The Problem with the Star

Sometimes when you make something like a logo you convey more than you intend.  From the very begining of the Presidential campaign the star has been at the center of the McCain iconography.  The star has a special significance in McCain's life.  McCain's father and grandfather where both four star admirals.  John McCain never became and admiral and therfore never recieved an admiral's star.

John McCain was viewed as rebel in the navy, which wasn't good for his career.  He never seemed to have career advancement as a primary goal.  It is hard to say how his long captivity and brutal torture affectected his career plans.  He may have taken his navy career more serously if these events had not transpired and political career not beckoned.  But for better or worse he did not fufill the family ambition of having three four star admirals.

The star in his logo hints at underlying search for redemption.   If he becomes President than it will be better than becoming a four star admiral.  Instead of a career slacker he will be a triumphant comander and chief.   We all saw how Bush's desire to distance himself from his father egged him on to making disasterous policy decisions.  It would be unwise to elect another politician that seems to have similar father issues.  

Selecting a Govenor Sarah Palin

The Swearing in of President Lyndon Johnson

Following the Assination of John F. Kennedey

The selection of Govenor Sarah Palin as his Vice Presidential candidate highlights a number of disturbing points about McCain and Republicans in general.  Since 9-11 Republicans have constantly claimed that national security was their first priority.  But there have been a number of indications that this indeed was not the case.   The poor response to Hurricane Katrina showed that the Bush administration had not prepared for a major terrorist attack.  After all the same resources that where so sorely lacking in response to Katrina would have been just as lacking in the case of a terrorist attacks.

But no decisions have betrayed a flippant disregard of national security than the choices for Vice President made by Bush running for his second term and McCain's choice of Palin for his running mate.  Cheney was an exceptionally bad choice for Vice-President given the circumstances.  Cheney had by that time had already had several heart attacks.  

Imagine if Bush were killed by terrorists today and Cheney had a heart attack and was heavily drugged and unconsious, whould the cabinet do the right thing and let Pelosi ascend to the Presidency, or would they try to run the government without a functioning Comander and Chief.

If Bush were really serious about national security he would have never picked Dick Cheney to be is Vice President for his second term.  If Republicans had been serious about national security they surly would have said that this is an inappropiate choice.

The selection of Palin continues this Republican disregard for the national security.  To a certain extent the perception of a new President matters as much as the Presidents ability.  The fact that Palin has not been able to create the perception of a firm military leader even within her own party presents the potential for a number of disasterous senerios.

Again there is the posibility that McCain could not be killed or die out right but linger in state of partial disability for months.   What if the damage to his mental health in the years of torture in a North Vietnamese prison camp started to come to a head.  Would Palin be able to gain the support of enough cabinet memebers to assume the Presidency?   What if McCain had another instance of skin cancer and required pain medication that left him confused?   The same situation would arise.

What if McCain was killed by a nuclear bomb secreted into the United States.  Would Palin instill confidence in her assesment of the situation that would allow a nuclear response that would result in the deaths of millions of innocent people?   Alternatively would she have the confidence to resist calls for an immediate nuclear response long enough to asertain the true author of the attack?

By picking Palin above many others who would project a sense of military compentence McCain showed that he is willing to put America at risk for politcal gain.

He May Not be Fit to Serve

I often thought one of the biggest signs that Bush did not take the war on terrorism was the fact that he ran with Vice President Cheney during his successful attempt at a second term. Imagine the nightmare that would follow if Bush was killed by terrorist and Cheney suffered yet another heart attack or stroke. Would the members of the President's cabinet allow Pelosi to ascend to the presidency or would they to direct the reaction to the Presidents assassination without a functioning Commander in Chief?

Look at the picture above. It is of President Lyndon being administered the oath of office on the plane that carrying the body of John F. Kennedy. In Washington D. C. movers where already moving Kennedy's desk out of the oval office. This tableaux was not like the similar procedures that attend the transfer of powers of British Prime Ministers a editorial on the transitory nature of power. Rather it was a practical ceremony to convince the world that Lyndon Johnson's was empowered to launch the world destroying arsenal of nuclear weapons at the countries disposal and to assure those who would be asked to carry out those orders that they were legal.

Only three people on earth have or will soon have the power to end all human life on earth. They are the president of the United States, the leader of Russia, and the leader of China. When we chose a president, the first question must be is a candidate physically and emotionally competent to hold such a an awesome responsibility.

I would argue that there are serious reasons to believe that McCain is not such a person. McCain was shot down by the enemy and tortured for years. I am not saying that he is some sort of Manchurian Candidate. But the purpose of torture is not to find the ticking bomb before the commercial break. It is to weaken a person mental health so that they will be manipulable to do things like sign false confessions. McCain did sign such a confession.

The stresses of war are often permanent. It is easy to support the troops as they march by in their smart uniforms beautiful specimens of youth. It is quite another to support the troops when they drenched in beer and their own urine and babbling incoherently in the street.

War breaks men and makes men heroes. Often it does a little of both. McCain has presented quite well and has obviously been functioning exceptionally well. He is powerful and respected Senator and won a very challenging presidential primary. All these point to man who has overcome his demons and has been hardened not weakened by battle.

There are, however reasons to worry. He is known for his exceptional temper. But more importantly military training can help a person who is in a significant amount of distress to present well. This means that McCain's mental health may be significantly worse than we are able to perceive.

I used to work in a residential hotel for seniors. I have no medical training but I saw the residents frequently and many of WWII veterans presented remarkably well considering hteir age. Yet when the first bombs fell in Iraq a number of these men had mental breakdowns significant enough that they were permanently institutionalized.

If 9-11 has done anything, it has reminded us of the possibility that the next president would have to address a major disaster such as a nuclear explosion in the United States or Israel. The dire consequences of inaction or overreaction can not be overstated. The fact McCain has suffered such an systimatic attack on his mental health and has not released his mental health information makes the prospect of his ascension to the Presidency just too risky.

Read Why L’etendard Sanglant gives John McCain
Our Gratitude, but Not our Endorsement