December 22, 2006
Senator Backbone
I thought my hero, Larry Kudlow, was writing an article on oxymorons: "Senator?" "Backbone?"
He writes, instead, on Senator John McCain's courage to push for victory in Iraq against the polls, the CW, and the Baker Surrender Group.
McCain clearly would rather do the right thing in our nation’s interest than the politically correct thing. He is about leadership and character and decisiveness. He seems to have the ability to assess American national-security needs, not just for the next few weeks, but the next few decades. And he is almost single-handedly lifting our war policy towards strength rather than weakness.McCain is standing tall against the tides of wartime fatigue, the polls, and the conventional Beltway wisdom. Whatever the outcome of the Iraq debate, and even the 2008 presidential election, the senator is behaving in a remarkably brave and steadfast manner at a time when so many of our leaders are shrinking from those crucial public duties.
Kudlow has been hitting the pro-McCain theme hard on his TV show for a couple of weeks. McCain's stand on the war is admirable, and none of the other candidates are wowing me (I'd give Mayor Giuliani a chance).
War is the issue. McCain is likely the candidate. My on again, off again endorsement is now on again.