REPLIES TO THE CURRENT QUESTION

Our question last week was:

Last week we asked, "Who is Barack Obama?"  This week we will ask you to define the Republican candidate.  In your view, who is John McCain?

Here are your answers.  The name of a writer is included only if he or she actually placed a name at the end of the message.  Otherwise, we assume the writer wished anonymity and "name withheld" is inserted.

This one is easy.  John McCain at the very least is the lesser of two bad choices.  At the best,  with temper in check, he is a fundamentally honest man with a track record that can be evaluated and then a decision made about future potential based on past performance.  In my past life in the Air Force, I became friends with several of Senator McCain's fellow guests at the Hanoi Hilton.  Every single one of them had something inside them that the rest of us can't hope to have.  For better or worse, it gave them a changed perspective on life.  They learned to value what is truly important.  

Using the same analogy I used last week discussing Senator Obama, When you drill down through the hype surrounding Senator McCain, the core is a solid hunk of precious metal, forged, tempered and tested.  I can disagree with him on specific issues but I can never doubt his character.  And, as Michael Douglas said while playing the role of president in a fairly mediocre movie, "Being President is all about character!"  At least he was right about that.

Don Newell

Our next president.

Andy B.
NYC

I think McCain is going to be the next president, and I think many conservatives are going to come to regret it, to some degree. John McCain doesn’t like conservatives, at least right-wing conservatives like me.  He doesn’t like religious people, so I think he will happily stick his finger in religious people’s eyes, not because he disagrees with them but because of his dislike.  And I think he has a whole list of similar groups like ‘religious people’ that would be angered over time. Also, I think he will appoint judges that will not be conservative enough. All in all, I think his presidency will be so contentious that he will be a one-term president.
 
I do admire McCain’s military service, and his backbone though. His stance against Russia is a good example – I don’t see him appeasing the Russians like Obama would try to do. He would stand against the Russians no matter how low his poll numbers went – which takes strength.
 
And if I may say so – unless he picks Romney as his VP I may just be too busy to vote come election day.
 
Joe Bray
www.IdahoWebpages.com <mailto:Joe@IdahoWebpages.com>

Raised in a family where the grandfather and father were military men, John was given many examples of what constitutes a man and how a man should make decisions.

While at Annapolis, he found his best decisions were when the choices were to study or to party.  Later, as a Flyboy, he again showed he could lead and party, along with causing some havoc.

Getting shot down changed his focus.  He had to look into a mirror.  Here he found his inner self, his inner resolve.  Later he would use his party skills, his social skills to sell the Navy's and the Pentagon's ideas to Congress.

They would offer up a suggestion that this nice war hero should join their club:  He ran for office and became a member.  Dad and Grandpa would be proud, but John knew he was his own man.  Enter the notion of Maverick.

McCain knows evil, very well, perhaps too well.  He knows pain, real pain, and real death.  He can spot it a far distance.  He loves freedom.

He works for freedom.  However, he may not be a serious and grand thinker.  Does he have others who can fill such roles?  

If we elect this man, we need more than hope that he does have such people willing to work with him and support him.

Yet, I still haven't heard nor seen a grand vision that is clear and concise, simple for every American citizen to understand.

And that is who will make up any army we may need to do any job our security will demand.  One thing is for sure, McCain will lead such an army if need be.  I can't say the same for the other candidate...he will be a "no show" leader.

R. Philips
Corrales, NM