I will vote Obama-Biden.
Mr. McCain has actually been one of my favorite Republicans for quite some time, although I haven't liked what the latest campaign has done to him. I especially like the period of his career where he worked hard to try to reduce the power of loose money in the election system (I think of McCain-Feingold as a decent start to getting Buckley v. Valeo overturned). I also admire people from privileged backgrounds such as his who choose to devote their entire lives to public service.
I don't know enough about Ms. Palin to offer what I think of as a decent compliment. I suppose I have a grudging admiration for someone who is willing to act on her value system with whatever power she gains through elected office, even if those efforts are clearly at odds with a solid majority of others in the US. I don't think asking if a mayor can ban books at the local library is good politics or good policy, but it does show ideological consistency for someone who presents herself as Ms. Palin does.
As a former civics instructor, I have to say I find this OP really encouraging. The economic troubles are going to burden all of us for quite a while, but I think our greatest national loss in the last few decades is our willingness to respect and even occasionally admire people with whom we have strong political differences.
