Joan Vennochi: That's it for McCain

[babylonsister]

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/10/16/thats_it_for_mccain/

That's it for McCain
By Joan Vennochi
Globe Columnist / October 16, 2008


IT'S OVER. John McCain still hasn't told the country why he should be president.


He has talking points. He is against taxes, earmarks, and pork. But he can't knit what he opposes into a coherent economic philosophy that would inspire voters to get behind him in the final days of this presidential campaign.

He has an inspirational life story. But in this campaign, he never connected his biography to his presidential ambition, and he never told voters how it would shape a McCain administration and make him a better president than his opponent.

McCain has long years of political experience, exactly what Democrat Barack Obama lacks. But McCain is unable to explain why his experience makes him better able to lead the country.

McCain had at least one good line last night: "Senator Obama, I am not President Bush. If you wanted to run against President Bush you should've run four years ago." But one good line isn't a lifeline.

The Arizona senator finally mentioned Bill Ayers and ACORN to his opponent's face. But he can't link Obama to Ayers and domestic terrorism, or to the controversial community group called Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, as tightly as Obama can link McCain to Bush. And that remains one of Obama's biggest advantages in this race.

The Democrat has other advantages, from the economy to his own eloquence. He also has the ability to do what McCain can't do: look and sound presidential.

Enjoying a surge in the polls, Obama was confident, maybe a bit overconfident in this final debate.

Obama grinned; McCain grimaced.

Each knows his destiny. One man is walking to the White House. The other is just a politically dead man walking.

Joan Vennochi can be reached at [e-mail].

[mamalone]

1. Wow.

Isn't the Globe traditionally a very right wing paper?

[high density]

2. That's the Herald

I think McCain is falling into the same trap as Kerry in regards to military service. It just doesn't matter that much when people get in the voting booth.

[mamalone]

3. Ahhhhhhh............

My mistake:blush: Thanks for the correction:hi:

[MANative]

6. Your point also brings up the general fallacy of the

"Commander in Chief" test. Call me crazy, but that's only one role that the President plays. What about setting economic policy, energy policy, infrastructure/natural resources policy, etc? He/she needs to be so much more than the military's figurehead. The Armed Forces are managed in their operations by the senior military commanders; the CIC only determines the overall mission.

[RichardRay]

4. Years ago it wasn't, I don't know about its more recent behavior.

They are sometimes critical of Democrats in Massachusetts, but that's not saying much. If you want to criticize a politician at just about any level in Mass you're going to be criticizing a Democrat.

[AlCzervik]

5. When the Herald was a broadsheet is was still conservative but it has more credibility

now that's it's in tabloid form it's really lost it all.

[babylonsister]

8. So is there a paper of note in the Boston area? I thought this was it. nt

[AlCzervik]

10. the globe.

[babylonsister]

11. That's where this link goes. nt

[AlCzervik]

12. i posted in the wrong place, someone asked about the Herald.

[babylonsister]

7. This is someone's opinion, so it doesn't matter. But

in December 07, the Globe did endorse Obama (and McSame), so maybe not that right wing...

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/12/15/519496.aspx

[ThatsMyBarack]

9. Thanks, Joan!

:patriot: :yourock: