Despite all the turmoil among the Democrats, I am very optimistic about the general election. When the dust settles and the Democrats have anointed Obama, the world will start to look more closely at John McCain.
And he’s got big problems.
1) The Economy. A gas tax holiday and extending the Bush tax cuts (beginning in 2011), isn’t going to do much to ease what is the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. This is playing out in slow motion, but by the time November rolls around, it’s going to be pretty ugly: housing, gas prices, inflation, poor or negative growth, and rising unemployment will all contribute to McCain’s defeat. His admitted ineptitude (that famed straight talk is going to come back to haunt him) in economic matters makes him look ridiculous whenever he starts talking about the economy.
2) Iraq. Unless the Messiah comes and brings universal peace, this place is still going to be a mess. You can talk all you want about recent successes (and there have been many – Petraeus lives up to the hype and more; he’s a true leader and a great American with a brilliant political future, if he wants it.), but they amount to nothing more than a temporary patch on an intractable problem. I’ll write more about this in the future, but, for now, understand that Iraq will not be a plus on the McCain side of the ledger.
3) The Senate. McCain has been in the Senate for a long time. From Charles Keating and the Savings and Loan scandal to lobbyists and contributors, there’s going to be a lot of dirt here. It is impossible for a politician to serve for any length of time without compromising principle and ethics, if not laws. Plus, McCain is a major league flip-flopper. Right now, I’d classify this as a Rumsfeldian known unknown. McCain is going use his military service to press a “how dare you question the honor of a war hero” defense, but it won’t work like it would have in 2004.
4) Bigotry. Please see this earlier post. McCain has got serious race problems with an entire foul-mouthed career behind him, just waiting to see daylight. There are some known knowns here but I’m guessing there a lot more unknown unknowns in his past.
And I’m not even going to get into Bob Barr, age, and temperament, among other things. So, you see, there are a lot of reasons to be optimistic.
Monday, May 5, 2008 at 9:52 am |
[...] of bad economic news confronting the admittedly clueless Republican candidate. In addition, all the dirt that is under his fingernails will start to come out. He’s going to be doing a lot of triage and spinning. The Repubs will [...]
Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 1:24 pm |
[...] race. He points out the Jeremiah Wright isn’t going to do away, but he leaves out McCain’s problems (with his Senate record and his bigotry, just to name two). You can sense it in this piece, Rove [...]
Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 9:10 am |
McCain is a war hero, a POW who refused a early release, until his fellow POW were released. A Senator who never took a earmark. An Author who did not use his fame to line his own pocket, but donated the proceeds to Charity. McCain is a Senator who actually work with Democratics to get things done!!!
Now Obama used his political connections with Tony Rezko to buy his Dream House. Then thier Obama other friends, Rev. Wright, Bill Ayers and his wife Michelle. The conparsion between Obama & McCain will be as difference as night and day. The difference between a man who used his postion to served his own interest and a man of principal who refused to use his public position to enrich himself.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 9:23 am |
Being human, no presidential candidate is without his “problems.” But McCain’s problems pale in comparison to Obama’s. Dan’s post sums it up nicely. When the time comes to choose between our two “problem” candidates, I’ll bet the American people will choose a war hero who stands firm on his convictions and not a fumbling elitist who changes his position from one day to the next just to please his audience. They will choose honed experience over lofty rhetoric and genuine patriotism over phony patriotism.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 10:37 am |
OBAMA-
1) The Economy – McCain is more responsible than Obama. Obama wants to raise taxes THRU THE ROOF in a recesion. Obama is CLUELESS when it comes to the economy
2) Iraq – The surge is WORKING so we will not need the messiah to return, yet. Obama has friends that are TERRORIST and has a video on UTube promising to DIS-ARM the U.S.A. Obama has a broghter who is a jihad fighter and is currently having open talk with HAMAS AND GOT BUSTED AND TRIED TO BLAME IT ON HIS STAFF
3) The Sente – McCAin is the ONLY one who woeks across party lines. Obama has THE MOST liberal voting record and has NEVER woked across the aisle.
4) Bigotry – Obama is the BIGIEST BIGOT of ALL. He attends and subscribes to a RACIST church (black theoliogy), says typical white people are scared of black people on the street, AND calls poeple in small towns racists bigots when he thinks he is not on the record.
it is an EASY CHOICE……McCain 08
Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 10:38 am |
sorry for the type-os…got a little carried away
Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 11:27 am |
Dreaming. I lost you when you said that we are in the “worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.” Guess you missed the Carter and Early Reagan era. What are you…ten? Unemployment is lower than it was during the Clinton/GOP Congress era, we actually have a growing economy, and gas prices? Blame those who won’t allow the US to drill.
Obama is an empty suit, and people are not going to vote for him just because he is half black…regardless how much MSNBC, the Huffington Post, and New York Times wishes it were so. You want a unifying, get it done guy, McCain is the real deal. Obama just pretends. Being the most liberal senator doesn’t make you a unifer and it takes nerve to say your are the man from Hope when you come from the Chicago political machine and you never had the guts to stand up to your Race-Baiting, Jew loathing “Pastor”.
In my 60 years, I have NEVER seen a candidate get trounced by his primary opponent once he supposedly has a lock on his nomination. He lost West Virginia and Kentucky (both states Bill Clinton carried) by over 30 points. Unless McCain has a hard attack our accidentally calls him the N word, Obama is toast.
Monday, June 2, 2008 at 8:01 am |
[...] Read: McCain’s Big Problems [...]