Exactly. Short-term, we're screwed no matter who wins. Whomever McCain picks will very likely determine the future direction of the GOP in 2012 and beyond.
Accordingly, if he picks a VP who will continue taking the GOP in the wrong direction (e.g., Crist, Romney, Huckabee), I will have to vote against McCain as a way to give us a chance to turn the GOP ship around in 2012. If he chooses someone who represents real, limited government, Constitutional conservatism (e.g., Palin, Jindal, Sanford, Pence, Steele), I will vote for the McCain ticket as a future investment.
Amen
At the risk of reviving the age flaming wars, I repeat McCain is not a young person.