From my vantagepoint, it is inconceivable that the presidential candidates, U.S. Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Democratic Barack Obama (D-Ill.), are today in a virtual dead heat in their quest for the "brass ring" and the privilege of sleeping in the White House. How can anyone who embraces the ill fated foreign policy adventures of President George W. Bush win the presidency of this great nation? McCain is a war hero from another generation, who is older than "Tippecanoe" (another war hero) when he sought the presidency in 1840. McCain is from my generation, which was belatedly named the "silent generation." Our heroes were JFK, Neil Armstrong and General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Ten-inch televisions and huge IBM computers filling warehouses were the rage while we were growing up. We are now pushing into our seventies and although I keep on running, I know that I have slowed down. I "ran out of gas" trying to run up and down the Franklin Mountains over the years.
While the Arizona senator has a youthful appearance, cardiovascular diseases, prostate problems, the big "C" and mental alertness are issues that begin to beset one as they approach the so called "golden years." Senator Obama is a young man in his 40s, who is more a reflection of America in the 21st century. He is Internet savvy, a world traveler and knows how to use My Space to his advantage. He compares favorably with JFK when he decided to run for the presidency in 1960. Kennedy was a ground breaker, being the first Catholic to become president of our beautiful country. I remember political advertisements leading up to the election saying that the Massachusetts' politician would be taking orders fron the Pope if he were elected. We all know that that scenario did not come to pass. Barack Obama is also a ground breaker, who if elected, will have a difficult time trying to keep up with all of the hype surrounding his campaign. He is not just a national leader, but for some inexplicable reason, a budding hero around the world.
Looking back to the 1960 presidential campaign, one would have thought that Kennedy should have had a landslide victory over then Vice President Richard Milhous Nixon. Nixon brought inordinate "baggage" to the table when he tossed his hat into the ring to run for the presidency. His ties to the infamous U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy and his vicious crusade to weed out communists in American society, an economic recession, and a number of scandals including a rap on his dog "Checkers" made it appear that Nixon had no chance. Nevertheless, if it hadn't been for Mayor Daley, Cook County and the Chicago Democratic political machine, Nixon might have won the election.
If any other Republican party leader had been chosen to be the presidential candidate, I would have said that the race was over. Basta! No way could Rudy Giuliani or Mitt Romney have stood up to the overwhelming opposition to the Iraqi morass. However, because McCain has an impressive record representing the good people of Arizona, he has an outside chance of giving Obama a run for his money. His stance on both immigration and the environment works to his advantage. Time will tell whether the American people will continue to pursue a policy of "jingoism" or "take the high road" as the Scottish poet Robert Burns once said and bring a change that will reestablish America's image as the beacon and lighthouse for the world.
In closing, it should not be forgotten that President William Henry Harrison, who was given the nickname of "Tippecanoe" for defeating in 1811 "the Prophet" also known as Chief Tecumseh at the Battle of Tippecanoe, was elected president in 1840. On Jan. 20, 1841, he took the oath of office on the steps of the Capitol on a terribly cold, snowy morning. He caught pneumonia the next day and died 31 days later. He had just turned 69 years old. If McCain wins, let's make sure that his swearing in is held indoors, especially if it is a cold snowy day.
Bill Tilney was mayor of El Paso from 1991-93.
David K
July 2, 2008
For a guy who thinks McCain has "an outside chance" you sure are acting like McCain is a lock.
What's even more interesting is your acknowledgement of Obama's lovely little political network and their past crimes
"Nevertheless, if it hadn't been for Mayor Daley, Cook County and the Chicago Democratic political machine, Nixon might have won the election. "
I'd expect your candidate is keeping with the corruption of old to hold onto power.
AEWishard
July 2, 2008
The Prophet was Tecumseh's brother, not a nickname for Tecumseh. How many other facts are wrong in this op-ed piece?
DJ
July 2, 2008
Dear Mr. Tilney,
While it is expected that an Opinion piece will express bias and draw conclusions, I take exception to myths and outright ‘misrepresentations’ of facts used to present the argument on which those conclusions are drawn.
If the right-wingers are to be accused of “fear-mongering” about Obama’s “baggage” (like his middle name, which I am afraid to even use for fear of being labeled a ‘hater’, and his Muslim childhood education, etc), shouldn’t the same criteria exist the other way? Are we still lamenting about the Swift Boaters and John Kerry’s failed campaign, yet at the same time resorting to exactly the same tactics? Please tell me I’m not seeing a double-standard here.
References to McCain’s health and “mental alertness” aside, age comparisons to a US President who lived in a time when the median American male life expectancy was nearly half of what it is today (39 years old in 1850, 75 in 2004, US Census statistics) are really stretching the point to the ridiculous, are they not? Sure, McCain is a Senior Citizen. I wonder if anyone in your generation takes exception to your implications.
It may be good to brush up on your Presidential campaign history Mr. Tilney, if you are going to be painting with the “McCarthyism” brush.
It wasn’t Nixon that carried Joe McCarthy’s baggage to the 1960 Presidential campaign, it was John F. Kennedy.
An Irish Catholic, McCarthy was a close friend and political ally to the entire Kennedy clan for many years and frequent Hyannis Port guest. He dated two of JFK’s sisters and was Godfather to Bobby Kennedy’s first born. That’s no casual political association. The only Democratic Senator to never publicly attack McCarthy’s anti-Communist actions, JFK stated that his constituents thought the man was a hero. You may be surprised that some people still feel this way.
Do you actually credit JFK’s victory in 1960 to the corrupt, criminal, anti-Semitic and racist political machine of Richard Daley of Chicago?
The man that Jesse Jackon once called a “Fascist”? The man who ordered Chicago police to shoot Black rioters after MLK’s death? The man and machine who orchestrated the violent police clampdown at the 1968 Democratic Convention? The machine that still exist, by the way, although in a much more race-friendly format and the one that coincidentally has a lot to do with Obama being in the Senate.
Now there’s a proud political legacy to be remembered. I guess you forgot to mention the Mafia-controlled Teamsters Union and their part in JFK’s 1960 win and their continued hold on Illinois politics. If you are going to use the 1960 election as a comparison to this one, please present the facts and not the glowing hallucinations of Camelot-colored mythologies.
P.S. Robert Burn’s “High Road” had nothing to do with the honorable or ethical or high-minded path as the term High Road is sometimes meant in our times, it was actually somewhat opposite in meaning in his poem in that his high road was the easy course, the shortcut and the path of least resistance.
WST
July 3, 2008
With all due respect to David K, AEWishard and DJ, I take exception to their broad brush comments. David K is indeed correct about the Prophet being the brother of Chief Tecumseh. I knew that but maybe had a bout of memory loss. That happens when you near 70. As far as Richard Nixon, I went to the same high school(Whittier) and grew up in his congressional district. In his congressional and senatorial campaigns, he alluded to his democratic opponents as being soft on communism. He was victorious and made a name for himself as being a real anti communist. Senator McCarthy was a close colleague. Nixon credentials made him the perfect person to establish ties with Comrade Mao and Red China.
I stand by my comments about the Daley political machine and Kennedy's victory. I concur with DJ's comments that Daley's operations were corrupt, criminal, and anti-Semitic. Nevertheless, it is a fact that Daley saved the bacon for Kennedy.
As far as Camelot, I suggest you read an editorial I did on Obama and Camelot several months ago. There is no doubt that Camelot was a dream or hallucination, but Americans want to improve their plight and that of their fellowman: hence they dream or hallucinate. I served 2 years in Ethiopia as a Peace Corps Volunteer(1962-64) and also 5 years more in Africa with the USAID and the State Department. In retrospect, I can say that many people were truly "Innocents Abroad" when they answered President Kennedy's call to serve our nation. While many romaniticize about Camelot, never forget that during that "magical "period President Diem was assassinated, we suffered through the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missle Crisis and we jumped feet first into the Vietnam quagmire. That war affected my generation in a way few today will ever understand. In closing thanks for your comments. I appreciated your cerebal responses .
E Robinett
July 6, 2008
Sorry you are so misguided. But please don/t be cruel!
Ken G
July 6, 2008
I thought it was, "Tippiecano and Tyler too"
WST
July 7, 2008
You are correct. "Tippecanoe and Tyler too" was a presidential campaign slogan and popular song in 1840. President William Henry Harrison aka "Tippecanoe" died of pneumonia one month after taking the presidential inaugral address on a cold March day. Vice President John Tyler succeeded Harrison. Both candidates were members of the Whig Party. Given the track records of the Democratic and Republican Parties today, maybe we need to bring back the Whig Party.