Make-Believe Maverick
“A closer look at the life and career of John McCain reveals a disturbing record of recklessness and dishonesty.”
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.
How long does America expect the far-right wing of the GOP and religious fundamentalists to keep things afloat? We’re starting to see blowback from all these failed policies and instead of questioning the policies we are supposed to question the players and the system.
The problem is the GOP is too far to the right.
I’m not buying the problem lies with “both parties.” The problem lies with one party.