If JFK hadn't been able to keep a cool head under that monumental pressure,, resist the more eager-beaverish of his advisers, and continue to write to Kruschev, we might not be around today to talk about elections.

McCain (especially when accompanied by Lieberman) are just too eager, as beavers go,, when it comes to war. for my comfort.

BTW. isn't 2013 a date certain, like the kind it's been treachery to propose?

I'm very suspicious of politicians who suddenly do an about face from previous positions during a campaign season. Everyone expects politicians to say one thing during campaigns and then not keep their promises.

So, what has McCain done in the past to actually achieve what he claims he wants to do in this speech?

That's the standard.

But the second half of the speech is what I think it's important for anyone who opposes Bush to read; if McCain means what he says there, then there's no way to believe Obama's statements about McCain representing a third Bush term. McCain basically repudiates almost everything about the way Bush has conducted his presidency- from signing statements to partisan use of the veto to overreaching on the interpretation of Executive power in the Constitution.

So the question is, if anyone who opposes those things about Bush doesn't take McCain at his word that he won't govern that way- on what evidence do you judge McCain?

Yawn.