Indeed, politics is the art of the possible and in general terms there is never a perfect solution and as such you need to strive for the least worst solution.
Obama is a refreshing change as he, perhaps uniquely for a generation is a genuine orator with a sound grasp of rhetorical technique (unlike Blair, Major, Thatcher, Chirac etc).
As for Palin, let's hope she stays North of the 49th P.