The Bare Knuckled Pundit
Grand Inquisitor
A Republican war veteran emphasizing his national security and foreign policy experience attempts to retain the White House for the Grand Old Party in the face of a young, energetic, charismatic Democratic challenger.
Admittedly weak on economic issues and seemingly uncomfortable with the minutiae of domestic policy, he seeks to frame the race in terms of America’s security. Warning of potentially dire consequences, he assails his opponent as inexperienced, untested and naïve. Stressing stability and continuity, he admonishes the nation not to switch horses in mid-stream. Looking abroad at a dangerous and unpredictable world, he presses the need for a seasoned hand; experienced and ready to firmly steer the ship of state on Day One.
Meanwhile, after years of focusing on the international sphere and conflicts near and far, Americans turn their gaze homeward. Their focus settles on hearth and home, prosperity and welfare, renewing America from within after having sacrificed to secure her position for so long abroad.
Sound familiar? It should; it’s 1960, 1992 and increasingly it appears to be the case yet again in 2008.
Stepping out of the shadow of Eisenhower, Nixon cast himself as the one best suited to deal with the Communist hordes of the Red Menace. Facing down a nuclear armed Russian bear hungry for world domination was no job for a New England playboy whose primary experience was chasing skirts and sailing on the sound, so went the argument.
While energetic and impassioned, Kennedy could not match the depth of experience and preparation Nixon had after eight years as Vice President. He was an untested commodity while Nixon was a seasoned hand, known and respected by friend and foe alike internationally. Surely there was no one in the history of the republic who had more preparation and experience to handle America’s security at the moment they would take the Oath of Office.
Having served at the right hand of the last Cold Warrior, George H. Bush witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall and the whimpering death of the Soviet Union during his presidency. Inaugurating America’s unipolar moment, he was Commander-in-Chief as the armed forces laid to rest the ghosts of Vietnam while driving Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi Army out of Kuwait. With the Cold War won, now America was faced with the challenge of benevolently maintaining international order and stability. Clearly this was no job for a Southern playboy whose primary experience was chasing skirts around the Arkansas capitol, so went the argument.
Though exuberant and passionate, Clinton could not match the depth of experience that Bush had; from serving as a Navy pilot in World War II to Ambassador to the United Nations, envoy to China, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Vice President and President. The Governor from Arkansas was a brash, untested commodity while Bush was a foreign policy and national security sage, confidant of world leaders for a generation. Surely there was no one in the history of the republic more qualified to handle America’s security and lead her into the chaos of the post-Cold War world.
And just as surely as Nixon and George H. Bush had been the most qualified person to date to lead America and faced neophytes on the national stage, they lost.
Though eminently qualified in matters of foreign affairs and national security, both Republican realists failed to grasp the mood of the electorates they sought to lead. While they looked abroad for threats and challenges to America, the voters looked at the state of her schools, the strength of her industry, the care for her elderly and the opportunities for her children. Having sent her treasure and children abroad to confront Communists and tinhorn tyrants with delusions of grandeur, the time had come to put her own house in order. The Republicans failed to understand this and lost despite their best efforts, dire warnings and eminent qualifications.
Fast forward to 2008.
John McCain, a Republican war veteran emphasizing his national security and foreign policy experience attempts to retain the White House for the Grand Old Party in the face of the young, energetic, charismatic Democratic challenger, Barack Obama.
Warning of dire consequences should the naïve and untested Democrat win, McCain points to the struggle with radical Islam, the growing threat of a nuclear armed Iran and the rise of China as challenges the next president cannot fail to meet. He touts his experience and mastery of military and foreign affairs even as the nation struggles with rising energy and health care costs, a declining dollar and a Middle Class besieged on a daily basis by economic tumult.
Proudly wearing his rank at the bottom of his Naval Academy class as a badge of honor, it is increasingly clear McCain remains the lackluster student in the back of the class. For just as surely as he is the most qualified candidate running for president, his dogged failure to understand and learn from electoral history has set him on course to repeat it.
Perhaps someone in the campaign should lay a history book on the Senator's nightstand or put a call through to Kennebunkport before it's too late. Just an idea.
It’s yesterday once more, faithful readers! Stay tuned for further updates as the campaign heads back to the future and developments warrant.
Admittedly weak on economic issues and seemingly uncomfortable with the minutiae of domestic policy, he seeks to frame the race in terms of America’s security. Warning of potentially dire consequences, he assails his opponent as inexperienced, untested and naïve. Stressing stability and continuity, he admonishes the nation not to switch horses in mid-stream. Looking abroad at a dangerous and unpredictable world, he presses the need for a seasoned hand; experienced and ready to firmly steer the ship of state on Day One.
Meanwhile, after years of focusing on the international sphere and conflicts near and far, Americans turn their gaze homeward. Their focus settles on hearth and home, prosperity and welfare, renewing America from within after having sacrificed to secure her position for so long abroad.
Sound familiar? It should; it’s 1960, 1992 and increasingly it appears to be the case yet again in 2008.
Stepping out of the shadow of Eisenhower, Nixon cast himself as the one best suited to deal with the Communist hordes of the Red Menace. Facing down a nuclear armed Russian bear hungry for world domination was no job for a New England playboy whose primary experience was chasing skirts and sailing on the sound, so went the argument.
While energetic and impassioned, Kennedy could not match the depth of experience and preparation Nixon had after eight years as Vice President. He was an untested commodity while Nixon was a seasoned hand, known and respected by friend and foe alike internationally. Surely there was no one in the history of the republic who had more preparation and experience to handle America’s security at the moment they would take the Oath of Office.
Having served at the right hand of the last Cold Warrior, George H. Bush witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall and the whimpering death of the Soviet Union during his presidency. Inaugurating America’s unipolar moment, he was Commander-in-Chief as the armed forces laid to rest the ghosts of Vietnam while driving Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi Army out of Kuwait. With the Cold War won, now America was faced with the challenge of benevolently maintaining international order and stability. Clearly this was no job for a Southern playboy whose primary experience was chasing skirts around the Arkansas capitol, so went the argument.
Though exuberant and passionate, Clinton could not match the depth of experience that Bush had; from serving as a Navy pilot in World War II to Ambassador to the United Nations, envoy to China, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Vice President and President. The Governor from Arkansas was a brash, untested commodity while Bush was a foreign policy and national security sage, confidant of world leaders for a generation. Surely there was no one in the history of the republic more qualified to handle America’s security and lead her into the chaos of the post-Cold War world.
And just as surely as Nixon and George H. Bush had been the most qualified person to date to lead America and faced neophytes on the national stage, they lost.
Though eminently qualified in matters of foreign affairs and national security, both Republican realists failed to grasp the mood of the electorates they sought to lead. While they looked abroad for threats and challenges to America, the voters looked at the state of her schools, the strength of her industry, the care for her elderly and the opportunities for her children. Having sent her treasure and children abroad to confront Communists and tinhorn tyrants with delusions of grandeur, the time had come to put her own house in order. The Republicans failed to understand this and lost despite their best efforts, dire warnings and eminent qualifications.
Fast forward to 2008.
John McCain, a Republican war veteran emphasizing his national security and foreign policy experience attempts to retain the White House for the Grand Old Party in the face of the young, energetic, charismatic Democratic challenger, Barack Obama.
Warning of dire consequences should the naïve and untested Democrat win, McCain points to the struggle with radical Islam, the growing threat of a nuclear armed Iran and the rise of China as challenges the next president cannot fail to meet. He touts his experience and mastery of military and foreign affairs even as the nation struggles with rising energy and health care costs, a declining dollar and a Middle Class besieged on a daily basis by economic tumult.
Proudly wearing his rank at the bottom of his Naval Academy class as a badge of honor, it is increasingly clear McCain remains the lackluster student in the back of the class. For just as surely as he is the most qualified candidate running for president, his dogged failure to understand and learn from electoral history has set him on course to repeat it.
Perhaps someone in the campaign should lay a history book on the Senator's nightstand or put a call through to Kennebunkport before it's too late. Just an idea.
It’s yesterday once more, faithful readers! Stay tuned for further updates as the campaign heads back to the future and developments warrant.
