[Grovenet] I believe the Democrats have suddenly developed akeensense of morality.

[Steele, Mike]

I would add the following serious concerns re McCain:

I tend to agree with Gen. Wesley Clark, who took a beating for saying
it, but being a fighter pilot does not automatically qualify the pilot
as an expert in international relations.  Air combat is far different
from what is experienced by ground troops and those who lead them, who
must necessarily come to a much deeper understanding of geo-political
realities, the organizational intricacies of leading units as large as
divisions or corps or whole armies, and how to interact with locals.
Pilots interact with locals when they have been shot down.

McCain's "experience" in the Senate did not lead him to understand
Sunni-Shiite differences, did not lead him to understand that Pakistan
and Iraq do not have a border, and did not lead him to see through the
transparent lies the Bushies were feeding the public about WMDs, Niger
yellow cake, Iraqi aluminum tubes, etc.  He agreed with W in late March
2003 that the war was won.  Ooops, missed that one.  His ten votes
against improved veterans' benefits are extremely disturbing.  Perhaps
such gaffes helped lead him to his class rank at Annapolis near the
bottom, in spite of the two 4-star Admirals in his family background.

And he somehow manages to talk about his better judgment.  Beats me.

--Mike



-----Original Message-----
From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com] On
Behalf Of David Morelli
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 12:17 AM
To: Forest Grove local interests list
Subject: Re: [Grovenet] I believe the Democrats have suddenly developed
akeensense of morality.


On Aug 26, 2008, at 10:44 PM, Steven wrote:

> Bush isn't running.
> One of these two guys is going to be running the country.

> Face it.  I can't back either one. Getting sophomoric won't do any  
> good.

Steven,

Yes, one of them will have the position of President.  However, Bush  
has demonstrated that the President may not be the person running the  
country.  In fact, he demonstrated that the administration may not be  
running the government.

McCain served his country as an officer and a pilot, the same  
position George Bush held.  McCain had more combat experience and  
time as POW.  That required good reflexes, strong will, fierce  
loyalty and the ability to follow orders.  I doubt that he ever  
served as a flag officer, and I doubt that he really had more  
leadership experience that a typical staff sergeant.

For both McCain and Obama their ability to identify good lieutenants,  
plan strategy, and organize a campaign is likely a better indication  
of their leadership ability.

Obama managed to conduct his campaign against Clinton, and so far  
against McCain, without becoming seriously distracted by the  
opposition's attempts to derail his program.  McCain is offering less  
vision and more attack.

If you apply those two approaches to the operation of the American  
government, I see that we are offered two different futures.  Obama  
has a strategic vision and the demonstrated ability to deliver on the  
program while remaining civil.  McCain demonstrates a tactical  
approach with attacks on opponents and bare knuckle one on one combat.

For President, I want someone who can see "the big picture"'.  I  
prefer someone who actually understands the situation, instead of  
relying on an instantaneous, gut reaction response.  Russia's move  
into Georgia was part of a larger strategic plan, we really cannot  
afford to have a President who plays "tit for tat", because that  
gives the advantage to the first player to move.  We need a president  
who is capable of seen the connection between energy, population,  
trade, war, employment, and environment.  We do not need someone who  
only sees an "us-them" dichotomy, because the Russians and Chinese  
already know how to use that to maneuver us.

Obama is intelligent, and he actually appears to use his mind.  He  
only looks "elite" because he is compared to George Bush.

IMHO  The jury is still out on the question of the President's real  
intelligence.  Is he a drug and drink addled brain manipulated by  
Dick Cheney?  Or is he a devious political mind, bush whacking  
unsuspecting adversaries who were lulled into complacency by a  
cultivated, studied "aw-shucks, good old boy" persona with mangled  
language and stumbling mannerisms?

David
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