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What If John McCain…?
If Barack Obama wins tomorrow, as I hope he will, we will see the inevitable flood of soul-searching, Monday (in this case Wednesday) morning quarterbacking, recriminations, and what I call the “what if” and “if only” questions and assertions. (And, oh yes, the long Republican knives will come out, too.)
So let me go out on a (pretty solid) limb and anticipate not only tomorrow’s election results, but also the questions that will dominate Wednesday morning, “What went wrong?” and “What if McCain had done things differently, would he be our next President?”
(I have no doubt that, should McCain win, similar questions and long knives would appear on the Democrats’ side, but I‘ll leave that to the many others who would come forward.)
These are some of the “what ifs” that come to mind:
What if McCain had not blatantly and persistently told—let me be generous—“little white lies,” such as the ones about the e-Bay airplane sale, about the bridge to nowhere, and about the $3 million “slide projector”?
What if McCain had not shamelessly and doggedly misrepresented, distorted and juggled the facts on big issues such as taxes, health care and health insurance and, yes, on his opponent‘s voting record and character?
What if McCain had spent more time on vetting, and had used better judgment in selecting a running mate–one with real experience (especially the “foreign” policy kind), real qualifications, real substance, and real use—not misuse–of power?
What if McCain had not savaged Obama’s so-called celebrity status (and bemoaned the plight of the “average Joe”), only to turn Sarah Palin into a celebrity star herself—albeit the falling kind—in $150,000 fancy clothes, fancy hair, fancy make-up, and fancy jewelry…the envy of every Hollywood celebrity?
What if McCain had displayed a better grasp of economic issues and more concern for our deteriorating economy, rather than repeatedly announcing his lack of knowledge and experience on such matters and, finally, as our economy was crashing all around us, pronouncing that “the fundamentals of our economy are strong.”?
What if he had used less theatrics, been less “impulsive, impetuous and impatient,” and displayed more substance and sincerity during critical moments in his campaign–and in America‘s fortunes—such as when he decided to “suspend” his campaign and threatened to postpone a presidential debate to ostensibly “save“ our crashing economy?
What if McCain had shown more respect toward his opponent during the early debates, and, at the very minimum, had the common courtesy to at least once look his Senate colleague in the eye during one debate, and the basic decorum not to sneer, grimace and roll his eyes in another debate?
What if McCain had not encouraged, permitted or condoned his running mate, his campaign, and his surrogates to play from the bottom of a deck replete with fear and smear cards; to besmirch and cast his opponent—the man who the American people are likely to elect as their next president—as some unsavory, sinister character who “pals around with terrorists;” as a socialist, a communist, and anti-Israel; as unpatriotic, un-American, a Muslim, and a man with a false birth certificate; as “that one” with the funny name, who is “too radical,” and “too risky”?
What if McCain had not created a climate where his surrogates could, with impunity, flood our homes with robo-calls, vicious e-mails, and TV ads—many continuing into election eve—telling us that Barack Obama is a terrorist and associates with terrorists? (Most recently, in Pennsylvania, an e-mail drive attempting to equate a vote for Barack Obama with the “tragic mistake” of Jews who ignored the warning signs of the Holocaust.)
What if McCain had constructively talked about how he would fix a tanking economy; about how he would help the millions of hard working Americans who are losing their homes and jobs; about how he would improve health care, social security, education, job creation, our crumbling infrastructure, our environmental and energy crises, instead of using these issues as tools to demean and diminish his opponent–instead of using the politics of fear and division?
What if McCain and his surrogates had listened to more sensible and reasonable voices than those of the Limbaughs, the Hannitys, the Coulters and the Malkins; had paid attention to more reputable books than Jerome Corsi‘s latest master piece, “The Obama Nation: Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality” ?
What if McCain had used less ideology and more ideas and idealism, less trivia and sleaze pursuit (Obama doesn’t wear an American flag lapel pin! Obama lived in William Ayers’ neighborhood when Obama was 8 years old!) and focused more on the issues Americans care and worry about?
What if McCain and his running mate had not incited their adoring, wildly cheering crowds to the point of shouting “terrorist,” and “kill him?
What if McCain had not let his Straight Talk Express metamorphose into the Swift Boaters’ Express ?
What if McCain had been the John McCain I knew in 2004—the McCain I could have voted for, had he then received the Republican nomination?
If only McCain had kept his promise to run an honorable, “clean and respectable campaign.”
If only John McCain had listened to the words of his mentor, Ronald Reagan:
“Whatever else history may say about me when I am gone, I hope it will record that I appealed to the best hopes , not your worst fears.”
11 Responses to “What If John McCain…?”
I'm sure the eruptions will begin sometime tomorrow or Wednesday on Town Hall.
Are you suggesting that you would actually have voted for McCain if he had run his campaign differently? Perhaps he could have worked on his speaking voice a little so it wasn't so whiny and annoying? Perhaps he could have worn some nicer ties? Would it have mattered? Most, except for the 'coon huntin' hillbillies like me (who are driven only by racism, fear of outsiders and a genuine dislike for Starbucks coffee), vote on the issues. So, why does the campaign matter?
I believe that once Obama has won, he will not be able to govern effectively. He is an excellent campaigner, a below average legislator and will likely turn out to be an abysmal chief executive.
Hmm, what if John McCain was really…Mike Huckabee.
PWT,
What I am “suggesting” is exactly what I said:
“What if McCain had been the John McCain I knew in 2004—the McCain I could have voted for, had he then received the Republican nomination?”
Translated for you, it means, that if McCain had received the Republican nomination for President in 2004, I could have voted for him. The key words are “could” and “then.”
Now, to further answer the real gotcha intent of your question:
No, even if McCain had been the McCain I knew in 2004, I would have voted for Obama in 2008.
I am sorry if you have a problem with that.
Well, I don't doubt Obama's competence — I do have concerns about two things. First, will there be a movement by the Dems and others to try to force Washington to go more to the left, which will be a betrayal of many voters as well as repellent to so many? Second, of a more cynical _and_ utilitarian nature, simply, what happens when he comes to town and the “lifers” begin once again to have things their way, as they did when Carter came to town, much of the time when Reagan came to town (despite the stupid angst about “divided government” when no longer did the Congressional Democrats get everything they sought), when Clinton came to town (Bush was pretty much acting as a “lifer” himself), and even when Bush the younger came to town? Were these people able to run things like back in Georgia, California, Arkansas, or Texas? No. Will Obama be able to run things like Chicago (more so than Illinois, where he didn't do that much)? No. There are long-term fixtures in DC who are powerful, as are the hangers-on on the left (a greater presence in Washington than we've ever seen on the right). It'll prove a challenge to him, and to us.
A lot will depend on the team he brings to Washington with him — that is, those who aren't already fixtures in Washington that are on his team already, or are acting as advisers.
Good points, DLS, last week's Newsweek had a couple of articles addressing the challenges that lie ahead for Obama, if ihe is “the one,” and there have been, and will be, many other.
Obama just thanked John and Cindy McCain for their condolences about his grandmother's death. He said it just shows that McCain IS and has been a great American.”
Nice endorsement from Obama for McCain.
Back to the post- MCain and his campaign didn't bring up race, Obama did.
McCain really didn't want to bring up Wright- out of respect for religion- because he is an honorable man. But the a Republican PAC did.
Obama not only “flip-flops”- but he invented himself.
He's a narcisist.
Marxist.
Sociialist.
Inexperienced. Willing to sit down with the madmen and despots who would GLADLY sit down with him.
This will be the end of America as we know it.
McCain-Palin 2008
P.S. Obama says “I am am my brother's keeper. I am my sister's keeper.” The other night on his infomercial.
And yet- his brother lives in a hut in Kenya on $12 a month.
And Aunt Zeituni is living (illegally) in south Boston in “slum sweet slum.”
And yet- he says he knew nothing about her being here- and she should be sent back.
But- Auntie was at his presidential announcement in 2004.
How many lies are you going to let this guy get away with?
My God.
McCain-Palin 2008
Benjamin Franklin said that the United States should have a revolution every 25 years. This will be a long overdue revolution. Things will change BIG time, a lot of people are gonna get truly upset, hopefully things will improve for everyone. That is why I supported Obama all the way, I wanted the revolution.
Cool Pillow. You will be whining for 8 years, get yourself a towel to drape over the pillow. OR get on board with the new America,
DLS
You might be right. IF Obama wins really big,(325 to 375 electoral votes) he will have a one or two year grace period in which he could move a mountain or two. If things start to improve and the dems hold the senate and house in 2010, then some things could get done such as health care reform The long term stuff like energy independence will need to get kick started like Kennedy did with the moon race.
If Obama barely squeeks by with 270 t0 285 electoral votes, it will be a lot tougher.
Dont forget, the Senate at 60 dems is a big thing, and picking up a larger majority in the house is as well.
In short, Obama gets 350 electoral votes, Dems have 60 senators, yeah, CHANGE will happen because it will be obvious that a revolution has happened.
Coolpillow (McCain-Plain 2008), says:
“Obama not only “flip-flops”- but he invented himself.
He's a narcisist.
Marxist.
Sociialist.
Inexperienced. Willing to sit down with the madmen and despots who would GLADLY sit down with him.
This will be the end of America as we know it.”
Coolpillow, your comments only confirm–no, reinforce– the validity of the post
Thank you!