Lest We Forget There IS A War Going On And On And On...

Well, the Republicans are rallying around the one candidate who has made a career out of thumbing his nose at them. I find myself wondering if the American public wants another "maverick" in the White House. Or have the last seven years been quite enough, thank you.

McCain is an old war horse who got lucky on an immense political gamble. The surge. It's working, he insists. Is it? Politically it seems the Iraqis could care less. Militarily, McCain's area of "expertise", remains iffy. Consider the headlines in this morning's Spokesman Review. U.S. troop casualties on the rise in Iraq and Reserves, Guard called unready for threats in U.S.. Here we go again.

I was under the impression that the consensus of public opinion is that the war was ill conceived in the first place, and we want out. We're told it's a war we must win!

We've heard so may different explanations of what winning means from our current President my head spins. I'd like to hear McCain's definition. If it indeed includes the Iraqi government stepping up to the plate, which they have yet to do, how does he intend to make that happen? If his idea of victory is from a strictly military standpoint, we'll be there long beyond my remaining years.

Beyond the war, what is his vision for the country? Not meaning to diminish his service to his country and loyalty to his men under horrific circumstances in Vietnam, I don't necessarily consider those attributes reason enough to elect him to the Presidency.

When the flak jacket comes off and the armed escorts are no longer surrounding him, I'll believe progress is being made. McCain makes me nervous. I don't trust mavericks.