National

The PBS special recently aired called "Carrier" documents life aboard the Aircraft Carrier Nimitz during a recent deployment to Iraq. The perspective of the fighter pilots offered some insight I've alluded to here in other posts. McCain was a fighter pilot. He risked his life to fly combat missions and served admirably including his capture and imprisonment.

However, to claim that experience as relevent to being Commander in Chief is rediculous. The concept is civilian leadership over the military. The reasons are many, but it has proven sound. Fighter jocks have a particular demeanor and attitude. One of the pilots aboard the Nimitz spent a year as a Forward Observer with ground troops, charged with acting as combat liason with the air wings flying missions in support of the ground troops. He gained a perspective on the difference in ground combat from flying overhead pushing a button to destroy a target you cannot see.

These pilots spent a frustrating deployment having dropped no ordnance or firing a round. They were all frustrated and questioned why they were there. My point is McCains experience is already clearly unsuitable for leading us out of the quagmire Bush got us into in spite of dozens of senior officers warning him that it was a mistake. McCain cannot even envision a way out other than one which has been discredited by all senior officers. There is no military solution. So what qualifications does McCain possess that will serve this truth?

Does he have a cool demeaner? By all reports he is a hothead given to angry impulses. Is he a strategic thinker? By all accounts he shoots off the cuff comments that are not well considered on a wide variety of topics he is ill prepared to address. He admits he knows nothing about economics. He vacillates from position to position, offen opposing legislation he co-sponsored.

So for those who are trying to take comfort from McCain being their only choice based on his military experience, he has already taken unsustainable positions and his numbers have already peaked as people see what he has to offer beyond the superficial.