Flashback: C-Span coverage of the Alaska Governor's Debate - 2006. I caught it on a channel-surfing fluke and stayed to learn more about Alaskan politics. When incumbent-challenger Sarah Palin opened her mouth I was stunned. So impressed. I agreed with everything she said. She was poised, polished, and perfect on every point. Then I did my research on her and found out she was born and educated in my homestate of Idaho. Another connection. When she won the governor's race, I could not believe it. I sent her a note of congratulations immediately. Had she a larger staff perhaps I might have heard back from her. haha.

I never would have guessed in my wildest dreams that McCain would actually put her on the ticket. I was very vocal about my decision to not vote for McCain unless he chose her. Two weeks ago I flapped my gums to Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams as such. I told him I thought that was the only way McCain would win and she was the only person who could inspire all of the GOP burnouts like myself. I thought I was safely in the camp of a protest vote come November.

I have to say I am so impressed with whatever visionary advisors McCain hired that whispered to him the name Sarah Palin. Perhaps they even fought for her against the conventional wisdom. We all know this election, complete with the influence of new media, is not politics as usual anymore. Whatever the situation, my hat is off to the McCain strategists who picked her. It was a brave move. It was the right move. And they have done more than possibly win the election. They might possibly have changed the direction of our country. The grassroots just went from wilted to electrified. They are fired up for issue reform. The vehicle, surprisingly, is the McCain machine.

If they ease off the heavy-handed tactics they and GOP establishment elitists use on the limited government, Goldwater conservatives in the party, we will have unity not just for an election cycle, but for the duration of our effort to restore this nation.