Russian Attack Hands McCain Winning Issue

IBD Editorial ^ | August 14, 2008 | George F. Will

[Kaslin]

Last August, John McCain's campaign was a guttering candle, out of money but flush with half-baked ideas unlikely to be improved by further baking. Anyway, to have many ideas is to have too many for a campaign's concluding sprint, and McCain's revival hasn't been robust enough to bring him even with Barack Obama.

Now his rejuvenated hopes rest on his ability to refocus this election on who should lead America in a world suddenly darkened by Russia's war of European conquest. To begin the recasting, he should weed from the unkempt garden of his political thinking the populism which often seems like mere attitudinizing redeemed by insincerity.

His silliness about sinful Wall Street and exploitative corporations cannot compete with Democratic entrees in the nonsense sweepstakes. Furthermore, his populism subverts his strength — the perception that although he is an acquired taste, he is serious, hence incapable of self-celebratory froth such as "we are the ones we've been waiting for."

McCain's populism, if such there must be, should be distilled into one proposal that would be popular and, unlike most populism, not economically injurious. The proposal, for which he has expressed sympathy, is: No officer of any corporation receiving a federal subsidy, broadly defined, can be paid more than the highest federal civil servant ($124,010 for a GS-15). This would abruptly halt the galloping expansion of private economic entities — is GM next? — eager to become, in effect, joint ventures with Washington.

[SandRat]

but will he use it???

[Neidermeyer]

Obambi’s suggestion that the UN go in to fight Russia is a side-splitter ,,, doesn’t he know that Russia would veto the motion at the U.N. ??? How can the MSM overlook such major gaffes?

[ikka]

Not trying to toot my own horn, but I and other Freepers called this days ago: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2060143/posts?page=14#14

[Bosco]

Although Putin would prefer lord Obama as POTUS, he knows that isn't going to happen and he took the earlier opportunity to invade Georgia and secure the oil/gas routes from the Black Sea region.

Next up: increased agreements with Iran.

[Biggirl]

Putin KNOWS that with how Obama responded to the Russian/Georgian military crisis, vs. how McCain has responded, may have helped toasted Obama bigtime making his chances of becoming POTUS even less.