"As a politician, I am instinctive, often impulsive." - Senator John McCain
That quote was taken from McCain's memoir. It served as a topic of discussion in a recent episode of PBS' News Hour with Jim Lehrer.
Now consider the following:
As we draw closer and closer to this year's election, the McCain camp keeps finding crazier and crazier distractions to avoid discussing issues with the American people.
A "maverick" by definition is irresponsible. A "maverick" is rushed and careless in his judgment. A "maverick" is unstable. Indeed, a "maverick" is a self-professed gambler who swings for the fences . . . damn the consequences.
What has become increasingly obvious throughout this campaign is McCain's habit for reckless behavior. Sadly, in a media consumed with the "sport" of politics, but not the issues, McCain has attempted to divert our attention away from one disturbing quality of the "character" he likes to run on . . .
That McCain lives DOWN to the political caricature painted for and by him. . . That his decisions and actions have more to do with sustaining his cherished "maverick" nickname than actually solving our nation's problems.
Don't believe me? Well, just listen to the man, himself. Also reported on News Hour with Jim Lehrer:
McCain: "I don't torture myself over decisions. I make them as quickly as I can, quicker than the other fellow, if I can. Often, my haste is a mistake, but I live with the consequences without complaint." (McCain's memoir, Worth the Fighting For)
Perhaps McCain has a reasonable explanation for such a quote. But I've yet to hear it. Perhaps they're out of context, though I've seen no refutation as of yet. Furthermore, I've yet to see the media press McCain on such judgment. In fact, I encourage everyone to do their own bit of investigation; both with regards to these quotes and McCain's leadership style.
But, this is NOT a game . . . this is about our future. And it's high time the media stop reporting the "sport" of politics and start focusing on the very real consequences our votes will have for our lives and the lives of our children and grandchildren. This is NOT a game!
Hey American voter: WHAT ELSE DOES HE HAVE TO SAY before you get the hint??? John McCain is not fit to lead.
Unless these quotes are somehow taken out of context, by his own admission, McCain is telling you that he places the sport of politics above the responsibility of leadership. Let me break it down for a second . . .
"I don't torture myself over decisions." Translation: I don't think when I act.
"I make them as quickly as I can, quicker than the other fellow, if I can." Translation: This is a game to me. It's a race for bragging rights to see who's first, rather than who's right.
"Often, my haste is a mistake, but I live with the consequences without complaint." Translation: Yeah. . . I know I'm wrong, but I don't give a damn.
And THIS is the guy that wants to dodge the debates???
Let me tell you something. When a guy brags, "I am instinctive, often impulsive," the debates are your LAST line of defense against an "impulsive" presidency.
This latest stunt by McCain deserves neither our trust nor our admiration. It deserves our contempt. For, once again, in the eleventh hour Mr. McCain has dared us with the following question . . .
How reckless do I have to be before you call me on it?
Because John McCain truly is a "maverick." But not in the way he'd like to have you believe. John McCain is a "maverick" because he is a gambler. And in the truest sense of the word, McCain continues to gamble the success of his presidential aspirations on one cynical wager . . .
That his history as a P.O.W. will continue to shield him from ever having to take responsibility for his reckless and admittedly impulsive to political leadership.
THAT is the key to the madness we've seen throughout this Fall campaign. The fact that no one dare criticize McCain without first praising his military service and labeling him a "hero." . . . This sense that one can not question his motives without disrespecting our military, disgracing our flag or dishonoring our veterans. . .
This self-proclaimed "maverick" is betting that the American people don't have the guts, nor the heart to say NO to a "war hero." To say, "enough is enough."
And so the media and the voter continue to let Mr. McCain slide on good credit. And we assume that an honorable decision made decades ago in Vietnam should make up for a career's worth of bad decisions in Washington D.C. and compensate for eight more years of failed policy and incompetent "leadership."
We keep falling for the "Razzle Dazzle." We keep giving McCain a pass. Despite the gaffes that have become all too frequent. . . despite his decisions, which are admittedly often rushed and mistaken . . .
This maverick continues to push the envelope. He continues to stare us in the face and DARE the media and the American voter to call him on his bs.
It's a gamble that says much about his temperament and leaves a lot to be desired. It's a gamble that might momentarily distract our attention, but says nothing of his command of the issues (or lack thereof) and makes no promises to the American people other than he will continue to make poor decisions because . . . . damn it . . . that's just the risk you take when the "maverick" is leading the way.
McCain has become a walking caricature of himself.
He lives DOWN to the expectations of his maverick identity almost as if he were a character in some B-rate Chuck Norris flick. . . Watch your step. The "maverick" is in town.
And it's gotten so bad that even fellow (honest) conservatives have reached a point where they can't pretend anymore . . .
Under the pressure of the financial crisis, one presidential candidate is behaving like a flustered rookie playing in a league too high. It is not Barack Obama. (George F. Will, McCain Loses His Head)
Contrary to what the McCain camp would have you believe, we DO NOT need a "maverick" in the White House right now. We need a lot less gut and much more intelligence to get us out of the mess we're in.
We just had a cowboy for president . . . we don't need a maverick.
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