When hearing John McCain had selected Sarah Palin as his running mate a few days back I was almost as surprised as most of the notable mainstream media commentators and pundits. Apparently those types do not like to be surprised, as what followed was five day’s of probably the most vicious attack in the history of American election political discourse directed at a candidate and her family.

That made watching her speech Wednesday night a must for me, and I think an option many others had not previously considered. Did the jilted media have hopes the former small town mayor and small population state governor would stumble and not make a good impression? Reasonable people, and from what I have read the morning after, even many in the elite media, agree the opposite happened.

Governor Palin talked about her small town roots. She suggested small town people love their country in good times and in bad times and are always proud of America. We heard about her family. Her husband Todd seems like a regular guy with a history of regular jobs and Minnesota-type recreational activities. I am almost certain that many of the people who read The Free Press know someone very similar to Todd Palin right here in south central Minnesota.

Although children of political candidates have historically been immune from scrutiny by the media until the media was surprised by JohnMcCain’s selection for his vice presidential running mate this year, Gov. Palin openly showed love and understanding for all of her five children. She did not wallow about things in her life that may not have been perfect. I did not hear one woe-is-me comment from her. She left me with the impression she has solid moral principles and lives by them.

Her speech conveyed an understanding of the importance of a sound comprehensive energy program when she admitted the fact that drilling for oil will not solve every problem, but added that is no excuse to do nothing at all. She mentioned leading her state toward the completion of a privately-funded $40 billion dollar natural gas pipeline from the north slope to the lower 48 states. A fiscal conservative, Gov. Palin vetoed about one-half billion dollars in spending, and those vetoes were upheld.

Her record in Alaska demonstrates a willingness to take on the good old boys of politics when she sees corruption, even when it happens in her own political party. A number of other issues were addressed as well, but I am constrained by space.

I liked the tone of her presentation. She was relaxed and easy to listen to. One of my favorite quotes from her speech relates to her view of how the media and inside the beltway crowd might perceive her: “I’m not going to Washington to seek their approval — I’m going to Washington to serve the people of this country.” Few politicians today have her gift of being able to express some sarcasm of her opponents’ positions with a smile on her face. One writer described her as a politician with a smile on her face and steel in her spine!

Bob Jentges, North Mankato, is a retired teacher and insurance claims superintendent. He is a part of a team of Free Press readers asked to comment more frequently on issues of the day. He considers himself a conservative.