Why John McCain is wrong

Well, if I really wrote this blog to include everything that could be written on under its title I would fill up several pages of content.  Instead, I mean to refer specifically to John McCain's continual assertion that he- nor anyone else (like Bob Dole)- be attacked on anything simply because they are "decorated war veterans".

While I respect John McCain for his service to our country, and admire his ability to persevere through half a decade of captivity and relentless torture, I do not use that as a reason to not hold him accountable for his actions.  Sen. McCain's action in Vietnam are of a totally different nature than his action in the United States Congress.  Commanding a Navy unit does not make you invincible on your economic record.  Nor does it give you an excuse to side with Nancy Pelosi and her ilk on global warming.  Nor does it excuse you from partnering with Ted Kennedy (or Joe Liberman or John Edwards).

Again, though, the real blame rests with two other key groups of people outside of John McCain and his staffers.  The media and (thus far) a majority of the "Republican" (and independent) electorate have not done the country any favors by buying into his "I'm a hero and, therefore, do no wrong" rhetoric.  Either way, it's time for the general public (and not just Rush and company) to hold the Senator from Arizona accountable for his actions.

Stuck in the past...

Is it 1960?  No, it must be 1980.  Of course not! Apparently it's 2008.

Not that you- or anyone else who has been paying attention to presidential primary race- would know.

I was listening to sound bites of Ted Kennedy's endorsement of Barack Obama today on Rush Limabaugh's radio show.  After listening to the clips I realized that the Republicans aren't the only ones who are running on a platform of their forefathers.  While the GOP field is clinging tightly to Ronald Reagan, it seems that the Democrats are hanging ever so steadfastly onto John F. Kennedy.

Neither of these men are bad choices for presidents that current candidates should cling to.  In fact, it is probably fair to make some comparisons between JFK's ability to bring together this country and Barack Obama's rally of mainstream America.  Mitt Romney may be doing a standup job of molding himself into the candidate that can unite the old three factions of the Conservative Coalition.  Both of the latter, though, are also running on a campaign of change (albeit one long before the other).

But change is not a theme that stops with Barack and Mitt.  Hillary Clinton is advocating for change.  Mike Huckabee says that hope can bring change to his White House.  John McCain wants to change the way the federal government doles out money.

Can any of these candidates actually deliver?  Is change actually on any agenda?  I don't believe so, not when that change is going to come through presidents who served decades ago.

If there is one message I wish the candidates to glean from this point (because I'm sure their senior staffers are glues to this blog), it is that their messages should synchronize.  Or, if all else fails, the Romney camp should realize that one can only say "I'm going to re-unite the Conservative Coaltion" so many times before America gets tired of hearing it.