But here is the not-very-political part. As Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said during a conference call, the problem with the presumed Democratic nominee, Barack Obama, is that he never tells the left something it doesn't want to hear. McCain still tells the GOP base things that make them bristle.
And there is a philosophical cohesion to McCain's proposals. McCain understands that energy is a national security issue. Thus, he wants to increase supply, not only with more drilling, but also with more biofuels. He also advocates conservation and increased automobile fuel-efficiency standards. He calls for eliminating sugar tariffs that drive up the cost of ethanol and proposes a $5,000 tax credit for Americans who buy zero-emission vehicles.
Do I go for the whole spiel? Hell, no. I liked the woman who challenged McCain's enthusiasm for all-electric cars, by asking, "How are you going to charge all those electric cars?" But I do like the fact that McCain is willing to tell everyone things that he specifically knows they will not like.
You have to respect that.
Yes, his delivery is hokey. There's a lot of stuff in McTalk that your mother told you -- make that your grandmother.
But if Al Gore supporter/consultant Naomi Wolf could discover in that former presidential candidate a "nerd-visionary instinct" and a "Blakean deep inside," surely some guru in McTeam can find the right spin.
Is there such a thing as geezer chic? |