WRT Iran, I do not have a clear sense that he would have favored use of nuclear weapons and, absent that, there are few sure solutions available. He would have enough sense to see the logistical and terrain problems involved in a ground assault and would have been difficult for the military to bulldoze, like they do Obama. "Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" is likely what he would have LIKED to do, but not necessarily what he would have done. Palin is another thing and with her as CIC, all bets are off.
Also, McCain received the biggest burn of his political career over campaign contributions as part of the "Keating Five." He understands the problems with campaign finance on a visceral level and has recent experience there. He would be more likely than Obama to turn over the apple cart on that one. But the spectre of Palin and the baggage of the now base of the Republican Party would have prevented me from ever voting for McCain.
I don't regret my vote or recant my reservations about Obama. I would have preferred almost any of the primary alternatives, including Clinton, but especially Edwards, then Biden, Kucinich, or Dodd. My wife never trusted Edwards, with good reason it seems. I just thought we chose the smoothest candidate but also the one least likely to challenge the status quo at a time when challenging the status quo was what was most needed. A president who would lead a successful take down, wind-up and dismemberment of the TBTF banks and a reconstitution of a meaningful regulation and reform of the financial sector could hardly have a downside that would outweigh his accomplishments there. As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
Of course, this begs the question: if Obama decides to send more troops to Afghanistan after months of deliberation and McCain would have sent troops instantly, is there really any difference on this issue between Obama and McCain other than 3-4 months?
I'll take the two-three month hiatus if only as a sign Obama has shown the faintest hesitation in continuing the "Project for a New American Imperialism."
is there really any difference on this issue between Obama and McCain other than 3-4 months?
But from the point of view of the rest of the world, Obama does look like a much better choice. To me it turned out to be a choice of disasters. One was more obvious the other more insidious. As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
The guy has become erratic - or maybe he always was.
Perhaps I suffer from "annihilation fatigue". But I do wish we could find a way to tamp down the popular appetite in all countries for simplistic lunatics eager to sacrifice all of the higher values of such civilization as we have managed to create and preserve as sops to short term political expediency. As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
