Palin: A Mixed Reaction From The Right

One blog I like to lurk (and when I say lurk, they don't allow commments, so what else would I do) is National Review's The Corner.

Since Palin's name surfaced early this morning, the "kids" over there have been chattering back and forth about this choice.

Below is a sampling of the negative reactions ... keep in mind there has been positive reactions as well, but it's not all hearts and roses over there:

Byron York, quoting a "Republican insider":

The cautious reaction: She better be good on the stump. If Palin makes any serious mistakes, this insider points out, they will immediately be attributed to her inexperience. A few of those could turn into conventional wisdom. She has a big upside if she's really good, but a big downside if she's not.

Jonah Goldberg:

I agree entirely with readers who think Palin has vulnerabilities on the experience issue.

Ramesh Ponnuru:

Palin has been governor for about two minutes. Thanks to McCain’s decision, Palin could be commander-in-chief next year. That may strike people as a reckless choice; it strikes me that way. And McCain's age raised the stakes on this issue.

Ramesh Ponnuru:

As a political matter, it undercuts the case against Obama.

Ramesh Ponnuru:

Tokenism. Can anyone say with a straight face that Palin would have gotten picked if she were a man?

Kathryn Jean Lopez:

Why did McCain float the pro-choice trial balloon? As I suspected, just to make us get on our knees in gratitude when it wasn't an abortion-rights supporter?

Jonah Goldberg quoting an emailer:

"Forgive the dissent from all the euphoria, but don’t you think the MSM will go into overdrive to turn Palin into the 2008 version of Katherine Harris? One misstep by Palin at the outset and McCain could be cooked." Jonah's response was "could be ..."

Kathryn Jean Lopez:

Palin doesn't irritate me the way some other choices would have. What's already irritating me though is the suggestion that women will run to her because she's a woman. Pro-life Palin is going to be a hard sell for liberal feminists, even if she has a uterus.

Jonah Goldberg (discussing pros and cons):

The way she talks. She has something of a native Alaskan's accent/speaking style. When I heard her speak last month, I was stunned by how parochial she sounds, not substantively, but stylistically.

Kathryn Jean Lopez, quoting Joe Scarborough (she doesn't think it's fair):

"It Sounds Like a Harriet Miers Decision. Let's Find a Woman, Whether She's Experienced or Not"

Kathryn Jean Lopez, quoting Pat Buchanan ("I'm liable to agree" is her response):

"She Just Is Not Ready to Be Commander-in-Chief"

Kathleen Parker:

I'd like to suggest a style makeover . . .soonest.