Many people liked John McCain as a Senator. He is a maverick. He plays a useful function in the senate CLUB. However, is he of presidential material? Here is what George Will, the Dean of conservative columnists, and Joe Klein, the liberal columnists for Time Magazine, wrote about his John McCain as a possible president.
George Will wrote in the Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/22/AR2008092202583.html):
"Under the pressure of the financial crisis, one presidential candidateis behaving like a flustered rookie playing in a league too high. It is….John McCain….. For McCain, politics is always operatic, pitting peoplewho agree with him against those who are “corrupt” or “betray the publics interest”…. It is arguable that, because of his inexperience, Obama is notready for the presidency. It is arguable that McCain, because of his boiling moralism and reservoir of certitude, is not suited to thepresidency. Unreadiness can be corrected, although perhaps at great cost, by experience. Can a dismaying temperament be fixed?"
Joe Klein wrote in the Time Magazine: (http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1842030,00.html)
"Every politician stretches the truth. But McCain is running a uniquely dishonest campaign. John McCain has raised serious questions about whether he has the character to lead the nation."
When two noted columnists, coming from opposite ends of the political spectrum, saw character flaws in McCain that is not presidential, it is noteworthy.
Was McCain singing “Bomb, , . , , , ” in answering a question about Iran presidential? Was lying in TV ads about Obama beyond the rules and traditions of American politics presidential? Was picking Sarah Palin as his VP candidate to get votes in spite of his age and bouts with melanoma presidential? Was acting like a rookie playing scapegoat against the Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission presidential?
Personally, I still think McCain is a good senator. His willingness to rock the boat as 1 among 100 in the senate CLUB is praiseworthy. However, John McCain as the president of the most powerful nation of the world is a scary prospect. “President John McCain” could be more dangerous to the nation and the world than President Bush.
Respectfully,
S. B. Woo
Member, Executive Comm., 80-20 PAC, Inc.
