An open letter to Sen. John McCain

Dear Sen. McCain:

It's hard to believe you could make a bigger splash tonight than you did last Friday when you named Gov. Palin as your running mate, but if you're going to make your case for being the best choice for president, this is it.

We know the theme of your candidacy, cemented by your pick for vice president, is that you're a maverick.

The knock on Sen. Obama's has been a lack of experience on the national stage and a tendency to speak in philosophical terms rather than in specifics. But the knock on you is that despite your past independence, you have gone along too much during a trying Bush presidency. This is the stage on which you set your self apart.

You're a straight talker. We don't expect of you the same kind of fiery oratory that Sen. Obama exhibited, but we do need you to explain, in fairly specific language, how you, along with Gov. Palin, you would challenge the status quo in Washington.

You'll need to walk a fine line to keep conservative Republicans in the fold while still attracting independents. Especially with a very conservative running mate.

Here's what you'll need to tell prospective voters tonight:

• How you'll forge alliances with what is now a Democratically-controlled Congress and reduce partisan bickering to achieve your goals. Creating a collegial spirit will be the only way to achieve sweeping change.

• That your tough deficit-cutting plans won't leave those who struggle most with no help.

• How we can achieve all the things you set forth to do with the lower taxes you propose nearly across the board.

• That there will be a defined end to our military involvement in Iraq - both from a global political perspective and for the American citizens who pay for it.

• How you'll protect us from terrorist attacks.

• That your solution to the subprime mortgage crisis - hundreds of thousands of federally backed 30-year notes - can be done without putting our economy in further peril.

• How you will reduce America's reliance on foreign oil and promote the profitability of alternative energy sources in the U.S.

• That you'll find ways to halt the exportation of American jobs to other countries where labor is cheap. And that you'll do something about international interests buying up more and more of this country.

• How you'll react to vacancies on the Supreme Court. We know your views on abortion and those of your running mate differ somewhat. How will it shake out?

Tell us.