Elmer's Brother

Paratus Ad Vitem Paratus Ad Mortis

2008/10/24

McCain the Stalwart

@ 05:46 AM (13 months, 5 days ago)


Charles Krauthammer
Friday, October 24, 2008

WASHINGTON -- Contrarian that I am, I'm voting for John McCain. I'm not talking about bucking the polls or the media consensus that it's over before it's over. I'm talking about bucking the rush of wet-fingered conservatives leaping to Barack Obama before they're left out in the cold without a single state dinner for the next four years.

I stand athwart the rush of conservative ship-jumpers of every stripe -- neo (Ken Adelman), moderate (Colin Powell), genetic/ironic (Christopher Buckley) and socialist/atheist (Christopher Hitchens) -- yelling "Stop!" I shall have no part of this motley crew. I will go down with the McCain ship. I'd rather lose an election than lose my bearings.

First, I'll have no truck with the phony case ginned up to rationalize voting for the most liberal and inexperienced presidential nominee in living memory. The "erratic" temperament issue, for example. As if McCain's risky and unsuccessful but in no way irrational attempt to tactically maneuver his way through the economic tsunami that came crashing down a month ago renders unfit for office a man who demonstrated the most admirable equanimity and courage in the face of unimaginable pressures as a prisoner of war, and who later steadily navigated innumerable challenges and setbacks, not the least of which was the collapse of his campaign just a year ago.

McCain the "erratic" is a cheap Obama talking point. The 40-year record testifies to McCain the stalwart.

Nor will I countenance the "dirty campaign" pretense. The double standard here is stunning. Obama ran a scurrilous Spanish-language ad falsely associating McCain with anti-Hispanic slurs. Another ad falsely claimed McCain supports "cutting Social Security benefits in half." And for months Democrats insisted that McCain sought 100 years of war in Iraq.

McCain's critics are offended that he raised the issue of William Ayers. What's astonishing is that Obama was himself not offended by William Ayers.

Moreover, the most remarkable of all tactical choices of this election season is the attack that never was. Out of extreme (and unnecessary) conscientiousness, McCain refused to raise the legitimate issue of Obama's most egregious association -- with the race-baiting Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Dirty campaigning, indeed.

The case for McCain is straightforward. The financial crisis has made us forget, or just blindly deny, how dangerous the world out there is. We have a generations-long struggle with Islamic jihadism. An apocalyptic soon-to-be-nuclear Iran. A nuclear-armed Pakistan in danger of fragmentation. A rising Russia pushing the limits of revanchism. Plus the sure-to-come Falklands-like surprise popping out of nowhere.

Who do you want answering that phone at 3 a.m.? A man who's been cramming on these issues for the last year, who's never had to make an executive decision affecting so much as a city, let alone the world? A foreign policy novice instinctively inclined to the flabbiest, most vaporous multilateralism (e.g., the Berlin Wall came down because of "a world that stands as one"), and who refers to the most deliberate act of war since Pearl Harbor as "the tragedy of 9/11," a term more appropriate for a bus accident?

Or do you want a man who is the most prepared, most knowledgeable, most serious foreign policy thinker in the United States Senate? A man who not only has the best instincts, but has the honor and the courage to, yes, put country first, as when he carried the lonely fight for the surge that turned Iraq from catastrophic defeat into achievable strategic victory?

There's just no comparison. Obama's own running mate warned this week that Obama's youth and inexperience will invite a crisis -- indeed a crisis "generated" precisely to test him. Can you be serious about national security and vote on Nov. 4 to invite that test?

And how will he pass it? Well, how has he fared on the only two significant foreign policy tests he has faced since he's been in the Senate? The first was the surge. Obama failed spectacularly. He not only opposed it. He tried to denigrate it, stop it and, finally, deny its success.

The second test was Georgia, to which Obama responded instinctively with evenhanded moral equivalence, urging restraint on both sides. McCain did not have to consult his advisers to instantly identify the aggressor.

Today's economic crisis, like every other in our history, will in time pass. But the barbarians will still be at the gates. Whom do you want on the parapet? I'm for the guy who can tell the lion from the lamb.



Copyright © 2008 Salem Web Network. All Rights Reserved.

Comment(s) »

  1. Man, I thought we were going to lose the good Dr. to Obama along with the other intellectual crowd who fears of not being with the 'in' crowd.

    EB, I'm glad I tagged you quite a while back regarding the 6 words to describe yourself.....yours "Paratus Ad Vitem Paratus Ad Mortis"...."Prepared for Life, Prepared for Death" may be the best one ever and I think of it daily. Just a quick note to say thanks.

    Comment by Joe Gringo— 2008/10/24 @ 11:29 AM — (Reply)

  2. This is intellectually sloppy reasoning based on the false premise that McCain is Conservative - NOT. When you take away this false premise, the McCain house of "go fish" cards collapses.

    Comment by Ed— 2008/10/24 @ 01:06 PM — (Reply)

  3. His (mcCain) ship is #11 the Intrepid. moored in some berth dock in New York city. a museum I would like to visit !

    Comment by jim— 2008/10/24 @ 02:29 PM — (Reply)

  4. Ed he's Ahem more conservative than Obama

    Comment by Elmers Brother— 2008/10/24 @ 03:32 PM — (Reply)

  5. Ed McCain wasn't my first pick. As you know I issued a fatwa on him, but there is no comparison between him and Obama. I mean no disrespect to you.

    One of my friends has written:

    John McCain is not a perfect man, nor is he without justifiable criticism of his previous positions; but John McCain is an open book. His service to his country and his associations has been honorable, and trustworthy.

    Comment by Elmers Brother— 2008/10/24 @ 03:36 PM — (Reply)

  6. Hey Joe, thanks. I wish it had originated with me. One of my best friends from high school who has also homeschooled all of his children used this as their school motto. Then one of his boys as an adult wanted it as a tattoo so him and his father both got a tattoo. I'm going to get one too.

    Comment by Elmers Brother— 2008/10/24 @ 03:38 PM — (Reply)

  7. Your friend is partially right EB. I think it would be accurately put this way: "John McCain is not a perfect man, nor is he without justifiable criticism of his previous positions; but John McCain is an open book. His service to his country and his associations has been honorable, and trustworthy until the 2008 Presidential campaign".

    Comment by Ed— 2008/10/24 @ 03:50 PM — (Reply)

  8. and another friend:

    On the other hand, we have the Democratic exemplars: domestic and international terrorists, convicted felons, Chicago gangsters, racists, separatists, and ACORN affiliates.

    Comment by Elmers Brother— 2008/10/25 @ 06:06 AM — (Reply)

  9. ps EB: you tag line is fabulous. Definitely a hell of a lot better and more classy than mine.

    Comment by Ed— 2008/10/24 @ 03:52 PM — (Reply)

  10. Does your friend have any facts to support that Obama is a "domestic and international terrorists, convicted felons, Chicago gangsters, racists, separatists, and ACORN affiliates."??????

    Re: Acorn. My question is based on the word affilate. That whole litany sounds like so many buzzwords for other things.

    Isn't the GILF allied allegedly with Alaska separatists? In my mind, that type of innuendo doesn't disqualify her from office.

    Do you have a friend who claims Obama is a muslim? I would enjoy reading some "facts" from one of your friends on that subject.

    Speaking of "friends".....are you John McCain playing at blogging?


    Comment by Ed— 2008/10/25 @ 01:37 PM — (Reply)

  11. When I mention separatists I'm speaking of Rev. Wright. I have been to the church's website. I invite you to read what amounts to their statement of faith. It sounds like the rantings of some racial segregationsists. If you placed those words at a Baptist church in the South and John McCain being endorsed or a member of that church you would not here the end of it.

    Palin and the Alaskan Separatists?

    Have you read the goals of said group? All they want is the vote they were entitled to.

    from Wikipedia

    The Alaskan Independence Party is a political party in the U.S. state of Alaska that advocates an in-state referendum which includes the option of Alaska becoming an independent nation. The party also advocates positions similar to those of the Constitution Party and Libertarian Party, supporting gun rights, privatization, home schooling, and limited government. The party has appeared on the ballot in Alaska in all state elections since 1970.

    The Alaskan Independence Party was originally founded with the goal of getting Alaskans a right to vote on their statehood, much the same way Puerto Rico has a vote on its statehood. Referring to Alaska's 1959 admission to the union, the AIP charter states: "The Alaskan Independence Party's goal is the vote we were entitled to in 1958, one choice from among the following four choices:

    Remain a Territory.
    Become a separate and Independent Nation.
    Accept Commonwealth status.
    Become a State.

    The call for this vote is in furtherance of the dream of the Alaskan Independence Party's founding father, Joe Vogler, which was for Alaskans to achieve independence under a minimal government, fully responsive to the people, promoting a peaceful and lawful means of resolving differences." [3].

    Since its founding, the AIP has radically changed with respect to the issue of secession. At present, it does not support secession, though, at its founding, it did.

    Comment by Elmers Brother— 2008/10/27 @ 05:55 AM — (Reply)

  12. How about that racist southern minister who endorsed McCain to McCain's great glee? You see, the same thing goes on with both sides. Neither side has the moral highroad when it comes to this sort of thing.

    Regarding the alleged "powerful figures" who have endorsed McCain, even Fox News hasn't given them 15 minutes? Why? Because the vast majority of the public could care less about their partisan opinions. The interesting thing about Powell is that the public perceives him as nonpartisan and rightly so in my opinion. Therefore, his commentary has more merit based on that as well as his resume.

    Comment by Ed— 2008/10/27 @ 08:33 AM — (Reply)

  13. You may be right about Powell but I think they gave Powell the microphone because it would embarrass both Bush and McCain, plain and simple. And his remarks on Meet the Press lacked any real specificity. He said as I mentioned that his rhetoric was good and that he liked him for who he is. and we don't even know who he is.

    The pastor you're referring to was John Hagee and it wasn't because he was racist. The press didn't think his remarks on gays were PC enough. McCain never attended Hagee's church for 20 years or even ever for that matter. So there's a big difference there. McCain never said Hagee was like a relative to him like Obama and Wright.

    Comment by Elmers Brother— 2008/10/27 @ 10:09 AM — (Reply)

  14. and while Obama distance himself somewhat from Wright do you really think he listened to his sermons for 20 years and didn't know he said things like "G-d damn America!"?

    Hagee also apologized for his remarks, did Wright do that? NOPE...got on the boob tube and embarrassed not only himself but Obama all over again.

    Comment by Elmers Brother— 2008/10/27 @ 10:12 AM — (Reply)

  15. McCain simply looked quickly around for a right wing pastor to endorse him and when McCain found out that he should have checked out Hagee at least a little, immediately through Hagee under the bus. Fortunately Palin is simply too damn hot for McCain to throw under the bus.

    Comment by Ed— 2008/10/27 @ 10:19 AM — (Reply)

  16. POTIVS MORI QVAM FOEDARI - My FILs

    ACTA NON VERBA - Mine

    Comment by FJ— 2008/10/25 @ 03:00 PM — (Reply)

  17. Very impressive latin Mr. FJ. However, it appears to have no relation to the context of the commentary.

    Comment by Ed— 2008/10/25 @ 04:51 PM — (Reply)

  18. Does your friend have any facts to support that Obama is a "domestic and international terrorists, convicted felons, Chicago gangsters, racists, separatists, and ACORN affiliates."??????

    Read carefully Ed he calls Obama none of these, he's referring to his associates

    On the other hand, we have the Democratic exemplars:

    domestic and international terrorists - Bill Ayers, Hamas et al also support him

    convicted felons - Tony Rezko

    Chicago gangsters - The Daly's

    racists and separatists - Father Pfleger and Reverend Wright

    ACORN affiliates - has represented them and given them money


    Comment by Elmers Brother— 2008/10/25 @ 06:29 PM — (Reply)

  19. Obama himself has admitted to seeking out the Marxist professors, anarchists etc.

    Comment by Elmers Brother— 2008/10/25 @ 06:31 PM — (Reply)

  20. It's called being educated. Information is power.

    Comment by Ed— 2008/10/25 @ 06:38 PM — (Reply)

  21. Taking a class or reading a textbook is educating but not calling a known communist like Frank Marshall Davis your mentor.

    Comment by Elmers Brother— 2008/10/26 @ 05:38 AM — (Reply)

  22. Please show me where Obama called "a known communist like Frank Marshall Davis" his mentor.

    Are Colin Powell, Alan Greenspan, Warren Buffet, Bill Gates and T. Boone Pickens "known communists as well?

    Comment by Ed— 2008/10/26 @ 07:07 AM — (Reply)

  23. He called him his mentor in his book Ed.

    NO they're not, but if you read Powell's reasons for supporting Obama you'll see that he gave reasons like he's got good rhetoric. Doesn't seem like reason enough to me.

    Comment by Elmers Brother— 2008/10/26 @ 09:42 AM — (Reply)

  24. Obama has never denied that the Frank spoken of in his book is indeed Frank Marshall Davis.

    Comment by Elmers Brother— 2008/10/26 @ 09:46 AM — (Reply)

  25. You tell me Ed why does the media even care who Powell endorses?

    4 former Sec. of State have endorsed McCain...did they get 30 minutes to provide a McCain commercial like Powell did on Meet the Press for Obama?

    Comment by Elmers Brother— 2008/10/26 @ 10:05 AM — (Reply)

  26. Maybe because Powell is one of the very most respected people is the country for starters.

    Comment by Ed— 2008/10/26 @ 10:45 AM — (Reply)

  27. then why weren't the other well respected former Secs. of State given 30 minutes for their endorsement of McCain?

    Comment by Elmers Brother— 2008/10/26 @ 11:30 AM — (Reply)

  28. THERE's the retort of the whole thread here..WHY, indeed? Great question.
    McCain actually mentioned that this morning with Mumblin' Brokaw .... "so many past generals and Sec of Defenses, etc., are supporting me.."

    The media doesn't care...truth makes no matter; full disclosure makes no matter, etc etc. THIS IS AMERICA? WHAT HAPPENED!?

    Comment by Z— 2008/10/26 @ 06:34 PM — (Reply)

  29. THERE's the retort of the whole thread here..WHY, indeed? Great question.
    McCain actually mentioned that this morning with Mumblin' Brokaw .... "so many past generals and Sec of Defenses, etc., are supporting me.."

    The media doesn't care...truth makes no matter; full disclosure makes no matter, etc etc. THIS IS AMERICA? WHAT HAPPENED!?

    Comment by Z— 2008/10/26 @ 06:35 PM — (Reply)

  30. Everyone KNOWS that. As I mentioned below, Colin Powell is one of the most respected individuals in the country hence the attention to his comments. What Powell has to say matters to thinking people (unless you don't like what he has to say all of a sudden).

    Comment by Ed— 2008/10/27 @ 01:46 AM — (Reply)

  31. again why weren't the well thought out respected endorsements from those other Secs. of State?

    Comment by Elmers Brother— 2008/10/27 @ 05:57 AM — (Reply)

  32. Do you seriously think that Obama is a communist and or a terrorist? If not then the rest of all that stuff is not even something one could guilt by association which itself is a horrible methodology.

    Comment by Ed— 2008/10/26 @ 11:08 AM — (Reply)

  33. Ed,

    I've not called him a communist nor a muslim..these are strawmen. I believe he's a leftist. He has the most liberal voting record in the Senate.

    Yes he's guilty by association. Those associates have bombed our government buildings, gone unrepentant and uncharged for those actions. Davis is a hard core communist and Obama calls him his mentor. That concerns me. What also concerns me is that Obama isn't embarrassed by these associations and that the media has been culpable in ignoring them. A mentor is someone who helps you form ideas, is a wise and trusted counselor or teacher. That means that policies and Supreme Court justices would be affected by these associations. Justices that would affect law for the next generation. I didn't spend 20 years in the service trying to keep socialists out of the country just to see one voted in.

    I mean no disrespect to you Ed or Barry.

    Now I think the media covered Powell's endorsement because it was a poke in the Bush Administrations eye and by extension the media toady's push Obama's rhetoric that Bush = McCain.

    Comment by Elmers Brother— 2008/10/26 @ 11:29 AM — (Reply)

  34. Hey leave me out of this one please. I already opted out of this discussion EB. I've agreed to disagree agreeably with you on this subject.

    BG

    Comment by Barry G.— 2008/10/26 @ 12:31 PM — (Reply)

  35. Barry, I'm trying to be reasonable to Ed too. I hope he understands. I appreciate the fact that we can amiably agree to disagree.

    Ed, so very little is known in the way of how Obama thinks. His career has been so meteoric that his associations become glimpses into his ideology. As well as his comments.

    From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.

    most often attributed to Karl Marx

    "It's not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you, that they've got a chance at success, too. And I think that when we spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody."

    Barrack Obama in reply to Joe the Plumber

    Comment by Elmers Brother— 2008/10/27 @ 05:44 AM — (Reply)

  36. Very impressive latin Mr. FJ. However, it appears to have no relation to the context of the commentary.

    Not your commentary, anyways... btw/fyi - You might want to note that: A) This isn't your blog and B) Your not the only one making comments. My post was in response to Joe Gringo's post #1.

    Comment by FJ— 2008/10/27 @ 05:28 AM — (Reply)

  37. That's going to be one helluva tatt. EB, got to see photo!

    Comment by Joe Gringo— 2008/10/27 @ 09:03 AM — (Reply)

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