Being that I am NOT a republican and I AM a conservative, I found this election very troubling. I am not going to vote for Obama as he is very liberal in my view, and I *was not* going to vote for McCain as I am an old resident of Arizona and I know his voting record and believe him to be a liberal as well (A.K.A “The Maverick”). I was actually going to write in Ron Paul for president when two curious things happened:

1. Before both candidates had chosen a running mate I was having a political discussion with a co-worker about who I was going to vote for. I was explaining that I thought Obama was a mistake and so was McCain. I told him that the only presidential nominee that I thought was telling the truth and was capable of upholding the constitution was Ron Paul. But during that conversation I did mention that McCain seemed so incredibly old and frail and that the presidency seems to unnaturally add to ones years, that depending on who his running mate was I might actually vote for him knowing (or rather hoping) that he would have a limited run in office and that his VP would become president.
2. McCain picked Palin, someone who seems to be a genuine conservative. Someone who seems to have stood up to the republican party in the past and seemed to have their head on straight. Here was someone who was vastly more conservative than Mr. McCain, and seemed to have the ability to bring some real energy back to the party that once *was* synonymous with conservative.

That was when I realized that McCain had given me just enough to vote for him. Well not for *him* but for his ticket. So congratulations Mr. McCain, you have persuaded me to put a check next to your name when I vote, but I hope it will be your running mate that wins.