Sarah Palin made her big splash to a receptive crowd last night at the Republican National Convention. We'll see how well it plays with those not already so predisposed.

One thing is for sure: McCain's choice was clearly more deliberate than pundits originally imagined.

She started her political career at her local PTA, served as a city council member, a small town mayor and then governor of her state. That is, indeed, relevant experience that will resonate with small town America - even if it doesn't impress beltway lifers.

She has a big family that has its problems. Deal with it, she is.

She's a hockey mom. She joked that the difference between a pit bull and a hockey mom was the lipstick. Then, with a charming smile, she demonstrated that she didn't have to bark before biting.

Before she was done, we learned that Obama is an irresponsible, inexperienced, prevaricating community organizer and the Republican party is the champion of farm and factory workers and small business like, presumably, oil companies.

According to Palin, Obama will tax the bujeezuz out of everyone, bloat government with new, expensive programs, gut our national defense, pussyfoot around with our enemies and sit on his hands when it comes to keeping energy flowing to American (US) interests.

Palin's team meanwhile promises to commence drilling our wilderness and coastlines for oil and gas, start up more coal-fired and nuclear generation, creating more energy and jobs for Americans. They will reduce taxes, reduce spending and shrink government, maybe even distributing surpluses to the people like she did in Alaska. They are the true reformers, promoting not just change, but "change Americans can understand". Somehow, they will also bolster our defense and win our wars.

She slapped Obama silly and proudly plucked the suspenders of both McCain and herself. And it will be very difficult for Obama to strike back.

The timing was a matter of Rovian perfection. As soon as it was revealed that Palin's unwed daughter is pregnant, whole delegations of Republican women came striding forward to defend her against a host of "sexist" pundit detractors, "elite" media vultures and professional politicians. With this defensive phalanx firmly in place, she immediately went on the offensive.

McCain now has the luxury of sticking to issues and falling back on his superior experience and military heroism. He can attack Obama's platform, stealing what he likes, and seize the intellectual high road.

Palin, protected by a well-conceived shroud of symbolic chivalry, is free to snipe away at Obama's integrity without fear of reprisal. Obama will need to deal with a constant barrage of distractions as Republicans take a page from the American Revolution - firing at Democratic ranks from the forest cover.

Nothing really changed in what Republicans - or Democrats - represent. It's the rules of engagement that were warped in McCain's favor. Obama will need to tread lightly.

There's a pit bull on the loose, and it's wearing lipstick.