Sometimes we save the best for last.

 John McCain's foreign policy speech was powerful and right on the money.  In his second go-around as a presidential candidate, he's more in touch with the American people than ever before.  He seems less of a maverick and more of a pragmatist.  The last thing we need in the White House is a dreamer and an appeaser.. . or someone who needs to make a name for herself via power. People fault John because he will work with other elected officials. That skill or mindset is essential because a President  MUST  work with Congress and propel his proposals into reality. Drawing lines in the sand because of political labels is foolish; finding consensus is wisdom.

All John's years in the Senate and in the public eye have made him seasoned to media storms and public mood shifts.  His personal and political mistakes of the past were glaring;  he seems to have grown beyond them. He has listened that we want the borders secured asap and that we want the federal budget to stop orbiting in $outer space.

Conservatives need not throw their hands in the air and boycott this election.  John represents respect for life, love of country, determination to provide for the common defense and for common decency.  He will battle earmarks and reign in spending.  He respects traditional marriage.  And the list goes on. His compassionate side is evident and balances his tough side.

 On the campaign trail he is forthright, focused, and unrelenting.  His global foreign-policy message to Americans and to the world  was verbal evidence of his loyalty to his country.  He won't sell out the troops, bringing them home without victory and thus dishonoring the sacrifices of 4,000 of our finest!  We could hear reason in his multi pronged approaches to finding peace and safety for our nation.  The endorsement by Mrs. Reagan is another powerful indicator that he will be the President of a united GOP party.  All the former POTUS candidates have endorsed him.  So should we!  John represents our best hope for a strong, principled, pragmatic GOP president.

When the Fox commentator made a verbal slip and referred to Senator McCain as President McCain, I chuckled because I, too, thought Senator McCain sounded presidential.

Now to the point of my thoughts today.  Various voices keep surfacing to promote Mitt Romney as McCain's VP running mate.  Even one of his former detractors from the Boston Globe said that Mitt is the logical person to balance the ticket.  Another TH writer went so far as to say that Mitt's weaknesses (as the writer saw them) would be Mitt's VP strengths - adding to the balance of expertise and experience  plus bringing in.additional key states.  Mitt has  good character, personal stability, and high level leadership experiences in business, global economy, the world of finance, and state government.  He has brains, courage, and heart.

 And he has the desire to serve - without pay.  How many candidates can you find who say they won't accept a salary but will serve?  Think of the Clintons for a contrast:  Money and power versus service and patriotism.  The combination of John and Mitt is a double blend of  patriotic service appealing to the idealism of the young voters and comforting the older voters, grown tired of selfish politicians feathering their nests.

While we don't like to think of our expiring mortality, John is an older man.  Having Mitt in the wings with his excellent health and high energy should John become sick or die in office is a good safety net for our Republic.  Mitt is a team player and a can-do guy. Now that he's not running for office, people are much more objective about his  heavy weight qualifications. He would fulfill the mandate that McCain receives when elected.  As VP he will give the President his solid support. If the heavy mantle of POTUS slips to his shoulders, a sad nation can look to Mitt to carry that burden with honor and decency.

 His first run for POTUS was interesting, to say the least. He had little name national recognition and few friends in the media world; in fact , he was the media's favorite BBQ!  His image was narrow - that of a business man.  Now his image is that of a statesman and political leader with a comprehensive business and government background.

 His family reflects well on his good character.  One of my favorite Christmas cards this year was a picture of the extended Romney family smiling at the camera.  It was a down-to-earth picture of a good American family. It is a keepsake. (My son worked with Mitt some years ago.)

Obviously, Mitt had grit and expertise and won the admiration of many over the course of his campaign.  The red herring Mormon question was a distraction to Mitt's credentials as a candidate, a distraction that is now history.  Now that the dust has cleared, many of us say we let a good candidate slip through our finger tips.

Mitt was on the Hannity show and displayed no hankering for the VP slot, instead saying that John has at least 20 good people to choose from.  Mitt has sent some of his excellent team over to work for John and is actively supporting John as the best candidate for the White House.  He displays not bitterness, but support for John - and says any Republican would be honored to serve with McCain.

 I hope John lets Mitt have his wings.  What a great team of John and Mitt!  That's a combination to attract the thoughtful voters, young and old, and steer voters away from a false loyalty to the Clinton machine and from Obama's mystical orations about hope.

 We will have substance, experience, and positive leadership.  GO MITT!

Mitt and team win big in the Iowa Straw Polls .  But the sour grapes comments coming in from disappointed supporters of the herd of candidates who didn't show good numbers try to cast a shadow on this significant milestone.  Criss crossing the state, visiting all 99 counties, answering pointed and demeaning questions, enduring snippy press reports, opening up to "Ask Mitt Anything" forums from one end of the state to the other all yielded a positive response when the numbers were tallied.

One-on-one contacts, a thoughtful ad campaign that highlighted his core values, and even a supposedly "off the record" radio interview all worked together to get the Romney message out - that he is a serious and hard-working candidate for the Presidency of this country.  His endearing wife (with a brain) and his enthused five sons were active elements in Mitt's success.  Under the radar was his hard-working, smart team on the ground working the phones and smoothing the daily campaign wrinkles.  What helped Mitt appear so polished was the unity  and focused effort of his family and his great team.

 The mercurial press was baffled; no dirt - no scandals to offset Mitt's insightful comments and outstanding debate showings   Here was a candidate and his family + team of clean cut individuals working hard, paying the price to get their message out, wearing out their tires and shoe leather, and being civil under difficult conditions; new political images for the press!   Imagine, using your own money to campaign.  Refreshing, to say the least. 

 Some reporters searched the ancestor tree, some the financial connections, some the religion vs the state dead-horse issues when they had no gossip or scandal to milk.  Slowly, day by day, public acceptance of who Mitt is and what he stands for got communicated to the state of Iowa.  His past expedrience matched the man the people were meeting.  Mitt was smart but also warm.  He was fearless and called it like it was.  He took time with people and didn't treat them like objects.  The camera showed people still smiling as he walked away.  If he'd been insincere, the camera would have caught those images.  The warmth between him and his family members was obvious and refreshing - no  posturing image of Hillary dancing with Bill in her bathing suit that was supposed to convince us of their .... (you fill in the blanks, etc., etc.)  He ran a smart, business model campaign. 

The overall message was that he has both a brain, a heart, and courage.  Dorothy's friends in storybook lane entertained us in OZ. in their search for these precious items.  Romney has all three in abundance. Iowa liked what she saw and expressed approval in the poll.  It is really very simple. 

It will be fun to see his message  take hold state after state until  he is the choice of people in all 50 states who are looking for the candidate with the Brain, Heart, and Courage.