“What John McCain was describing was his redemption”
The American Election has come down to shame.
Michelle Obama is deeply ashamed of America: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Front_Page/JC04Aa01.html
Shelby Steele in his book “A Bound Man: Why We Are Excited About Obama and Why He Can’t Win.” Takes this even furthur, arguing that Barak Obama is a bargainer, offering America redemption for our national shame: http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives2/2008/02/019702.php
The reason George W. Bush has an approval rating of 30% (often less) is because we Americans who supported with our whole hearts, spirits & money are deeply ashamed of him.
We are ashamed. because by his mismanagement of the Iraq War for years, hundreds of American soldiers died in Iraq.
Its is an unspeakable shame. And I do mean unspeakable. Republicans can’t speak about it, because they are beat over the head over it by the Democrats daily.
And yet, Republicans believe deeply in their souls: The War in Iraq was the right choice. And the surge was the right choice.
How though can you defend something you are ashamed of?
And ashamed of for good reasons. Sending some of our best men and woman to Iraq to die needlessly is wrong, and in many ways unforgivable.
The strategic goal of the two campaigns is simple:
o Barak Obama is painting John McCain with the shame of George W. Bush.
o John McCain is painting Barak Obama as a hot air buffon, and then popping it.
(This is the meaning of the speeches given by Barak Obama, Sarah Palain, & John McCain at the conventions — and the overarching meaning behind all the ads & daily messages of both campaigns)
There is, another deep shame that Republicans feel: “The Culture of Corruption” – That is how the democrats won the 2006 American Election: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_corruption
John McCain offers Republicans redemption for that by penance:
“The new Republican leader did one critical thing in this speech to the national audience, too. He acknowledged the Republican failures during their control of Congress to act as a reform party. McCain used the moment to challenge his party to reclaim the mantle of reform as an act of penance for the past … This, I think, was absolutely critical to establish credibility.” – Ed Morrissey at http://hotair.com/archives/2008/09/05/john-mccains-presidential-address/
Sarah Palin’s electrifying arrival of the American stage is best understood as follows:
“For I am eager to declare the good news to you … for I am not ashamed”
Look at the word cloud for Sarah Palin’s speech, it says it all:
“Country America Proud John” (reading down)
“McCain Man American Good” (reading across)
For almost a week, the American Media tried to shame Sarah Palin as a bad mother.
Her response, and the reason her speech was an A+ hit in America is because the delivery communicated one fact above all: Joy.
Joy in being a mother, joy in America, & joy in puncturing the hot air balloon that is Barak Obama.
No anger, no shame, just joy.
…..
And yet.
In the same way that John McCain offers Republicans redemption for the culture of corruption by penance, he has to offer Republicans redemption for the mismanagement of the war by penance.
He tried, but missed the mark:
“When I was five years old, a car pulled up in front of our house. A Navy officer rolled down the window, and shouted at my father that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. I rarely saw my father again for four years. My grandfather came home from that same war exhausted from the burdens he had borne, and died the next day. In Vietnam, where I formed the closest friendships of my life, some of those friends never came home with me. I hate war. It is terrible beyond imagination.” – Text of John McCain speech: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/09/dawg_days.html
Its a superb passage.
…
And yet.
Iraq was mismanaged. Katrina was mismanaged and fixed American’s impression of Republicans as incompetent.
John McCain or Sarah Palin needs to communicate the following about Iraq:
“We did the right thing by going into Iraq. We mismanged the war and got hundreds of Americans killed. Here are some of the ways we mismanaged the war:
o George W. Bush, listened to Generals too much. GIVE EXAMPLES.
o CIA. GIVE EXAMPLES.
o State department. GIVE EXAMPLES.
Lets be honest, George Bush, took too long to hold these agencies accountable. And to make them competent.
I give you my word, the McCain Palin Administration: We Will hold them accountable.
And we will make them competent again.
Look, we all know how bureaucracies are. When its your tax dollars that are wasted; well its unacceptable. And we will fix that.
But. When bureaucracies get Americans killed, its much worse.
The McCain Palin Administration will help make the Goverment Agencies work for America again.
We will make them competent again. And we will not waste American lives due to incompetence.”
Mostly this has to be communicated with a lot more subtle and with finesse than I am able to; but the message has to be clear: Redemption & Competence.
…
And that, is how John McCain shows he will not be a third term of George W. Bush.
Honest republicans will respond to it with Joy; even the 30% who still support George W. Bush.
Independents will elect John McCain by a landslide.
…
And if the McCain-Palin ticket does not admit how “We as Republicans” messed up.
They will lose.
And deserve to.
