Palin lights the lamp with speech

In the afterglow of Gov. Sarah Palin’s rousing acceptance of the Republican vice presidential nomination, we won’t trot out the tired old baseball clichés that don’t do justice in describing the confident, proud, articulate, strong and motivated woman we saw address the nation Wednesday evening.

The pundits and commentators have outdone themselves looking for superlatives.

The Kansas City Star says Palin hit a “home run” in quelling wildfire speculation she isn’t ready to be a heartbeat away from the Oval Office. On local and national television and radio, talking heads are calling her historic speech a “grand slam,” that she “hit one out of the park” or “struck out” with her message.

We’ll couch Palin’s acceptance address in terms other Alaska hockey moms and dads can understand.

Palin lit the lamp. She notched a shut-out. And she did it in the same game.

In overtime, in game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Sarah Palin America saw at the Republican National Convention is the same plain-spoken, tough Alaskan who stuck to her guns as Wasilla mayor and in the first 20 months of her first term as governor. She didn’t shy away from a feeding frenzy of national press digging for anything that could potentially be embarrassing or intrusive into the lives of Alaska’s First Family. Some of that comes with the territory.

Palin’s charisma, delivery and passion came through Wednesday and answered many critics who question whether she has the experience or grit to handle the pressure of being on a presidential ticket. She also came through as a brilliant ambassador for Alaska. Less than a week removed from being introduced to a nation puzzled about why Sen. John McCain would choose her as his running mate, Palin stepped up to the podium and left those same doubters pondering if McCain’s address could live up to hers.

Experience, and Palin’s relatively short political life, will continue to be an issue as McCain and Barack Obama duke it out for the White House. While serving on a small-town city council, two terms as mayor and 20 months as governor may not seem enough experience to some, it’s the quality, not the quantity, that makes a difference.

Sarah Palin is a winner. She’s been a winner in local politics here in the Mat-Su Valley and at the state level. On Wednesday, Palin showed the world she’s a winner.

Hat trick, Palin.