From Cal Thomas on Sarah Palin

Palin Passes Her First Test With Flying Colors

More than any other political figure in recent memory, Sarah Palin connects with the public. That's because she is real. She is not saddled with the pretense that grips so many career politicians. She is not perfect and does not try to pretend to be. She is from a small town from which come the biggest hearts.

She mocked the elites, but like Ronald Reagan she has enough charm to win them over, not to her beliefs in every case, but to her as a person.

She is the personification of the girl next door, which has always been the American "ideal." The toughest tests are yet to come, but she passed the first one with the flying colors that were on the screen behind her.