LEADERSHIP vs. John McCain
Something has been bugging me ever since McCain has tried to take on the “leader” label and also tried to paint Governor Romney as a “manager.” People in this country need to wake up. Points to consider:
- A senator is a bureaucrat. Period. Bureaucrats, as politicians, manage legislation to compromise. McCain is the master manager of compromise away from conservative principles as he partnered wih the most liberal of Democrats.
- A leader inspires and motivates. If in fact McCain ever inspired or motivated anyone while in the Navy, it was decades ago. Certainly, nobody has ever suggested he has inspired or truly motivated anyone since being in Congress.
- By contrast, Mitt Romney has been a true leader of dozens of companies and ventures. If I were to list the details of each of these, it would literally take pages. Though most people have not really studied the background of his leadership in four of them (Bain 1, Bain 2, 2002 Winter Olympics, and Massachusetts), suffice to say that these are only four examples of unquestioned leadership, among the dozens throughout his life.
- As a leader, Mitt Romney is prominently known for inspiring others. Countless stories came out of his miraculous rescue of the Olympics and his leadership to a Games considered the most successful of its time. Taking it from about a $400 million deficit when he inherited the debacle to a little less than an unprecedented $100 million surplus when the Games were completely over! The 2002 Winter Olympics (recent history) is but one example of extraordinary inspirational leadership spanning years. Mitt Romney is known as an extraordinary leader, if nothing else!
For John McCain to sit on some debate stage with that snarky, smug look on his face and so arrogantly tell the world, with a straight face and no embarrassment at all, that he is the leader and Governor Romney is a manager, is frankly repugnant. His assertions, this past 30 days in this regard, would be comedy if he were not so serious. He actually believes he is superior above all. Frankly, based on John McCain’s career, he is a mediocre manager, at best.
I live next to Camp Pendleton, the largest United States Marine Corps base in America. In my church and community responsibilities over the last 20 years, I have had the privilege of working side-by-side with many of the finest enlisted men and officers this nation has known. As a civilian, I have always been impressed by their personal and Corps discipline. I have studied John McCain’s career, as well as that of Mitt Romney’s, for years. If the two of them were in the United States Marine Corps the same amount of time (let’s say 40 years or so), Mitt Romney would certainly be a 4-star general today and John McCain would be lucky to be a major (below a colonel). That assuming he had not washed out of the Corps years earlier for his inability to bridle his temper.
Marines are known for being tough, certainly. But Marines are known more for their extraordinarily disciplined temperament. Frankly, in my humble opinion, John McCain’s temperament is completely the opposite of that of a United States Marine, regardless of John McCain’s assertions to the contrary. I know many enlisted Marines of the rank of sergeant and corporal whose temperaments are far superior to that of John McCain.
No, John McCain would have washed out of the Corps within a few years of entering the Marines, if he could even make it through boot camp without slugging a drill instructor.
There are many reasons senators are not elected Presidents.
~ Vic
February 1st, 2008 at 12:43 pm
I just heard that Rick Santorum has endorsed Mitt Romney for President. This is probably one of the best endorsements you could garner as a conservative in my opnion.
February 1st, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Where are the men in this large unit that McCain led? Do they support him? Are they being vocal?
February 1st, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Leadership requires followership. And followers choose to follow their leaders.
McCain touts his “leadership” in the military. What a joke! Anyone who has been in the military and those outside the military know military men and women follow their leaders because it is required, not because they have a choice.
Now and then even in the military you find a leader that you do, in fact, choose to follow. McCain is NOT that man!
However, we do choose to follow Mitt Romney and we trust him completely!
February 1st, 2008 at 12:55 pm
John McCain has been a part of Washington Corruption. He was one of the five Senates who involved in Savings & Loans scandal in later 80’s. It is also called “The Keating Five”.
In 1989, the Lincoln Savings and Loan Association of Irvine, CA, collapsed. Lincoln’s Chairman, Charles H. Keating Jr., was faulted for the thrift’s failure. Keating told the House Banking Committee that the FHLBB and its former chief Edwin J. Gray were pursuing a vendetta against him. Gray testified that several U.S. senators had approached him and requested that he ease off on the Lincoln investigation. It came out that these senators had been beneficiaries of 1.3 million in campaign contributions from Keating.
This allegation set off a series of investigations by the California government, the United States Department of Justice, and the Senate Ethics Committee. The Ethics committee’s investigation focused on five senators: Alan Cranston (D_CA), Dennis DeConnis (D-AZ), John Glenn (D_OH), John McCain (R_AZ) and Donald Riegle Jr.(D_MI), who became known as the Keating Five. After the investigation, the Committee recommended censure for Cranston and criticized the other four. Most of them did not seek for re-election, and John McCain is the only one who left in Senate. John McCain is a part of Washington Corruption. The country is in another Savings & Loans crisis, and how people could forget the Washington corruption that associated with John McCain. IF Republican Party votes for John McCain for the President of United State, we become the party of Washington Corruption.
February 1st, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Reihl has also endorsed Romney. Here are some very well thought out points.
http://www.riehlworldview.com/carnivorous_conservative/2008/01/why-i-am-endors.html
February 1st, 2008 at 1:48 pm
I am a high school history teacher and I would like to share the following fact: The last Republican senator to win the presidency was Warren G. Harding in 1920. JFK and Benjamin Harrison were the other two senators that went on to become president. However, 9 governors went on to the White House.
In my view, governors make better presidents because they hold an executive position.
February 1st, 2008 at 2:22 pm
If McCain wins the nomination, I will not vote for Hillary or any other Dem, However I WILL Write IN MITT ROMNEY. Much better option. Let’s keep pushing the best option MITT for the Republican nomination.
February 1st, 2008 at 2:38 pm
#7 I will write in his name also because that way the dems will know that I do not support their platform.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:38 pm
To lisarc: Great piece about Riehl’s explanation about why he’s endorsing President Romney. Please get this out of the “comments” and headline it front and center on the blog. CANADIAN FOR MITT 2008!!!
February 1st, 2008 at 5:28 pm
America needs to realize that Mitt Romney is not the usual candidate. People like Romney do not usually run for office. He is doing this because he feels that he is the right person for the job at this time in Americas history. I think when the topic of the economy comes up in the White House our President should be the smartest person in the room. That person is Mitt Romney. He is not a polished politician or comedian. He is a serious man for a serious time for America. I am tired of Washington insiders running this country. I am ready for new ideas outside of Washington. Republicans should wake up and vote for Mitt Romney.
February 2nd, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Senator McCain,
You have taken a strong position on several issues. Of the following positions that you have taken, please put them in order of how proud you are of your efforts and explain why. Also tell us which ones were supported by more conservatives than liberals:
McCain Feingold – which was intended to reform campaign financing and, according to some, reduce our free speech rights.
McCain Kennedy – which, among other things, would have granted illegal aliens the right to stay in our country indefinitely.
McCain – Liberman and your support for global warming legislation and a clear negative impact on our economy.
Your three year opposition to the Bush tax cuts.
Your denunciation of Donald Rumsfeld during our war efforts in Iraq
Your fight against drilling in ANWR.
Then ask, “in the last three years what McCain sponsored legislation has born your name along with a strong conservative?”
I’d also like to know what his conservative ranking is over the last 8 years. He implies that he would not necessarily support the same amnesty legislation that he co-sponsered originally, but isn’t that flip-flopping?
February 2nd, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Thanks for convincing me to vote for John McCain this coming Tuesday. Your prejudiced assessment of John McCain is blind. You can question his positions and policies if you disagree. But he has been a very effective leader in the Senate and accomplished much. Interestingly, the reason Mitt was even elected as Governor, and successful in office was because he “reached across the aisle” and compromised with the democrats in Massachusetts. The same way that John McCain is vilified by conservatives for doing in the Senate. Yes, Mitt would make an excellent manager type President. But as far as inspiring, I disagree. I have wanted to get enthused about Mitt’s candidacy. I registered with gomittgo months ago. I fully expected that I would be excited but every time I have seem him I have found him stiff, formulaic, and annoying. I know he’s a good man, I know he’s capable, I just don’t think he can unite the country as a candidate or president. The next President would wisely put him in a cabinet position.