John Meacham and Evan Thomas have a stellar piece in Newsweek, which was posted today at RCP. Entitled “The Vices of their Virtues”, the medium-length write-up makes the case that undecideds now have a perfectly good basis on which to evaluate the two US presidential candidates – and it comes down to character.
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They portray John McCain as passionate or hot-headed, depending on taste. From his intention to fire the chairman of the SEC (which presidents can’t do), to his declaration that the economy is in “total crisis”, to his distasteful and ineffective body language during the first presidential debate, by which he signalled anger, frustration and disrespect toward his opponent – John McCain obviously “shoots from the hip”, as the article says.
They portray Mr. Obama, conversely, as “Mr. Cool”. He’s remained remarkable calm throughout the period of economic turmoil which (one hopes) came to a head with the US govt’s $700 bail-out plan. He doesn’t like lofty rhetoric on foreign policy, and his bearing is unshakeably steady.
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It’s a great piece, and you should read the whole thing. It implicitly – well, kind of explicitly at one point – makes the observation that Obama and McCain are the two sides of a really great coin. Calmness and grim determination. Critical judgement and nationalism. Intellect and instinct.
After reading as much as I can, discussing with friends and betters, and giving the whole damned thing a lot of thought, I’ve drawn a tentative conclusion about my feelings on the candidates, especially regarding foreign policy.
I like McCain’s instincts on IR and I like his rhetoric. But I can honestly not get a feel for his underlying philosophy. Matt from FPW and I recently had an exchange about this, and he insightfully noted that McCain is what some would call a Jacksonian – a nationalist whose impulses are driven more by passion that methodical strategy.
I like Obama’s perspective on how to restore America’s credibility in the world (not to mention, I think Obama’s nearer the mark on taxes and education, as well). I like his liberal-internationalist faith in the ability of states to foster an atmosphere of increased trust and mutual-benefit amid our anarchic global system. I like his perspective that negotiation – after careful planning, and rooted in both the national interest and the interest of global stability – can not be conflated with appeasement, and that moral authority is translatable into usable power on the world stage.
The bugger of it is that I still believe he was and is wrong on Iraq. He was utterly wrong to advocate for a troop withdrawal when things were going terribly in Iraq. This stands out like a pulsating, rashed, hang-nail laiden thumb smack in the middle of an otherwise cogent and moderate IR perspective.
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We know about their temperaments. We know how this translates into foreign policy. And we know Sarah Palin should not be trusted with the Resolute Desk.
For a sometimes-half-hearted but fairly consistent McCain supporter, this is a bitch of an election.
a nationalist whose impulses are driven more by passion that methodical strategy
Of all the reviews of John McCain I’ve read, that strikes me as the scariest.
Speaking as someone that goes off half-cocked most of the time….
Catelli,
Oh come now. Don’t be one of those types who gets ’scared’ all the time.
However, I do share your concern for McCain’s apparent lack of a relatively coherent vision for American leadership in the world.
It’s not the kind of question that should go unanswered.
I’ve written in an earlier column that “Obama’s global strategy lacks vision”. I still believe this to be true. I know what Obama’s MO is: liberal internationalism with a dash of American exceptionalism to taste. But it’s not clear what is actual *goals* are.
With McCain, neither is clear.
I don’t know if it’s legit to put these two items, times two candidates, on some kind of a scale, but it really brings the shortcomings of both camp’s IR instincts into sharp relief (if you grant my assumptions).
Cheers,
M
Consider my rattled nerves soothed.
You are correct, Obama’s penchant for American exceptionalism is somewhat worrying. But at least we do know where he stands ideoligically. And that he is prone to thoughtful deliberation.
McCain favours free trade (right?) but can be rash when provoked.
I much prefer the former to the latter as the former can be negotiated with. The latter, well to modify a well worn saying, “Hell hath no fury like a republican scorned”.
haha fair enough.
I don’t find American exceptionalism quite so disturbing as you, Catelli, but I think you’ve certainly got a good read on the candidates’ IR orientations.
Just about a month til the election now, eh? If I had a nickel for every hour of MSNBC coverage I’ve watched on the presidential race since last April I’d be a very rich man.
Bring on Nov 4!
M