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It's fair to expect a McCain presidency to be a harder-edged one than Obama's. Like his forefathers, McCain believes in "victory," sees a world made up of enemies and friends and is determined to show resolve above all. His passionate advocacy of friends like Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, his open detestation of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his refusal to talk to Tehran could well produce a series of confrontations. For Obama, the danger is the opposite. He would need to take care that his eagerness for negotiation and mutual understanding doesn't verge into appeasement, whether with Iran, Russia or other rogues. His focus would be different, too: Obama seeks to "contain" the Islamist threat rather than aim for some grand victory over all terrorists.

But the two candidates do have some important things in common we can be fairly sure of. Both know a lot about the real world—they've "pierced the veneer," as the explorer Ernest Shackleton, one of McCain's heroes, once wrote—and are pragmatists at heart. Despite that, neither will miss a chance to trumpet the creed they learned in their youth—that America is a unique place, and its values should be an example for the world.

With Suzanne Smalley, Holly Bailey and Richard Wolffe in Washington

© 2008

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Member Comments

  • Posted By: StevenNavy @ 10/30/2008 2:03:31 PM

    Sarah Palin has not room to question anybody on ethics or any other character traits. She has cheated on her husband with his best friend, her daughter has become pregnant by a piece of trash kid who has now dropped out of school. Her husaband thinks he is her personal assistant or Lt. Governor. Plus she is dumber than a stump when it comes to forgein policy or any other political thing. That's why the McCain camp has kept her hidden from the press. Katie Couric almost destroyed her and wasn't even asking her hard questions. Now my main three questions--- 1)"what is up with John McCain's teeth? Does her know there are places he can go to get them at least cleaned. Maybe he needs Barack Obama's health care or dental care? 2) And why don't they show his daughter from Bangledesh? They always show Megan with her breasts poked out. 3) And now the fainal question, is Cindy McCain back on prescription drugs, her eyes are always red and watery. She has two facial expressions, one a blank stare and the other a laughing expression.

  • Posted By: wendydk @ 10/11/2008 12:25:37 PM

    John McCain is a good man, who got carried away by ambition, bad people and bad decisions. I think his conscience is bothering him now, and makes him more appealing, and more the man I know him to be.

    Sarah Palin may be smart, but she's not who you think she is. Sarah Palin is a traitor to America and to her party.

    Palins un-American activities
    http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/10/07/palins_unamerican/index.html

    Alaskan Independence Party chairwoman Lynette Clark talks about why she does not identify herself as an American, and about her kindred spirit Sarah Palin.
    http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/09/10/alaska_secession/index.html

    The pastor who clashed with Palin
    http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/09/15/bess/index.html

    Troopergate Report Concludes Palin Abused Power. Full 263 Page report here???
    http://download2.legis.state.ak.us/DOWNLOAD.pdf

    Palins Attack On Obamas Patriotism Legitimizes Questions About her Association With Group Founded By America-Hating Secessionist
    http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/palins_attack_on_obamas_patrio.php

    Palin And The Alaska Independence Party
    http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/09/the_alaska_independence_party.php

  • Posted By: Krohn @ 10/09/2008 7:38:10 PM

    They harassed her until she registered to vote six times!:
    http://www.foxnews.com/video2/video08.html?maven_referralObject=3145562&maven_referralPlaylistId=&sRevUrl=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/

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John McCain's impetuosity is either thrilling or disturbing. Barack Obama's cool is either sober or detached. It's clear now how each would govern.