Some people still think McCain would be the better president
Interesting. I assume the Reiham Salam is in the minority on this one. But at least he’s thoughtful about it.
Despite running one of the worst presidential campaigns I’ve ever seen, John McCain would, I’m convinced, make an excellent president. Among America’s friends and allies there is an almost unshakable conviction that only an Obama presidency can undo the damage done by President Bush’s supposed foreign policy blunders. And I can understand that – Obama’s personal story is inspiring; he is an unusually thoughtful person with a cool temperament and a commanding presence. But, hard though this may be to believe, this is precisely the right moment for President McCain.
The past seven years have been a time of extraordinary tumult in international affairs, and the world badly needs a period of consolidation and sweeping reform. Our diplomatic and economic institutions are ill suited to tackling the diffuse threats posed by climate change, financial contagion, mass epidemics and catastrophic terrorism. Only Nixon could go to China, and only McCain can reconcile conservatives to some of the hard steps the US will have to take.
Hat-tip: Andrew Sullivan.
