Eulogizing John McCain (Part I)
I was never going to vote for McCain. Ever. While I admired the tenacity with which he stood up for (some of) his principles (Iraq included)--and the public fashion in which he stood down his fellow Republicans, I could never forgive his embrace of Bush.
In 2000, McCain really stood out. Bush always made a good show of his "buddy-buddy" bona fides ("who would you rather have a drink with?"), but it was always self-evident that he was the product of a slick campaign machine that served more to mask his true beliefs rather than broadcast them to the world.
McCain, by contrast, was plain spoken and open. He would show up at these town hall meetings and honestly answer every question thrown at him. Naturally, this made him a darling of the press--but more importantly, it gave him standing among independents. This wasn't some slick packaged bullshit campaign of a multi-millionaire president's son pretending to be an average Joe. McCain was the real deal. Military hero. Distinguished statesman. And presidential candidate.
Naturally, the mouth-breathers that comprise the Republican party went with Bush.
In 2000, McCain really stood out. Bush always made a good show of his "buddy-buddy" bona fides ("who would you rather have a drink with?"), but it was always self-evident that he was the product of a slick campaign machine that served more to mask his true beliefs rather than broadcast them to the world.
McCain, by contrast, was plain spoken and open. He would show up at these town hall meetings and honestly answer every question thrown at him. Naturally, this made him a darling of the press--but more importantly, it gave him standing among independents. This wasn't some slick packaged bullshit campaign of a multi-millionaire president's son pretending to be an average Joe. McCain was the real deal. Military hero. Distinguished statesman. And presidential candidate.
Naturally, the mouth-breathers that comprise the Republican party went with Bush.