McCain's Painful Dilemma: Iraq as Vietnam 2.0

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By Bernard Weiner (about the author) Page 3 of 3 page(s)

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What we've got is the one-time "maverick" Republican, McCain, forced into becoming the standard-bearer for the HardRightists backing Cheney and Bush. In other words, McCain is tied to ultra-conservative po licies that simply don't work, and the public knows that. McCain, who sold his political soul in 2006 to gain the presidency, is chomping at the bit that he willingly permitted his handlers to insert into his mouth. On the other side, there is a Democratic centrist/reformer who's moving toward the middle-right, while disguising the changes with grand, smooth rhetoric.

In other words, the electorate is presented with a choice between two highly interesting fellows who, in some ways, have become caricatures of traditional Washington politicians, one representing old-style Democrats and the other conte mporary know-nothing Republicans. It's a sad spectacle.

Democrats, Independents and moderate Republicans will vote for Obama, as they must to forestall a McCain victory that would be disastrous for American foreign and domestic affairs, including the direction of the Supreme Court. But it would be so much more interesting, honest, and good for the polity if both Obama and McCain would shed their forced personas and simply be who they are. If they even still know who they are at this difficult, uphill stage of the Tour de Ambition.

They could then talk openly and honestly about the issues Americans want and need to discuss, and our eventual choice at the polls would be based on something other than simple slogans, endless spin and a leap of faith. Yeah, that'll be the day.#

Bernard Weiner, Ph.D. in government & international relations, has taught at univ ersities in California and Washington, worked as a writer/editor with the San Francisco Chronicle for two decades, and currently serves as co-editor of The Crisis Papers (www.crisispapers.org). To comment:

crisispapers@hotmail.com

First published by The Crisis Papers and Democratic Underground 7/29/08.
www.crisispapers.org/essays8w/dilemma.htm

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Bernard Weiner, Ph.D. in government & international relations, has taught at universities in California and Washington, worked for two decades as a writer-editor at the San Francisco Chronicle, and currently serves as co-editor of The Crisis Papers (more...)

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