The 2008 Presidential campaign was set.  The GOP had Senator John McCain, the DFL had Senator Barack Obama.  Senator John McCain was a war hero that spent five or six years as a POW in Vietnam.  McCain was elected to the House of Representatives in 1983, and Senate in 1987 where he still sits.  McCain is a member of the Senate Armed Forces Committee with several visits to Iraq, including calling for the surge.  Obama was elected to the Illinois State Senate in 1997, and Senate in 2004 where he managed to vote present an awful lot.  Before this it is unclear what exactly Obama did.  Community organizer with ACORN?  Foundational work with Bill Ayers?  Constitutional Law Professor?  Obama was something of a closed book during the campaign.  A blank slate.  The media certainly didn't dig.  This is all beside the point anyway.  In any sane world, McCain should win this race easily.  Especially with his Moderate credentials.  Right?  At least that is what the GOP would lead us to believe.  This isn't a sane world though.  As Conservatives have learned, never underestimate the potential of McCain to screw things up.  We have McCain-Feingold as just one example.  You can learn about this legislation here or here.  I was pretty disengaged from the election at this point.  The thought of McCain as President just made me sick to my stomach.  McCain supported various liberal issues such as illegal immigration amnesty and global warming.  McCain was also part of the Gang of 14.  A group of Bipartisan Senators for judicial nominations.  Ugh!  It was looking like a low turnout election at this point.  My own Senator was up for re-election as well, but he was cut from the same cloth as McCain.  The result?  What motivation is there for me to vote when two RINOs are the choice?  A funny thing happened next.  McCain and Obama were at the Saddleback Church to talk with Pastor Rick Warren.  The Pastor asked Obama when life begins in the womb and Obama "voted present" by saying the issue was "above his pay grade."  McCain answered "at conception" less than a second after being asked.  McCain had shown some Conservative credentials at Saddleback.  It was something worth following by Conservatives.  The Vice President selections were all the rage soon thereafter.  The 2008 Republican National Convention in St Paul was in full swing and rumors were plenty.  Gov Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota was a possibility.  Former DFL turned Independent Senator Joe Liberman was another.  I personally had Liberman on my short list as a long shot possibility. It seemed logical since McCain was essentially an Independent, plus Liberman had Iraq war credentials.  Imagine the complete surprise when Alaska Gov Sara Palin was the Vice President nominee!  I hadn't even heard of her before the RNC.  It was quickly obvious though she was a legit Conservative.  A woman who had just gave birth to a Down Syndrome baby.  A woman not from the Ivy League, but from strong work ethic who had taken on the Alaska GOP.  A Maverick in her own right!  This nomination by McCain completely changed everything.  It was brilliant.  I found myself about 80% sure of voting for McCain at this point.  Illegal immigration and global warming being the elephants in the room, but it didn't matter.  Palin gave a magnificent acceptance speech and Conservatives everywhere were united.