"I finally have a hero"

Those were the first words my seventeen-year-old daughter said to me upon learning about Sarah Palin, John McCain's inspired vice presidential selection. It took only moments for her fertile and uncorrupted young mind to grasp the significance of this pick - the more cynical among us will follow in due course.

Senator John S. McCain won the election today. It will be another 67 days before the votes are counted, but this selection eclipses his decision to remain in the Hanoi Hilton, refusing early release, and will go down in history as the most game-changing choice of his political career.

By selecting Governor Palin to serve with him, McCain changed not only the course of the 2008 election, but the course of the nation. Had it been possible to build, from the ground up, the perfect candidate to round out this year's selections, we would have built Sarah Palin.

Americans have been governed nearly to death. Washington no longer represents us - even the best of our politicians comes up terribly short. We are overtaxed, overregulated and overburdened, desperate for change, but feel powerless to correct the situation. Barack Obama painted a dream early in the election cycle...the mere mention of the words "hope" and "change" were enough to get him through the Democratic primaries, despite having no experience, no record and a long history of unsavory relationships and positions. The American electorate knows instinctively that something must be done to change the course of politics in this country, but few pay enough attention to understand the devastating impact Obama's brand of change would bring. No matter - they would take their chances, because anything would be better than the status quo.

Today, John McCain destroyed the status quo, in a very positive way.

Sarah Palin is a woman of exceptional character and remarkable grit. On first glance, she is a somewhat diminutive person, attractive, with a spark in her eye and an air of intelligence. When she speaks, the intelligence shines through in her easy manner and well chosen words. She is obviously comfortable in her own skin, a trait that is far too rare in American women these days. She exudes confidence and ability, and it takes only a few minutes to learn to like her and begin to get a sense of her moral fiber. A lifelong athlete and sportsman, she has borne the strain of the years with a grace most of us could only dream of possessing.

She has a record of wrestling with bears and coming through without a scratch. Non-partisan, but conservative in the best sense of the word, she has shown that she understands not only the true role of government as defined by the founders of this nation, but also the meaning and importance of personal responsibility. Simply put, she "gets" it.

One has the feeling, watching this woman, that what she lacks in foreign policy experience would be more than offset by her patriotism, intuition and love of freedom. It is no stretch to imagine her explaining to the voters that she understands what it will take to cut fuel costs in this country, and that she needs their help - the Democratic Congress must be overturned. Her sincerity, honesty and competence shine like beacons of light in a weary world.

Already, she has energized and unified the Republican base. Her social conservative credentials surpass those of any man - her devotion to a son with Down's syndrome, a son she could easily have chosen not to have, give her credibility that no male could ever match (by contrast, Obama fought for the right to insist such children, should they survive an abortion, be left to die). Her fiscal conservativism is best demonstrated by her refusal of the funds designated for the "Bridge to Nowhere" - the most egregious example of our government's complete disregard for its citizens in the history of the land. When has any politician rejected a 223 million dollar gift from the federal government? It is almost impossible to comprehend in this era of corruption and bloated bureaucracy. She has breathed life into a conservative movement that was thought to have died with Ronald Reagan.

Women will vote for her by the millions. Many (most?) will vote for the wrong reason, simply because she is a woman, but, for once, the end will justify the means. And, perhaps, if we are very fortunate, her stellar example will inspire them to demand more from the next candidate asking for their vote.

In retrospect we will view this day as a turning point in the life of the United States, a day that changed the very rules of the game. For more than two centuries, women in this country have yearned to see one of their own in a position of real power in this country; this year, many thought that it would happen, in the person of Hillary Clinton. Few appreciate now the horrible implications that outcome would have wrought on the longterm success of the country, just as few appreciate now the enormity of the gift we have just been given.

Happy birthday, Senator McCain. And many happy returns.