Avoiding the Glue Factory

Matt Welch writes, "it's time to bring the maverick out of retirement for one last caper."

It's a testament to just how lousy McCain has run his campaign that he managed to squander his decades-long cred (both deserved and not) as an independent, a country-first guy and a straight talker. Lingering sentiment along those lines was enough to win him the GOP primary (in lieu of actual Republican votes), but all he's been doing in the general election is frittering away the support he absolutely needs to win in a year Republicans aren't supposed to. He needs to keep appealing to independents, centrist Democrats and the media, but instead he's been alienating all of the above with brazen flip-floppery, fatigue-inducing campaign stunts and the glaring absence of dramatic truth-telling during the biggest financial panic since the 1970s.

[snip]

It would take real bravery and a counter-puncher's skill to look a financial and ideological panic in the face and declare that the answer, for once, is not more government but less, organized more efficiently. But Americans are ready for a cold slap in the face from a politician they can actually trust. They used to trust McCain.

Comments

[Michael J. Totten]

"It would take real bravery and a counter-puncher's skill to look a financial and ideological panic in the face and declare that the answer, for once, is not more government but less, organized more efficiently."

We're sure as hell not going to hear anything like that from Obama. McCain is afraid to say it, but Obama is incapable of even thinking it.

[aroyo]

What a crock. McCain was the left's favorite Republican until he stood in the path of The One. All this talk about how the 'Maverick' has changed is hogwash. He hasn't. His opponent has. Funny how one can be a hero running against Bush, but holding the same views is a villain running against The Messiah.

And yes, I realize it cuts both ways. McCain was reviled by Conservatives when he was running against REAL ones. Now he is the hero of those that once revered him because he is opposing their antithesis.

[Mike LaRoche]

If anything belongs in the glue factory, it's Obama's shopworn Euro-socialism.

[Sue]

I'm confused. Why so much scorn and anger towards Obama's economic policies from the previous three commenters? It's as if his would-be policies went back into the futurepast and ruined today's economy. Is that even possible? Not unless...wait, maybe he really is the One!