Election Issues Today

If this campaign is to be about personalities, John McCain certainly put his stamp on the campaign with his acceptance speech.  The Senator from Arizona gave it his best shot in accepting his party’s nomination with a speech heavy on family and personal history, a presentation that seemed to invite (or direct) our attention toward patriotism and love of country more than issues.  The war, the economy, energy, poverty, and all else, took a back seat to the IMAGE of John McCain the naval officer, the fighter pilot, the prisoner of war, the patriot.

It is unusual for the Party of a sitting President to promise CHANGE; this is not a proud moment for the GOP.  They have to figure out a way to convince an unhappy electorate that the party of George Bush should not be blamed for the Bush bugaboos, and that the GOP can do better.

The man to take this message to the voters, they feel, is John McCain, a man who has to be careful about touting his record of confrontation within the ranks of his own party, a man whose “maverick” image may end up alienating the diehard faithful of the GOP, a man whose party has turned to him because they could not unite behind any other; their last best chance.

John McCain said nothing new.  He must now hope that he can win by appearing to be above the fray, and must depend upon surrogates to get down into the trenches with his opponents; he must hope that Obama and Biden make mistakes and turn the fence-sitters and independents toward himself, the familiar and dependable and predictable candidate.

We will always know where John McCain stands on any issue. His positions really haven’t changed in many, many years.  Whether his positions are right for America will be for the electorate to decide.

I’ve always liked John McCain. I, too, am a retired naval officer.  I am well-acquainted with his story; some of my colleagues in the Navy served with him; some were prisoners of war.  I have heard all the history.  I wish him luck because I like him.  I am undecided on whether or not he is what the country needs in the White House right now.