As Mr. Obama has pointed out, words mean something, so some clarification is in order on behalf of the Palin-McCain team (oops, sorry, I meant McCain-Palin, of course). They are running on the Reform ticket, as opposed to the Obama Change ticket (see the graphic below, from the respective candidates' websites). Reform v. Change: WTF is the difference, you ask? Let me explain...
Re-form is precisely what the word suggests: you take the same stuff that's there already and rearrange it all in a fresh dress and a new look. Martin Luther, founder of the Reformed Church, touched up the color of God's beard and sent the lobbyists into the unseen background of the crucifixion scene -- you could still buy your way into heaven, but the indulgence paper trail was erased. The man-God, martyred hero, and guilt-based morality were fortunately left firmly in place.
McCain-Palin offers something very similar to that. They have been blessed with the insight that, as Americans, we are all reformers. Reform is when you say, "I really want to lose some weight and get my blood pressure under control, but I've got that big business luncheon at the steakhouse tomorrow -- I'll get cracking on change once that's behind me." Reform is when you promise, "after I try out this pack of new smokes that the Phillip Morris marketers sent me, I'll cut the cigarettes out of my life." Reform is when you just know that you can watch a lot less TV, as soon as next summer comes and the reruns start.
So McCain-Palin are assuring us: you don't have to change a thing, America -- let's reform. Reform is more fun, takes no effort at all and even less thought, and most important, leaves everything you know and love about America -- war, tax cuts to the rich, and corporate ownership of both government and the media -- firmly intact. Reform, in short, is the change that will happen someday, sometime, but never now. And that's a campaign message that makes a lot of Americans sleep better.
If we will only make John and Sarah our co-presidents, America's sleep will be as deep and eternal as...well, never mind. Reform, America!