General

Mr. McCain goes to Washington

Just like the famous movie about Mr. Smith, you get the impression John McCain has just been elected and will be going to Washington for the first time. He also tells us that he cannot wait to introduce Sarah Palin to Washington implying that she will transform the capital overnight. It seems it is part of the new strategy of running against Washington and portraying the Republican ticket as mavericks out to force change on a reluctant and obstinate government.

Granted, the Palin nomination has energized the ticket and polls indicate a tighter race. In the meantime, she refuses interviews and we are still left with a lot of unanswered questions about the person who could one day be a heartbeat away from the presidency. She has brought rock star status to a rather dull campaign. So no time for the first amendment.

McCain seems to expect voters will not realize that he has been a senator for 26 years and that in the last eight years has voted over 90 per cent with the unpopular George W.Bush. He takes credit for the recent surge in Iraq and its success but we should not forget that he supported a war based on false information. The economy is in a precarious situation with unemployment at 6.1 percent and energy prices still high and all on Bush’s watch. He talks about change and a do nothing government when the Republicans have occupied the White House for 20 of the last 28 years. Energy dependence has grown from 24 percent in the ’70’s to 70 percent in 2008. And lest we forget the eight most prosperous years were under Democrat Bill Clinton!

I know, I know, this is just strategy but with a bad economy, a war fought on false premises, and still 45 million Americans without healthcare insurance, McCain cannot pretend that he is an outsider and new to Washington.

I have great respect for McCain but his campaign’s negative advertising, his reluctance to allow Palin to be interviewed, and the overall Obama bashing at his convention hopefully will not convince voters that he is just about to fix Washington or that he is the real change agent.

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