Just read the Rolling Stone cover story on McCain

[pegkerr]

It is just jaw-dropping. A devastating, detailed synopsis of McCain's career. Wow. I learned a LOT. And am even more convinced that this man should never be President.

This is the story of the real John McCain, the one who has been hiding in plain sight. It is the story of a man who has consistently put his own advancement above all else, a man willing to say and do anything to achieve his ultimate ambition: to become commander in chief, ascending to the one position that would finally enable him to outrank his four-star father and grandfather.

In its broad strokes, McCain's life story is oddly similar to that of the current occupant of the White House. John Sidney McCain III and George Walker Bush both represent the third generation of American dynasties. Both were born into positions of privilege against which they rebelled into mediocrity. Both developed an uncanny social intelligence that allowed them to skate by with a minimum of mental exertion. Both struggled with booze and loutish behavior. At each step, with the aid of their fathers' powerful friends, both failed upward. And both shed their skins as Episcopalian members of the Washington elite to build political careers as self-styled, ranch-inhabiting Westerners who pray to Jesus in their wives' evangelical churches.

In one vital respect, however, the comparison is deeply unfair to the current president: George W. Bush was a much better pilot.

Read the rest at the link above. Well worth your time.

Comments

[barondave.livejournal.com]

The stories of both W and McCain are similar in that they are all about salvation. Bush flip-flopped on his religion, twice. He was an incompetent drunk who couldn't even find oil in Texas. But when he found Jesus, everything was okay. McCain was a lousy pilot, but as a prisoner he found America.

In that sense, McCain is worse. At least Bush has been consistent since he was Born Again at 40 (that we know about). After McCain learned to be part of something bigger than he is, he came home and cheated on his wife and abandoned a family.

[sternel.livejournal.com]

I would not be surprised to find out that the author finds himself on the No Fly list. Powerful stuff. Thanks for the link.

[wintercreek]

Did you see that it was posted from the future? :)
Posted Oct 16, 2008 7:00 PM

What a fascinating topic. I'm looking forward to reading it.

Time for Change...

[theaarauth.livejournal.com]

This country can't afford to stay on the path it's on. Economically or in any other way, and it really scares me.

In the past, I always voted on issues of morality. Right now, the American people are suffering so badly it's morally bankrupt on both sides. *Sad*

It's time for a huge change! My friend Heather and I say if we get another republican in office, we'll pack up and move to Canada or the UK. We're kidding, but kind of not kidding too, if you get me.

[magicwoman.livejournal.com]

Wow - thanks for the link!

[darth-kittius.livejournal.com]

That article was great. And what's better is that almost all of it is public record, or fact-checkable. It's not like it's opinions or simply explained by biased reporting. And that they haven't tried to argue it, that says a lot to me!

[irinaauthor.livejournal.com]

George W. Bush was a much better pilot.

Ow. Geez.

[dichroic.livejournal.com]

I think it was actually George H. W. Bush who was a much better pilot (won a Distinguished Flying Cross in WWII). I've never seen enough about GWB to convince me htat his flying skill was ever tested in any meaningful way. They might as well say *I'm* a better pilot, as I've never crashed an airplane either. (I have something like a whopping 200 hours flying time.)

Not that that makes the rest of the story wrong, but it does make me wonder a little about accuracy and slant. No matter; the stories in it I already did know (the temper issues, the flip-flop on torture, a few others) were already plenty convincing.