NY TIMES: McCAIN IS NO MAVERICK

With the McCain camp trying to tout his judgment, the NY Times takes him to task for his "snap" decision to pick Palin as his VP in an editorial.

If John McCain wants voters to conclude, as he argues, that he has more independence and experience and better judgment than Barack Obama, he made a bad start by choosing Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska ... Mr. McCain’s snap choice of Ms. Palin reflects his impulsive streak: a wild play that he made after conservative activists warned him that he would face an all-out revolt in the party if he chose who he really wanted — Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut.

As the editorial makes clear, Senator McCain is no Maverick. He's still beholden to the religious whack-jobs running the party. Nothing says "puppet" like having your hand forced on something as significant like this.

In the FYI Category ... Just in case you're wondering, Intratrade.com, the site that handicaps virtually anything under the sun, has Sarah Palin "to be withdrawn as Republican VP nominee" handicapped at 10.1:1 (up 7 points from earlier in the day). If you're the betting type, and think she's not going to last, this is your chance to do some betting on the cheap.

- Mark