The saying a picture is worth a thousand words doesn’t always fit.  But I came across this picture in a story about a Canadian doctor who worries that Palin’s decision to have her child will cause other women to reconsider aborting Downs children.

This picture tells me everything I need to know about Sarah Palin.

photo credit: Getty Images

The Republicans played the song “Barracuda” in the celebratory time after John McCain’s speech in homage to the moniker ascribed to his running mate. Sarah was dubbed the ”Barracuda” for her tenacious basketball playing that lead her basketball team to the state championship in high school.

Well, the band Heart, is not happy.

They’ve sent a cease and desist letter to the Republicans, demanding that they no longer use the music at any of their campaign stops.

It would be understandable if they simply distanced themselves from the McCain-Palin ticket. But their song is part of the pop culture. The Republicans aren’t trying to make a buck off it. (If anything, constant play would drive up sales for Heart.)

So why insist they stop playing the song? It’s a compliment to you that they want good music.

It brings to mind a refreshing attitude from NBA megastar Michael Jordan. Democrats pleaded with the basketball star to attack the North Carolina GOP.

He refused. 

“You know,” he said, ”Republicans buy shoes, too.”

Most importantly, with this speech debuts Johnny Mack, the Reformer Fighting for You. As Ramesh Ponnuru said, “Finally a theme!”

And a much better argument than Mr. John Experienced Resume McCain. (Not only a snore, but also a losing argument: ask “President Bob Dole” or “President Al Gore.”)

What a star! Sarah Palin knows how to fight back and hit hard.

And her discussion about energy was important, not only becuase it is a powerful domestic issue, but because as she notes, it’s a foreign policy issue. Russia, she astutely pointed out, is using energy to threaten neighbors in their region of the world. We do our country a service by becoming more energy independent.

Watching Governor Sarah Palin deliver a knockout speech shows exactly why this woman was able to oust Gov. Murkowski in a Republican primary and why she defeated former Gov. Tony Knowles in the general election.

They don’t call her Barricuda for nothing!

A new Zogby poll shows that Catholics like McCain’s running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin:

At a rate of 54 percent, Catholic respondents believe McCain’s choice of Palin would help the Republican ticket, while 31 percent believe it would hurt the campaign. Seven percent believed it would not make a difference.

McCain’s decision to go with a strong pro-life candidate will likely help him in Catholic states like Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio.

(Hat tip: Margaret Cabiness)