Sit Amor Patriae Nostra Lex
"I'm sorry, Mr President. I cannot in good conscience sign such a document. I will never stop hoping for out eventual reconciliation with England. But because in my own way, I regard America no less than does Mr Adams, I will join the army and fight in her defense, even though I believe that fight to be hopeless. Good bye, gentlemen." In the movie 1776, the character of John Dickinson said this as he left the hall where the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence. While the real Dickinson was merely absent that day (so the vote could be unanimous), in the movie he had vociferously opposed the Declaration and anything resembling independence. He fought John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin on every issue they brought up, he argued his heart out against going against England, and he did everything but be a black hat in the film. Yet, he ended with that speech. Simple speech about the divergent natures of patriotism, the individual calls of duty and noble service for a cause one does not believe in. Honestly, for a long time, it was the greatest speech on the subject. That was, of course, until Tuesday night. While the story was, of course, that America had elected Barack Obama to be the next president of the United States. What was the story that almost got lost in the media circus was that John McCain managed to reclaim his own candidacy for the last few moments of the campaign and gave the finest speech of his career (transcript here). It was a powerful speech that made us all remember why people supported him in the first place. That speech, and the one by Obama that night, both lay out a future for an America where patriotism rises about partisanship, where loyalty to country is above loyalty to party and where the good of the country is superior to one's own good. Now, all that needs to happen is for their supporters to listen.
Those who have been long fans of this blog know that among things most often railed against, intolerance of other opinions, lack of grace in victory and pettiness in defeat are near the top. The speech that McCain gave was, without a doubt, the best one he's ever given. The speech Obama gave was forward looking and inviting those who had not supported him to give him a chance while he tries to earn their support, which is often more than previous president have often offered to their opponents. They both spoke to their supporters in a way to encourage them to both to stay true to the ideals that they had fought for over the past 21 months and work with those whom they were engaged in battle against. It showed that Obama can be gracious in victory without appearing arrogant or condescending and McCain proved that the McCain we all knew for years was really still under there. After all the Ayers accusations, all the socialist stuff and all the negative campaigning, McCain truly respected Obama. McCain re-took the last of his campaign and showed us all his true heart. Honestly, this was the real McCain who had been oddly missing for the past few months. While there were signs of this before, such as after weeks of hammering home the connection between Ayers and Obama, McCain said mid-debate that he didn't care about some washed up terrorist. After she was picked, Palin was the one who was called upon to really toss the red meat, fire up the base and keep calling Obama a socialist who pals around with terrorists. McCain wanted to connect with Joe the Plumber (more on him at some point). McCain proudly surrounded himself with a Democrat and moderate Republicans. McCain, the man himself, was always a rogue maverick who looked uncomfortable doing a lot of things people asked him to win, starting with replacing his long time friend and adviser Mike Murphy with Karl Rove protege. McCain is at heart a good man and senator who got caught in a sometimes negative campaign.
But that's not the man he was on election night. He asked people not to boo Obama's name, after his silence at rallies when they'd call Obama a terrorist. Note, it's very common to boo at the beginning of a concession speech when the candidate says he's throwing in the towel, but McCain asked for them to stop so he could give praise to Obama. He remarked eloquently and honestly about the historical nature of the night, of the win and how great the country was and how this proved all the things he loved about America. He took full blame for the campaign's failure and showed he was the Gentleman from Arizona. Obama's speech was not his greatest speech. In things never thought to be seen in this campaign, McCain gave the better speech of the night. Obama's was good, but not his best. Even if they did both hit on some of the same points. They both tried to move immediately past the campaign into tomorrow, both called upon supporters of the other to work with them for a better America. They both called for an end to the divisiveness that has plagued American politics for years now. And while that's a great first start, that may not end up being enough and now we get to the meat of what's most aggravating about this election and the political landscape for the next few years.
There are lot of people out there who supported John McCain for president, about 57 million Americans out there. There are a lot of people who supported Barack Obama for president, about 64.5 million Americans in this country of ours. There were a lot of people who were very excited about the election of Barack Obama. There were a lot of people who expressed this in a very positive way, such as saying how great it was an African-American was elected, or change is real. Others took this in a less positive reaction with backhanded messages like "American did the smart thing" as if voting for John McCain were dumb. Voting for another candidate isn't dumb; people disagree on things and yet we all survive. Smart people disagree on difficult things and the walls do not come tumbling down. Some people have gone too far in celebrating Obama, gloating in Obama's victory. While it was a damn good thing to many people's views, this does not give people the right to hate or write hateful things about those who don't agree. On a personal note, there are friends of mine who were McCain supporters who have been subjected to insults, attacks and personal invectives that have no place in politics, doubly so after both sides have called for an end to it. The Obama was campaign was predicated on the idea that it doesn't all have to be partisan politics. "Yes, we can" was the slogan, and for a good can. Not yes he can, but all of us as Americans. He made long and proud references to the "Obamicans" the Republicans who supported him in the campaign. And now, the Obama supporters are attacking those who dared disagree. This is not what Obama wanted when he kept calling for respect for McCain, chastised those who tried to bring Palin's family into it and chastised his own supporters who booed McCain's name when it was mentioned in his speeches. Let me say this in a clear manner: OBAMA'S CAMPAIGN WAS ABOUT WORKING WITH ALL AMERICANS AND ALL PEOPLE, NOT JUST THOSE WHO HAPPENED TO AGREE!! Ahem.
Not that it has been all sunshine, roses and pure patriotism from McCain supporters either. With the top aides trying to pick sides in schism of the Republican party and looking to blame the other for the failure of the campaign. Some of the less power McCain supporters, citing the intransigence and belligerence of Democrats under the Bush years, have vowed to be forceful recusants in this new administration. (Definition of recusant) They, like Obama's more asshole supporters, have rejected calls of their candidate to work with the loyal opposition. They point to how the liberals were during the Bush administration: constantly questioning validity of elections, constantly undermining him, constantly looking to the next election and generally doing everything in their power to limit Bush's. The Democrats did this under Bush because of what Gingrich led under Clinton, a vociferous opposition that straddles the line. So, some of the McCain supporters have decided this is the role for them and they bought into ALL the things said about Obama during the campaign. He's a socialist, he's going to destroy Israel, he's friends with terrorists, he's secretly a Muslim who's going to work with al-Qaeda or any of the other campaign slurs that came out. Some people believed all the bullshit and are acting accordingly. They are justified in acting as some kind of fifth column for McCain, even if McCain says to work with him since they know the "real truth" that others can't see.
Each side has a history of this and each side can point to the other being out of hand for a time when their party was in power. People point to great leaders of the past saying "See? He did it right, he didn't need any stinking help!" when in actuality Reagan worked a lot with Tip O'Neill (Democratic leader of the House) and Kennedy worked with Republicans in the Senate. So both sides have parts that are getting out of hand, but both men at the tops of the tickets have said not to do this. McCain is going back to serve in the Senate and will no doubt author some great legislation and work across the aisle. Let Love Of Country Be Our Law (or love of country should be our law) is the Latin above and it's as much a prayer, as it is a hope as it is a command. Obama has talked about Chuck Hagel and Colin Powell having serious positions of power. For myself, I think McCain could do great things in the Senate and could do great things in that body, if Obama wanted a supersolid way to ensure unity would be to appoint McCain as his Secretary of Homeland Security. He's a man who could make that department run right, get rid of the torture and Obama could prove to the world that he's serious about terrorism. In any event, both sides have to work together to solve the serious problems in our world
Or we'll end up with the last eight years again.
So it is written, so do I see it.
Those who have been long fans of this blog know that among things most often railed against, intolerance of other opinions, lack of grace in victory and pettiness in defeat are near the top. The speech that McCain gave was, without a doubt, the best one he's ever given. The speech Obama gave was forward looking and inviting those who had not supported him to give him a chance while he tries to earn their support, which is often more than previous president have often offered to their opponents. They both spoke to their supporters in a way to encourage them to both to stay true to the ideals that they had fought for over the past 21 months and work with those whom they were engaged in battle against. It showed that Obama can be gracious in victory without appearing arrogant or condescending and McCain proved that the McCain we all knew for years was really still under there. After all the Ayers accusations, all the socialist stuff and all the negative campaigning, McCain truly respected Obama. McCain re-took the last of his campaign and showed us all his true heart. Honestly, this was the real McCain who had been oddly missing for the past few months. While there were signs of this before, such as after weeks of hammering home the connection between Ayers and Obama, McCain said mid-debate that he didn't care about some washed up terrorist. After she was picked, Palin was the one who was called upon to really toss the red meat, fire up the base and keep calling Obama a socialist who pals around with terrorists. McCain wanted to connect with Joe the Plumber (more on him at some point). McCain proudly surrounded himself with a Democrat and moderate Republicans. McCain, the man himself, was always a rogue maverick who looked uncomfortable doing a lot of things people asked him to win, starting with replacing his long time friend and adviser Mike Murphy with Karl Rove protege. McCain is at heart a good man and senator who got caught in a sometimes negative campaign.
But that's not the man he was on election night. He asked people not to boo Obama's name, after his silence at rallies when they'd call Obama a terrorist. Note, it's very common to boo at the beginning of a concession speech when the candidate says he's throwing in the towel, but McCain asked for them to stop so he could give praise to Obama. He remarked eloquently and honestly about the historical nature of the night, of the win and how great the country was and how this proved all the things he loved about America. He took full blame for the campaign's failure and showed he was the Gentleman from Arizona. Obama's speech was not his greatest speech. In things never thought to be seen in this campaign, McCain gave the better speech of the night. Obama's was good, but not his best. Even if they did both hit on some of the same points. They both tried to move immediately past the campaign into tomorrow, both called upon supporters of the other to work with them for a better America. They both called for an end to the divisiveness that has plagued American politics for years now. And while that's a great first start, that may not end up being enough and now we get to the meat of what's most aggravating about this election and the political landscape for the next few years.
There are lot of people out there who supported John McCain for president, about 57 million Americans out there. There are a lot of people who supported Barack Obama for president, about 64.5 million Americans in this country of ours. There were a lot of people who were very excited about the election of Barack Obama. There were a lot of people who expressed this in a very positive way, such as saying how great it was an African-American was elected, or change is real. Others took this in a less positive reaction with backhanded messages like "American did the smart thing" as if voting for John McCain were dumb. Voting for another candidate isn't dumb; people disagree on things and yet we all survive. Smart people disagree on difficult things and the walls do not come tumbling down. Some people have gone too far in celebrating Obama, gloating in Obama's victory. While it was a damn good thing to many people's views, this does not give people the right to hate or write hateful things about those who don't agree. On a personal note, there are friends of mine who were McCain supporters who have been subjected to insults, attacks and personal invectives that have no place in politics, doubly so after both sides have called for an end to it. The Obama was campaign was predicated on the idea that it doesn't all have to be partisan politics. "Yes, we can" was the slogan, and for a good can. Not yes he can, but all of us as Americans. He made long and proud references to the "Obamicans" the Republicans who supported him in the campaign. And now, the Obama supporters are attacking those who dared disagree. This is not what Obama wanted when he kept calling for respect for McCain, chastised those who tried to bring Palin's family into it and chastised his own supporters who booed McCain's name when it was mentioned in his speeches. Let me say this in a clear manner: OBAMA'S CAMPAIGN WAS ABOUT WORKING WITH ALL AMERICANS AND ALL PEOPLE, NOT JUST THOSE WHO HAPPENED TO AGREE!! Ahem.
Not that it has been all sunshine, roses and pure patriotism from McCain supporters either. With the top aides trying to pick sides in schism of the Republican party and looking to blame the other for the failure of the campaign. Some of the less power McCain supporters, citing the intransigence and belligerence of Democrats under the Bush years, have vowed to be forceful recusants in this new administration. (Definition of recusant) They, like Obama's more asshole supporters, have rejected calls of their candidate to work with the loyal opposition. They point to how the liberals were during the Bush administration: constantly questioning validity of elections, constantly undermining him, constantly looking to the next election and generally doing everything in their power to limit Bush's. The Democrats did this under Bush because of what Gingrich led under Clinton, a vociferous opposition that straddles the line. So, some of the McCain supporters have decided this is the role for them and they bought into ALL the things said about Obama during the campaign. He's a socialist, he's going to destroy Israel, he's friends with terrorists, he's secretly a Muslim who's going to work with al-Qaeda or any of the other campaign slurs that came out. Some people believed all the bullshit and are acting accordingly. They are justified in acting as some kind of fifth column for McCain, even if McCain says to work with him since they know the "real truth" that others can't see.
Each side has a history of this and each side can point to the other being out of hand for a time when their party was in power. People point to great leaders of the past saying "See? He did it right, he didn't need any stinking help!" when in actuality Reagan worked a lot with Tip O'Neill (Democratic leader of the House) and Kennedy worked with Republicans in the Senate. So both sides have parts that are getting out of hand, but both men at the tops of the tickets have said not to do this. McCain is going back to serve in the Senate and will no doubt author some great legislation and work across the aisle. Let Love Of Country Be Our Law (or love of country should be our law) is the Latin above and it's as much a prayer, as it is a hope as it is a command. Obama has talked about Chuck Hagel and Colin Powell having serious positions of power. For myself, I think McCain could do great things in the Senate and could do great things in that body, if Obama wanted a supersolid way to ensure unity would be to appoint McCain as his Secretary of Homeland Security. He's a man who could make that department run right, get rid of the torture and Obama could prove to the world that he's serious about terrorism. In any event, both sides have to work together to solve the serious problems in our world
Or we'll end up with the last eight years again.
So it is written, so do I see it.