The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

With the alleged economic meltdown just over the next hill, a concise picture has come into view. It is good, bad, and ugly. This week’s action by John McCain in running back to Washington to address how to solve the problem illustrates the differences between Presidential candidates. Whether you are on the left, right, or in the center will determine if you find it excellent, dreadful or repulsive.

The Good: Whether a stunt or not, McCain’s act is likely to be seen by the coveted undecided independent vote as putting America ahead of politics. Strike a win for McCain! Now, the criticism of McCain for lacking economic skills is likely to depart some of these independent voters. However, it needs to be said that McCain will be viewed this way because of his war hero status, his dedication to his country and a 26 year career in the Congress. Obama can hardly counter the claim. It won’t change any Democrat minds, but that is not what the McCain camp is seeking. The brilliant move leaves Obama as an outsider looking in on a process that McCain has hijacked. Senator Obama already thinks himself more of a President than a Senator. Until either one of these guys is elected, the title in front of their name is still “Senator.” Obama has forgotten that and it could be a crucial mistake. In any event putting the country first is just what the American people has been seeking for decades. McCain is demonstrating it!

The Bad: McCain charging in on a white horse to save the day fits him, and is acting with responsibility as his Arizona constituents have entrusted him. Obama however, claimed the economic crisis is the greatest since the 1930’s Great Depression yet, he shot himself in the foot by responding “call me if you need me, and I’ll come back to Washington.” This sent a very wrong message. McCain asked Obama to delay the debate, put politics aside and fly back to D.C. to help solve the crisis. That is something most Americans have long sought in their leaders. Obama stuck gave a finger and shoved it in our eye, by refusing. Imagery can be everything in politics. Obama would have stayed in Mississippi to debate, had P{resident Bush (prompted by McCain) not asked him to a high level meeting. Obama looks more interested in his campaign than the county’s well being.

Obama responded poorly by making the distinction that debating another candidate is more important than debating real, economic altering, legislation (which is what both of these men are charged to do as Senators). Obama has voted “present” again with his response to McCain’s gambit. The whole series of events gives McCain the upper hand, and backs up his claim that he’d risk losing an election if America comes out the better. He is visibly demonstrating that he puts America first. In doing so he also is taking the economic issue from Obama. The Illinois Senator, struggling to counter attack, claims that the election decision trumps a crisis that he himself has dubbed dire. Loss Obama.

Whether any of this has any affect on tonight’s Presidential debate or not, remains to be seen. McCain can go one of two ways. If legislation is passed McCain can ride in to tout the victory. That is not likely because the Congress which is controlled by Democrats won’t pass the bill without Republican’s on board. They don’t want the blame if it fails. That is why McCain and the Republican’s have the upper hand. They can craft whatever bill they want and because of Democrat cowardice will have to accept something, likely a McCain driven bill. McCain will take that gamble that all of this will work to his favor. The other option is to delay the debate. McCain wins in that scenario too because he will be seen as diligently working to solve the crisis while Obama is left debating himself. Obama will be seen as fiddling while D.C. burns. McCain will not.

The Ugly: American’s are being shown that they have someone willing to fight for them, by McCain’s fight to cast off a taxpayer bail-out with a craftier bill that will protect them. McCain is leading that charge. Unfortunately, it takes such high-handed political maneuvering to drive the point home to a dense populous. Administrative oversight might have been dubious in the whole process that brought us to the current economic crisis, but the American people have been asleep at the fiscal switch for way too long. In any event it is going to be a rough ride to recovery. McCain seeks to ease the ugliness of this, and all other partisan bickering. When a House and Senate, both controlled by one party, refuses to act in the face of crisis, can there be any doubt that politics is still hard at work corrupting our government?

Obama looks more elitist than ever, and believes himself already above his own senatorial station in politics. The man seems to think it is all academic and that he is a shoe in to the Oval Office. The bigger consideration of the whole process is that one of these two is going to be the President and will have to deal with the aftermath. That is when the true ugliness will ramp up.