McCain's Path to Victory in November 2008

March 31, 2008


Senator McCain’s path to victory is not his war record. The vast majority of voters were born after the American War in Vietnam. Furthermore, we Americans are devoid of almost any knowledge of history. Young Americans who will be a large part of the electorate in November, especially if Senator Obama is nominated, are not as glued to old folks’ brand of patriotism, e.g., never say anything bad about America, never oppose our military, never address elders by title, Sir, Mr., always now by first names, John, Barack, Hillary.

McCain’s path to victory is to emphasize our success in Iraq, the surge, and to forge a new republican economic policy that promises to help the middle class as much as the present administration has and is helping the rich--a la the Bear Stern Bailout.

This new republican extrication of the middle-class can and should be couched in individualism terms but in fact structured so as to help middle-class suffering Americans. It could be as simple as setting up a temporary federal sunset agency (an agency with a definite expiration date), designed just for this purpose. This will somewhat ally the republican’s distaste for big government.

McCain certainly has the statute and the creditability to pull this off. He could add to his cross-the-political-party-aisle, maverick appeal (which is not so much cross the aisle as it is poking his fellow rebublicans in the eye) by launching such a proposal. An additional advantage of this strategy would be to throw off democrats while at the same time remaining unassailable as a war hero and patriot. No democratic nominee will be able to match him in this regard.

This would be a successful strategy, providing the cover is kept on the lid of the American War casualties in Iraq. There is, however, nothing McCain can do if the lid blows off of the American War in Iraq. If that happens, he will simple be upended by events beyond his control. This strategy is his only hope for victory in November.

© 2008 by Lenton Aikins
All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction is permitted provided credit is given.

Lenton Aikins, Ph.D., J.D.
Dr. Aikins has traveled widely, lived abroad in Europe and Latin America, recently spending three years in Costa Rica as Director of a Spanish Language school. He holds a Ph. D. in Political Science from University of Southern California, a Juris Doctor in Law from Western State University, College of Law. He is the author of many articles and of While African Americans Slept: Leadership by Parasites, now available at: http://lentonaikins.com, and available in all bookstores July 1, 2008.