While I share your concerns, remember that Obama IS a “really huge screwup” all by himself. (Never mind with Biden on the ticket.)
Once the initial exhilaration passes (today, you’d think he picked the Dionne Quintuplets), McCain’s choice will be attacked for her scanty credentials, but that just helps turn the harsh light on Obama, whose resume is not only thin, it includes hinky fund-raising with an unrepentant terrorist.
And after all, McCain could have done so much worse. Former Democrats and pro-abortion pols (and some former pro-abortion pols!). At least he picked a conservative!
My biggest concern is that I can’t fathom anyone who is going to vote for McCain with Palin on the ticket who wasn’t going to vote for him anyway. This is looking like a very close race, with Obama currently having a clear edge, and the VP urgently needed to be someone who would draw in McCain voters from the ranks of the wavering between Obama and McCain and the ranks of the wavering between McCain and staying home or wasting vote on some 3rd party candidate. I don’t see Palin pulling votes from either group, plus there are probably a few troglodyte union loyalists who normally vote knee-jerk Democrat who were leaning towards McCain because Obama is black. That sort of troglodyte is also unlikely to approve of a woman as VP, and thus be pushed into the stay home or 3rd party protest camp.