Standing in line at the bank this afternoon, I overheard these observations as one of my fellow customers talked on her cell phone to somebody:

I’m ecstatic that they picked . . . what? . . her name is Sarah. Yeah, McCain will lose for sure now! We should go out and celebrate. Nobody will want her to be president if he croaks.

This may be premature; still, I can’t forbear to think that McCain’s choice is cynical. It’s not only an insult to strong women like Kay Bailey Huctchinson, it’s an insult to strong men as well. I think this choice illustrates amply what Barack must have meant when he said in last night’s speech that he welcomed a debate about whose judgment and temperament qualified him to be commander in chief.

I don’t think McCain wants a running mate who can talk back to him.