Liberals and conservatives alike fail to truly reflect his views, McCain writes, because “neither emphasizes the obligations of a free people to the nation.” His main governmental inspiration is Teddy Roosevelt, the “Eastern swell who became a man of the people,” whose great accomplishment was “to summon the American people to greatness.” In Roosevelt’s code, McCain writes approvingly, it was “absolutely required that every loyal citizen take risks for the country’s sake.” This is an essentially militaristic view of citizenship, one that explains many of McCain’s departures from partisan orthodoxy. Unlike traditional Republicans, he will gladly butt into the affairs of private industry if he perceives them to be undermining Americans’ faith in government; unlike Democrats, he thinks the executive branch generally needs more power, not less.

“Our greatness,” he wrote in Worth the Fighting For, “depends upon our patriotism, and our patriotism is hardly encouraged when we cannot take pride in the highest public institutions.” So, because steroids might be damaging the faith of young baseball fans, drug testing becomes a “transcendent issue,” requiring threats of federal intervention unless pro sports leagues shape up. Hollywood’s voluntary movie-rating system? A “smoke screen to provide cover for immoral and unconscionable business practices.” Ultimate Fighting on Indian reservations? “Barbaric” and worthy of government pressure on cable TV companies. Negative political ads by citizen groups? They “do little to further beneficial debate and healthy political dialogue” and so must be banned for 60 days before an election if they mention a candidate by name.

If his issues line up with yours, and if you’re not overly concerned by an activist federal government, McCain can be a great and sympathetic ally. But chances are he will eventually see a grave national threat in what you consider harmless, or he’ll prescribe a remedy that you consider unconscionable.

Labels: BGC, Cintv, ForPo, He, Lib, OnVi, OthBlo

Posted by Brian Sorgatz at 12:00 PM

 R M Roxinger left this comment at February 2, 2008 1:03 AM  
"And I wonder, still I wonder, who'll stop McCain?" Thus sang parody artist Robert Lund, parodying CCR's "Who'll Stop the Rain." Now I too wonder who'll stop him. I believe that if ANY one of the Republican candidates wins in Nov, the war in Iraq will go on for at least 4 more years, & this country could very well fall into the hands of a police state, just like Germany did in the 1930s. On the Democratic side, now that Kucinich is out, I'm rooting for Obama.

 Brian Sorgatz left this comment at February 2, 2008 4:29 AM  
R M,
I don’t believe the U.S. is in danger of becoming Nazi Germany any time soon. Although I don’t get particularly excited by the Obama campaign, I would greatly prefer him to Clinton. I can’t trust her with all her phoniness, hypocrisy, and self-righteousness. (Gender has nothing to do with this; playboy’s honor.)

 Robert Paulson left this comment at February 3, 2008 11:43 AM  
Here’s my dilemma, Even though I agree more with Romney, I can’t stomach the oily sucker, so I voted for McCain in the primary Since Rudy is gone.

The one thing I do like about McCain is his hawkish stance. That "Bomb Bomb Bomb Iran" thing made me like him more.

But, in the general election, I know that Romney would fight harder, meaner and dirtier. Romney has it in his stomach that he wants to win. With McCain I get the sense that “Hey, its my turn” and doesn’t have it in him to play dirty, [or hire a team that will play dirty] The last time the GOP nominated a “Hey, its my turn” guy, we got Bob Dole.

There’s a great, evenhanded documentary called “So Goes The Nation” that’s showing on IFC. Its about Ohio in 2004. It shows how Bush won. Among other factors, one was religious, rural types, coming to the polling places in their horse & buggy’s. I don’t think neither McCain nor Romney can make the hardcore evangelicals get out the vote. If not for the fact that our nominee will be running against a minority [don’t kid yourself, you know damn well that a lot of the nation won’t vote for a lady or a black guy] I would think that we are doomed.

 IludiumPhosdex left this comment at March 25, 2008 7:04 PM  
Now here's another worthwhile reason to hate John McCain....

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