Palin  —  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.  —  John McCain wanted a woman: good.  —  He wanted to keep conservatives and pro-lifers happy: naturally.

Palin, an Outsider Who Charms  —  Her father shot the grizzly bear whose hide is now draped over the sofa in her office.  She, too, hunts and fishes.  She runs marathons.  She delivered her fifth child during her first term as governor.  They call her husband, the reigning champion …

Buchanan: Palin was a ‘brigader for me’ in '96  —  Perhaps Rep. Robert Wexler's instincts were right here, and the Obama campaign will likely drive this one home with the Jewish community in Florida and Ohio: Palin (along with her husband), says former presidential candidate Pat Buchanan, was a “brigader for me in 1996.”

How McCain picked Palin  —  The McCain campaign shares the start of the back story on how McCain came to make his stunning selection today:

What is McCain Thinking?  One Alaskan's Perspective. … “Is this a joke?”  That seemed to be the question du jour when my phone started ringing off the hook at 6:45am here in Alaska.  I mean, we're sort of excited that our humble state has gotten some kind of national ‘nod’....but seriously?

Palin the irresponsible choice?  —  Through this campaign season, John McCain has faced two ugly problems.  —  Problem 1: The Republican voter base is shrinking.  In percentage terms, fewer Americans now identify as Republicans than at any time since 1980.  The “rally the base” strategy of 2004 won't work in 2008.

The story behind the Palin surprise  —  John McCain on Friday announced a running mate whom he met only six months ago and with whom he spoke just once on the phone about the position before offering it in person earlier this week.  —  McCain's first encounter with Sarah Palin came …

‘Troopergate’ inquiry lurks  —  The first serious scandal in Gov. Sarah Palin's administration has roots in a family feud.  It erupted into public view with the July 11 firing of the state's top public safety official.  —  Some call it Troopergate.  —  Palin's abrupt dismissal …