I have no doubt that the choice of Palin says nothing whatsoever about McCain's "conversion" or even comments obliquely on his own convictions. It's purely a typically cynical political maneuver. So what else is new? He could have done much worse, like Rudy or Romney. We'll take what we can get, which is about the best we can do these days apparently.

As to sheriff's firing it seems that the chief was in violation of the law. In Alaska the law does not allow him to unilaterally restrict firearms.

He should have been fired. He put his personal preference ahead of the law he was supposed to uphold.

Sounds like a wholly appropriate response to me. If you have a police chief who disobeys the law, you fire him.