Man in the Arena

The latest John McCain video (courtesy of the talented Justin Germany, no doubt)…watch the YouTube version below, or go High-Def at the campaign splash page.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_A53PAxeR8]

Thoughts?

Tags: blogs for mccain, John McCain, man in the arena, mccain, mccain blogs, politics

5 comments March 6th, 2008

Invictus

In his victory speech tonight, John McCain said “Nothing is inevitable in America. We are the captains of our fate.”

He takes this quote, “We are the captains of our fate,” from a British poem he had to memorize in school, called Invictus. The title means “Unconquered” in latin, and it perfectly embodies the campaign and especially life of John McCain. The theme of the poem revolves around a man in a terrible situation, yet who remains committed and hopeful about the future. To him, fate is nothing. We, as humans, set our own course, and no power or persuasion can deter us from our goal.

Now, this may seem like a literary analysis piece, but the poem, and McCain’s frequent use of it, embody his life and the party line.

John was captured, tortured, and put in a situation where most men would lose all hope. Yet he fought, and he kept hope alive, and eventually he was released, along with his fellow POWs. The fifth line of the poem fittingly states, ” Under the bludgeonings of Chance, My head is bloody, but unbowed.” Throughout his political career, John McCain has done what he believes is right for the American people, and allowed no one to unduly influence him.

It embodies the Republican belief in personal choice and responsibility. This belief is, in my view, the central difference between the two parties. The Democrats believe that they, not the American people, know how to best spend our money. We believe that individuals, not the government, make the best choices about all aspects of life.

This election will indeed be about ideas, policies and experience. John McCain, like the character in Invictus, has been tested by the rigors of the world. He has, as the poem states, an “unconquerable soul.”

Link to poem is here.

Tags: John McCain, mccain, mccain blogs, McCain Wins, victory speech, young mccain

2 comments March 5th, 2008

Do the Democrats Really Want to Go There?

Following up on Matt’s post below on Glora Steinem’s derisive comments, it appears Sen. Clinton’s campaign is now trashing Sen. McCain’s time in the military. Specifically, Wes Clark employs the canard that McCain’s experience as a fighter pilot and POW don’t alone prepare him to be Commander in Chief. I agree. That in and of itself doesn’t qualify Sen. McCain for the job.

Of course, there’s a few qualifications that Clark conveniently leaves out. James Joyner of Outside the Beltway Blog lays out some of them:

But McCain’s experience isn’t limited to that Clark had as a mere company commander in Vietnam; he rose to the rank of captain (equivalent to an Army/Air Force/Marine colonel) and did a tour as the Navy’s liaison to the United States Senate. He followed that with four years in the United States House of Representatives and another 22 as a United States Senator. He’s a former Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and is now the committee’s Ranking Member.

Be sure to check out James Joyner’s full post  at Outside the Beltway Blog.

Tags: blogs for mccain, experience, Gloria Steinem, John McCain, mccain blogs, Wes Clark, Wesley Clark

10 comments March 3rd, 2008