Bailout

The term, a "profile in courage", was defined by the book of the same name as doing what you believe to be the right thing, even though it costs you an election. Generally, doing what you believe the right thing costs you an election and/or ends your career.

I personally think that he did it partially for political benefit, but I'm not John McCain, so I can't know for sure. My point is if he suspended his campaign because he felt he was the only person that could bring political cover to the Republicans and ended up losing the election as a result of his action, then it's a profile in courage.

You're not running for anything. You running through the airport naked isn't a profile in courage, instead it's likely a profile in a DHS file.

 

I would have been more impressed with McCain if he'd actually suspended his campaign, and hadn't invited reporters in to the room to cover him while he worked the phones.

This version of McCain is clearly not the same as the man I voted for in the 2000 primary and as a write-in candidate for the general election.

 

I'm curious to which part of maxie's statement you are saying "I wish". Does this apply to the "socialization train" statement?

 

Well, yes, but that was tongue-in-cheek. I think "socialization train" is an exaggeration, but I'd definitely be glad to see an actual left-wing administration. I think we've had actual right-wing administrations in my lifetime (Reagan in all ways, GWB on social issues), so I'd like to see some true left-wing administration (again, at least on social issues, which does bleed into financial issies). As my position post suggests, while I like capitalism and the free market, I don't consider "socialism" to be a bad word. Every democracy is a mix of capitalism and socialism, and I think the US should have more socialism in the mix.

 

I agree. He missed a huge opportunity that probably cost him the election. He should have not held a press conference announcing that he was suspending the campaign. He should have just decided to fly back to DC and announce to the back of the plane that it's more important to attend to the business of the country.

He then could have gone back, declared there's no way he's putting the American people on the hook for $700MM and that Congress needed to find a different solution. He then should have led the House and Senate Republicans to come up with another plan. He could have gone against his President and the Democrats, reinforcing his reputation as a leader and a maverick all in one fell swoop.

While he was back in DC, he could have had Gov. Palin out there stumping for him, telling the crowds that John McCain isn't campaigning because he's working back in Washington trying to take care of them and their children by not putting $700MM on the backs of the taxpayers. He wouldn't have needed to hold press conferences, because he would have had throngs of the press following him around the north side of the Capitol.

He then could have gone to the debate and thrown this yoke around Obama's neck.

Barack Obama is now telling Democrats and Republicans to "get it done". I guess he doesn't realize that he's actually a US Senator himself and should be front and center in helping to shape it.

Both parties have let us down. I'm absolutely disgusted.