Let’s pause before we leap into two months of partisan rancor, as John McCain might say.

The two parties nominated two remarkable men for President. And they come from two different Americas, as John Edwards might say.

Obama represents the youthful, idealistic and tolerant values of a changing country. McCain represents the older values of service, sacrifice and patriotism.

Both candidates break from their party’s orthodoxy. Obama had the guts to speak out against the Iraq war when other Democrats were ducking for political cover. Even if McCain voted with Bush 90 percent of the time, he has an independent streak.

A year ago, nobody gave either man much chance. They won with wildly different political skills – Obama’s soaring rhetoric and ground-level organizing ability, McCain’s grit and willingness to gamble.

Which brings us to their running mates. Obama made the safe and sensible choice. I wonder if he wishes now he had picked Hillary Clinton.

McCain threw a bomb with Sarah Palin. For now, he seems to have gained the most yardage. Of course, he has to wake up every morning the next eight weeks worrying what kind of headline Palin will create that day.

So we’ve got too good men running. Let’s get on with trashing both of them.

But, first, consider these two men. Because it may be the last time two men are the nominees.

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