What is the first word, or words, that come to mind when you think of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin?

Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.): “Maverick.”

Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.): “George Bush in earrings.”

Rep. Thelma Drake (R-Va.): “The first word that comes to mind is ‘exciting.’ She’s energetic, exciting.”

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.): “Alaska.”

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.): “I guess the first one that I would say is ‘unknowledgeable.’ ”

Sen. John Warner (R-Va.): “Well, she’s just a slice of pure Americana.”

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.): “From the heartland of America.”

Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.): “Fear.”

Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.): “Thursday night.” [The night of last week’s debate]

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio): “Refreshing.”

Rep. José Serrano (D-N.Y.): “Because of Hillary.” [Serrano believes Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) chose Palin because Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) did not choose Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) for vice president.]

Rep. Mary Fallin (R-Okla.): “Reformer.”

Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.): “Nothing repeatable in good company.”

Rep. Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.): “Good political theater.”

Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.): “Frontier woman. You know, someone who can shoot, which is something I can’t do, or hunt. Sort of fascinating.”

Rep. Phil Hare (D-Ill.): “She’s a good person, but being a heartbeat away from the president, I think McCain could have done a lot better.”

Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.): “Sarah Palin. That’s her name.”

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.): “Dedicated. A hardworking woman committed to cleaning up Washington.”

Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho): “Vice president.”

Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.): “I still am trying to figure out McCain’s reasons in his selection of a running mate. What keeps coming to my mind is that I think her strength is speaking in [a] language that connects with families, and weakness is the depth of knowledge of the issues.”

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.): “Stylish glasses.”

Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.): “Unfortunate choice.”

Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.): “Lipstick and a pit bull.”

Rep. Howard Coble (R-N.C.): “A feisty, attractive hockey mom; able governor.”