Politica - McCain

Had John McCain secured the Republican presidential nomination in 2000, I would have voted for him over Al Gore in a heartbeat - breaking an all-Democratic voting streak. Bear in mind Al Gore in 2000 is not the same man he is today. (It's been said many times that the Al Gore of today possibly ate the Al Gore of yesteryear, but that's another story for another time.) The Al Gore of 2000 was still winding his way down the yellow brick road hoping to secure a set of testicles. Unfortunately for us, he never made it to Oz. While Al was busy doing all he could to distance himself from Bill Clinton (probably the single most idiotic move of the entire campaign), a gang of flying monkeys beat him to the castle.

As S.E. Hinton would say, that was then, this is now. In the unlikely event that the '08 election sees McCain/Gore for president, Gore's got my vote solid for the exact same reasons he wouldn't have had it in an identical 2000 pairing. (For the record, I did wind up voting for Gore in 2000. In the case of anyone vs. Bush, give me anyone.)

Here's the deal, I like McCain; he's got charisma, I agree with him more often than not, I've got a ton of respect for anyone who can go through five and half years in a P.O.W. camp and live to tell about it, I can even get over that weird jowl thing he's got going on that makes him a dead ringer for Droopy Dog. I just can't get over 2000.

Everything goes back to 2000.

Remember the illegitimate child debacle? Or what about the implications that McCain was a coward guilty of treason as a result of his time spent as a P.O.W.? There seems to be an unwritten rule in politics that the more absurd and unbelievable the lies, the more the masses will eat it up. (Swift Boat Veterans anyone?) When faced against the pulp-fiction tactics of the Rove Express, McCain caved. And that is unforgivable.

Dig this excerpt from McCain's speech at the 2000 Republican Primary:

"I say to all Americans, Republican, Democrat or Independent, if you believe America deserves leaders with a purpose more ennobling than expediency and opportunism, then vote for Governor Bush. If you believe patriotism is more than a soundbite and public service should be more than a photo-op then vote for Governor Bush.

My friend, Governor Bush, believes in an America that is so much more than the sum of its divided parts. He wants to give you back a government that serves all the people no matter the circumstances of their birth. And he wants to lead a Republican Party that is as big as the country we serve." (Transcript)

You're killing me John.

I may not be as politically savvy as perhaps I should be, but to throw your support towards a man who months earlier led a campaign against you on the basis you were a coward with a penchant for prostitutes is unforgivable. Toeing the party line is one thing, self-respect is another.

Which brings us back to Al Gore. It took some time and plenty of sandwiches, but Gore got his groove back. McCain's never been the same.

John McCain does have two things going for him though - both Sanitarium and the Gingrich that stole Christmas have publicly come out against him. That's about as solid an endorsement as you can get. If those cats are against you, you must be doing something right. I'll never vote for him, but at least he's on the right track.

Tags: John McCain, 2008 Election, politics

posted by m/a/z/e  [6:56 AM]   0 comments