Open Perspective: The silver lining of our current economic cloud
I have posted this excerpt as a record of a view that nationally, socially and culturally has its origins outside of mainstream American perspectives. Please consider reading the entire post at The Ivanov Report. Once you have done so then take a peek at the author's Bio.
[The Ivanov Report]
The End Of Biography: John McCain's Last And, Hopefully, Unsuccessful Run For Presidency
Only an incorrigible optimist can find a silver lining in the ongoing financial crisis engulfing the United States and the rest of the world. Yet, if there is one, it is that the gloomy prospects for the American economy will most likely put an end to Sen. John McCain's bid to become the 44th president of the United States.
His rival, Sen. Barack Obama, often charges that McCain's presidency will bring four more years of Bush's. Here, Obama gets it wrong. Bush's blunders notwithstanding, his policies have been driven by Bush's vision, however mistaken, of the country's future ("compassionate conservatism" in domestic politics and "democracy promotion" in foreign affairs).
McCain is different, for he hasn't articulated any comprehensive, forward-looking, political philosophy at all. McCain is a man of the past, and his insistence on "experience" is a subconscious admission that his mind belongs to the times long gone. His repeated references to the K.G.B. (disbanded in 1995) and Czechoslovakia (ceased to exist as a state in 1992) aren't just memory lapses, forgivable for a 72-year-old. Rather, they are bold statements that McCain sees the world not as it is, but as he chooses to remember it.
At the center of McCain's world is the Vietnam War. McCain loves wars in which America fights ("to love your country is to fight for it") and he divides them into those that have been won -- with troops coming home "with honor" -- and those that could have been won had not defeat been snatched from the jaw of victory.
. . .
McCain's current presidential run repeats the major theme of his life. He ran in 2000 and was humiliatingly defeated in the primaries by whom he called back then "agents of intolerance", the religious conservative wing of the Republican party. And since then, he's had scores to settle.
He is not running to promote any particular ideological agenda -- as Bush was and Obama is -- for he's got none. He's running to get even with people who stopped him eight years ago. His selection of Alaskan governor, Sarah Palin-- inexperienced and immature populist -- as his running mate is a clear indication that McCain's goal is to get elected at whatever cost. The very thought of what may happen come January 21, 2009 doesn't appear to have descended upon him.
(McCain's choice of Palin shows that he shares Vladimir Lenin's belief that under right circumstances, every kitchenmade ("kukharka") can "run the state." Just put expensive lipstick on her.)
McCain likes to highlight his patriotism by saying that he'd rather lose the election, but win the war. Well, lose the election he most likely will, and it'll be up to President Obama to win all the wars McCain has helped to start.
But I'm not sorry for John McCain. He has enough wars to fight in his head. He'll be busy for the rest of his life.
I am William "Papa" Meloney and I endorse this message.
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