I think it's just the other way around, Jack. Sarah Palin is a young and I would suspect, extremely pragmatic woman...regardless of her religious or church connections. Ambitious and pragmatic types like her usually have excellent survival instincts. Women on average also usually have excellent survival instincts, much moreso than men who are much more inclined to commit reckless and stupid acts when they're in power.

Regarding religion, I bet she talks the good talk about "God"...and then does exactly what's good for business...meaning, good survival tactics for her and her administration.

In McCain's case, I don't think he's capable of thinking beyond fighting wars and preparing for further wars. He doesn't really invoke God, he invokes military action, and just pays a little lip service to God. I get the impression that he lives to wipe out the stain of Vietnam that echoes so large in his memory by leading the nation to a new "victory" over the dreadful enemy "out there somewhere"...a victory that in this case, as in the case of Vietnam, is not possible, because the overall objectives are completely out of touch with reality.

I don't get the impression that Sarah's out of touch with reality. She merely subscribes to a bunch of very common right wing notions that a lot of conservative Americans subscribe to, that's all.

Talking about your love for God is all well and good when you are running for president. They all do it. What worries me is that McCain's god appears to be warfare itself, as carried out by the American armed forces. The man lives to fight. Such men are handy as officers on a battlefield, they are disastrous when put in command of a nation.