@Cycloptichorn,
Actually, the Democrats have controlled the Congress since the last major election, and this Congress has done virtually nothing. The Democrats in Congress even before that did everything in their power to derail every initiative the Administration asked for. No Administration, by either Party, can enact even the most essential legislation in the face of determined opposition.
Congress has sat on its hands and feathered its nest for over two hundred years. Getting elected means keeping the constituency happy, and that always has meant pork. Politicians in both Parties have been guilty of that, and of placing Partisan politics above the common good. Occasionally in our history, Congress rises above it's venial nature, but not often. Congress historically gets behind the national effort when the nation is under attack and our military is bleeding on foreign soil. The Democratic Party has in large measure adopted a defeatist approach to the use of our military forces against Extremist Islamic Radicals.
The change that Obama seems to promise is to withdraw American might back within CONUS, no matter what the probable result might be. Leave Iran to develop nuclear weapons and to dominate a strategically important region. He apparently will avoid confrontations, so if Russia wants to reoccupy Georgia, Turkistan, Lithuania, Lativia, Poland, etc., an Obama Administration will respond by wringing its hands. Obama wants change, like trusting Kim Jong-Il to keep his promises. Obama, like many Democrats, wants to change things by redirecting all that money the U.S. spends on the military to pay for increased federal social programs.
Of course, the military budget can never pay for all the promises that Obama makes, so he promises to change the way Americans are taxed. Tax's will have to be increased dramatically, but Obama claims that "average" Americans won't suffer from increased taxation. Only the "rich", only businesses will have to face an increased tax burden. Sure, kill the goose for the golden egg. Make it more difficult to make a profit by increasing overhead, and business stop doing business. Entrepreneurs, the backbone of our economy, are already so hemmed in by regulation and taxation that its smarter to get out of business than to start one. Small businesses and wage earners will bear the brunt of Obama's grand schemes.
McClain isn't a popular man even with career GOP politicians. Why is that? I suggest it's because he has a long reputation for putting the nation's interests above the interests of elected and appointed politicians. He has fought corruption wherever its been found, regardless of which Party is involved. He has been tireless in trying to cut wasteful spending that has as its principle purpose getting politicians reelected. He has stepped across the battle lines to enlist the support and aid of the opposition party to enact campaign reform. When the Congress on both sides of aisle became disenchanted with the way things were going in Iraq and wanted to get out as quickly as possible without regard for the consequences, it was McCain who called for the military surge that turned the situation around. McCain stood up and voted against Regan, and he has opposed Bush as well. McCain is not a grandstander, like most politicians.
He isn't a perfect man, but no one is. He knows war, and its costs better than most, so when McCain calls for the use of military force it is because he truly believes it is necessary. He is a maverick alright, he still holds close the fundamental values that made this nation great. He still believes in self sacrifice, honor, loyalty and courage in a world that has become soft and unwilling to take responsiblity, or risks when they are called for.
