McCain--how he made me a liar.

I have bemoaned McCain's winning the primaries for weeks. Months ago I arrogantly went around commenting that he might as well quit, he was so far behind. When his campaign staff all jumped ship and went elsewhere, I figured the writing was on the wall. I couldn't stand him. I felt about him the way one TV commentator summarized: he's like the smart a-- kid on the back of the bus ripping on everyone else, all the while looking around to see who's laughing with him. I completely respect his service and sacrifice and agree that he is an American hero; I just don't think that qualifies him to be president of the country. Any ordinary joe can get shot out of an airplane and become a prisoner of war and I don't think that makes him qualified to be the president. I know it's taboo to say and it makes even me feel slightly uncomfortable to write, but I do believe it's true. I will add that he is one tough dude for surviving five years of POW treatment and deserves our honor and respect. Just like Obama's being black (sort of) doesn't leave me afraid to speak my mind about him for fear of being called a racist, I also don't feel McCain's service and sacrifice to his country immunize him from political criticism.

So here are my final pre-election thoughts on McCain's campaign and bid for election:

Cons:

• He is a poor orator. Why is it that conservatives in this country can't elect a man capable of speaking well? Not only is his delivery bad, it's also uninspiring. He's boring. That's all it amounts to. His opponents will "tee" him up, but he won't hit it out of the park. I don't understand it.
• My friends, he is out of touch. The man doesn't "do email". He doesn't have a computer. He is perceived as a worse candidate than he really is simply because he's so out of touch. Young people can't relate to him. How many twenty somethings know what "pork barrel spending" is? If every American had a nickle for every time he's used "pork" or "my friends" in a sentence, we'd all be able to buy at least the cheapest thing from Starbucks and that's saying something. What a waste of money... Anyway, I cringe every time I hear him talking about "pork" 'cause I know how many people have to think what a loony old geezer he is. It's true though: he's old. And seems really out of touch. He can be funny and engaging, but for some reason, he chooses not to be 90% of the time...
• He values bipartisanship more than he should. I've never heard someone talk about "crossing the aisle" as much as him. Again, what twenty-something even knows what he's talking about? OK, maybe more than I realize, but seriously who cares one bit about his working with both sides. What we care about is doing what's RIGHT. Who cares what side you're on, if it's the right side, that's all that matters. I think he turns off his base when he talks like this and I don't think he is convincing any democrats to vote for him because he "crosses the aisle" all the time. Nobody cares. Again, he's out of touch. Just do what's RIGHT.
• He cares about the media too much. For crying out loud, stop trying to placate the media. They hate you. You don't have to try to be their friend. They aren't doing you any favors. Why don't you realize this? Speak the truth and the American people will support you. Stop thinking you're special because they hate you less than the likes of Ron Paul and others they're afraid of. The plaintiff attorneys I work with all the time that try to befriend me generally garner less respect than the ones that are all business and focus on their strengths. Do I enjoy talking to them more? Probably. Do they benefit their clients more by taking this approach? Not at all. The American people aren't benefiting here either.
• He's generally not charismatic or likeable. I heard a Fox News report on him a few weeks ago. They interviewed several colleagues and co-workers of his from throughout the years. The consensus was sobering: he's generally thought of as a jerk. It wasn't a pretty picture they were painting, and it wasn't pMSNBC or CNN doing the reporting... I think we've all this side of him--especially during the debates.

And now, the pros:

• Iraq. He won't quit until the job is done, period. As discussed yesterday, we can't leave that wasteland vulnerable to wicked, America-haters who would seek to destroy us. We're winning now and will continue to do so if allowed. We cannot allow Iraq to become another Vietnam. McCain understands this. I trust him on foreign affairs. He's not going to bomb one of our allies. How have we glossed over this? When Muammar Gaddafi was linked to terrorist activity in the 80's, Reagan bombed his backyard and he didn't let the grass grow under his feet before doing it. Compare his terrorist activities now to that of Bin Laden who Clinton had the chance of killing but declined, or Hussein who scoffed at one UN resolution after another, all the while killing hundreds of thousands of his own people. Gaddafi's practically a model citizen at this point. What would he be if we'd decided to "talk with out preconditions"? My guess is he'd be reloading behind our backs while we tried to smell the daisies with him. McCain will keep us safe.
• He is pro-life. Not much else to say here in my opinion. I think too many Americans have grown numb to so many wrong things that are generally accepted. Sometimes it's about what's right and wrong, not the path of least resistance.
• Immigration. I do not fall in line with most conservatives when it comes to the border and immigration. I do agree that we should close the border for good. I feel this way for security reasons, not because of illegal immigration. I understand I'm in the minority in this regard. I do not believe that Mexicans take American jobs. I don't think many Americans want to work for low wages picking fruit or processing meat. If they want to come here to work, I say let them come. I also think amnesty is the only way to go. How in the world are we going to round up and deport millions of illegals? There is no way in the world this is going to happen. We need to admit we've created the problem by not enforcing our borders and move on. Give them amnesty, get them registered and identified, and make them start paying taxes for heaven sake. If there's anyone who should be paying taxes, it's guest workers. McCain most closely mirrors my feelings on immigration of the remaining candidates.
• Ok, I know I shouldn't say it since it makes no difference, but I like his wife. She seems likeable and worthy of running the White House. Whatever.
• Judges--he'll appoint pro-life, pro-defense, pro-religion judges. Period.
• He's pro second amendment. Although I'm not a big gun owner myself, I believe in the Constitution and I fear for the nation that can't defend itself--sometimes from its own government. Thomas Jefferson said "The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government". We should always be allowed to defend ourselves.
• Small government. He believes in cutting spending and lowering taxes. I don't believe in taxing the people in order to provide larger government programs. There are kind hearted people out there who are bamboozled by liberals who deceive the public into thinking they're for helpful social programs. The problem with liberals is that they say they want the government to solve everyone's problems, but they themselves are unwilling to part with their own money for charitable endeavors. Joe Biden gave .31% of his income to charity last year and that was TRIPLE what he had given in each of the three previous years. Obama is only slightly better. He gave 5.8% and 6.1% in 2006 and 2007. What did McCain give in those years? Answer: 27.3% and 28.6%. (read here) Biden's .31% equals less than $1,000. It appears as though these two believe in charity, as long as someone else is paying for it. The government is the least equipped to do any good with our money. We'd be better off giving it to our churches and reputable non-profit organizations. The folks running these organizations are passionate about their work and will make the money last. They won't spend $8 on a tube of chapstick. They can actually do real good in the world. Big government just isn't the answer.
• Capitalism. This market will right itself if allowed. It always does. If one business fails, another will take it's place in a better, more efficient way. That's the way the world works. If we step in and prevent failure, we're like bad parents enabling our children's bad behavior to continue. We have to let them suffer the consequences in order for them to truly grow. The government needs to take some parenting classes rather than throwing money at their problems. That just makes for spoiled, failed kids... I don't believe in taking Halloween candy from an ambitious kid and giving it to one too lazy to pound the streets and get it for himself. It's that simple to me.

I'm not in love with McCain and I'd really prefer that we had another candidate to choose from but in light of the choice, I'll have to eat my own words and push the button in his favor. I vowed I wouldn't do that earlier this year... Politicians--we have something in common.