women are 52% of the electorate — not an interest group. A choice that especially appeals to women is just good politics — and high time the GOP got that one right – -and without compromising on the substance.

I love that she is a former union member, married to a member of the Steelworkers Union. Here comes Ohio, and many of those midwest blue collar workers who aren’t so comfortable with the idea of the first “community organizer” president. That she is an athlete and a hunter makes the story even better. I bet the Palins paid for their house themselves (and it wasn’t any $1.6 million mansion). Her speech a few moments ago was not extremely polished, and she will be spending some time on delivery and teleprompter use. But that just makes her look real right now. She is middle class and self-made. That is appealing. More appealing is the substance of her actual acheivements — cutting pork and going after corruption. Has Obama ever cut any pork? Biden? She’s a tax-cutter. The Club for Growth thinks she’s hot on economics…which is good enough for me.

I heard, earlier, Hillary Rosen, a democratic strategist on CNN, say that Palin was stupid to invite a comparison with Hillary Clinton in her speech. Rosen says that Hillary was qualified, and Palin is not, and women can tell the difference. Yes we can tell the difference: Hillary certainly had more time in Washington — though not at any particular job. But it is a real, core, strength of Palin’s that she got to the governorship by herself. PTA to city council, to mayor, to governor — that is the kind of normal movement up the political ladder that many of us have wished to see in our female candidates. That is what makes her a real role model — along with the five kids, who suggest boundless energy. It doesn’t do to “diss” Hillary right now, but marriage to a governor who became president, a Senate seat handed to you, is not the only, or best route to power. In the event, it didn’t work.

To be sure, some women won’t get past the pro-life stuff. But many will — because the vice president can’t do anything about Roe v. Wade, among other realities.

As for the debates with Biden — he will be less effective than predicted, because he cannot be snide, nasty or condescending with a younger woman without harming himself with those pesky women voters he needs. That boxes him in, just where his strength lies. Even if he does know more about the details of federal policy, and is more articulate.

Someone at the McCain campaign — maybe even the candidate — seems to get it better than I thought they did a few weeks ago. This is a sign that they are really serious about winning — and a sign of real vigor and energy. I think it’s a brilliant choice.