Last of Our Kind

I suppose if you have been listening to the media at all lately, you have been hearing about how tomorrow night’s debate is McCain’s last chance at a game changer. Somehow this feels very much like the buzz leading up to the VP debate, albeit much more subtle. I feel that expectations have already been lowered so that no matter what McCain does tomorrow night; he can be declared the winner. I may be off on this, but I do get that feeling.

The fact is McCain’s last chance (as I see it) at a big momentum shift was when we all really noticed our country’s economic nosedive. When the markets began to crash at alarming rates and Bush proposed (read: begged for) his bailout (and yes, it is a bailout no matter what you try to call it…remember…you can put lipstick on a pig…) package to be passed by our lawmakers. That was the moment to step forward, lead, show a steady hand, and display that ever-precious judgment. And to McCain’s credit, he attempted to convince us all that this was exactly what he was doing. And to our credit, we saw right through it. Everyone who saw that moment for what it was deserves a hearty pat on the back and round of applause.

You see, that moment was the moment the real John McCain appeared. He quickly turned into Senator McNasty. He refused to even make eye contact with his opponent at the debate he said he would not attend, and from that point forward, McCain has been consistent in one thing…hypocrisy. The Straight-Talk Express has not only lost a couple of wheels, they have downright derailed. Since that moment, we have seen a completely different John McCain day in and day out. We have seen a McCain (and a lapdog named Palin) that uses mob mentality to incite violence and create hate and anger towards Barack Obama.

Surprise Senator McCain...This last Friday night, it backfired. It all blew up right in McCain’s face when a supporter at one of his rallies called Obama an Arab. McCain immediately took the microphone away from her and called Obama a decent man, a man that we should not be afraid of. Guess what happened? The crowd booed their illustrious candidate. The very man they support. They booed him because he had spent the last week trying to make everyone scared of his opponent. They booed because McCain has spent the last week stoking the flames of fear. And what do we know about fear? That’s right…you guessed it…


In the words of everyone’s favorite little green Buddha, “Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. Suffering leads to…” well you know the rest.

Essentially the last month or so has been one big momentum shifting opportunity for each candidate. And it seems that momentum is not swayed by frantic and erratic behavior. It is not swayed by negativity when voters want to hear where their candidates stand on real substantive issues. Ignoring the economic issues that really concern voters does not sway momentum. You see Mr. McCain’s strategy plays to the conservative base. It plays to the indoctrinated views and beliefs of the far right. And what appeals to the far right is not what appeals to the independents.

I only hope some sort of late October surprise by the Republican Party does not hand the election to McCain…whatever that surprise may be.