Palin's fantastic. She took on the Murkowskis and the bridge-to-nowhere crowd. She launched an ethics charge that led eventually to the resignation of the attorney general and then she beat Lisa Murkowski in the gubernatorial election.

Her approval rating is in the 90s. Since taking office, improving government transparency has been one of her key efforts.

It would be great to have a budget hawk with the level of integrity she has shown in Juneau. No, she doesn't bring a new state to the Republicans, but she's solid with the small-government, pro-transparency voters whom the Republicans lost in 2006. That might solidify McCain's position in areas where it's softer than it ought to be.