Comments on: John McCain and ‘The Vision Thing’

By: runasim

runasim — Sun, 18 May 2008 18:59:14 +0000

I dont' want to belabor the point, but I would like to clarify why I think the "ask not" speechi does constitute a vision, regardless of the context of the time.

I see it as a vision of how people should relate to their country and to each other..
In some ways, the nature of the gears that make a machine work can determine the nature of the things the machine can produce. .If the social gears are out of kilter, the nation/machine iwill not be able to bring a great vision (by your definition) to fruition.

I'm not offering an argument, btw, only another angle. .
Inspiration comes from a variety of sources.

PS I enjoyed your article very much.

By: test » Blog Archive » John McCain and ‘The Vision Thing’

test » Blog Archive » John McCain and ‘The Vision Thing’ — Sun, 18 May 2008 13:50:39 +0000

[...] McCain and ‘The Vision Thing’ cashu wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptIn a speech at the Columbus [...]

By: My new WordPress MU Site » Blog Archive » John McCain and ‘The Vision Thing’

Sun, 18 May 2008 13:01:16 +0000

[...] cashu wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptIn a speech at the Columbus Convention Center, McCain took his audience to the 2013, the end of the upcoming presidential term, and looked back on his Oval Office accomplishments. If McCain is half as prescient as he claimed to be, … [...]

By: spirits

spirits — Sun, 18 May 2008 11:24:08 +0000

[...] [...]

By: StockBoySF

StockBoySF — Sun, 18 May 2008 06:06:01 +0000

"Ask not what your country....."

Sure, it may not have been a specific vision the way the "man on the moon" was very specific. But not only was it a call "to a commitment to the cause of the nation" as you so rightly point out, but I would also suggest that it brought people together as a community. As visions are apt to do. The "man on the moon" calling inspired people to set aside differences to work towards realizing an amazing dream.

I have a question- would you consider the Manhattan Project to be an example of a president's vision? Or was the Manhattan Project a further means to an end- to win WWII and a response to the US's belief that Germany was developing nuclear weapons? After all it wasn't an original idea (since we believed the Germans were doing the same). But it did require the US government to undertake a massive commitment of resources. Though it did operate in secret.

I think it falls under the definition of vision, even though it wasn't an original idea and operated in secret. I think it qualifies as a vision because it did call for people to work together on a gargantuan task. There was a vision that we could succeed. And in this case people came together because they were fighting to win WWII. The very fate of the world was in their hands.

Anyway thanks, Mark for the post- it is very thought provoking.

By: MJDaniels53

MJDaniels53 — Sun, 18 May 2008 05:38:36 +0000

runasim:
But of course, he didn't really articulate a specific vision there. He was calling people to a commitment to the cause of the nation in an Inaugural message which was basically about the United States' role in the Cold War fight between freedom and tyranny.

Mark Daniels

By: runasim

runasim — Sun, 18 May 2008 05:29:11 +0000

I prefer Kennedy's “Ask not what your country…..”
because it was an ivitation for people to help make the vision come true.
To be part of something bigger than the self is a powerful invitation.

By: Iraq » John McCain and ‘The Vision Thing’

Iraq » John McCain and ‘The Vision Thing’ — Sun, 18 May 2008 03:52:03 +0000

[...] The Moderate Voice – Domestic and international news analysis, irreverent comments, original reporti… wrote an interesting post today on John McCain and â??The Vision Thingâ??Here’s a quick excerptJohn McCain and ‘The Vision Thing’ May 17th, 2008 by MARK DANIELS A politician lacking “vision” can be vulnerable. When Senator Ted Kennedy could give no succinct description of where he intended to lead the country if he were elected president, his 1980 bid to wrest the Democratic nomination from incumbent President Jimmy Carter was doomed. And George H.W. Bush, widely acknowledged as better prepared to be president than most previous chief executives was also seen as lacking in vision, [...]

By: Barack Obama » John McCain and ‘The Vision Thing’

Barack Obama » John McCain and ‘The Vision Thing’ — Sun, 18 May 2008 02:25:03 +0000

[...] nxtOracle – The Blog of Joel McDonald Jr. wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt A politician lacking “vision” can be vulnerable. When Senator Ted Kennedy could give no succinct description of where he intended to lead the country if he were elected president, his 1980 bid to wrest the Democratic nomination from incumbent President Jimmy Carter was doomed. And George H.W. Bush, widely acknowledged as better prepared to be president than most previous chief executives was also seen as lacking in vision, even by his friends. As he prepared to run in 1988, hoping to become [...]

By: John McCain and ‘The Vision Thing’ | Politics in America

John McCain and ‘The Vision Thing’ | Politics in America — Sun, 18 May 2008 02:10:47 +0000

[...] The Colossus of Rhodey wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt A politician lacking “vision” can be vulnerable. When Senator Ted Kennedy could give no succinct description of where he intended to lead the country if he were elected president, his 1980 bid to wrest the Democratic nomination from incumbent President Jimmy Carter was doomed. And George H.W. Bush, widely acknowledged as better prepared to be president than most previous chief executives was also seen as lacking in vision, even by his friends. As he prepared to run in 1988, hoping to become [...]