Although I voted for Senator John McCain, I’m delighted at Senator Obama’s victory, and look forward to his presidency. May he live long and prosper, and may Senator Biden be barely seen or heard from again.
I’ve been a supporter of Senator John McCain for quite some time. I hoped to be able to vote for him in 2000, and that early support carried me though 2008, when I cast my vote for the 2000 McCain rather than the 2008 McCain, hoping that he would revert to form after the election. But unlike many Republicans (I consider myself a right-leaning independent), I have never been scared of a President Obama. I’ve been attracted to him since I heard him speak at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. In fact, I understand the feeling of hope his supporters feel. I, too, have high hopes for President Obama and for the United States of America.
The next couple of years are likely to be unpleasant. There are many things that have brought us to this point of financial crisis, and much blame for members of both ruling parties, but no matter the past, the future will bring some very hard choices. There simply won't be enough money to do everything we want to do. My pet projects and your pet projects are both likely to face cutbacks. Let’s be realistic: when Republican President John McCain says that program such-and-such must be cut, the hue and cry is sadly predictable: “McCain hates children, women, the homeless, minorities, and everyone else.” When Democratic President Barack Obama says that program such-and-such must be cut, we know that he doesn’t hate children, women, the homeless, minorities, and everyone else, so maybe — just maybe — there really isn’t enough money!
Just as “only Nixon could go to China,” I believe that only Obama can cut spending. Whether he will remains to be seen, but since Republican President Bush and a Republican Congress presided over the largest increase in federal spending in quite a while, it’s difficult to see how President Obama and a Democratic Congress could do much worse.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - John
Cut it out. With comments like that, we might actually find common ground and get some things fixed around here.
2 - Phillip Winn
Don't worry, John. That's still doubtful.
Actually, I suspect that a lot depends on the makeup of Obama's cabinet. I hope he takes a cue from the former unexpected President from Illinois, Lincoln, and picks some Republicans for his cabinet. That would help a lot.
3 - Matthew T. Sussman
I will actually make a point not to find common ground with Phillip.
4 - Phillip Winn
If I find myself sharing common ground with Matthew T. Sussman, I will change my views quickly. ;-)
5 - Jet
Amen
6 - REMF(MCH)
I also wanted to vote for John McCain in 2000, but didn't get the opportunity after his patriotism was slimed by GW Bush and Karl Rove in the South Carolina GOP primary.
My choice this election was for Barack Obama, mainly because of his opposition to the invasion/occupation of Iraq, and his promise to bring our courageous troops home.
McCain was always a hero of mine, although I did lose some respect when he agreed with Bush/Cheney to continue our torture of POWs.
7 - Mark Schannon
Nice piece, Phillip. Now if only the Sean Hannity's of the world will demonstrate the same graciousness and willingness to give ol' Jug Ears a chance, we might must drag this country out of the mess that's been made by donkeys & elephants alike.
My hat's off to you sir.
Curmudgeon-At-Large
In Jameson Veritas
8 - Lisa Solod Warren
Here here, Mark. I second that emotion.
9 - Lee Richards
The generous, controlled and statesman-like McCain who made last night's concession speech is the McCain many have admired during his career, and might well have had a much better chance of being elected than the attack-minded, fear-mongering McCain of the campaign.
10 - Phillip Winn
Sadly, that's the McCain whose campaign was torpedoed in South Carolina in 2000. That McCain, the real McCain, would never have made it through the primary process.
11 - Clavos
That McCain, the real McCain, would never have made it through the primary process.
Quoted for Truth.
12 - Dusty Somers
Great piece Phillip. This is exactly the mindset McCain voters, conservatives and all Americans should have at this moment.
13 - Dave Nalle
Actually, I suspect that a lot depends on the makeup of Obama's cabinet.
Right now it looks like Obama is going to take Rahm Emanuel as his chief of staff. Since Emanuel is one of the most partisan, most anti-Republican figures in the Democratic party the chance of any Republicans getting into the Obama administration with him involved is about nil. Maybe Colin Powell has a shot, but that's it.
Dave
14 - Phillip Winn
Dave, give it a little time. There's no question that Obama will -- and should -- choose primarily partisan Democrats for his staff and cabinet. I would expect nothing else. Further, I suspect that any Republicans he might choose would likely be Republicans In Name Only (RINO) like Lincoln Chafee.
Still, even that would be something. I am certain that McCain would have chosen at least one Democrat to be on his staff or cabinet, and that Democrats would complain that Lieberman isn't really a Democrat anyway, but it still would be something, a signal.
Give the President-Elect a good 24 hours before you pronounce judgement. He may yet surprise us all.
15 - Dave Nalle
Hell, I would have been complaining if McCain or Obama picked Lieberman. The man ought to be stuck in a corner of the Senate with a dunce cap on his head for the rest of eternity.
I did hear an amusing story from a Democrat poll worker that Lieberman created his own party in Connecticut, and there's apparently a guy who plans to run against him in the next primary in the Joe Lieberman Party, presumably on the basis that he can be a better Joe Lieberman than the original.
Anyway, I'm sure Obama has lots of surprises in store for us. Some may even be pleasant. But the selection of Emanuel doesn't inspire me with confidence.
Dave
16 - Lee Richards
Next up, the most narcissistic man in politics, Joe the Lieberman!
***
#10: So, losing a general election by being someone you're not is better somehow than losing a primary by being yourself?
'To thine ownself be true' is not outdated advice.
17 - Phillip Winn
Lee (#16), obviously losing is losing, but McCain was projected to win in September, and he wouldn't have made it nearly that far had he not done a little pandering.
Had Obama not changed between 2004 and 2008, he wouldn't be President-Elect today. I've previously written a bit about the pandering he's done this election cycle. The open question is whether he'll revert to form, which I think would be unfortunate but probable, or whether he'll carry on in his new 2008 mode.
"To thine own self be true, and it must follow as the night the day, thou canst then be false to any man."
Nobody can win an election in modern politics while keeping that advice. Nobody.
18 - Christopher Rose
Does the fact that the 2000 version of McCain apparently couldn't have made it through the primary process imply that process is messed up?
19 - Clavos
'To thine ownself be true' is not outdated advice.
McCain would hardly be considered to be a modern-day Polonius; not even by his worst detractors.Hmm.
This and other commonly quoted aphorisms came from the mouth of Polonius in Hamlet. Shakespeare, scholars note, created Polonius (and his speeches) to burlesque and satirize the pompous fools of his (Shakespeare's) day. Thus, we see that Polonius' utterances are, by intent, lampoons and mockeries of those who speak in cliches:
20 - bliffle
Good point on Polonius, Clavos.
21 - Zedd
That McCain, the real McCain, would never have made it through the primary process.
So true. However I liked that guy.
22 - Zedd
Chris re:#18
No. Just that the party is messed up.
23 - Cindy D
RE #19
Great info Clav. I didn't know that.
24 - Phillip Winn
Zedd (#22), I agree completely. The party *is* messed up.
Reagan famously said, after switching from the Democratic to the Republican party, "I did not leave the Democratic party. The Democratic party left me." That's how I feel about the Republicans. In my opinion, they've gone from being the party of better ideas to the party of ignorance and reaction.
The party that was founded to end slavery and fought for the Civil Rights Act is now the party fighting to keep brown people out of the country. They've used Roe v Wade as a fundraising plea while doing little to actually reduce abortion. They've overspent and run up the deficit, not even counting military spending.
All of the things that drew me to the Republican party have been abandoned by that party. Unfortunately, I find no home with the Democrats, either.
Sigh.
25 - Clavos
Phillip,
Been there, doing that.
Got the tee shirt, too...