Sunday, October 26, 2008
It's hard to look at the world today and be optimistic. It requires, at the minimum, perspective and the understanding that things will get better over time provided our leaders take us in the right direction.
Supporters of Barack Obama would have us believe that this fresh face on the political scene is exactly the right person to lead the charge up the hill. But choosing the next occupant of the White House without requiring a track record of effective leadership is not what this country needs at this critical time.
The only candidate with the deep and broad-ranging experience that will be demanded of our next president is John McCain. The only candidate who not only talks about change, but actually has led change and gotten things done, is John McCain. The only candidate who has shown he is capable of standing up to his own party for the common good is John McCain.
Compare, contrast
Less than four years ago, Mr. Obama was a member of the Illinois Senate.
By contrast, Mr. McCain is completing his 22nd year in the U.S. Senate. Earlier, he served four years in Congress. He also is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and had a 22-year military career, including five years spent as a prisoner of war after he was shot down over Hanoi during the Vietnam War.
In his biography, Mr. Obama is noted to have "worked on" and to have "helped create" various pieces of worthwhile legislation while serving in the U.S. Senate.
By contrast, Mr. McCain's widely recognized contributions include such notable legislation as the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform act, sponsorship of a line-item veto to rein in wasteful spending and strong support for the Gramm-Rudman act that enforced spending cuts in the event of deficit spending.
Mr. McCain also notably broke from the Republican leadership in becoming an early critic of President Bush's strategy in Iraq. His efforts were a key factor in forcing a shift to the "surge" strategy that is credited with turning the tide in the war.
There is still more: chairmanship of the powerful Senate Commerce Committee, a scrap with the tobacco industry over his proposal to improve funding of anti-smoking campaigns, a key role in breaking a Senate deadlock over confirmation of appellate court judges.
What's needed now
Of all the problems facing America, the most important may be restoring the public's confidence that we are up to the challenges ahead. This plays to Mr. McCain's strengths.
Our next president almost certainly will need to ask the American people to make short-term sacrifices. He must move decisively to reduce military involvement in Iraq, but only after the security of the country is ensured. He must lead the nation in confronting the threatening Taliban in Afghanistan.
This president must guide the nation through the most challenging financial crisis of the last 70 years. He must shape compromises needed to fund the huge commitments to the Wall Street rescue and our troops overseas. He must encourage bipartisan ideas for reforming health care and developing new energy sources.
On the critical money issues, only Mr. McCain has offered credible policy initiatives. He would freeze domestic spending for the first year and impose a limit of 2.4 percent growth going forward. He would hold the line on taxes, support incentives for investments in the economy and defend free-trade agreements essential to global commerce.
We are told that no president in modern history has faced the crises that lie just ahead. Mr. Obama is an appealing candidate, but only Mr. McCain can make a convincing case he is ready to lead our nation in these trying times.
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Orliandor says...
I can live with John McCain as President of the United States, but what your editorial staff seems to ignore is the fact that there would be a right wing fanatic standing in line should Mr. McCain be unable to fulfill his duties.I will vote on the safe side for two intelligent candidates who truly care about the fate of all on this planet.
October 26, 2008 at 12:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
94114_San_Francisco says...
I'm afraid the residents of St. Joseph are being poorly served by the New-Press endorsement of John McCain. "A proven leader" would never endanger this country with someone as unprepared and unsuited to the Presidency as Sarah Palin.
I think I'll trust the endorsements of Colin Powell, The Kansas City Star, The Anchorage Daily News, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, The Chicago Tribune, The Denver Post and The Salt Lake Tribune.
As a former resident of St. Joseph, I'm saddened that my hometown paper finds itself so tragically out of step with this moment in history.
October 26, 2008 at 2:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ShirleeK says...
You just don't get it do you? The world has changed so much, all the experience on earth won't help McCain deal with the new realities. It will only keep him mired in the old ways that are no longer relevant. Obama has the fresh eyes and analytical mind to move America forward in this not-so-brave new world.
October 26, 2008 at 8:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
azmaggie says...
obama only has a big mouth! His mouth is making promises his butt cannot keep! I would much preferr to see Palin as president than biden. You all keep talking like McCain is dying but HOW can you guarantee obam will live 4 more years?? Oh yes you are counting on ACORN getting him elected.
October 26, 2008 at 9:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
heritage_sarahhochschwender says...
i am voting with incredible reluctance for mccain. palin sticks in my craw, and i wish sen. mccain had chosen lieberman.
October 26, 2008 at 9:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ShirleeK says...
Thank you for your intelligent analysis azmaggie ;-)
October 26, 2008 at 10:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
apmastrangelo says...
McCain is the right choice for president and there are distinct reasons for my conclusion.
Looking at Obama, and I did, several issues have and continue to be troubling.
First was the Rev. Wright association. This is not about religion but more critical the judgement Obama used. It was not a casual association but rather one of some 20, and recent years. A person does not have that type of relation without knowing the personal beliefs of the other. On that point Obama initially claimed he had not heard the comments of Rev. Wright but then changed his account. Ultimately Obama, after claiming he could no more "disavow" Rev. Wright than any other of his brothers, severed his association when the political realities were seen.
There are many more subtle items that troubled me. Obama committed to public campaign financing rules. That is until he saw the dollars coming in and then went back on the commitment. He now is spending 3 to 5 times that of McCain and such actions give the perception of buying the election.
If you follow the voting record of Obama you might recall he also changed his position and how he voted on public privacy matters. I won't go into detail over Obama voting for the Bush energy plan.
Obama used Iraq as a corner stone of his early campaign. It is interesting how dramatically his plan to bring an immediate end to the war has changed.
Obama is an extremely intelligent person but seen as an individual more intent on doing what ever necessary to fulfill his ambitions.
McCain may be considered old school but has demonstrated the wisdom and willingness to do what is right. A characteristic I find important at this time and one not seen or demonstrated by Obama.
October 26, 2008 at 11:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wildwest says...
My issues with Obama are the alliances he has had with some very questionable people. This has been downplayed quite a bit in the media and it has been dismissed as his associations were very limited and he has cut them off. Publicly he has never really denounced these individuals, he has alienated from them as a matter of politics in the course of business. I still have questions about those alliances one in particular, did he have one of his books ghost written by Ayars or did that person have input? The answer to that one has been avoided. If there is any substance to that, then my validation that Obama is deceptive will be verified. There are 2 things about the Mccain ticket that resonate with me, "country first" is his battle slogan and his running mate regardless of the critizisms and countless attempts to discredit her experience and commitment, in my view she understands completety the importance of having a strong defense and secure nation. Listening to her talk, she always talks about the security of this country and the threats out there to it, she "gets it" in that aspect and from my own experience out there in the world with those that want to just take this country and everyone in it out, she is not afraid to hit back and hit back enough to make an impact on those who may want to challenge us.
Obama stands for socialism and his own ambitions. And again, some of his votes on previous legislation in Illinois
as "present" in my view are not decisives votes. They are political ones with no decision making abilities, and only serve to give a politician leverage when something goes "south" they can say they did not commit to it. I want someone in there who can make a decision quickly. No someone with a "personal journey" philosphy.
October 26, 2008 at 1:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DADicated says...
I commend the News Press on their endorsement of Senator McCain. Judging by many of the posts over the past months, I am guessing many will disagree.
The choice of his running mate was a brilliant marketing move. She can be an exciting and strong partner. However, I have reservations about her ability to lead the country. I hope that Governor Palin is not needed to step up to the Oval Office.
I am not going to waste space, Readers, or your time, about why Senator Obama will not get my vote. There are those who don't need to listen, and those that won't.
October 26, 2008 at 3:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
millerknob says...
I take exception to your editorial endorseing John McCain and Sarah Palen for President. Mr. McCain has already shown his bad judgement in selecting Sarah Palen as his runningmate. She is clearly qualified only by the terms of the Constitution via age and USA citizenship. Other than that she is not even close. I will vote for Obama and Biden as they have the better leadership capabilities.
October 27, 2008 at 7:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
howarddecker says...
millerknob-
funny you should mention being "qualified only by the terms of the constitution" when Mr. Obama and his camp has yet to provide proof that he is a "natural born citizen" as our constitution requires. Why? Perhaps he can't.
The citizens of the United states have more in common with Ms. Palin than they do with Mr. Obama or Mr. Biden.
Mr. McCain has proven his dedication and loyality to our country.
All Mr. Obama and his camp is.... smoke and mirrors.
That is why I will be voting for McCain and Palin
October 27, 2008 at 8:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
familyguy says...
It's not negativity, ninja, it's the truth. The MSM has already "boughten" into the Obama presidency. McCain is just trying to speak truth to power. Unfortunately, the Obama congregants have shut down rational thought and "boughten" into a charlatan. If McCain had all the baggage that Obama brings to the party, he would have been run out of Washington months ago. Obama is being given a pass and the Obamamites are gleeful and giddy. Good luck, suckers. If your guy wins, you have to suffer with the rest of us.
October 27, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Wright_Winger says...
An Obama presidency would result in what he promised Joe the Plumber, an increase in taxes on producers and their products in order to "spread the wealth."
This is a quote from an interview Obama gave to a Chicago radio station on Sept. 6, 2001 in which he criticizes the Supreme Court for not being active in promoting a "redistributive change" for America:
"(But) the Supreme Court never ventured into the issues of redistribution of wealth and sort of more basic issues of political and economic justice in this society.... And one of the I think the tragedies of the Civil Rights movement was because the Civil Rights movement became so court focused I think that there was a tendency to lose track of the political and community organizing and activities on the ground that are able to put together the actual coalitions of power through which you bring about redistributive change and in some ways we still suffer from that."
The entire interview is available on YouTube and in web news reports.
October 27, 2008 at 11:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Wright_Winger says...
ninja...it wasn't Joe that used the term "spread the wealth." It was "the one whose middle name must not be spoken aloud" that said he would raise taxes and redistribute the monies. The issue is the presidency and not the efficacy of some guy who asked a question and got an answer that is proving to be the one truthful thing the candidate has said.
October 27, 2008 at 12:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SAXTON says...
I find the the ability & achievement levels of Obama & Biden to be so far superior to that of their oppostion that I have to vote for them especially in light of the "Karl Rove" type campaign being run by their handlers which I am ashamed of as a lifelong Republican.
I can also relate to Obama & Biden as people like myself who hoisted themselves up by their own bootstraps as I did rather than being born into silver spoon situations as McCain & Palin were!
October 27, 2008 at 5:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )