Bomb Bomb McCain's Candidacy & Other Rude Comments

Now it is official. Karl Rove, GW Bush's former White House political pistolero has finally decided to move to the Fox news network. Just a question of time: Would the White House move to Fox or Fox to the White House? There was never much difference. At least now we can update our flow charts.

Last week there was a propaganda puff piece produced by FOX news network on the twilight days of the Bush presidency. When GWB was asked about his accomplishments in 7 years of office, he said first off that his two daughters developed into fine ladies despite the spotlight glare of the presidency. Doubt the history books will note this, but after Bill Clinton's brother tribulations that required a presidential pardon to fix, this has to be meritorious in comparison. Responding to a question on his philosophy of government, the president replied that he was motivated by his lust to impose freedom in the world – he managed to link freedom to God, but failed to explain the 26,000 detainees under US control in Iraq. Bush still has not divined that his bible did not codify the Bill of Rights – there is much love of God in the Old and New Testaments, but not much on freedom or choice. There is, however plenty of fire and brimstone; lots of damnation if one strays from the word.

Picking Bomb Bomb McCain as the presidential candidate in the 2008 election was self inflicted auto-da-fe for the Republican Party. Or if you prefer, ritually jumping into the volcano with your senatorial and congressional candidates – at least 26 Republican congressional representatives have already decided not to run for reelection. Self serving Senators like Lott, to avoid new restriction on lobbyists, have already quit early to peddle influence for big bucks.

Right wing radio talk show hosts such as Limbaugh and Ingraham are having strokes contemplating Bomb Bomb's candidacy; upset over his tax, illegal immigration, and campaign financing policies. They, however, adore his pro-life and Iraq war positions. Maybe I miss the point – how can you protect innocent unborn and at the same time promote slaughter in a war of choice such as Iraq?

Some of Bomb Bomb's political ads feature his time as a POW, in a bed in a North Vietnam infirmary... Maybe I am old school – there is nothing heroic about being a POW unless you escape or risk your life for one of your stricken comrades. Bomb Bomb did neither, as a matter fact, under torture he was disloyal; by confessing to air piracy and signing a document, Bomb Bomb was in contravention to the US military Code of Conduct. As far as being heroic for not stepping ahead of his fellow POWs for early release, when offered the opportunity by the enemy, that is precluded by article III of the US Military Code of Conduct.

Opportunity research by the Democrats may get hold of Bomb's Bomb's North Vietnamese dossier and that might be exciting reading. POWs, in the main are victims of circumstances beyond their control. McCain is no exception in his case. He was shot down over Hanoi and wounded when he parachuted into the arms of the North Vietnamese. He was brutally treated in captivity and he broke; others with him did not.

The American people owe him a debt of gratitude for service under any circumstance. Whether his military service should be used to promote him as a presidential candidate is another judgement that goes well beyond his performance of duty in wartime. My view is he should not be President of the US. There is still that little piece of paper in Hanoi with his signature.

Your choices will be a squalid Clinton co-presidency, Roll-the-Dice Obama or Bomb Bomb with 100 years of war and no idea of how to solve economic problems. There is no one on a white horse to the rescue. In Bomb Bomb's case if unelected, he can join "has beens" coach Mike Ditka and former Senator Bob Dole to sell erectile disfunction drugs on TV.

Colonel Robert E Bartos USA Ret.