Newsmax.com has published an interview with John McCain's new vice-presidential running mate, Sarah Palin.  The interview will be part it's upcoming September 2008 issue.

Lots of good tidbits in the article, which offers a glimpse into her independent, yet strongly conservative political mentality.  She didn't seem to hold back, even to the point of offering a bit of a scolding to Republicans who have not led on America's pursuit for energy independence.

Here's an excerpt from the interview:

And your stand on abortion?

I'm pro-life. I'll do all I can to see every baby is created
with a future and potential. The legislature should do all it can to
protect human life. 

Politically, how would you describe yourself?

Fiscally and socially, I am a conservative. My respect for the
three different branches of government and the balance between them has
been my guide. 

If you were running for president, what causes would you champion?

I would push for a strong military and a sound energy policy. I believe that Alaska can help set an example on energy policy. 

Speaking of energy, how much oil and gas does America really have?

We have billions and billions of barrels of oil and trillions of
feet of natural gas. We have so much potential from tapping our
resources here in Alaska. And we can do this with minimum environmental
impact. We have a very pro-development president in President Bush, and
yet he failed to push for opening up parts of Alaska to drilling
through Congress -- and a Republican-controlled Congress, I might add.

I thought when we hit $100 a barrel for oil it would have been
a psychological barrier that would have caused Congress to reconsider,
but they didn't. Now we are approaching $200 a barrel. It's nonsense
not to tap a safe domestic source of oil. I think Americans need to
hold Congress accountable on this one.

If you're a conservative that has been hungry for a major opportunity to take a grasp at finally getting real, tangible change in Washington, DC... I think we've got a real spitfire here on our hands with this selection which will offer just that!

It's like a political version of "Survivor".  All we've been hearing is who's been "voted off the island", so to speak.  Pawlenty tells a reporter it's not him.  Fox reports that Romney's nowhere near Ohio and not going there.  So the former top two picks are out.

But now we hear that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin flew from Alaska overnight with two of her boys.  Could it be Palin?  Sure.  She's a solid, pro-life, pro-family conservative.  Picking her avoids ticking off Romney people by picking Huckabee...avoids ticking off Huckabee people by picking Romney, etc...  But she is a first term governor.  But then again, she IS a governor.  And would be the only person on the ticket with chief executive experience.

And then there's the obvious.  She's a "she".  Which is aimed straight at the women out there who really wanted to see a woman on somebody's ticket...and are put out with Obama for not taking Billary.  Which means Barry will spend the next few days being asked if he regrets not putting her on the ticket now.

And it would have the virtue of countering Obama's "first" (as in first black nominee), with the potential of the first female vice-president.

It would also be fun to watch Joe Biden try and attack a woman in a debate.

Personally, I still would have gone with Mitt.  I think he brings more to the economic debate because of his experience.  But Palin would be a solid (and strategic) choice.

More to come.

UPDATE:

Palin gave a great speech I thought.  Really made a good impression (which is crucial right now, since she has such a low national profile).  And did a good job showing herself to be a real conservative and a real reformer.

This does put the Dems in a bit of a box now.  How do you attack her?  Surely not for inexperience, as it just highlights Obama's own inexperience.