This writer knows whereof she speaks:

“Palin’s friends should be less immediately worried about what the Obama campaign will do to her than what the McCain campaign will do. This is a woman who’s tough enough to work her way up and through, and to say yes to a historic opportunity, but she will know little of, or rather have little experience in, the mischief inherent in national Republican politics. She will be mobbed up in the McCain campaign by people who care first about McCain and second about themselves. (Or, let’s be honest, often themselves first and then McCain.) Palin will never be higher than number three in their daily considerations. They won’t have enough interest in protecting her, advancing her, helping her play to her strengths, helping her kick away from danger. And – there is no nice way to say this, even though at this point I shouldn’t worry about nice – some of them are that worst sort of aide, dim and insensitive past or present lobbyists with high self-confidence. She’ll be a thing to them; they’ll see the smile and the chignon and the glasses and think she’s Truvi from “Steel Magnolias.” They’ll run right over her, not because they’re strong but because they’re stupid. The McCain campaign better get straight on this. He should step in, knock heads, scare his own people and get Palin the help and high-level staff all but the most seasoned vice presidential candidates require.”–Peggy Noonan, in her best column in months, if not years.

After months of listlessness, Noonan has again found her voice. And it’s damn good. Read the rest and see why.

Meantime…a reader sent me this link to an essay by another feisty Catholic woman, explaining why she’s planning to vote for Palin and what’s-his-name, the guy she’s running with.

UPDATE: As a couple readers have noted, Noonan did herself no favors in this appearance on MSNBC today. Gone in 60 Seconds: Peggy Noonan’s credibility.