Tuesday, September 23, 2008

A bad week for McCain

George Will wonders:

It is arguable that, because of his inexperience, Obama is not ready for the presidency. It is arguable that McCain, because of his boiling moralism and bottomless reservoir of certitudes, is not suited to the presidency. Unreadiness can be corrected, although perhaps at great cost, by experience. Can a dismaying temperament be fixed?

That sounds erudite and pithy, but if it's the best argument against McCain and for Obama, it's no argument at all. After six years of on-the-job experience, Clinton still completely failed to inquire about and realize the determination and capabilities of Islamist terrorism, took no steps to stop it and failed to both capture bin Laden when the US could have and retaliate effectively against his organization. Certain great costs are too high to pay for unreadiness. Obama's dithering personality and Carteresque internationalist approach to foreign policy means he gets the big issues wrong.

McCain called for overhauling Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2005 and railed against military lollygagging in Iraq before the President insisted upon the Surge. He gets the big things right, even if his temperament or style are a bit terse.

Will's best reasons against McCain do not make an argument for Obama.

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