Democrats and Republicans alike were taken by surprise by the actions of the Russians in Georgia. Some blogs are filled with conspiracy theories that this was somehow planned by the Republicans so that McCain could look presidential. No such luck: Everyone was caught off guard. With Iraq, Afghanistan, the Olympics and the elections, our intelligence (if it did exist) was lost in the translation to diplomacy.

However, countries often follow their history and political culture. Thailand is held together by the king from coup to coup. Pakistan swings between parties and has trouble finding stability and Russia has been under some form of totalitarian leadership for centuries.

So why did we get tricked?

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Expectations were low for the 44^th President, elected on November 4, 2008. Having survived a bitter and contentious campaign season, he was not seen as particularly knowledgeable on either energy or environment issues. And so most informed observers expected little change in the doleful status quo in the coming administration—a continuing vortex of increased energy prices, decreased energy security, and increased ecological degradation.

But the new president exceeded expectations in these areas. Indeed, he so astonishingly exceeded expectations on energy and the environment that many experts immediately enshrined him into the pantheon of great Chief Executives. How did “44″ do it? He was blessed with a deep understanding of U.S. history, which showed him what had worked in analogous situations in the past. And the 44^th President also had decisive help and support from the 38^th Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

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If I were Barack Obama, I’d name my choice for vice president right now — John McCain. If I were McCain, I’d announce Barack Obama as my running mate.

I know what you’re thinking. It can’t happen. They don’t like each other. They’re from different parties. They disagree on so many issues.

So what?

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