A brief call with my non-registered non-voting sister compelled me to address this question: what makes Palin’s inexperience better than Obama’s inexperience?

Conviction. For example, I want someone to answer a question when asked rather than dance around it, and to make sacrifices to do the right thing.

If someone lacks experience, they can surround themselves with the right people to fill the knowledge gaps; but if they lack conviction, all the knowledge in the world won’t lead them to make the right choices.

I don’t want to be a jaded person. I want to believe the best.

Dare I let myself allow for McCain‘s selection of Sarah Palin to signify a move emblematic of the bold, courageous McCain I long for, rather than one of pragmatic tokenism?

It’s easy to let your mind regress to the latter by lazily grasping onto stereotypes: she’s white, from Idaho, is an “evangelical Christian” (loaded term) with 5 kids and was a TV broadcaster (the lower-paying entertainment sector). That said, she also, at great personal sacrifice, opted out of an abortion knowing her baby had Down Syndrome, and has taxed the gas companies so powerful in her realm.

Granted, Alaskans have not proven themselves to be the most discerning lot…and in July Ms. Palin went under investigation for a little vengefulness…but, is that bad…? I liked Kill Bill I. And Kill Bill II. Maybe a little too much.